2010 Pan American Championships - No surprises so far REDUX Part II

No surprises from the first day of elimination at the 23rd Pan American Championship in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It continues to be a tough tournament for Andreas Herrera of Columbia as he lost in the Round of 16 to 4th seed Vincent Gagnon, 15-4, 15-5. But he's still in doubles with partner Francisco Gomez. They'll play Curtis Winter and Ward Myers of Puerto Rico on Thursday, as the Puerto Ricans upset the Ecuador team of Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Alvarez, 15-11, 9-15, 11-8.

Two other upsets - according to the seeding - in the men's singles Round of 16 on Wednesday both involved Costa Rican players. One was positive and one negative. The positive one was Ivan Villegas's victory over Bolivian Carlos Keller Vargas, 15-11, 15-3, but the negative was Venezuelan Cesar Castro's defeat of Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-14.

XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras

MEN'S SINGLES

First Round

Christian Wer (Guatamala) vs. Roberto Nasser (Honduras), 15-13, 15-8
Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) d. Fernando Sierra (Guatamala), 15-2, 15-0
Francisco Gomez (Columbia) d. Raymundo Garcia (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-10

Andres Herrera (Columbia) d. Simon Perdomo (Dom. Rep.), 9-15, 15-3, 11-6
Luis Perez (Dom. Rep.) d. Osvaldo Garcia (Puerto Rico), 15-8, 15-5

Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-9, 15-5
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Carlos Barrios (Nicaragua), 15-6, 15-10

Ivan Villegas (Costa Rica) d. Fernando Mansell (Nicaragua), 15-4, 15-4
Raul Banegas (Honduras) d. Roberto Santander (Venezuela), 15-5, 13-15, 11-9

Round of 16

Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico) d. Roberto Nasser (Honduras), 15-3, 15-13
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-6

Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Francisco Gomez (Columbia), 15-5, 15-11
Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Andres Herrera (Columbia), 15-4, 15-5

Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Luis Perez (Dom. Rep.), 15-10, 15-5
Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-14

Ivan Villegas (Costa Rica) d. Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-3
Kris Odegard (Canada) d. Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-4, 15-7

Quarter Finals

Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico) vs. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Vincent Gagnon (Canada) vs. Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)

Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico) vs. Cesar Castro (Venezuela)
Kris Odegard (Canada) vs. Ivan Villegas (Costa Rica)

WOMEN'S SINGLES

First Round

Monica Escobar (Guatemala) d. Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.), 12-15, 15-8, 11-9
Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) d. Ana Fortin (Honduras), 15-13, 15-5
Vivian Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) d. Kim Vanegas (Puerto Rico), 15-14, 15-9

Round of 16

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Monica Escobar (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-0
Cristina Cordova (Ecuador) d. Cristina Amaya (Columbia), 15-7, 15-8

Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.) d. Carolina Gomez (Columbia), injury forfeit
Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-6, 15-4

Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) d. Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-2
Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia) d. Marie Gomar (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-9

Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-2
Jen Saunders (Canada) d. Vivian Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-1

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria (Mexico) vs. Cristina Cordova (Ecuador)
Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada) vs. Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.)

Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) vs. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia)
Jen Saunders (Canada) vs. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador)

MEN'S DOUBLES

First Round

Ignacio Sabate & Juan S Cageao (Costa Rica) d. Eduardo Kafie & Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-14, 15-6
Ricardo Monroy & Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) d. Cesar Castillo & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-6
Curtis Winter & Ward Myers (Puerto Rico) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador), 15-11, 9-15, 11-8
Luis Perez & Leonel Simo (Dom. Rep.) vs. Christian Wer & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 12-15, 15-10, 11-10
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) d. Carlos Barrios & Fernando Mansell (Nicaragua), 15-5, 15-7

Quarter Finals

Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico) vs. Ignacio Sabate & Juan S Cageao (Costa Rica)
Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) vs. Ricardo Monroy & Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia)

Andres Herrera & Francisco Gomez (Columbia) vs. Curtis Winter & Ward Myers (Puerto Rico)
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) vs. Luis Perez & Leonel Simo (Dom. Rep.)

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

First Round

Ana Fortin & Pamela Sierra (Honduras) d. Kim Vanegas & Raquel Perez (Puerto Rico), 15-6, 15-14

Quarter Finals

Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) vs. Ana Fortin & Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
Marianna Tobon & Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) vs. Carolina Gomez & Cristina Amaya (Columbia)
Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) vs. Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada) vs. Lucy Zachrisson & Marie Gomar (Guatemala)

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 Pan American Championships - Elimination Round Preview

The elimination round of the 23rd Pan American Championship begins Wednesday in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Everyone in the singles divisions will play and many of the doubles teams also, although only those who have first round matches. The other doubles teams won't play until Thursday.

Mexican Gil De Los Rios is seeded 1st in men's singles with Canadian Kris Odegard 2nd, Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) 3rd and Vincent Gagnon (Canada) 4th. One potential second round match to look forward to is Gagnon against Andres Herrera of Columbia.

On the women's side Paola Longoria of Mexico is top seed with Canadian Jennifer Saunders 2nd seed. Nancy Enriquez of Mexico is 3rd with Brandi Jacobson Prentice 4th. Potential matches to watch for here are Enriquez against Jenny Daza of Bolivia in the quarters, and on the top side Jacobson Prentice versus former top 10 women's pro Claudine Garcia from the Dominican Republic.

In doubles, the exciting matches won't likely be until the semi-finals as the other countries will try to prevent Canada-Mexico showdowns in the finals.

XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras

MEN'S SINGLES

Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico) BYE
Christian Wer (Guatamala) vs. Roberto Nasser (Honduras)

Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) vs. Fernando Sierra - (Guatamala)
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) BYE

Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) BYE
Raymundo Garcia (Puerto Rico) vs. Francisco Gomez - COL

Andres Herrera (Columbia) vs. Simon Perdomo (Dom. Rep.)
Vincent Gagnon (Canada) BYE

Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico) BYE
Luis Perez (Dom. Rep.) vs. Osvaldo Garcia (Puerto Rico)

Cesar Castro (Venezuela) vs. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina)
Carlos Barrios (Nicaragua) vs. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)

Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) BYE
Fernando Mansell (Nicaragua) vs. Ivan Villegas (Costa Rica)

Roberto Santander (Venezuela) vs. Raul Banegas (Honduras)
Kris Odegard (Canada) BYE

WOMEN'S SINGLES

First Round

Monica Escobar (Guatemala) vs. Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Ana Fortin (Honduras) vs. Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela)
Vivian Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) vs. Kim Vanegas (Puerto Rico)

Round of 16

Paola Longoria (Mexico) vs. Monica Escobar (Guatemala) or Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Cristina Cordova (Ecuador) vs. Cristina Amaya (Columbia)

Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.) vs. Carolina Gomez (Columbia)
Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada) vs. Pamela Sierra (Honduras)

Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) vs. Ana Fortin (Honduras) or Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela)
Marie Gomar (Guatemala) vs. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia)

Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) vs. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela)
Jen Saunders (Canada) vs. Vivian Rodriguez (Puerto Rico) or Kim Vanegas (Puerto Rico)

MEN'S DOUBLES

First Round

Ignacio Sabate & Juan S Cageao (Costa Rica) vs. Eduardo Kafie & Selvin Cruz (Honduras)
Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) vs. Cesar Castillo & Luis Reveron (Venezuela)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) vs. Curtis Winter & Ward Myers (Puerto Rico)
Luis Perez & Leonel Simo (Dom. Rep.) vs. Christian Wer & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) vs. Carlos Barrios & Fernando Mansell (Nicaragua)

Quarter Finals

Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico) vs. Ignacio Sabate & Juan S Cageao (Costa Rica) or Eduardo Kafie & Selvin Cruz (Honduras)
Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) vs. Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) or Cesar Castillo & Luis Reveron (Venezuela)

Andres Herrera & Francisco Gomez (Columbia) vs. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) or Curtis Winter & Ward Myers (Puerto Rico)
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada) or Carlos Barrios & Fernando Mansell (Nicaragua) vs. Luis Perez & Leonel Simo (Dom. Rep.) or Christian Wer & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)

WOMEN'S DOUBLES

First Round

Kim Vanegas & Raquel Perez (Puerto Rico) vs. Ana Fortin & Pamela Sierra (Honduras)

Quarter Finals

Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) vs. Kim Vanegas & Raquel Perez (Puerto Rico) or Ana Fortin & Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
Marianna Tobon & Islhey Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) vs. Carolina Gomez & Cristina Amaya (Columbia)

Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) vs. Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada) vs. Lucy Zachrisson & Marie Gomar (Guatemala)

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 Pan American Championships - Preliminary Round Ends

It's been a tough day for Columbian men at the 23rd Pan American Championships in San Pedro Sula, Honduras as both Andres Herrera and Franciso Gomez lost their last preliminary round matches in tie-breakers.

Herrera, ranked 23rd on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), lost to Carlos Keller Vargas of Bolivia, 10-15, 15-11, 11-6. Keller Vargas is the current World Junior Champion in Boys 16 and under. Costa Rican Felipe Camacho defeated Gomez 9-15, 15-1, 11-10.

The rest of the men's results on Monday were as expected, but Canadian Kris Odegard did need a tie-breaker to defeat Cesar Castro of Venezuela, winning 13-15, 15-12, 11-0. Hie team-mate Vincent Gagnon won in straight games against Ivan Villegas of Costa Rica, 15-5, 15-1.

Both Mexican men also won, but like Odegard, Gil De Los Rios needed a third game before warding off Osvaldo Garcia of Puerto Rico, 15-3, 12-15, 11-3. Polo Gutierrez defeated Jose Daniel Alvarez in two straight, 15-10, 15-9.

One minor surprise on the women's side as Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic defeated Bolivian Jenny Daza Navia, 13-15, 15-12, 11-4. Daza Navia is a strong young player, and Garcia hasn't played in an international event in some time. But Garcia was 7th on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour at the end of the 2001-02 season.

In other women's action of note Paola Longoria (Mexico) soundly defeated Maria Paz Munoz of Ecuador, 15-3, 15-3. And in an upset by the WPRO rankings, Canadian Brandi Jacobson Prentice defeated Columbian Cristina Amaya, 15-9, 15-14. Jacobson Prentice is ranked 29th on the WPRO while Amaya is 18th.

Finally, current Canadian Champion Jennifer Saunders won her last match, defeating Carolina Gomez (Columbia), 15-10, 15-5.

The preliminary round concludes Monday with Tuesday being a day off prior to the beginning of the elimination round on Wednesday. That round continues through Saturday.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up

IRT Network.com Open

Jose Rojas won the Open division in St Louis on weekend at the IRT Network.com Open. He beat Andy Hawthorne in the final 15-11, 15-12 and Tyler Otto in the semi-final, 15-4, 13-15, 11-10. Hawthorne also needed a tie-breaker in the semis to defeat Tony Carson, 2-15, 15-14, 11-9.

Eric Desrochers and Lee Connell won the Open doubles division by defeating Woody Clouse and Ben Koltun in the final, 15-12, 15-8. They beat Jordan McKnight and Paul Orszulak in the semis, 15-9, 15-5, while Clouse and Koltun defeated Dan Whitley and Erik Becker 15-9, 15-6.

YMCA Topeka Kansas Open

Grant Barker won the 2nd Annual YMCA Topeka Kansas Open - a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - by defeating Kevin Buehler in the final, 11-7, 11-0, 11-7. Barker beat Rosco Halsey in the semi-finals and Buehler defeated Daniel Pflaster, 12-10, 11-5, 14-16, 11-6 in the other semi.

But in doubles Buehler and Pflaster teamed up and won the event by defeating Halsey and Caleb Schraeder in the final, 15-6, 10-15, 11-8. In the semi-finals, Halsey and Schraeder had upset Barker and Chad Anderson, who were 2nd seeds, winning 11-15, 15-10, 11-8, while Buehler and Pflaster got by Armand Way and Richard Bocanegra, 11-15, 15-6, 11-7.

For the 1st time since 2003

Jack Huczek hasn't made the semis in consecutive IRT tournaments for the first time since February of 2003 - over 7 years. He occasionally failed to make the semis in that period, but never twice in a row.

But he only made the quarters of the Long Island event in January 2003 and the Coral Springs, Florida event in February of that year. In fact, those were the last of four consecutive tournaments when Huczek did not get as far as the semis. The 2002-03 was Huczek's second on tour and the last season he finished in the quarters or higher more often than advancing the semis or beyond.

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 Pan American Championships - No surprises so far

There have been no surprises so far at the 23rd Pan American Championships in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Both Paola Longoria (Mexico) and Jennifer Saunders (Canda) have won all their matches so far, as have Columbian Cristina Amaya, Canadian Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Ecuadoran Maria Paz Munoz and Bolivian Jenny Daza Navia.

Cristina Cordova, bronze medalist at last year's World Junior Championships, has lost a match, but it was to Saunders, 15-7, 15-3, on Sunday.

It's a similar story on the men's side. Mexicans Polo Gutierrez and Gil De Los Rios and Canadians Kris Odegard and Vincent Gagnon have all won their matches so far. But their toughest tests will come Monday as the preliminary round ends with the final matches that will set up the seeding for the elimination round that will begin on Wednesday.

Chile absent also

In our shock at the absence of the Americans from Honduras, The Racquetball Blog overlooked the fact that there are no players from Chile either, which is also unfortunate.

Also, Bolivian Carola Loma is absent from the tournament, which we understand is for personal reasons. But as a result there's only one Bolivian woman there, so no doubles team.

Finally, the facility has some new courts, although they are at the same club that has previously hosted international competitions.

The preliminary round ends Monday with Tuesday being a day off prior to the beginning of the elimination round on Wednesday. That round continues through Saturday.

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Waselenchuk wins IRTNetwork.com Open final

Kane Waselenchuk remains undefeated this season as he won again on Sunday in the final of the IRTNetwork.com Open in St Louis, Missouri, defeating Rocky Carson 13-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-1. It was the second straight International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament final between Waselenchuk and Carson, who played each other two weeks ago in Sarasota, Florida.

As in Florida, Carson started strong with a mixture of serves, but usually drives to the right side - the lefhanded Waselechuk's backhand side. They were back and forth in game one, with ties at 3 and 5 through 8.

But it was Carson who got to 10 first after several side outs at 9-8. Waselenchuk got a side out, then took a time out and leveled the score at 10. Carson regained the serve, and hit a drive serve ace to the back right corner. But in trying to repeat that on the next serve he served short.

Waselenchuk scored two points, and although Carson did get another chance to serve, it was Waselenchuk who took the first game 13-11.

Carson could have been excused for being down after losing a close game like that, but he kept up his strong play in game two, taking a 5-1 lead. They went back and forth at that score for 9 rallies until Carson was able to push on and make it 8-1. Waselenchuk got a few more points before Carson closed out game two 11-4.

In game three, Waselenchuk got an early lead at 3-1 and then there was another series of side outs. Waselenchuk got another point for 4-1 then a few more side outs. During this period Carson seemed to lose confidence in his service strategy.

Carson's strategy - a mix of drive serves and off speed serves to the right side with a few z serves to the left thrown in - had worked through games one and two, and he used the strategy effectively in Florida. But some good returns from Waselenchuk got Carson to try some lobs - left and right - which were returned for winners by Waselenchuk, who seized the momentum to push through to take game three 11-2.

It was more of the same in game four. Carson's frustration boiled over when he complained about the referee incorrectly calling the score and was given a technical for his objection, which made the score 3-0 at that point. Waselenchuk went on to win game four 11-1 and take the match.

Throughout the match Waselenchuk lob served to Carson's forehand save for a few occasions, including one drive serve in game two that went long. This was the strategy that Waselenchuk used against Carson in the second half of their match in Florida.

In the Don't Try This At Home department, Waselenchuk hit three pinch shots in the right corner from the back left that weren't much more than a flick of the wrist. The second of them was late in game one that made the score 10-10.

Waselenchuk's win reaffirms his dominance of the IRT this season, but Carson's second strong performance against Waselenchuk suggests that he - not Jack Huczek - may be Waselenchuk's strongest rival.

The last Tier 1 event of IRT season will be April 15-18 in Tijuana, Mexico.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 13-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-1

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - IRTNetwork.com Open - Semi-finals

The day after the biggest win of his career Shane Vanderson offered little resistence against Rocky Carson in the semi-finals of the IRTNetwork.com Open, as Carson won 11-5, 11-2, 11-1. The win puts Carson into the finals for the second straight Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament.

Carson primarily used his z serve to the left side - Vanderson's backhand, but did change it up with some lobs and half lobs. Vanderson served lobs for almost the entire match except for the end of game two and early in game three. The drive did get Vanderson a point in game two, but he faulted three times with it in game three before going back to the lob.

Carson will play Kane Waselenchuk, who defeated Jason Mannino in the other semi-final, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3. If the games had been to 1, then Mannino would have won three straight. But they play to 1 + 10, and for most of the games Waselenchuk was lights out, including making a sliding dive to win game two and a flat pinch shot to the right corner as he turned around in the back left corner.

That is to say, Waselenchuk played like Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the IRT.

Sunday's final will be a repeat of the Florida Spring Break final from two weeks ago, when Carson put up a strong fight against Waselenchuk before losing 3 games to 1.

The final is scheduled for noon on Sunday and can be viewed over the web at IRTNetwork.com.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010
Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jason Mannino, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1

Final

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Rocky Carson

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 Pan American Championships - Preview & No Team USA

There will be new champions at the 23rd Pan American Championships, which begin today in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, as last year's winners Mexican Alvaro Beltran and American Cheryl Gudinas are not in Honduras. Beltran's absent because of the injury he suffered in August, which has kept him out of action all season.

Gudinas, however, isn't there, because USA Racquetball (USAR) did not send a team to Honduras. More on that below.

This opens the door for Paola Longoria (Mexico) and Jennifer Saunders (Canda), the highest ranked players from the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) that are competing in Honduras. Longoria has won this competition twice, in 2006 and 2008, while Saunders has yet to win it.

Not to be overlooked, however, are Carola Loma of Bolivia, who was runner up to Gudinas last year, Columbian Cristina Amaya, who's ranked 18th on the WPRO tour, as well as the young Ecuadorians Cristina Cordova and Maria Paz Munoz and Loma's Bolivian team-mate Jenny Daza Navia.

On the men's side, maybe this will be Mexican Polo Gutierrez's year. He has been runner up to Beltran two years in a row, so with Beltran absent this could be Gutierrez's time. Challengers to Gutierrez include Canadians Kris Odegard, who won this competition in 2006, and Vincent Gagnon, who was a bronze medalist in last year's World Games, as well as Gutierrez's countryman Gil De Los Rios.

With the Americans' absence, the doubles is even more wide open, especially on the women's side. Some of the women are playing both singles and doubles, but Mexico and Canada have dedicated doubles teams in Honduras. Veterans Susy Acosta and Samantha Salas are playing for Mexico while Canada is represented by Geneviève Brodeur and Frédérique Lambert.

The Pan American Championships begin Saturday March 27 and will have a preliminary round prior to an elimination round. Results from the preliminary round are used to seed players for the elimination round. Play continues through April 3.

No USA Team

The Racquetball Blog has tried to contact the USAR for an official word on why there is no Team USA in Honduras, but to no avail. US Team head coach Mike Guidry did tell us that he'll be in Honduras for meetings with the Pan American Racquetball Confederation and the International Racquetball Federation, and will explain the American team absence to them at that time.

But the American absence raises several questions. What message is it sending to the other countries about the USAR's opinion of or valuing of the Pan Am Championships? What does it say about the USAR if the rumour that it only had enough funds to send a team to one competition this year forcing them to pass on Pan Ams so as to send a team to Korea for the World Championships in August? If this is so, then there need be no more evidence of USAR financial woes.

The United States is the biggest country for racquetball. Thus, its national racquetball organization - the USAR - should be a leader in the sport. But not sending a team to Honduras suggests the USAR can't fill that role. So, moving forward other countries should not expect the USAR to be the primary leader nor should the USAR expect other countries to follow it in whatever policies it puts forward.

Stepping further back, this development is distressing and does not speak well for the sport.

XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras - March 27 to April 3, 2010

Men's Singles

Pablo Kurzbard - Argentina
Carlos Keller Vargas - Bolivia
Ricardo Monroy - Bolivia
Kris Odegard - Canada
Vincent Gagnon - Canada
Francisco Gomez - Columbia
Andres Herrera - Columbia
Felipe Camacho - Costa Rica
Ivan Villegas - Costa Rica
Simon Perdomo - Dominican Republic
Luis Perez - Dominican Republic
Fernando Sierra - Guatemala
Christian Wer - Guatemala
Raul Banegas - Honduras
Roberto Nasser - Honduras
Gilberto De Los Rios - Mexico
Polo Gutierrez - Mexico
Carlos Barrios - Nicaragua
Fernando Mansell - Nicaragua
Osvaldo Garcia - Puerto Rico
Raymundo Garcia - Puerto Rico
Cesar Castro - Venezuela
Roberto Santander - Venezuela

Men's Doubles

Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri - Argentina
Carlos Keller Vargas & Ricardo Monroy - Bolivia
Mike Green & Tim Landeryou - Canada
Francisco Gomez & Andres Herrera - Columbia
Juan S Cageao & Ignacio Sabate - Costa Rica
Luis Perez & Leonel Simo - Dominican Republic
Jose Daniel Alvarez & Fernando Rios - Ecuador
Juan Salvatierra & Christian Wer - Guatemala
Selvin Cruz & Eduardo Kafie - Honduras
Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa - Mexico
Carlos Barrios & Fernando Mansell - Nicaragua
Ward Myers & Curtis Winter - Puerto Rico
Cesar Castillo & Luis Reveron - Venezuela

Women's Singles

Jenny Daza Navia - Bolivia
Carola Loma - Bolivia
Brandi Jacobson Prentice - Canada
Jen Saunders - Canada
Cristina Amaya - Columbia
Carolina Gomez - Columbia
Claudine Garcia - Dominican Republic
Yira Portes - Dominican Republic
Cristina Cordova - Ecuador
Maria Paz Munoz - Ecuador
Monica Escobar - Guatemala
Marie Gomar - Guatemala
Ana Fortin - Honduras
Pamela Sierra - Honduras
Nancy Enriquez - Mexico
Paola Longoria - Mexico
Vivian Rodriguez - Puerto Rico
Kim Vanegas - Puerto Rico
Islhey Mariana Paredes - Venezuela
Marianna Tobon - Venezuela

Women's Doubles

Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma - Bolivia
Geneviève Brodeur & Frédérique Lambert - Canada
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez - Columbia
Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes - Dominican Republic
Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz - Ecuador
Marie Gomar & Lucy Zachrisson - Guatemala
Ana Fortin & Pamela Sierra - Honduras
Susana Acosta-Mendoza & Samantha Salas Solis - Mexico
Raquel Perez & Kim Vanegas - Puerto Rico
Islhey Mariana Paredes & Marianna Tobon - Venezuela

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - IRTNetwork.com Open - QFs

Shane Vanderson caused a major upset Friday in the quarter finals of the IRTNetwork.com Open, as he defeated Jack Huczek for the first time in his career, winning 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6. Vanderson and Huczek had played 18 times previously in Tier 1 events on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) with Huczek winning them all. Huczek also defeated Vanderson in the final of the 2006 World Championships. In fact, they had only gone 5 games twice before.

But Vanderson came out on top Friday, which sets up a semi-final showdown with Rocky Carson, who defeated Ben Croft, 11-9, 0-11, 11-2, 11-3, in the quarter finals.

On the top side of the draw, Kane Waselenchuk defeated Chris Crowther in three straight games, 11-7, 11-1, 11-9. They were neck and neck in game one, including 7-6 for Waselenchuk, before he won it. In game two Waselenchuk came out serving lights out and got a 6-0 advantage before Crowther knew what was going on.

But in game three, Crowther led all the way until 9-7 at which point there were several sideouts. Then Waselenchuk got a point to make it 9-8, and after an exchange of fault serves he pushed on to win the game 11-7 and take the match.

Afterwards, Waselenchuk said "I played OK," and when asked about his left knee that he hurt two weeks ago in the final of the Florida Spring Break event, he said it's "good." Certainly, he did not seem to be hampered at all in moving around the court.

Waselenchuk will play Jason Mannino in the semis on Saturday, as Mannino came back from a game down to defeat Mitch Williams, 4-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1, in Friday's quarter finals.

The semi-finals and final can be viewed over the web at IRTNetwork.com for a small fee. The semis will be at 4 PM and 5 PM central time.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010
Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Chris Crowther, 11-7, 11-1, 11-9
Jason Mannino d. Mitch Williams, 4-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1

Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-9, 0-11, 11-2, 11-3
Shane Vanderson d. Jack Huczek, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Jason Mannino
Rocky Carson vs. Shane Vanderson

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - IRTNetwork.com Open - 16s

There were no surprises in the Round of 16 at the IRTNetwork.com Open in St Louis, Missouri, a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, as all the higher seeded players moved on to the quarter finals that will be played later on Friday.

The quarter finals can be viewed for free over the web at IRTNetwork.com with the semi-finals and final available on Saturday and Sunday for a small fee. The quarter finals start at 5 PM central time.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010
Main Draw Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Luis Felipe Munoz, 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
Chris Crowther d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-8, 11-5, 11-0

Mitch Williams d. Travis Woodbury, 11-2, 11-7, 11-6
Jason Mannino d. Cliff Swain, 11-1, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3

Rocky Carson d. Brian Simpson, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
Ben Croft d. Jose Rojas, 11-9, 11-6, 12-10

Shane Vanderson d. Eric Desrochers, 11-3, 11-1, 11-8
Jack Huczek d. Woody Clouse, 12-10, 11-7, 11-1

Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Chris Crowther
Mitch Williams vs. Jason Mannino

Rocky Carson vs. Ben Croft
Jack Huczek vs. Shane Vanderson

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - IRTNetwork.com Open - Qualifying Results

The IRTNetwork.com Open in St Louis, Missouri, a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, began with some great matches on Thursday. One was the battle of former and current World Junior Champions, as Jose Rojas and Josh Tucker went the full five games with Rojas, the current World Junior Champ coming out on top, 6-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-4, 11-2.

Also going the distance were Brian Simpson and Tony Carson, as Simpson came back from 2-1 down to win 6-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7.

Eric Desrochers provided the biggest upset in another five game match in qualifying round, as he came back from two games down to beat 10th seed Juan Herrera, 9-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3, and qualify for the Round of 16.

The Round of 16 has begun and so far there are no surprises, as Kane Waselenchuk, Jack Huczek, Rocky Carson and Shane Vanderson have all won their matches.

The Round of 16 is going on now with the quarter finals to follow later on Friday. They can be viewed for free over the web at IRTNetwork.com with the semi-finals and final available on Saturday and Sunday for a small fee.

The 16s begin Friday at 11 AM central time with the quarter finals to start at 5 PM central time.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010
Main Draw Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Luis Felipe Munoz, 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
Chris Crowther vs. Andy Hawthorne

Mitch Williams vs. Travis Woodbury
Jason Mannino vs. Cliff Swain

Rocky Carson d. Brian Simpson, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1
Ben Croft vs. Jose Rojas

Shane Vanderson d. Eric Desrochers, 11-3, 11-1, 11-8
Jack Huczek d. Woody Clouse, 12-10, 11-7, 11-1

Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Chris Crowther or Andy Hawthorne
Mitch Williams or Travis Woodbury vs. Jason Mannino or Cliff Swain

Rocky Carson or Brian Simpson vs. Ben Croft or Jose Rojas
Jack Huczek vs. Shane Vanderson

Qualifying Round 3

Q1 - Andy Hawthorne d. Matthew Davenport, 12-10, 11-2, 11-5
Q8 - Luis Felipe Munoz d. Tyler Otto, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5

Q4 - Travis Woodbury d. Richard Berich, 11-5, 9-11, 11-1, 11-6
Q5 - Cliff Swain d. Keith Minor, 11-2, 11-4, 11-3

Q6 - Brian Simpson d. Tony Carson, 6-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7
Q3 - Jose Rojas d. Josh Tucker, 6-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-4, 11-2

Q2 - Eric Desrochers d. Juan Herrera, 9-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
Q7 - Woody Clouse d. Lee Connell, 11-2, 11-6, 11-0

Qualifying Round 2

Q1 - Matthew Davenport d. Zach Archer, 3-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8
Q8 - Tyler Otto d. Ryan Maher, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10

Q4 - Richard Berich d. John Scott, 11-2, 11-2, 11-2
Q5 - Keith Minor d. Hal Rutherford, 9-11, 11-2, 12-10, 5-11, 11-3

Q6 - Brian Simpson d. Joe Sharamitaro, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
Q3 - Josh Tucker d. Gene Scott, 11-2, 11-1, 11-5

Q2 - Eric Desrochers d. Travis Mettenbrink, fft
Q7 - Woody Clouse d. Dan Whitely, 10-12, 11-2, 11-9, 12-10

Qualifying Round 1

Ryan Maher d. Bryan Shaw, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - IRTNetwork.com Tournament - Qualifying Rounds

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action this weekend with the IRTNetwork.com Open in St Louis, Missouri, a Tier 1 event. All the big boys are in action and we expect it will be Jason Mannino's last Tier 1 tournament on home soil, as he announced he's retiring at the end of this season to concentrate on being IRT Commissioner.

This is the second last Tier 1 event of the 2009-2010 season, which will end with the Mexico Open in Tijuana April 15-18.

Other players of interest in St Louis are Brian Simpson, Josh Tucker, who teamed with Rocky Carson to finish as runner up in the recent US National Doubles Championship, as well as Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) regular Woody Clouse.

Simpson will likely play Tony Carson in the last round of qualifying, which should be a good match. Also in that round, Tucker is potentially up against Jose Rojas, which would be a match up of the current 18 & under World Junior Champion in Rojas against a former 18 & under World Junior Champion in Tucker, who won the title in 1999.

The Round of 16 and the quarter finals can be viewed for free over the web at IRTNetwork.com with the semi-finals and final available on Saturday and Sunday for a small fee.

The 16s begin Friday at 11 AM central time with the quarter finals to start at 5 PM central time.

IRT Network.com Open, St Louis, Missouri
March 25-28, 2010

Qualifying Round 1

Ryan Maher vs. Bryan Shaw

Qualifying Round 2

Q1 - Zach Archer vs. Matthew Davenport
Q8 - Tyler Otto vs. Ryan Maher or Bryan Shaw

Q4 - John Scott vs. Richard Berich
Q5 - Keith Minor vs. Hal Rutherford

Q6 - Brian Simpson vs. Joe Sharamitaro
Q3 - Josh Tucker vs. Gene Scott

Q2 - Eric Desrochers vs. Travis Mettenbrink
Q7 - Woody Clouse vs. Dan Whitely

Qualifying Round 3

Q1 - Andy Hawthorne vs. Zach Archer or Matthew Davenport
Q8 - Luis Felipe Munoz vs. Tyler Otto or Ryan Maher or Bryan Shaw

Q4 - Travis Woodbury vs. John Scott or Richard Berich
Q5 - Cliff Swain vs. Keith Minor or Hal Rutherford

Q6 - Tony Carson vs. Brian Simpson or Joe Sharamitaro
Q3 - Jose Rojas vs. Josh Tucker or Gene Scott

Q2 - Juan Herrera vs. Eric Desrochers or Travis Mettenbrink
Q7 - Lee Connell vs. Woody Clouse or Dan Whitley

Main Draw Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Q8
Chris Crowther vs. Q1

Mitch Williams vs. Q4
Jason Mannino vs. Q5

Rocky Carson vs. Q6
Ben Croft vs. Q3

Shane Vanderson vs. Q2
Jack Huczek vs. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

Minneapolis to host 2010 US Open

USA Racquetball has announced that the 2010 US Open will be in Minneapolis October 20-24.

In a press release, US Open Event Director Doug Ganim stated that Minneapolis was selected based on an agreement with Life Time Fitness and the City of Minneapolis. Three Life Time Fitness locations will serve as the facilities for the event, with the Life Time Fitness Target Center location serving as the host location for the professional matches, as well as many amateur matches.

Three facilities is one fewer than has been used in Memphis in recent years, yet those three facilities offer more courts than were available in Memphis. Ganim cited the growth of the event and need for more courts as the primary reason for moving the event away from Memphis, which has been the host city for the entire history of the event beginning in 1996.

The Life Time Fitness Target Center location is in downtown Minneapolis. One of the other two Life Time locations is two blocks from the Target Center facility, and the other is "a short eight- minute" shuttle ride away in St Louis Park.

So, you should make plans to be in Minneapolis in October.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Don't practice!

You could be excused if you took that lesson from this year's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season, as two of its top 5 players have been hurt during practice. Alvaro Beltran injured himself prior to the season in a practice game with Chris Crowther, and that put him out for the season.

Jack Huczek injured his right leg - quadriceps muscle - during practice, which kept him out of the US National Doubles Championship, and has hampered him since. He had to withdraw during his Round of 16 match in Florida two weeks ago.

Of course, players are likely on court more for practices than for matches, so perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised that injuries come from practice time more than game time simply due to the volume of work done in each.

But still it makes one pause.

So if people criticize you for not practicing, tell them you're not injuring yourself either, so it's not all bad.

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 US Open Site

At last year's US Open in Memphis, there was speculation that the 2010 US Open would be held elsewhere. That speculation will end next week as US Open Director Doug Ganim is poised to announce the site for this year's event.

The speculation was that the tournament might be held in California or Las Vegas or Minneapolis, or even back in Memphis, if a new agreement could be worked out. However, we have heard that the US Open will not be in Memphis in 2010. Ganim will make the official site announcement on Monday, so check here to see where it's going to be.

On a related note, Ganim has informed us that the 2009 US Open DVDs have been released for shipment and should be available at through USA Racquetball, RacquetWorld, Lawler Sports, and Racquetball Warehouse.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Latest WPRO Rankings

The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) has confirmed that Paola Longoria has regained the #1 ranking after her win over Rhonda Rajsich in the final of last weekend's Terrapin Shootout. Rajsich is now #2.

Jo Shattuck and T. J. Baumbaugh have moved up, as Shattuck is 7th and Baumbaugh is 8th, which we believe is a career high for her. Jennifer Saunders has dropped back to 11th.

Three events remain on the 2009-10 WPRO schedule: the Miller Lite Open in York, Pennsylvania April 9-11, the Racquetball Warehouse Championships in Stockton, California April 22-25, and the finale the WPRO Ektelon World Championships, which is a Grand Slam event, and will be held in New Orleans May 6-9.

Three events means there are many points still available, so the rankings could change considerably before season's end.

WPRO Rankings - March 17, 2010
Rank - Name - Country - Points
1 Paola Longoria Mexico 1180.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich USA 1121.90
3 Cheryl Gudinas USA 556.20
4 Kristen Bellows USA 510.00
5 Kerri Wachtel USA 509.50
6 Adrienne Fisher USA 298.90
7 Jo Shattuck USA 263.80
8 T.J. Baumbaugh USA 228.20
9 Angela Grisar Chile 223.00
10 Krystal Csuk USA 192.00
11 Jennifer Saunders Canada 171.25
12 Keely Franks USA 164.25
13 Vivian Gomez USA 151.50
14 Samantha Salas Mexico 149.05
15 Diane Moore USA 142.25
16 Susy Acosta-Mendoza Mexico 135.70
17 Jackie Paraiso USA 120.00
18 Cristina Amaya Colombia 117.50
19 Veronica Sotomayor Ecuador 115.00
20 Aubrey O'Brien USA 98.25

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up

It was a great weekend for senior players to play junior players, as Ruben Gonzalez and Jimmy Lowe, two players who've participated in Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) events, defeated a couple guys who still have junior eligibility.

Northwest Open

Jimmy Lowe came out on top in Bellingham, Washington at the Northwest Open, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Lowe defeated Taylor Knoth in the final, 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-4.

In the semi-finals, Lowe defeated Joshua Hungerford, another junior player, 11-3, 11-1, 11-5, while Knoth took out Sebastien Boissonneault, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4. Hungerford beat Boissonneault in the 3rd place match, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3.

Another title for Gonzalez

Like that battery powered bunny, Ruben Gonzalez just keeps going and going. Sunday he won the New York State Open title in Albany. In the final, Gonzalez faced Bradley Kirch, and despite giving up several decades to Kirch, Gonzalez came out on top, 15-14, 15-12. Gonzalez reached the finals by defeating Anthony Defusto 15-9, 15-6, while Kirch beat Nick Montalbano 8-15, 15-14, 11-7.

Open Winners

Jennifer Saunders won the open division in Laurel, Maryland at the Terrapin Shootout. She defeated Krystal Csuk 11-15, 15-5, 11-5. It's her 3rd open title this season. In the semi-finals, Saunders defeated Sharon Jackson, 15-11, 15-0, and Csuk beat Samantha Salas Solis, 15-7, 4-15, 11-4.

In Sarasota, Florida, Andy Hawthorne took the open title of the Florida Spring Break Pro Am tournament. Hawthorne defeated surprise finalist Mike Harmon, 15-13, 15-11, in the final.

Fifth seed Harmon upset top seed Jose Rojas in the semis to reach the final, winning 15-10, 8-15, 11-8. Hawthorne was seeded 3rd and defeated 2nd seed Alejandro Landa in the other semi, 15-6, 12-15, 11-8.

Huczek's loss in 16s

Jack Huczek lost in the Round of 16 in Sarasota on the weekend for the first time since September 2007, when Javier Moreno defeated him in the Motorola World Racquetball Championships. To find a Huczek loss in the 16s before you have to go back to February 2005, when Jason Thoerner defeated him in the 16s at the San Diego Open.

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Terrapin Shootout, Longoria defeats Rajsich UPDATED

Paola Longoria won the Terrapin Shootout in Laurel, Maryland on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, defeating Rhonda Rajsich in Sunday's final, 11-3, 10-12, 14-12, 11-4. With the victory Longoria should move ahead of Rajsich in the WPRO rankings and regain the #1 ranking.

WPRO Terrapin Shootout - Laurel, Maryland
Final
Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 10-12, 14-12, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Waselenchuk wins despite injury

Kane Waselenchuk continued his match winning streak Sunday, as he won the Florida Spring Break event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), beating Rocky Carson, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5. His match streak is intact, but not his game winning streak, as Carson took game one of the final.

In game one, Waselenchuk drove serve, but not effectively, as Carson was able to return it well. He tried one lob to the left side that Carson hit a roll out return off, so that serve wasn't going to be the answer either. Carson hit drive serves from the left side of the box to the right back corner, as well as some jam serves to the right side.

In game two, Waselenchuk found the serve that got him into the rally. He hit lobs to Carson's forehand. It rarely led to service winners, but got rallies started. Carson often used an overhead return, but that wasn't as effective as he needed to be.

Waselenchuk got the early lead in game three at 5-0, but Carson clawed his way back into the game. However, he couldn't seem to tie it, trailing 5-4, 6-5, 7-6, and 8-7. They played at 8-7 for nine rallies when Carson finally tied, as Waselenchuk twisted his left knee.

Waselenchuk had trouble putting weight on his left leg as he hobbled off the court taking an injury time-out. IRT players are allowed two 7.5 min time outs for injury. Waselenchuk used his first 7.5 min injury time out, and then got back on the court to see if he could finish the game and match.

Waselenchuk won the first rally when play resumed, but then gave it right back. Carson scored two points to make it 10-8. But then on game point he short served for his 4th fault serve of the game. Carson never got another chance to serve as Waselenchuk ran four points to take the third game 12-10.

They were close in game four, and Carson led at 4-3. But then Waselenchuk pulled away. There was a long rally that Carson had a great opportunity to win, but he skipped a set up off the back wall. Carson only scored one more point after that, as Waselenchuk despite being injured closed out game four 11-5, winning the match.

Afterwards, Carson said he "tried to put pressure on" Waselenchuk in the same way Waslenchuk puts pressure on his opponents. Thus, Carson generally drove serve straight or jams to the right side - Waselenchuk's backhand. Also, Carson was focussed on playing one point at a time, and did play strongly through the match.

"I didn't make many mistakes," Carson said, but he did fault serve several times, which was partly a product of the pressure style he was playing.

Waselenchuk attributed Carson's win in game one to his own errors. "I had opportunities but made more mistakes than usual," he said. He said he went to the lob serve in game two as "way into the rally," because he wasn't happy with his drive serving.

When he went down in game three, Waselenchuk said he felt "a pull and a pop and a pull," and was quite concerned about what happened. He didn't know what to expect when he went back on court, and he did seem affected by it in some of his movements. But Waselenchuk found a way to victory, and said he was happy with how "I kept my composure" throughout the match.

After the semis on Saturday, Waselenchuk said the final would be "statement time." Indeed, both players made statements Sunday. Carson with a stronger performance than many expected from him, and Waselenchuk by playing through an injury and Carson's strong performance.

Both players players rose to the challenge and the result was the best IRT final since October.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida
Finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Terrapin Shootout QFs & SFs

It'll be 1 vs. 2 Sunday in the final of the Terrapin Shootout in Laurel, Maryland on Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, as top seed Rhonda Rajsich plays 2nd Paola Longoria. They have swept through the opposition, winning each of their matches in three straight games and yielding only 35 and 33 points over 9 games respectively.

Saturday in the semi-finals Rajsich defeated 5th seed Jo Shattuck, 11-2, 11-5, 11-0, while Longoria beat 3rd seed Cheryl Gudinas 11-1, 11-4, 11-3. Earlier Saturday in the quarter finals Rajsich had her closest match of the tournament against Krystal Csuk, but still prevailed in three games, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4. Longoria defeated fellow Mexican Samantha Salas Solis in the quarters, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4.

Sunday's final will be the 4th time Rajsich and Longoria have played this season. Longoria has won the last two matches between them.

With less than 33 rankings points between them, Sunday's winner will also be the #1 WPRO player in the next rankings.

WPRO Terrapin Shootout - Laurel, Maryland
Quarter Finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4
Jo Shattuck d. Susana Acosta-Mendoza, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5

Cheryl Gudinas d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
Paola Longoria d. Samantha Salas Solis, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4

Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Jo Shattuck, 11-2, 11-5, 11-0
Paola Longoria d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-1, 11-4, 11-3

Final
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Paola Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Waselenchuk & Carson through to the finals

Kane Waselenchuk advanced to another final on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as he beat Jason Mannino in the semi-finals of the Florida Spring Break event in Sarasota, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3. Waselenchuk has won every tournament he's entered this season. In fact, he's only lost one game this season, going 75-1 overall.

Waselenchuk was in control throughout the match, although in game two he did need seven game points to win it. But that was after he was up 10-1, so those missed opportunities only got Mannino to 11-4.

Waselenchuk was in control but did make some of his spectacular shots. Match point was a case in point, as Waselenchuk hit a drive z serve to the left corner that forced Mannino to hit a pinch to the front left corner. Waselenchuk was up to cover that shot, and though it came right at him, he lifted himself up slightly and hit the ball as it passed between his legs.

The result was flat off the front wall and into the right wall crack for good measure.

"Kane played really well," Mannino said afterwards, which was perhaps an understatement. He added "I don't feel I have my touch." Surely that would have made it a closer match, but it's hard to believe that the outcome would have been different.

Rocky Carson will be Waselenchuk's opponent in Sunday's final, as Carson defeated Ben Croft in the first semi-final, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6. It's Carson's first final of the season, and he'll have his work cut out for him.

Asked about playing Carson for the first time this season, Waselenchuk said it's "statement time." Time to "remind him what it's like to play me."

The final can be viewed live over the internet via the IRT Network.com. It's scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM Eastern.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida
Semi finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jason Mannino, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6

Finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Rocky Carson

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Terrapin Shootout 16s

Mexicans have caused two upsets at the Terrapin Shootout in Laurel, Maryland on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour. In the Round of 16, Susana Acosta-Mendoza defeated 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4, while Samantha Salas Solis defeated 7th seed Jennifer Saunders, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4.

Acosta-Mendoza faces Jo Shattuck in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Salas Solis will play fellow Mexican Paola Longoria, who's the 2nd seed. In the 16s, Shattuck went the distance with Diane Moore, winning 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10, while Longoria defeated Sharon Jackson in three straight games, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3.

Top seed Rhonda Rajsich easily got to the quarters by defeating Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-0, 11-6. In the quarters, she's up against Krystal Csuk, who needed five games to defeat Keely Franks, 1-11, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6.

WPRO Terrapin Shootout - Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32

Diane Moore d. Ana Nunez, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5
Susana Acosta-Mendoza d. Karen Morton, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9

Vivian Gomez d. Yolanda Jordan, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3
Cristina Amaya d. Frédérique Lambert, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6

Samantha Salas Solis d. Linda Scales, 11-2, 11-2, 11-3
Sharon Jackson d. Doreen Fowler, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3, -11, 11-2
Laura Brandt d. Danielle Emerson, 11-7, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9

Round of 16:

Rhonda Rajsich d. Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-0, 11-6
Krystal Csuk d. Keely Franks, 1-11, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6

Jo Shattuck d. Diane Moore, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 12-10
Susana Acosta-Mendoza d. Adrienne Fisher, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4

Cheryl Gudinas d. Cristina Amaya, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 11-3
T. J. Baumbaugh d. Vivian Gomez, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 2-11, 11-3

Samantha Salas Solis d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
Paola Longoria d. Sharon Jackson, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3

Quarter Finals
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Krystal Csuk
Jo Shattuck vs. Susana Acosta-Mendoza

Cheryl Gudinas vs. T. J. Baumbaugh
Paola Longoria vs. Samantha Salas Solis

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break QFs

The last match was the most dramatic match of the quarter finals at the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) Florida Spring Break event in Sarasota as Jason Mannino defeated Chris Crowther in five games, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, to deny Crowther his first career semi-final berth. Crowther was three points from the semis at 8-8 in game five, and didn't make it easy on Mannino, as Crowther fought off match point four times before Mannino won it on the fifth opportunity.

Crowther was hurt during his Round of 16 victory over Alejandro Landa, and it showed against Mannino as Crowther looked awkward any time he lunged for the ball. Nonetheless his performance was super. He hit half lob and lob serves from the far right of the service box to the back left corner often hitting the half lobs at 2/3rds speed. It was an effective strategy that almost got him to the semis for the first time in his career.

Ben Croft was the first semi-finalist in Sarasota, Florida. Croft defeated Jose Rojas in the first quarter final match of the day, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4.

After losing the first game 11-1, Rojas found himself down 7-3 in game two. He called a time out, and the next chance he got in the service box, he switched from half lob serves to drive serves - primarily to the right side. That proved successful as he rode that to win the second game, 11-8.

However, Croft adjusted, and again got out to large leads in games three and four, which he didn't relinquish, winning in four games. Afterwards, Croft said the biggest change he'd made in the off-season was to change from a two handed backhand to a one handed one. He also emphasized how important it is to hit the ball down the line, which Croft did very effectively against Rojas.

Rojas was in the quarters, because Jack Huczek, the 2nd seed, retired during their match in the Round of 16. Huczek has been hampered by an injury and apparently that flared up again against Rojas.

Croft will play Rocky Carson in the semis, as Carson defeated Mitch Williams in the quarter finals, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0. Williams was his own worst enemy often as he fault served several times, and he acknowledged that after the match saying he "couldn't hit an effective drive serve." In fact, he served half lobs at the end of game three, which helped him win that game, although it did take four games points to get it done.

But Williams said he felt "off balance all night" and "never knew where the ball was." He was the victim of several strange bounces during the match.

For his part, Carson said the conditions did play into his game style, as he's "used to playing sloppy," and has no problem winning ugly.

IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is also through to the semis after defeating Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6. Waselenchuk was in complete control in the first two games, but in game three, Vanderson got on a streak and held a 6-3 lead. Unfortunately for him that's all he got, but perhaps it gives him some inspiration for how he should be playing all the time, as during that streak he really seemed to go for everything.

Waselenchuk changed serves in an attempt to cool off Vanderson, switching to lob serves from the drive serves he done to that point. The strategy worked, as Vanderson didn't score again, despite getting in the service box. Twice Vanderson fault served late in game three, which didn't help him any.

Afterwards, Vanderson made compared his reaction to Waselenchuk's performance in the first two games to that of Arnold Palmer's reaction to Jack Nicholas, saying "he plays a game I'm not familiar with."

Both players said the court conditions were tough, as it's very humid in the facility and the walls are sometimes wet resulting in the ball sliding along them rather than taking a true bounce. Waselenchuk said the conditions meant moving his feet was even more important than it usually is, so that he could adjust to whatever the ball was going to do.

The semi finals can be viewed live over the internet via the IRT Network.com. The first quarter final match is scheduled for 4:00 PM Eastern on Saturday.

And kudos to the IRT Network for improving the score line displayed during matches. Previously, only the score for the current game was displayed, but now scores for all games in the match are visible, which is a definite improvement.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida
Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
Jason Mannino d. Chris Crowther, 4-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9

Rocky Carson d. Mitch Williams, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0
Ben Croft d. Jose Rojas, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Jason Mannino
Rocky Carson vs. Ben Croft

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break Round of 16 Results UPDATED

Ben Croft is the first semi-finalist in this weekend's Florida Spring Break tournament, a Tier 1 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), in Sarasota, Florida. Croft defeated Jose Rojas in the first quarter final match of the day, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4.

After losing the first game 11-1, Rojas found himself down 7-3 in game two. He called a time out, and the next chance he got in the service box, he switched from half lob serves to drive serves - primarily to the right side. That proved successful as he rode that to win the second game, 11-8.

However, Croft adjusted, and again got out to large leads in games three and four, which he didn't relinquish, winning in four games. Afterwards, Croft said the biggest change he'd made in the off-season was to change from a two handed backhand to a one handed one. He also emphasized how important it is to hit the ball down the line, which Croft did very effectively against Rojas.

Rojas was in the quarters, because Jack Huczek, the 2nd seed, retired during their match in the Round of 16. Huczek has been hampered by an injury and apparently that flared up again against Rojas.

Croft will play Rocky Carson in the semis, as Carson defeated Mitch Williams in the quarter finals, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0. Williams was often his own worst enemy as his drive serves were faults several times, and he acknowledged that after the match saying he "couldn't hit an effective drive serve." In fact, he served half lobs at the end of game three, which helped him win that game, although it did take four game points to get it done.

But Williams said he felt "off balance all night" and "never knew where the ball was." He was the victim of several strange bounces during the match.

For his part, Carson said the conditions did play into his game style, as he's "used to playing sloppy," and has no problem winning ugly.

IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is also through to the semis after defeating Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6. Waselenchuk was in complete control in the first two games, but in game three, Vanderson got on a streak and held a 6-3 lead. Unfortunately for him that's all he got, but perhaps it gives him some inspiration for how he should be playing all the time, as during that streak he really seemed to go for everything.

Waselenchuk changed serves in an attempt to cool off Vanderson, switching to lob serves from the drive serves he'd done to that point. The strategy worked, as Vanderson didn't score again, despite getting in the service box more than once. But on two of those opportunities Vanderson fault served, which didn't help him any.

Afterwards, Vanderson compared his reaction to Waselenchuk's performance in the first two games to that of Arnold Palmer's reaction to Jack Nicklaus, saying "he plays a game I'm not familiar with."

Both players said the court conditions were tough, as it's very humid in the facility and the walls are sometimes wet resulting in the ball sliding along them rather than taking a true bounce. Waselenchuk said the conditions meant moving his feet was even more important than it usually is, so that he could adjust to whatever the ball was going to do.

Both the quarter finals can be viewed for free live over the internet via the IRT Network.com. The Round of 16 goes through Friday afternoon with the first quarter final match scheduled for 5:30 PM Eastern.

And kudos to the IRT Network for improving their program. The score line displayed during matches now has scores for all games in the match visible. Previously, only the score for the current game was displayed, but now which is a definite improvement.

Also, the primary camera angle that is being used is better. It's at the back center about 10 or so feet off the ground and provides a good view of the action. They do have a couple of other angles, but they are not overusing them.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida
Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Cliff Swain, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
Shane Vanderson d. Andy Hawthorne, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2

Chris Crowther vs. Alejandro Landa, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9
Jason Mannino vs. Alejandro Herrera, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2

Rocky Carson d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-0, 11-2, 11-5
Mitch Williams d. Charles Pratt, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4

Ben Croft d. Juan Herrera, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10
Jose Rojas d. Jack Huczek, injury forfeit

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
Chris Crowther vs. Jason Mannino

Rocky Carson d. Mitch Williams, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0
Ben Croft d. Jose Rojas, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break Round of 16

There were no upsets in the final round of qualifying in Sarasota, Florida at the Florida Spring Break tournament, a Tier 1 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). All the seeded qualifiers won their matches to get into the Round of 16, which starts Friday afternoon.

Top seed and IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is up against Cliff Swain, a former IRT #1 player. They have had great matches in the past, but Swain's play, especially his mobility, is not what it used to be. But then how many 43 year olds can do what they used to do?

We expect 2nd seed Jack Huczek to have his hands full with Jose Rojas, a current World Junior Champion. Rojas has played Huczek close in previous matches this season, and with Huczek coming off an injury that kept him out of the US Doubles Championship, Rojas may have an edge. However, Huczek's made it to the finals of every main event this season, so it would be nothing short of a huge upset for him to fall in the 16s.

Both the Round of 16 and the quarter finals can be viewed for free live over the internet via the IRT Network.com. The Round of 16 goes through Friday afternoon with the first quarter final match scheduled for 5:30 PM Eastern.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida
Main Draw Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Cliff Swain
Shane Vanderson vs. Andy Hawthorne

Chris Crowther vs. Alejandro Landa
Jason Mannino vs. Alejandro Herrera

Rocky Carson vs. Hiroshi Shimizu
Mitch Williams vs. Charles Pratt

Ben Croft vs. Juan Herrera
Jack Huczek vs. Jose Rojas

Qualifying Round 1

Glenn Carlson d. Angel Munoz, fft
Paul Orszulak d. Joshua Jones, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9
Dayan Yamin d. Rod Van Dyke, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7

Jorge Nassar d. Pete Soltren, 11-3, 11-6, ?
Eduardo Avila d. Ivan Villegas, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10
Joe Delfino d. Daniel Yamin, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3

Qualifying Round 2

Q1 - Mike Harmon d. Vinny Carvallo, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10
Q8 - Lee Connell d. Glenn Carlson, 11-5, 11-7, 11-1

Q4 - Jason Sylvester d. Adam Anderson, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9
Q5 - Jorge Hirsekorn d. Paul Orszulak, 11-4, 12-10, 11-0

Q6 - Felipe Camacho d. Dayan Yamin, 11-1, 11-4, 11-8
Q3 - Travis Aldinger d. Cesar Castillo, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4

Q2 - Eduardo Avila d. Jorge Nassar, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Q7 - Joe Delfino d. Felipe Munoz

Qualifying Round 3

Q1 - Andy Hawthorne d. Mike Harmon
Q8 - Cliff Swain d. Lee Connell

Q4 - Alejandro Landa d. Jason Sylvester
Q5 - Alejandro Herrera d. Jorge Hirsekorn

Q6 - Hiroshi Shimizu d. Felipe Camacho
Q3 - Charlie Pratt d. Travis Aldinger

Q2 - Juan Herrera d. Eduardo Avila
Q7 - Jose Rojas d. Joe Delfino

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Terrapin Shootout 32s

The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) is also holding a Tier 1 event this weekend. The Terrapin Shootout in Laurel, Maryland is in support of the WPRO/American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) "Racquetball for Life" campaign. Twenty three players are competing for the title, and play begins on Friday.

Rhonda Rajsich is again on top of the WPRO rankings, so she's the top seed in Laurel with Paola Longoria seeded second.

WPRO Terrapin Shootout - Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32

Ana Nunez vs Diane Moore
Susana Acosta-Mendoza vs Karen Morton

Vivian Gomez vs Yolanda Jordan
Frédérique Lambert vs Cristina Amaya

Linda Scales vs Samantha Salas Solis
Doreen Fowler vs Sharon Jackson
Danielle Emerson vs Laura Brandt

Round of 16:

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Danielle Emerson or Laura Brandt
Keely Franks vs. Krystal Csuk

Jo Shattuck vs. Ana Nunez or Diane Moore
Adrienne Fisher vs. Susana Acosta-Mendoza or Karen Morton

Cheryl Gudinas vs. Frédérique Lambert or Cristina Amaya
T. J. Baumbaugh vs. Vivian Gomez or Yolanda Jordan

Jennifer Saunders vs. Linda Scales or Samantha Salas Solis
Paola Longoria vs. Doreen Fowler or Sharon Jackson

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Florida Spring Break Qualifying

It's a busy weekend for professional racquetball. We'll start with the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), which has two events going on at opposite corners of the USA.

In Sarasota, Florida, the Florida Spring Break Pro-Am is a full Tier 1 event, so all the heavy hitters are out, and there's 30 players fighting through three rounds of qualifying to get to the Round of 16.

The qualifying matches that most strike our fancy are the potential battle between Charlie Pratt and Travis Aldinger for the 3rd Qualifying place, and between Hiroshi Shimizu and Felipe Camacho for the 6th Qualifying place.

Also, we think you shouldn't overlook Cliff Swain versus Lee Connell. Connell's coming off a win last weekend and never gives less than 100%, while Swain is, well, Cliff Swain.

Looking further ahead, there's some uncertainty as to whether Jack Huczek is at full fitness. He missed the US Doubles Championship due to injury and has lost in the finals of two lower Tier IRT events, which suggests that his injury is still hampering him. He's made the finals of every IRT main event this season. Can he keep that streak alive this weekend?

Also, how much confidence was gained by the players - Chris Crowther and Mitch Williams - who beat Huczek in those events? Confidence is an important factor in sports, so if Crowther and Williams are feeling more confident in Florida, it will only make them more dangerous.

Northwest Open

Not to be forgotten, the Northwest Open is happening in Bellingham, Washington this weekend. Jimmy Lowe will be taking on all comers, including US Junior Team players Taylor Knoth and Joshua Hungerford.

IRT - Florida Spring Break, Sarasota, Florida

Qualifying Round 1

Angel Munoz vs. Glenn Carlson
Joshua Jones vs. Paul Orszulak
Dayan Yamin vs. Rod Van Dyke

Pete Soltren vs. Jorge Nassar
Ivan Villegas vs. Eduardo Avila
Joe Delfino vs. Daniel Yamin

Qualifying Round 2

Q1 - Mike Harmon vs. Vinny Carvallo
Q8 - Lee Connell vs. Angel Munoz or Glenn Carlson

Q4 - Jason Sylvester vs. Adam Anderson
Q5 - Jorge Hirsekorn vs. Joshua Jones or Paul Orszulak

Q6 - Felipe Camacho vs. Dayan Yamin or Rod Van Dyke
Q3 - Travis Aldinger or Cesar Castillo

Q2 - Pete Soltren or Jorge Nassar vs. Ivan Villegas or Eduardo Avila
Q7 - Felipe Munoz vs. Joe Delfino or Daniel Yamin

Qualifying Round 3

Q1 - Andy Hawthorne vs. Mike Harmon or Vinny Carvallo
Q8 - Cliff Swain vs. Lee Connell or Angel Munoz or Glenn Carlson

Q4 - Alejandro Landa vs. Jason Sylvester or Adam Anderson
Q5 - Alejandro Herrera vs. Jorge Hirsekorn or Joshua Jones or Paul Orszulak

Q6 - Hiroshi Shimizu vs. Felipe Camacho or Dayan Yamin or Rod Van Dyke
Q3 - Charlie Pratt vs. Travis Aldinger or Cesar Castillo

Q2 - Juan Herrera vs. Pete Soltren or Jorge Nassar or Ivan Villegas or Eduardo Avila
Q7 - Jose Rojas vs. Felipe Munoz or Joe Delfino or Daniel Yamin

Main Draw Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Q8
Shane Vanderson vs. Q1

Chris Crowther vs. Q4
Jason Mannino vs. Q5

Rocky Carson vs. Q6
Mitch Williams vs. Q3

Ben Croft vs. Q2
Jack Huczek vs. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

2010 World Senior Doubles Championship

The 2010 World Seniors Doubles Championship will be in Kingscourt, Ireland from June 9th to 12th. Kingscourt hosted the last International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships. The IRF has announced the 2010 World Senior Doubles Championships web site is now available with all the information you need to plan your trip to Ireland. The website is www.wsdracquetball.net.

The World Seniors Doubles Championship is an annual event, which has been held on 6 previous occasions, first in Paris in 2000. Then in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA in 2005 and 2006, followed by Hamburg in 2007 and San Luis Potosi, Mexico in 2008.

Last year the championships were in Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Williams takes Carl Myers title; Connell wins in Leamington

Mitch Williams won the Carl Myers Racquetball Tournament in Garden City, Kansas, a Tier 2 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Williams defeated Jack Huczek in the final, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5. It's a good win for Williams, who's ranked 6th on the IRT.

In the semi-finals, Huczek - the IRT's #2 player - defeated Ben Croft, 11-8, 11-2, 2-11, 11-6, while, Williams beat Shane Vanderson, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11.

Leamington Racquetball Classic

Also last weekend, Lee Connell defeated Eric Desrochers, 8-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, to win the Leamington Racquetball Classic in Leamington, Ontario. With the win Connell gains a measure of revenge over Desrochers, as Desrochers beat Connell in the Keystone Classic last month in Winnipeg.

The IRT's Florida Spring Break event goes this coming weekend in Sarasota. It's a Tier 1 event, and can be viewed over the internet at IRTNetwork.com.

Carl Myers Racquetball Tournament - Garden City, Kansas
Final
Mitch Williams d. Jack Huczek, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5

Semi-finals
Jack Huczek d. Ben Croft, 11-8, 11-2, 2-11, 11-6
Mitch Williams d. Shane Vanderson, 11-9, 11-9, 13-11

Quarter finals
Jack Huczek d. Felipe Camacho, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7
Ben Croft d. Anthony Herrera, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9

Mitch Williams d. Charles Pratt, 8-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
Shane Vanderson d. Tony Carson, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1

Leamington Racquetball Classic - Leamington, Ontario
Final
Lee Connell d. Eric Desrochers, 8-11, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5

Semi-finals
Eric Desrochers d. Anthony Barraco, 11-2, 11-6, 12-10
Lee Connell d. Conrad Cole, 13-11, 11-9, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT events in Kansas and Ontario this weekend

The big tournament this weekend is the Carl Myers Racquetball Tournament in Garden City, Kansas. It features four top 10 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and is a Tier 2 event.

Jack Huczek - the IRT's #2 player - is the top seed, with Shane Vanderson seeded second, Mitch Williams 3rd, and Ben Croft 4th.

Also this weekend, the Leamington Open - a Tier 4 IRT event - is on in Leamington, Ontario with Eric Desrochers and Lee Connell as the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively.

Carl Myers Racquetball Tournament - Garden City, Kansas

Round of 16
Jack Huczek BYE
Felipe Camacho vs Tyler Otto

Anthony Herrera vs John Hudson
Ben Croft vs Scott Wolford

Mitch Williams d. Tanner Freeman, 11-1, 11-0, 11-2
Jansen Allen vs Charles Pratt

Tony Carson vs Bradly Rogers
Shane Vanderson BYE

Quarter finals
Jack Huczek vs Felipe Camacho or Tyler Otto
Ben Croft or Scott Wolford vs Anthony Herrera or John Hudson

Mitch Williams vs Jansen Allen or Charles Pratt
Shane Vanderson vs. Tony Carson or Bradly Rogers

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up - Rajsich & Carson win

Rhonda Rajsich and Rocky Carson were the big (non-Olympic) winners last weekend. Rajsich won the Great Balls of Fire event in Coral Gables, Florida - a satellite event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour.

Rajsich defeated Jo Shattuck in the final, 8-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-7. In the semis, Rajsich beat Vivian Gomez, 11-9, 11-2, 13-11, while Shattuck needed five games to get past T. J. Baumbaugh, winning 12-14, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, 11-2.

On the other side of the USA, Carson won the San Diego Open, which was a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Carson defeated Mitch Williams in the final.

In the semi-finals, Carson beat Chris Crowther and Williams got by Shane Vanderson.

It's a sign of the times that these two events were not Tier 1 events, as they have been in past years.

Follow the bouncing ball....