Tomaro, Peruso Pull Out Doubles Win To Clinch County Title

There’s a tomorrow for Juliet Tomaro.

The senior and her Westhampton Beach second doubles teammate Rose Peruso pulled out a 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over Commack to help the Hurricanes (16-0) win their first county tennis crown since 2008. Westhampton Beach faces Syosset in the Long Island championship at Eisenhower State Park Tennis Center on Thursday, October 25, at 2:30 p.m.

“I couldn’t imagine a better way for this to end,” said Tomaro, a four-year starter. “We tried not to have it go to a third set, but it ended up being that way. Third sets are kind of our thing.”

Even though the duo is used to competing through three, being the lone competitors out on the court during a 3-3 team tie took its toll.

“Obviously there was pressure, but I tried to block it out,” said Peruso, a junior. “I looked over and saw the teams and the crowd watching behind us and I thought, ‘Wow, we have to win this.’”

The wind blew its own set of challenges as high gusts affected serves and shots.

“We hit with a lot of top spin,” Tomaro said. “We took it point by point, and if it didn’t go our way we worked on focusing more of that top spin, being light on our feet, hustling to the ball, and getting the placement where we wanted. Rose and I have been through this every single year, so it feels really good to take this win.”

Peruso was certainly hustling, laying out to come up with big points — using some swift spin moves and slams to capitalize on volley saves.

“After every point I tried to move on, start the next point fresh,” she said. “Our goal since the beginning of the season was to come to this match today and win.”

Head coach John Czartosieski said it was difficult to describe his delight over what his team was able to do.

“I’ve had a core of girls on this team that have started since they were freshmen,” he said. “I’m just so happy for them, because my seniors have wanted this for a long time. I have five starting seniors, and they’re going to be missed.”

McGann-Mercy transfer Rose Hayes won her first singles match 6-2, 6-2, and Katelyn Stabile took fourth 6-3, 6-0. Onalee Natcheller and Emma Bender took their first doubles victory 6-6, 6-4 to put the pressure on their teammates to pull it out.

“There was a possibility we were going to get a third singles match, but the second and third singles players from Commack were just too good,” Czartosieski said. “Commack is a great team, they had an amazing season — we just earned a few more points than them today in that last match. My girls held their composure, and they played as hard as they could. I made Rose and Juliet promise me that no matter what they’d lay it all out on the court with no regrets. And it turned out they won.”

By Desiree Keegan