Weekend Review - Two IRT Tier 4 events

Two Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events took place on this past weekend.

Northwest Open

The first was the Northwest Open in Bellingham, Washington, where Joey Lakowske defeated Jimmy Lowe, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6 to take the title. Lakowske defeated the US Junior Team player Taylor Knoth in the semis, 11-8, 11-2, 4-11, 10-12, 13-11, while Lowe beat Grant Stalley.

Knoth took third by defeating Stalley, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3, and won doubles with Joshua Hungerford beating Lakowske and David Laforest in the final, 15-7, 15-11.

Miller Lite Open

The other IRT event was the Miller Lite Open in York, Pennsylvania that we've reported on as a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event. But it was also an IRT event. We've got the draw for you courtesy of Dave Negrete, IRT commissioner.

Top seed Andy Hawthorne was upset in the final by second seed Travis Aldinger, but it was a battle. Aldinger won the first two games, but Hawthorne dug in, changed serve strategy, and came back to win games three and four.

In the tie-breaker, the crowd got behind Aldinger, the hometown player who was also one of the tournament directors, and boosted by that support, he pulled out the tie-breaker, winning the match 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6.

In the semis, Aldinger defeated Ben Drumm, 11-1, 12-10, 11-6, and Hawthorne took out US Junior Team member Danny Lavely, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2.

Miller Lite Open, York, Penn.
Final
Travis Aldinger d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6.

Semi-final
Aldinger d. Ben Drumm, 11-1, 12-10, 11-6
Hawthorne d. Danny Lavely, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2

Quarter finals
Aldinger d. Jamal Harris, 11-3, 11-1, 11-3
Lavely d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6

Drumm d. John Barrett, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3
Aldinger d. Stephen Lee, 11-4, 11-1, 11-3

Round of 16
Hawthorne d. Ryan Wilson, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Harris d. Marty Hammond, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2

Zelada d. Adam Long, 11-8, 11-0, 11-6
Lavely d. Page, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6

Drumm d. Brad Krish, forfeit
Barrett d. Eric New, 11-4, 1-11, 11-4, 11-9

Lee d. Jeremy Workman, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5
Aldinger d. Lance Warigon, 11-0, 11-3, 11-1

First round
Long d. Mitch Posner, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5
Drumm d. Ronan Mooney, 5-11, 11-3, 11-0, 11-3
New d. Justin Bullock, 11-2, 4-11, 12-14, 11-0, 11-0

Follow the bouncing ball....