Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event Preview

The first Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event begins Friday in Winnipeg with the Manitoba Open. Players will be seeking their first points that will help qualify them for Team Canada that will play at the 2014 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships that are to be held in Burlington, Ont. Canada in June of 2014.

Mike Green, the current Canadian Champion, is still the player to beat on the men's side, despite the fact he turned 40 this past summer. He's on the top side of the draw, where 5th seed Coby Iwaasa may be his stiffest test. The 17 year old Iwaasa was runner up in the Men's Open division at the US Open last month and a bronze medalist in U16 at last month's World Junior Championships in Bolivia.

On the bottom of the draw, 2nd seed Vincent Gagnon and 3rd seed Tim Landeryou are the likely semi-finalists. Landeryou was runner up to Green at the National Championships in May and beat Green last February.

The women's side will likely come down to a two person battle between Canadian Champion Jennifer Saunders and Canada's #2 Frédérique Lambert. Lambert didn't play singles at Nationals due to an ankle injury, but she's fully fit now and has had some good results on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), including a semi-final finish in Toluca, Mexico.

Play begins Friday and runs through Sunday at the Duckworth Centre on the University of Winnipeg's campus.

2013 Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
Manitoba Open, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Men's Open

First round

Tanner Prentice v. Trevor Webb
Joshua Keil v. Dennis Oteyza
Anthony Schonberger v. Cameron Wachs

Round of 16

Mike Green v. Tanner Prentice or Trevor Webb
Kurtis Cullen v. Lee Connell

Coby Iwaasa v. Sebastien Juteau
Nathaniel Husulak v. Tanner Mattson

Tim Landeryou v. Joshua Keil or Dennis Oteyza
Samuel Murray v. Troy Brooks

Eric Desrochers v. Chris Exner
Vincent Gagnon v. Anthony Schonberger or Cameron Wachs

Women's Open

First Round

Alexis Iwaasa v. Cher Woodward

Quarter finals

Jennifer Saunders v. Alexis Iwaasa or Cher Woodward
Christine Richardson v. Michèle Morissette

Josée Grand'Maître v. Brigitte Richard
Frédérique Lambert v. Nadia Verilli

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Rankings - November 22, 2013

Two changes in the top 10 in the latest International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings, but they are on the low end, as Daniel De La Rosa moves up one spot to 7th ahead of Tony Carson, who's 8th, and Jansen Allen moves ahead of Marco Rojas into 9th with Rojas 10th.

At the top, Rocky Carson remains the #1 IRT player, although that seems strange to write, but he did solidify that ranking by winning in Garden City, Kansas earlier this month. Kane Waselenchuk is #2 after missing the last two Tier 1 IRT events due to personal commitments and injury. Hopefully, Waselenchuk will be back for the New Jersey Open.

Rounding out the top five are Alvaro Beltran in 3rd, Jose Rojas in 4th, and Ben Croft in 5th. Chris Crowther is 6th.

There are also few changes in the next 10, although Brad Schopieray has pulled level with Mexican veteran Javier Moreno in 15th and Mauricio Zelada has entered the top 20 for the first time in his career. He's 19th.

The New Jersey Open - the IRT's fifth event of the 2013-14 season - begins in two weeks on Thursday December 12 and runs to Sunday December 15 in Warren, New Jersey.

IRT Rankings - November 22, 2013

Rank - Player - Country - Points

1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3632
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3444
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2524
4 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2340
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2236

6 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1690
7 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 1666
8 Tony CARSON (USA) 1480
9 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1129
10 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1102

11 Jose DIAZ (USA) 914
12 Andy HAWTHORNE (USA) 868
13 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 800
14 Alex ACKERMANN (USA) 760
15 Javier MORENO (Mexico) 749

15 Brad SCHOPIERAY (USA) 749
17 Cliff Swain (USA) 662
18 Anthony HERRERA (USA) 644
19 Mauricio ZELADA (USA) 592
20 Shane VANDERSON (USA) 544

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up - Beltran, Croft & Herrera winners

Alvaro Beltran won the Mexico Open in Tijuana, Mexico - a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - as he got the best of countryman Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10. It's the third time Beltran's beaten De La Rosa this month, as they met in both November IRT Tier 1 events: the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan and the 23rd Annual Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas.

In the semi-finals, Beltran beat German Garcia, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2, and De La Rosa defeated Chris Crowther, 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 [sic].

Ben Croft won the Minot Open - a Tier 4 IRT event - in Minot, North Dakota on the weekend, as he defeated Thomas Fuhrmann in the final, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7.

In the semi-finals, Croft beat Kurtis Cullen, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8, while Fuhrmann defeated Richard Eisemann, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2. Cullen took the 3rd place match over Eisemann in four games, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3.

However in doubles, the left-handed Eisemann and Jimmy Lowe got the better of Cullen and Lee Connell, 15-10, 10-15, 11-9.

Eisemann and Lowe beat Croft and Steve Knowles in the doubles semis, 15-6, 15-8, while Cullen and Connell defeated Mike Fedorchak and Darren Snow, 15-3, 15-4.

Finally, in Lomard, Illinois, Juan Herrera won the 22nd Annual Turkey Shoot Open - a Tier 5 IRT event - by defeating Keith Minor in the final, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6. In the semi-finals, Herrera beat Rhonda Rajisch, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6, and Minor beat Filip Vesely, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9.

In Men's Open Doubles final, Herrera and Rajsich defeated Shane Longest and Brent Huff, 15-11, 15-9. Herrera and Rajsich beat Brian Berkelhamer and Fernando Rivera, 15-6, 15-9, in one semi-final, with Longest and Huff defeating Cheryl Gudinas and Keith Minor in the other, 15-4, 15-11.

Mexico Open
Tijuana, Mexico

Men's Pro Final

Alvaro Beltran d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10

Semi-final

Alvaro Beltran d. German Garcia, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2
Daniel De La Rosa d. Chris Crowther, 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 [sic].

Minot Open
Minot, North Dakota

Men's Pro Singles

Final

Ben Croft d. Thomas Fuhrmann, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7.

3rd Place

Kurtis Cullen d. Richard Eisemann, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3.

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Kurtis Cullen, 11-3, 11-6, 11-8
Thomas Fuhrmann d. Richard Eisemann, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2

Men's Pro / Open Doubles

Final

Richard Eisemann & Jimmy Lowe d. Kurtis Cullen & Lee Connell, 15-10, 10-15, 11-9

Semi-finals

Richard Eisemann & Jimmy Lowe d. Ben Croft & Steve Knowles, 15-6, 15-8
Kurtis Cullen & Lee Connell d. Mike Fedorchak & Darren Snow, 15-3, 15-4

22nd Annual Turkey Shoot Open
Lomard, Illinois

Men's Open Final

Juan Herrera d. Keith Minor, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6

Semi-finals

Juan Herrera d. Rhonda Rajisch, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Keith Minor d. Filip Vesely, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9

Men's Open Doubles

Final

Juan Herrera & Rhonda Rajsich d. Shane Longest & Brent Huff, 15-11, 15-9

Semi-finals

Juan Herrera & Rhonda Rajsich d. Brian Berkelhamer & Fernando Rivera, 15-6, 15-9
Shane Longest & Brent Huff d. Cheryl Gudinas & Keith Minor, 15-4, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up - Camacho & Knoth Turkey Shoot winners

Felipe Camacho won the Men's Open division at the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot tournament in Garden City, Kansas on Sunday by defeating Brad Schopieray, 15-14, 15-14 in the final. In the semi-finals, Camacho beat Thomas Fuhrmann and Schopieray defeated Jake Bredenbeck.

In another Turkey Shoot tournament - this one the Sunset Turkey Shoot in Portland, Oregon, a Tier 3 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - Taylor Knoth was the winner, although he needed a tie-breaker to defeat Jeff Stark in the final, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9. In the semis, Knoth beat Chadd Westwood, 11-8, 11-3, 11-0, and Stark defeated Christopher Barton, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Men's Open Final

Felipe Camacho d. Brad Schopieray, 15-14, 15-14

Semi-finals

Felipe Camacho d. Thomas Fuhrmann
Brad Schopieray d. Jake Bredenbeck

2013 Sunset Turkey Shoot Pro-Am
Portland, Oregon

Men's Open Final

Taylor Knoth d. Jeff Stark, 9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9

Semi-finals

Taylor Knoth d. Chadd Westwood, 11-8, 11-3, 11-0
Jeff Stark d. Christopher Barton, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson wins IRT 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kanasa

Rocky Carson won the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot tournament on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in Garden City, Kansas on Sunday, as he beat Alvaro Beltran in five games, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 1-11, 11-6, to become the fourth different tournament winner in as many IRT events this season.

It's the first time that four consecutive IRT event have had different winners since the 2011-12 when Carson, Ben Croft, Jose Rojas and Kane Waselenchuk won consecutive events.

The win is Carson's 18th career tournament victory and solidifies him at the top of the IRT rankings. He became the #1 player in the latest rankings with the absence of Kane Waselenchuk from last weekend's Red Swain Shootout. Waselenchuk also wasn't in Garden City.

Game one was close all the way, but after Beltran closed to within one at 8-7, Carson got the serve back and won it with three consecutive drive jam serves to the left side that caused Beltran to turn around to try and return them. One of them went for an ace, which was Carson's third ace of the game.

Beltran stormed out to an 8-0 lead in game two and looked a lock to tie the match at 1-1. However, Carson then scored ten straight points to get a game point, but he didn't finish it. Beltran then scored four consecutive points to win the game, finishing it with a backhand down the line.

Momentum swung back to Carson in game three, as he won relatively comfortably, 11-4. However, Beltran did hold Carson at 9 for a total of eighteen rallies before Carson scored two straight points to finish the game with the winning point a drive ace serve to the right side.

So it looked like Carson was going to win in four, but racquetball's a funny little game and again momentum swung the other way, as Beltran cruised to an 11-1 win in only 19 rallies.

Afterwards, Carson said "I didn't play bad" in game four, but Beltran "caught fire." So, Carson just had to hang in there and try to wait it out, as "it's hard to sustain that" level of play.

In game five, they were back and forth early, and tied at 4-4. Then Carson pulled ahead. It went 5-4, 6-4, 7-4, and Beltran called a time-out. On the next rally, Beltran wanted a hinder, but none was called and Carson hit a forehand pinch to make it 8-4.

Carson made it 10-4 with another ace driven to the right side. Carson had nine aces in the match. Beltran stopped Carson's first two match points, and scored a couple points of his own, but on the third one Carson drove to the left side and then made a backhand cross court to the right side to win the game and match.

Carson said "it was a lot of pressure" playing against Beltran, and he "couldn't give [Beltran] too many to shoot."

Carson also said it "feels good" to win, because "last week was a tough loss," referring to his loss in three straight games against Daniel De La Rosa.

The next IRT event is the New Jersey Open December 12-15.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Final

Rocky Carson d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 1-11, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot - Carson & Beltran win semis

It will be #1 versus #2 in the final of the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Garden City, Kansas on Sunday, although both Rocky Carson and Alvaro Beltran needed to survive early onslaughts by their respective opponents, Ben Croft and Jose Rojas.

Top seed Carson was up 8-2 in game one against Croft, but then Croft went one of his streaks as he ran off nine unanswered points to win it 11-8, when Carson skipped a shot to end a long rally in which Croft made a great get by diving to the left and hitting the ball to the ceiling.

Both players were serving drive serves and if necessary drive Z serves on second serve throughout the match.

In game two, Carson again had the lead early at 5-1, and again Croft came back to tie it at 6-6. But this time Carson got it to 10-6, and although Croft did hold him there and scored a couple more points of his own, Carson was able to finish it off with a jam serve to the left that jumped across the court and Croft could barely get his racquet on let alone return.

Carson led all the way in game three, although never by four, and Croft did narrow the lead to 8-6. But Carson closed it out at 11-7, as Croft skipped a backhand.

Game four was all Carson as he went out to an 8-0 that Croft had no real response to. The winning point came with Carson drive serving to the right - moss of his drive serves were to the left - Croft returned it cross court, and Carson hit a soft backhand pinch to the left corner for the match winner.

Afterwards, Croft admitted he skipped more balls that he should have, feeling that his timing was off. But with a couple more minor tournaments coming up, he's hopes to be in good form for the New Jersey Open in December.

In the first semi-final, Rojas almost blew Beltran off the court in the first game, winning 11-4. However, he couldn't keep up that pace, and Beltran switched from his typical lob serving on the right side to drive serving to both sides. Beltran did lob serve some of second serve, but Rojas wasn't as comfortable with it after the first game, when he ate those lob serves up.

They were close in game two, as they were tied at 5-5, but it was all Beltran after that as he won 28 of the next 34 points. Both of the the winning points in games three and four were Rojas skips, as it just wasn't his day.

Beltran has made back to back finals for the first time in a year, as he was also finalists in Davison, Michigan and New Jersey last season. If Beltran wins Sunday, he will be the first player other than Kane Waselenchuk to win back to back events since Carson won two in a row in the 2008-09 season (the Juarez Open and the California Open).

The final will be broadcast live via the IRT Network at noon on Sunday.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Semi-finals - Saturday

Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-3
Alvaro Beltran d. Jose Rojas, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-3

Final - Sunday

Rocky Carson v. Alvaro Beltran - Noon CDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 23rd Turkey Shoot Quarter Finals

The top four seeds are through to the semi-finals at the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas, but it wasn't easy for most of them. Second seed Alvaro Beltran, winner of last weekend's Red Swain Shootout, had the easiest time of it in the quarter finals, as his opponent Daniet De La Rosa retired in the third game of their match due to injury, with Beltran up 2-0 in games.

Word is that De La Rosa had a pre-existing injury from last weekend's event, and reaggravated it today. In addition, he cut his hand diving during the match with Beltran. The combination of injuries led to De La Rosa's decision to retire rather than complete the match.

Beltran will face 3rd seed Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, as Rojas defeated Charlie Pratt, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7. Pratt started the match well, carrying over his excellent play from his Round of 16 victory over Chris Crowther, as he led 10-6 in game one.

But Rojas put together a three point run at the end of that game to carry some momentum over into game two. In that game, they were back and forth early, but then Rojas scored five straight points to go up 8-4. Pratt called a time-out but to no avail as Rojas won it 11-6.

Game three was all Rojas, and in it he began using some lob serves to the left: Pratt's backhand that Pratt wasn't comfortable returning. Rojas continued using that serve in game four.

Pratt did rebound in game four, as he tied the game at 6-6 and it looked like a fifth game was a possibility. But Rojas snuffed out that possibility winning it 11-7. The match point came on a scramble rally that Rojas ended with a winner to the left side.

Ben Croft, 4th seed, won his match in three straight games, but two of those games went into extra points, as he prevailed over Jansen Allen 12-10, 11-4, 14-12.

Allen is a control type player, and he seemed to be in control of game one, as he scored five straight point late in the game to go from 7-5 down to 10-7 up. But Allen couldn't get the last point as Croft went on a five point run of his own to win it 12-10.

Game two was all Croft, and game three started out the same way, as Croft went up 10-3, serving for the match. However, Allen didn't give up, and fought off four match points as he came back with eight unanswered points to lead 11-10.

But Croft got the serve back, and called a time out. When play resumed, he went back to drive serving, as he had been lob serving - something Croft does not do very often - and the change worked, as scored two points to get another match point.

Again Allen held off Croft, and scored another of his own to make it 12-12. That was where it stopped for Allen, as Croft regained the serve and finished off the match, winning it with a forehand pinch shot to the front right corner.

Top seed Rocky Carson also needed four games to advance, as he beat Tony Carson, 11-5, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6.

If Carson or Croft win this weekend, it will be the first time four different players have won four consecutive IRT events for the first time since the 2011-12 when Carson, Croft, Rojas and Kane Waselenchuk won consecutive events.

Prior to that you need to go back to the end of the 2000-01 season, which ended with wins by Sudsy Monchik, Jason Mannino, John Ellis and Cliff Swain.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Quarter finals - Friday

Rocky Carson d. Tony Carson, 11-5, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6
Ben Croft d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 11-4, 14-12

Jose Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-6, 11-9, 5-2, injury forfeit

Semi-finals - Saturday

Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft - 5 PM CST
Alvaro Beltran v. Jose Rojas - 4 PM CST

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 23rd Turkey Shoot - Round of 16 Results

Jake Bredenbeck came within two points of defeating the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) as he and Rocky Carson were tied at 9-9 in game four of their Round of 16 match on Friday at the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas, with the young USA Junior Team member up 2-1 in games on Carson. However, Carson was able to squeak out game four and then won the tie-breaker as he defeated Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7.

Bredenbeck was putting away forehand pinches into the front right corner, and generally drive serving, although he did hit some lob serves to the right side - Carson's forehand.

The other Round of 16 matches were all won in three straight games, although Charlie Pratt did upset Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-4, 11-1. Pratt served well, and hit good shots on just about every opportunity he had. Crowther didn't lose the match; Pratt won it.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Round of 16 - Friday

Rocky Carson d. Jake Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7
Tony Carson d. Brad Schopieray, 11-3, 11-5, 11-0

Jansen Allen d. Nicholas Riffel, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1
Ben Croft d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-5, 11-0, 11-5

Jose Rojas d. Bradley Rogers, 11-2, 11-3, 11-2
Charlie Pratt d. Chris Crowther, 11-8, 11-4, 11-1

Daniel De La Rosa d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran d. Tom Fuhrmann, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10

Quarter finals - Friday

Rocky Carson v. Tony Carson
Ben Croft v. Jansen Allen

Jose Rojas v. Charlie Pratt
Alvaro Beltran v. Daniel De La Rosa

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot - Preliminary results

Only one upset in the qualifying round at the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas - a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, where young American Nicholas Riffel defeated Robert Collins, 12-10, 11-3, 2-11, 12-10, to reach the Round of 16 for the first time.

Riffel will play Jansen Allen in the 16s on Friday.

As mentioned in our preview, we're not expecting any upsets in the 16s. Charlie Pratt is the most likely player to create one, but his opponent - Chris Crowther - is not to be taken lightly.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Qualifying Round - Thursday

Q8: Jake Bredenbeck d. Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2
Q1: Brad Schopieray - BYE

Q4: Nicholas Riffel d. Robert Collins, 12-10, 11-3, 2-11, 12-10
Q5: Francisco Troncoso d. Tyler Thielen, 11-4, 11-2, 11-4

Q6: Bradley Rogers d. Jeon Seung Jun, 11-7, 12-10, 11-1
Q3: Charlie Pratt d. John Scott, 11-2, 11-0, 11-5

Q2: Mauricio Zelada d. Shai Manzuri, 11-2, 4-11, 11-2, 11-9
Q7: Tom Fuhrmann d. Logan Reese, 11-1, 11-4, 11-7

Round of 16 - Friday

Rocky Carson v. Jake Bredenbeck
Tony Carson v. Brad Schopieray

Jansen Allen v. Nicholas Riffel
Ben Croft v. Francisco Troncoso

Jose Rojas v. Bradley Rogers
Chris Crowther v. Charlie Pratt

Daniel De La Rosa v. Mauricio Zelada
Alvaro Beltran v. Tom Fuhrmann

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT - 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot Preview

Perhaps appropriately the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas - this weekend's Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event has 23 players. It's one of the smaller draws for a Tier 1 event you'll see, and there are only a couple of players in qualifying who will be threats in the Round of 16, so it will be all about which of the top 8 are ready to take the title.

That especially because IRT #1 - err, #2 actually - Kane Waselenchuk is not in the draw due to injury. That opens up the possibilities of winning to the field.

Could Alvaro Beltran, seeded 2nd in Garden City, win his second tournament in as many weeks after going years without a win? He'll probably have to defeat fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, who was his opponent in the Red Swain final last weekend in Davison, Michigan, in the quarter finals, as they are seeded into the same section of the draw.

Or will Rocky Carson get on the board this season, and make it four different winners in as many IRT Tier 1 events? He is the top seed, and will have something to prove after getting thumped by De La Rosa in the semi-finals in Davison.

Or will 3rd seed Jose Rojas win his second tournament of the season? Rojas also had a disappointing Davison, as he lost to Cliff Swain in the Round of 16.

Finally, 4th seed Ben Croft is not to be overlooked, and he would dearly love to win his second career IRT event.

Everyone else should be considered dark horses, although De La Rosa and veteran Chris Crowther aren't quite as dark as the rest.

But with four strong contenders for the title, it should be a good weekend of racquetball in Garden City.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 23rd Turkey Shoot
Garden City, Kansas

Qualifying Round - Thursday

Q8: Jake Bredenbeck v. Felipe Camacho
Q1: Brad Schopieray - BYE

Q4: Robert Collins v. Nicholas Riffel
Q5: Francisco Troncoso v. Tyler Thielen

Q6: Bradley Rogers v. Jeon Seung Jun
Q3: Charlie Pratt v. John Scott

Q2: Mauricio Zelada v. Shai Manzuri
Q7: Tom Fuhrmann v. Logan Reese

Round of 16 - Friday

Rocky Carson v. Jake Bredenbeck or Felipe Camacho
Tony Carson v. Brad Schopieray

Jansen Allen v. Robert Collins or Nicholas Riffel
Ben Croft v. Francisco Troncoso or Tyler Thielen

Jose Rojas v. Bradley Rogers or Jeon Seung Jun
Chris Crowther v. Charlie Pratt or John Scott

Daniel De La Rosa v. Mauricio Zelada or Shai Manzuri
Alvaro Beltran v. Tom Fuhrmann or Logan Reese

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Rankings - Carson rises to #1, ahead of Waselenchuk

Only one change in the top 10 in the latest International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings, but it's a doozy, as Rocky Carson moves up to #1 ahead of Kane Waselenchuk, who drops to #2. The difference is only 10 points, and it's mainly due to inactivity by Waselenchuk, who wasn't in last week's Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan.

But it does speak to Carson's durability and high level of play, as you have to go back to Florida in 2012 to find the last time Carson didn't reach the semi-finals of a tournament (he lost to Alvaro Beltan in the quarters there), and he hasn't missed any tournaments in the span either. That's a long record of excellence.

Waselenchuk will still be the favourite to win the next event he enters, regardless of where he's ranked, which might not be as #1, because Waselenchuk won't be in this weekend's 23rd Turkey Shoot tournament in Garden City, Kansas, citing an injury as the reason for his absence. Of course, it also depends on how Carson does this weekend.

In the next ten, Jose Diaz continues to rise up the rankings, and is now #11. Also, the veteran Cliff Swain, bolstered by his semi-final finish last weekend, is up to #16.

The IRT's fourth event of 2013-14 is the 23rd Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas beginning tomorrow November 14 and running to Sunday November 17.

IRT Rankings - November 12, 2013

Rank - Player - Country - Points

1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3454
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3444
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2572
4 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2210
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2164

6 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1690
7 Tony CARSON (USA) 1418
8 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 1561
9 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1102
10 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1019

11 Jose DIAZ (USA) 914
12 Andy HAWTHORNE (USA) 868
13 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 800
14 Alex ACKERMANN (USA) 760
15 Javier MORENO (Mexico) 749

16 Brad SCHOPIERAY (USA) 689
17 Cliff Swain (USA) 662
18 Anthony HERRERA (USA) 644
19 Shane VANDERSON (USA) 544
20 David HORN (USA) 521

Follow the bouncing ball....

Beltran wins 2013 Red Swain Shootout for his 1st career victory

Alvaro Beltran has won is first Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event after 26 tries, as he defeated fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa in the final of the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4. It was the first IRT event with two Mexican players in the final.

Beltran said afterwards he "will never forget this club and this city." He was "so happy it happened" after "fifteen years on tour." Beltran didn't want to be a player never to win an event.

In three IRT events this season, there have now been three different winners: Jose Rojas in Stockton, Kane Waselenchuk in Minneapolis and now Beltran. This hasn't happened since the 2007-08 season when Rocky Carson, Jason Mannino and Jack Huczek won the first three events of that season.

The match was very even with both players using a variety of serves. Beltran often hit his characteristic lob to the right, which was a glass side wall, and De La Rosa did have some trouble with it, including skipping the return on game point in game one.

But Beltran also hit drive serves, and some off speed serves in game three, two of which went for aces.

De La Rosa was best when he was drive serving, which he did to both sides of the court. And he seemed especially confident when he drove serve on second serve also, which he did at the end of game two, which he won.

In game three, Beltran had an early lead at 5-0, but De La Rosa fought all the way back and took the lead at 8-7. It looked like the young gun might deny the veteran his long sought after prize. But Beltran got the serve back, and went back to the lob to the right, and made winning shots in the rallies to win it, 11-8.

They were close again in game four, when it was 3-3. But Beltran ran four points with several different serves - lob left, lob right, drive right, drive left - to make the score 7-3, and he never looked back, going to win 11-4 with match point coming off a back hand pinch shot to the left corner that was the third shot of a rally that began with a lob to the right side that De La Rosa returned cross court.

The night belonged to Beltran, who is no longer a contender for title of "Best Player to Never Win a Tier 1 IRT Event."

The next IRT Tier 1 event is next weekend in Garden City, Kansas at the 23rd Annual Turkey Shootout. Action begins on Thursday.

2013 Red Swain Shootout
Davison, Michigan

Final

Alvaro Beltran d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4

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IRT Red Swain Semi-finals - De La Rosa upsets Carson, Beltran stops Swain

History is made every day, but some days are more historic than others, and such is the case today as for the first time in International Racquetball Tour (IRT) history two Mexicans will face off in the final of a Tier 1 event, when Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa play for the Red Swain Shootout title in Davison, Michigan.

Both Mexicans won their semi-final matches earlier on Saturday in three straight games. Beltran, the IRT #3 and second seed in this event, ended the fine run of former IRT #1 Cliff Swain, 11-7, 11-0, 13-11. Swain was playing in his first semi since 2006.

De La Rosa is a surprise finalist, as it's the first of his career and he upset Rocky Carson, the IRT #2 and top seed this weekend, but he did so in emphatic fashion winning 11-1, 11-5, 11-2.

Beltran has played in 26 finals with one win, but that was in a tournament was played as an exhibition rather than a real competition due to the court conditions. Thus, he's still looking for his first IRT title.

Beltran has won on the international stage, as he has three Pan American Championships and one International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championship to his name. For his part, De La Rosa has also been an international champion, as he won the 2011 Pan American Championship.

But they will be looking to make a different kind of history Saturday night.

The final can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network at 7 PM Saturday night.

2013 Red Swain Shootout
Davison, Michigan

Semi-finals

Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson, 11-1, 11-5, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Cliff Swain, 11-7, 11-0, 13-11

Final - Saturday

Alvaro Beltran v. Daniel De La Rosa - 7 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…

IRT 2013 Red Swain Quarter-finals

Cliff Swain continues to turn back the clock at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan - a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as he defeated Marco Rojas, 3-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2, in the quarter finals on Friday evening.

Swain, the former IRT #1 player, is looking to win his first Tier 1 IRT event since February 2005, when he beat Shane Vanderson to win the San Diego Open. If he wins in Davison, he would tie Kane Waselenchuk as the winningest IRT player. Waselenchuk set the career record at 71 last month at the US Open, breaking the tie he had with Swain.

However, IRT #3 and second seed in Davison, Alvaro Beltran stands in Swain's way in the semi-finals on Saturday after Beltran beat Chris Crowther, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, in the quarters Friday.

On the top side of the draw, top seed Rocky Carson is through to the semis after beating Tony Carson, 9-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-7, in the quarters Friday. Tony Carson, who's no relation to Rocky Carson, won the first game on a long rally in which Tony dove twice to keep the ball in play and that ended in Rocky skipping a shot to the front right corner.

But the second game was all Rocky, as he won going away at 11-1. In game three, Rocky took a lead at 5-1, but Tony came back and tied it at 6-6. Rocky called a time out at that point, and after a couple of sideouts put a four point streak together that gave him a game point at 10-6.

Tony fought off two match points, scored a point of his own, but then succumbed to Rocky at 11-7.

Game four was similar, as the players were tied at 4-4, and then Rocky took a 7-4 lead, which he never relinquished, as Rocky went on to win that game 11-7, taking the match three games to one.

Rocky Carson's semi-final opponent will be Daniel De La Rosa, who upset 4th seed Ben Croft, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3. De La Rosa's win coupled with Beltran's raises the possibility that there could be an all Mexico final on the IRT for the first time in its history.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network. Note, the final will be at 7 PM Saturday night.

2013 Red Swain Shootout
Davison, Michigan

Quarter finals

Rocky Carson d. Tony Carson, 9-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-7
Daniel De La Rosa d. Ben Croft, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3

Cliff Swain d. Marco Rojas, 3-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Chris Crowther, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8

Semi-finals - Saturday

Rocky Carson v. Daniel De La Rosa - 11 AM
Alvaro Beltran v. Cliff Swain - 12:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…

IRT 2013 Red Swain Shootout - Round of 16

Cliff Swain is turning back the clock at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event named after his father: the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, where he defeated IRT #1 Jose Rojas in four games in the Round of 16, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3.

Swain, a former IRT #1 player, will play another Rojas in the quarter finals later on Friday, as Jose's younger brother Marco defeated Jose Diaz, 11-1, 12-14, 11-2, 11-8, in the 16s.

There were no other upsets in the Round of 16, as other top seeds - Rocky Carson, Alvaro Beltran and Ben Croft - got through to the quarter finals without incident, although Beltran did drop a game against Marcelo Zelada, winning in four 11-4, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6. Both Carson and Croft won in three straight.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 Red Swain Shootout
Davison, Michigan

Round of 16

Rocky Carson d. Charlie Pratt, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4
Tony Carson d. Jansen Allen, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10

Daniel De La Rosa d. Alex Ackermann, 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7
Ben Croft d. Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-3, 11-9

Cliff Swain d. Jose Rojas, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3
Marco Rojas d. Jose Diaz, 11-1, 12-14, 11-2, 11-8

Chris Crowther d. Eric Desrochers, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3
Alvaro Beltran d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6

Quarter finals

Rocky Carson v. Tony Carson
Ben Croft v. Daniel De La Rosa

Marco Rojas v. Cliff Swain
Alvaro Beltran v. Chris Crowther

Follow the bouncing ball…

IRT - Red Swain Shootout - Preliminary Results

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action this weekend, and the preliminary round is complete at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, where Eric Desrochers came back from two games down to upset veteran Andy Hawthorne in five games, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.

The win puts Desrochers in the Round of 16 on Friday against another veteran Chris Crowther.

Earlier, Mike Green lost to Greg Lawerenz, although it was by default. Lawerenz will play Mauricio Zelada in the second round of qualifying for a spot in the Round of 16 on Friday.

Matches can be viewed over the web via the IRT Network.

2013 Red Swain Shootout
Davison, Michigan

Qualifying Round 1

Charlie Pratt d. Thomas Carter, 13-11, 11-1, 11-6
Tom Fuhrmann d. John Scott, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3

Filip Vesely d. Nathan Tucker, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2
Brian Simpson d. William Garrow, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1

Robert Collins d. Anthony Schonberger, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3
Jeon Seung Jun d. Lee Connell, 13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 2-11, 11-6

Eric Desrochers d. Cesar Castillo, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9
Greg Lawerenz d. Mike Green, forfeit

Qualifying Round 2

Q8: Charlie Pratt d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5
Q1: Jansen Allen d. Tom Fuhrmann, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1

Q4: Alex Ackermann d. Filip Vesely, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2
Q5: Brad Schopieray d. Brian Simpson, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1

Q6: Cliff Swain d. Robert Collins, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6
Q3: Jose Diaz d. Jeon Seung Jun, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7

Q2: Eric Desrochers d. Andy Hawthorne, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
Q7: Mauricio Zelada d. Greg Lawrenz, 11-3, 11-1, 6-11, 11-2

Round of 16 - Friday

Rocky Carson v. Charlie Pratt
Tony Carson v. Jansen Allen

Daniel De La Rosa v. Alex Ackermann
Ben Croft v. Brad Schopieray

Jose Rojas v. Cliff Swain
Marco Rojas v. Jose Diaz

Chris Crowther v. Eric Desrochers
Alvaro Beltran v. Mauricio Zelada

Follow the bouncing ball…

IRT Rankings - November 5, 2013

How hard is it to get ahead in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) rankings? Consider that so far this season Jose Rojas won a Tier 1 event and finished in the semi-finals in a Grand Slam event, and he's still 4th. In fact, he's closer to 5th than 3rd. That's how solid the top three players are in the rankings.

Kane Waselenchuk, now the all time IRT tournament wins leader, is #1, followed by Rocky Carson at #2, Alvaro Beltran at #3, and Rojas in 4th.

Ben Croft is right behind Rojas in 5th with Chris Crowther in 6th, Tony Carson 7th and Daniel De La Rosa in 8th. In fact, there were no changes in the top 8 players.

However, there are two new players in the 9th and 10th spots, as Marco Rojas and Jansen Allen have broken into the top 10 for the first time in their young careers. Rojas is up 2 spots to 9th while Allen is up 5 to 10th.

In the next 10, veteran Andy Hawthorne is hanging around at #11 with young Jose Diaz at #12.

Inactivity has dropped veterans Javier Moreno and Shane Vanderson down to 13th and 15th, respectively. On the other hand, Cliff Swain is more active than he has been in a few years and he's back in the top 20 at #20.

The IRT's third event of 2013-14 is the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan beginning tomorrow November 7 and running to Sunday November 10.

IRT Rankings - November 5, 2013

Rank - Player - Country - Points

1 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3844
2 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3456
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2472
4 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2272
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2162

6 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1690
7 Tony CARSON (USA) 1420
8 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 1319
9 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1040
10 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 954

11 Andy HAWTHORNE (USA) 914
12 Jose DIAZ (USA) 860
13 Javier MORENO (Mexico) 843
14 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 800
15 Shane VANDERSON (USA) 764

16 Alex ACKERMANN (USA) 758
17 Anthony HERRERA (USA) 734
18 Brad SCHOPIERAY (USA) 639
19 David HORN (USA) 563
20 Cliff Swain (USA) 466

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