Semi-final day at 2017 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships

Melania Sauma of Arizona State, the 6th seed, is through to the Women’s #1 final at the USA Racquetball 2017 Intercollegiate Championships in Fountain Valley, California after defeating 2nd seed Lexi York of Oregon State, 15-13, 13-15, 11-7, in the semi-finals on Friday. Sauma will play top seed and defending champion Carla Muñoz of Colorado State, Pueblo in the final, as Muñoz defeated 4th seed Katie Nieswiadomy of Texas A&M, 15-8, 15-0, in the other semi.

On the men’s side, Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace), the top seed, beat the 2015 champion Adam Manilla 15-6, 13-15, 11-6, in what was a battle of two left-handed players. Carter will face Erik Garcia of Colorado State, Pueblo in the final, after Garcia came back from a game down to defeat Mauro Rojas of Delta College, 10-15, 15-12, 11-7.

In Women’s Doubles, the Northern Arizona team of Erin Boadway and Erika Manilla upset the top seeds and defending champions Erica Lipski and Lexi York of Oregon State. The Northern Arizona team prevailed in three games, 11-15, 15-10, 11-6, in what was an interesting match with each team having a current (Manilla) or former (York) USA Junior National Team member. Boadway and Lipski are no slouches either, as they will play each other in the Women’s #2 final on Saturday, so there was strength on both sides of the court.

In the breaker, it was Boadway and Manilla who got the early lead, carrying over their momentum from winning game two to take a 4-1 lead. But Lipski and York got the serve back, and went on a run of their own, scoring five points on three winners by York and two by Lipski. Northern Arizona called timeout with the score 6-4 in Oregon State’s favour.

When play resumed, Manilla hit a winning backhand return to Northern Arizona back in the service box, and they never left it, as Northern Arizona scored seven straight points, including three winners by Manilla and two by Boadway. Boadway’s backhand pinch shot from deep in the back right corner to the front left corner was the shot of the game, and got her team to match point at 10-6. They won it on the next rally as Manilla hit a forehand shot that Lipski anticipated would be a pinch (Manilla had hit two pinch winners a few rallies before), so she moved up to take it, and Manilla’s passing shot hit Lipski’s leg.

In the Women’s Doubles final on Saturday, Boadway and Manilla will face 13th seeds Samantha Baker and Carla Muñoz (Colorado State, Pueblo) who defeated 2nd seeds Madeline Gauch and Christina Hughes (Missouri), 15-5, 15-3. Thus, Muñoz could be a double champion on Saturday, as she’s in both the singles and doubles finals. If Muñoz wins both, she’ll be the first woman to do so since 2012, when Sharon Jackson won both playing for the University of Alabama (Madeleine Angles was Jackson’s doubles partner that year).

In Men’s Doubles, the top seeds will face off in the final, as Erik Garcia and Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) and Thomas Carter and Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) won their respective semi-final matches. Top seeds Garcia and Schopieray defeated 4th seeds Mauro Rojas and Francisco Troncoso (Delta College), 15-12, 15-10, in one semi while 2nd seeds Carter and Sandoval beat 3rd seeds Adam Manilla and Nick Riffel (Colorado), 15-12, 15-5.

Either Carter or Garcia could be a double champion Saturday, which would be the third year in a row that has happened. Last year, Marco Rojas representing University of the Pacific won both singles and doubles with Jose Diaz, and in 2015 Manilla won both with Riffel as his doubles partner.

You can watch the finals via the USA Racquetball LiveStream channel or on the USA Racquetball Facebook page.

2017 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Fountain Valley, California
(with seedings)

Women's Singles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M), 15-8, 15-0
6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) d. 2) Lexi York (Oregon State), 15-13, 13-15, 11-7

Women's Singles - Final Saturday

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) - 2:30 PM

Women's Singles - 3rd Place Saturday

2) Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M) - 1:30 PM

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) d. 1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State), 11-15, 15-10, 11-6
13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri), 15-5, 15-3

Women's Doubles - Final Saturday

4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) v. 13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) - 10:30 AM

Women's Doubles - 3rd Place Saturday

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri) - 9:30 AM

Men's Singles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) d. 4) Adam Manilla (Colorado), 15-6, 13-15, 11-6
3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) d. 2) Mauro Rojas (Delta), 10-15, 15-12, 11-7

Men's Singles - Final Saturday

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) v. 3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) - 3:30 PM

Men's Singles - 3rd Place Saturday

2) Mauro Rojas (Delta) v. 4) Adam Manilla (Colorado) - 2:30 PM

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College), 15-12, 15-10
2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) d. 3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado), 15-12, 15-5

Men's Doubles - Final Saturday

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) v. 2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) - 11:30 AM

Men's Doubles - 3rd Place Saturday

3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) v. 4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College) - 10:30 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Quarterfinals of USA Racquetball 2017 Intercollegiate Championships

Melania Sauma of Arizona State had the biggest upset on quarterfinal day at the USA Racquetball 2017 Intercollegiate Championships in Fountain Valley, California, as she defeated 3rd seed Erika Manilla of Northern Arizona, 3-15, 15-5, 11-9, in what was a rematch of last year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Girl’s U18 gold medal match that Manilla won.

The tiebreaker was very close, as often seems to be the case in when the first two games are very lopsided. Manilla got off the better start in the breaker, going out to a 5-0 lead. Sauma got a couple of points back to make it 5-2, when Manilla served what looked like an ace drive serve to the left side. Sauma appealed that it was a wet ball, and was successful. The referee said “replay,” but prior to the next rally, the referee called 6-2, rather than 5-2, mistakenly giving Manilla a point.

Nonetheless, Sauma came back to tie Manilla at 6-6. Indeed, Sauma got seven unanswered points to go from 6-2 to 9-6. Manilla called a timeout at that point, and when play resumed she got the serve back, and made her move. Manilla scored three straight points to make it 9-9, which led to a Sauma timeout.

The ensuing rally was a scrappy one that Sauma won with a forehand shot to the left side. She then scored her 10th point by forcing Manilla into a backhand skip by driving the ball cross court with a strong forehand shot. Then on her first match point Manilla skipped a forehand shot that was an unforced error.

Afterwards, Sauma said it was difficult to play against Manilla, as they have grown up together by going to IRF World Junior Championships: Sauma representing Costa Rica and Manilla the USA. “I love her,” Sauma said, “she’s like my sister.”

Sauma will play 2nd seed Lexi York of Oregon State in the semi-finals Friday, as York beat Lindsey Raven of Brigham Young, 15-2, 15-6. In the other semi-final, defending champion Carla Muñoz of Colorado State will play Katie Nieswiadomy of Texas A & M.

On the Men’s side, Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) is the top seed, as he was a semi-finalist last year. But the 2015 champion Adam Manilla (Erika’s brother) is back in the draw after missing the event last year. They will meet in the semis, as Carter defeated Brennan Jennings (Texas, San Antonio), 15-3, 15-9, and Manilla beat Alejandro Almada (Texas), 15-10, 15-3, in the quarterfinals.

USA Racquetball is streaming the Intercollegiate Championships live via LiveStream.

2017 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Fountain Valley, California
(with seedings)

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 8) Pooja Sheevam (Colorado), 15-6, 15-1
4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M) d 5) Madeline Gauch (Missouri), 9-15, 15-13, 15-1

6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) d. 3) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona), 3-15, 15-5, 11-9
2) Lexi York (Oregon State) d. 7) Lindsey Raven (Brigham Young), 15-2, 15-6

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) v. 4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M) - 3:10 PM
2) Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Arizona State) - 1:30 PM

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State) d. 9) Lori Kumorek & Carly Myers (Baldwin Wallace), 15-0, 15-0
4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) d. 5) Rachel Pabelico & Pooja Sheevam (Colorado), 15-1, 15-3

13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) d. 3) Lindsey Raven & Krista Yourstone (Brigham Young), 15-2, 15-6
2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri) d. 10) Tylynn Barker & Courtnie Duncan (Utah State), 15-11, 15-6

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State) v. 4) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona) - 4:50 PM
2) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri) v. 13) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State) - 5:40 PM

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) d. 8) Brennen Jennings (Texas at San Antonio), 15-3, 15-9
4) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 5) Alejandro Almada (Texas), 15-10, 15-3

3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) d. 6) Sam Bredenbeck (Oregon State), 15-4, 15-1
2) Mauro Rojas (Delta) d. 7) Andrew Clarke (New Mexico), 15-10, 15-12

Men's Singles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace) v. 4) Adam Manilla (Colorado) - 1:30 PM
2) Mauro Rojas (Delta) v. 3) Erik Garcia (Colorado State) - 2:20 PM

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 9) Andrew Clarke & Remy Feldman (New Mexico), 15-6, 15-5
4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College) d. 5) Jesse Giron & Ryan Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-8

3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 6) Alejandro Almada & Devon Dorn (Texas), 15-6, 15-8
2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) d. 7) Sam Bredenbeck & Ryan Chin (Oregon State), 15-2, 15-3

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals Friday

1) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) v. 4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College) - 5:40 PM
2) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace) v. 3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) - 4:50

Follow the bouncing ball....

Franco & Lotts wins Open divisions in Dayton

Sebastian Franco won the Men’s Open division at the Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio on the weekend. Franco defeated Mario Mercado in the final, 15-8, 15-12. In the semi-finals, Franco beat Adam Taylor, 15-12, 10-15, 11-5, and Mercado defeated Justus Benson, 15-12, 10-15, 11-1.

Franco and Mercado teamed up to win the Men’s Open Doubles title, as they defeated Benson and Robert Collins in the final, 12-15, 15-4, 11-4.

Sheryl Lotts won Women’s Open by defeating Adrienne Fisher in the final, 15-14, 15-9.

The next major event on the tournament schedule will be the Pan American Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, April 8-15.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Men’s Open Final

Sebastian Franco d. Mario Mercado, 15-8, 15-12

Semi-finals

Sebastian Franco d. Adam Taylor, 15-12, 10-15, 11-5
Mario Mercado d. Justus Benson, 15-12, 10-15, 11-1

Men’s Open Doubles - Final

Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Justus Benson & Robert Collins, 12-15, 15-4, 11-4

Women’s Open Final

Sheryl Lotts d. Adrienne Haynes, 15-14, 15-9

Semi-final

Sheryl Lotts d. Lily Berry, 15-2, 15-7
Adrienne Haynes d. Rebecca Bowman, 15-5, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson defeats De La Rosa to win IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament

With the top seed playing the 2nd seed, Saturday’s final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio should have been a close match, and it was, as Rocky Carson narrowly defeated Daniel De La Rosa in four games, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, to win his first event of the season. The win extends Carson’s streak of winning at least once an IRT season to seven straight seasons, and it was the 25th win of Carson’s long career.

Carson drove served throughout the final, and it was especially effective in the fourth game, when he hit four aces to the left side. But match point was a drive serve to the right side that cracked out, and caused a skip return from De La Rosa.

In the middle of game one, it looked like De La Rosa was going to come out on top, as he led 8-5. They were close the whole way, but De La Rosa was first to 10, leading 10-9. But Carson fended off that game point with a great sidewall front wall shot from deep in the court. Carson then won it with three straight points on consecutive rallies. De La Rosa thought there should have been a screen on the last one, but none was called.

De La Rosa was undeterred though, as he took a 3-0 lead in game two. However, Carson came back with six straight points to lead 6-3. De La Rosa then got three of his own to tie it 6-6. Carson took his turn to put a run together, and took a 10-6 lead. A backhand skip by Carson gave the serve back to De La Rosa, who cut the lead to one at 10-9, but a forehand winner by Carson stopped De La Rosa there. On his second game point, Carson hit a jam drive serve to the left side that De La Rosa couldn’t return.

Two close games, but Carson won them both, and when he went up 5-1 in game three, it looked like he’d win in three. But De La Rosa didn’t quit. Instead, he came back and tied it at 6-6. Fifteen rallies later, and it was 7-7.

They tied again at 9-9, and it was De La Rosa who got to 10 first with a forehand cross court shot. Carson fought off De La Rosa’s game point with a forehand wide angle pass, but he couldn’t score himself, as De La Rosa got the serve back with a forehand shot. De La Rosa then won it with a forehand cross court to force a fourth game.

In the fourth, Carson again took the early lead at 4-0 and 6-1. Carson continued to put the pressure on, and took the score up to 9-2. Cue the comeback, as De La Rosa got the next six points to make the 9-8. His streak was stopped, when De La Rosa skipped an open opportunity on his backhand.

De La Rosa wouldn’t serve again, as Carson got his 10th point with a backhand push shot into the left corner, and then won it with the drive serve to the right side.

De La Rosa used a straight lob to the right side for most of the match. Carson generally returned it with an overhead cross court shot. De La Rosa did vary his serve more later in the match, especially in game four.

The next IRT event will be the Florida Pro-Am in Sarasota, April 27-30.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Final - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson & De La Rosa to meet in final of IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament

Rocky Carson and Daniel De La Rosa will face off Saturday night in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio. Carson reached the final by defeated Samuel Murray in one semi-final, 10-12, 11-0, 11-9, 11-2, and De La Rosa came back from 2-1 down to get a win over Jansen Allen in five games, 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1.

Carson had a slow start against Murray, as he was down 6-3 in game one. He came back, however, and led late at 10-7. Carson skipped a forehand shot at that point, which gave Murray, playing in his first IRT semi-final, an opportunity. Murray took full advantage, as he scored five points on consecutive rallies to take game one, 12-10.

Carson’s response to losing game one was swift, and firm, as he won game two without giving up a point. Carson carried that momentum over into game three, as he went out to a 7-2 lead. Murray called a timeout then, which began a comeback.

Murray tied the game at 8-8, but he could get a lead as they went back and forth before the veteran Carson closed it out at 11-9 after Murray skipped a backhand return of a Z serve to the left.

Early in game four, Murray dove to retrieve a ball, and went down hard. He took an injury timeout, but continued to play. However, he seemed slowed by the injury, and was never really in the game, as Carson won it comfortably, 11-2, closing out the match in four games.

De La Rosa took the first game against Allen, 11-5, although they were close early in the game. De La Rosa continued to carry the play early in game two, but Allen keep fighting and he tied the game at 7-7, and then went on to win 12-10.

Allen continued to play strong in game three, and never trailed as he took an 8-2 lead, and went on to win 11-7 and lead the match 2-1. But the table’s turned in game four, as De La Rosa got the early lead, and was never behind as he went on to win 11-4 and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, De La Rosa got off to a great start with a 5-0 lead. Allen got a point to make it 5-1, but that was all he got, as De La Rosa went on to win 11-1 and take the match in five games.

Carson and De La Rosa have played 20 times on the IRT, and Carson has won 13 of those matches. Their last two meetings were this season, and Carson won them both: at the US Open and the California Open.

Carson has won at least one tournament for six straight seasons, but has yet to do so this season. De La Rosa won his second career event in January in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The IRT Network will broadcast the final at 7:30 PM.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson d. Samuel Murray, 10-12, 11-0, 11-9, 11-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 6) Jansen Allen, 11-5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1

Final - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa - 7:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Allen & Murray surprise semi-finalists at IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids

Samuel Murray has made his first semi-final on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) by defeating 4th seed Jose Rojas, 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-4, in the quarterfinals of the Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio. Murray will play top seed Rocky Carson in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Carson defeated Mario Mercado in three straight games, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8.

Murray started strong in both games one and two. Rojas staged a comeback in game two. After being down 8-2, he came back to 8-6, and it looked like Murray might succumb to the pressure of being in his first career quarterfinal. But Murray got the serve back with a forehand pinch shot, and then served game two out, winning three straight rallies.

Rojas wasn’t going to down without a fight, however, and he came out in game three at full force, going up 7-0 before Murray got on board. Murray got a few points late in the game before Rojas finished it off.

Rojas got the first point of game four, but they were back and forth early, and tied at 2-2. Then Murray got on a roll helped by two aces, the second of which was given after a video appeal of a short serve call. That second ace made it 7-2, and Rojas called a timeout.

When play resumed, Rojas got a sideout, but no points. They went back and forth a couple times without anyone scoring before Murray extended his lead with two forehand winners, the second was a great splat shot that made it 9-2.

At that point the writing seemed to be on the wall, although Rojas didn’t give in. It took 12 rallies for Murray to get the last two points. It ended when Rojas put a big back wall forehand set up into the floor.

There was also an upset on the bottom side of the draw, as 6th seed Jansen Allen pulled out the victory over 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 5-11, 11-6. Allen will play 2nd seed Daniel De La Rosa in the semis. De La Rosa beat Marco Rojas, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, in the quarters.

Allen started off slowly against Beltran, who is usually the slow starter. After dropping the first game, 11-6, Allen was down 8-4 in game two, when he started to pick himself up. He got four unanswered points to tie the score 8-8, and Beltran took a timeout.

Beltran got a sideout when play resumed, but he didn’t score. Allen managed to get two points to make it 10-8, but Beltran fought off the first game point with a forehand pinch return. Beltran then got within one with another forehand pinch. Allen called a timeout with Beltran serving 9-10.

Beltran drove serve short, which led to a lob nick serve to the left side that Allen returned with a winning backhand pinch shot. On his second game point, Allen made no mistake in hitting a forehand winner.

Allen cruised through game three with 4-0 and 7-1 leads en route to a 11-2 win. But Beltran fought back in game four by going up 6-0, and the closest Allen got was 6-3, as Beltran won comfortably 11-5, which forced a tie-breaking fifth game.

Beltran got the first point of the breaker, but Allen led early at 3-1 and 6-3. However, Beltran tied the game at 6-6, and Allen used his timeout. On the next serve, Allen hit a backhand return for a winner to get the serve back. Allen didn’t give up the serve from there on, as he won five rallies with winners. Beltran called a timeout at 8-6, and there was a hinder at 9-6, but Beltran didn’t serve again. Allen closed the game and match out by hitting a drive serve to the left for an ace, which was one of the few times he drove serve to the left, and he followed that up with another ace off a drive serve to the right side.

Allen will play in only his 4th semi-final Saturday. The first three were all against Rocky Carson, who won all three. He’ll play Daniel De La Rosa this time, although Allen’s record against De La Rosa is 1-8. But that win was this season back in September at the Ghost Of Georgetown tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.

This is the second consecutive IRT event with a first time semi-finalist. Last weekend Andree Parrilla was in the semis for the first time, and won his semi-final against Carson. Murray will look to do the same on Saturday.

The IRT Network will broadcast the semi-finals Saturday at 11 AM and noon with the final to follow at 7 PM.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Mario Mercado, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8
Samuel Murray d. 4) Jose Rojas, 11-4, 11-6, 3-11, 11-4

6) Jansen Allen d. 3) Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 11-9, 11-2, 5-11, 11-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Marco Rojas, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson v. Samuel Murray - 11 AM
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 6) Jansen Allen - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Parrilla is out in the Round of 16 at IRT Raising Some Racquet For Kids

Andree Parrilla, who had a magical run into the finals at last weekend’s International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, will not have such a run this weekend at the Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio, as Mario Mercado defeated Parrilla, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7, in the Round of 16 Friday morning. In the quarterfinals later today, Mercado will face top seed and IRT #2 Rocky Carson, who beat Juan Martinez III, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6, in the 16s.

Only one upset in the Round of 16, as Samuel Murray defeated 5th seed Sebastian Franco in five games, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6. Murray will play Jose Rojas in the quarterfinals after Rojas beat Justus Benson, 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3, in the 16s.

The IRT Network will continue broadcasting the Round of 16 from Dayton, and then begin the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon and evening from 4-7 PM. Note: the semi-finals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon with the final to follow at 7 PM.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Juan Martinez III d. Rom Dresbach, 11-6, 11-4, 15-13

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Rocky Carson d. Juan Martinez III, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6
8) Mario Mercado d. Andree Parrilla, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7

Samuel Murray d. 5) Sebastian Franco, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6
4) Jose Rojas d. Justus Benson, 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-3

3) Alvaro Beltran d. Set Cubillos, 11-7, 11-6, 11-0
6) Jansen Allen d. Scott McClellan, 11-5, 11-2, 11-2

7) Marco Rojas d. Robert Collins, 12-10, 11-7, 11-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. Andrés Gómez, 11-2, 11-3, 11-1

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Mario Mercado - 5 PM
4) Jose Rojas v. Samuel Murray - 7 PM

3) Alvaro Beltran v. 6) Jansen Allen - 6 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 7) Marco Rojas - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet For Kids - Preview

Rocky Carson is top seed at this weekend’s International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Dayton, Ohio, as IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk withdrew for health reasons. Word is Waselenchuk has the flu.

This presents a grand opportunity for everyone to get in the winner’s circle. Carson has been the one in recent years has most often taken advantage of these opportunities. He’s won at least one event in six straight seasons, and 9 of the past 10, although Carson has not reached the winner’s circle this season.

Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT’s #3 player and the 2nd seed this weekend, has won this season, doing so at the Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in January. Alvaro Beltran and Jose Rojas have also won on tour, but Beltran’s last win was last season and Rojas’s was in the 2013-14 season. Both would surely love to add another title to their records.

But there are others who could surprise. Andree Parrilla got to the final last weekend, beating De La Rosa and Carson in the process, before falling to Waselenchuk. Also, Marco Rojas, Jose’s younger brother, also looked strong last weekend in a quarterfinal loss to Waselenchuk. They would be your dark horses in Dayton this weekend.

The IRT Network will be broadcasting from Dayton beginning with the Round of 16 at 10 AM Friday morning with the quarterfinals on Friday evening from 4-7 PM. Note: the semi-finals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon with the final to follow at 7 PM.

2017 IRT Raising Some Racquet for Kids, March 23-25
Dayton, Ohio

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Juan Martinez III v. Rom Dresbach

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. Juan Martinez III or Rom Dresbach - 11 AM
8) Mario Mercado v. Andree Parrilla - 11 AM

5) Sebastian Franco v. Samuel Murray - 1 PM
4) Jose Rojas v. Justus Benson - 1 PM

3) Alvaro Beltran v. Set Cubillos - Noon
6) Jansen Allen v. Scott McClellan - Noon

7) Marco Rojas v. Robert Collins - 10 AM
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. Andrés Gómez - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Horn & Gudinas win Open titles at Shamrock Shootout

David Horn won the Men’s Open division at the 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois Sunday. He survived a field of 36 players to come out on top. In the final, Horn defeated Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-8, in what was their second meeting in a final in as many weekends. Horn and Mercado faced off in the final of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Midwest Championships on the previous weekend, when Horn also won. That win was 15-14, 15-14, so together with Sunday’s result, Horn and Mercado have played four games to 15 and three of them have ended 15-14.

In the semi-finals, Horn beat Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-9, while Mercado took out Samuel Murray, 15-9, 15-7.

Veteran Cheryl Gudinas won the Women’s Open division in Lombard, as she outlasted Masiel Rivera in the final, 7-15, 15-6, 11-8. Gudinas beat Rebecca Bowman in one semi-final, 15-4, 15-4, while Rivera defeated Samantha Simmons, 15-8, 15-4, in the other.

Finally, Jake Bredenbeck and Bryan Crosser defeated Thomas Carter and Kyle Ulliman, 15-12, 15-10, to win the Men’s Open Doubles title.

Looking ahead, the IRT will be back in action this coming weekend in Dayton, Ohio for the Raising Some Racquet for Kids Pro-Am, March 23-36. But the field will be much smaller than this past weekend at the Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, as only 17 players are currently registered to play in Dayton compared with 37 in Lombard.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Men’s Open Final

David Horn d. Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-8

Semi-finals

David Horn d. Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-9
Mario Mercado d. Samuel Murray, 15-9, 15-7

Quarterfinals

Gerardo Franco d. Felipe Camacho, 15-11, 15-6
David Horn d. Andres Gómez, 15-2, 15-6
Samuel Murray d. Sebastian Franco, 15-11, 15-8
Mario Mercado d. Andres Acuña

Women’s Open Final

Cheryl Gudinas d. Masiel Rivera, 7-15, 15-6, 11-8

Semi-finals

Cheryl Gudinas d. Rebecca Bowman, 15-4, 15-4
Masiel Rivera d. Samantha Simmons, 15-8, 15-4

Men’s Open Doubles Final

Jake Bredenbeck & Bryan Crosser d. Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman, 15-12, 15-10

Semi-finals

Jake Bredenbeck & Bryan Crosser d. Marco Rojas & Bruce Young, 15-2, 15-7
Thomas Carter & Kyle Ulliman d. Jorge Ortiz & Fernando Javier Rivera, 15-6, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk defeats Parrilla to win 32nd Annual IRT Shamrock Shootout

Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), broke the glass slipper Andree Parrilla had worn in his run to the final of the 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, as Waselenchuk defeated Parrilla 11-1, 11-4, 12-10, in the final.

Waselenchuk remains undefeated this season, winning all six events he’s entered, and eight in a row dating back to last season.

Despite the loss, Parrilla came to Lombard as the 14th ranked IRT player. He’s a little more than 150 ranking points behind 10th ranked Felipe Camacho, who has Round of 16 finish in Lombard, so it’s possible that Parrilla may crack the top 10 with his first IRT final appearance.

In reaching the final, Parrilla knocked off IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the semi-finals, and IRT #3 Daniel De La Rosa in the Round of 16, as well as 11th ranked Alejandro Landa in the quarterfinals. So, he wasn’t gifted the spot in the final. Parrilla earned it.

Moreover, although Waselenchuk won in three straight games, Parrilla scored more points than he had in any of the previous four meetings on tour. Indeed, in their last meeting - earlier this season at the 2016 US Open - Waselenchuk blanked Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0. Thus, Parrilla’s 15 points today is certainly a better result than that.

The IRT will be back in action next weekend in Dayton, Ohio for the Raising Some Racquet for Kids Pro-Am, March 23-36.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Andree Parrilla, 11-1, 11-4, 12-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Parrilla into final after beating Carson at IRT Shamrock Shootout

Andree Parrilla had a stunning win in the semi-finals of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, as he took out the #2 IRT player Rocky Carson, 3-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8, to reach an IRT final for the first time in his career. Indeed, it was his first appearance in the semi-finals, and only the third time he’s reached the quarterfinals.

Parrilla will face Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, in the final Sunday, as Waselenchuk comfortably defeated IRT #4 Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5. Although Waselenchuk didn’t look quite as sharp as earlier in the tournament, he was still hitting some rockets both on the serve and during rallies.

After dropping the first game, 11-3, Parrilla led early in game two, 3-0. Carson came back and tied it at 4-4, and then went ahead 7-4. Parrilla took his turn in coming back and tied it 8-8, and then went on to win 11-8, levelling the match at a game a piece.

Game three went to Carson, who got out to a 6-2 lead, and never looked back, winning it with a backhand down the line shot. But again Parrilla bounced back, as he got on the board first in game four at 2-0. They were back and forth after that until the score was 5-5. From there Parrilla scored six unanswered points. Carson called a timeout at 8-5, but to no avail.

Two of the shots of the match came on either side of that timeout, as Parrilla hit overhead forehand pinch shots into the front left corner. It seemed that he cut the ball - moved the racquet across it - as he hit those off speed winners. But Parrilla won game four with a more conventional shot: a backhand pinch shot that was flat out of the left corner.

That set up the breaker. Carson served first, but a Parrilla forehand pinch created a side out. Parrilla went up 5-0 before Carson got the serve back with a backhand pinch return. Carson scored a point, but then lost serve. He got the serve back right away, but Carson gave up the serve with an uncharacteristic double fault, as he put a drive jam serve long.

That error led to four more Parrilla points, and a 9-1 lead. Of Parrilla’s nine points, eight were winners. The most impressive of those came from a diving pinch kill shot after Carson had hit a good backhand serve return. With the score 9-1, Carson called a timeout, and when play resumed he got the serve back with a backhand winner.

Cue Carson’s comeback. He went from 9-1 to 9-6 relatively quickly, and then Parrilla called a timeout. But that didn’t stop Carson’s comeback, as he scored two more points to make it 9-8. A forehand pinch shot got Parrilla back the serve, and then he managed to hit a backhand winner that was initially called a skip, although both players seemed to think it was good. A video review confirmed the players’ opinions, and Parrilla had his first match point.

One match point was all Parrilla needed as he hit a forehand pinch shot for a winner on the ensuing rally to reach his first career IRT final.

Waselenchuk and Parrilla have met four times on tour with Waselenchuk winning all four matches in straight games. Indeed, Parrilla hasn’t scored more than five points against Waselenchuk in any game and no more than 10 in a match. Their last meeting was earlier this season at the 2016 US Open, when Waselenchuk blanked Parrilla in the Round of 16, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0.

If there was betting on Sunday’s final, it would be an over-under on how many points Parrilla will score.

The IRT Network will broadcast the Shamrock Shootout final Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Alvaro Beltran, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Andree Parrilla d. 2) Rocky Carson, 3-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8

Final - Sunday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Andree Parrilla - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Shamrock Shootout - Quarterfinals

Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), won a close match in the quarterfinals Saturday at the 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, where he defeated Marco Rojas, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6. Waselenchuk played well, but not quite as well as on Friday in his win over Samuel Murray. Rojas was very good, despite losing in three games. He had leads in all three games. Although Rojas’s leads were early in games two and three, but in game one he came back from 6-0 down to lead 9-8.

But Waselenchuk was able to stop Rojas at that point, and take the next three points to win game one, ending the game with a forehand cross court shot.

In other matches, Andree Parrilla and Alejandro Landa met for the second time as many weekends, and this time it was Parrilla who came out on top, winning 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 12-10. Last weekend, Landa defeated Parrilla in a tie-breaker at the Mexican National Team Selection event in Chihuahua.

Both IRT #2 Rocky Carson and #3 Alvaro Beltran won their quarterfinal matches. Carson needed four games to fend off Jose Rojas, 12-10, 13-11, 5-11, 11-6, and Beltran defeated David Horn in three straight games, 11-4, 11-4, 13-11.

The IRT Network will broadcast the Shamrock Shootout semi-finals Saturday at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM and the final on Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Marco Rojas, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
4) Alvaro Beltran d. David Horn, 11-4, 11-4, 13-11

Andree Parrilla d. Alejandro Landa, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 12-10
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Jose Rojas, 12-10 13-11, 5-11, 11-6

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Alvaro Beltran - 8:30 PM
2) Rocky Carson v. Andree Parrilla - 5:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Some upsets but not Waselenchuk at IRT 32nd Shamrock Shootout

There were upsets in the the Round of 16 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout, but IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk was in good form, as he defeated fellow Canadian Samuel Murray, 11-0, 11-1, 11-1. Waselenchuk was serving lasers. A prime example of what sets him apart from the rest of the IRT came in game one when he hit a rocket to the right side that Murray was able to return, but only weakly, and as the ball came through the middle of the court Waselenchuk, a left-hander, just hit a soft reverse pinch to the right front corner to end the rally. Few other players can do either that serve or that soft winner.

The upsets started with the first match of the day, as Andree Parrilla won an all Mexican battle, and took out the IRT #3 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 1-11, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10. Parrilla will play Alejandro Landa in the quarterfinals, as Landa was also an upset winner by defeating 6th seed Mario Mercado, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9. Landa and Parrilla will be meeting for the second time in as many weekends, as they faced off last weekend at the Mexican National Team Selection event in Chihuahua, where Landa won in a tie-breaker.

David Horn also caused an upset Friday, as he beat 5th seed Jansen Allen, 11-2, 11-6, 11-1. Horn will face 4th seed Alvaro Beltran in the quarters, as Beltran defeated Thomas Carter, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7, in the 16s. Carter played well, especially serving, as he had at least four aces by our count.

The IRT Network will broadcast the Shamrock Shootout quarterfinals on Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the semi-finals at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM and the final on Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Samuel Murray, 11-0, 11-1, 11-1
Marco Rojas d. 8) Sebastian Franco, 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8

David Horn d. 5) Jansen Allen, 11-2, 11-6, 11-1
4) Alvaro Beltran d. Thomas Carter, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7

Andree Parrilla d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 1-11, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10
Alejandro Landa d. 6) Mario Mercado, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9

7) Jose Rojas d. Felipe Camacho, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3
2) Rocky Carson d. Andres Acuña, 11-1, 11-4, 9-11, 11-0

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Marco Rojas - 2 PM
4) Alvaro Beltran v. David Horn - 1 PM

Andree Parrilla v. Alejandro Landa - 10 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Jose Rojas - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 32nd Shamrock Shootout - Round of 32

Andres Acuña was the surprise winner in the Round of 32 at the International Racquetball Tour’s (IRT’s) 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout, as he took out Jake Bredenbeck, 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9. The win puts Acuña in the Round of 16 against IRT #2 Rocky Carson Friday night.

IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk will face fellow Canadian Samuel Murray, who was a straight game winner over Christian Wer, 11-6, 11-0, 11-5, in the 64s.

The all-Lefty battle between Robert Collins and Thomas Carter did not disappoint, as it went to a tie-breaker with Carter coming out on top, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4. Carter will play Alvaro Beltran in the 16s.

The IRT Network will be broadcasting the Shamrock Shootout with the Round of 16 at 4 PM Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals on Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the semi-finals at 5:30 and 8:30 and the final on Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Qualifying Round 2 - Friday

Q8) Samuel Murray d. Christian Wer, 11-6, 11-0, 11-5
Q1) Marco Rojas d. Gerardo Franco, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4

Q4) David Horn d. Fernando Javier Rivera, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Q5) Thomas Carter d. Robert Collins, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4

Q6) Andree Parrilla d. Justus Benson, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6
Q3) Alejandro Landa d. Set Cubillos, 11-9, 11-8, 11-0

Q2) Felipe Camacho d. Edwin Galicia, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0
Q7) Andres Acuña d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Samuel Murray
8) Sebastian Franco v. Marco Rojas

5) Jansen Allen v. David Horn
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Thomas Carter

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Andree Parrilla
6) Mario Mercado v. Alejandro Landa

7) Jose Rojas v. Felipe Camacho
2) Rocky Carson v. Andres Acuña

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout - Round of 64

Thursday’s Round of 64 at the International Racquetball Tour’s (IRT’s) 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout didn’t produce any surprises, and just one tie-breaker. Christian Wer came back from 2-1 down to defeat Scott McClellan, 11-8, 2-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-8. Wer will play Samuel Murray in the Round of 32 Friday, as Murray beat Hanzel Martinez, 11-6, 11-4, 11-0.

Of the matches in the 32s, perhaps the closest will be the all-Lefty battle between Robert Collins and Thomas Carter. Another one to watch will be Marco Rojas against up and comer Gerardo Franco.

The Round of 32 starts on Friday morning at 10 AM CDT. Look for the action on the IRT Network. The Round of 16 will start at 4 PM Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM, and the semi-finals at 5:30 and 8:30 and the final on Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Samuel Murray d. Hanzel Martinez, 11-6, 11-4, 11-0
Christian Wer d. Scott McClellan, 11-8, 2-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-8

Marco Rojas - BYE
Gerardo Franco d. Geoff Goldblatt, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2

Fernando Javier Rivera d. Juan Herrera, forfeit
David Horn d. Rocco Forgione, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1

Robert Collins d. James Schlicher, 11-4, 11-2, 11-5
Thomas Carter d. Ferd Samson, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6

Justus Benson d. Andrés Gómez, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10
Andree Parrilla d. Bryan Crosser, 11-4, 11-4, 16-14

Alejandro Landa - BYE
Set Cubillos v. Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Edwin Galicia d. Eugene Coyle, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Felipe Camacho - BYE

Jake Bredenbeck d. Sergio Acuña, 11-2, 11-2, 11-0
Andres Acuña d. Juan Salvatierra, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9

Qualifying Round 2 - Friday

Q8) Samuel Murray v. Christian Wer
Q1) Marco Rojas v. Gerardo Franco

Q4) Fernando Javier Rivera v. David Horn
Q5) Robert Collins v. Thomas Carter

Q6) Justus Benson v. Andree Parrilla
Q3) Alejandro Landa v. Set Cubillos

Q2) Felipe Camacho v. Edwin Galicia
Q7) Jake Bredenbeck v. Andres Acuña

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
8) Sebastian Franco v. Q1

5) Jansen Allen v. Q4
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Q5

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q6
6) Mario Mercado v. Q3

7) Jose Rojas v. Q2
2) Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT’s) resumes its 2016-17 season this weekend with the first event of two on consecutive weekends. The 32nd Annual Shamrock Shootout takes place in Lombard, Illinois this weekend with the Raising Some Racquet for Kids Pro-Am next weekend in Dayton, Ohio.

With 37 players in the draw, this is the largest IRT field in some time, apart from the US Open. Leading the was will be IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who missed the last IRT event back in January due to slight injury, but he’ll be looking to continue his unbeaten season in Lombard.

Rocky Carson, IRT #2, will be looking to prevent Waselenchuk winning another tournament, as will Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT #3, and #4 Alvaro Beltran.

The IRT Network will have the action from Lombard starting on Friday. Note the draw times are slightly different for this event, as there will only be one round of qualifying on Thursday. Then the Round of 32 will be Friday morning with the Round of 16 Friday evening. The quarterfinals will be Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM with the semi-finals at 5:30 and 8:30 and the final on Sunday at 1 PM.

2017 IRT Shamrock Shootout, March 16-19
Lombard, Illinois

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Samuel Murray v. Rocco Forgione
Scott McClellan v. Andrés Gómez

Marco Rojas - BYE
Gerardo Franco v. Geoff Goldblatt

Juan Herrera v. Fernando Javier Rivera
David Horn v. Christian Wer

Robert Collins v. James Schlicher
Thomas Carter v. Ferd Samson

Justus Benson v. Sergio Acuña
Andree Parrilla v. Juan Salvatierra

Alejandro Landa - BYE
Set Cubillos v. Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Edwin Galicia v. Eugene Coyle
Felipe Camacho - BYE

Jake Bredenbeck v. Hanzel Martinez
Andres Acuña v. Bryan Crosser

Qualifying Round 2 - Friday

Q8) Samuel Murray or Rocco Forgione v. Scott McClellan or Andrés Gómez
Q1) Marco Rojas v. Gerardo Franco or Geoff Goldblatt

Q4) Juan Herrera or Fernando Javier Rivera v. David Horn or Christian Wer
Q5) Robert Collins or James Schlicher v. Thomas Carter or Ferd Samson

Q6) Justus Benson or Sergio Acuña v. Andree Parrilla or Juan Salvatierra
Q3) Alejandro Landa v. Set Cubillos or Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Q2) Felipe Camacho v. Edwin Galicia or Eugene Coyle
Q7) Jake Bredenbeck or Hanzel Martinez v. Andres Acuña or Bryan Crosser

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
8) Sebastian Franco v. Q1

5) Jansen Allen v. Q4
4) Alvaro Beltran v. Q5

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q6
6) Mario Mercado v. Q3

7) Jose Rojas v. Q2
2) Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mar & Longoria win singles titles at Mexican National Team Selection Event

Going in to the 2017 Mexican Racquetball Federation National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, Mexico some may have questioned Javier Mar’s seeding as the #1 player in the Men’s Singles draw when the field included players such as Alvaro Beltran, Polo Gutierrez, Alejandro Landa and Andree Parrilla. But Mar proved worthy of the seeding Sunday as he won the event by defeating Landa in the final, 15-11, 7-15, 11-7.

Landa didn’t leave Chihuahua empty handed though, as he and Gutierrez won the Men’s Doubles title by beating the young team of Rodrigo Montoya and Parrilla, 15-12, 8-15, 11-8.

There were no questions about who the top seed should be on the women’s side, and Paola Longoria once again proved to be the best women’s racquetball player of the moment, as she defeated Samantha Salas in the Women’s Singles final, 15-10, 15-3. Longoria and Salas then teamed up to win the Women’s Doubles final, beating Susana Acosta and Jessica Maldonado, 15-14, 15-5.

These results will be used to select the players that will represent Mexico at next month’s Pan American Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, April 8-15.

Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - March 8-12, 2017

Women's Open

Final

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Samantha Salas Solis, 15-10, 15-3

3rd Place

3) Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Susana Acosta, 15-3, 15-7

Women's Open Doubles

Final

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado, 15-14, 15-5

3rd Place

3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez d. 4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia, 15-12, 15-14

Men's Open Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar d. 3) Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 7-15, 11-7

3rd Place

31) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Javier Estrada, 15-2, 15-7

Men's Open Doubles

Final

4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa d. 2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla, 15-12, 8-15, 11-8

3rd Place

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. 1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno, forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball….

Horn wins singles, Cardona & Franco doubles at WRT 2017 Midwest Championships

David Horn won his 2nd World Racquetball Tour (WRT) event Sunday, when he defeated Mario Mercado by narrowest of margins, 15-14, 15-14, to win the Midwest Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This was Horn’s 7th appearance in a WRT final, and he won his first title in 2015 at the San Luis Open, beating Jake Bredenbeck in the final.

Horn and Bredenbeck teamed up together in Minneapolis, and were in the doubles final, but they lost to Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco, 15-8, 15-8.

Horn’s win may move him ahead of Rodrigo Montoya in the WRT rankings. Horn came into the event ranked 3rd, and Montoya is 2nd (Cardona is the #1 WRT player), but Montoya didn’t play in Minneapolis, so that may have given Horn the opportunity to go past Montoya in the rankings.

The next WRT event will be May 5-7, when the WRT Georgia Open happens in Atlanta.

2017 WRT Midwest Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Final

2) David Horn d. 21) Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-14

Doubles - Final

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn, 15-8, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mercado reaches final of WRT 2017 Midwest Championships

Mario Mercado had one of the most remarkable comebacks you’ll ever see in the semi-finals of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Midwest Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota Saturday, as he lost the first games to top seed Alejandro Cardona, and was down 10-0 and 14-5 in game two. Yet Mercado came back to win game two, 15-14, and then take the tie-breaker, 11-6. The win puts Mercado in the final against 2nd seed David Horn, who defeated 3rd seed Jaime Martell, 15-9, 15-9, in the other semi.

Horn will have a chance to win two titles Sunday, as he and Andree Parrilla are in the final of Men’s Doubles also. Horn and Parrilla defeated Felipe Camacho and Christian Longoria, 7-15, 15-8, 11-7, in one semi-final, while Cardona and Gerardo Franco needed only two games to beat Martell and Mercado, 15-12, 15-2.

You can watch the finals live from Minneapolis via the R2 tournament page beginning with the singles final at 11 AM on Sunday morning with the double final immediately following the conclusion of the singles final.

2017 WRT Midwest Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 8) Mauro Rojas, 15-6, 14-15, 11-6
21) Mario Mercado d. 13) John Goth, 15-7, 15-9

3) Jaime Martell d. 11) Mauricio Zelada, 15-5, 15-2
2) David Horn d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 15-13

Semi-finals - Saturday

21) Mario Mercado d. 1) Alejandro Cardona, 14-15, 15-14, 11-6
2) David Horn d. 3) Jaime Martell, 15-9, 15-9

Final - Sunday

21) Mario Mercado v. 2) David Horn - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals Saturday

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco d. 5) Jaime Martell & Mario Mercado, 15-12, 15-2
2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn d. 3) Felipe Camacho & Christian Longoria, 7-15, 15-8, 11-7

Doubles - Final Sunday

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Landa & Longoria could be double winners at 2017 Mexico National Team Selection Event

Alejandro Landa could be a double winner on Sunday at the 2017 Mexican Racquetball Federation National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, Mexico, as he is in both the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles finals. In singles, Landa ended the good run of Andree Parrilla, although he needed three games to do it, winning, 13-15, 15-7, 11-3. In doubles, Landa and Polo Gutierrez upset top seeds and current Men’s Doubles World Champions Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno, 15-9, 15-10. The loss could mean that Beltran, who lost early in Men’s Singles to Parrilla, will not qualify for Team Mexico.

Landa will face Javier Mar in the Men’s Singles final, as Mar defeated Javier Estrada, 15-3, 15-10, in the other semi-final. On the doubles side, Landa and Gutierrez will play Parrilla and Rodrigo Montoya, who narrowly beat Mar and Eduardo Garay, 10-15, 15-13, 11-10.

Paola Longoria can be a double winner on the women’s side, as she comfortably reached the finals in Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles. In the singles semi-finals, Longoria beat veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, 15-1, 15-4. She’ll play Samanatha Salas in the final, as Salas defeated Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-10, in the other semi.

In Women’s Doubles, Longoria and Salas beat Lucia Gonzalez and Monserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-3, in one semi-final, and Acosta and Jessica Maldonado defeated Parrilla and Montserrat Perez in the other, 15-14, 15-13.

The finals are Sunday in Chihuahua.

Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - March 8-12, 2017

Women's Open

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Susana Acosta, 15-1, 15-4
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 3) Jessica Parrilla, 15-9, 15-10

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Samantha Salas Solis

Women's Open Doubles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-3
2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. 3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez, 15-14, 15-13

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado

Men's Open Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar d. 13) Javier Estrada, 15-3, 15-10
3) Alejandro Landa v. 31) Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-3

Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar v. 3) Alejandro Landa

Men's Open Doubles

Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa d. 1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno, 15-9, 15-10
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-13, 11-10

Final - Sunday

2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa

Follow the bouncing ball….

2017 Mexico National Team Selection Event - Quarterfinals

Javier Estrada won the all-Javier match in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Mexican Racquetball Federation National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, Mexico Friday, as he defeated veteran Javier Moreno, 15-5, 15-14. The win sets up another all-Javier match in the semi-finals Saturday, as Estrada will face top seed Javier Mar, who defeated 8th seed Rodrigo Garay, 15-3, 15-7, on Friday.

On the other side of the draw, Andree Parrilla booked his place in the semis with a straight game win over Polo Gutierrez, 15-14, 15-8. Parrilla faces 3rd seed Alejandro Landa, who defeated 6th seed Ruben Estrada, 15-13, 2-15, 11-5, in the quarterfinals.

There have been no upsets in Men’s or Women’s Doubles, although the 2nd seeds in Men’s Doubles - Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla - squeaked out their match, as they needed a tie breaker to defeat 7th seeds Erick Sandoval and Ramon Yañez, 15-14, 10-15, 11-9, in one of those rare matches where the winning side has fewer points than the losing side.

The semi-finals will be played Saturday with the finals on Sunday in Chihuahua.

Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - March 8-12, 2017

Women's Open

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Delia Aguilar, 15-1, 15-5
4) Susana Acosta d. 5) Jessica Maldonado, 15-2, 8-15, 11-4

3) Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-3, 15-4
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 7) Alexandra Herrera, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Susana Acosta
2) Samantha Salas Solis v. 3) Jessica Parrilla

Women's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis d. 8) Ana Kristin Rivera & Erin Rivera, 15-0, 15-2
4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia d. 5) Andrea Maldonado & Daniela Molina, 15-2, 15-5

3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez d. 6) Nancy Enriquez & Denisse Maldonado, 15-7, 15-10
2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado d. 7) Eleni Guzman & Alexandra Herrera, 15-13, 15-10

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia
2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. 3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez

Men's Open Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar d. 8) Rodrigo Garay, 15-3, 15-7
13) Javier Estrada d. 5) Javier Moreno, 15-4, 15-14

3) Alejandro Landa d. 6) Ruben Estrada, 15-13, 2-15, 11-5
31) Andree Parrilla d. 26) Polo Gutierrez, 15-14, 15-8

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar v. 13) Javier Estrada
3) Alejandro Landa v. 31) Andree Parrilla

Men's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 9) Ernesto Ochoa & Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-9
4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa d. 5) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, injury forfeit

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. 6) Gil Duarte & Alejandro Mendoza, 15-6, 15-7
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 7) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez, 15-14, 10-15, 11-9

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar

Follow the bouncing ball….

WRT 2017 Midwest Championships - Rounds of 32 & 16

Score one for wily veterans as John Goth got the upset win over 4th seed and current Boy’s U18 World Junior Champion Christian Longoria, 15-10, 6-15, 11-9, at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Midwest Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota Friday. Up next for Goth will be a former U18 World Junior Champion in Mario Mercado, who defeated 5th seed Gerardo Franco, 15-10, 15-3. Mercado won that World Junior Championship back in 2014 in his last year of junior eligibility.

The top three seeds all won their Round of 16 matches. Top seed Alejandro Cardona beat Darrin Prince, 15-5, 15-2, and will take on Mauro Rojas in the quarterfinals. Rojas defeated Felipe Camacho, 15-6, 15-11, in the 16s. Second seed David Horn defeated Fernando Kurzbard, 15-3, 15-4, and will take on Jake Bredenbeck in the quarters after Bredenbeck won a tie-breaker with Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 12-15, 15-5, 11-5. Finally, 3rd seed Jaime Martell needed a tie-breaker to fend off Shai Manzuri, 8-15, 15-3, 11-4. He’ll play Mauricio Zelada, who was an upset winner against Francisco Troncoso, 15-13, 15-2.

In doubles, there was a slight upset as 5th seeds Jaime Martell and Mario Mercado defeated 4th seeds Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, 15-13, 15-5. Martell and Mercardo will face the top seeds Alejandro Cardona and Gerardo Franco in the semi-finals Saturday.

On the other side of the draw, 3rd seeds Felipe Camacho and Christian Longoria needed a tie-breaker to fend off the young American team of Jordan Barth and Justus Benson, 11-15, 15-6, 11-7. They’ll face 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and David Horn, who comfortably defeated Victor Acosta and Mark Pelletier, 15-1, 15-3.

You can watch matches live from Minneapolis via the WRT website beginning with the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Central time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Midwest Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Round of 32

1) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
17) Darrin Prince d. 16) Lee Meinerz, 15-5, 10-15, 11-4

9) Felipe Camacho - BYE
8) Mauro Rojas - BYE

5) Gerardo Franco - BYE
21) Mario Mercado d. 12) Justus Benson, 15-9, 15-3

13) John Goth d. 20) Jeff Jackson, 15-3, 15-1
4) Christian Longoria - BYE

3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Shai Manzuri d. 19) Joel Cassens, 15-2, 15-4

11) Mauricio Zelada - BYE
6) Francisco Troncoso - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - BYE

15) Fernando Kurzbard d. 18) Jordan Barth, forfeit
2) David Horn - BYE

Round of 16

1) Alejandro Cardona d. 17) Darrin Prince, 15-5, 15-2
8) Mauro Rojas d. 9) Felipe Camacho, 15-6, 15-11

21) Mario Mercado d. 5) Gerardo Franco, 15-10, 15-3
13) John Goth d. 4) Christian Longoria, 15-10, 6-15, 11-9

3) Jaime Martell d. 14) Shai Manzuri, 8-15, 15-3, 11-4
11) Mauricio Zelada d. 6) Francisco Troncoso, 15-13, 15-2

7) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 12-15, 15-5, 11-5
2) David Horn d. 15) Fernando Kurzbard, 15-3, 15-4

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Alejandro Cardona v. 8) Mauro Rojas - 1 PM
13) John Goth v. 21) Mario Mercado - 12 PM

3) Jaime Martell v. 11) Mauricio Zelada - 10 AM
2) David Horn v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
5) Jaime Martell & Mario Mercado d. 4) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri, 15-13, 15-5

3) Felipe Camacho & Christian Longoria d. 6) Jordan Barth & Justus Benson, 11-15, 15-6, 11-7
2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn d. 7) Victor Acosta & Mark Pelletier, 15-1, 15-3

Doubles - Semi-finals Saturday

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco v. 5) Jaime Martell & Mario Mercado - 7 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn v. 3) Felipe Camacho & Christian Longoria - 7 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2017 Mexican National Team Selection Event - Round of 16 & Quarterfinals

Veteran Javier Moreno narrowly defeated Ernesto Ochoa, 3-15, 15-2, 11-10, in the Round of 16 at the 2017 Mexican Racquetball Federation National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, Mexico Friday. In the quarterfinals Friday night, Moreno will face Javier Estrada, who was an upset winner over 4th seed Ramon Yañez, 15-6, 15-6.

In other action, the anticipated quarterfinal match of Andree Parrilla versus Polo Gutierrez is on, as they won their respective matches in the 16s. Parrilla beat Mario Hidalgo, 15-1, 15-3, and Gutierrez defeated Homar Prieto, 15-3, 15-5. ALso, 3rd seed Alejandro Landa won his showdown with 19th seed Rodrigo Montoya in two straight games, 15-6, 15-11, and will play Ruben Estrada in the quarters, as Estrada defeated Rafael Ochoa, 8-15, 15-1, 11-6.

The top four seeds are through to the semi-finals in Women’s Singles. Top seed Paola Longoria defeated Delia Aguilar, 15-1, 15-5, and 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla was also a straight game winner over Lucia Gonzalez, 15-3, 15-4. But 2nd seed Samantha Salas needed a tie-breaker to beat Alexandra Herrera, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7, as did 4th Susana Acosta, who was a winner over Jessica Maldonado, 15-2, 8-15, 11-4.

Play continues Friday and will conclude Sunday in Chihuahua.

Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - March 8-12, 2017

Women's Open

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Delia Aguilar, 15-1, 15-5
4) Susana Acosta d. 5) Jessica Maldonado, 15-2, 8-15, 11-4

3) Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-3, 15-4
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 7) Alexandra Herrera, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Susana Acosta
2) Samantha Salas Solis v. 3) Jessica Parrilla

Women's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 8) Ana Kristin Rivera & Erin Rivera
4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Adrea Maldonado & Daniela Molina

3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez v. 6) Nancy Enriquez & Denisse Maldonado
2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. 7) Eleni Guzman & Alexandra Herrera

Men's Open Singles

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar d. 16) Alfonso Luna, 15-1, 15-3
8) Rodrigo Garay d. 9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 6-15, 15-5, 11-2

5) Javier Moreno d. 21) Ernesto Ochoa, 3-15, 15-2, 11-10
13) Javier Estrada d. 4) Ramon Yañez, 15-6, 15-6

3) Alejandro Landa d. 19) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-6, 15-11
6) Ruben Estrada d. 22) Rafael Ochoa, 8-15, 15-1, 11-6

26) Polo Gutierrez d. 23) Homar Prieto, 15-3, 15-5
31) Andree Parrilla d. 15) Mario Hidalgo, 15-1, 15-3

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar v. 8) Rodrigo Garay
5) Javier Moreno v. 13) Javier Estrada

3) Alejandro Landa v. 6) Ruben Estrada
26) Polo Gutierrez v.31) Andree Parrilla

Men's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 9) Ernesto Ochoa & Jordy Alonso
4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa v. 5) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar v. 6) Gil Duarte & Alejandro Mendoza
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 7) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez

Follow the bouncing ball….

WRT 2017 Midwest Championships - Preview

The 4th event of the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) season goes this weekend, as the Midwest Championships happen in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The draw isn’t as large as usual, as the Mexican National Team Selection Event is also running this weekend, but there are 21 players in the draw led by #1 seed Alejandro Cardona, #2 David Horn, #3 Jaime Martell and #4 Christian Longoria. Also of note in the draw are Mario Mercado, Felipe Camacho and Jake Bredenbeck.

You can watch matches live from Minneapolis via the WRT website beginning with the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Midwest Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Round of 32

1) Alejandro Cardona - BYE
16) Lee Meinerz v. 17) Darrin Prince

9) Felipe Camacho - BYE
8) Mauro Rojas - BYE

5) Gerardo Franco - BYE
12) Justus Benson v. 21) Mario Mercado

13) John Goth v. 20) Jeff Jackson
4) Christian Longoria - BYE

3) Jaime Martell - BYE
14) Shai Manzuri v. 19) Joel Cassens

11) Mauricio Zelada - BYE
6) Francisco Troncoso - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - BYE

15) Fernando Kurzbard v. 18) Jordan Barth
2) David Horn - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alejandro Cardona & Gerardo Franco - BYE
4) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri v. 5) Jaime Martell & Mario Mercado

3) Felipe Camacho & Christian Longoria v. 6) Jordan Barth & Justus Benson
2) Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn v. 7) Victor Acosta & mark Pelletier

Follow the bouncing ball….

2017 Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo - Rounds of 32 & 16

Andree Parrilla has the first big upset at the 2017 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, as he knocked off 2nd seed Alvaro Beltran, 15-8, 12-15, 11-7. Next up for Parrilla will be 15th seed Mario Hidalgo, who defeated 18th seed Alejandro Mendoza, 15-5, 11-15, 11-8. But if Parrilla gets past Mendoza, he’ll likely face another veteran in Polo Gutierrez in the quarterfinals.

The big match in the Men’s Round of 16 will be 3rd seed Alejandro Landa against 19th seed Rodrigo Montoya. In the Round of 32, Landa beat Jordy Alonso, 15-1, 15-5, and Montoya defeated Carlos Flores, 15-5, 15-1.

No upsets in Men’s Doubles, where Beltran is top seed with long time partner Javier Moreno. They defeated 16th seeds Jesus Guerra and Hugo Prado, 15-10, 15-6, in the Round of 16.

There were also no upsets so far in women’s play, as World Champion Paola Longoria, the top seed in Chihuahua, won her first match, defeating Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-3. Second seed, and Longoria’s doubles partner, Samantha Salas won her Round of 16 match against Eleni Guzman, 15-5, 15-0.

Play continues Friday and will conclude Sunday in Chihuahua.

Campeonato Nacional Mexicano de Racqetbol Selectivo
Chihuahua, Mexico - March 8-12, 2017

Women's Open

Round 1

16) Monserrat Mejia d. 17) Montserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-6
15) Eleni Guzman d. 18) Erin Rivera, 8-15, 15-7, 11-5

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Monserrat Mejia, 15-9, 15-3
8) Delia Aguilar d. 9) Fernanda Ruiz, 15-6, 15-4

5) Jessica Maldonado d. 12) Andrea Maldonado, 15-5, 15-2
4) Susana Acosta d. 13) Denisse Maldonado, 15-4, 15-7

3) Jessica Parrilla d. 14) Daniela Molina, 15-8, 15-14
6) Lucia Gonzalez d. Vanessa Gutierrez, 15-6, 15-1

7) Alexandra Herrera d. 10) Nancy Enriquez, 15-2, 15-1
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 15) Eleni Guzman, 15-5, 15-0

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Delia Aguilar
4) Susana Acosta v. 5) Jessica Maldonado

3) Jessica Parrilla v. 6) Lucia Gonzalez
2) Samantha Salas Solis v. 7) Alexandra Herrera

Women's Open Doubles

Round 1

8) Ana Kristin Rivera & Erin Rivera d. 9) Claudia Puente & Sofia Ramirez, 10-15, 15-3, 11-0

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis v. 8) Ana Kristin Rivera & Erin Rivera
4) Lucia Gonzalez & Monserrat Mejia v. 5) Adrea Maldonado & Daniela Molina

3) Jessica Parrilla & Montserrat Perez v. 6) Nancy Enriquez & Denisse Maldonado
2) Susana Acosta & Jessica Maldonado v. 7) Eleni Guzman & Alexandra Herrera

Men's Open Singles

Round 1

32) Eduardo Portillo d. 33) Miguel Gardea, forfeit
31) Andree Parrilla d. 34) Erick Sandoval, 15-7, 15-5

Round of 32

1) Javier Mar d. 32) Eduardo Portillo, 15-5, 15-13
16) Alfonso Luna d. 17) Daniel Maldonado, 15-10, 15-4

9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 24) Mario Zamora, 15-9, 15-6
8) Rodrigo Garay d. 25) Daniel Neri, 15-7, 15-9

5) Javier Moreno d. 28) Juan Loreto, 15-11, 15-10
21) Ernesto Ochoa d. 12) Gil Duarte, 15-8, 15-7

13) Javier Estrada d. 20) Alan Natera, 15-10, 4-15, 11-7
4) Ramon Yañez d. 29) Alan Marquez, 6-15, 15-11, 11-6

3) Alejandro Landa d. 30) Jordy Alonso, 15-1, 15-5
19) Rodrigo Montoya d. 14) Carlos Flores, 15-5, 15-1

22) Rafael Ochoa d. 11) Daniel Baeza, 15-12, 15-12
6) Ruben Estrada d. 27) Alejandro Gachuz, 15-1, 15-1

26) Polo Gutierrez d. 7) Eduardo Garay, 15-6, 11-15, 11-5
23) Homar Prieto d. 10) Luis Saldaña, 15-12, 15-6

15) Mario Hidalgo d. 18) Alejandro Mendoza, 15-5, 11-15, 11-8
31) Andree Parrilla d. 2) Alvaro Beltran, 15-8, 12-15, 11-7

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar v. 16) Alfonso Luna
8) Rodrigo Garay v. 9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr.

5) Javier Moreno v. 21) Ernesto Ochoa
4) Ramon Yañez v. 13) Javier Estrada

3) Alejandro Landa v. 19) Rodrigo Montoya
6) Ruben Estrada v. 22) Rafael Ochoa

23) Homar Prieto v. 26) Polo Gutierrez
31) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Mario Hidalgo

Men's Open Doubles

Round of 16

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno d. 16) Jesus Guerra & Hugo Prado, 15-10, 15-6
9) Ernesto Ochoa & Jordy Alonso d. 8) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora, 15-7, 15-3

5) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera d. 12) Juan Loreto & Alan Marquez, 15-11, 14-15, 11-3
4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa d. 13) Diego Alonso & Alejandro Martinez, 15-2, 15-1

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar d. 14) Ruben Martinez & Eduardo Portillo, 15-13, 15-9
6) Gil Duarte & Alejandro Mendoza d. 11) Liam Evangelista & Daniel Herrera, 15-9, 14-15, 11-4

7) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez d. 10) Ruben Estrada & Rodrigo Garay, 15-13, 4-15, 11-6
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-9, 15-6

Quarterfinals

1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno v. 9) Ernesto Ochoa & Jordy Alonso
4) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa v. 5) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera

3) Eduardo Garay & Javier Mar v. 6) Gil Duarte & Alejandro Mendoza
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 7) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria wins twice at LPRT New Jersey Open

Paola Longoria won both of the finals she played in at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) New Jersey Open in Warren, New Jersey on Sunday, confirming her place at the top of the LPRT rankings. In the singles final, Longoria defeated 6th seed Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-2, 11-4, and then she teamed up with Gabriella Martinez to win the doubles title by beating Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 15-3.

While the wins were expected from the LPRT #1, as Longoria hasn’t lost this season, the doubles win was Martinez’s first title on tour.

The next LPRT Tier event the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, April 21-23, but there is an outdoor satellite - the WOR - AZ WOR VII - in Glendale, Arizona, March 31-April 2. If you missed any of the action from New Jersey, you can see it via the LPRT Network LiveSteam channel.

LPRT New Jersey Open
March 3-5, 2017, Warren, New Jersey

Final (seedings) - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-2, 11-4

LPRT Doubles - Final Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-11, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria in two finals at 2017 LPRT New Jersey Open

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), has reached the finals of both singles and doubles at the New Jersey Open in Warren, New Jersey, but her opponent in the singles final is a surprise, as 6th seed Cristina Amaya upset 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert, 11-9, 5-11, 11-3, 11-1, to reach an LPRT final for only the second time in her career.

Amaya's last appearance in the final was in Toluca, Mexico, where she lost to Longoria. Interestingly, Amaya also beat Lambert in the semis to get the Toluca final.

On the doubles side, Longoria and Gabriella Martinez will face Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the final. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Martinez beat Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-2, while Rajsich and Lotts defeated 7th seeds Susana Acosta and Kelani Bailey, 15-8, 15-11.

The singles final will be Sunday at 11 and doubles final at noon. All times are EST. Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network LiveSteam channel.

LPRT New Jersey Open
March 3-5, 2017, Warren, New Jersey

Quarterfinals (seedings) - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2

6) Cristina Amaya d. 14) Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 10) Adriana Riveros, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Semi-finals (seedings) - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-6, 11-8
6) Cristina Amaya d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-9, 5-11, 11-3, 11-1

Final (seedings) - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 6) Cristina Amaya - 11 AM

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 15-2
6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 7) Susana Acosta & Kelani Bailey, 15-8, 15-11

LPRT Doubles - Final Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball....

2017 LPRT New Jersey Open - Round of 16 & 32

Former Rhonda Rajsich, a former #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), made a successful return to competition Friday, although she had to fight off match point against Gabriella Martinez before coming back to win, 8-11, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10, 11-2, in what was her first LPRT match since the death of her father late last year.

The win was a measure of revenge for Rajsich, as Martinez, the current U16 IRF World Junior Champion, upset Rajsich in the Round of 16 at last year's IRF World Championships. That was Rajsich's earliest exit from Worlds, an event she's won twice. Martinez almost got the better of Rajsich again Friday, as the young Guatemalan was up two games to one on the veteran American, and 10-6 in game four. But Rajsich hit a winning backhand pinch shot to get the serve back, and then ran six straight rallies - briefly interrupted by a Martinez timeout at 8-10 - to win the game and extend the match to a tie-breaker, which Rajsich won easily.

Rajsich, the 4th seed, will face 5th seed Alexandra Herrera in the quarterfinals on Saturday, as Herrera beat 12th seed Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5.

Rajsich's doubles partner Sheryl Lotts was an upset winner in the Round of 16, as it appears 3rd Jessica Parrilla was a late withdrawal from the event. Thus, Lotts will play in quarters against 6th seed Cristina Amaya, who defeated 11th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3, in the 16s.

Some upsets in the doubles draw, as the #2, #3 and #4 seeds all went out. The biggest giant slayers were 7th seeds Susana Acosta and Kelani Bailey, who won the lefty-righty battle with 2nd seeds Frédérique Lambert and Aimee Ruiz, 10-15, 15-10, 11-9. Acosta and Ruiz are both left-handed, while Bailey and Lambert are right handed.

Acosta and Bailey will play 6th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich in the semis, as Lotts and Rajsich beat 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 15-14.

On the other side of the draw, top seeds Paola Longoria and Gabriela Martinez defeated 8th seeds Andrea Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-2, and will play 5th seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, who had a forfeit win over 4th seeds Adrienne Haynes and Jessica Parrilla, forfeit.

The singles Round of 16 concludes Friday with the doubles quarterfinals Friday evening. The singles quarterfinals are Saturday morning with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 and doubles final at noon. All times are EST. Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network LiveSteam channel.

LPRT New Jersey Open
March 3-5, 2017, Warren, New Jersey

Round of 32 (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey d. 17) Jean Halahan, 11-1, 11-4, 11-0

9) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Natalia Mendez d. 21) Christina Vandling, 11-6, 11-3, 11-2

13) Gabriela Martinez d. 20) Veronique Guillemette, 12-10, 11-2, 11-3
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

3) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14) Sheryl Lotts d. 19) Andrea Martinez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6

11) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 22) Angeles Sarria, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE

7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adriana Riveros d. 23) Daniela Herrera, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0

15) Laura Brandt d. 18) Jennifer Dering, 11-6, 11-3, 11-0
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE

Round of 16 (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Kelani Bailey
8) Carla Muñoz v. 9) Adrienne Haynes

5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 13) Gabriela Martinez, 8-11, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10, 11-2

14) Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
6) Cristina Amaya d. 11) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3

10) Adriana Riveros d. 7) Susana Acosta, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7
2) Frédérique Lambert d. 15) Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-5, 11-1

Quarterfinals (seedings) - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria or 16) Kelani Bailey v. 8) Carla Muñoz or 9) Adrienne Haynes - 10 AM
4) Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Alexandra Herrera - 10 AM

6) Cristina Amaya v. 14) Sheryl Lotts - 9 AM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 10) Adriana Riveros - 9 AM

LPRT Doubles - Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez - BYE
8) Andrea Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 9) Veronique Guillemette & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-12

5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
4) Adrienne Haynes & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

7) Susana Acosta & Kelani Bailey - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert & Aimee Ruiz - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez d. 8) Andrea Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-2
5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 4) Adrienne Haynes & Jessica Parrilla, forfeit

6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 15-14
7) Susana Acosta & Kelani Bailey d. 2) Frédérique Lambert & Aimee Ruiz, 10-15, 15-10, 11-9

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 6 PM
6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich v. 7) Susana Acosta & Kelani Bailey - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2017 LPRT New Jersey Open - Preview

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) has its first (yes, 1st!) event of 2017 this weekend, when the New Jersey Open happens in Warren, New Jersey. There’s a good field for the event, as usual, and the field of 23 players is led by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who is undefeated this season. Trying to stop Longoria’s winning streak will be #2 Frédérique Lambert, who has beaten Longoria in New Jersey, doing so two years ago in the semi-finals of the 2015 New Jersey Open.

Ten of the top eleven players will be in New Jersey, where LPRT #4 Rhonda Rajsich will make her return to the tour for the first time since the unexpected death of her father late last year. Rajsich did play in the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship last month, and won the US Team Qualifying Singles Division, although she and Sheryl Lotts lost in the semi-finals of the US Team Qualifying Doubles division.

Rajsich and Lotts will be in the doubles action this weekend, which has some interesting new teams. Longoria usually plays with Samantha Salas, but Salas isn’t playing this weekend, so Longoria has paired up with teen phenom Gabriella Martinez, the current World Junior U16 Champion and silver medalist at the World Championship last year, when she lost to Longoria in the final. They are seeded #1, and the 2nd seeds are also a new team, as Lambert has paired up with current US and World Women’s Doubles Champion Aimee Ruiz.

The Round of 32 will be on Friday morning and Round of 16 Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals are Saturday morning with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 and doubles final at noon. All times are EST. Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network LiveSteam channel.

LPRT New Jersey Open
March 3-5, 2017, Warren, New Jersey

Round of 32 (seedings)

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey v. 17) Jean Halahan

9) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Natalia Mendez v. 21) Christina Vandling

13) Gabriela Martinez v. 20) Veronique Guillemette
4) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

3) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
14) Sheryl Lotts v. 19) Andrea Martinez

11) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 22) Angeles Sarria
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE

7) Susana Acosta - BYE
10) Adriana Riveros v. 23) Daniela Herrera

15) Laura Brandt v. 18) Jennifer Dering
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE

LPRT Doubles

1) Paola Longoria & Gabriela Martinez - BYE
8) Andrea Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 9) Veronique Guillemette & Natalia Mendez

5) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - BYE
4) Adrienne Haynes & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

7) Susana Acosta & Kelani Bailey - BYE
2) Frédérique Lambert & Aimee Ruiz - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....