Croft wins Minot Open

Ben Croft won the Minot Open - a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Minot, North Dakota on the weekend, defeating Shane Vanderson in the final, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3. It was Croft's second victory over Vanderson in as many weekends, as they met in the final of the Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas last weekend.

The Minot Open was an old fashioned racquetball tournament with playing until all hours, nice trophies and great hospitality.

Croft's slow start in the final might have been a bit of a hangover from his Saturday schedule, as he was only able to get to Minot Saturday afternoon due to a flight cancellation on Friday. That meant he had to play three matches in a row.

But by that last match - the semi-finals - Croft was dialed in, as he only gave up three points to veteran Richard Eisemann, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1. Vanderson also won his semi-final match in three straight games, as he defeated Canadian Lee Connell, 11-4, 11-1, 11-4.

In the final, Croft served mainly backhand lob Z to the left side, which was to Vanderson's backhand, although Vanderson's known to be very strong with his backhand. Asked about that strategy afterwards, Croft explained that "Shane has a good forehand too, so if you play too much to his forehand he's going to get in a groove and now you're dealing with two hot sides."

Croft's lob Z was hard to cut off, so it was difficult for Vanderson to hit an aggressive return. Croft often hit it so it wasn't really a Z more like a Y serve, as it's pace didn't bounce off the side wall and back wall, where it might have been easier for Vanderson to return.

"Time out!"

The Racquetball Blog interviewed Croft after the match and we'll bring that to you in coming days.

Minot Open, Minot, North Dakota

December 9-11, 2011

Final

Ben Croft d. Shane Vanderson, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3

3rd place

Richard Eisemann d. Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Richard Eisemann, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1

Shane Vanderson d. Lee Connell, 11-4, 11-1, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Longoria wins Christmas Classic

Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich for the fourth time in ten weeks, solidifying her position on top of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings on Sunday by winning the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia. But Longoria didn't make it easy on herself as she lost the first two games before staging a comeback to win in five games, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

The turning point of the match was game three, as Longoria was up 7-2, but Rajsich came back to make the match close. But while doing so, Rajsich was hit by Longoria during a rally. The contact was unintentional, but Rajsich needed some injury time prior to continuing.

Despite the injury, Rajich did narrow the gap to 9-8. But that was as close as Rajsich got, as Longoria won it 11-8.

Longoria won the fourth game comfortably, taking a 5-0 lead and winning 11-4. In game five, Longoria again took the early lead at 4-1 and 8-4. But Rajsich, the WPRO #1 at the beginning of the season, again fought back and got within two points at 9-7.

But on her second match point opportunity, Longoria won it, 11-7. The victory is the 18th of Longoria's career, and third WPRO win of the season. Longoria defeated Rajsich in the final of the last two WPRO events, and also beat Rajsich for the gold medal game of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October.

The next WPRO tournament will be the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, January 5-8, 2012.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic Semi-finals

Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich will meet for the fourth time this season, as they're in the final of the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina, the fourth event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season. Longoria has won the three previous three times.

Longoria advanced to the final with a semi-final victory over Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7, while Rajsich defeated surprise semi-finalist Krystal Csuk, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.

Csuk was an upset winner over Kerri Wachtel in the quarter finals, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6.

The final will be at noon EST Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

Semi finals

Paola Longoria d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5

Final

Paola Longoria vs. Rhonda Rajsich

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7

Adrienne Fisher d. Cristina Amaya, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5

Krystal Csuk d. Kerri Wachtel, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6

Rhonda Rajsich d. Susana Acosta, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic 16s

For perhaps the first time in a long time the top 8 seeds are all through to the quarter finals of a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tournament, specifically the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina. Indeed, none of the matches in the Round of 16 on Friday went more than four games and only three of the eight matches went that far.

The two top seeds won in three games straight, blanking their opponent in one of those games. Top seed Paola Longoria defeated Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3, and second seed Rhonda Rajsich won over Mercedes Arias, 11-1, 11-4, 11-0.

Arias's earlier match with Tracy Hawthorne was the only match of the day to need a tie-breaking fifth game, as Arias - a member of the US Junior National Team - came out on top 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1.

The player outside the top 8 seeds most likely to make the quarters would have been Kristen Bellows, a former top 4 WPRO player. But she lost to 6th seed Krystal Csuk, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6.

Once upon a time - in fact, it was a decade ago in 2001 - Bellows and Csuk were team-mates on the Baldwin-Wallace racquetball team before Bellows (nee Walsh) transferred to University of Utah, in her home state.

The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Round of 16

Paola Longoria d. Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3

Jennifer Saunders d. Da'monique Davis, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6

Cristina Amaya d. Laura Brandt, 11-0, 11-0, 11-8

Adrienne Fisher d. Kimberly Ferina, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5

Kerri Wachtel d. Anita Maldonado, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3

Krystal Csuk d. Kristen Bellows, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6

Susana Acosta d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3

Rhonda Rajsich d. Mercedes Arias, 11-1, 11-4, 11-0

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria vs. Jennifer Saunders

Adrienne Fisher vs. Cristina Amaya

Kerri Wachtel vs. Krystal Csuk

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Susana Acosta

Round of 32

Paola Longoria vs. BYE

Grace Hughes d. Ana Paola Nunez, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4

Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE

Da'monique Davis vs. BYE

Cristina Amaya vs. BYE

Laura Brandt d. Marie Barron, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2

Kimberly Ferina d. Claudia Andrade, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4

Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE

Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE

Anita Maldonado d. Erika Hawley, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7

Kristen Bellows vs. BYE

Krystal Csuk vs. BYE

Susana Acosta vs. BYE

T. J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE

Mercedes Arias d. Tracy Hawthorne, 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1

Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic Preview

The draw for this weekend's Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tournament - the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina - is similar to the previous tournament, although the two top seeds have flipped. Paola Longoria is now the WPRO's #1 player and Rhonda Rajsich is #2.

The similarity between this week's draw and last month's Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, lies is the absence of WPRO #3 Samantha Salas and #10 Cheryl Gudinas, who remain out with injuries. Sources suggest that Salas's right shoulder (she's right handed) is significantly injured so she may be out for some time. Gudinas had knee surgery last month and is aiming at returning to action in January at the Coast to Coast California Open.

Thus, once again Kerri Wachtel is 3rd seed and Adrienne Fisher 4th. Kristen Bellows is again in the draw, and could meet Wachtel in the quarter finals. There were several Wachtel-Bellows (then Walsh) matches when both players were in the top five in the mid-2000s.

Play begins in Arlington on Friday with the Round of 32 and Round of 16. The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Round of 32

Paola Longoria vs. BYE

Ana Paola Nunez vs. Grace Hughes

Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE

Da'monique Davis vs. BYE

Cristina Amaya vs. BYE

Laura Brandt vs. Marie Barron

Kimberly Ferina vs. Claudia Andrade

Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE

Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE

Anita Maldonado vs. Erika Hawley

Kristen Bellows vs. BYE

Krystal Csuk vs. BYE

Susana Acosta vs. BYE

T. J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE

Tracy Hawthorne vs. Mercedes Arias

Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE

Round of 16

Paola Longoria vs. Ana Paola Nunez or Grace Hughes

Jennifer Saunders vs. Da'monique Davis

Cristina Amaya vs. Laura Brandt or Marie Barron

Adrienne Fisher vs. Kimberly Ferina or Claudia Andrade

Kerri Wachtel vs. Anita Maldonado or Erika Hawley

Krystal Csuk vs. Kristen Bellows

Susana Acosta vs. T. J. Baumbaugh

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Tracy Hawthorne or Mercedes Arias

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Crowther wins Lou Bradley Memorial

Chris Crowther won the 14th Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. He defeated Andy Hawthorne in the final, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10. The Lou Bradley Memorial is a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).

In the semi-finals, Crowther beat Andy Thompson, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7. Thompson was a surprise semi-finalist after defeating Juan Herrera in the quarter finals, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

In the other semi-final, Hawthorne defeated Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11

14th Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

December 2-4, 2011

Final

Chris Crowther d. Andy Hawthorne, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10

Semi-finals

Chris Crowther d. Andy Thompson, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7

Andy Hawthorne d. Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11

Quarter finals

Chris Crowther d. Geoff Goldblatt

Andy Thompson d. Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5

Andy Hawthorne d. Tracy Chynoweth

Tony Carson d. Paul Krueger

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Croft wins 21st Turkey Shootout

Ben Croft won the 21st Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas Sunday with a three game victory over Shane Vanderson in the final, 12-10, 11-5, 14-12. The Turkey Shootout is a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).

In the semi-finals, Croft beat Alvaro Beltran, 1-15, 12-10, 13-11, 0-11, 11-2, and Vanderson defeated Javier Moreno, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5.

But in doubles, the Mexicans Beltran and Moreno had the better of Croft and Vanderson, winning the final 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

21st Turkey Shoot, Garden City, Kansas

December 2-4, 2011

Final

Ben Croft d. Shane Vanderson, 12-10, 11-5, 14-12

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Alvaro Beltran, 1-15, 12-10, 13-11, 0-11, 11-2

Shane Vanderson d. Javier Moreno, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Quarter finals

Ben Croft d. Dustin Webster, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6

Alvaro Beltran d. Felipe Camacho, 12-10, 11-8, 12-10

Javier Moreno d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4

Shane Vanderson d. Jake Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT Rankings - December 1, 2011

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has updated its rankings, although there are no changes in the top three. Kane Waselenchuk is the #1 IRT player, followed by Rocky Carson in #2 and Ben Croft in #3.

But Chris Crowther and Jose Rojas are both on career highs, as Crowther is up to #4, and Rojas is #5. Crowther's made one final and a semi this season, while Rojas has made the semis in 3 of the 4 Tier 1 or Grand Slam IRT events of the season.

Jack Huczek, who retired in May, is still #6, which is a testament to how far ahead he was of the rest of the field that only a few players have moved past him.

Andy Hawthorne #7, Shane Vanderson #8, Charlie Pratt #9, and Tony Carson #10, round out the top 10.

Nine of the top ten players are American, but seven of the next ten are not. Four Mexicans - Javier Moreno, Alvaro Beltran, Daniel De La Rosa, and Alejandro Landa - two Colombians - Juan Herrera and Alejandro Herrera, and a Canadian - James Slamko - join the three Americans - Anthony Herrera, Taylor Knoth and Arthur Schmeiser - to make up the 11-20 IRT ranks.

Ruben Watch

Also of note, Ruben Gonzalez is #31 overall and #24 for this season, so he's got a ways to go to get to his goal of being in the top 10 at the end of the season, when he'll be 60. The Racquetball Blog has three words for Mr. Gonzalez: Work. To. Do.

Gonzalez was to his next chance to climb closer to his goal this month with the Corona Open in Chihuahua, Mexico, December 15-18, but that's been taken off the schedule. Thus, the IRT's next Tier 1 event will be in the new year with the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park.

That will start a heavy tournament schedule for the second half of the season, as there will be 13 tournaments in 21 weeks; they'll be playing roughly two of every three weeks. Not a schedule for old men.

We suggest Gonzalez put in some good training this month and go easy on the egg nog and holiday meals. He's got a lot of work ahead of him.

IRT Rankings 2010-11 Season - December 1, 2011

Rank - Player - Points

1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4974

2 Rocky CARSON, 3894

3 Ben CROFT, 2877

4 Chris CROWTHER, 2414

5 Jose ROJAS, 2372

6 Jack HUCZEK, 2340

7 Andy HAWTHORNE, 2213

8 Shane VANDERSON, 2131

9 Charlie PRATT, 1868

10 Tony CARSON, 1508

11 Anthony HERRERA, 1394

12 Javier MORENO, 1026

13 Juan HERRERA, 876

14 Alvaro BELTRAN, 631

15 Daniel DE LA ROSA, 611

16 Alejandro HERRERA, 575

17 Taylor KNOTH, 554

18 Alejandro LANDA, 484

19 Arthur SCHMEISER, 475

20 Jamie SLAMKO, 465

Follow the bouncing ball....