VALENCIA — LakeVue Athletic Club's four-player contingent felt right at home during the 14th annual West Penn Junior Tennis Open.

And they were.

Thursday's youth mixed doubles event, scheduled for Butler Country Club, was moved to LakeVue Athletic Club's indoor courts because of rain.

LakeVue's 18-under duo of Adam Blasinski and Marlys Bridgham, along with its 12-under team of Jonathan Harrison and Luci Gloninger, won their respective divisions.

"We're comfortable here," Bridgham said. "We know the courts and the surroundings."

Bridgham of Pine-Richland, and Blasinski of Hampton are both 13 and entering eighth grade in the fall. They succeeded in the 18-under division against older competition in the round-robin format.

They had never played together as a doubles tandem before.

"It seemed to come naturally," Blasinski said. "We just played well together."

LakeVue's junior tennis program has 150 kids during the school year, losing some to outdoor programs during the summer.

"We have good coaching and a good system in place for the kids here," LakeVue owner Krishnan Anandan said. "Our kids are used to good competition, too, which the Butler kids gave them today."

Only six of the 32 youth tennis organizations invited participated in thev event.

"I wish we had more because it's a great experience for these kids," 19-year-old Butler Country Club assistant pro Matt Kaye said. "There aren't many opportunities for kids to play mixed doubles."

Kaye was the No. 1 singles player at Sewickley Academy and said he "would have loved to been in something like this when I was a kid."

While LakeVue tallied 12 points to win the event, Butler Junior Tennis Association finished second with 10 points.

Zach McCafferty and Courtney Gallagher comprised BJTA's 18-under doubles team for the secind straight year. Both will be sophomores at Butler High School in the fall and are members of their respective varsity tennis teams.

They comprised BJTA's 12-under doubles team in this event five years ago.

"I've actually played in this five straight years now," Gallagher said. "I never play mixed doubles, so I look forward to it. You always meet new people and it's fun.

"Clubs that don't take part in this ... They're missing out."

McCafferty said he's only played mixed doubles "maybe one other time" besides this event.

"We did lousy last year, then only lost one match this year," he said. "We got used to working with each other as partners."

Tournament director and Butler Country Club tennis pro Whitney Snyder is being inducted into the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame during a dinner Oct. 23 at the Lemont Restaurant in Pittsburgh.

"His (Snyder's) contributions to tennis in Pittsburgh are incredible," Anandan said. "There's no way to describe in words what he does for the game.

"This tournament is a small example of that."

Snyder isn't worried about the Hall of Fame or who wins his anual West Penn Junior Open. He cares only about the kids' experience within it.

"I love kids and I want them to experience something special," he said. "Sure, I wish more were here, but the 22 kids who were here walked out having a good time and I'm proud of that.

"Nobody here will remember who won. They'll all remember the experience."

Snyder said club pros "are like Pied Pipers within their own organizations. They need to look at this event and promote it from within. That's the only way it will grow.

"We provide a safe environment in which kids can meet new kids and experience tennis in a new culture. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?"

West Penn Junior OpenJuly 2 at LakeVue Athletic ClubStandingsLakeVue: 18-under-Adam Blasinski/Marlys Bridgham,

12-under-Jonathan Harrison/Luci Gloninger 12 points

Butler Junior Tennis Association: 18-under-Zach McCafferty/Courtney Gallagher,

12-under-Henry May/Zoey McCafferty 10 points

Forest Hills: 18-under-Adam Neidig/Chelsea Stein,

12-under-Jake Houston/Marley Shovlin 8 points

Chapel Gate: 18-under-Will Barrington/Peggy Kanterman,

12-under-Noah Kasian/Genna Kasian 5 points

Club Sport & Health: 12-under-Natoli Farber/Anna Jovin 5 points

Butler Country Club: 18-under-Brooks Antill/Rachel Diehl,

12-under- Chadd Cummings/Claire Weiland 3 points

Sportsmanship awards: Noah Kasian, Marley Shovlin

Extra effort awards: Henry May, Anna Jovin