MLP San Clemente Saturday Showdowns: Edward Jones Major League Pickleball San Clemente continues Saturday at Life Time Rancho San Clemente, where eight matches will take place on Championship Court and Grandstand Court. Teams are fighting for points and better rankings as the season progresses toward the playoffs.
Here is the Order of Play
| # | Premier Team Matches |
|---|---|
| 1 | Utah Black Diamonds vs Los Angeles Mad Drops |
| 2 | Brooklyn Pickleball Team vs Phoenix Flames |
| 3 | Columbus Sliders vs Utah Black Diamonds |
| 4 | Phoenix Flames vs SoCal Hard Eights |
| # | Challenger Team Matches |
|---|---|
| 1 | California Black Bears vs D.C. Pickleball Team |
| 2 | Florida Smash vs Bay Area Breakers |
| 3 | D.C. Pickleball Team vs Las Vegas Night Owls |
| 4 | California Black Bears vs Bay Area Breakers |
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Utah Black Diamonds Look for Another Big Win
The Utah Black Diamonds have a 7-9 record and 21 points. They just pulled off a huge comeback against the Phoenix Flames. Utah won both mixed doubles games and then forced a DreamBreaker. In that final game, they were down 4-12 but came back to win 21-18. Tyler Loong, who had a cast on his right hand after a biking injury, played an important role. Tyler Loong went 8-3 against Tyson McGuffin to help his team win. On Saturday, Utah will face the Los Angeles Mad Drops and the Columbus Sliders. Tyler Loong is scheduled to play against Los Angeles. Yates Johnson will take his place against Columbus.
Los Angeles Mad Drops Aim to Bounce Back
The Los Angeles Mad Drops have an 11-5 record and 30 points. Their seven-match winning streak ended Friday against the Brooklyn Pickleball Team. Brooklyn did not have any of its normal starting male players. Hunter Johnson and Quang Duong struggled as they lost both men’s doubles matches against Blaine Hovenier and Ryan Fu and AJ Koller and Rafa Hewett. These two, and the rest of the team, will look to improve in their match against Utah.
Brooklyn Pickleball Team Shows Strong Spirit
The Brooklyn Pickleball Team is now 8-4 with 26 points. They surprised everyone by beating Los Angeles while using two on-site alternates, AJ Koller and Rafa Hewett. AJ Koller was outstanding in mixed doubles. He and Rachel Rohrabacher beat Catherine Parenteau and Quang Duong to seal the victory. On Saturday, Brooklyn will face the Phoenix Flames, who have been struggling.
Phoenix Flames and SoCal Hard Eights Prepare for Night Match
The Phoenix Flames are 3-12 with 10 points. The SoCal Hard Eights are 2-14 with 8 points. They will play in the Saturday Night Pickleball match. Even though the SoCal Hard Eights went 0-2 on Friday, they performed well. They took the Los Angeles Mad Drops to a DreamBreaker and held late leads against the Columbus Sliders. Blaine Hovenier and the team always bring strong energy. This will make Saturday’s game against Phoenix exciting to watch.
Importance and Next Steps
These matches are important as teams aim for better records and playoff spots. Players like Tyler Loong, who played with an injury, are inspiring their teams. Fans can expect more close games and thrilling finishes in San Clemente.
News in Brief: MLP San Clemente Saturday Showdowns
MLP San Clemente will host eight pickleball matches on Saturday. Utah Black Diamonds, Los Angeles Mad Drops, Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Phoenix Flames, and SoCal Hard Eights will compete. Teams are fighting for playoff positions. Fans can expect exciting games, including a key match between Phoenix and SoCal.
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