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Like fine wine, doubles teams get better with age
Chip Maloney, John Pennington, Mike Ball and Tom Trautman can affectionately be referred to as The Legends of Chestnut Forks.
The four guys were once the Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe, Ilie Nastase and Guillermo Vilas of Warrenton's local tennis club — champions competing for titles in singles and doubles with fierce abandon and the energy that came from their passion for the game.
Now, as 50-year-olds, they're entering a new era of play at the Fauquier County Tennis Championship play, and just as passionate about the outcome.
On Sunday, Pennington and Trautman prevailed, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Maloney and Ball in the first-ever 50-over men's doubles tournament. It featured six talented teams.
None of the four finalists seemed to mind that they're the designated old guys. For years, the four have been among Chestnut Forks' elite players — but recently Ball said he feels the tide of Father Time, mentioning a loss of speed.
“There are a lot of young guys at the club, like Eddie [Glidewell] and Jordan [Walker], that we just don't match up that well against anymore,” said Ball, 53.
Well, yeah, Mike. Glidewell, the reigning Chestnut Forks singles champions and 2008 doubles “A” champion, is in his early 20s, and Walker, the Chestnut Forks top pro, is in the prime of his career.
As the match went on — with its long, furious rallies, frequent lobs, delicate placement volleys, and scintillating overhead putaways — Trautman found an extra gear, and teamed with Pennington to seize command in the final set...See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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