IRT - 2013 Stockton Pro-Am Quarter finals

Daniel De La Rosa has reached the semi-finals for the first time on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as he defeated 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran in the quarter finals of the Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, by the scores of 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1. De La Rosa will face Rocky Carson, the IRT's #2 player, in the semis, as Carson won his quarter final match with Marco Rojas, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 12-10.

On the other side of the draw, the semi-final will be a repeat of the final from the last IRT event in Portland, as #1 Kane Waselenchuk will be up against #6 Ben Croft. In the quarters, Waselenchuk beat Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4, and Croft defeated Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4.

After losing game one to Beltran, De La Rosa took the lead early in game two at 7-2. But Beltran battled back, and got to game point at 10-8. However, De La Rosa held Beltran there for two game points, and then scored four points of his own to level the match at a game a piece.

De La Rosa had begun to really zero in with his drive serve in game two, and used that throughout the rest of the match, including taking a 5-0 lead in game three.

However, Beltran again came back, scoring six points to lead 6-5. They went back and forth until 8-8, at which point De La Rosa was able to finish the game off and take the upper hand in games at 2-1.

In game four, De La Rosa took a big lead early at 6-1, and in this case Beltran had no reply, as De La Rosa went on to win 11-1, scoring the last point with a drive serve ace to the left side.

Carson was almost forced to a tie-breaker against Marco Rojas, as Rojas had a 8-3 lead in game four. However, Carson worked his way back to tie it at 9-9.

But Rojas wasn't giving up, and got a game point at 10-9. However, Carson fought that off with a great soft backhand pinch into the from left corner. Carson then tied the game on a rally where Rojas made to great gets in a row, and then skipped a shot that by comparison was relatively easy.

Carson then got a game point of his own, and it was Rojas's turn to fend it off as he ripped a ball down the line with his backhand. But on the ensuing serve, Rojas chose to lob to the right side, when he been having success drive serving. Carson took advantage by hitting a kill shot return.

Carson followed that up with a drive serve ace to the left side that won the game and match.

The IRT Network will web-cast the semi-finals from 4 PM PDT on Saturday.

2013 Stockton Pro-Am, Stockton, California

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-4

Daniel De La Rosa d. Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1
Rocky Carson d. Marco Rojas, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 12-10

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Ben Croft - 5 PM PDT Saturday
Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa - 4 PM PDT Saturday

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