Polo Gutierrez has the first big upset of the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. - the 2nd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament of 2012, as he defeated IRT #3 Ben Croft in five games, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10. Gutierrez used a mixture of serves but no killer drive serves, and then hit many pinch shot winners with a nonchalant style. See ball. Hit ball. Roll ball out. Repeat as necessary.
Gutierrez could easily have won in fewer games, as he had a big lead in game one at 7-0 and still at 8-6, but lost. Then in games four, Gutierrez had a match points at 10-6 and then again at 10-8, but Croft fought them both off and forced a fifth game.
It was Croft who had the early lead in the tie-breaker, as he went up 4-1. Croft also led 6-4, and 9-8. However, Gutierrez had another match point at 10-9, only to see Croft tie it at 10. Then Gutierrez got the serve back and won two straight points wining the match on his fourth match point opportunity.
Earlier, the top two seeds advanced to the quarter finals with straight game victories. Top seed Kane Waselenchuk beat Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 and 2nd seed Rocky Carson defeated young left-hander Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8.
The IRT Network is web-casting the Round of 16 and the quarter finals of NYC Pro-Am for free all Friday.
2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.
Round of 16 - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Shane Vanderson d. Tony Carson, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Charlie Pratt, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
Jose Rojas d. Alejandro Landa, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7
Polo Gutierrez d. Ben Croft, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10
Chris Crowther v. Agustin Tristan, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
Andy Hawthorne d. Anthony Herrera, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8
Quarter finals - Friday
Kane Waselenchuk v. Shane Vanderson
Jose Rojas v. Alvaro Beltran
Chris Crowther v. Polo Gutierrez
Rocky Carson v. Andy Hawthorne
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, January 13, 2012
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