Aimee Ruiz upset 4th seed Jennifer Saunders, 14-12, 11-0, 8-11, 11-2, in the Round of 16 at the In-Shape Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Championships presented by Ektelon Friday, while the other top seeds all won.
WPRO #1 Paola Longoria beat Janel Tisinger, 11-4, 11-0, 11-3, and #2 Rhonda Rajsich defeated Kristen Bellows, 11-7, 11-2, 12-10.
The IRT Network is webcasting matches from Stockton including the semi-finals and final.
2011 In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon
Round of 16
Paola Longoria d. Janel Tisinger, 11-4, 11-0, 11-3
Angela Grisar d. Krystal Csuk, 8-11, 14-16, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4
Adrienne Fisher d. Da'monique Davis, 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 13-11
Aimee Ruiz d. Jennifer Saunders, 14-12, 11-0, 8-11, 11-2
Samantha Salas d. Aubrey O'Brien, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-3
Susy Acosta d. Nancy Enriquez, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5, 11-2
Cristina Amaya d. T.J. Baumbaugh, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Rhonda Rajsich d. Kristen Bellows, 11-7, 11-2, 12-10
Quarter finals
Paola Longoria vs. Angela Grisar
Adrienne Fisher vs. Aimee Ruiz
Samantha Salas vs. Susy Acosta
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Cristina Amaya
Round of 32
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Janel Tisinger d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3
Angela Grisar vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk vs. BYE
Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE
Da'monique Davis d. Melissa McElfresh, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3
Aimee Ruiz d. Devon Pimentelli, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3
Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE
Samantha Salas vs. BYE
Aubrey O'Brien d. Sofia Rascon, 11-3, 11-1, 12-10
Susy Acosta vs. BYE
Nancy Enriquez vs. BYE
Cristina Amaya vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE
Kristen Bellows d. Linda Scales, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 11-0
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
WPRO - In Shape Sports - Stockton, California - 32s
The In-Shape Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Championships presented by Ektelon is the final event of the 2010-2011 WPRO season. It begins Friday in Stockton, California, and the #1 ranking is on the line, as only a little over 60 points separate #1 Paola Longoria and #2 Rhonda Rajsich.
Longoria has defeated Rajsich in the finals of the last three WPRO events. However, Rajsich beat Longoria last week at the Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua.
So if you were a betting person, you might push on trying to pick a winner between these two this weekend.
However, the year end #1 may not win this event. In fact, the year end event has not been won by either Longoria or Rajsich the last two years. WPRO #3 Cheryl Gudinas won it last year, and two years ago it went to Kristen Bellows.
Gudinas won't defend the title this weekend, as she's not in the draw. Gudinas has had injury problems of late, which likely explains her absence. That means Samantha Salas Solis could be #3 next week in the year end WPRO rankings, as she's only 17 points behind Gudinas in the rankings. That would be a career high for Salas Solis.
Also missing is the #5 WPRO player Kerri Wachtel. Wachtel is about 100 points ahead of Jennifer Saunders in the rankings, so a good finish by Saunders on the weekend could put her into 5th spot, which would be a career high for her. However, Wachtel didn't play this event last year either, so, unlike Gudinas, she has no points to defend.
Bellows hasn't played much since winning this event two years ago, but she is in the Stockton draw. As the 18th seed she plays Linda Scales in the first round with the winner to face Rajsich.
Both the Round of 32 and the Round of 16 will be played on Friday with the quarter finals and semi finals set for Saturday. The final is Sunday.
The IRT Network is webcasting some of the matches from Stockton beginning on Saturday April 30.
2011 In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon
Round of 32
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Jocelyn Loredo vs. Janel Tisinger
Angela Grisar vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk vs. BYE
Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE
Da'monique Davis vs. Melissa McElfresh
Aimee Ruiz vs. Devon Pimentelli
Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE
Samantha Salas vs. BYE
Sofia Rascon vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Susy Acosta vs. BYE
Nancy Enriquez vs. BYE
Cristina Amaya vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE
Linda Scales vs. Kristen Bellows
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Longoria has defeated Rajsich in the finals of the last three WPRO events. However, Rajsich beat Longoria last week at the Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua.
So if you were a betting person, you might push on trying to pick a winner between these two this weekend.
However, the year end #1 may not win this event. In fact, the year end event has not been won by either Longoria or Rajsich the last two years. WPRO #3 Cheryl Gudinas won it last year, and two years ago it went to Kristen Bellows.
Gudinas won't defend the title this weekend, as she's not in the draw. Gudinas has had injury problems of late, which likely explains her absence. That means Samantha Salas Solis could be #3 next week in the year end WPRO rankings, as she's only 17 points behind Gudinas in the rankings. That would be a career high for Salas Solis.
Also missing is the #5 WPRO player Kerri Wachtel. Wachtel is about 100 points ahead of Jennifer Saunders in the rankings, so a good finish by Saunders on the weekend could put her into 5th spot, which would be a career high for her. However, Wachtel didn't play this event last year either, so, unlike Gudinas, she has no points to defend.
Bellows hasn't played much since winning this event two years ago, but she is in the Stockton draw. As the 18th seed she plays Linda Scales in the first round with the winner to face Rajsich.
Both the Round of 32 and the Round of 16 will be played on Friday with the quarter finals and semi finals set for Saturday. The final is Sunday.
The IRT Network is webcasting some of the matches from Stockton beginning on Saturday April 30.
2011 In-Shape WPRO Championships presented by Ektelon
Round of 32
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Jocelyn Loredo vs. Janel Tisinger
Angela Grisar vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk vs. BYE
Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE
Da'monique Davis vs. Melissa McElfresh
Aimee Ruiz vs. Devon Pimentelli
Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE
Samantha Salas vs. BYE
Sofia Rascon vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Susy Acosta vs. BYE
Nancy Enriquez vs. BYE
Cristina Amaya vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE
Linda Scales vs. Kristen Bellows
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Who can beat Kane Waselenchuk? REPRISED
After Kane Waselenchuk won the 2008 US Open, The Racquetball Blog did a piece on who we thought had the best chance to defeat him. Based on the game styles of the top players at that time - Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek, Jason Mannino, Alvaro Beltran, Mitch Williams, and Shane Vanderson - we gave Alvaro Beltran the best chance to beat Waselenchuk.
So when Waselenchuk lost to Beltran in his next tournament in January 2009, we weren't that surprised.
Since then Waselenchuk hasn't lost on court, but his challengers have changed. Carson and Huczek are still battling with him, but Mannino and Williams have retired with Vanderson talking of following them at season's end, and Beltran's been troubled with a knee injury.
However, there are a couple of new players looking to knock off Waselenchuk. Ben Croft and Jose Rojas are strong young American players who are certainly talented, and have the pedigree of winning the Junior World U18 championship twice. The other players who have done that - Carson, Huczek and Sudsy Monchik - all went on to be #1 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Can Croft or Rojas beat Waselenchuk? The first thing they'd have to do is not beat themselves. The New Orleans Hornets upset the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles in the first game of their playoff series in part because the Hornets only had three (3) turnovers - tying an NBA playoff record for fewest turnovers in a game.
However, both Croft and Rojas have shown a tendency to beat themselves. In his last match with Waselenchuk at the Mexico Open, Croft took three technicals, so lost three points. You can't be giving back points against Waselenchuk, because they are just too hard to come by. Those weren't the only technicals Croft has received this season, so he needs to focus his emotions so that they are not adversely effecting his performance.
The emotion Croft plays with has undoubtedly helped him get to where he is, but when you play with fire you have to be careful not to burn yourself.
Rojas is a different case. The way he hurts himself is by playing inconsistently. He's become a top 8 player this season, but he's also lost in the 16s more often than he's made the semi-finals (4 to 2, respectively). Inconsistency is not uncommon in a young player, such as Rojas, who'll be 21 at the end of the month.
However, some of his inconsistency is inherent in how he swings right now, especially on his backhand. Most any racquetball coach will tell you that you want to swing flat through the hitting zone, which means you want your racquet to travel parallel to the floor as it moves to the point of contact with the ball. That flatness is very hard to accomplish if you have your elbow against your body, and when Rojas sets up on his backhand his elbow is tucked into his body.
Of course, it's not impossible to hit the ball this way, and when Rojas connects he hits nice shots with a lot of power. But having the elbow close to the body generally means a pendular swing, and Marty Hogan made a very nice career hitting this way, but it's going to be less consistent than a flat swing.
Rojas can become more consistent, perhaps by changing his swing to be flatter. Croft used to use a two handed backhand but has changed to a one handed technique and his game is the better for it.
It's quite possible that Croft or Rojas will be the player to end Waselenchuk's streak. However, if they are going to do so, they will have to stop beating themselves first.
Follow the bouncing ball....
So when Waselenchuk lost to Beltran in his next tournament in January 2009, we weren't that surprised.
Since then Waselenchuk hasn't lost on court, but his challengers have changed. Carson and Huczek are still battling with him, but Mannino and Williams have retired with Vanderson talking of following them at season's end, and Beltran's been troubled with a knee injury.
However, there are a couple of new players looking to knock off Waselenchuk. Ben Croft and Jose Rojas are strong young American players who are certainly talented, and have the pedigree of winning the Junior World U18 championship twice. The other players who have done that - Carson, Huczek and Sudsy Monchik - all went on to be #1 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Can Croft or Rojas beat Waselenchuk? The first thing they'd have to do is not beat themselves. The New Orleans Hornets upset the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles in the first game of their playoff series in part because the Hornets only had three (3) turnovers - tying an NBA playoff record for fewest turnovers in a game.
However, both Croft and Rojas have shown a tendency to beat themselves. In his last match with Waselenchuk at the Mexico Open, Croft took three technicals, so lost three points. You can't be giving back points against Waselenchuk, because they are just too hard to come by. Those weren't the only technicals Croft has received this season, so he needs to focus his emotions so that they are not adversely effecting his performance.
The emotion Croft plays with has undoubtedly helped him get to where he is, but when you play with fire you have to be careful not to burn yourself.
Rojas is a different case. The way he hurts himself is by playing inconsistently. He's become a top 8 player this season, but he's also lost in the 16s more often than he's made the semi-finals (4 to 2, respectively). Inconsistency is not uncommon in a young player, such as Rojas, who'll be 21 at the end of the month.
However, some of his inconsistency is inherent in how he swings right now, especially on his backhand. Most any racquetball coach will tell you that you want to swing flat through the hitting zone, which means you want your racquet to travel parallel to the floor as it moves to the point of contact with the ball. That flatness is very hard to accomplish if you have your elbow against your body, and when Rojas sets up on his backhand his elbow is tucked into his body.
Of course, it's not impossible to hit the ball this way, and when Rojas connects he hits nice shots with a lot of power. But having the elbow close to the body generally means a pendular swing, and Marty Hogan made a very nice career hitting this way, but it's going to be less consistent than a flat swing.
Rojas can become more consistent, perhaps by changing his swing to be flatter. Croft used to use a two handed backhand but has changed to a one handed technique and his game is the better for it.
It's quite possible that Croft or Rojas will be the player to end Waselenchuk's streak. However, if they are going to do so, they will have to stop beating themselves first.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 23, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships - Rajsich prevents Mexican sweep
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) prevented a Mexico sweep of the finals at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua, by defeating Samantha Salas of Mexico, 15-14, 15-5, in the women's singles final. The win was Rajsich's second Pan American Championship title in singles and 3rd overall, as she won both singles and doubles (with Janel Tisinger) in 2007.
Rajsich had a chance at winning both again on Saturday, as she and Krystal Csuk faced off against Salas and Paola Longoria in the women's doubles final. But that one went to Mexico in a tie-breaker, 14-15, 15-7, 11-5. It was Salas's second consecutive Pan American Championship gold in doubles, as she won last year with Susy Acosta, and the first for Longoria in doubles and 4th overall to go with her three singles titles.
Mexican men swept the gold, as Daniel De La Rosa won his first Pan American Championship by defeating Chris Crowther (USA) in the singles final, 12-15, 15-14, 11-9, and Javier Moreno and Polo Gutierrez took the doubles gold, beating Americans Jansen Allen and Tony Carson, 15-13, 4-15, 11-4.
It was Moreno's second Pan American Championship gold in doubles, as he also won it in 2008 with Gilberto Meija.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Doubles Results
1st Place - Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 14-15, 15-7, 11-5
3rd Place - Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL) d. Josée Grand'Maître & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada), 13-15, 15-10, 11-5
Men's Doubles Results
1st Place - Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA), 15-15, 4-15, 11-4
3rd Place - Mike Green & Kris Odegard (Canada) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-3
Men's Singles Results
1st Place - Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Chris Crowther (USA), 12-15, 15-14, 11-9
3rd Place - Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Alejandro Herrera (COL), 15-6, 15-12
Women's Singles Results
1st Place - Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Samantha Salas (MEX), 15-14, 15-5
3rd Place - Paola Longoria (MEX) d. Angela Grisar (CHILE), forfeit
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rajsich had a chance at winning both again on Saturday, as she and Krystal Csuk faced off against Salas and Paola Longoria in the women's doubles final. But that one went to Mexico in a tie-breaker, 14-15, 15-7, 11-5. It was Salas's second consecutive Pan American Championship gold in doubles, as she won last year with Susy Acosta, and the first for Longoria in doubles and 4th overall to go with her three singles titles.
Mexican men swept the gold, as Daniel De La Rosa won his first Pan American Championship by defeating Chris Crowther (USA) in the singles final, 12-15, 15-14, 11-9, and Javier Moreno and Polo Gutierrez took the doubles gold, beating Americans Jansen Allen and Tony Carson, 15-13, 4-15, 11-4.
It was Moreno's second Pan American Championship gold in doubles, as he also won it in 2008 with Gilberto Meija.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Doubles Results
1st Place - Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 14-15, 15-7, 11-5
3rd Place - Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL) d. Josée Grand'Maître & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Canada), 13-15, 15-10, 11-5
Men's Doubles Results
1st Place - Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA), 15-15, 4-15, 11-4
3rd Place - Mike Green & Kris Odegard (Canada) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-3
Men's Singles Results
1st Place - Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Chris Crowther (USA), 12-15, 15-14, 11-9
3rd Place - Vincent Gagnon (Canada) d. Alejandro Herrera (COL), 15-6, 15-12
Women's Singles Results
1st Place - Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Samantha Salas (MEX), 15-14, 15-5
3rd Place - Paola Longoria (MEX) d. Angela Grisar (CHILE), forfeit
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 22, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships - Finals are set
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) defeated Paola Longoria (Mexico), the defending Pan American Champion, 15-11, 6-15, 11-5, in the semi-finals Friday at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua. Rajsich and Longoria are the #2 and #1 players, respectively, on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour. It's the second consecutive international event that Rajsich has beaten Longoria at, as she also won at last year's World Championships in South Korea.
A Mexican may yet win women's singles though, as Samantha Salas ended Angela Grisar's (Chile) run in the tournament in convincing fashion, taking the mathc in two straight games 15-3, 15-0. Salas will play Rajsich on Saturday.
The top seed and defending champions are both out on the men's side as well, as they lost on Thursday. American Chris Crowther defeated top seed Gilberto Meija, 15-8, 15-8, while Canadian Vincent Gagnon took out last year's gold medalist Bolivian Ricardo Monroy, 5-15, 15-14, 11-5.
In the semi-finals Friday, Crowther beat Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, 15-1, 15-6, while Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico defeated Gagnon, 15-13, 15-4, to set up an American-Mexican standoff in the final on Saturday.
In men's doubles, the young American team of Jansen Allen and Tony Carson upset Canadian veterans Mike Green and Kris Odegard, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7. The Canadians were two points from the match, when they led 13-11 in game two, but the Americans wouldn't roll over helped by two successful appeals of Canadian shots.
In the tie-breaker, Allen and Carson got up early, leading 8-1. Green and Odegard came back to make it 9-7, but the Americans then finished it off, winning 11-7.
Allen and Carson will play another veteran team in the final, as Mexicans Javiar Moreno and Polo Gutierrez beat Daniel Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 15-5, 15-8.
The top two seeds will meet in the women's doubles final, as Krystal Csuk and Rajsich (USA) beat Bolivians Jenny Daza and Carola Loma, 15-10, 15-7, in one semi-final and Mexicans Longoria and Salas beat Canadians Josee Grand'Maitre and Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-10, 15-0, in the other.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Paola Longoria (MEX), 15-11, 6-15, 11-5
Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Angela Grisar (CHILE), 15-0, 15-3
Men's Singles - Quarter finals - Thursday
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Gilberto Meija (MEX), 15-8, 15-8
Alejandro Herrera (COL) d. Cesar Castillo (VEN), 15-8, 5-15, 11-8
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Carols Keller (BOL), 15-2, 15-8
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) d. Ricardo Monroy (BOL), 5-15, 15-14, 11-5
Men's Singles - Quarter finals - Friday
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (COL), 15-1, 15-6
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Vincent Gagnon (CAN), 15-13, 15-4
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL), 15-10, 15-7
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN), 15-10, 15-0
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-8
Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA) d. Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN), 7-15, 15-13, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
A Mexican may yet win women's singles though, as Samantha Salas ended Angela Grisar's (Chile) run in the tournament in convincing fashion, taking the mathc in two straight games 15-3, 15-0. Salas will play Rajsich on Saturday.
The top seed and defending champions are both out on the men's side as well, as they lost on Thursday. American Chris Crowther defeated top seed Gilberto Meija, 15-8, 15-8, while Canadian Vincent Gagnon took out last year's gold medalist Bolivian Ricardo Monroy, 5-15, 15-14, 11-5.
In the semi-finals Friday, Crowther beat Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, 15-1, 15-6, while Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico defeated Gagnon, 15-13, 15-4, to set up an American-Mexican standoff in the final on Saturday.
In men's doubles, the young American team of Jansen Allen and Tony Carson upset Canadian veterans Mike Green and Kris Odegard, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7. The Canadians were two points from the match, when they led 13-11 in game two, but the Americans wouldn't roll over helped by two successful appeals of Canadian shots.
In the tie-breaker, Allen and Carson got up early, leading 8-1. Green and Odegard came back to make it 9-7, but the Americans then finished it off, winning 11-7.
Allen and Carson will play another veteran team in the final, as Mexicans Javiar Moreno and Polo Gutierrez beat Daniel Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 15-5, 15-8.
The top two seeds will meet in the women's doubles final, as Krystal Csuk and Rajsich (USA) beat Bolivians Jenny Daza and Carola Loma, 15-10, 15-7, in one semi-final and Mexicans Longoria and Salas beat Canadians Josee Grand'Maitre and Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-10, 15-0, in the other.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Paola Longoria (MEX), 15-11, 6-15, 11-5
Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Angela Grisar (CHILE), 15-0, 15-3
Men's Singles - Quarter finals - Thursday
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Gilberto Meija (MEX), 15-8, 15-8
Alejandro Herrera (COL) d. Cesar Castillo (VEN), 15-8, 5-15, 11-8
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Carols Keller (BOL), 15-2, 15-8
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) d. Ricardo Monroy (BOL), 5-15, 15-14, 11-5
Men's Singles - Quarter finals - Friday
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (COL), 15-1, 15-6
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Vincent Gagnon (CAN), 15-13, 15-4
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL), 15-10, 15-7
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN), 15-10, 15-0
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-8
Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA) d. Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN), 7-15, 15-13, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 21, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships QFs - UPDATED
It's quarter final day at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua, and there's already been one upset, as Carlos Keller of Bolivia defeated American Andy Hawthorne in straight games, 15-11, 15-6. The win puts Keller in the quarters and there he'll play 3rd seed Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico, who defeated Canadian Tim Landeryou, 15-10, 15-10.
Angela Grisar continued her way through the draw Thursday as she defeated Cheryl Gudinas of the USA in straight games, 15-13, 15-5. Grisar caused the big upset on Wednesday when she took out the women's #2 seed Jennifer Saunders of Canada, 15-10, 13-15, 11-10. Grisar's next opponent is 3rd seed Samantha Salas, who beat Bolivian Jenny Daza, 15-5, 15-6.
The elimination round games begin today, and the draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Singles - Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (MEX) d. Adriana Riveros (BOL), 15-4, 15-7
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Frederique Lambert (CAN), 15-4, 15-3
Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Jenny Daza (BOL), 15-5, 15-6
Angela Grisar (CHILE) d. Cheryl Gudinas (USA), 15-13, 15-5
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
Paola Longoria (MEX) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
Samantha Salas (MEX) v. Angela Grisar (CHILE)
Men's Singles - Round of 16
Gilberto Meija (MEX) d. Jose Daniel Alvarez (ECU), 15-5, 15-0
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-4
Cesar Castillo (VEN) d. Cesar Castro (VEN), fft
Alejandro Herrera (COL) d. Fernando Rios (ECU), 15-9, 15-10
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Tim Landeryou (CAN), 15-10, 15-10
Carols Keller (BOL) d. Andy Hawthorne (USA), 15-11, 15-6
Ricardo Monroy (BOL) d. Teobaldo Fumero Adams (CRC), 15-9, 7-15, 11-0
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) d. Juan Herrera (COL), 15-10, 8-15, 11-10
Men's Singles - Quarter finals
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Gilberto Meija (MEX),
Alejandro Herrera (COL) v. Cesar Castillo (VEN)
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) v. Carols Keller (BOL)
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) v. Ricardo Monroy (BOL)
Women's Doubles - Quarter finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (DOM), 15-9, 15-9
Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL) d. Angela Grisar & Fabiola Marquez (CHILE), 15-10, 15-4
Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (VEN), 15-10, 15-10
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (ECU), 15-7, 15-5
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL)
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) v. Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN)
Men's Doubles - Quarter finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Teobaldo Fumero & Bruno Casalvolone (CRC), 15-5, 15-5
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG) d. Alejandro Herrera & Juan Herrera (COL), 15-8, 15-8
Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN) d. Cesar Castro & Cesar Castillo (VEN), 15-11, 15-12
Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (ECU), 15-3, 10-15, 11-5
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) v. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG)
Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN) v. Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Angela Grisar continued her way through the draw Thursday as she defeated Cheryl Gudinas of the USA in straight games, 15-13, 15-5. Grisar caused the big upset on Wednesday when she took out the women's #2 seed Jennifer Saunders of Canada, 15-10, 13-15, 11-10. Grisar's next opponent is 3rd seed Samantha Salas, who beat Bolivian Jenny Daza, 15-5, 15-6.
The elimination round games begin today, and the draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
2011 Pan American Championships - Managua, Nicaragua
Women's Singles - Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (MEX) d. Adriana Riveros (BOL), 15-4, 15-7
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Frederique Lambert (CAN), 15-4, 15-3
Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Jenny Daza (BOL), 15-5, 15-6
Angela Grisar (CHILE) d. Cheryl Gudinas (USA), 15-13, 15-5
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
Paola Longoria (MEX) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
Samantha Salas (MEX) v. Angela Grisar (CHILE)
Men's Singles - Round of 16
Gilberto Meija (MEX) d. Jose Daniel Alvarez (ECU), 15-5, 15-0
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Shai Manzuri (ARG), 15-5, 15-4
Cesar Castillo (VEN) d. Cesar Castro (VEN), fft
Alejandro Herrera (COL) d. Fernando Rios (ECU), 15-9, 15-10
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) d. Tim Landeryou (CAN), 15-10, 15-10
Carols Keller (BOL) d. Andy Hawthorne (USA), 15-11, 15-6
Ricardo Monroy (BOL) d. Teobaldo Fumero Adams (CRC), 15-9, 7-15, 11-0
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) d. Juan Herrera (COL), 15-10, 8-15, 11-10
Men's Singles - Quarter finals
Chris Crowther (USA) d. Gilberto Meija (MEX),
Alejandro Herrera (COL) v. Cesar Castillo (VEN)
Daniel De La Rosa (MEX) v. Carols Keller (BOL)
Vincent Gagnon (CAN) v. Ricardo Monroy (BOL)
Women's Doubles - Quarter finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (DOM), 15-9, 15-9
Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL) d. Angela Grisar & Fabiola Marquez (CHILE), 15-10, 15-4
Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN) d. Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (VEN), 15-10, 15-10
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) d. Cristina Cordova & Maria Paz Munoz (ECU), 15-7, 15-5
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
Krystal Csuk & Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (BOL)
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (MEX) v. Josee Grand'Maitre & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (CAN)
Men's Doubles - Quarter finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) d. Teobaldo Fumero & Bruno Casalvolone (CRC), 15-5, 15-5
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG) d. Alejandro Herrera & Juan Herrera (COL), 15-8, 15-8
Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN) d. Cesar Castro & Cesar Castillo (VEN), 15-11, 15-12
Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Ugalde (ECU), 15-3, 10-15, 11-5
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
Javiar Moreno & Polo Gutierrez (MEX) v. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (ARG)
Mike Green & Kris Odegard (CAN) v. Jansen Allen & Tony Carson (USA)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships prelims over
There were few surprises on Tuesday at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua, during the last day of pool play. There were a few surprising results, and two involved Canadians.
On the positive side, Frédérique Lambert defeated Chilean veteran Angela Grisar, 15-13, 15-8. On the negative side, Tim Landeryou lost to Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 15-11, 15-10.
Also surprising was Venezuelan Casar Castillo's win over Bolivian Carlos Keller, 13-15, 15-11, 11-5.
Both Mexican men won but they each were pushed to tie-breakers by the Colombian Herrera brothers. Daniel De La Rosa defeated Alejandro Herrera, 11-15, 15-2, 11-8, and Gilberto Mejia beat Juan Herrera, 3-15, 15-12, 11-6.
The elimination round games begin today, and the draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
Follow the bouncing ball....
On the positive side, Frédérique Lambert defeated Chilean veteran Angela Grisar, 15-13, 15-8. On the negative side, Tim Landeryou lost to Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 15-11, 15-10.
Also surprising was Venezuelan Casar Castillo's win over Bolivian Carlos Keller, 13-15, 15-11, 11-5.
Both Mexican men won but they each were pushed to tie-breakers by the Colombian Herrera brothers. Daniel De La Rosa defeated Alejandro Herrera, 11-15, 15-2, 11-8, and Gilberto Mejia beat Juan Herrera, 3-15, 15-12, 11-6.
The elimination round games begin today, and the draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships enter the last day of prelims
Tuesday is the last day of pool play at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua, so there could be some good matches as the highest seeded players in the pools will be playing off. While play has continued to be mostly as expected, a group that running contrary to that rule is in men's doubles.
Bolivians Fernando Paccieri and Carlos Keller were the highest seed in Group D in men's doubles, but they have lost two of their three matches and have finished third in the group. They lost to Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn of Venezuela, 15-10, 15-8, and also to Columbians Alejandro and Juan Herrera, 15-10, 15-7.
Also of note in men's doubles, in Group A the lowest seeded team overall Roberto Cantos and Ricardo Delgado of Panama defeated the 9th overall seed Satiago Canedo and Fracisco Troncoso of Chile, 15-4, 2-15, 11-10.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Bolivians Fernando Paccieri and Carlos Keller were the highest seed in Group D in men's doubles, but they have lost two of their three matches and have finished third in the group. They lost to Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn of Venezuela, 15-10, 15-8, and also to Columbians Alejandro and Juan Herrera, 15-10, 15-7.
Also of note in men's doubles, in Group A the lowest seeded team overall Roberto Cantos and Ricardo Delgado of Panama defeated the 9th overall seed Satiago Canedo and Fracisco Troncoso of Chile, 15-4, 2-15, 11-10.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation website.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, April 18, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships continue with no surprises so far
There have been no surprises so far at the XXIV Pan American Championships in Managua, Nicaragua. In fact, almost all of the matches in the preliminary rounds have been two straight games. The exceptions are in two of the women's singles groups.
In Group B, veteran Anita Maldonado, who's been in the top 5 of the women's pro tour, now playing for Puerto Rico has gone tie-breaker in both of her matches. She defeated Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-12, 14-15, 11-8, but lost to Canadian champion Jennifer Saunders, 15-9, 12-15, 11-1.
In Group F, Jenny Daza of Boliva defeated Canadian born Véronique Guillemette, who's now playing for Argentina, 5-15, 15-7, 11-6, and Yira Portes of the Dominican Republic won a 11-10 tie-breaker against Honduran Karen Kattan, 15-13, 9-15, 11-10.
The preliminary round continues through Tuesday and the elimination round will begin on Wednesday.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
Follow the bouncing ball....
In Group B, veteran Anita Maldonado, who's been in the top 5 of the women's pro tour, now playing for Puerto Rico has gone tie-breaker in both of her matches. She defeated Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-12, 14-15, 11-8, but lost to Canadian champion Jennifer Saunders, 15-9, 12-15, 11-1.
In Group F, Jenny Daza of Boliva defeated Canadian born Véronique Guillemette, who's now playing for Argentina, 5-15, 15-7, 11-6, and Yira Portes of the Dominican Republic won a 11-10 tie-breaker against Honduran Karen Kattan, 15-13, 9-15, 11-10.
The preliminary round continues through Tuesday and the elimination round will begin on Wednesday.
The draws from Nicaragua are available on line, and some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 16, 2011
PARC - 2011 Pan American Championships begin in Managua, Nicaragua
The XXIV Pan American Championships have begun in Managua, Nicaragua. There will be four days of preliminary matches with the results being used to seed players for the elimination round draw. Some of the matches can be seen via the Pan American Racquetball Confederation.
We've told you who's on the US and Canadian teams. The Mexican team is comprised of Gilberto Mejia and Daniel De La Rosa in men's singles, Polo Gutierrez and Javier Moreno in men's doubles and Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas doing double duty in both women's singles and doubles.
Also, Bolivian Ricardo Monroy is back to defend the gold medal he won last year in Honduras. Below is a list of who won medals at last year's Pan American Championships.
The results of these championships are being used to determine the teams for the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
MEN'S SINGLES
GOLD: Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
SILVER: Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico) & Kris Odegard (Canada)
WOMEN'S SINGLES
GOLD Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
BRONZE Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) & Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.)
MEN'S DOUBLES
GOLD Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada)
SOLVER Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico)
BRONZE Ricardo Monroy & Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) and Andres Herrera & Francisco Gomez (Columbia)
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
GOLD Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico)
SILVER Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada)
BRONZE Carolina Gomez & Cristina Amaya (Columbia) and Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Follow the bouncing ball....
We've told you who's on the US and Canadian teams. The Mexican team is comprised of Gilberto Mejia and Daniel De La Rosa in men's singles, Polo Gutierrez and Javier Moreno in men's doubles and Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas doing double duty in both women's singles and doubles.
Also, Bolivian Ricardo Monroy is back to defend the gold medal he won last year in Honduras. Below is a list of who won medals at last year's Pan American Championships.
The results of these championships are being used to determine the teams for the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
XXIII Pan American Racquetball Championship
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
MEN'S SINGLES
GOLD: Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
SILVER: Leopoldo Gutierrez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Gilberto De Los Rios (Mexico) & Kris Odegard (Canada)
WOMEN'S SINGLES
GOLD Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
BRONZE Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) & Claudine Garcia (Dom. Rep.)
MEN'S DOUBLES
GOLD Mike Green & Tim Landeryou (Canada)
SOLVER Ruben Estrada & Alejandro Landa (Mexico)
BRONZE Ricardo Monroy & Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia) and Andres Herrera & Francisco Gomez (Columbia)
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
GOLD Samantha Salas Solis & Susana Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico)
SILVER Frédérique Lambert & Geneviève Brodeur (Canada)
BRONZE Carolina Gomez & Cristina Amaya (Columbia) and Claudine Garcia & Yira Portes (Dom. Rep.)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Clouse wins CPRT Pro Nationals to complete season sweep
Woody Clouse again proved himself to be the best player on the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) as he won the CPRT Pro Nationals in Las Vegas last weekend by defeating surprise finalist Travis Aldinger, 9-3, 9-4, 9-4, in the final. Clouse won all three CPRT events this season.
Aldinger's run to the final was impressive as he beat 2nd seed Cliff Swain in the quarter finals, 9-6, 8-9, 1-9, 9-8, 9-7, and beat former US Open champion Jimmy Lowe in the semi-finals, 9-7, 9-8, 9-4.
Clouse got to the final by defeating Louis Vogel, 9-2, 9-2, 1-9, 9-2, in the semi-finals. Vogel had beaten 4th seed Craig Lane in the quarters in five games after only getting one point in the first two games.
Although Clouse won all three CPRT events this season, he did so against three different opponents, beating Mike Ray in Rochester and Jeff Bell at the US Open. Moreover, other than Clouse only Jimmy Lowe made it to the semis in more than two events, so there were 9 different semi-finalists over the three CPRT events this season.
2011 CPRT Pro Nationals, Las Vegas, April 8-10, 2011
Final
Woody Clouse d. Travis Aldinger, 9-3, 9-4, 9-4
Semi finals
Woody Clouse d. Louis Vogel, 9-2, 9-2, 1-9, 9-2
Travis Aldinger d. Jimmy Lowe, 9-7, 9-8, 9-4
Quarter finals
Woody Clouse d. Gerry Price, 9-2, 9-5, 9-6
Louis Vogel d. Craig Lane, 1-9, 0-9, 9-0, 9-8, 9-2
Jimmy Lowe d. Dale Valentine, 7-9, 9-2, 9-1 injury default
Travis Aldinger d. Cliff Swain, 9-6, 8-9, 1-9, 9-8, 9-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Aldinger's run to the final was impressive as he beat 2nd seed Cliff Swain in the quarter finals, 9-6, 8-9, 1-9, 9-8, 9-7, and beat former US Open champion Jimmy Lowe in the semi-finals, 9-7, 9-8, 9-4.
Clouse got to the final by defeating Louis Vogel, 9-2, 9-2, 1-9, 9-2, in the semi-finals. Vogel had beaten 4th seed Craig Lane in the quarters in five games after only getting one point in the first two games.
Although Clouse won all three CPRT events this season, he did so against three different opponents, beating Mike Ray in Rochester and Jeff Bell at the US Open. Moreover, other than Clouse only Jimmy Lowe made it to the semis in more than two events, so there were 9 different semi-finalists over the three CPRT events this season.
2011 CPRT Pro Nationals, Las Vegas, April 8-10, 2011
Final
Woody Clouse d. Travis Aldinger, 9-3, 9-4, 9-4
Semi finals
Woody Clouse d. Louis Vogel, 9-2, 9-2, 1-9, 9-2
Travis Aldinger d. Jimmy Lowe, 9-7, 9-8, 9-4
Quarter finals
Woody Clouse d. Gerry Price, 9-2, 9-5, 9-6
Louis Vogel d. Craig Lane, 1-9, 0-9, 9-0, 9-8, 9-2
Jimmy Lowe d. Dale Valentine, 7-9, 9-2, 9-1 injury default
Travis Aldinger d. Cliff Swain, 9-6, 8-9, 1-9, 9-8, 9-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, April 11, 2011
Key & Knoth are 2011 Intercollegiate Champions
Michelle Key of Arizona State University won the 2011 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate title at her home university in Tempe, Arizona on the weekend by defeating Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama), who beat her in last year's final. Key won in two close games, 15-11, 15-14.
However, Jackson did win the women's double title with Brittany Travers, as they defeated Sheryl Lotts and Tracy Hawthorne of Baldwin Wallace, 15-10, 15-4. It was Jackson's second consecutive doubles title and Lotts and Hawthorne were finalists last year as well, when Jackson and Kara Mazur defeated them.
Shout out to Hailey Miller and Leah Redwine from the University Of Oregon, who were seeded 22nd in women's doubles but finished 3rd as they had a default win against Key and Izayadeth Aguayo in the 3rd place match.
Last year's runner up on the men's side also won this year, as Taylor Knoth (Oregon State University) beat Nick Montalbano (Colorado State Univ, Pueblo), 15-2, 15-10, in the final. In doubles, Knoth finished third with partner Joey Pryor, as they lost to Allan Crockett and Danny Lavely (University of Alabama) in the semi-finals, 15-4, 15-14, and then defeated Jeff Skanchy and Joseph Blank from Brigham Young University in the 3rd place match, 15-5, 15-9.
Felipe Camacho and Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) won the doubles title, as they beat Crockett and Lavely in the final, 15-10, 15-13. Allen was a runner-up last year in doubles when he played with Tyler Otto.
2011 USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Men's Singles #1
Final - Taylor Knoth (Oregon State) d. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-2, 15-10
3rd Place - Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama) d. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.), 14-15, 15-1, 11-9
Men's Singles #2
Final - Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. Allan Crockett (University of Alabama), 15-6, 15-11
3rd place - Joseph Blank (Brigham Young) d. Micah Hoffman (Oregon State), 15-11, 15-4
Women's Singles #1
Final - Michelle Key (Arizona State) d. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama), 15-11, 15-14
3rd Place - Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace) d. Kelly Gremley (Purdue), 15-6, 15-6
Women's Singles #2
Final - Hailey Miller (University of Oregon) d. Megan Mathes (Oregon State), 13-15, 15-8, 11-9.
3rd place - Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace) d. Sonja Septon (Utah Valley University), 15-8, 15-11
Men's Doubles #1
Final - Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama), 15-10, 15-13
3rd - Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State) d. Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young), 15-5, 15-9
Women's Doubles #1
Final: Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama) d. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace), 15-10, 15-4
3rd - Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon) d. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State), WBF - No Show
Follow the bouncing ball....
However, Jackson did win the women's double title with Brittany Travers, as they defeated Sheryl Lotts and Tracy Hawthorne of Baldwin Wallace, 15-10, 15-4. It was Jackson's second consecutive doubles title and Lotts and Hawthorne were finalists last year as well, when Jackson and Kara Mazur defeated them.
Shout out to Hailey Miller and Leah Redwine from the University Of Oregon, who were seeded 22nd in women's doubles but finished 3rd as they had a default win against Key and Izayadeth Aguayo in the 3rd place match.
Last year's runner up on the men's side also won this year, as Taylor Knoth (Oregon State University) beat Nick Montalbano (Colorado State Univ, Pueblo), 15-2, 15-10, in the final. In doubles, Knoth finished third with partner Joey Pryor, as they lost to Allan Crockett and Danny Lavely (University of Alabama) in the semi-finals, 15-4, 15-14, and then defeated Jeff Skanchy and Joseph Blank from Brigham Young University in the 3rd place match, 15-5, 15-9.
Felipe Camacho and Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) won the doubles title, as they beat Crockett and Lavely in the final, 15-10, 15-13. Allen was a runner-up last year in doubles when he played with Tyler Otto.
2011 USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Men's Singles #1
Final - Taylor Knoth (Oregon State) d. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-2, 15-10
3rd Place - Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama) d. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.), 14-15, 15-1, 11-9
Men's Singles #2
Final - Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. Allan Crockett (University of Alabama), 15-6, 15-11
3rd place - Joseph Blank (Brigham Young) d. Micah Hoffman (Oregon State), 15-11, 15-4
Women's Singles #1
Final - Michelle Key (Arizona State) d. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama), 15-11, 15-14
3rd Place - Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace) d. Kelly Gremley (Purdue), 15-6, 15-6
Women's Singles #2
Final - Hailey Miller (University of Oregon) d. Megan Mathes (Oregon State), 13-15, 15-8, 11-9.
3rd place - Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace) d. Sonja Septon (Utah Valley University), 15-8, 15-11
Men's Doubles #1
Final - Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama), 15-10, 15-13
3rd - Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State) d. Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young), 15-5, 15-9
Women's Doubles #1
Final: Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama) d. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace), 15-10, 15-4
3rd - Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon) d. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State), WBF - No Show
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, April 10, 2011
IRT - Waselenchuk wins 2011 Mexico Open
Kane Waselenchuk did what has become the expected Sunday: he won another racquetball tournament by defeating Rocky Carson in the final of the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), 11-7, 11-5, 11-1. It's the 9th time Waselenchuk has defeated Carson in the final.
The last Grand Slam event of the 2010-2011 IRT season is next month, when all the top players will be in Fullerton, California for the Ektelon National Singles Championships May 25-29.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
The last Grand Slam event of the 2010-2011 IRT season is next month, when all the top players will be in Fullerton, California for the Ektelon National Singles Championships May 25-29.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 9, 2011
IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Semi finals
They'll be at it again, Kane Waselenchuk and Rocky Carson will, on Sunday as they'll face off in the final of the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). It'll be their 9th meeting this season in a final, and Waselenchuk has won all of them.
Waselenchuk reached the final with a decisive victory over 4th seed Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0. Croft wasn't helped by taking three technicals during the match including two together in game one, when he was down 7-3. That made the score 7-1, and Croft didn't score again that game.
Croft said afterwards that it's frustrating that "no one else gets technicals" for doing things that should have warranted a technical referring to Waselenchuk hitting the ball in the direction of the referee after the rally. "I'm not saying I don't deserve mine," said Croft, but rather that it seemed unjust to be the only player getting t-ed up.
Nonetheless, Croft wasn't "going to make excuses" for the outcome by blaming the referee or the court conditions, as the cause of the loss was clear: "it was me today."
Waselenchuk agreed that it wasn't Croft's best day. "It seemed he wasn't seeing the ball that well," said Waselenchuk adding it "seems like the ball's moving in slow motion to me."
That sense contributed to the score line, but Waselenchuk felt "I didn't think I played as well as I could have." One only wonders how good THAT would be.
In the other semi-final, Carson defeated surprise semi-finalist Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2. After winning a close first game Carson led all the way in game two, although Rojas did get within one point when he trailed 8-7, but that's as close as he got.
Rojas said he was "trying to shoot everything," but needs "a different game plan next time," as Carson is more than happy to rally with his opponents, waiting for his opportunity to hit a winner or an opponent's error.
Rojas has a powerful arsenal of shots but he's too inconsistent to win an entire tournament against the top players. More consistency will come with time, which the young player has on his side, and a realization that trying to shoot everything is not always the best strategy.
The final will begin at noon PDT Saturday and can be view via the IRT Network.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2
Finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson
Follow the bouncing ball....
Waselenchuk reached the final with a decisive victory over 4th seed Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0. Croft wasn't helped by taking three technicals during the match including two together in game one, when he was down 7-3. That made the score 7-1, and Croft didn't score again that game.
Croft said afterwards that it's frustrating that "no one else gets technicals" for doing things that should have warranted a technical referring to Waselenchuk hitting the ball in the direction of the referee after the rally. "I'm not saying I don't deserve mine," said Croft, but rather that it seemed unjust to be the only player getting t-ed up.
Nonetheless, Croft wasn't "going to make excuses" for the outcome by blaming the referee or the court conditions, as the cause of the loss was clear: "it was me today."
Waselenchuk agreed that it wasn't Croft's best day. "It seemed he wasn't seeing the ball that well," said Waselenchuk adding it "seems like the ball's moving in slow motion to me."
That sense contributed to the score line, but Waselenchuk felt "I didn't think I played as well as I could have." One only wonders how good THAT would be.
In the other semi-final, Carson defeated surprise semi-finalist Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2. After winning a close first game Carson led all the way in game two, although Rojas did get within one point when he trailed 8-7, but that's as close as he got.
Rojas said he was "trying to shoot everything," but needs "a different game plan next time," as Carson is more than happy to rally with his opponents, waiting for his opportunity to hit a winner or an opponent's error.
Rojas has a powerful arsenal of shots but he's too inconsistent to win an entire tournament against the top players. More consistency will come with time, which the young player has on his side, and a realization that trying to shoot everything is not always the best strategy.
The final will begin at noon PDT Saturday and can be view via the IRT Network.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 14-12, 11-8, 11-2
Finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 8, 2011
IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Quarter finals
Jose Rojas upset 3rd ranked Jack Huczek, 11-7, 11-13, 1-11, 11-9, 12-10, in the quarter finals of the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana part of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). It's the first time Rojas has defeated Huczek in a completed match. Huczek did withdraw from their match last year in Florida due to injury.
Afterwards Rojas called it his "biggest win ever" but he was already looking ahead to tomorrow when he'll be "going for another one."
That match will be against Rocky Carson, who defeated Chris Crowther, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1, earlier on Friday.
Rojas got a good start against Huczek by winning game one. Game two was close all the way, but it looked like it was going Huczek's way as he led 10-9. However, Huczek couldn't convert on four opportunities and eventually Rojas got a couple of points for his own game point opportunity at 11-10.
But Rojas let Huczek off the hook, and the former #1 player was successful on his fifth game point chance, and took game two 13-11.
Huczek used the momentum from wining game two to easily win game three, 11-1. Huczek had the early lead in game four also at 5-3 and late in that game also at 8-6.
However, Rojas dug in and came back to tie the game at 8-8 and 9-9, and then won it on his first game point opportunity diving to hit a pinch shot to the front left corner for the game winner.
In game five, Rojas was on a roll early as he went out to a 5-2 lead. But he stalled there, as Huczek - in his typical relentless style - won the next seven point to lead 9-5. Rojas's comeback began with a drive serve ace to the right side that made it 9-6.
At 9-7 Huczek took a timeout, but that didn't stop Rojas. Rojas's 9th point might have been the difference, as he should have lost that rally three times only to be let off the hook by Huczek, who played several loose shots that Rojas was able to keep in play.
Yet Huczek did get to 10 first, and Rojas had to fight off match point three times before he tied the game at 10-10. Rojas then got the next two points as well and won the match on his first match point opportunity with a solid backhand cross court shot as Huczek was trapped on the left wall.
The #1 IRT's player Kane Waselenchuk also won his quarter final match, beating Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4.
In the last quarter final match of the night, Ben Croft defeated Andy Hawthorne in four games, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8.
The quarter finals are in progress and are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. The semi-finals will begin at 4:00 PM PDT Saturday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
Ben Croft d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8
Jose Rojas d. Jack Huczek, 11-7, 11-13, 1-11, 11-9, 12-10
Rocky Carson d. Chris Crowther, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Ben Croft
Rocky Carson v. Jose Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball....
Afterwards Rojas called it his "biggest win ever" but he was already looking ahead to tomorrow when he'll be "going for another one."
That match will be against Rocky Carson, who defeated Chris Crowther, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1, earlier on Friday.
Rojas got a good start against Huczek by winning game one. Game two was close all the way, but it looked like it was going Huczek's way as he led 10-9. However, Huczek couldn't convert on four opportunities and eventually Rojas got a couple of points for his own game point opportunity at 11-10.
But Rojas let Huczek off the hook, and the former #1 player was successful on his fifth game point chance, and took game two 13-11.
Huczek used the momentum from wining game two to easily win game three, 11-1. Huczek had the early lead in game four also at 5-3 and late in that game also at 8-6.
However, Rojas dug in and came back to tie the game at 8-8 and 9-9, and then won it on his first game point opportunity diving to hit a pinch shot to the front left corner for the game winner.
In game five, Rojas was on a roll early as he went out to a 5-2 lead. But he stalled there, as Huczek - in his typical relentless style - won the next seven point to lead 9-5. Rojas's comeback began with a drive serve ace to the right side that made it 9-6.
At 9-7 Huczek took a timeout, but that didn't stop Rojas. Rojas's 9th point might have been the difference, as he should have lost that rally three times only to be let off the hook by Huczek, who played several loose shots that Rojas was able to keep in play.
Yet Huczek did get to 10 first, and Rojas had to fight off match point three times before he tied the game at 10-10. Rojas then got the next two points as well and won the match on his first match point opportunity with a solid backhand cross court shot as Huczek was trapped on the left wall.
The #1 IRT's player Kane Waselenchuk also won his quarter final match, beating Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4.
In the last quarter final match of the night, Ben Croft defeated Andy Hawthorne in four games, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8.
The quarter finals are in progress and are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. The semi-finals will begin at 4:00 PM PDT Saturday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4
Ben Croft d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8
Jose Rojas d. Jack Huczek, 11-7, 11-13, 1-11, 11-9, 12-10
Rocky Carson d. Chris Crowther, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Ben Croft
Rocky Carson v. Jose Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Round of 16
Charlie Pratt caused the only upset in the Round of 16 at the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana, as the 9th ranked International Racquetball Tour (IRT) player defeated Shane Vanderson - IRT #6 - in three straight games, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7, to advance to the quarter finals. He'll play the #1 IRT player Kane Waselenchuk, who defeated Daniel De Las Rosa, 11-8, 11-0, 11-2, in the 16s.
Tony Carson almost caused another upset as he won the first two games against Andy Hawthorne, but Hawthorne came back to win it in five, 2-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9. It was Hawthorne's second comeback from two games down in less than a week as he won the Miller Lite Open in York, Penn. after losing the first two games to Travis Aldinger.
Hawthorne plays Ben Croft in the quarter finals, as Croft defeated Mexican veteran Javier Moreno, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4.
The quarter finals are in progress and are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. The semi-finals will begin at 4:00 PM PDT Saturday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 11-0, 11-2
Charlie Pratt d. Shane Vanderson, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Andy Hawthorne d. Tony Carson, 2-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
Ben Croft d. Javier Moreno, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4
Jack Huczek d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
Jose Rojas d. Juan Herrera, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
Chris Crowther d. Anthony Herrera, 11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 11-7
Rocky Carson d. Mike Orr, 11-1, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Charlie Pratt
Ben Croft v. Andy Hawthorne
Jack Huczek v. Jose Rojas
Rocky Carson v. Chris Crowther
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tony Carson almost caused another upset as he won the first two games against Andy Hawthorne, but Hawthorne came back to win it in five, 2-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9. It was Hawthorne's second comeback from two games down in less than a week as he won the Miller Lite Open in York, Penn. after losing the first two games to Travis Aldinger.
Hawthorne plays Ben Croft in the quarter finals, as Croft defeated Mexican veteran Javier Moreno, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4.
The quarter finals are in progress and are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. The semi-finals will begin at 4:00 PM PDT Saturday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 11-0, 11-2
Charlie Pratt d. Shane Vanderson, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Andy Hawthorne d. Tony Carson, 2-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
Ben Croft d. Javier Moreno, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4
Jack Huczek d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-2, 11-1, 11-6
Jose Rojas d. Juan Herrera, 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
Chris Crowther d. Anthony Herrera, 11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 11-7
Rocky Carson d. Mike Orr, 11-1, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk v. Charlie Pratt
Ben Croft v. Andy Hawthorne
Jack Huczek v. Jose Rojas
Rocky Carson v. Chris Crowther
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Qualifying Results
No major upsets from qualifying on Thursday at the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as none of the matches went more than three games. So we're on to the 16s today, and the intriguing matches in the Round of 16 should be Andy Hawthorne v. Tony Carson, Shane Vanderson v. Charlie Pratt, and Ben Croft v. Javier Moreno.
All of Friday's matches are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. Their streaming will begin at 11:30 AM PDT Friday with the Round of 16, which can be viewed for free.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Main Draw Round of 16 - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk v. Daniel De La Rosa
Shane Vanderson v. Charlie Pratt
Andy Hawthorne v. Tony Carson
Ben Croft v. Javier Moreno
Jack Huczek v. Arthur Schmeiser
Jose Rojas v. Juan Herrera
Chris Crowther v. Anthony Herrera
Rocky Carson v. Mike Orr
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Q8: Daniel De La Rosa d. Sebastian Franco, 11-9, 11-5, 11-1
Q1: Charlie Pratt d. Rafael Morales, 11-6, 11-8, 11-0
Q4: Tony Carson d. Carlos Oviedo, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
Q5: Javier Moreno d. Felipe Munoz, 11-5, 11-4, 12-10
Q6: Arthur Schmeiser d. John Scott, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Q3: Juan Herrera d. Blake Martin, fft
Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Brian Pineda, fft
Q7: Mike Orr d. Francisco Gomez
Follow the bouncing ball....
All of Friday's matches are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. Their streaming will begin at 11:30 AM PDT Friday with the Round of 16, which can be viewed for free.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Main Draw Round of 16 - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk v. Daniel De La Rosa
Shane Vanderson v. Charlie Pratt
Andy Hawthorne v. Tony Carson
Ben Croft v. Javier Moreno
Jack Huczek v. Arthur Schmeiser
Jose Rojas v. Juan Herrera
Chris Crowther v. Anthony Herrera
Rocky Carson v. Mike Orr
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Q8: Daniel De La Rosa d. Sebastian Franco, 11-9, 11-5, 11-1
Q1: Charlie Pratt d. Rafael Morales, 11-6, 11-8, 11-0
Q4: Tony Carson d. Carlos Oviedo, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
Q5: Javier Moreno d. Felipe Munoz, 11-5, 11-4, 12-10
Q6: Arthur Schmeiser d. John Scott, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Q3: Juan Herrera d. Blake Martin, fft
Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Brian Pineda, fft
Q7: Mike Orr d. Francisco Gomez
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 7, 2011
IRT - 2011 Mexico Open Preview
It's qualifying day for the 2011 Mexico Open in Tijuana, as the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2010-2011 season nears its end. This is the penultimate Tier 1 event, as only the Ektelon National Singles Championships (a grand slam event) will be left in this season. Those championships will be May 25-29 in Fullerton, California.
There's a small qualifying draw in Tijuana with only 16 players, so only one round of qualifying is needed to determine who'll advance to the main draw Round of 16. Tony Carson, one of the hottest IRT players of late, is in Tijuana, as well as Charlie Pratt, Anthony Herrera and Juan Herrera.
All of Friday's matches are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. Their streaming will begin at 11:30 AM PDT Friday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Q8: Sebastian Franco v. Daniel De La Rosa
Q1: Charlie Pratt v. Rafael Morales
Q4: Tony Carson v. Carlos Oviedo
Q5: Javier Moreno v. Felipe Munoz
Q6: John Scott v. Arthur Schmeiser
Q3: Juan Herrera v. Blake Martin
Q2: Anthony Herrera v. Brian Pineda
Q7: Mike Orr v. Francisco Gomez
Main Draw Round of 16 - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Shane Vanderson v. Q1
Andy Hawthorne v. Q4
Ben Croft v. Q5
Jack Huczek v. Q6
Jose Rojas v. Q3
Chris Crowther v. Q2
Rocky Carson v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
There's a small qualifying draw in Tijuana with only 16 players, so only one round of qualifying is needed to determine who'll advance to the main draw Round of 16. Tony Carson, one of the hottest IRT players of late, is in Tijuana, as well as Charlie Pratt, Anthony Herrera and Juan Herrera.
All of Friday's matches are being streamed live over the internet via the IRT Network. Their streaming will begin at 11:30 AM PDT Friday.
2011 Mexico Open - Tijuana, Mexico
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Q8: Sebastian Franco v. Daniel De La Rosa
Q1: Charlie Pratt v. Rafael Morales
Q4: Tony Carson v. Carlos Oviedo
Q5: Javier Moreno v. Felipe Munoz
Q6: John Scott v. Arthur Schmeiser
Q3: Juan Herrera v. Blake Martin
Q2: Anthony Herrera v. Brian Pineda
Q7: Mike Orr v. Francisco Gomez
Main Draw Round of 16 - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Shane Vanderson v. Q1
Andy Hawthorne v. Q4
Ben Croft v. Q5
Jack Huczek v. Q6
Jose Rojas v. Q3
Chris Crowther v. Q2
Rocky Carson v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
IRT Rankings - April 6, 2011
No changes in the top 8 players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as Kane Waselenchuk - undefeated on court since January 2009 - remains #1 with his closest rival Rocky Carson #2. Waselenchuk and Carson have met in eight IRT finals this season and Waselenchuk's won all of them. They'll be the favorites for this weekend's Mexico Open final in Tijuana, Mexico.
Jack Huczek, who moved into 3rd in the previous rankings, remains there, but is only 19 points ahead of Ben Croft in 4th. It's also very close between 6th ranked Shane Vanderson and 7th ranked Andy Hawthorne, who are separated by only 11 points.
The movement has all happened in spots 9-20, as Charlie Pratt has reached the top 10 for the first time and sits in 9th place. But Tony Carson has made the biggest move up to 14th from 19th based on back to back quarter final finishes at the latest IRT tournaments in Salt Lake City and St. Louis.
IRT Rankings - April 6, 2011
Rank - Player - Points
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4875
2 Rocky CARSON, 3698
3 Jack HUCZEK, 3090
4 Ben CROFT, 3071
5 Chris CROWTHER, 2419
6 Shane VANDERSON, 2179
7 Andy HAWTHORNE, 2168
8 Jose ROJAS, 2036
9 Charlie PRATT, 1651
10 Alvaro BELTRAN, 1459
11 Mitch WILLIAMS, 1425
12 Anthony HERRERA, 1321
13 Juan HERRERA, 1150
14 Tony CARSON, 937
15 Alejandro HERRERA, 838
16 Javier MORENO, 750
17 Alejandro LANDA, 686
18 Andres HERRERA, 445
19 Felipe CAMACHO, 393
20 Mike GREEN, 362
Follow the bouncing ball....
Jack Huczek, who moved into 3rd in the previous rankings, remains there, but is only 19 points ahead of Ben Croft in 4th. It's also very close between 6th ranked Shane Vanderson and 7th ranked Andy Hawthorne, who are separated by only 11 points.
The movement has all happened in spots 9-20, as Charlie Pratt has reached the top 10 for the first time and sits in 9th place. But Tony Carson has made the biggest move up to 14th from 19th based on back to back quarter final finishes at the latest IRT tournaments in Salt Lake City and St. Louis.
IRT Rankings - April 6, 2011
Rank - Player - Points
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4875
2 Rocky CARSON, 3698
3 Jack HUCZEK, 3090
4 Ben CROFT, 3071
5 Chris CROWTHER, 2419
6 Shane VANDERSON, 2179
7 Andy HAWTHORNE, 2168
8 Jose ROJAS, 2036
9 Charlie PRATT, 1651
10 Alvaro BELTRAN, 1459
11 Mitch WILLIAMS, 1425
12 Anthony HERRERA, 1321
13 Juan HERRERA, 1150
14 Tony CARSON, 937
15 Alejandro HERRERA, 838
16 Javier MORENO, 750
17 Alejandro LANDA, 686
18 Andres HERRERA, 445
19 Felipe CAMACHO, 393
20 Mike GREEN, 362
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, April 4, 2011
Weekend Update - Hawthorne & Rajsich win in York
The Athletic Club of York Pennsylvania hosted the 2011 Miller Lite Open on the weekend. It was both an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event won by Andy Hawthorne and Rhonda Rajsich, respectively. The tournament organizers sent a report of the IRT side of the event to us,
The IRT final was a show down between the top seed Andy Hawthorne and 3rd seed hometown player Travis Aldinger. Charged up by playing in front his hometown fans, Aldinger won the first two games, 11-7, 11-3, saying that game two was "maybe the best game I ever played". Poised for the upset, Hawthorne battled back in game three helped by some great serving, winning it 11-4.
In game four, Hawthorne was in control and won 11-6. With momentum on his side and fatigue on Aldinger's, Hawthorne continued to put pressure on Aldinger, and closed out the match, coming back from two games down to win it 7-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
In the semi-finals, Hawthorne defeated Mauricio Zelada in three straight games, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3, and Aldinger beat Lee Connell in four games. It looked like Aldinger would also win that in three, as he was up 10-5 in game three, but Connell dug in and came back to win it 12-10 to force a fourth game. However, Connell couldn't push it to five, as Aldinger won game four, taking the match 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3.
On the women's side, Rhonda Rajsich took the title by defeating Cristina Amaya in the final. In the semis, Rajsich beat Carolina Gomez and Amaya defeated Sheryl Lotts.
(note: The Racquetball Blog thanks the Miller Lite Open organizers for their report).
2011 Miller Lite Open - York, Pennsylvania
Men's Open
Final
Andy Hawthorne d. Travis Aldinger, 7-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Semi-finals
Andy Hawthorne d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3
Travis Aldinger d. Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3
Women's Open
Final
Rhonda Rajsich d. Cristina Amaya
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Carolina Gomez
Cristina Amaya d. Sheryl Lotts
Follow the bouncing ball....
The IRT final was a show down between the top seed Andy Hawthorne and 3rd seed hometown player Travis Aldinger. Charged up by playing in front his hometown fans, Aldinger won the first two games, 11-7, 11-3, saying that game two was "maybe the best game I ever played". Poised for the upset, Hawthorne battled back in game three helped by some great serving, winning it 11-4.
In game four, Hawthorne was in control and won 11-6. With momentum on his side and fatigue on Aldinger's, Hawthorne continued to put pressure on Aldinger, and closed out the match, coming back from two games down to win it 7-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.
In the semi-finals, Hawthorne defeated Mauricio Zelada in three straight games, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3, and Aldinger beat Lee Connell in four games. It looked like Aldinger would also win that in three, as he was up 10-5 in game three, but Connell dug in and came back to win it 12-10 to force a fourth game. However, Connell couldn't push it to five, as Aldinger won game four, taking the match 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3.
On the women's side, Rhonda Rajsich took the title by defeating Cristina Amaya in the final. In the semis, Rajsich beat Carolina Gomez and Amaya defeated Sheryl Lotts.
(note: The Racquetball Blog thanks the Miller Lite Open organizers for their report).
2011 Miller Lite Open - York, Pennsylvania
Men's Open
Final
Andy Hawthorne d. Travis Aldinger, 7-11, 3-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Semi-finals
Andy Hawthorne d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3
Travis Aldinger d. Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3
Women's Open
Final
Rhonda Rajsich d. Cristina Amaya
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Carolina Gomez
Cristina Amaya d. Sheryl Lotts
Follow the bouncing ball....
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