Heritage Tennis Team in Second-Round Action Saturday

The doubles team of Martin Cuenca (left) and Justin Kushner swept its three sets Wednesday as the Heritage High tennis team won its playoff opener. Photos by Kristi Jo Photography

The Heritage High School boys tennis team will play a CIF Division 5 second-round match at home against Bishop Montgomery Saturday at 2 p.m. after scoring a 15-3 victory over Oak Hills of Hesperia in the first round on Wednesday.

Coach Doug Fairchild called Wednesday's victory by the top-seeded Patriots a "total team effort." Heritage's three doubles teams won 8 of a possible 9 points and the singles players won 7 of a possible 9. The three-set sweeps came from the No. 1 doubles team of Tyler Baca and Logan Dreese (the Sunbelt League champions) and the No. 2 doubles team of Justin Kushner and Martin Cuenca.

Six of the starting nine players are juniors who started with the team as freshmen. The other three are seniors. Sunbelt League MVP Andrew Johnson (right) is 33-1 this season, Adrian Castle finished as league champion with a 34-0 record, and Jack Bowler finished 33-2, completing a 1-2-3 sweep in the league finals.

"The entire varsity team consists of 16 players and each and every one of them is extremely committed, coachable, and driven to constantly improve," Fairchild said. "I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to be their coach. Every day I get to spend with them is a true joy."