Los Gatos coach Todd Dissly knew at that point that his Wildcats faced an uphill battle in a key match against Saratoga that would decide the tennis championship in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

The Wildcats went into the match needing a team win to clinch the crown outright. But with Stege unable to continue at No. 2 singles, it meant that the Cats needed to win four of the six matches contested to get the victory.

They didn't, but they came close.

John Teel cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles and Patrick Brogan coasted 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.

The No. 1 doubles team of Chase Huebner and James Lok pulled out a tight three-set win, beating Brent Fong and Scott Juang 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Tin Tran and Tim Switzer lost 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, though, and Sam Wainwright and Lars Nelson fell 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3.

That left everything on the shoulders of Brian Brogan at No. 1 singles.

Brogan locked up with Saratoga ace Kevin Kaiser. The two had split in two matches earlier in the year, and they went three sets in this one before Kaiser prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

"[Brian] lost a tough three-set decision," said Dissly. "Kaiser's serve was just a little too much for him."

The three losses on the court, together with Stege's forfeit to Saratoga's Jeff Gast, proved too much for the Wildcats.

Stege and Gast, like B. Brogan and Kaiser, were also even in previous matches this season, splitting in their two meetings on the court.

Los Gatos and Saratoga each were to finish up the regular season with matches on April 25—Gatos against Cupertino and Saratoga against Los Altos. A win for each team would leave the clubs with matching 10-2 records and in a tie for first place. The Wildcats have the advantage for the postseason, tough, boasting a better record against third-place Palo Alto. The Cats swept the Vikings while the Falcons split with Paly. That gives the Wildcats a return trip to the Central Coast Section team tournament that they won last year.

"We should be one of the top seeds," said Dissly, whose club won the CCS and Northern California titles a year ago. "But it looks like this year it will be even tougher." The Cats are 18-7 overall this season.

Before advancing to team play, though, Los Gatos will take part in the league tournament this week at Saratoga. Individual players and doubles teams will play for top league honors and CCS berths in the tourney April 27 and 28.

"It should be pretty good tennis," said Dissly. "We have one of the toughest leagues around."