PENN TWP — In the first 20 years of the West Penn Inter-Club Junior Mixed Doubles Team Championships tennis event, there had never been a three-way tie for the title.

Until now.

Lakevue Athletic Club, Sewickley Area and Pittsburgh Golf ended up in a three-way deadlock for the title after four hours of play Thursday at Butler Country Club.

Butler Country Club pro and tournament director Whitney Snyder opted to not play a tiebreaker. Instead, he awarded all three winning teams trophies.

The winners were decided by combining the results of the 12-and-under and 18-and-under mixed-doubles round-robin tournaments.

“In the 21 year history, we've never had a three-way tie,” Snyder said. “I decided against a sudden death tiebreaker because this is meant to be a fun, summer tournament.”

So the tie went right along with the flavor of the event.

Pittsburgh Gold, a late entry into the six-team field, won the 12-and-under tournament with a 5-0 record.

Mount Lebanon claimed the 18-and-under title, also with a 5-0 mark.

The event will be shown on tape delay on Armstrong Cable in the coming weeks.

“I think the sportsmanship was exceptional this year,” Snyder said. “It's a very laid-back, summer tournament and it had an outdoor, picnic atmosphere.”

Which is exactly what Snyder was going for.

The tournament is a unique one in the area, as well as the state.

Not many doubles tournaments are staged. Even fewer mixed-doubles tournaments are available for players to enter.

“The push is on the team aspect,” Snyder said. “The focus is on the certain club you're playing for. It's not cutthroat. It's not about what your ranking is.”

The pros for the six teams were on hand to support their doubles tandems.

“It was nice for the pros to come up and take the day off,” Snyder said. “It was very well attended in terms of the pros. That's a very positive thing.”

Overall Team Standings

1t-Lakevue Athletic Club, 1t-Sewickley Area, 1t-Pittsburgh Golf, 4-Mount Lebanon, 5-Butler Country Club, 6-Butler Junior Tennis Association

12-and-Under Champion

Pittsburgh Golf 5-0

18-and-Under Champion

Mount Lebanon 5-0

Boys

Sportsmanship award: Jake Santora, Butler Country Club

Extra effort award: Noah Klaner, Mount Lebanon

Girls

Sportsmanship award: Gabi Schultz, Sewickley Area

Extra efford award: Mikayla Turner, Butler Junior Tennis Association