When it came down to it, Bayport-Blue Point junior Lily Castka had what it took.

The Suffolk County small school girls tennis championship was a close competition right to the final rally. No. 2 Bayport-Blue Point claimed its fifth consecutive Section XI title in a 4-3 decision over No. 1 Ross in Shoreham on Saturday.

The title was ultimately decided by a neck-and-neck first singles match between Castka and Ross sophomore Brooke Saracco. Long after every other match had concluded, Castka and Saracco had all eyes on them. Castka fought back from a 0-5 deficit in the second set to win the three-hour battle, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.

“Even when I was down 0-5 in the second set, I just knew I had to keep fighting and hitting the ball even if I missed,” Castka said. “We lost to Ross during our regular

See Full Page