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Three boys tennis teams will be crowned champs Saturday at Slater. Here’s what you need to know

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Three boys tennis teams will be crowned champs Saturday at Slater. Here’s what you need to know

Championship Saturday at Slater Park is always a special one and this year will be no different.

Six teams will head to Pawtucket to play for three titles in the RIIL Boys Tennis Championships. A schedule changed changed the times around, so the schedule will run as follows – Division II at 2 p.m., followed by Division III at 4 p.m. and closing with Division I at 6 p.m.

The weather is supposed to be miles better than last year, which should lead to a spectacular day of tennis. The air will be filled with “COME ONs,” “LET’S GOs” and other exclamations after every point and when we’re done three teams will be crowed champs.

To get you ready for a big day of tennis action, here’s everything you need to know about the Division I, II and III championship.

RIIL Boys Tennis State Championship

No. 1 Barrington vs. No. 1 La Salle

TIME: 6 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON: Barrington 12-0, La Salle 10-2

HEAD TO HEAD: Barrington beat La Salle at home, 6-1, on April 10, then beat the Rams, 5-2, on May 14.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, La Salle beat No. 7 St. Ponaganset, 4-1; in the semifinals, Barrington beat No. 4 Moses Brown, 4-0, while the Rams beat No. 3 Lincoln, 4-0.

TOTAL TITLES: Barrington 8 (8 State), La Salle 13 (10 State, 1 Division II, 1 Division III)

LAST TITLE MATCH: La Salle beat Barrington, 4-2, in the 2023 State Championship match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: La Salle beat Barrington, 4-2, to win the 2023 State Championship. Barrington beat Wheeler, 4-0, to win the 2019 State Championship.

COACHES: Barrington – Story Salit; La Salle – Tom Martin.

PROBABLE SINGLES MATCHES: Luke Sapolsky, B, vs. Andrew Smith, LSA; Charlie Martin, B, vs. Dyllon Litmanovich, LSA; Jeremy Kuo, B, vs. Joey Cavanagh, LSA; Vineet Abbineni, B, vs. Zach Perullo, LSA.

PROBABLE DOUBLES MATCHES: Gabe Anderson/Bryce Kupperman, B, vs. Yash Choudhary/Max Wallace, LSA. Justin Kuo/Garrett Meehan, B, vs. Luke Cavanagh/Callum Bixby; Henry Birbiglia/Zac Spear, B, vs. Ryan Coffey/Andrew D’Artista, LSA.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Barrington’s strength in this matchup is its doubles. The Eagles recipe to success is rather simple – sweep three doubles, Abbineni wins at No. 4, raise trophy. For La Salle, its singles will need to take at least three points and hope a doubles team can grab a win. In a dream scenario, this match comes down to a third set between Sapolsky and Smith at No. 1 – because it’s not often that two of the best players in the state are playing with a team title hanging in the balance.

RUEB’S PICK: Barrington

RIIL Boys Tennis Division II Championship

No. 1 East Greenwich vs. No. 2 North Kingstown

TIME: 2 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON: East Greenwich 12-0, North Kingstown 10-2

HEAD TO HEAD: East Greenwich won at North Kingstown, 4-3, on April 25.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, East Greenwich beat No. 8 Narragansett, 4-0, while North Kingstown beat No. 7 Chariho, 4-0. In the semifinals, the Avengers beat No. 5 RM, 4-1, while the Skippers beat No. 3 East Providence, 4-1.

TOTAL TITLES: East Greenwich 4 (3 Division II, 1 Division III), North Kingstown 6 (6 Division II)

LAST TITLE MATCH: North Kingstown beat East Greenwich, 4-3, in the 2023 Division II Championship match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: East Greenwich beat Lincoln, 4-1, to win the 2019 Division II Championship. North Kingstown beat East Greenwich, 4-3, to win the 2023 Division II Championship.

COACHES: East Greenwich – Marisa Salvadore; North Kingstown – Tim O’Neill.

PROBABLE SINGLES MATCHES: Henry Seely, EG, Charlie Lawton, NK; Ben Neimark, EG, vs. Brady Hanks, NK; Aristo Liu, EG, vs. Andrew Neville, NK; David Levy, EG, vs. Owen Tegan, NK.

PROBABLE DOUBLES MATCHES: Duncan Kling/Rajeev Sen, EG, vs. Will Michaud/Max Zangari, NK. Liam Levy/Ravi Vishnu, EG, vs. Alex Ashton/Alex Votta, NK; Arya Gaind/Daniel Larson, EG, def. Aaron Montoya/Constantin Reinecke, NK.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Expect the unexpected in this one. The last match was close and while North Kingstown’s lineup has remained the same since, East Greenwich has had a few changes in its ladder that give it a new look for this final. The Avengers will have revenge on their mind after last season, but NK can say that same after losing to EG earlier this spring. If NK has an edge, it might be in singles, where it could be in line for three points if everything falls right. East Greenwich’s doubles could very easily come up with three in this one, so if there’s one match to watch for it’s at No. 2 with Hanks and Neimark playing for the point that decides the title.

RUEB’S PICK: North Kingstown

RIIL Division III Boys Tennis Championship

No. 1 North Smithfield vs. No. 2 Cranston East

TIME: 4 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON: North Smithfield 12-0, Cranston East 11-1

HEAD TO HEAD: North Smithfield hit the road and beat Cranston East, 5-2, on May 9.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, Cranston East beat No. 7 Scituate/Johnson, 4-1; in the semifinals, North Smithfield beat No. 4 Coventry, 4-0, while the Thunderbolts beat No. 3 Burrillville, 4-0.

TOTAL TITLES: North Smithfield 1 (1 Division III), Cranston East 8 (8 State)

LAST TITLE MATCH: North Smithfield lost to Narragansett, 4-0, in the 2014 Division III Championship match. Cranston East lost to Providence Country Day, 4-0, in the 2009 Division IV Championship match.

LAST TITLE MATCH WIN: North Smithfield beat Narragansett, 4-2, to win the 2013 Division III Championship. Cranston East beat Barrington, 4-2, to win the 1984 State Championship.

COACHES: North Smithfield – Matthew Gambardella; Cranston East – Drew Hochman.

PROBABLE SINGLES MATCHES: Sam Drolet, NS, vs. Eston Fowler, CE; Davis Carter, NS, vs. Eri Ogunde, CE; Noah Schwartz, NS, vs. Jackson Sigler, CE; Justin Elledge, NS, Adrian Rosales, NS.

PROBABLE DOUBLES MATCHES: Tim Ferry/Nate Tremblay, NS, vs. Jason Barrera/Ansony Chavarria, CE; Kaiden Dalby/Bryce Santos, NS, vs. James Fabiano/Jefferson Shi, CE; Dylan Driscoll/Ben Tessier, NS, vs. Johan Nawrocki/Danny Song, CE.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: North Smithfield’s regular-season win at Cranston East was convincing, but there were points to be had for the Thunderbolts. If East wins this title, it will be on the back of three singles wins because it’s hard to see North Smithfield dropping two of the three doubles matches. The Northmen’s easiest path to a championship is wins at Nos. 1 and 3 singles and top two doubles.

RUEB’S PICK: North Smithfield.

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