California Black Bears Pickleball Streak: The California Black Bears won their third straight match on Thursday at the Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament, beating the Florida Smash 3-0 at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Strong performances in women’s, men’s, and mixed doubles helped the Black Bears stay perfect in the tournament.
California Takes Control Early
The match started with Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite facing Paula Rives and Martina Frantova in the women’s doubles. Sleeth and Padegimaite played with control and won 11-5, giving California the first point of the match.
In the men’s doubles, Juan Benitez and Michael Loyd outplayed Cason Campbell and Travis Rettenmaier. They dominated the game and cruised to an 11-3 victory.
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Close Finish in Mixed Doubles
In the first mixed doubles game, Layne Sleeth teamed up with Michael Loyd against Cason Campbell and Martina Frantova. It was a tight match, but Sleeth and Loyd edged it out 12-10. With that win, California secured the team match 3-0.
The second mixed doubles and Dreambreaker rounds were not played, as the result was already decided.
| MATCHES | California Black Bears | VS | Florida Smash | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | vs | Paula Rives / Martina Frantova | 11 – 5 |
| Men’s Doubles | Juan Benitez / Michael Loyd | vs | Cason Campbell / Travis Rettenmaier | 11 – 3 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Layne Sleeth / Michael Loyd | vs | Cason Campbell / Martina Frantova | 12 – 10 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Juan Benitez / Lina Padegimaite | vs | Travis Rettenmaier / Paula Rives | 0 – 0 |
| Dreambreaker | Michael Loyd / Juan Benitez / Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | vs | Cason Campbell / Travis Rettenmaier / Martina Frantova / Paula Rives | N/A |
Black Bears Remain Undefeated
The California Black Bears are now 3-0 in the tournament. Their strong teamwork and balance across all matchups have made them one of the most consistent teams in the competition. The Florida Smash, now 0-3, will look to regroup as they continue through the tournament.
News in Brief: California Black Bears Pickleball Streak
The California Black Bears defeated the Florida Smash 3-0 on Thursday at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They won women’s, men’s, and mixed doubles to stay unbeaten. Juan Benitez, Michael Loyd, Layne Sleeth, and Lina Padegimaite all played key roles in the win.
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