SoCal Hard Eights Secure Bronze: On Sunday at the 2024 MLP Orlando Playoffs, the SoCal Hard Eights defeated the Atlanta Bouncers, 3-1, to secure third place in the 2024 Major League Pickleball (MLP) season. The match, played at the Grandstand court, saw intense competition across four highly contested games. SoCal’s victory came after an impressive comeback following a tight loss in the Women’s Doubles.
Women’s Doubles: Atlanta Draws First Blood
The match began with the Women’s Doubles, where Atlanta’s Yana Newell and Irina Tereschenko gave a tough fight. However, it was the SoCal Hard Eights’ Emily Cederquist and Susannah Barr who took control late in the game, winning 25-23. This set the tone for an exciting clash throughout the day.
Men’s Doubles: SoCal Pulls Ahead
The Men’s Doubles saw a strong performance from SoCal’s Todd Fought and Anderson Scarpa, who overcame Atlanta’s Max Manthou and Erik Lange in a thrilling contest, winning 25-20. This victory put SoCal ahead 2-1 in the series.
Mixed Doubles: Cederquist and Fought Deliver in Crucial Moment
In Mixed Doubles 1, Cederquist and Fought teamed up to pull off a close 25-23 win over Atlanta’s Yana Newell and Erik Lange, putting SoCal one match away from securing the third-place title. The pair fought hard through every point, never allowing Newell and Lange to gain an advantage.
Mixed Doubles 2: Atlanta Keeps Hope Alive
Atlanta fought back in Mixed Doubles 2 with Susannah Barr and Anderson Scarpa, as they defeated SoCal’s Irina Tereschenko and Max Manthou, 25-19. The match was exciting, but the comeback wasn’t enough to prevent SoCal from ultimately winning the third-place showdown.
News in Brief: SoCal Hard Eights Secure Bronze
The SoCal Hard Eights claimed third place in the 2024 MLP Orlando after a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Bouncers. SoCal won in Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles 1, with the Bouncers securing a win in Mixed Doubles 2. Emily Cederquist, Todd Fought, and Susannah Barr played key roles in their team’s victory.
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