Saturday afternoon, June 3 was a special day for parents, coaches and league organizers, along with 60 or more junior tennis players as the Amador Tennis Club concluded its first six-week season of the Amador Junior Tennis Team. The final matches were played on the Argonaut High School tennis courts, followed by awards and a pizza party for all players.

RosaLee Pryor-Escamilla placed United States Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis medallions on the competing players as names were read. League co-director, Benita Asher, received her own award from the USTA - a can of pink tennis balls, among other things - for her invaluable role in coordinating league activities. When asked how many could play tennis better today than when the season began, the response was a resounding unanimous chorus from the players.

The junior tennis league follows the guidelines of "6-Tennis" - a special team tennis program designed by the Northern California section of the USTA. The term 6-Tennis is derived from a concept of six teammates, six matches, 60 minutes of play. The Amador League sponsored both beginner and intermediate divisions for children ages 8 to 13. Hoping for 48 players at the onset of the planning, the league had 66 junior players in its first season.

Amador's Junior Team Tennis is a program dedicated to providing an opportunity for every child to play tennis. Several scholarships were awarded based on family or financial need. The league was funded by a grant award from USTA NorCal, registration fees, and donations of time and equipment. Parents are trained in recreational tennis methods to coach the teams with assistance from the Amador Tennis Club volunteers.

There will be a debrief meeting for coaches and parents at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at the Jackson Civic Center for anyone interested in getting involved for the next season, which organizers hope will happen in the fall of 2007.

For more information on local tennis activities, visit www.amadortennisclub.org or call 257-1208.