PV duo falls in second round

BETHLEHEM – Mark Allison didn’t hesitate.

“I’m so proud of those kids,” said the Pleasant Valley tennis coach.

And Allison had every reason to be pleased.

Allison watched as Josh Schaffner and Jake Ammermann battled to a third set Monday at Lehigh University in the second round of the District 11 Class 3A singles tournament.

While both Schaffner and Ammermann came up short, the duo confirmed what Allison believed before the event even started.

“They’re both underclassmen, so they’re both back next year. This was a great experience for them this year,” Allison commented. “For Josh, this is his first time playing in the tournament, and this is Jake’s second time.

“I felt they would have a good showing out there. But I really am proud of how they played. I think they went above-and-beyond the expectations of everybody.”

After posting a sound 6-1, 6-1 victory over Nazareth’s Nick Mitchell in the first round, Schaffner took on No. 6 seed David Lynn of Liberty with a shot at the quarterfinals on the line.

Though Schaffner fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to Lynn, the sophomore was still pleased, if not surprised, with his performance.

“It was so close,” Schaffner said. “We both had our chances. And he got the chances on his side. It was a close match; it could have gone either way.

“I didn’t expect to be in that match at all.”

But Schaffner found his rhythm after a slow start, which allowed him to take the second set and push Lynn to the limit with the match on the line.

“After the first set, I thought, ‘Every game has been close.’ Then I came out and won the second set, and in the third set, we were battling back-and-forth, and … it was close.”

Schaffner has blossomed as the Bears’ No. 1 singles’ player this season, making an impression on Allison – and his opponents.

“He’s only going to get better,” Allison said of Schaffner. “He’s definitely going to make his mark on District 11 tennis in the next few years, there’s no doubt about it. “He already has made his mark. He’s gotten a lot of notice from all the coaches with this tournament. I know he’ll keep working hard at it. He loves tennis … and I know he’ll get better and better.”

Ammermann dropped his first set of the day before rallying to top East Stroudsburg South’s Cory Cox 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 in the first round.

The junior showed his grit in the second round against No. 7 seed Ian Absalom of Bangor before falling 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

“I knew it was gonna be tough when I first got here, so I was expecting a long match,” said Ammermann, who was the Times News Boys Tennis Player of the Year last season. “I think in the first one, I had to dig deep. I thought I played really well in the first one, and that took a lot out of me.

“Coming into the next match (against Absalom), I was dead. I dug out whatever I had left in me in the second set. And then he played good in the last one, and finally got me.”

Ammermann, who has played No. 3 singles for Pleasant Valley most of this season, never flinched in either of his matches.

“I think it just shows me what I’m capable of,” he said. “Half the game is more mental than physical, so you just gotta keep yourself in it. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, and finishing it off strong.”

I KNOW YOU … Lynn will face Liberty teammate and No. 3 seed Louis Gruber in the second round.

MOVING ON … The quarterfinals will be made up of all eight seeded players in the tournament.

WHERE AND WHEN … The quarterfinals and semis will take place today at Saucon Valley High School. The championship match is scheduled for Thursday back at Lehigh.