Kane Waselenchuk won his 8th event of the 2015-16 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season on Saturday, when he defeated Daniel De La Rosa, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2, to capture the 31st Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. It was a dominating performance by the IRT’s #1 player that capped a great tournament by him, as he only surrendered 19 points over four matches for an average of 1.58 points against per game.
De La Rosa and Waselenchuk were tied in game one at 2-2, but then Waselenchuk ran the table winning the game with a backhand pinch shot that he pushed into the front right corner after a weak serve return from De La Rosa.
In game two, Waselenchuk jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and although De La Rosa cut the lead to 8-4, that was as close as he could get. The most remarkable shot in game two resulted in Waselenchuk’s 10th point, when he hit a flat roll out between his legs as the ball came right at him in the center of the court. Waselenchuk actually jumped a little bit as he hit the ball to the front wall. He then won game two with a lob nick serve to De La Rosa’s backhand that the young Mexican was lucky to even get his racquet on.
In game three, De La Rosa got the first two points, and then no more, as Waselenchuk again ran the table, finishing it off with a forehand splat shot to seal the match win.
Waselenchuk’s had other great performances, but the quality of his play this weekend has to be some of his best ever. Evidence of that came earlier on Saturday, as he defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-0, 11-0, in the semi-finals. To blank the 4th ranked IRT professional is impressive; to do it twice in a match is astounding.
The next IRT event is the 2016 Raising Some Racquet for Kids in Huber Heights, Ohio March 31 to April 3.
2016 31st Annual Shamrock Shootout, March 10-13
Lombard, Illinois
Final
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2
Semi-finals
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-0, 11-0
6) Daniel De La Rosa d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, March 13, 2016
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