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….