California Black Bears Pickleball Victory: The California Black Bears defeated the Nashville Chefs in a tight match at the Marathon Major League Pickleball (MLP) event in St. Louis on Saturday. The teams battled across five rounds, including a high-pressure Dreambreaker, at Chaifetz Arena. With this win, the California Black Bears now hold a 4-0 record in the tournament.
A Strong Start and Back-and-Forth Battles
The California Black Bears began with a powerful performance in the women’s doubles match. Layne Sleeth and Lina Padegimaite dominated Michelle Esquivel and Ewa Radzikowska, winning 11-2.
However, the Nashville Chefs bounced back quickly in the men’s doubles. Marshall Brown and Anderson Scarpa beat Michael Loyd and Juan Benitez 11-5 to even the score.
Mixed Doubles Heat Up the Court
The momentum shifted again in the first mixed doubles match. Ewa Radzikowska and Marshall Brown gave Nashville the lead with an 11-6 win over Lina Padegimaite and Juan Benitez.
But California was not done. In the second mixed doubles round, Layne Sleeth teamed up with Michael Loyd to overpower Michelle Esquivel and Anderson Scarpa 11-3. This tied the overall match and sent the teams into a Dreambreaker to decide the winner.
| Match | California Black Bears | vs | Nashville Chefs | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Doubles | Layne Sleeth / Lina Padegimaite | vs | Michelle Esquivel / Ewa Radzikowska | 11 – 2 |
| Men’s Doubles | Michael Loyd / Juan Benitez | vs | Marshall Brown / Anderson Scarpa | 5 – 11 |
| Mixed Doubles 1 | Lina Padegimaite / Juan Benitez | vs | Ewa Radzikowska / Marshall Brown | 6 – 11 |
| Mixed Doubles 2 | Layne Sleeth / Michael Loyd | vs | Michelle Esquivel / Anderson Scarpa | 11 – 3 |
| Dreambreaker | Michael Loyd / Juan Benitez / Lina Padegimaite / Layne Sleeth | vs | Marshall Brown / Anderson Scarpa / Ewa Radzikowska / Michelle Esquivel |
22 – 20 |
Dreambreaker Thriller
The Dreambreaker—a singles format involving all four players—was intense and full of suspense. Each team fought hard for every point. The California Black Bears finally won the Dreambreaker 22-20, clinching the match in dramatic fashion.
News in Brief: California Black Bears Pickleball Victory
California Black Bears edged past Nashville Chefs at the MLP St. Louis event after winning a tight Dreambreaker 22-20. The match featured strong performances in doubles and mixed doubles, with both teams tied at 2-2 before the deciding round. California remains unbeaten with four wins in the tournament.
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