Carson & Croft to meet in IRT Turkey Shootout final

Rocky Carson will have a chance to make it three tournaments in a row on Sunday, when he plays in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 24th Annual Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas. Carson defeated Jansen Allen, 11-2, 3-11, 11-2, 11-5, in the semi-finals Saturday.

Ben Croft will be Carson's opponent Sunday, as Croft defeated Tony Carson (no relation to Rocky), 11-8, 11-1, 11-4, in the other semi-final.

Both Carson and Allen drove serve in the first game of their match, and Carson did it better, mostly driving the ball to the left side - Allen's backhand.

But in game two, Allen changed to lob serves, left, right and Z to the right. The strategy led to opportunities for Allen and he took advantage, winning game two by a wide margin.

Allen tried to do the same in game three, but Carson gave him few chances to do so, as he seemed to step up the pace of the game. The result was another comfortable win.

In game four, Allen had the early lead at 3-0, but Carson responded with six straight points, making it 6-3. Carson extended the lead to 10-5. Credit to Allen for not giving up, as he fought off three match points before Carson was able win it.

The end was anticlimactic, as Carson hit a drive Z serve to the left, and Allen returned it to the ceiling. But the return didn't reach the front wall. Skip, and game and match to Carson.

Sunday will be Carson's 71st final, but only Croft's 5th. Carson and Croft have played 34 times on tour with Carson winning 29 times and Croft 5.

Thus, you'd have to favour Carson in the final. But Croft's only career title came with a victory over Carson in Salt Lake City in 2012.

The IRT Network will broadcast the final Sunday morning at 11 AM.

24th Annual Turkey Shootout
Garden City, Kansas - November 13-16, 2014

Semi-finals (with seeding)

4. Ben Croft d. 8. Tony Carson, 11-8, 11-1, 11-4
2. Rocky Carson d. Jansen Allen, 11-2, 3-11, 11-2, 11-5

Final

2. Rocky Carson v. 4. Ben Croft 11 AM CST Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball….