Latest LPRT Rankings - October 21, 2014

Rhonda Rajsich won her first Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) tournament in three and a half years, during which Paola Longoria won every LPRT held. But that win wasn't enough to get Rajsich back into the #2 position on the latest LPRT rankings, as Maria Jose Vargas remains #2 behind #1 Longoria.

Rajisch is #3, and for the first time Frédérique Lambert is #5, ahead of Samantha Salas, who's yet to play this season due to injury.

Cristina Amaya holds steady at #6, as does Cheryl Gudinas at #7. Da'monique Davis is up one place to #8, and Sofia Rascon is #9, which is a personal high - and her first time in the top 10.

Veteran left-hander Susana Acosta has dropped out of the top 10, and sits at #11.

The LPRT is off until December when there will be back to back tournaments. First, the Paola Longoria Invitational will be in Monterrey, Mexico December 5-7, and then the long-standing Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia December 12-14.

LPRT Rankings - October 21, 2014

Rank - Name - Country - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 3050.00
2 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 1715.00
3 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1670.48
4 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 803.50
5 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 794.00

6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 723.50
7 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 506.50
8 Da'monique Davis (USA) 464.25
9 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 432.00
10 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 432.00

11 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 428.50
12 Michelle Key (USA) 398.55
13 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 336.50
14 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 334.00
15 Sharon Jackson (USA) 258.50

16 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 243.50
17 Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) 210.94
18 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 205.25
19 Carolina Luque (Mexico) 203.25
20 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 188.25

Follow the bouncing ball....

2014 IRF World Juniors - Medal Summary

Mexico was the clear winner overall at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia last week. Mexicans were in 10 of the 12 World Cup finals (Boy's & Girl's U14, U16 & U18 divisions in singles & doubles), and won 8 of them. The four other gold medals were split evenly with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the USA winning one each.

Mexican boys swept the doubles divisions and won the U16 singles title while Mexican girls won two singles titles (U18 & U16) and two doubles titles (U18 & U14). Thus, Mexico was the clear winner in the boy's, girl's and overall team points totals.

The Mexicans' 14 medals is one fewer than last year (and two fewer gold than in 2013), but three more than in 2012 (six more gold than 2012).

Bolivia came second with eight medals, six fewer than in 2013. The USA - long the dominant country at World Juniors - brought home seven medals, which was up from last year's all time low of three.

Costa Rica was also up this year, and hit an all time high with seven medals, including one gold. They had only three medals last year, but six in 2012.

There were two players who won doubles gold in Cali. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) won Girl's U18 singles and doubles (with Ximena Gonzalez), and Cristian Longoria won Boy's U16 singles and doubles (with Jordy Alonso).

Also, Mexican Diana Aguilar has now won four consecutive World Junior singles titles, winning U16 for a second time last week, although remarkably she wasn't undefeated in Cali, as American Jordan Cooperrider beat her in the group stage. They didn't have a re-match in the medal round, as Cooperrider lost in the semi-finals to Costa Rican Melania Sauma, who Aguilar beat in the final.

Aguilar was in the Girl's U16 doubles final with Ana Sofia Gasca, but lost to Sauma and Sofia Soley.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles

GOLD - Mario Mercado (Bolivia)
SILVER - Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Coby Iwaasa (Canada) & Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)

Boy's U16 Singles

GOLD - Cristian Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER - Cristhian Mina (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Mauro Rojas (USA) & Christian Chavez (Ecuador)

Boy's U14 Singles

GOLD - Jordan Barth (USA)
SILVER - Andres Montero (Costa Rica)
BRONZE - Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) & Mario Ruiz (Mexico)

Boy's U18 Doubles

GOLD - Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico)
SILVER - Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA)
BRONZE - Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica) & Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Doubles

GOLD - Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER - Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA)
BRONZE - Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) & Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica)

Boy's U14 Doubles

GOLD - Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
SILVER - Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica)
BRONZE - Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada) & David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia)

Girl's U18 Singles

GOLD - Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
SILVER - Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico)
BRONZE - Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) & Lexi York (USA)

Girl's U16 Singles

GOLD - Diana Aguilar (Mexico)
SILVER - Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
BRONZE - Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) & Jordan Cooperrider (USA)

Girl's U14 Singles

GOLD - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
SILVER - Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico)

Girl's U18 Doubles

GOLD - Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
SILVER - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
BRONZE - Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) & Danielle Drury & Michèle Morissette (Canada)

Girl's U16 Doubles

GOLD - Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica)
SILVER - Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico)
BRONZE - Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) & Alexandra Murray & Jewel Sauvé (Canada)

Girl's U14 Doubles

GOLD - Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico)
SILVER - Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) & Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador)

MEDAL COUNTS BY COUNTRY

Mexico - 8 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze = 14 Overall
Bolivia - 1 G, 4 S, 4 B = 9
Costa Rica - 1 G, 3 S, 3 B = 7
USA - 1 G, 2 S, 4 B = 7
Guatemala - 1 G, 1 S, 0 B = 2
Canada - 0 G, 0 S, 4 B = 4
Ecuador - 0 G, 0 S, 3 B = 3
Dominican Republic - 0 G, 0 S, 2 B = 2

World Cup Team Points

Girl's

GOLD - Mexico - 1252
SILVER - Bolivia - 720
BRONZE - USA - 508
4th - Guatemala & Canada - 440

Boy's

GOLD - Mexico - 1088
SILVER - Bolivia - 884
BRONZE - USA - 808
4th - Costa Rica - 748

Overall

GOLD - Mexico - 2340
SILVER - Bolivia - 1604
BRONZE - USA - 1316
4th - Costa Rica - 1092

Follow the bouncing ball....

Three new champions from three different countries in Boy's singles at World Junior Championships

Four of the six finals in the boy's divisions needed tie-breakers to determine the winners, as boys from three different countries won singles at this year's International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships held in Cali, Colombia.

The two finals that were over in two straight games both involved American Jordan Barth. Barth won Boy's U14 singles by defeating Andres Montero of Costa Rica, 15-10, 15-11. But he and Justus Benson lost to Mexicans Cristian Longoria and Jordy Alonso, 15-9, 15-6.

In the singles final, Barth was down against Montero, a left-hander, in game two early at 4-1, 9-5 and 10-7. But he tied the game at 10-10. Barth then got to match point at 14-10, using his height advantage to generate a lot force against Montero, who is more of a control player.

The Costa Rican didn't give in easily, as he fought off two match points, and scored another point before the American got the championship point he needed.

Bolivian Mario Mercado again surprised the crowd, as he defeated countryman and last year's champion Conrado Moscoso to claim the U18 title, winning 15-12, 7-15, 11-7. In winning the title, Mercado beat 4th seed Adam Manilla of the USA, 1st seed Coby Iwaasa of Canada, and then the defending champion. Thus, the title is well deserved after that difficult path.

It was not an easy victory in the final either, as Mercado was down 7-0 in game one. But he came back by scoring 15 points and holding Moscoso to only five more. The game winner was a diving kill shot.

They were close early in game two with Moscoso leading 7-6. But then he ran the score up while holding Mercado to only one more point, as Moscoso won 15-7 to force a tie-breaking third game.

In the breaker, Moscoso quickly went up 5-0 using a lob nick serve to Mercado's backhand. Some observers thought the match was over at that point.

But Mercado called a timeout. Then he got the serve back, and scored a couple of points to make it 5-2 in favour of Moscoso.

They went back and forth for a few rallies before Moscoso scored two points to make it 7-2. On the next rally, Moscoso was hit by the ball on a rally where it looked like he would win.

Yet from then on, Moscoso failed to score any points, as Mercado got nine unanswered points to win the game, match and championship. The winning shot was a soft forehand down the right side with Moscoso getting himself up off the floor on the left side. Moscoso appealed for a hinder on the rally, but it was denied, as one of the line judges agreed with the referee that there was no hinder.

In a bit of irony, the serve that Mercado used to get back in the tie-breaker was the serve that Iwaasa used against him to come back and win the second game of their semi-final match on Friday: a lob z to the right or forehand side.

The Boy's U18 final also needed tie-breaker, as Mexicans Erik Garcia and Francisco Mar turned a match that seemed all but lost to defeat Americans Sawyer Lloyd and Adam Manilla, 1-15, 15-13, 11-8.

The Americans won the first game in the blink of an eye, and were three points from the title at 12-5 and then two points at 13-6. But the Mexicans came back, and tied the game at 13-13.

But the Americans got the serve back at that point. However, they failed to score at Manilla skipped two shots. The first was a bang-bang play in the front court and the second was a forced error.

Serving again, the Mexicans closed out game two with two more skips from Manilla.

The pattern of scoring was reversed in game three, as the Mexicans went up 7-1 only to see the Americans come back and tie it at 7-7 with Manilla hitting a clean down the line winner.

But three pinch shots by Garcia got them the serve back and two points to make it 9-7 in favour of the Mexicans. The US called a timeout, but when play resumed Mar hit a backhand pinch to the front left corner to give them match point.

The Americans got the serve back with Lloyd hitting a forehand pinch shot and Manilla a kill shot off a straight drive serve. They scored a point, but then gave up the serve after a Garcia kill shot and a splat return from Mar.

For much of the second part of the match, Lloyd - the right side American player - was hitting jam serves to the left side that came around to Mar on the right side (Garcia was playing the left side). For his serves, Mar hit a lot of half lob serves tight to the right side glass wall.

With the serve back, Mexico thought they'd won the match but a no hinder call was overturned by the line judges giving the Americans another chance. That chance lasted only one rally, however, as Lloyd ended a rally with a skipped forehand pinch shot that was not off by much.

Cristian Longoria of Mexico - the younger brother of Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - won both the singles and doubles titles in Boy's U16. He beat Cristhian Mina of Bolivia in the singles final, winning 15-10, 8-15, 11-5, and with Jordy Alonso, beat the Americans Jordan Barth and Justus Benson, as mentioned above.

Finally, the Boy's U14 doubles title went to Eduardo Portillo and Santiago Garcia of Mexico, who beat Costa Ricans Andres Montero and Julian Homberger, 15-12, 8-15, 11-5.

The matches that were streamed live will be archived, and available early next week via the IRF Network.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles Final

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 15-12, 7-15, 11-7

Boy's U16 Singles Final

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Cristhian Mina (Bolivia), 15-10, 8-15, 11-5

Boy's U14 Singles Final

Jordan Barth (USA) d. Andres Montero (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-11

Boy's U18 Doubles Final

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) d. Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA), 1-15, 15-13, 11-8

Boy's U16 Doubles Final

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA), 15-9, 15-6

Boy's U14 Doubles Final

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

Two two time champions in Girl's singles at World Junior Championships

Two of last year's champions in girl's singles successfully defended their titles Saturday at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia, as Mexicans won four of the six girl's World Cup divisions. The World Cup divisions are U14, U16 and U18 with both singles and doubles competitions.

Alexandra Herrera of Mexico won the Girl's U18 title by defeating team-mate and last year's U18 champion, Lucia Gonzalez, 11-15, 15-6, 11-8. They were tied at 8-8 in the tie-breaker, but it was left-handed Herrera who managed to get the last three points with the championship point coming from a pinch to the front left corner.

Herrera was a double winner Saturday, as she and Ximena Gonzalez defeated Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-9, 7-15, 11-2, to take the U18 doubles title.

After winning game one, the Mexicans got down early in game two, trailing 6-2 and 10-3. They got a few more points before the Guatemalans forced a third and deciding game.

But that game was all Mexico, as they went up early, and were never threatened, as they were at 8-0 before Guatemala got on the board. The match winning point was a Gonzalez pinch to the right corner that Martinez unsuccessfully dove to retrieve.

Martinez was successful in defending her title in Girl's U14 singles, as she defeated Wanda Carvajal of Bolivia, 15-2, 15-9, in the only girl's final that did not involve a Mexican player.

Diana Aguilar of Mexico also won again in Girl's U16, as last year's champion beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-5, 15-13. But unlike Herrera, Aguilar lost the U16 doubles final with Ana Sofia Gasca to Sauma and Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-6. Thus, Aguilar and Sauma were one and one against each other Saturday.

Finally, the U14 doubles title went to Mexicans Monserrat Mejia and Andrea Ramirez, but they needed a tie-breaker to defeat Wanda Carvajal and Adriana Homsi of Bolivia, 6-15, 15-10, 11-9.

The Mexicans were up big in the breaker at 9-4, but almost threw the match away, as the Bolivians stormed back helped by some Mexican errors. After a Mexican timeout at 9-9, the Mexicans got a side-out to get the serve back.

On the next rally, a Mexican shot appeared to skip, but was called good by the referee. The Bolivians appealed the call but one lineperson agreed with the referee's call, so it stood. That made it 10-9.

Mejia, playing the left side, hit a forehand from centre to the back left corner on the next rally that got caught up in the corner, and Carvajal was unable to retrieve it.

In the breaker, the Bolivians were playing an I formation with Carvajal taking the shots at the back and Homsi getting the balls at the front. It got them two points from the championships, but not closer.

The matches that were streamed live will be archived, and available early next week via the IRF Network.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Girl's U18 Singles Final

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico), 11-15, 15-6, 11-8

Girl's U16 Singles Final

Diana Aguilar (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-13

Girl's U14 Singles Final

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-9

Girl's U18 Doubles Final

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-9, 7-15, 11-2

Girl's U16 Doubles Final

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico), 15-10, 15-6

Girl's U14 Doubles Final

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) d. Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia), 6-15, 15-10, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

Last year's champions could repeat in Girl's singles at World Junior Championships

There were a couple of upsets in the girl's singles semi-finals Friday at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The Girl's U18 final is an all-Mexico affair, as top seed and defending U18 champion, Lucia Gonzalez defeated American Lexi York, 15-10, 15-4, in one semi-final, and 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera upset 2nd seed Natalia Mendez of Bolivia, 15-6, 15-3, in the other.

Last year's U16, Diana Aguilar of Mexico also has a chance to defend the title, as she is back in the final this year after defeating Hawira Rojas of Bolivia, 15-9, 15-4, in the semi-finals.

Aguilar wasn't the top seed in the elimination round, though, as she lost in the preliminary round to American Jordan Cooperrider. However, Aguilar won't have a second chance at Cooperrider, because Melania Sauma of Costa Rica beat the American, 15-5, 15-6, in the other semi-final.

Finally, the 2013 U14 champion - Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala - also has a chance to win it in 2014. Martinez defeated Ana Laura Flores of Mexico, 15-4, 15-7, in the semi-finals.

But Martinez's opponent in the final won't be top seed Mexican Monserrat Mejia, as she was defeated handily by Bolivian Wanda Carvajal, 15-7, 15-5, in the other semi-final.

The finals are Saturday, and there will be live streaming from 10 AM CDT from Cali via the IRF Network for free.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Girl's U18 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Lexi York (USA), 15-10, 15-4
Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-3

Final - Saturday

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) v. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - Noon

Girl's U16 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Jordan Cooperrider (USA), 15-5, 15-6
Diana Aguilar (Mexico) d. Hawira Rojas (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-4

Final - Saturday

Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Diana Aguilar (Mexico) - 11 AM

Girl's U14 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-7, 15-5
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Ana Laura Flores (Mexico), 15-4, 15-7

Final - Saturday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) - 10 AM

Girl's U18 Doubles

Final - Saturday

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 3 PM

Girl's U16 Doubles

Final - Saturday

Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico) v. Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) - 2 PM

Girl's U14 Doubles

Final - Saturday

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) v. Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Lots of action on Friday at World Junior Championships - Boy's Divisions

Four of six semi-finals in boy's singles at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia needed tie-breakers to determine the winners, but none of the doubles semi-finals required three games.

It's an all Bolivian final in U18, as Mario Mercado defeated Canadian Coby Iwaasa, 15-8, 14-15, 11-4, and last year's champion Conrado Moscoso beat Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 5-15, 15-4, 11-3. So again Moscoso faces elimination by going one game down to Acuña, but finds a way to come back and play another day.

Iwaasa almost carried the day against Mercado. After losing the first game, the Canadian was down 12-2 in game two, but found a serve that Mercado didn't like - a lob z to the right side, Mercado's forehand - and that got him game two.

Mercado failed to convert a few match points, and with the momentum on the Canadian's side, it didn't seem like the breaker would be his. However, he started well, going up 4-1, and then extending that to 9-3, as Mercado went on to win 11-4.

In Boy's U16, it will be Cristhian versus Cristian in the final, where Cristhian Mina of Bolivia will play Cristian Longoria of Mexico. In the semis, Mina defeated Christian Chavez of Ecuador, 15-8, 15-5, and Longoria beat American Mauro Rojas, 15-11, 15-6.

The Boy's U14 finalists are not from Bolivia or Mexico, as American Jordan Barth plays Andres Montero of Costa Rica. Both needed tie-breakers to get to the final. Barth won his first game, lost the second and then pulled out the breaker, winning 15-8, 10-15, 11-7, against top seed Eduardo Portillo of Mexico. Montero did the opposite, as he lost the first game, then won the second and squeaked out the third, beating Mexican Mario Ruiz, 13-15, 15-9, 11-9.

Few Mexicans in the singles finals, but they could sweep the doubles titles. In U14 doubles, Mexicans Portillo and Santiago Garcia defeated Canadians Chris Culhane and Simon Comeau, 15-4, 15-7, and will play the Costa Rica team of Montero and Julian Homberger, winners over Bolivians David Coroba and Gerson Miranda, 15-7, 15-11.

Mexicans Longoria and Jordy Alonso will face Americans Barth and Justus Benson in the U16 doubles final. The Mexicans took out the Ecuador team of Chavez and Juan Cueva, 15-5, 15-3, and the Americans beat the Costa Rica team of Alexander Pirie and Jose Ubilla, 15-11, 15-5.

The U18 Boy's doubles final will also be a Mexican-American standoff, as Francisco Mar and Erik Garcia will battle Sawyer Lloyd and Adam Manilla. Mar and Garcia beat Costa Ricans Andres Aviles and Pablo Sauma, 15-8, 15-13, and Lloyd and Manilla defeated Mercado and Moscoso of Bolivia, 15-14, 15-11.

There will be live streaming of the finals on Saturday from Cali via the IRF Network beginning at 10 AM CDT.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-8, 14-15, 11-4
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 5-15, 15-4, 11-3

Final - Saturday

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - Noon

Boy's U16 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Mauro Rojas (USA), 15-11, 15-6
Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) d. Christian Chavez (Ecuador), 15-8, 15-5

Final - Saturday

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Boy's U14 Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

Jordan Barth (USA) d. Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 15-8, 10-15, 11-7
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Mario Ruiz (Mexico), 13-15, 15-9, 11-9

Final - Saturday

Jordan Barth (USA) v. Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

Boy's U18 Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-13
Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) d. Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia), 15-14, 15-11

Final - Saturday

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) v. Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) - 3 PM CDT

Boy's U16 Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3
Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) d. Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-11, 15-5

Final - Saturday

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) - 2 PM CDT

Boy's U14 Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada), 15-4, 15-3
Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-11

Final - Saturday

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - 1 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Quarterfinal day produces drama at World Junior Championships - Boy's Divisions

There was much drama Thursday - quarterfinal day - in the boy's divisions at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia, including three tie-breakers in the U18 singles division.

The U18 match that did not go breaker was between Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Nicolas Bousquet, which was won by Iwaasa - the top seed in the draw, 15-5, 15-10. Iwaasa will play Bolivian Mario Mercado in the semi-finals on Friday, as Mercado, the 5th seed, upset the 4th seed Adam Manilla of the USA, 15-14, 5-15, 11-9.

On the other side of the U18 draw, last year's champion Conrado Moscoso of Bolivia was three points from being out of the tournament against Mexican Franciso Mar, who had an 8-2 lead in their tie-breaker. But Moscoso found a way back into the match, and won it 11-7, as Mar was assessed a technical for throwing the ball out of the court. Reportedly, the incident was more accidental than intentional, but by the rules a ball that leaves the court from a player's action between rallies is a technical, so Mercado lost a point.

Moscoso will play Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, who defeated the other Mexican in the draw, Eduardo Garay, 6-15, 15-6, 11-5. Garay was a semi-finalist last year.

Thus, Mexico will be shutout of the medals in Boy's U18 for the first time in several years. A Mexican has claimed at least one of the four medals in U18 every year from 2008 on, which is when The Racquetball Blog's records of the event begin.

In Boy's U16, it will be Cristhian versus Christian in one semi-final, as Cristhian Mina of Bolivia defeated Mexican Alejandro Almada, 9-15, 15-5, 11-9, and Christian Chavez of Ecuador beat Felipe Lopez of Colombia, 15-10, 15-11.

There's a Cristian on the other side of the draw, as top seed Cristian Longoria will face American Mauro Rojas in the semis, after they won their respective quarterfinals. Longoria beat Set Cubillos of Bolivia, 15-8, 15-10, and Rojas beat fellow American Wayne Antone, 15-11, 15-0.

The semi-finalists in Boy's U14, are top seed Eduardo Portillo of Mexico, Jordan Barth of the USA, Mexican Mario Ruiz, and Andres Montero of Costa Rica.

In U14 doubles, Canadians Chris Culhane and Simon Comeau upset the 4th seeds Nicolas Zhindon and Pedro Reyes, 15-11, 15-14. After winning the first game, the Canadians were down in game two 14-4, but managed to come back and win 15-14.

The elimination round continues Thursday with the semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network.

There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network for free.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Nicolas Bousquet (Canada), 15-5, 15-10
Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Adam Manilla (USA), 15-14, 5-15, 11-9

Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) d. Eduardo Garay (Mexico), 6-15, 15-6, 11-5
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Francisco Mar (Mexico), 5-15, 15-11, 11-7

Semi-finals - Friday

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Mario Mercado (Bolivia)
Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-8, 15-10
Mauro Rojas (USA) v. Wayne Antone (USA), 15-11, 15-0

Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) d. Alejandro Almada (Mexico), 9-15, 15-5, 11-9
Christian Chavez (Ecuador) d. Felipe Arenas (Colombia), 15-10, 15-11

Semi-finals - Friday

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Mauro Rojas (USA)
Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) v. Christian Chavez (Ecuador)

Boy's U14 Singles

Quarterfinals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Julian Homberger (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-0
Jordan Barth (USA) d. Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia), 15-4, 15-0

Mario Ruiz (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-8
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Gerson Miranda (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-7

Semi-finals - Friday

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Jordan Barth (USA)
Mario Ruiz (Mexico) v. Andres Montero (Costa Rica)

Boy's U18 Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) v. Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica)
Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) v. Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Graham Frattinger & Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-3, 15-11
Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Darragh O'Donoghue & James Ryan (Ireland), 15-11, 15-8

Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) d. Gonzalo Paco & Marco Zambrana (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-3, 11-2
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) d. Set Cubillos & Felipe Arenas (Colombia), 15-14, 15-12

Semi-finals - Friday

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) v. Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA)

Boy's U14 Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-4, 15-7
Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada) d. Pedro Reyes & Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-14

Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA), 11-15, 15-0, 11-4
David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. Julian Cruz & Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-2

Semi-finals - Friday

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada)
David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Quarterfinal day produces drama at World Junior Championships - Girl's Divisions

There were some upsets on quarterfinal day in the girl's competition at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia.

In Girl's U18, American Lexi York came back from 10-5 down in the tie-breaker to defeat 4th seed Hawira Rojas, 14-15, 15-9, 11-10. York got down in the breaker, because she was skipped several shots on both the forehand and backhand sides. But match point came as a result of Rojas having her headband come off as she was setting up for shot that would have got her the serve back.

York will play top seed Lucia Gonzalez of Mexico in the semi-finals Friday, as Gonzalez beat Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic, 15-7, 15-12, in the quarters.

Two tie-breakers in U16, and it was the top two seeds who had play them with one of them winning and the other losing. Top seed Jordan Cooperrider of the USA won her match against Merinanllely Delgado of the Dominican Republic), 15-11, 8-15, 11-5, but 2nd seed Natalia Mendez of Bolivia lost to fellow Bolivian Hawira Rojas, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8.

That could be the first time Mendez has not reached the podium when playing in a World Cup (U14, U16, U18) division.

In U14, there was a Bolivia-Bolivia match won by Wanda Carvajal, who beat team-mate Adriana Homsi, 13-15, 15-7, 11-7. Also, Mexican Ana Laura Flores defeated Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-5, 15-4, in the quarterfinals, and she'll play defending U14 champion Gabriela Martinez, who was a winner over Alexis Iwaasa of Canada, 15-2, 15-3.

Carvajal and Homsi will play for gold in U14 doubles, as they defeated Ecuador's Ivana Sempertegui & Adriana Homsi, 15-3, 15-7, in the semi-finals Thursday. Their opponents will be Monserrat Mejia and Andrea Ramirez of Mexico, as they beat Alejandra Jimenez Castillo and Rodaliza Perdomo of Dominican Republic, 15-11, 15-4.

In U16 and U18 doubles the top seeds will play for gold Saturday, as they both won their semi-final matches Thursday. In U18, Ximena Gonzalez and Alexandra Herrera of Mexico will face Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, and in U16 Mexicans Diana Aguilar and Ana Sofia Gasca will face off against Melania Sauma and Sofia Soley of Costa Rica.

The elimination round continues Friday with the semi-finals and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network for free.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Girl's U18 Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-7, 15-12
Lexi York (USA) d. Hawira Rojas (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-9, 11-10

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-11
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-3, 15-12

Semi-finals - Friday

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) v. Lexi York (USA)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Merinanllely Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 8-15, 11-5
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Erika Manilla (USA), 15-5, 15-7

Diana Aguilar (Mexico) d. Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-7
Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) d. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8

Semi-finals - Friday

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
Diana Aguilar (Mexico) v. Hawira Rojas (Bolivia)

Girl's U14 Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Amita Gondi (India), 15-5, 15-8
Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Adriana Homsi (Bolivia), 13-15, 15-7, 11-7

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-4
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-2, 15-3

Semi-finals - Friday

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia)
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Ana Laura Flores (Mexico)

Girl's U18 Doubles

Semi-finals - Thursday

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-4, 15-0
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Danielle Drury & Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-3, 15-9

Final - Saturday

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)

Girl's U16 Doubles

Semi-finals - Thursday

Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico) d. Alexandra Murray & Jewel Sauvé (Canada), 15-0, 15-1
Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA), 15-6, 15-13

Final - Saturday

Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico) v. Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica)

Girl's U14 Doubles

Semi-finals - Thursday

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) d. Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.), 15-11, 15-4
Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) d. Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-7

Final - Saturday

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) v. Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Day one of elimination at World Junior Championships - Boy's Divisions

There were a few upsets on the boy's side Wednesday at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia, as they played the first day of the elimination round.

In U18, Nicolas Bousquet of Canada beat American Connor Laffey, 15-10, 15-1, and will play top seed and fellow Canadian Coby Iwaasa in the quarterfinals Thursday, as Iwaasa defeated Chilean Rodrigo Salgado, 15-4, 15-9, Wednesday. Thus, Canada is assured of a medal, but only one, as either Bousquet or Iwaasa will be at least a bronze medalist with a win on Thursday.

There's a similar situation for the USA in Boy's U16, as Wayne Antone had two wins on Wednesday: first over Javier Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-5, and then an upset of the 4th seed Gonzalo Paco (Bolivia), 10-15, 15-3, 11-4, to reach the quarters.

Antone will play fellow American Mauro Rojas in the quarters Thursday, as Rojas defeated Danny Perdomo (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-1, Wednesday.

Antone's wasn't the only upset in U16, as Felipe Arenas of Colombia beat the 2nd seed Jose Ubilla of Costa Rica, 15-12, 10-15, 11-2, to reach the quarters, where he'll play Christian Chavez of Ecuador, who was a winner against Costa Rican Alexander Pirie, 15-5, 15-13.

The Costa Ricans will have a chance to even the score in doubles Thursday, as Pirie and Ubilla will play Arenas and Set Cubillos in the quarterfinals.

The only U16 doubles match Wednesday was a dramatic tie-breaker with several great rallies won by 9th seeds Graham Frattinger and Trevor Webb over 8th seeds Manuel Diaz and Richie Soto of the Dominican Republic, 14-15, 15-12, 11-5. The Canadians will play Mexicans Jordy Alonso and Cristian Longoria Thursday.

In U14, 9th seed Julian Homberger of Costa Rica upset 8th seed Akul Ramayani of the USA, 15-9, 15-3, but the other American Jordan Barth - who's approximately twice a big as his team-mate, defeated Nicolas Zhindon of Ecuador, 15-3, 15-7. Ramayani is playing also playing in U12, where he's still alive in the quarterfinals.

Thursday in the U14 singles quarters, Homberger will play Mexican Eduardo Portillo, who beat Pedro Reyes (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-2 Wednesday, and Barth will face 4th seed Fernando Ruiz of Bolivia, a winner against Johan Adasme of Chile, 15-1, 15-1, Wednesday.

The elimination round continues Thursday with the semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network.

There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network for free.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-4, 15-9
Nicolas Bousquet (Canada) d. Connor Laffey (USA), 15-10, 15-1

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-10
Adam Manilla (USA) d. Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-4

Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) d. Connor Culhane (Japan), 15-1, 15-2
Eduardo Garay (Mexico) d. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica), 15-11, 15-2

Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-3
Francisco Mar (Mexico) d. Mateo Espinoza (Ecuador), 15-6, 115-11

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Nicolas Bousquet (Canada)
Adam Manilla (USA) v. Mario Mercado (Bolivia)

Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) v. Eduardo Garay (Mexico)
Francisco Mar (Mexico) v. Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Singles

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Graham Frattinger (Canada), 15-13, 15-8

Trevor Webb (Canada) - BYE
Set Cubillos (Colombia) - BYE

Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE
Danny Perdomo (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Wayne Antone (USA) d. Javier Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-5
Gonzalo Paco (Bolivia) - BYE

Alejandro Almada (Mexico) - BYE
Richie Soto (Dominican Republic) d. Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-2

Darragh O'Donoghue (Ireland) - BYE
Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) - BYE

Christian Chavez (Ecuador) - BYE
Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) - BYE

Felipe Arenas (Colombia) d. James Ryan (Ireland), 13-15, 15-11, 11-2
Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE

Round of 16

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-9, 15-8

Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Danny Perdomo (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-1
Wayne Antone (USA) d. Gonzalo Paco (Bolivia), 10-15, 15-3, 11-4

Alejandro Almada (Mexico) d. Richie Soto (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-2
Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) d. Darragh O'Donoghue (Ireland), 15-3, 15-3

Christian Chavez (Ecuador) d. Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-13
Felipe Arenas (Colombia) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-12, 10-15, 11-2

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Set Cubillos (Colombia)
Mauro Rojas (USA) v. Wayne Antone (USA)

Alejandro Almada (Mexico) v. Cristhian Mina (Bolivia)
Christian Chavez (Ecuador) v. Felipe Arenas (Colombia)

Boy's U14 Singles

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
Pedro Reyes (Ecuador) d. Julian Cruz (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-6

Akul Ramayani (USA) - BYE
Julian Homberger (Costa Rica) - BYE

Jordan Barth (USA) - BYE
Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador) - BYE

Johan Adasme (Chile) d. Santiago Apa Placenti (Argentina), 15-6, 15-8
Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) - BYE

Mario Ruiz (Mexico) - BYE
Sergio Ortega (Honduras) d. Allan De Leon (Panama), forfeit

Chris Culhane (Canada) - BYE
Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) - BYE

Javier Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE

Simon Comeau (Canada) d. Camilo Sabogal (Colombia), 15-13, 15-6
Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Round of 16

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Pedro Reyes (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-2
Julian Homberger (Costa Rica) d. Akul Ramayani (USA), 15-9, 15-3

Jordan Barth (USA) d. Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-7
Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) d. Johan Adasme (Chile), 15-1, 15-1

Mario Ruiz (Mexico) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-6, 15-8
Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. Chris Culhane (Canada), 15-11, 14-15, 11-3

Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Javier Martinez (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-7
Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. Simon Comeau (Canada), 15-2, 15-7

Quarterfinals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Julian Homberger (Costa Rica)
Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) v. Jordan Barth (USA)

Mario Ruiz (Mexico) v. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)
Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. Andres Montero (Costa Rica)

Boy's U18 Doubles

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) - BYE
Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Nicolas Bousquet & Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-10, 15-10

Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) d. Hanzel Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-5
Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) d. Mateo Espinoza & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador), 15-4, 15-2

Semi-finals - Friday

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) v. Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica)
Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) v. Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Doubles

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Graham Frattinger & Trevor Webb (Canada) d. Manuel Diaz & Richie Soto (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-12, 11-5

Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - BYE
Darragh O'Donoghue & James Ryan (Ireland) - BYE

Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) - BYE
Gonzalo Paco & Marco Zambrana (Bolivia) - BYE

Set Cubillos & Felipe Arenas (Colombia) - BYE
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. Graham Frattinger & Trevor Webb (Canada)
Darragh O'Donoghue & James Ryan (Ireland) v. Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)

Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) v. Gonzalo Paco & Marco Zambrana (Bolivia)
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) v. Set Cubillos & Felipe Arenas (Colombia)

Boy's U14 Doubles

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile), 15-5, 15-7

Pedro Reyes & Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador) - BYE
Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada) - BYE

Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE
Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

Julian Cruz & Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala) - BYE
David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)
Pedro Reyes & Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador) v. Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada)

Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) v. Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA)
David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. Julian Cruz & Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Day one of elimination at World Junior Championships - Girl's Divisions

In general, the higher seeds won on the first day of elimination in the girl's competition at the 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia on Wednesday.

Only Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador was an upset winner, as she defeated Rodaliza Perdomo of the Dominican Republic, 10-15, 15-10, 11-2, in the Girl's U14 division. Muñoz will play Mexican Ana Laura Flores in the quarterfinals Thursday, as Flores defeated American Hannah Carver, 15-1, 15-1, on Wednesday.

Canadians Michèle Morissette and Danielle Drury had a dramatic tie-breaker win over Bolvians Claudia Anaya and Patricia Mendizbal in U18 doubles, winning 15-11, 13-15, 11-8. They'll play 2nd seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala on Thursday in the semi-finals after the Guatemalans defeated Hondurans Paula Padilla and Lissel Padilla, 15-5, 15-1 Wednesday.

Finally, Indian Amita Gondi won on Wednesday, beating Ecuador's Ivana Sempertegui, 15-13, 15-7, so she'll play top seed Monserrat Mejia of Mexico in the quarterfinals Thursday, and if she wins, she'll get the first medal for an Asian country at the IRT World Junior Championships.

However, she has her work cut out for her against the top seed, as Mejia beat Frances Vazquez of Puerto Rico, 15-1, 15-4, Wednesday.

The elimination round continues Thursday with the semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday. There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network for free.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Girl's U18 Singles

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) - BYE
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) d. Danielle Drury (Canada), 15-10, 15-2

Lexi York (USA) d. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-2
Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) d. Daniela Romero (Colombia), 15-0, injury forfeit

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Yura Choi (South Korea), 15-0, 15-4
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Danielle Falvey (USA), 15-4, 15-1

Michele Morissette (Canada) d. Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-6, 15-9
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Angeles Sarria (Colombia), 15-0, 15-1

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) v. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.)
Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) v. Lexi York (USA)

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Michele Morissette (Canada)

Girl's U16 Singles

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) - BYE
Merinanllely Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-8, 15-3

Erika Manilla (USA) d. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-9
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Yura Choi (South Korea), 15-4, 15-0

Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Jewel Sauvé (Canada), 15-2, 15-0
Diana Aguilar (Mexico) d. Alexandra Murray (Canada), 15-0, 15-5

Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) d. Mariel Morales (Mexico), 15-8, 15-7
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. Merinanllely Delgado (Dominican Republic)
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Erika Manilla (USA)

Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Diana Aguilar (Mexico)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Hawira Rojas (Bolivia)

Girl's U14 Singles

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Frances Vasquez Souchet (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-4
Amita Gondi (India) d. Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-7

Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Annie Fisher (Canada), 15-4, 12-15, 11-4
Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-1, 15-2

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) d. Hannah Carver (USA), 15-1, 15-1
Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador) d. Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.), 10-15, 15-10, 11-2

Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. Briana Jacquet (USA), 15-6, 14-15, 11-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Ramirez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-0

Quarterfinals - Thursday

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Amita Gondi (India)
Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) v. Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia)

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada)

Girl's U18 Doubles

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - BYE
Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) v. Lexi York & Danielle Falvey (USA), 9-15, 15-0, 11-1

Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada) d. Claudia Anaya & Patricia Mendizabal (Bolivia), 15-11, 13-15, 11-8
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-1

Semi-finals - Thursday

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.)
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Thursday

Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico) v. Alexandra Murray & Jewel Sauvé (Canada)
Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA)

Girl's U14 Doubles

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE
Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) d. Annie Fisher & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-6, 15-10

Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) d. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez Souchet (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-2
Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) d. Nikita Chauhan & Briana Jacquet (USA), 15-1, 15-6

Semi-finals - Thursday

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) v. Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.)
Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) v. Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador)

Follow the bouncing ball....

26th IRF World Junior Championships - Boy's Draws

The 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships have been going on in Cali, Colombia this week, and they are down to the elimination rounds after three days of group play that began on Sunday.

Perhaps the biggest news on the boy's side is that last year's U18 champion, Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia), lost in the group stage, so he is not the top seed in the elimination draw.

Coby Iwaasa of Canada beat Moscoso in a dramatic match Monday highlighted by downpour with thunder and lightning that closed the other courts due to water leaking onto them. Thus, everyone was watching Iwaasa and Moscoso go at it. Moscoso took game one, but then Iwaasa came back and took games two and three, winning the match 4-15, 15-7, 11-4, and claiming the top spot for the elimination round.

In fact the top four seeds in U18 are from four different countries: Adam Manilla (USA), Andres Acuna (Costa Rica), Francisco Mar (Mexico) and Iwaasa.

The elimination rounds begin Wednesday with the quarter finals on Thursday, semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday.

There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Boy's U18 Singles

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Connor Laffey (USA) v. Nicolas Bousquet (Canada)

Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
Adam Manilla (USA) v. Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador)

Andres Acuna (Costa Rica) v. Connor Culhane (Japan)
Eduardo Garay (Mexico) v. Andres Aviles (Costa Rica)

Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Hanzel Martinez (Guatemala)
Francisco Mar (Mexico) v. Mateo Espinoza (Ecuador)

Boy's U16 Singles

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Graham Frattinger

Trevor Webb (Canada) - BYE
Set Cubillos (Colombia) - BYE

Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE
Danny Perdomo (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Wayne Antone (USA) v. Javier Martinez (Guatemala)
Gonzalo Paco (Bolivia) - BYE

Alejandro Almada (Mexico) - BYE
Richie Soto (Dominican Republic) v. Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala)

Darragh O'Donoghue (Ireland) - BYE
Cristhian Mina (Bolivia) - BYE

Christian Chavez (Ecuador) - BYE
Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) - BYE

Felipe Arenas (Colombia) v. James Ryan (Ireland)
Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE

Boy's U14 Singles

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
Julian Cruz (Guatemala) v. Pedro Reyes (Ecuador)

Akul Ramayani (USA) - BYE
Julian Homberger (Costa Rica) - BYE

Jordan Barth (USA) - BYE
Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador) - BYE

Johan Adasme (Chile) v. Santiago Apa Placenti (Argentina)

Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)
Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) - BYE

Mario Ruiz (Mexico) - BYE
Sergio Ortega (Honduras) v. Allan De Leon (Panama)

Chris Culhane (Canada) - BYE
Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) - BYE

Javier Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE

Camilo Sabogal (Colombia) v. Simon Comeau (Canada)
Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Boy's U18 Doubles

Erik Garcia & Francisco Mar (Mexico) - BYE
Andres Aviles & Pablo Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Nicolas Bousquet & Coby Iwaasa (Canada)

Conrado Moscoso & Mario Mercado (Bolivia) v. Hanzel Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
Sawyer Lloyd & Adam Manilla (USA) v. Mateo Espinoza & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador)

Boy's U16 Doubles

Jordy Alonso & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Manuel Diaz & Richie Soto (Dominican Republic) v. Graham Frattinger & Trevor Webb (Canada)

Christian Chavez & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - BYE
Darragh O'Donoghue & James Ryan (Ireland) - BYE

Jordan Barth & Justus Benson (USA) - BYE
Gonzalo Paco & Marco Zambrana (Bolivia) - BYE

Set Cubillos & Felipe Arenas (Colombia) - BYE
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE

Boy's U14 Doubles

Santiago Garcia & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) v. Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)

Pedro Reyes & Nicolas Zhindon (Ecuador) - BYE
Simon Comeau & Chris Culhane (Canada) - BYE

Julian Homberger & Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE
Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

Julian Cruz & Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala) - BYE
David Cordoba & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2014 IRF World Junior Championships - Girl's Draws

The 26th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships have been going on in Cali, Colombia this week, and they are down to the elimination rounds after three days of group play that began on Sunday.

We have the girl's playoff draws below. Notable in the draws is Natalia Mendez of Bolivia, who is the 2nd seed in both U16 and U18. She won U16 in 2012, but not last year, when the World Junior Championships were in her home country.

Diana Aguilar of Mexico beat Mendez in the U16 final, and she is also in U16 this year, but she's not the 1st seed of the playoff round, because she lost to American Jordan Cooperrider, 15-7, 9-15, 11-6, on Tuesday, the final day of group play.

In fact, Mendez was the only Bolivan and Mexican girl to win her pool in four U16 groups. The Costa Rican girls - Sofia Soley and Melania Sauma - won their pools and Cooperrider won hers.

Mexicans and Bolivians won their divisions in Girls U14 and U18, with the exception of one U14 group, which was won by last year's U14 champion Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala.

Amita Gondi is notable in the U14 division, as she's from India, and is a competent player, having mostly a background in squash. But she played in the racquetball tournament held in India earlier in the year, and won her division.

Gondi came second in her division in Cali, losing only to Martinez, while beating American Hannah Carver (2-0) and Canadian Annie Fisher (2-1).

The elimination rounds begin Wednesday with the quarter finals on Thursday, semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday.

There will be live streaming of the semi-finals and finals from Cali via the IRF Network.

26th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Cali, Colombia

Girl's U18 Singles

Lucia Gonzalez (Mexico) - BYE
Danielle Drury (Canada) v. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.)

Lexi York (USA) v. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
Hawira Rojas (Bolivia) v. Daniela Romero (Colombia)

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Yura Choi (South Korea)
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Danielle Falvey (USA)

Michele Morissette (Canada) v. Lissel Padilla (Honduras)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Angeles Sarria (Colombia)

Girl's U16 Singles

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) - BYE
Paula Padilla (Honduras) v. Merinanllely Delgado (Dominican Republic)

Erika Manilla (USA) v. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Yura Choi (South Korea)

Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Jewel Sauvé (Canada)
Diana Aguilar (Mexico) v. Alexandra Murray (Canada)

Mariel Morales (Mexico) v. Hawira Rojas (Bolivia)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U14 Singles

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Frances Vasquez Souchet (Puerto Rico)
Amita Gondi (India) v. Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador)

Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) v. Annie Fisher (Canada)
Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) v. Daniela Herrera (Colombia)

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) v. Hannah Carver (USA)
Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador) v. Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.)

Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. Briana Jacquet (USA)
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Adriana Ramirez (Puerto Rico)

Girl's U18 Doubles

Ximena Gonzalez & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - BYE
Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) v. Lexi York & Danielle Falvey (USA)

Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada) v. Claudia Anaya & Patricia Mendizabal (Bolivia)
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras)

Girl's U16 Doubles

Diana Aguilar & Ana Sofia Gasca (Mexico) v. Alexandra Murray & Jewel Sauvé (Canada)
Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA)

Girl's U14 Doubles

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE
Annie Fisher & Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.)

Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) v. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez Souchet (Puerto Rico)
Wanda Carvajal & Adriana Homsi (Bolivia) v. Nikita Chauhan & Briana Jacquet (USA)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Rajsich defeats Longoria to win Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am

Every day we make a little history. Some days the history we make is more significant than other days. Sunday was one of those more significant days for Rhonda Rajsich as she defeated Paola Longoria in the final of the Ektelon Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California ending Longoria's 3 1/2 year match winning streak.

Rajsich, who just last week dropped out of the top two on the LPRT rankings to sit 3rd, defeated Longoria, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4. The victory may be enough to put Rajsich back into the #2 spot ahead of current #2 Maria Jose Vargas, who Rajsich beat in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Rajsich was also the last person to defeat Longoria, and that defeat happened in Stockton in May of 2011.

We wrote on Saturday that we believed Rajsich had the skills to defeat Longoria, and it's always nice when there some evidence to back up one's beliefs.

The next LPRT event will be the Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico December 5-7, 2014.

2014 Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am
Stockton, Calif., October 19, 2014

Final - Sunday

3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 1) Paola Longoria, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Rajsich to meet in final of the Ektelon Stockton Pro-Am

Familiar foes will once again do battle Sunday in the final of the Ektelon Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, as LPRT #1 Paola Longoria will face off with veteran Rhonda Rajsich, currently the #3 LPRT player.

Longoria defeated Frédérique Lambert in the semis in three straight games, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7, and Rajsich beat LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas in four games, 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4.

Sunday will be the first time Longoria and Rajsich have faced off this season. In fact, the two haven't played since April in San Antonio. Rajsich is the last person to defeat Longoria, but she did so back in May of 2011.

Since then Longoria has been unstoppable. But Sunday is a new day, and Rajsich has the skills to defeat Longoria. She just needs put it all together to carry the day.

The final can be seen on the LPRT Network at noon on Sunday.

2014 Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am
Stockton, Calif., October 17-19, 2014

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Frederique Lambert, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Rhonda Rajsich - noon PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson wins Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros IRT event

Rocky Carson got his 19th win on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Saturday night in St Louis, where he won Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros tournament by defeating Alvaro Beltran in the final, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6.

The victory extends Carson's streak of at least one tour win each season that began in the 2010-11 season. In fact, Carson has won an IRT event in eight of the last nine seasons.

Carson's last tour win came in Garden City, Kansas last November, when he defeated Beltran in the final of the 23rd Annual Turkey Shoot.

The next IRT event is the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan November 6-9.

Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros
St Louis, October 18, 2014

Final - Saturday

2) Rocky Carson d. 1) Alvaro Beltran, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Beltran & Carson reach IRT Party with the Pros final

The top two seeds have reached the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros tournament in St Louis, where Alvaro Beltran will face off against Rocky Caron Saturday night.

Beltran defeated fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-8, 11-8, in the semi-finals, while Carson also had close games with Jose Rojas, but like Beltran, he won in three straight games, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9.

The final is Saturday night at 7 PM CDT, and can be seen the IRT Network.

Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros
St Louis, October 18, 2014

Semi-finals

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-8, 11-8
2) Rocky Carson d. 3) Jose Rojas, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9

Final - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 2) Rocky Carson - 7 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top 4 seeds through to semi-finals at LPRT Ektelon Stockton event

The top four players are through to the semi-finals of the Ektelon Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who defeated Sofia Rascon, 11-4, 11-6, 11-0, in the quarterfinals.

Longoria will face Frédérique Lambert in the semis after Lambert defeated Cristina Amaya in five games, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 1-11, 11-6, in what was a rematch of their US Open match last week that Amaya won.

On the bottom of the draw, 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas defeated 10th seed Sheryl Lotts, and will play 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, who was a winner in straight games against Da'monique Davis, 11-0, 11-4, 11-5.

Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The semi-finals will be at 4 PM and 5 PM Saturday with the final at noon on Sunday.

2014 Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am
Stockton, Calif., October 17-19, 2014

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Sofia Rascon, 11-4, 11-6, 11-0
4) Frederique Lambert d. 5) Cristina Amaya, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 1-11, 11-6

3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 6) Da'monique Davis, 11-0, 11-4, 11-5
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 11-0, 7-11, 11-1, 11-2

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Frederique Lambert - 5 PM PDT
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Rhonda Rajsich - 4 PM PDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Croft forfeits match at IRT Party with the Pros

From the "You Learn Something New Everyday" Department comes news that being given technical penalties on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) results in a match forfeit. We here at The Racquetball Blog were not aware of that rule until today when Ben Croft received four technicals during his match against Rocky Carson in the quarterfinals of Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros tournament in St Louis.

We didn't see the first two events that led to Croft being assessed technicals. The first apparently came after game two was completed with the second happening soon after game three began.

The third technical happened while Croft was arguing about a call on a broken ball play, which was called a replay by the referee, although the ball had bounced twice before Carson hit it and Carson hit the ball after the rally was over.

On that rally, the referee called two bounces, as Carson was swinging for it, so it's unclear whether Carson could have held up prior to making contact with the ball. Croft argued that he should have won the rally, because Carson hit the ball after the rally was over, so if that hit broke the ball, it should not be a replay, because it happened after the rally was over.

Croft had been complaining all through game three, so perhaps the complaint about this incident was a protest too much.

Croft's fourth technical happened in game four after Croft struck the ball into the back wall after the rally is over. That call did seem harsh to us, but Croft had been complaining to the referee throughout the match, as did Carson.

The final scoreline had Carson winning 11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 8-2 - forfeit.

Carson will play Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, although Rojas needed to comeback from two games to none in his match against Chris Crowther, winning 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2.

On the top of the draw, Alvaro Beltran, the #1 seed in the tournament with the absence of IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, defeated Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10, and Daniel De La Rosa needed fives games to defeat Janesen Allen, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5.

The semi-finals are 11 AM and noon Saturday and the final will be Saturday night at 7 PM. All times central. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network.

Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros
St Louis, October 17-18, 2014

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 8) Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 5) Jansen Allen, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5

3) Jose Rojas d. 6) Chris Crowther, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 8-2, forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa
2) Rocky Carson v. 3) Jose Rojas

Follow the bouncing ball….

Lotts into quarterfinals at Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am

Two matches went the distance in the Round of 16 at the Ektelon Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California, and one result was an upset, as 10th seed Sheryl Lotts beat 7th seed Susana Acosta, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 2-11, 11-6, to reach the quarterfinals, where she'll play 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas.

The other five game match happened in the 8/9 match, as 8th seed Sofia Rascon defeated 9th seed Michelle Key, 3-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9. Rascon's reward for the victory is a date with LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who's undefeated since May 2011.

Of note in the other matches, collegiate champion Devon Pimentelli had a game point on 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich at 11-10 in the first game, but then only got one more point the rest of the match, as Rajsich came back to win game one 13-11, and then take games two and three, 11-1, 11-0, respectively.

After facing game point, Rajsich outscored Pimentelli 22-1.

Also there will be a rematch of last week's US Open quarterfinal, as 4th seed Frédérique Lambert will play 5th seed Cristina Amaya on Saturday. Lambert defeated Linda Tyler, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4, in the 16s and Amaya beat Adrienne Haynes, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9.

Matches can be viewed live via the LPRT Network. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning with the semi-finals at 4 PM and 5 PM Saturday afternoon and the final at noon on Sunday.

2014 Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am
Stockton, Calif., October 17-19, 2014

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
8) Sofia Rascon d. 9) Michelle Key, 3-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-9

5) Cristina Amaya d. 12) Adrienne Haynes, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9
4) Frédérique Lambert d. 13) Linda Tyler, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4

3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Devon Pimentelli, 13-11, 11-1, 11-0
6) Da'monique Davis d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4

10) Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Susana Acosta, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 2-11, 11-6
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria 8) Sofia Rascon - Noon
4) Frédérique Lambert v. 5) Cristina Amaya - 9 AM

3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Da'monique Davis - 10 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Sheryl Lotts - 11 AM

All times PDT.

Follow the bouncing ball….

No surprises in 16s at IRT Party with the Pros

No surprises in the Round of 16 at Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament in St Louis, and six of the eight matches were over in three straight.

The exceptions were Chris Crowther versus Tim Landeryou, where Landeryou took game one before Crowther got on track and won in four games, and Ben Croft versus Matthew Majxner, where Majxner also won game one before falling in four games to Croft.

The quarterfinals are this evening with the semi-finals at 11 AM and noon tomorrow and the final will be Saturday night at 7 PM. All times central. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network.

Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros
St Louis, October 17-18, 2014

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran d. 16) Jason Mannino, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7
8) Tony Carson d. 9) Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-0, 11-6

5) Jansen Allen d. 12) Travis Woodbury, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 13) John Scott, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1

3) Jose Rojas d. 14) Zach Archer, 11-1, 11-8, 11-1
6) Chris Crowther d. 11) Tim Landeryou, 5-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-3

7) Ben Croft d. 10) Matthew Majxner, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
2) Rocky Carson d. 15) Dylan Reid, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 8) Tony Carson
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 5) Jansen Allen

3) Jose Rojas v. 6) Chris Crowther
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Ben Croft

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT Ektelon Stockton Pro-Am - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is in action again this weekend with the Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California. But as with this weekend's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in St Louis, the field is small with only 14 players participating.

But most of the top players are in Stockton, including LPRT #1 Paola Longoria and new #2 Maria Jose Vargas. The most notable absences are veteran Cheryl Gudinas, who is in Cali, Colombia as head coach of the US Junior National Team that will compete in the 2014 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships beginning on Sunday, and Aubrey Kirch, who has yet to play an LPRT event this season.

With a smaller field, the lower seeded players may be fresher when they face the top seeds. However, the top seeds could also be fresher, especially Longoria and Vargas, who have byes in the Round of 16.

Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network.

2014 Ektelon LPRT Stockton Pro-Am
Stockton, Calif., October 17-19, 2014

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
8) Sofia Rascon v. 9) Michelle Key

5) Cristina Amaya v. 12) Adrienne Haynes
4) Frederique Lambert v. 13) Linda Tyler

3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 14) Devon Pimentelli
6) Da'monique Davis v. 11) Carla Muñoz

7) Susana Acosta v. 10) Sheryl Lotts
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Party with the Pros - Preview

There's a small field for this weekend's Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament in St Louis, as the field is 16 players, and does not include IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk.

Thus, the top seed is new IRT #2 player Alvaro Beltran. Beltran moved into the 2nd spot after finishing as runner up to Waselenchuk at the US Open last weekend.

Also in the draw is IRT President Jason Mannino, who last made an appearance in doubles at the Sioux Falls event, an event he won with Waselenchuk.

Note, this weekend's event has a Saturday night final: 7 PM CDT. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network.

Pete Pierce's Party with the Pros
St Louis, October 17-18, 2014

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran v. 16) Jason Mannino
8) Tony Carson v. 9) Charlie Pratt

5) Jansen Allen v. 12) Travis Woodbury
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 13) John Scott

3) Jose Rojas v. 14) Zach Archer
6) Chris Crowther v. 11) Tim Landeryou

7) Ben Croft v. 10) Matthew Majxner
2) Rocky Carson v. 15) Dylan Reid

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria still #1, but now Vargas is #2 on LPRT

Maria Jose Vargas, runner up at the first three Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) events of the season, including last weekend's US Open, is now the LPRT's #2 ranked player, moving ahead Rhonda Rajsich, who is now #3. This is the first time since February 2009 that one of the top two players is not Paola Longoria or Rajsich (Cheryl Gudinas was #2 then).

It's a remarkable rise for Vargas, who was #48 two years ago, and #14 eighteen months ago.

However, Paola Longoria is still #1, and remains unabated since May 2011, winning her four consecutive US Open last Sunday, which was her fifth title overall.

This is the first time an American player has not held one of the top two spots.

Finally, Gudinas is up to #7, and Sofia Rascon is knocking the door of the top 10, as she's at #11, which is personal best.

The LPRT is in action again this weekend with the Ektelon Stockton Pro-Am in Stockton, California.

LPRT Rankings - October 14, 2014

Rank - Name - Country - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2900.00
2 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 1636.00
3 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1470.48
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 794.00
5 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 728.50

6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 667.50
7 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 506.50
8 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 432.00
9 Da'monique Davis (USA) 414.25
10 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 399.50

11 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 382.00
12 Michelle Key (USA) 369.55
13 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 334.00
14 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 283.50
15 Sharon Jackson (USA) 258.50

16 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 218.50
17 Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) 210.94
18 Carolina Luque (Mexico) 203.25
19 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 188.25
20 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 180.25

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins record setting 5th US Open

Paola Longoria won her fifth US Open title Sunday as she defeated Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8, in the final of the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis. Longoria's five titles are the most ever for a woman, one more than Rhonda Rajsich.

Longoria, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) #1 player, now has a 5-2 record in US Open finals, while Vargas, the LPRT's #3 player, was in her first final.

Longoria was in control in game one, as she led 9-2, before closing it out at 11-5. Longoria started game two with two drive serve aces - one to the left and one to the right. She ended game two at 11-3 in the same way: two aces. Both of those were to the right side, Vargas's forehand.

In game three, Longoria was up 5-2 early, and looked like she would cruise to her 5th title. But Vargas dug in, and tied it at 5-5. Then she went ahead 8-6, and it looked like a fourth game was a possibility.

But Longoria regained the serve, and never gave it up, scoring five straight points to win her fifth title.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis - October 12, 2014

LPRT Singles Final

1 Paola Longoria d. 3 Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 10th US Open Championship

International Racquetball Tour (IRT) #1 Kane Waselenchuk won his 10th US Open title Sunday, defeating Alvaro Beltran, 11-6, 11-1, 11-6, in the final of the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships.

Waselenchuk was in control in game one, although Beltran did get within three at 9-6, before Waselenchuk won 11-6. The control continued in game two, as Waselenchuk won 11-1.

In game three, Waselenchuk took the early lead at 3-0, but Beltran came back and went in the lead at 4-3. Then he turned his left ankle, and had to take an injury timeout.

Nevertheless, Beltran kept scoring points, as he extended his lead to 6-3. However, Waselenchuk responded, scoring eight unanswered points including two flat roll pinch shots. And when his first match point opportunity came, Waselenchuk took it with a forehand winner.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 12, 2014

IRT Singles Final

1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 3 Alvaro Beltran, 11-6, 11-1, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Lowe has chance to defend CPRT title at 2014 US Open

Jimmy Lowe will have a chance to defend his Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) title Sunday at the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis after defeating Brad McCunniff, 9-5, 2-9, 9-7, 9-1, in the semi-finals on Saturday.

If Lowe wins on Sunday it will be third CPRT US Open title. He won his first in 2008 and second last year.

Lowe's opponent will be Thomas Fuhrmann, who had a forfeit win over Doug Ganim in the semis. In the quarterfinals, Fuhrmann took out last year's finalist Corey Osborne in five games, 7-9, 9-8, 5-9, 9-6, 10-8.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota

CPRT Round of 16

Jimmy Lowe d. Scott Wolford, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3
Eduardo Avila d. Arturo Burruel, 9-8, 2-9, 5-9, 9-5, 9-4

George Bustos d. Richard Eisemann, 4-9, 9-5, 9-6, 9-4
Brad McCunniff d. Alex Ma, 9-3, 9-3, 9-6

Keith Minor d. Steve Black, 9-3, 9-5, 9-6
Doug Ganim d. Jeff Stark, 9-5, 9-7, 7-9, 9-6

Thomas Fuhrmann d. Jorge Hirsekorn, 8-9, 9-5, 9-8, 9-0
Corey Osborne d. Erik Sweetser, 7-9, 9-6, 9-0, 9-5

CPRT Quarter finals

Jimmy Lowe d. Eduardo Avila, 9-3, 5-9, 9-1, 9-6
Brad McCunniff d. George Bustos, 9-0, 9-3, 9-7

Doug Ganim d. Keith Minor
Thomas Fuhrmann d. Corey Osborne, 7-9, 9-8, 5-9, 9-6, 10-8

CPRT Semi-finals

Jimmy Lowe d. Brad McCunniff, 9-5, 2-9, 9-7, 9-1
Thomas Fuhrmann d. Doug Ganim, forfeit

CPRT Final

Jimmy Lowe v. Thomas Fuhrmann - 9 AM Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Sotomayor win LPRT doubles at 2014 United Healthcare US Open

Paola Longoria and Veronica Sotomayor won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles final at the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Saturday in Minneapolis by defeating Rhonda Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-7, 12-15, 11-7.

It was an upset by the rankings, as Longoria and Sotomayor were the second ranked team and Rajsich and Vargas first. Longoria's usual partner is Samantha Salas, but Salas is hurt, so wasn't in Minneapolis. Sotomayor filled in perfectly.

Longoria and Sotomayor led throughout game one, and won it when Sotomayor put away a Rajsich ceiling ball after a Longoria drive serve.

Longoria played the left side and drove serve. Sotomayor played the right side and hit high lob serves. Rajsich was on the left and Vargas on the right, and served to the players on their side until the middle of the second game, when they started serving everything to Sotomayor.

The tiebreaker was back and forth. Rajsich and Vargas were up 3-1. Then Longoria and Sotomayor were ahead 6-4. And they were tied 7-7.

Then Longoria and Sotomayor won four straight rallies. The first was from a Vargas return error. Longoria hit a winning forehand that made it 9-7.

The last two points came from skips by Rajsich. Both were forehand shots, and were unforced errors.

The final was videotaped and will be broadcast on the Tennis Channel on US Thanksgiving weekend along with the men's doubles final and the men's and women's singles finals.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis - October 8-12, 2014

LPRT Doubles Final

2 Paola Longoria & Veronica Sotomayor d. 1 Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-7, 12-15, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk & Beltran win semis at 2014 US Open United Healthcare Racquetball Championships

International Racquetball Tour (IRT) #1 Kane Waselenchuk will have an opportunity to win a 10th US Open title Sunday after he beat Alejandro Landa, in Saturday's semi-finals, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2, at the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships. Alvaro Beltran will be Waselenchuk's opponent in the final, as he defeated Rocky Carson, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, in the other semi-final Saturday.

Waselenchuk was in control throughout his match with Landa, the 13th seed and surprise semi-finalist. Landa did battle hard, and scored early in each game. But he just didn't score enough, as Waselenchuk was just too much for Landa.

Beltran and Carson played a long match, and took not just five games but five match points for Beltran to defeat Carson, who is his doubles partner for this event. Carson was in control in game one against Beltran, winning it 11-8. In game two they were neck and neck with ties at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. But then Beltran put together three straight points with the last two points coming from backhands hit down the line for an 11-8 win.

Game three was long. Seriously long. And it was Carson who led late in game three, as he was up 9-7 and 10-8. However, Carson couldn't close it. That opened the door for Beltran who gladly walked through it, scoring four straight points.

The first was a backhand pinch, the second was a penalty hinder call on Carson. Then Carson skipped a serve return, and finally Beltran got a ball in the middle of the court and hit a solid forehand shot down the right side to win it.

As long as game three was, that was how short game four was, as Carson won it in the blink of an eye, 11-2. Carson carried the momentum over into the tie-breaker, as he scored the first two points of game five.

But then Beltran took over, scoring eight unanswered points to lead 8-2. They traded points, as Beltran worked his way to a 10-4 lead.

Carson didn't roll over though, as he fought off one match point, then another. Then on Beltran's third match point, he dove for the ball, rekilled it down the right line, managed to get out of the way of the ball, but Carson had a chance to get to it. Carson, who held up, wanted a penalty hinder, while Beltran thought the ball was down, and wanted it to be a point.

The referee called a hinder.

Carson hit a forehand pinch on the next rally, suggesting that the previous rally should have been a penalty hinder. But Beltran got the serve right back with a winner serve return of Carson's drive Z serve.

On that fifth match point, Beltran hit a high lob - the serve he used almost exclusively throughout the match - and in the rally Carson skipped forehand shot, ending the game and match.

Beltran's in his second US Open final. His previous final was in 2010, when he lost to Waselenchuk in four games.

Waselenchuk will be playing his 10th US Open final, and he won the previous nine finals.

As we've said before, Beltran's game style matches up well with Waselenchuk's, and we've seen some of those elements on display - specifically his skill at hitting winners from diving gets - this week. But Beltran will need to be at his very best if he has any chance of defeating Waselenchuk, who has to be the odds on favourite to win his 10th US Open title.

The IRT final will be Sunday at noon CDT, and will be streamed live via the IRT Network.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
IRT Singles
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 8-12, 2014

Semi-finals - Saturday

1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 13 Alejandro Landa, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2
3 Alvaro Beltran d. 2 Rocky Carson, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4

Final - Sunday

1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 3 Alvaro Beltran - Noon CDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas reaches LPRT United Healthcare US Open final for 1st time

Maria Jose Vargas, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) #3 player, has reached the US Open final for the first time, as she defeated LPRT #2 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3,11-6, 8-11, 11-0, Saturday in the semi-finals of the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis. It's Vargas's fourth consecutive final going back to last season, and makes her three for three this season.

Saturday's result will probably move Vargas ahead of Rajsich in the LPRT rankings.

Vargas was in control throughout her match with Rajsich with early leads in all four games. Rajsich came back from 4-1 down in game three to win it, but that seemed like it was only prolonging the inevitable.

That feeling was confirmed in game four, as Vargas scored 11 unanswered points to gain a berth in her first US Open final.

Vargas's opponent Sunday will be the player who's beaten Vargas each time she's reached an LPRT final: Paola Longoria, who defeated 5th Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3, in the other semi-final.

Longoria's win extended her winning streak that began in May 2011, and includes the last three US Open Championships. Her career total US Open titles is four, which ties her with Rajsich for most ever. A win Sunday would set Longoria further apart from the rest of the LPRT.

The LPRT final will be 11 AM on Sunday.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
LPRT Singles Draws
Minneapolis - October 8-12, 2014

Semi-finals - Saturday

1 Paola Longoria d. 5 Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
3 Maria Jose Vargas d. 2 Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 11-6, 8-11, 11-0

Final - Sunday

1 Paola Longoria v. 3 Maria Jose Vargas - 11 AM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles semi-finals 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships

The two men's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles teams will face off in the final of the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis on Saturday. In the semi-finals, 1st seeds Ben Croft and Kane Waselenchuk beat 4th seeds Chris Crowther and Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-10, and the 2nd seeds Alvaro Beltran and Rocky Carson defeated Daniel De La Rosa and Jose Rojas, 15-13, 4-15, 11-8.

The same scenario will play out on the women's side, as number 1 will play number 2 in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles final at the 2014 United Healthcare US Open Saturday. Top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas beat 4th seeds Susana Acosta & Jessica Parrila, 15-8, 15-10, and 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Veronica Sotomayor defeated Michelle Key and Frédérique Lambert, 15-7, 15-2.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 8-12, 2014
IRT Doubles Draw

Semi-finals - Friday

Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk d. Chris Crowther & Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-10
Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson d. Daniel De La Rosa & Jose Rojas, 15-13, 4-15, 11-8

Final - Saturday

Ben Croft & Kane Waselenchuk v. Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson - 5 PM

LPRT Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1 Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas d. 4 Susana Acosta & Jessica Parrila, 15-8, 15-10
2 Paola Longoria & Veronica Sotomayor d. 3 Michelle Key & Frederique Lambert, 15-7, 15-2

Final - Saturday

1 Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas v. 2 Paola Longoria & Veronica Sotomayor

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Quarterfinals at 2014 United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships

The United Healthcare US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis is the premier event on the racquetball calendar, and the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) quarterfinals illustrated why on Friday, as there were three dramatic matches.

Less dramatic was the last quarterfinal, as IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk defeated Tony Carson in three straight games, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2. Waselenchuk is on pace to win his 10th US Open title.

The day started with a shock as 13th seed Alejandro Landa continued his good season as he had another upset victory; this time Daniel De La Rosa was Landa's victim, and the match was over in three straight games, 11-2, 11-8, 11-6. The win puts Landa in the US Open semi-finals for the first time in his career.

The second match was a long four game affair between 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran and 6th seed Chris Crowther, with Beltran coming out on top 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8. He ended both games three and four with diving shots for winners.

IRT #2 Rocky Carson and #7 Ben Croft then played a five game match in which Croft had six match points in game three, but Carson fought them all off to win it, 7-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5.

Landa drove serve throughout his match with De La Rosa, and generally drove serve to the right side - De La Rosa's forehand. When a second serve was needed Landa used a high lob to the right side.

After scoring nine unanswered points to win game one, 11-2, game two was closer with several ties, including at 8-8. However, De La Rosa never led in game two, which Landa won 11-8.

There was little surprising in Beltran and Crowther's match. Crowther played his hard hitting game, hoping it would be enough, and it did get him close, but it was not enough today. A positive sign for Beltran is the two dives he did that ended games three and four. That's an ability that few players possess and one of the qualities that could help get Beltran the US Open title.

Carson and Croft had an epic battle. The stuff US Open legends are made of, though often such matches happen in the semi-finals.

Croft came out hitting hard, driving serving even on second serve, which resulted in a two double faults. But he led throughout the game, although Carson drew close late, when Croft led 8-7. That was as close as Carson got, as Croft won the game with a backhand wide angle pass.

Croft, known for his strong forehand, hit many winning backhand shots against Carson.

In game two, it looked like Carson was going to level the match, as he had leads of 5-1 and 9-3. However, Croft fought back, scoring eight unanswered points during which Carson only served twice.

That put Croft up 2-0 and a game away from reaching the US Open semi-finals for the first time.

In game three, Carson again had an early lead at 5-1. But Croft tied it at 5-5. Carson called timeout, yet when play resumed Croft scored three straight points to make it 8-5. A Carson serve return skip made it 9-5 for Croft.

Carson cut the lead to two at 9-7, but then Croft got to 10-7: his first match point. Carson fought that off with a backhand pinch, and he score two points of his own before Croft got his second match point.

After winning the rally that got him match point number two, Croft called a timeout. When play resumed, Croft drove serve to the left - most of his drive serves in the match were to the right - and a long rally ensued that included two ceiling balls from Croft. It ended with Croft skipping the ball, but a forced skip.

Croft got four more opportunities to win the match - six match points in all. But he couldn't covert any of them. Three of the other four were winning shots by Carson with one skip from Croft.

Carson finally got a 10th point with a backhand pinch shot. He followed that up immediately with two more points to win the game, 12-10, and force a fourth game.

In game four, they were close all the way to 7-7. From there Carson held Croft off the board, and scored four points of his own to win it, 11-7.

In the fifth game, Croft began to favour his left leg. He may have been cramping. Carson took advantage and a 9-1 lead. Whatever Croft was feeling, he certainly didn't stop trying to win, and kept diving for balls.

In fact, he staged a small comeback, as he scored four points to make the score 9-5. But that was as close as Croft got in the breaker, as Carson won it 11-5.

Croft's fighting spirit was there to the end, as he dove three times on the last rally of the match.

Thus, the semi-finals are a relative unknown in Landa against the Waselenchuk, who many consider to be the best of all time and who's trying to win a 10th US Open title, and the IRT's #2 and #3 players in Carson and Beltran.

It should be good.

The IRT semi-finals will be Saturday at 11 AM and 2 PM. Play will streamed live via the IRT Network.

2014 United Healthcare US Open
IRT Singles Draw
Minneapolis, Minnesota - October 8-12, 2014

Quarterfinals - Friday

1 Kane Waselenchuk d. 8 Tony Carson, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2
13 Alejandro Landa d. 5 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-2, 11-8, 11-6

3 Alvaro Beltran d. 6 Chris Crowther, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8
2 Rocky Carson d. 7 Ben Croft, 7-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

1 Kane Waselenchuk v. 13 Alejandro Landa - 2:00 PM
2 Rocky Carson v. 3 Alvaro Beltran

Follow the bouncing ball….