Ben Croft's stay at #2 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings was short lived, as he's dropped to #3 after losing in the quarter finals of the Corona Open in Chihuahua, Mexico. Rocky Carson won that event and with the win moved past Croft into the #2 spot.
Kane Waselenchuk is ahead of Carson and Croft, as he retains the #1 IRT ranking despite missing the Corona Open due to an injury. The rest of the top ten also remains the same except that Alvaro Beltran, who finished 2nd in Chihuahua, is back in the top 10 at #10.
IRT Rankings - November 22, 2010
Rank - Player - Points
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4185
2 Rocky CARSON, 2730
3 Ben CROFT, 2411
4 Jack HUCZEK, 2250
5 Chris CROWTHER, 2048
6 Mitch WILLIAMS, 1958
7 Shane VANDERSON, 1721
8 Jose ROJAS, 1579
9 Andy HAWTHORNE, 1538
10 Alvaro BELTRAN, 1414
11 Jason MANNINO, 1133
12 Charlie PRATT, 1066
13 Juan HERRERA, 1015
14 Anthony HERRERA, 937
15 Alejandro LANDA, 873
16 Alejandro HERRERA, 856
17 Javier MORENO, 556
18 Cliff SWAIN, 512
19 Kris ODEGARD, 390
20 Hiroshi SHIMIZU 374
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Salas is 24th; Croft wins in Garden City
Samantha Salas Solis became the 24th player to win a women's professsional racquetball tournament, according to The Racquetball Blog records. Her one win is a long way behind Lynn Adams, who we have winning 43 professional events.
But Salas Solis's victory at the Puget Sound Challenge in Olympia, Washington ties her with players like Angela Grisar and Kristen Walsh Bellows. Also on one win is Vicki Panzeri, a player from Washington state who was a top 10 player on the pro tour in the 1980s including finishing #2 behind Adams at the end of the 1984-85 season.
In fact, Panzeri played in Women's Open in Olympia last weekend and came third by defeating T.J. Baumbaugh in the quarter finals, 15-13, 13-15, 11-7, and Da'monique Davis, 15-14, 5-15, 11-10, in the 3rd place match. Panzeri lost to Susana Acosta in the semi-finals, 15-7, 15-12.
Keely Franks won Women's Open by defeating Acosta in the final, 15-8, 15-10. Franks beat Davis in the semis, 15-4, 15-10.
20th Annual Turkey Shootout
Ben Croft defeated Shane Vanderson, 5-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-5, to win the Garden City YMCA 20th Annual Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas this past weekend. The Turkey Shoot was a Tier 2 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
In the semi-finals, Croft defeated Tony Carson, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5, and Vanderson beat Jack Huczek, 2-11, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4.
There are two lower tier IRT events in December: the Rose City Pro/Am December 3-5 in Portland, Oregon (a Tier 3 event) and the Minot Open in Minot, North Dakota December 10-12 (a Tier 4 event).
In January, there will be three Tier 1 IRT events on consecutive weekends beginning with the California Open January 6-9 in Los Angeles, then New York City Pro/Am January 13-16, and finally the Lawler Sports Pro/Am January 20-23 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Follow the bouncing ball....
But Salas Solis's victory at the Puget Sound Challenge in Olympia, Washington ties her with players like Angela Grisar and Kristen Walsh Bellows. Also on one win is Vicki Panzeri, a player from Washington state who was a top 10 player on the pro tour in the 1980s including finishing #2 behind Adams at the end of the 1984-85 season.
In fact, Panzeri played in Women's Open in Olympia last weekend and came third by defeating T.J. Baumbaugh in the quarter finals, 15-13, 13-15, 11-7, and Da'monique Davis, 15-14, 5-15, 11-10, in the 3rd place match. Panzeri lost to Susana Acosta in the semi-finals, 15-7, 15-12.
Keely Franks won Women's Open by defeating Acosta in the final, 15-8, 15-10. Franks beat Davis in the semis, 15-4, 15-10.
20th Annual Turkey Shootout
Ben Croft defeated Shane Vanderson, 5-11, 11-3, 11-1, 11-5, to win the Garden City YMCA 20th Annual Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas this past weekend. The Turkey Shoot was a Tier 2 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
In the semi-finals, Croft defeated Tony Carson, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5, and Vanderson beat Jack Huczek, 2-11, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4.
There are two lower tier IRT events in December: the Rose City Pro/Am December 3-5 in Portland, Oregon (a Tier 3 event) and the Minot Open in Minot, North Dakota December 10-12 (a Tier 4 event).
In January, there will be three Tier 1 IRT events on consecutive weekends beginning with the California Open January 6-9 in Los Angeles, then New York City Pro/Am January 13-16, and finally the Lawler Sports Pro/Am January 20-23 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, November 22, 2010
2010 Junior World Championships - Medal Summary
The USA was the overall team winner at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California. Americans won 15 medals overall, with an even 5-5-5 split between gold, silver and bronze. Aubrey O'brien was a double gold medalist.
Mexico's 11 medals was second (4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze), including a gold medal sweep in the Boys U14 division. Bolivia was third with 9 medals: 3 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze; Maria Jose Vargas was a double gold medalist in Girls U16.
Canada was fourth with 7 medals and two Canadians were double medalists as Pedro Castro got silver and bronze in Boys U18 and Coby Iwaasa took home two bronze medals in Boys U14.
Players from four other countries won medals. Most notably Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala was a double bronze medalist, and The Racquetball Blog believes this could be the first medals for a Guatemalan at an IRF event.
Ecuador also got two bronze medals with Costa Rica and Ireland taking home one bronze medal each. It's the second year in a row that Ireland has had a medalist at Junior Worlds.
Medal Summary by Country
USA 5 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze
Mexico 4, 3, 4
Bolivia 3, 2, 4
Canada 0, 2, 5
Ecuador 0, 0, 2
Guatemala 0, 0, 2
Costa Rica 0, 0, 1
Ireland 0, 0, 1
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships
Los Angeles, California
Boy's 14 and Under
Singles
1st Javier Mar (Mexico)
2nd Roman Ramos (Mexico)
3rd Coby Iwaasa (Canada) and Sawyer Lloyd (USA)
Doubles
1st Eduardo Garay & Javier Estrada (Mexico)
2nd Adam Manilla & Sawyer Lloyd (USA)
3rd Sami Harb & Coby Iwaasa (Canada) and Danilo Torrico & Victor Pardo Jr. (Bolivia)
Boy's 16 and Under
Singles
1st Marco Rojas (USA)
2nd Jose Diaz (USA)
3rd Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) and Vladimir Soria (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Marco Rojas d. Jose Diaz (USA)
2nd Alejandro Romo & Salvador Ortiz (Mexico)
3rd Oscar Arias & Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) and Samuel Murray & Anthony Schonberger (Canada)
Boy's 18 and Under
Singles
1st Taylor Knoth (USA)
2nd Pedro Castro (Canada)
3rd Bradley Kirch (USA) and Jaime Martell (Mexico)
Doubles
1st Bradley Kirch & Nick Montalbano (USA)
2nd Carlos Keller Vargas & Jorge Luis Michel (Bolivia)
3rd Pedro Castro & Jamie Slamko (Canada) and Fernando Muñoz & Pietro Sudassasi (Costa Rica)
Girl's 14 and Under
Singles
1st Natalia Mendez (Bolivia)
2nd Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico)
3rd Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) and Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Doubles
1st Monserrat Perez & Regina Franco (Mexico)
2nd Abbey Lavely & Kaitlyn Simmons (USA)
3rd Mckenzie Brayley & Michelle Morissette (Canada) and Maria Rocio Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Girl's 16 and Under
Singles
1st Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
2nd Kelani Bailey (USA)
3rd Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) and Devon Pimentelli (USA)
Doubles
1st Masiel Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
2nd Courtney Chisholm & Devon Pimentelli (USA)
3rd Aisling Hickey & Katie Kenny (Ireland) and Ana Paola Camacho & Natalia Villagomez Beltran (Mexico)
Girl's 18 and Under
Singles
1st Aubrey O'brien (USA)
2nd Frédérique Lambert (Canada)
3rd Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) and Danielle Key (USA)
Doubles
1st Danielle Key & Aubrey O'brien (USA)
2nd Adriana Riveros & Carolina Oña (Bolivia)
3rd Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) and Jocelyn Loredo & Sofia Rascon (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Mexico's 11 medals was second (4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze), including a gold medal sweep in the Boys U14 division. Bolivia was third with 9 medals: 3 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze; Maria Jose Vargas was a double gold medalist in Girls U16.
Canada was fourth with 7 medals and two Canadians were double medalists as Pedro Castro got silver and bronze in Boys U18 and Coby Iwaasa took home two bronze medals in Boys U14.
Players from four other countries won medals. Most notably Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala was a double bronze medalist, and The Racquetball Blog believes this could be the first medals for a Guatemalan at an IRF event.
Ecuador also got two bronze medals with Costa Rica and Ireland taking home one bronze medal each. It's the second year in a row that Ireland has had a medalist at Junior Worlds.
Medal Summary by Country
USA 5 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze
Mexico 4, 3, 4
Bolivia 3, 2, 4
Canada 0, 2, 5
Ecuador 0, 0, 2
Guatemala 0, 0, 2
Costa Rica 0, 0, 1
Ireland 0, 0, 1
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships
Los Angeles, California
Boy's 14 and Under
Singles
1st Javier Mar (Mexico)
2nd Roman Ramos (Mexico)
3rd Coby Iwaasa (Canada) and Sawyer Lloyd (USA)
Doubles
1st Eduardo Garay & Javier Estrada (Mexico)
2nd Adam Manilla & Sawyer Lloyd (USA)
3rd Sami Harb & Coby Iwaasa (Canada) and Danilo Torrico & Victor Pardo Jr. (Bolivia)
Boy's 16 and Under
Singles
1st Marco Rojas (USA)
2nd Jose Diaz (USA)
3rd Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) and Vladimir Soria (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Marco Rojas d. Jose Diaz (USA)
2nd Alejandro Romo & Salvador Ortiz (Mexico)
3rd Oscar Arias & Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) and Samuel Murray & Anthony Schonberger (Canada)
Boy's 18 and Under
Singles
1st Taylor Knoth (USA)
2nd Pedro Castro (Canada)
3rd Bradley Kirch (USA) and Jaime Martell (Mexico)
Doubles
1st Bradley Kirch & Nick Montalbano (USA)
2nd Carlos Keller Vargas & Jorge Luis Michel (Bolivia)
3rd Pedro Castro & Jamie Slamko (Canada) and Fernando Muñoz & Pietro Sudassasi (Costa Rica)
Girl's 14 and Under
Singles
1st Natalia Mendez (Bolivia)
2nd Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico)
3rd Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) and Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Doubles
1st Monserrat Perez & Regina Franco (Mexico)
2nd Abbey Lavely & Kaitlyn Simmons (USA)
3rd Mckenzie Brayley & Michelle Morissette (Canada) and Maria Rocio Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Girl's 16 and Under
Singles
1st Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
2nd Kelani Bailey (USA)
3rd Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) and Devon Pimentelli (USA)
Doubles
1st Masiel Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
2nd Courtney Chisholm & Devon Pimentelli (USA)
3rd Aisling Hickey & Katie Kenny (Ireland) and Ana Paola Camacho & Natalia Villagomez Beltran (Mexico)
Girl's 18 and Under
Singles
1st Aubrey O'brien (USA)
2nd Frédérique Lambert (Canada)
3rd Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) and Danielle Key (USA)
Doubles
1st Danielle Key & Aubrey O'brien (USA)
2nd Adriana Riveros & Carolina Oña (Bolivia)
3rd Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) and Jocelyn Loredo & Sofia Rascon (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, November 21, 2010
WPRO - 2010 Puget Sound Challenge - Salas Solis Wins 1st Title
Samantha Salas Solis has won her first Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Tier 1 event as she beat Kerri Wachtel at the 2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am on Sunday in Olympia, Washington. It was a closely fought final, as Salas Solis won it in four games, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7.
The final was the second of Salas's career and the first for Wachtel since September 2009. On Sunday, Salas will be going for her first WPRO win while Wachtel hasn't won a WPRO event since December 2007.
The next WPRO has two events next month: a satellite event - The New Jersey Open December 3-5 - and the Tier 1 Christmas Classic December 10-12 in Arlington, Virginia.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Olympia, Washington
Final: Samantha Salas d. Kerri Wachtel, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
The final was the second of Salas's career and the first for Wachtel since September 2009. On Sunday, Salas will be going for her first WPRO win while Wachtel hasn't won a WPRO event since December 2007.
The next WPRO has two events next month: a satellite event - The New Jersey Open December 3-5 - and the Tier 1 Christmas Classic December 10-12 in Arlington, Virginia.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Olympia, Washington
Final: Samantha Salas d. Kerri Wachtel, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
WPRO - 2010 Puget Sound Challenge - Top Seeds Lose
The unexpected has become the expected in Olympia, Washington at the 2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am, as the two top seeds - Rhonda Rajsich and Cheryl Gudinas - were defeated in the semi-finals of this Tier 1 event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour. Sunday's final will see 3rd seed Samantha Salas face off against 4th seed Kerri Wachtel.
Both Salas and Wachtel needed four games to defeat the top seeds, as Salas took out Gudinas, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, and Wachtel beat Rajsich, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.
It's only Salas's second career final and the first for Wachtel since September 2009. On Sunday, Salas will be going for her first WPRO win while Wachtel will be trying to win her first WPRO event since December 2007.
The final will be Sunday at noon PST.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Semi-finals
Kerri Wachtel d. Rhonda Rajsich, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
Samantha Salas d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6
Final
Samantha Salas vs. Kerri Wachtel
Follow the bouncing ball....
Both Salas and Wachtel needed four games to defeat the top seeds, as Salas took out Gudinas, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6, and Wachtel beat Rajsich, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.
It's only Salas's second career final and the first for Wachtel since September 2009. On Sunday, Salas will be going for her first WPRO win while Wachtel will be trying to win her first WPRO event since December 2007.
The final will be Sunday at noon PST.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Semi-finals
Kerri Wachtel d. Rhonda Rajsich, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5
Samantha Salas d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6
Final
Samantha Salas vs. Kerri Wachtel
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, November 20, 2010
2010 Junior World Championships - Americans win all four U18 titles
Americans swept the 18 and under divisions Saturday at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California. Aubrey O'brien and Taylor Knoth won the respective Girls U18 and Boys U18 singles finals with O'brien and Danielle Key winning the Girls doubles title and Bradley Kirch and Nick Montalbano taking the Boys doubles title.
In the Girls U18 singles final, O'brien defeated Canadian Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 15-4. Lambert never seemed comfortable in the match as O'brien drove serve effectively, especially to the right side. O'brien and Key beat Bolivians Adriana Riveros and Carolina Oña (Bolivia) in the doubles final, 15-3, 15-11.
The wins on the Boys side were also by comfortable margins as Knoth won two straight against Pedro Castro of Canada, 15-5, 15-8, and Kirch and Montalbano went two straight against Carlos Keller Vargas and Jorge Luis Michel of Bolivia, 15-7, 15-4.
Knoth used a variety of serves, but mostly drive serves including a couple of jams that hit Castro as he tried to take position to return them. Castro may simply have been out of gas after playing 9 games on Friday in winning his singles quarter finals and semi-finals in tie-breakers and playing another tie-breaker in doubles.
The Americans also swept the Boys U16 divisions with Marco Rojas winning singles and also taking doubles with Jose Diaz, who was the runner up in singles, but in Girls U16 it was Bolivia's Maria Paz Munoz who was a double winner taking the singles title and doubles with partner Masiel Rivera.
Mexico took three of the four gold medals in the U14 divisions, as they swept the boys singles and doubles as well as the girls doubles title. It could have been a Mexican sweep in the girls divisions also, but in singles Bolivian Natalia Mendez defeated Mexican Ximena Gonzalez in a tie-breaker, 8-15, 15-12, 11-9.
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships
Los Angeles, California
Boy's 14 and Under
Singles Final - Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Roman Ramos (Mexico), 10-15, 15-9, 11-10
Doubles Final - Eduardo Garay & Javier Estrada (Mexico) d. Adam Manilla & Sawyer Lloyd (USA), 12-15, 15-7, 11-1
Boy's 16 and Under
Singles Final - Marco Rojas (USA) d. Jose Diaz (USA), 15-8, 15-6
Doubles Final - Marco Rojas d. Jose Diaz (USA) d. Alejandro Romo & Salvador Ortiz (Mexico), 15-14, 15-5
Boy's 18 and Under
Singles Final - Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-5, 15-8
Doubles Final - Bradley Kirch & Nick Montalbano (USA) d. Carlos Keller Vargas & Jorge Luis Michel (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-4
Girl's 14 and Under
Singles Final - Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico), 8-15, 15-12, 11-9
Doubles Final - Monserrat Perez & Regina Franco (Mexico) d. Abbey Lavely & Kaitlyn Simmons (USA), 15-7, 15-10
Girl's 16 and Under
Singles Final - Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Kelani Bailey (USA), 15-11, 12-15, 11-6
Doubles Final - Masiel Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Courtney Chisholm & Devon Pimentelli (USA), 15-9, 15-9
Girl's 18 and Under
Singles Final - Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Frédérique Lambert (Canada), 15-6, 15-4
Doubles Final - Danielle Key & Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Adriana Riveros & Carolina Oña (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-11
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the Girls U18 singles final, O'brien defeated Canadian Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 15-4. Lambert never seemed comfortable in the match as O'brien drove serve effectively, especially to the right side. O'brien and Key beat Bolivians Adriana Riveros and Carolina Oña (Bolivia) in the doubles final, 15-3, 15-11.
The wins on the Boys side were also by comfortable margins as Knoth won two straight against Pedro Castro of Canada, 15-5, 15-8, and Kirch and Montalbano went two straight against Carlos Keller Vargas and Jorge Luis Michel of Bolivia, 15-7, 15-4.
Knoth used a variety of serves, but mostly drive serves including a couple of jams that hit Castro as he tried to take position to return them. Castro may simply have been out of gas after playing 9 games on Friday in winning his singles quarter finals and semi-finals in tie-breakers and playing another tie-breaker in doubles.
The Americans also swept the Boys U16 divisions with Marco Rojas winning singles and also taking doubles with Jose Diaz, who was the runner up in singles, but in Girls U16 it was Bolivia's Maria Paz Munoz who was a double winner taking the singles title and doubles with partner Masiel Rivera.
Mexico took three of the four gold medals in the U14 divisions, as they swept the boys singles and doubles as well as the girls doubles title. It could have been a Mexican sweep in the girls divisions also, but in singles Bolivian Natalia Mendez defeated Mexican Ximena Gonzalez in a tie-breaker, 8-15, 15-12, 11-9.
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships
Los Angeles, California
Boy's 14 and Under
Singles Final - Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Roman Ramos (Mexico), 10-15, 15-9, 11-10
Doubles Final - Eduardo Garay & Javier Estrada (Mexico) d. Adam Manilla & Sawyer Lloyd (USA), 12-15, 15-7, 11-1
Boy's 16 and Under
Singles Final - Marco Rojas (USA) d. Jose Diaz (USA), 15-8, 15-6
Doubles Final - Marco Rojas d. Jose Diaz (USA) d. Alejandro Romo & Salvador Ortiz (Mexico), 15-14, 15-5
Boy's 18 and Under
Singles Final - Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-5, 15-8
Doubles Final - Bradley Kirch & Nick Montalbano (USA) d. Carlos Keller Vargas & Jorge Luis Michel (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-4
Girl's 14 and Under
Singles Final - Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico), 8-15, 15-12, 11-9
Doubles Final - Monserrat Perez & Regina Franco (Mexico) d. Abbey Lavely & Kaitlyn Simmons (USA), 15-7, 15-10
Girl's 16 and Under
Singles Final - Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Kelani Bailey (USA), 15-11, 12-15, 11-6
Doubles Final - Masiel Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Courtney Chisholm & Devon Pimentelli (USA), 15-9, 15-9
Girl's 18 and Under
Singles Final - Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Frédérique Lambert (Canada), 15-6, 15-4
Doubles Final - Danielle Key & Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Adriana Riveros & Carolina Oña (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-11
Follow the bouncing ball....
WPRO - 2010 Puget Sound Challenge - QFS
Things are mostly going according to the seedings at the 2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington - a Tier 1 event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour. Top seed Rhonda Rajsich is in the semi-finals against 4th seed Kerri Wachtel on the top side of the draw with 2nd seed Cheryl Gudinas playing 3rd seed Samantha Salas on the bottom of the draw.
However, in the Round of 16 two five game matches resulted in small upsets as 10th seed Susana Acosta eked out a victory against 7th seed Jo Shattuck, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 and 9th seed T. J. Baumbaugh defeated 8th seed Keely Franks, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7.
According to our sources, the WPRO's #1 player Paola Longoria isn't in Olympia as she was named Mexican Athlete of the Year and will be presented with the award this weekend in Mexico City.
The semi-finals will go on Saturday evening with the final Sunday at noon PST.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Quarter Finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
Kerri Wachtel d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8
Samantha Salas d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9
Cheryl Gudinas d. Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
Semi-finals - Saturday
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kerri Wachtel
Cheryl Gudinas vs. Samantha Salas
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich d. Tammarrian Rogers, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
T. J. Baumbaugh d. Keely Franks, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7
Adrienne Fisher d. Da'monique Davis, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7
Kerri Wachtel d. Wanda Collins, 11-5, 11-1, 11-4
Samantha Salas d. Cheyenne Hayes, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Jennifer Saunders d. Angela Grisar, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
Susana Acosta d. Jo Shattuck, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10
Cheryl Gudinas d. Beth Neff, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
Follow the bouncing ball....
However, in the Round of 16 two five game matches resulted in small upsets as 10th seed Susana Acosta eked out a victory against 7th seed Jo Shattuck, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 and 9th seed T. J. Baumbaugh defeated 8th seed Keely Franks, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7.
According to our sources, the WPRO's #1 player Paola Longoria isn't in Olympia as she was named Mexican Athlete of the Year and will be presented with the award this weekend in Mexico City.
The semi-finals will go on Saturday evening with the final Sunday at noon PST.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Quarter Finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-3, 11-3, 11-3
Kerri Wachtel d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8
Samantha Salas d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9
Cheryl Gudinas d. Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
Semi-finals - Saturday
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kerri Wachtel
Cheryl Gudinas vs. Samantha Salas
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich d. Tammarrian Rogers, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
T. J. Baumbaugh d. Keely Franks, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7
Adrienne Fisher d. Da'monique Davis, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7
Kerri Wachtel d. Wanda Collins, 11-5, 11-1, 11-4
Samantha Salas d. Cheyenne Hayes, 11-4, 11-1, 11-1
Jennifer Saunders d. Angela Grisar, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
Susana Acosta d. Jo Shattuck, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10
Cheryl Gudinas d. Beth Neff, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
Follow the bouncing ball....
2010 Junior World Championships - Finalists Set
Girls from five different countries will be playing for gold medals on Saturday at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Junior World Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California. Bolivia and the USA have two players among the Girls U14, U16, and U18 finalists with one each from Canada and Mexico.
In the Girls U18 final, American Aubrey O'brien will play Canadian Frédérique Lambert. O'brien defeated Maria Paz Munoz, 15-6, 11-15, 11-0, in one semi-final on Friday and Lambert beat Danielle Key (USA), 15-12, 8-15, 11-7.
On the boys' side, the finalists are a split between Mexico and the USA with one exception, as Pedro Castro of Canada made it to the Boys U18 final with two tie-breaker wins against fellow Canuck Jamie Slamko, 13-15, 15-9, 11-9, in the quarters and American Bradley Kirch in the semis, 14-15, 15-12, 11-6.
Castro's opponent will be top seed Taylor Knoth (USA). His path to the final was only slightly less difficult, as he faced the 2009 silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico in the quarters. That match was as close as it could be as Knoth won 15-14, 14-15, 11-10. But in his semi-final match, Knoth defeated Jaime Martell (Mexico) in two straight games, 15-12, 15-4.
The finals are all set for Saturday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play will begin at 10 AM PST and can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Boy's Singles 14 and Under
Quarter finals
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Adam Manilla (USA), 8-15, 15-12, 11-6
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia), 0-15, 15-2, 11-1
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) d. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-11, 11-3
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Sami Harb (Canada), 15-14, 15-8
Semi-finals
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-11, 15-8
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Sawyer Lloyd (USA), 15-14, 15-3
Final - Roman Ramos (Mexico) vs. Javier Mar (Mexico)
Boy's Singles 16 and Under
Quarter finals
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 11-15, 15-2, 11-2
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 13-15, 11-3
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-11
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Oscar Arias (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-6
Semi-finals
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Vladimir Soria (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-1
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico), 15-9, 15-14
Final - Marco Rojas (USA) vs. Jose Diaz (USA)
Boy's Singles 18 and Under - Pool Play Playoffs
Quarter finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Alejandro Cardona (Mexico), 15-14, 14-15, 11-10
Jaime Martell (Mexico) d. Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), 15-10, 5-15, 11-7
Bradley Kirch (USA) d. Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia), 15-4, 15-6
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. James Slamko (Canada), 13-15, 15-9, 11-9
Semi-finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Jaime Martell (Mexico), 15-12, 15-4
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Bradley Kirch (USA), 14-15, 15-12, 11-6
Final - Taylor Knoth (USA) vs. Pedro Castro (Canada)
Girl's Singles 14 and Under
Quarter finals
Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) d. Kate Ryan (Ireland), 13-15, 15-8, 11-6
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Mariana Lopez (Bolivia), 13-15, 15-3, 11-6
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-10, 15-8
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
Semi-finals
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Kaitlyn Simmons (USA), 15-6, 15-1
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-6
Final - Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 16 and Under
Quarter finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6
Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) d. Erica Ortega (Mexico), 15-2, 15-10
Devon Pimentelli (USA) d. Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua), 15-5, 15-4
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-4, 15-1
Semi-finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Masiel Rivera (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-13
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Devon Pimentelli (USA), 15-8, 15-2
Final - Kelani Bailey (USA) vs. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 18 and Under
Quarter finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Carolina Oña (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-1
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico), 7-15, 15-8, 11-9
Danielle Key (USA) d. Elena Robles Molina (Mexico), 15-5, 15-9
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-10
Semi-finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 11-15, 11-0
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Danielle Key (USA), 15-12, 8-15, 11-7
Final - Aubrey O'brien (USA) vs. Frédérique Lambert (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the Girls U18 final, American Aubrey O'brien will play Canadian Frédérique Lambert. O'brien defeated Maria Paz Munoz, 15-6, 11-15, 11-0, in one semi-final on Friday and Lambert beat Danielle Key (USA), 15-12, 8-15, 11-7.
On the boys' side, the finalists are a split between Mexico and the USA with one exception, as Pedro Castro of Canada made it to the Boys U18 final with two tie-breaker wins against fellow Canuck Jamie Slamko, 13-15, 15-9, 11-9, in the quarters and American Bradley Kirch in the semis, 14-15, 15-12, 11-6.
Castro's opponent will be top seed Taylor Knoth (USA). His path to the final was only slightly less difficult, as he faced the 2009 silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico in the quarters. That match was as close as it could be as Knoth won 15-14, 14-15, 11-10. But in his semi-final match, Knoth defeated Jaime Martell (Mexico) in two straight games, 15-12, 15-4.
The finals are all set for Saturday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play will begin at 10 AM PST and can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Boy's Singles 14 and Under
Quarter finals
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Adam Manilla (USA), 8-15, 15-12, 11-6
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia), 0-15, 15-2, 11-1
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) d. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-11, 11-3
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Sami Harb (Canada), 15-14, 15-8
Semi-finals
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-11, 15-8
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Sawyer Lloyd (USA), 15-14, 15-3
Final - Roman Ramos (Mexico) vs. Javier Mar (Mexico)
Boy's Singles 16 and Under
Quarter finals
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Sebastian Franco (Colombia), 11-15, 15-2, 11-2
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 13-15, 11-3
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-11
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Oscar Arias (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-6
Semi-finals
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Vladimir Soria (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-1
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico), 15-9, 15-14
Final - Marco Rojas (USA) vs. Jose Diaz (USA)
Boy's Singles 18 and Under - Pool Play Playoffs
Quarter finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Alejandro Cardona (Mexico), 15-14, 14-15, 11-10
Jaime Martell (Mexico) d. Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), 15-10, 5-15, 11-7
Bradley Kirch (USA) d. Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia), 15-4, 15-6
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. James Slamko (Canada), 13-15, 15-9, 11-9
Semi-finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Jaime Martell (Mexico), 15-12, 15-4
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Bradley Kirch (USA), 14-15, 15-12, 11-6
Final - Taylor Knoth (USA) vs. Pedro Castro (Canada)
Girl's Singles 14 and Under
Quarter finals
Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) d. Kate Ryan (Ireland), 13-15, 15-8, 11-6
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Mariana Lopez (Bolivia), 13-15, 15-3, 11-6
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-10, 15-8
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
Semi-finals
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Kaitlyn Simmons (USA), 15-6, 15-1
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-6
Final - Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 16 and Under
Quarter finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6
Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) d. Erica Ortega (Mexico), 15-2, 15-10
Devon Pimentelli (USA) d. Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua), 15-5, 15-4
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Aisling Hickey (Ireland), 15-4, 15-1
Semi-finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Masiel Rivera (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-13
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Devon Pimentelli (USA), 15-8, 15-2
Final - Kelani Bailey (USA) vs. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 18 and Under
Quarter finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Carolina Oña (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-1
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico), 7-15, 15-8, 11-9
Danielle Key (USA) d. Elena Robles Molina (Mexico), 15-5, 15-9
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-10
Semi-finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 11-15, 11-0
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Danielle Key (USA), 15-12, 8-15, 11-7
Final - Aubrey O'brien (USA) vs. Frédérique Lambert (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, November 19, 2010
WPRO - 2010 Puget Sound Challenge - Round of 16
The 2010-2011 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season continues this weekend with the 2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington. This is a new event on the WPRO schedule, which may be the cause of the smaller than normal draw. But 16 players will be competing in Olympia.
However, the WPRO's #1 player Paola Longoria won't be one of them. We've got no word on why Longoria isn't there, but her absence makes Rhonda Rajsich the top seed for the event.
The quarter finals and semi-finals are slated for Saturday with the finals to follow on Sunday.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Tammarrian Rogers
Keely Franks vs. T. J. Baumbaugh
Adrienne Fisher vs. Da'monique Davis
Kerri Wachtel vs. Wanda Collins
Samantha Salas vs. Cheyenne Hayes
Jennifer Saunders vs. Angela Grisar
Susana Acosta vs. Jo Shattuck
Cheryl Gudinas vs. Beth Neff
Follow the bouncing ball....
However, the WPRO's #1 player Paola Longoria won't be one of them. We've got no word on why Longoria isn't there, but her absence makes Rhonda Rajsich the top seed for the event.
The quarter finals and semi-finals are slated for Saturday with the finals to follow on Sunday.
2010 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Tammarrian Rogers
Keely Franks vs. T. J. Baumbaugh
Adrienne Fisher vs. Da'monique Davis
Kerri Wachtel vs. Wanda Collins
Samantha Salas vs. Cheyenne Hayes
Jennifer Saunders vs. Angela Grisar
Susana Acosta vs. Jo Shattuck
Cheryl Gudinas vs. Beth Neff
Follow the bouncing ball....
2010 Junior World Championships - Day Four Results
There were no big upsets on Thursday - the first day of the elimination round - at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Junior World Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California. But there will be some cracking matches on Friday as the players will be play both quarter finals and semi-finals.
For example, there's going to be a repeat of the showdown between American Marco Rojas and Colombian Sebastian Franco in the quarter finals of Boys U16, as they played on Wednesday with Rojas winning 11-10 in the tie-breaker.
In Boys U18, top seed Taylor Knoth of the USA plays last year's silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico in the quarters. The winner of the that will play the winner of Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), last year's gold medalist in Boys U16, and Jaime Martell (Mexico).
In Girls U14 Kate Ryan of Ireland is through to the quarters where she'll play American Kaitlyn Simmons. The winner will play the winner of Mexican Ximena Gonzalez, who has looked very strong, and Bolivian Mariana Lopez.
American Aubrey O'brien continues to impress in the Girls U18 as she blanked Aimee Quinn of Ireland, 15-0, 15-0, in the Round of 16. O'brien's next opponent is Bolivian Carolina Oña. Also still alive in Girls U18 are American Danielle Key, Canadian Frédérique Lambert, and Jessica Parrilla of Mexico.
The elimination round continues Friday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships - Los Angeles, California
Boy's Singles 14 and Under
Round of 16:
Adam Manilla (USA) d. Bernardo Zamora (Nicaragua), 11-5, 11-2
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Camilo Diaz (Colombia), 15-3, 15-4
Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia) d. Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 15-5, 12-15, 11-9
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Stephen Quinn (Ireland), 15-3, 15-0
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) d. Luciano Garcia (Nicaragua), 15-13, 11-15, 11-8
Andres Aviles (Costa Rica) d. Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-13, 0-15, 11-9
Sami Harb (Canada) d. Felipe Arenas (Colombia), 15-3, 15-2
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-9
Quarter finals
Adam Manilla (USA) vs. Coby Iwaasa (Canada)
Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia) vs. Roman Ramos (Mexico)
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) vs. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica)
Javier Mar (Mexico) vs. Sami Harb (Canada)
Boy's Singles 16 and Under
Round of 16:
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Andres Fabian Montecinos (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-9
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 9-15, 15-5, 11-4
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) d. Francisco De-leon (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-4
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Jose Ignacio Ruiz Matus (Chile), 15-3, 15-2
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Sebastian Sueiras (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-4
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Anthony Schonberger (Canada), 15-8, 14-15, 11-7
Oscar Arias (Bolivia) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-7
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Daire Gargan (Ireland), 15-3, 15-6
Quarter finals
Marco Rojas (USA) vs. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) vs. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Jose Diaz (USA) vs. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) vs. Oscar Arias (Bolivia)
Boy's Singles 18 and Under
Round of 16:
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Sean Keane (Ireland), 15-8, 15-0
Alejandro Cardona (Mexico) d. Cristian Jaime (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-6
Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) d. Fernando Muñoz (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2
Jaime Martell (Mexico) d. Ismael Zhindon (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-2
Bradley Kirch (USA) d. Joe Dillon (Ireland), 15-2, 15-3
Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia) d. Marcelo Lora (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-4
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Roberto Leyes Jr (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
James Slamko (Canada) d. Roger Zamora (Nicaragua) WBF - No Show
Quarter finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) vs. Alejandro Cardona (Mexico)
Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) vs. Jaime Martell (Mexico)
Bradley Kirch (USA) vs. Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia)
James Slamko (Canada) vs. Pedro Castro (Canada)
Girl's Singles 14 and Under
Round of 16:
Kate Ryan (Ireland) d. Mckenzie Brayley (Canada), 15-1, 15-7
Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) d. Elaine Murphy (Ireland), 15-11, 15-2
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Paulina Sempértegui (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-2
Mariana Lopez (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-3
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Alessandra Gabriel Garcia Vega (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-2
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mery Nanyely Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-2
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Maria Paula Posada (Nicaragua), 15-0, 15-1
Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Abbey Lavely (USA), 15-6, 15-5
Quarter finals
Kate Ryan (Ireland) vs. Kaitlyn Simmons (USA)
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Mariana Lopez (Bolivia)
Michèle Morissette (Canada) vs. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) vs. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
Girl's Singles 16 and Under
Round of 16
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Larissa Ayon (Nicaragua), 15-0, 15-1
Marianna Tobon (Venezuela) d. Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-11, 15-11
Erica Ortega (Mexico) d. Ana Cristina Velez (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-14
Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) d. Brittany Nelson (Canada), 15-5, 15-0
Devon Pimentelli (USA) d. Dafne Macrino (Argentina), 15-0, 15-5
Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua) d. Caridad Vintimilla (Ecuador), 15-8, 15-2
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) d. Arleth Maldonado (Mexico), 15-1, 15-12
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Danielle Drury (Canada), 15-2, 15-0
Quarter finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) vs. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela)
Erica Ortega (Mexico) vs. Masiel Rivera (Bolivia)
Devon Pimentelli (USA) vs. Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua)
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) vs. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 18 and Under
Round of 16
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Aimee Quinn (Ireland), 15-0, 15-0
Carolina Oña (Bolivia) d. Brigitte Richard (Canada), 15-8, 15-14
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-7
Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. Mariola Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-1
Danielle Key (USA) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-3, 15-2
Elena Robles Molina (Mexico) d. Cristina Cordova (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-7
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-6, 15-0
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Marcela Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-6
Quarter finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) vs. Carolina Oña (Bolivia)
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) vs. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico)
Danielle Key (USA) vs. Elena Robles Molina (Mexico)
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) vs. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
For example, there's going to be a repeat of the showdown between American Marco Rojas and Colombian Sebastian Franco in the quarter finals of Boys U16, as they played on Wednesday with Rojas winning 11-10 in the tie-breaker.
In Boys U18, top seed Taylor Knoth of the USA plays last year's silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico in the quarters. The winner of the that will play the winner of Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia), last year's gold medalist in Boys U16, and Jaime Martell (Mexico).
In Girls U14 Kate Ryan of Ireland is through to the quarters where she'll play American Kaitlyn Simmons. The winner will play the winner of Mexican Ximena Gonzalez, who has looked very strong, and Bolivian Mariana Lopez.
American Aubrey O'brien continues to impress in the Girls U18 as she blanked Aimee Quinn of Ireland, 15-0, 15-0, in the Round of 16. O'brien's next opponent is Bolivian Carolina Oña. Also still alive in Girls U18 are American Danielle Key, Canadian Frédérique Lambert, and Jessica Parrilla of Mexico.
The elimination round continues Friday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
2010 IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships - Los Angeles, California
Boy's Singles 14 and Under
Round of 16:
Adam Manilla (USA) d. Bernardo Zamora (Nicaragua), 11-5, 11-2
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Camilo Diaz (Colombia), 15-3, 15-4
Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia) d. Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 15-5, 12-15, 11-9
Roman Ramos (Mexico) d. Stephen Quinn (Ireland), 15-3, 15-0
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) d. Luciano Garcia (Nicaragua), 15-13, 11-15, 11-8
Andres Aviles (Costa Rica) d. Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-13, 0-15, 11-9
Sami Harb (Canada) d. Felipe Arenas (Colombia), 15-3, 15-2
Javier Mar (Mexico) d. Manolo Sandoval (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-9
Quarter finals
Adam Manilla (USA) vs. Coby Iwaasa (Canada)
Marcelo Vargas (Bolivia) vs. Roman Ramos (Mexico)
Sawyer Lloyd (USA) vs. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica)
Javier Mar (Mexico) vs. Sami Harb (Canada)
Boy's Singles 16 and Under
Round of 16:
Marco Rojas (USA) d. Andres Fabian Montecinos (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-9
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 9-15, 15-5, 11-4
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) d. Francisco De-leon (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-4
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Jose Ignacio Ruiz Matus (Chile), 15-3, 15-2
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Sebastian Sueiras (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-4
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Anthony Schonberger (Canada), 15-8, 14-15, 11-7
Oscar Arias (Bolivia) d. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-7
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Daire Gargan (Ireland), 15-3, 15-6
Quarter finals
Marco Rojas (USA) vs. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Vladimir Soria (Bolivia) vs. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Jose Diaz (USA) vs. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) vs. Oscar Arias (Bolivia)
Boy's Singles 18 and Under
Round of 16:
Taylor Knoth (USA) d. Sean Keane (Ireland), 15-8, 15-0
Alejandro Cardona (Mexico) d. Cristian Jaime (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-6
Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) d. Fernando Muñoz (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2
Jaime Martell (Mexico) d. Ismael Zhindon (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-2
Bradley Kirch (USA) d. Joe Dillon (Ireland), 15-2, 15-3
Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia) d. Marcelo Lora (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-4
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Roberto Leyes Jr (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
James Slamko (Canada) d. Roger Zamora (Nicaragua) WBF - No Show
Quarter finals
Taylor Knoth (USA) vs. Alejandro Cardona (Mexico)
Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) vs. Jaime Martell (Mexico)
Bradley Kirch (USA) vs. Juan Felipe Garzon (Colombia)
James Slamko (Canada) vs. Pedro Castro (Canada)
Girl's Singles 14 and Under
Round of 16:
Kate Ryan (Ireland) d. Mckenzie Brayley (Canada), 15-1, 15-7
Kaitlyn Simmons (USA) d. Elaine Murphy (Ireland), 15-11, 15-2
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Paulina Sempértegui (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-2
Mariana Lopez (Bolivia) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-3
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Alessandra Gabriel Garcia Vega (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-2
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mery Nanyely Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-2
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Maria Paula Posada (Nicaragua), 15-0, 15-1
Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Abbey Lavely (USA), 15-6, 15-5
Quarter finals
Kate Ryan (Ireland) vs. Kaitlyn Simmons (USA)
Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Mariana Lopez (Bolivia)
Michèle Morissette (Canada) vs. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) vs. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
Girl's Singles 16 and Under
Round of 16
Kelani Bailey (USA) d. Larissa Ayon (Nicaragua), 15-0, 15-1
Marianna Tobon (Venezuela) d. Katie Kenny (Ireland), 15-11, 15-11
Erica Ortega (Mexico) d. Ana Cristina Velez (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-14
Masiel Rivera (Bolivia) d. Brittany Nelson (Canada), 15-5, 15-0
Devon Pimentelli (USA) d. Dafne Macrino (Argentina), 15-0, 15-5
Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua) d. Caridad Vintimilla (Ecuador), 15-8, 15-2
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) d. Arleth Maldonado (Mexico), 15-1, 15-12
Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) d. Danielle Drury (Canada), 15-2, 15-0
Quarter finals
Kelani Bailey (USA) vs. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela)
Erica Ortega (Mexico) vs. Masiel Rivera (Bolivia)
Devon Pimentelli (USA) vs. Sylvia Zamora (Nicaragua)
Aisling Hickey (Ireland) vs. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia)
Girl's Singles 18 and Under
Round of 16
Aubrey O'brien (USA) d. Aimee Quinn (Ireland), 15-0, 15-0
Carolina Oña (Bolivia) d. Brigitte Richard (Canada), 15-8, 15-14
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Marianna Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-7
Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. Mariola Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-1
Danielle Key (USA) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-3, 15-2
Elena Robles Molina (Mexico) d. Cristina Cordova (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-7
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Majella Haverty (Ireland), 15-6, 15-0
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Marcela Segreda (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-6
Quarter finals
Aubrey O'brien (USA) vs. Carolina Oña (Bolivia)
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) vs. Jessica Parrilla (Mexico)
Danielle Key (USA) vs. Elena Robles Molina (Mexico)
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) vs. Adriana Riveros (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
2010 Junior World Championships - Day Three Results
Jamie Slamko of Canada upset last year's Boys U18 silver medalist, Alejandro Cardona of Mexico, 8-15, 15-13, 11-9, and will be the 2nd seed for the elimination round on Thursday at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California.
But Slamko needed a tie-breaker for the win, as he dropped the first game 8-15 - despite leading 7-4. He almost let it slip away in the second game also as he led 12-6 only to have Cardona score seven straight points to lead 13-12. However, Slamko got the serve back and was able to finish the game, 15-13.
In the tie-breaker, Slamko led all the way but Cardona made it close when he narrowed the gap to 10-9. But that's as close as he got as Slamko closed out game three, 11-9, winning the match.
Slamko was also a winner in doubles, as he and Pedro Castro beat the Mexican team of Pedro Gonzalez and Victor Garay, 15-6, 15-12, so they are the 2nd seed in Boys U18 doubles.
The top seeds in Boys U18 singes and doubles are Americans. Taylor Knoth is the top singles player and in doubles it's Bradley Kirch and Nick Montalbano. However, Knoth will likely play Cardona in the quarters on Thursday if they both win their Round of 16 matches.
In Girls U18 American Aubrey O'brien is the top seed in singles and in doubles with partner Danielle Key. But in Girls U14 Kate Ryan of Ireland will be top seed as she defeated American Abbey Lavely, 15-12, 15-13 Wednesday. The Racquetball Blog believes this is the first time an Irish player has earned top seeding at an IRF tournament.
Moreover, of the 5 pools in Girls U14 only one was won by an American or Mexican player, as two were won by Bolivians - Natalia Mendez and Mariana Lopez - one by Ryan and one by Canadian Michelle Morissette. The other pool went to Mexican Ximena Gonzalez.
Also of note, American Marco Rojas won a 11-10 tie-breaker over Colombian Sebastian Franco, and will be the top seed in Boys U16.
The elimination round begins Thursday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
But Slamko needed a tie-breaker for the win, as he dropped the first game 8-15 - despite leading 7-4. He almost let it slip away in the second game also as he led 12-6 only to have Cardona score seven straight points to lead 13-12. However, Slamko got the serve back and was able to finish the game, 15-13.
In the tie-breaker, Slamko led all the way but Cardona made it close when he narrowed the gap to 10-9. But that's as close as he got as Slamko closed out game three, 11-9, winning the match.
Slamko was also a winner in doubles, as he and Pedro Castro beat the Mexican team of Pedro Gonzalez and Victor Garay, 15-6, 15-12, so they are the 2nd seed in Boys U18 doubles.
The top seeds in Boys U18 singes and doubles are Americans. Taylor Knoth is the top singles player and in doubles it's Bradley Kirch and Nick Montalbano. However, Knoth will likely play Cardona in the quarters on Thursday if they both win their Round of 16 matches.
In Girls U18 American Aubrey O'brien is the top seed in singles and in doubles with partner Danielle Key. But in Girls U14 Kate Ryan of Ireland will be top seed as she defeated American Abbey Lavely, 15-12, 15-13 Wednesday. The Racquetball Blog believes this is the first time an Irish player has earned top seeding at an IRF tournament.
Moreover, of the 5 pools in Girls U14 only one was won by an American or Mexican player, as two were won by Bolivians - Natalia Mendez and Mariana Lopez - one by Ryan and one by Canadian Michelle Morissette. The other pool went to Mexican Ximena Gonzalez.
Also of note, American Marco Rojas won a 11-10 tie-breaker over Colombian Sebastian Franco, and will be the top seed in Boys U16.
The elimination round begins Thursday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
2010 Junior World Championships - Day Three
Wednesday is sort out day at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Junior World Racquetball Championships in Los Angeles, California, as it's the last round of pool play so the toughest matches should be today with the results determining the seeding for the elimination round that will begin Thursday.
For example, in pools of four players there will be several matches of players with two wins each, such as Bradley Kirch (USA) and Cristian Jamie (Domincian Republic) in Boys U18 singles. Also in that division, the 2009 silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico will play Canadian Jamie Slamko.
Similarly, in Girls U18 American Danielle Key will play Frédérique Lambert of Canada and Jessica Parrilla of Mexico will play Carolina Oña of Bolivia to determine the winners of their respective pools.
The pool play ends Wednesday with the elimination round beginning on Thursday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California.
Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
For example, in pools of four players there will be several matches of players with two wins each, such as Bradley Kirch (USA) and Cristian Jamie (Domincian Republic) in Boys U18 singles. Also in that division, the 2009 silver medalist Alejandro Cardona of Mexico will play Canadian Jamie Slamko.
Similarly, in Girls U18 American Danielle Key will play Frédérique Lambert of Canada and Jessica Parrilla of Mexico will play Carolina Oña of Bolivia to determine the winners of their respective pools.
The pool play ends Wednesday with the elimination round beginning on Thursday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California.
Play can be seen over the web via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
2010 Junior World Championships - Day One
The 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships are underway in Los Angeles, California and on Monday Irish made the most noise. After playing their Mexican opponents close in Boys U18 singles Joe Dillon and Sean Keane defeated Mexicans Pedro Gonzalez and Victor Garay, 15-10, 10-15, 11-6.
Earlier Keane had game point against Jaime Martell only to lose that game and the match 15-14, 15-11, while Dillon had a close fight with last year's silver medalist Alejandro Cardona, who won it 15-9, 15-13.
The rest of the World Cup matches went according to form. The tournament format has the World Cup players - the top 2 players from each country in the U14, U16, and U18 divisions - playing in groups or pools of 3 or 4 players for the first three days followed by a playoff based on the results of the pool play.
The pool play continues Tuesday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be viewed over the internet via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Earlier Keane had game point against Jaime Martell only to lose that game and the match 15-14, 15-11, while Dillon had a close fight with last year's silver medalist Alejandro Cardona, who won it 15-9, 15-13.
The rest of the World Cup matches went according to form. The tournament format has the World Cup players - the top 2 players from each country in the U14, U16, and U18 divisions - playing in groups or pools of 3 or 4 players for the first three days followed by a playoff based on the results of the pool play.
The pool play continues Tuesday at the Spectrum Club in Los Angeles, California. Play can be viewed over the internet via the IRF website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, November 13, 2010
2010 IRF Junior World Championship - PREVIEW
The 22nd World Junior Racquetball Championships hosted by the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) will begin Sunday with the opening ceremonies in Los Angeles, California with play starting on Monday November 15 and running to Saturday November 20. As a preview we have the podium finishers from 2009 below. Overall, players from 10 different countries won medals in 2009, which could be a record.
Last year in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Carlos Keller Vargas of Bolivia won both singles and doubles in the Boys U16 divisions, so he'll be one of the players to watch in Boys U18 this year. His main competition will come from Mexican Alejandro Cardona and American Taylor Knoth, who were silver and bronze medalists, respectively, in U18 last year.
In the Girls U18 division, American Aubrey O'brien, 2009 winner in Girls U16 singles title and U18 doubles, could be the favorite along with fellow American Danielle Key, who O'brien won the doubles with last year, and Cristina Cordova of Ecuador (U18 bronze medalist in '09).
Of last year's Girls U18 podium finishers in singles, only Key and Cordova are returning, but 6 of the 8 podium finishers in U18 doubles are back, which should make for a strong field.
Curiously, some of the American podium finishers from last year aren't on the USA team this year. Of course, some are no longer juniors, such as Jose Rojas winner in Boys U18 singles and doubles last year, but not all changes can be explained that way, as neither of the boys who played U14 for the States will be in Los Angeles this week.
Over 300 players from around the world will be competing at the Spectrum Club in Canoga Park, California from November 15 to 20, 2010.
2009 Junior World Racquetball Championship
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Girls 18 & under
1st Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia)
2nd Sheryl Lotts (USA)
3rd Cristina Cordova* (Ecuador) & Danielle Key* (USA)
Doubles
1st Danielle Key* & Aubrey O'brien* (USA)
2nd Yazmine Sabja & Maria Jose Vargas* (Bolivia)
3rd Jessica Parrilla* & Rocio Enriquez Gatz (Mexico) and Cristina Cordova* & Maria Paz Munoz* (Ecuador)
Girls 16 & under
1st Aubrey O'brien* (USA)
2nd Sofia Rascon* (Mexico)
3rd Frédérique Lambert* (Canada) & Adriana Riveros* (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Amanda Lindsay & Jessica Munoz (USA)
2nd Adriana Riveros* & Carolina Ona* (Bolivia)
3rd Aisling Mickey* & Ciara Mcmanamon (Ireland) and Daniela Gascon & Elena Robles Molina* (Mexico)
Girls 14 & under
1st Lucia Gonzalez* (Mexico)
2nd Ximena Gonzalez* (Mexico)
3rd Kelani Bailey* (USA) & Masiel Rivera* (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Kelani Bailey* & Abbey Lavely* (USA)
2nd Masiel Rivera* & Natalia Mendez* (Bolivia)
3rd Michelle Morissette* & Zoe Hanson (Canada) and Alexandra Herrera* & Regina Franco* (Mexico)
Boys 18 & under
1st Jose Rojas (USA)
2nd Alejandro Cardona* (Mexico)
3rd Roland Keller (Bolivia) & Taylor Knoth* (USA)
Doubles
1st Jose Rojas & Jose Serrano (USA)
2nd Jose Daniel Ugalde & Juan Diego Rodriguez (Ecuador)
3rd Javier Melendez & Ignacio Sabate (Costa Rica) and Conrad Cole & Colin Mohr (Canada)
Boys 16 & under
1st Carlos Keller Vargas* (Bolivia)
2nd Marco Rojas* (USA)
3rd Daniel De La Rosa* (Mexico) & Misael Lejia (Mexico)
Doubles
1st Jorge Luis Michel* & Carlos Keller Vargas* (Bolivia)
2nd Joshua Hungerford & Nick Montalbano* (USA)
3rd Carlos Santos & Alejandro Acostarubio (Venezuela) and Juan Felipe Garzon* & Sebastian Franco* (Columbia)
Boys 14 & under
1st Javier Estrada* (Mexico)
2nd Zachary Wertz (USA)
3rd Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) & Sam Reid (USA)
Doubles
1st Javier Estrada* & Eduardo Garay* (Mexico)
2nd Adam Manilla* & Zachary Wertz (USA)
3rd Andres Acuna & Andres Fabian Montecinos (Costa Rica) and Francisco De-leon* & Junior Rodriguez* (Dominican Republic)
(Note: * indicates player is competing this year)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Last year in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Carlos Keller Vargas of Bolivia won both singles and doubles in the Boys U16 divisions, so he'll be one of the players to watch in Boys U18 this year. His main competition will come from Mexican Alejandro Cardona and American Taylor Knoth, who were silver and bronze medalists, respectively, in U18 last year.
In the Girls U18 division, American Aubrey O'brien, 2009 winner in Girls U16 singles title and U18 doubles, could be the favorite along with fellow American Danielle Key, who O'brien won the doubles with last year, and Cristina Cordova of Ecuador (U18 bronze medalist in '09).
Of last year's Girls U18 podium finishers in singles, only Key and Cordova are returning, but 6 of the 8 podium finishers in U18 doubles are back, which should make for a strong field.
Curiously, some of the American podium finishers from last year aren't on the USA team this year. Of course, some are no longer juniors, such as Jose Rojas winner in Boys U18 singles and doubles last year, but not all changes can be explained that way, as neither of the boys who played U14 for the States will be in Los Angeles this week.
Over 300 players from around the world will be competing at the Spectrum Club in Canoga Park, California from November 15 to 20, 2010.
2009 Junior World Racquetball Championship
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Girls 18 & under
1st Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia)
2nd Sheryl Lotts (USA)
3rd Cristina Cordova* (Ecuador) & Danielle Key* (USA)
Doubles
1st Danielle Key* & Aubrey O'brien* (USA)
2nd Yazmine Sabja & Maria Jose Vargas* (Bolivia)
3rd Jessica Parrilla* & Rocio Enriquez Gatz (Mexico) and Cristina Cordova* & Maria Paz Munoz* (Ecuador)
Girls 16 & under
1st Aubrey O'brien* (USA)
2nd Sofia Rascon* (Mexico)
3rd Frédérique Lambert* (Canada) & Adriana Riveros* (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Amanda Lindsay & Jessica Munoz (USA)
2nd Adriana Riveros* & Carolina Ona* (Bolivia)
3rd Aisling Mickey* & Ciara Mcmanamon (Ireland) and Daniela Gascon & Elena Robles Molina* (Mexico)
Girls 14 & under
1st Lucia Gonzalez* (Mexico)
2nd Ximena Gonzalez* (Mexico)
3rd Kelani Bailey* (USA) & Masiel Rivera* (Bolivia)
Doubles
1st Kelani Bailey* & Abbey Lavely* (USA)
2nd Masiel Rivera* & Natalia Mendez* (Bolivia)
3rd Michelle Morissette* & Zoe Hanson (Canada) and Alexandra Herrera* & Regina Franco* (Mexico)
Boys 18 & under
1st Jose Rojas (USA)
2nd Alejandro Cardona* (Mexico)
3rd Roland Keller (Bolivia) & Taylor Knoth* (USA)
Doubles
1st Jose Rojas & Jose Serrano (USA)
2nd Jose Daniel Ugalde & Juan Diego Rodriguez (Ecuador)
3rd Javier Melendez & Ignacio Sabate (Costa Rica) and Conrad Cole & Colin Mohr (Canada)
Boys 16 & under
1st Carlos Keller Vargas* (Bolivia)
2nd Marco Rojas* (USA)
3rd Daniel De La Rosa* (Mexico) & Misael Lejia (Mexico)
Doubles
1st Jorge Luis Michel* & Carlos Keller Vargas* (Bolivia)
2nd Joshua Hungerford & Nick Montalbano* (USA)
3rd Carlos Santos & Alejandro Acostarubio (Venezuela) and Juan Felipe Garzon* & Sebastian Franco* (Columbia)
Boys 14 & under
1st Javier Estrada* (Mexico)
2nd Zachary Wertz (USA)
3rd Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) & Sam Reid (USA)
Doubles
1st Javier Estrada* & Eduardo Garay* (Mexico)
2nd Adam Manilla* & Zachary Wertz (USA)
3rd Andres Acuna & Andres Fabian Montecinos (Costa Rica) and Francisco De-leon* & Junior Rodriguez* (Dominican Republic)
(Note: * indicates player is competing this year)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, November 8, 2010
Gagnon and Saunders win Racquetball Canada's National Team Selection Event
Vincent Gagnon and Jennifer Saunders proved themselves worthy of being the #1 racquetball players in Canada by respectively winning the men's and women's event of the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Edmonton. With the wins, Gagnon and Saunders have taken their first steps to qualifying for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico next October.
In the men's final, Gagnon got the best of his former doubles partner Francis Guillemette, 15-8, 15-3. The two players represented Canada together at the 2001 Pan American Championships.
Gagnon has represented Canada several times since then, but Guillemette hasn't. However, his good result has motivated Guillemette to train hard for the next Selection Event in Brossard, Quebec in early February.
Saunders defeated Frédérique Lambert in the women's final, 15-8, 15-6. The win avenged her loss to Lambert on Saturday in the pool part of the competition. Sunday, Saunders hit more drive serves as well as her favoured lob serves to provide a mix that kept Lambert off balance.
Lambert is also the Canadian Girls 18 and under junior champion and she'll be playing at the World Junior Racquetball Championship that begins on November 15 in Los Angeles, California.
Results from this event will be combined with results from the National Team Selection Event in February 2011 in Brossard, Que. and the Canadian National Championships next May in Nova Scotia to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Edmonton
Men's Final: Vincent Gagnon d. Francis Guillemette, 15-8, 15-3
3rd Place: Tim Landeryou d. Conrad Cole, 15-10, 15-6
Women's Final: Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 15-6
3rd place: Brandi Jacobson Prentice d. Brigitte Richard, 15-9, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the men's final, Gagnon got the best of his former doubles partner Francis Guillemette, 15-8, 15-3. The two players represented Canada together at the 2001 Pan American Championships.
Gagnon has represented Canada several times since then, but Guillemette hasn't. However, his good result has motivated Guillemette to train hard for the next Selection Event in Brossard, Quebec in early February.
Saunders defeated Frédérique Lambert in the women's final, 15-8, 15-6. The win avenged her loss to Lambert on Saturday in the pool part of the competition. Sunday, Saunders hit more drive serves as well as her favoured lob serves to provide a mix that kept Lambert off balance.
Lambert is also the Canadian Girls 18 and under junior champion and she'll be playing at the World Junior Racquetball Championship that begins on November 15 in Los Angeles, California.
Results from this event will be combined with results from the National Team Selection Event in February 2011 in Brossard, Que. and the Canadian National Championships next May in Nova Scotia to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games.
Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Edmonton
Men's Final: Vincent Gagnon d. Francis Guillemette, 15-8, 15-3
3rd Place: Tim Landeryou d. Conrad Cole, 15-10, 15-6
Women's Final: Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 15-6
3rd place: Brandi Jacobson Prentice d. Brigitte Richard, 15-9, 15-8
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT Weekend round up
There were two Tier 4 events on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) this past weekend in addition to the Corona Open in Chihuahua, Mexico.
In Claremont, California, Scott Davis won the Pomona Valley Open - a Tier 4 IRT event. Seeded 21st, Davis defeated 2nd seed Greg Solis in the final, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5, and the 1st seed Felipe Munoz in the semi-finals, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5. Solis beat 22nd seed Brandon Robbins, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
Across the USA in Long Island, New York, the Long Island Open - a Tier 4 IRT event - went according to the seedings until the final, when 2nd seed Agustin Tristan defeated the legend Ruben Gonzalez, who was seeded 1st. In the semi-finals, Tristan defeated 3rd seed Jason Sylvester and Gonzalez beat 4th seed Dan Llacera.
Next on the IRT schedule is the 20th Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas from November 18-21, which is a Tier 2 IRT event.
Follow the bouncing ball....
In Claremont, California, Scott Davis won the Pomona Valley Open - a Tier 4 IRT event. Seeded 21st, Davis defeated 2nd seed Greg Solis in the final, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5, and the 1st seed Felipe Munoz in the semi-finals, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5. Solis beat 22nd seed Brandon Robbins, 11-4, 11-7, 11-3.
Across the USA in Long Island, New York, the Long Island Open - a Tier 4 IRT event - went according to the seedings until the final, when 2nd seed Agustin Tristan defeated the legend Ruben Gonzalez, who was seeded 1st. In the semi-finals, Tristan defeated 3rd seed Jason Sylvester and Gonzalez beat 4th seed Dan Llacera.
Next on the IRT schedule is the 20th Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas from November 18-21, which is a Tier 2 IRT event.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, November 7, 2010
2010 Corona Open - Carson defeats Beltran for 1st title in 23 months
Rocky Carson defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8, to win the Corona Open - the fifth main event of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season. It's Carson first win since January 2009 at the California Open, when he also defeated Beltran in the final.
Carson got to the final by defeating Jack Huczek, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-9, in one semi-final, while Beltran beat Jose Rojas, 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, in the other.
The big upset of the weekend though was Rojas's victory over Ben Croft, who was playing as the #1 seed for the first time at a IRT main event in the absence of Kane Waselenchuk, who reportedly has a knee injury. Rojas won the first two games against Croft, but then had to pull it out in a tie-breaking fifth game as Croft came back to push the match to the limit only to have Rojas squeak it out, 11-1, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 12-10.
2010 IRT Corona Open - Chihuahua, Mexico
Final
Rocky Carson d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8
Semi-finals
Alvaro Beltran d. Jose Rojas, 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5
Rocky Carson d. Jack Huczek, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-9
Quarter Finals
Jose Rojas d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 12-10
Alvaro Beltran d. Chris Crowther, 11-0, injury forfeit
Jack Huczek d. Shane Vanderson, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-4, 12-10, 11-7
Round of 16
Ben Croft d. Erick Sandoval, forfeit
Jose Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 6-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Eduardo Avila, 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-0
Chris Crowther d. Alejandro Cardona
Jack Huczek d. Salvador Ortiz, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
Shane Vanderson d. Gil De Los Rios, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8
Andy Hawthorne d. Javier Moreno, 11-2, 11-2, 11-9
Rocky Carson d. Javier Estrada, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Qualifying Round
Q: Erick Sandoval d. Javier Alvidrez
Follow the bouncing ball....
Carson got to the final by defeating Jack Huczek, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-9, in one semi-final, while Beltran beat Jose Rojas, 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, in the other.
The big upset of the weekend though was Rojas's victory over Ben Croft, who was playing as the #1 seed for the first time at a IRT main event in the absence of Kane Waselenchuk, who reportedly has a knee injury. Rojas won the first two games against Croft, but then had to pull it out in a tie-breaking fifth game as Croft came back to push the match to the limit only to have Rojas squeak it out, 11-1, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 12-10.
2010 IRT Corona Open - Chihuahua, Mexico
Final
Rocky Carson d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-8, 11-8
Semi-finals
Alvaro Beltran d. Jose Rojas, 5-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5
Rocky Carson d. Jack Huczek, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 11-9
Quarter Finals
Jose Rojas d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-4, 11-13, 6-11, 12-10
Alvaro Beltran d. Chris Crowther, 11-0, injury forfeit
Jack Huczek d. Shane Vanderson, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-4, 12-10, 11-7
Round of 16
Ben Croft d. Erick Sandoval, forfeit
Jose Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 6-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Eduardo Avila, 11-1, 11-8, 5-11, 11-0
Chris Crowther d. Alejandro Cardona
Jack Huczek d. Salvador Ortiz, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
Shane Vanderson d. Gil De Los Rios, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8
Andy Hawthorne d. Javier Moreno, 11-2, 11-2, 11-9
Rocky Carson d. Javier Estrada, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1
Qualifying Round
Q: Erick Sandoval d. Javier Alvidrez
Follow the bouncing ball....
Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event- Edmonton
The first Racquetball Canada (RC) National Team Selection Event hasn't been good to Canadian champions, as they have all lost early in the competition. Sunday's men's final is Vincent Gagnon, who's the #1 seed but hasn't been a singles champion though he has been Canadian doubles champion twice, and Francis Guillemette, who's made a final for the first time in his long career.
In their early days, Gagnon and Guillemette were doubles partners and represented Canada together in 2001 at the Pan American Championships, but they haven't played together for a few years now.
Gagnon defeated 4th seed Tim Landeryou on Saturday, 8-15, 15-13, 11-3, in one semi-final, while 6th seed Guillemette defeated 10th seed Conrad Cole in the other semi, 15-5, 15-11, in a semi-final that no one would have predicted.
That semi was set up by Guillemette defeating current Canadian champion Mike Green, 15-9, 11-15, 11-9, earlier on Saturday in the quarter finals. Green was the 3rd seed.
The big upset of the weekend though came on Friday, when 2nd seed and two time Canadian champion Kris Odegard falling to Barret Husulak in the first round in two straight games, 15-12, 16-14. Husulak then lost to Cole in the quarter finals, 11-15, 15-5, 11-7.
On the women's side, Jennifer Saunders, current Canadian champion, lost to the current Canadian Junior Champion, Frédérique Lambert, 15-9, 15-9, in a match where Lambert didn't miss many shots.
Saunders will have a chance for redemption, however, as the women's tournament format has two round robin pools followed by a playoff. In the playoff, Saunders defeated Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-7, 15-11, as Jacobson Prentice, who's coming off a shoulder injury, was not sharp.
Lambert defeated Brigitte Richard, 15-8, 15-6, to set up a rematch with Saunders on Sunday.
Results from this event will be combined with results from the National Team Selection Event in February 2011 in Brossard, Que. and the Canadian National Championships next May in Nova Scotia to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Follow the bouncing ball....
In their early days, Gagnon and Guillemette were doubles partners and represented Canada together in 2001 at the Pan American Championships, but they haven't played together for a few years now.
Gagnon defeated 4th seed Tim Landeryou on Saturday, 8-15, 15-13, 11-3, in one semi-final, while 6th seed Guillemette defeated 10th seed Conrad Cole in the other semi, 15-5, 15-11, in a semi-final that no one would have predicted.
That semi was set up by Guillemette defeating current Canadian champion Mike Green, 15-9, 11-15, 11-9, earlier on Saturday in the quarter finals. Green was the 3rd seed.
The big upset of the weekend though came on Friday, when 2nd seed and two time Canadian champion Kris Odegard falling to Barret Husulak in the first round in two straight games, 15-12, 16-14. Husulak then lost to Cole in the quarter finals, 11-15, 15-5, 11-7.
On the women's side, Jennifer Saunders, current Canadian champion, lost to the current Canadian Junior Champion, Frédérique Lambert, 15-9, 15-9, in a match where Lambert didn't miss many shots.
Saunders will have a chance for redemption, however, as the women's tournament format has two round robin pools followed by a playoff. In the playoff, Saunders defeated Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-7, 15-11, as Jacobson Prentice, who's coming off a shoulder injury, was not sharp.
Lambert defeated Brigitte Richard, 15-8, 15-6, to set up a rematch with Saunders on Sunday.
Results from this event will be combined with results from the National Team Selection Event in February 2011 in Brossard, Que. and the Canadian National Championships next May in Nova Scotia to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, November 5, 2010
International Racquetball Federation revamps its website
The International Racquetball Federation (IRF), the international governing body for racquetball, announced a relaunch of its website: www.internationalracquetball.com.
In a release from Luke St Onge, IRF Secretary General, former IRF Board Member Rafael Fernandez is credited with "the vision and leadership" in completing this project and ensuring that it is "user friendly." Linda Mojer was in charge of the IRF website for the last two years.
Of additional interest, St Onge stated that the IRF will be streaming all its events through the website, including the World Junior Championships that will begin later this month in Los Angeles, California. The opening ceremonies of that event are November 14 with play starting on the November 15 and running to November 20.
Follow the bouncing ball....
In a release from Luke St Onge, IRF Secretary General, former IRF Board Member Rafael Fernandez is credited with "the vision and leadership" in completing this project and ensuring that it is "user friendly." Linda Mojer was in charge of the IRF website for the last two years.
Of additional interest, St Onge stated that the IRF will be streaming all its events through the website, including the World Junior Championships that will begin later this month in Los Angeles, California. The opening ceremonies of that event are November 14 with play starting on the November 15 and running to November 20.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
2010 Corona Open - Preview
The Corona Open draw is one of the smallest for an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Tier 1 event for some time. There are only 17 players entered in the Chihuahua, Mexico tournament, so the qualifying round is simply one match: Erick Sandoval versus Javier Alvidrez with the winner to play Ben Croft.
Yes, Ben Croft, not Kane Waselenchuk, who injured a knee in the finals of the US Open and is not playing in Chihuahua. Neither is Mitch Williams, who suffered a separated left shoulder in Minneapolis. Thus, Ben Croft is the top seed in a Tier 1 IRT event for the first time in his career.
Rejoining the field is Shane Vanderson, who's playing his first Tier 1 event since the sudden death of his brother. He was a winner in a Tier 4 event in Florida last weekend. The Racquetball Blog staff wishes Shane well.
Without Waselenchuk the field is open, so Vanderson could do very well in Chihuahua. But there are several other players who proved their quality at the US Open, such as Alvaro Beltran, Jack Huczek, and Charlie Pratt.
Rocky Carson, on the other hand, might be someone who feels he has something to prove after an early exit from the US Open. He and Huczek, as 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively, are on the same side of the draw, so one of their classic battles could happen in the semi-finals. But they both need to get that far.
Yes, it's a small draw in Chihuahua, but one full of intrigue.
The IRT Network.com should have all the action from Chihuahua, so check them out beginning at 11:30 AM Mountain Standard Time. Note: Mexico ended daylight savings time last weekend; the USA and Canada will do so this weekend. Thus, Chihuahua is the same time as the Pacific time zone through Saturday, but then will be the same time as the Mountain time zone come Sunday.
2010 World Professional Racquetball Championship, Cali, Columbia
Qualifying Round
Q: Erick Sandoval v. Javier Alvidrez
Round of 16
Ben Croft v. Q
Jose Rojas v. Charlie Pratt
Alvaro Beltran v. Eduardo Avila
Chris Crowther v. Alejandro Cardona
Jack Huczek v. Salvador Ortiz
Shane Vanderson v. Gil De Los Rios
Andy Hawthorne v. Javier Moreno
Rocky Carson v. Javier Estrada
Follow the bouncing ball....
Yes, Ben Croft, not Kane Waselenchuk, who injured a knee in the finals of the US Open and is not playing in Chihuahua. Neither is Mitch Williams, who suffered a separated left shoulder in Minneapolis. Thus, Ben Croft is the top seed in a Tier 1 IRT event for the first time in his career.
Rejoining the field is Shane Vanderson, who's playing his first Tier 1 event since the sudden death of his brother. He was a winner in a Tier 4 event in Florida last weekend. The Racquetball Blog staff wishes Shane well.
Without Waselenchuk the field is open, so Vanderson could do very well in Chihuahua. But there are several other players who proved their quality at the US Open, such as Alvaro Beltran, Jack Huczek, and Charlie Pratt.
Rocky Carson, on the other hand, might be someone who feels he has something to prove after an early exit from the US Open. He and Huczek, as 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively, are on the same side of the draw, so one of their classic battles could happen in the semi-finals. But they both need to get that far.
Yes, it's a small draw in Chihuahua, but one full of intrigue.
The IRT Network.com should have all the action from Chihuahua, so check them out beginning at 11:30 AM Mountain Standard Time. Note: Mexico ended daylight savings time last weekend; the USA and Canada will do so this weekend. Thus, Chihuahua is the same time as the Pacific time zone through Saturday, but then will be the same time as the Mountain time zone come Sunday.
2010 World Professional Racquetball Championship, Cali, Columbia
Qualifying Round
Q: Erick Sandoval v. Javier Alvidrez
Round of 16
Ben Croft v. Q
Jose Rojas v. Charlie Pratt
Alvaro Beltran v. Eduardo Avila
Chris Crowther v. Alejandro Cardona
Jack Huczek v. Salvador Ortiz
Shane Vanderson v. Gil De Los Rios
Andy Hawthorne v. Javier Moreno
Rocky Carson v. Javier Estrada
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, November 1, 2010
WPRO Rankings - November 1, 2010
There are few changes in the latest rankings from the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO). Paola Longoria continues to be #1 with Rhonda Rajsich and Cheryl Gudinas continuing in #2 and #3, respectively.
However, Samantha Salas is up to #4 ahead of Kerri Wachtel who's now #5. The rest of the top 10 is unchanged. Adrienne Fisher is #6, Jennifer Saunders #7, Jo Shattuck #8, Krystal Csuk #9, and Keely Franks #10.
There are some difference in the next 10, as Christie Huczek is now #15 following her semi-final appearance at the US Open. Also moving up based on good US Open performances are Aimee Ruiz, who's #19, and Nancy Enriquez #20.
WPRO Rankings November 1, 2010
Rank Name Nationality Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1602.78
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1310.30
3 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 872.60
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 500.20
5 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 390.10
6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 385.90
7 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 331.10
8 Jo Shattuck (USA) 318.35
9 Krystal Csuk (USA) 289.60
10 Keely Franks (USA) 243.50
11 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 231.70
12 Vivian Gomez (USA) 230.00
13 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 207.98
14 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 188.00
15 Christie Huczek (Canada) 150.00
16 Aubrey O'Brien (USA) 134.00
17 Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic) 128.60
18 Doreen Fowler (USA) 125.50
19 Aimee Ruiz (USA) 113.20
20 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 87.08
Follow the bouncing ball....
However, Samantha Salas is up to #4 ahead of Kerri Wachtel who's now #5. The rest of the top 10 is unchanged. Adrienne Fisher is #6, Jennifer Saunders #7, Jo Shattuck #8, Krystal Csuk #9, and Keely Franks #10.
There are some difference in the next 10, as Christie Huczek is now #15 following her semi-final appearance at the US Open. Also moving up based on good US Open performances are Aimee Ruiz, who's #19, and Nancy Enriquez #20.
WPRO Rankings November 1, 2010
Rank Name Nationality Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1602.78
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1310.30
3 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 872.60
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 500.20
5 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 390.10
6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 385.90
7 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 331.10
8 Jo Shattuck (USA) 318.35
9 Krystal Csuk (USA) 289.60
10 Keely Franks (USA) 243.50
11 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 231.70
12 Vivian Gomez (USA) 230.00
13 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 207.98
14 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 188.00
15 Christie Huczek (Canada) 150.00
16 Aubrey O'Brien (USA) 134.00
17 Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic) 128.60
18 Doreen Fowler (USA) 125.50
19 Aimee Ruiz (USA) 113.20
20 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 87.08
Follow the bouncing ball....
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