In the end, the streak outlived the league.

With the City League officially disbanding after this school year, St. John's run of consecutive championships ended Tuesday — on somewhat of a technicality — at eight. The Titans did not slow down one bit as they approached the end of the road, as the team gobbled up all five flight championships for an astounding seventh year in a row.

It was especially a big day for each of the team's three seniors. Evan Bechtel cruised to a win at No. 1 singles for the second year in a row, Ryan Jorgensen claimed his fourth CL singles title, and Connor Majdalani garnered the championship at No. 1 doubles in addition to receiving the league's sportsmanship of the year award. Bechtel, Jorgensen and Majdalani were in fourth grade the last time a team other than St. John's won the City League.

"It's fun to come in and dominate and win all five matches, but it would be a little more fun to have more competition in the City League," said Bechtel, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Central freshman Dugan Delp.

Ranked No. 3 in Division I, St. John's lost just nine games in the tournament and did not surrender a set. Clay crowned two runner-ups to finish second with 17 points, three more than Central Catholic. St. Francis (13 points) and Whitmer (six) rounded out the field at the one-day tournament at Jermain Park.

Jorgensen, who won his first two league titles at No. 1 singles, said the team's reservoir of talented players is something other teams in the league cannot match. Fifty-four players make up coach Jim Davis' squad.

"Our kids that are playing second doubles could play No. 1 [singles] at [nearly] every other school around here," he said. "We're so deep, and that's been the key to our success over the years."

Jorgensen made quick work of Clay's James DeMeo, prevailing 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 3 singles, Bobby Adusumilli beat Central's Michael Dennis, 6-1, 6-0. The Titans' doubles teams were equally as dominant, with Majdalani and Madhav Mehta losing just two games against the St. Francis duo of Mark Flis and Matt Britsch, and Caleb Mickler and Spencer Crawford walking off the court unblemished in each of their two matches.

Like Jorgensen, Majdalani went a perfect 4-for-4 in his City League career.

"This one," Majdalani replied when asked of the most special title. "We played so well this year. The other years we've played kind of tight and it was a pressure situation. It's pretty big for me."

Bechtel's championship came convincingly, if not easy. Delp, the younger brother of current Central standouts Morgan and Sydney Delp, trailed just 4-3 in the first set after breaking Bechtel's serve. Even in losing points, Delp battled admirably against Bechtel, a bona fide state title contender.

"That was probably the best I've ever played," Delp said. "He's a really good player. I was just proud to be hitting with him out on the court."

Bechtel (15-1) said his initial game plan — to attempt low percentage first serves and then come back with a more reasonable second serve — was foiled when Delp began attacking the service.

"He's got really good lateral movement for a freshman," Bechtel said. "It was tough for me to completely push him off the court, which I usually like to do."

From here, the meat of St. John's season begins. First up is sectionals on Thursday and Saturday, followed by a likely match up with powerful Lexington early next week in the state team tournament.

"You could say it's the home stretch," Jorgensen said.

Contact Ryan Autullo at:

rautullo@theblade.com

or 419-724-6160

First Published May 11, 2011, 1:53 a.m.