Strength In Numbers

Kyle Parker led Mills Godwin, No. 1 in the DigitalSports Top 10, to a defeat of rival and No. 2 Douglas Freeman.

Don't look at the top to find Mills Godwin's strength in boys tennis.

Sure, sophomore Kyle Parker is about as good as it gets. But look down the crowded, talented ladder and you find Kevin McMillen, Chris Cosby and Shad Harrell, who each could probably be the No. 1 player, or close to it, at any other school in the Central Region.

The Eagles showed their tremendous depth Tuesday afternoon dispatching of Douglas Freeman 9-0. It was the Rebels" first loss, and it shouldn't drop them from their comfy No. 2 perch in the DigitalSports Top 10.

The Eagles, of course, are No. 1 and look as good as ever. Just ask Freeman coach Jeff Given.

"They're good. Their No. 4 player (Harrell) was their No. 2 two years ago," Given said. "Cosby (No. 3) was their No. 2 player last year."

Harrell defeated freshman Charles Tilley 6-2, 6-1 to get the scoring going for Godwin. Then Parker fought off a painful right wrist and shoulder injury to hold off a game Philip Parrish 6-4, 6-4.

 "I was worried in the beginning," Parker said. "I missed some easy shots. He hit some great shots. He got in my head a little bit. I had to focus a little more. I can't think about my wrist at all. I knew it was going to hurt. I just couldn't let it bother me."

Parrish, a senior, has never beaten Parker in high-school competition. The Freeman star was coming off a Mid-Atlantic 18-under title this past weekend. He played six matches in three days, the last on Monday.

"I don't know if he ran out of steam," Given said. "It's not an excuse, but I'm sure he was tired. Kyle played his normal game. Not too many unforced errors."

One by one wins in singles started collecting for Godwin. No. 5 Kevin Calhoun, Cosby and Harrell each handled business.

Then when things looked iffy for No. 2 McMillan (6-2, 7-6, 8-6 tiebrake) and No. 6 Avinash Sridhar (6-4, 7-5), they fought off deficits to finish their matches in straight sets, making the doubles outcome a moot point.

"The key to us is we've got those two seniors," Godwin coach Tom Hoy said of Cosby and Harrell, who each defeated Freeman's promising freshmen (Tilley and Zach Carl). "We don't drop off a lot. Our 2-3-4-5 are all good tennis players. We're good there.

"To beat a team like that 9-0 is a real good accomplishment."

Singles: Kyle Parker def. Phillip Parrish 6-4, 6-4; Kevin McMillen def. Gray Cassada  6-2, 7-6 (8-6); Chris Cosby def. Zach Carl  6-2, 6-1; Shad Harrell def. Charles Tilley  6-2, 6-1; Kevin Calhoun def. Watlkins Hunt  6-0, 6-4; Avinash Sridhar def. Walker   6-4. 7-5