2018 IRT March Madness - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) will be back in action this weekend with the IRT March Madness tournament in San Antonio, Texas. That’s the good news. The sad news is that IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is not in the draw, as he has not recovered from the knee injury he suffered at the Los Angeles Open in January. Also, Rocky Carson will not be there either, as he has a contractual obligation that conflicts with this event.

For those wondering when the last time neither Waselenchuk or Carson were in an IRT event, it was August 2000 in New Orleans. That’s remarkable enough, but it’s more remarkable that Carson has played every IRT tournament since then, so you needn’t even add Waselenchuk to this either / or question. That’s a streak of 215 events for Carson, which is the longest in IRT history, and nearly 100 more than the second longest streak of 118 tournaments by Chris Crowther.

The absence of Waselenchuk and Carson provides an opportunity for others, including the two players who have won the most recent IRT events: Daniel De La Rosa - the Los Angeles Open winner - and Alejandro Landa - the Lewis Drug Pro-Am winner. The last four IRT events have been won by different players: De La Rosa, Landa, Charlie Pratt and Waselenchuk, which hadn’t been done since the fall of 2013, when Jose Rojas, Waselenchuk, Alvaro Beltan and Carson won consecutive tournaments. If there’s a different winner in San Antonio, which means if neither De La Rosa or Landa win as Pratt and Waselenchuk aren’t there, there would be five different winners for the first time since 1995, when Andy Roberts, Sudsy Monchik, Drew Kachtik, Cliff Swain and John Ellis all won in a row.

De La Rosa and Landa will not meet in the final this weekend, as they did in Sioux Falls, as they are on the same side of the draw with De La Rosa the #1 seed and Landa the #4 seed. Beltran is the #2 seed and Jansen Allen #3. Is this the opportunity that Allen needs to win his first IRT event? The other top four seeds have all done so.

The dark horses this weekend are Mario Mercado, a runner up to Pratt in Portland in December, Andree Parrilla, who was an IRT finalist last season, and Samuel Murray, who has been in the semi-finals in two of the last three IRT events.

The IRT Network will have the action from San Antonio starting with the Round of 16 on Friday morning at 10 and 11:05 AM Central with the quarterfinals at 5:35 and 6:40 PM. The semi-finals will be at 10:10 AM and 11:15 AM Saturday with the final at 6:50 PM Saturday. For action on Thursday, check out the IRT Facebook page.

2018 IRT March Madness, March 1-4, 2018
San Antonio, Texas

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday afternoon

Mauro Rojas v. David Mendoza
Christian Longoria v. Bruce Robles

Tyrone Gilmore v. Hanzel Martinez
Francisco Troncoso v. Lorenzo Valdez

Edwin Galicia v. Glenn Martineau
Erik Mendoza v. Jody Morris

Brennen Jennings v. Daniel Neri
Christian Wer v. Zachary Williams

Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday night

Q8) Juan Salvatierra v. Mauro Rojas or David Mendoza
Q1) Felipe Camacho v. Christian Longoria or Bruce Robles

Q4) Adam Manilla v. Tyrone Gilmore or Hanzel Martinez
Q5) Nicholas Riffel v. Francisco Troncoso or Lorenzo Valdez

Q6) Scott McClellan v. Edwin Galicia or Glenn Martineau
Q3) Robert Collins v. Erik Mendoza or Jody Morris

Q2) Jose Diaz v. Brennen Jennings or Daniel Neri
Q7) John Wolfe v. Christian Wer or Zachary Williams

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q8
8) Andree Parrilla v. Q1

5) Mario Mercado v. Q4
4) Alejandro Landa v. Q5

3) Jansen Allen v. Q6
6) Samuel Murray v. Q3

7) Sebastian Franco v. Q2
2) Alvaro Beltran v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Montoya, Longoria, Beltran & De La Rosa win at 2018 Mexican National Selection Event

Rodrigo Montoya won Men’s Open at the 2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua Sunday. He defeated Daniel De La Rosa, 15-3, 15-12, in the final. Montoya had a chance to be a double winner, as he was in the final of Men’s Doubles with Javier Mar. However, they lost to De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran, 15-14, 15-9.

On the women’s side, Paola Longoria defeated Samantha Salas, 15-1, 15-8, in what looks like the Women’s Open final, although the looks like there might be another match involved. There is no Women’s Doubles division in the tournament, so we’re not sure how they will select their women’s doubles team for the 2018 Pan American Championships to be held next month in Temuco, Chile.

If you missed any of the action, you can watch some of it via the FRM Facebook page.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo FMR
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 21-25, 2018

Women's Open

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Samantha Salas Solis, 15-1, 15-8

Men's Open Singles

Final - Sunday

7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-3, 15-12

Men's Open Doubles

Final - Sunday

6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event - Semi-finals

Daniel De La Rosa ended the fairy tale run of Alan Natera through the Men’s Singles draw at the 2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua on Saturday, De La Rosa beat Natera, who was seeded 32nd, 15-8, 15-6, in the semi-finals. De La Rosa will play Rodrigo Montoya in the final, as Montoya defeated Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-14, in the other semi.

De La Rosa and Montoya will faceoff in the Men’s Doubles final also, as Montoya and Javier Mar beat Eduardo Garay and Rodrigo Garay, 15-7, 15-9, in one semi-final, while De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran needed a tie-breaker to defeat Edson Martinez and Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3, in the other.

On the women’s side, Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively, will meet on Sunday, but not in the final, as the winner will need to play at least one more match, because the format is a double knockout.

On Saturday in the semi-finals (kind of), Longoria beat Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-4, and Salas defeated Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-8. But Herrera and Enriquez are in the final of the B side, so one of them will have a chance to play the winner of Longoria and Salas. It seems that if Longoria or Salas loses that match to Herrera or Enriquez, then a second match will need to be played before deciding a final winner.

This is the first time we have seen a draw like this, and it’s a little odd. We suppose the idea is to reduce the chance factor in who wins the event. Someone needs to be beaten twice before truly being eliminated.

Play concludes Sunday in Chihuahua. You can see the action via the FRM Facebook page.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo FMR
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 21-25, 2018

Women's Open

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-4
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 6) Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-8

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Samantha Salas Solis - 11:30 AM

Men's Open Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Daniel De La Rosa d. 32) Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-6
7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-14

Final - Sunday

5) Daniel De La Rosa v. 7) Rodrigo Montoya - 12:20 PM

Men's Open Doubles

Semi-finals - Saturday

8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay, 15-7, 15-9
6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3

Final - Sunday

6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 1:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Mexico National Team Selection Event - Quarterfinals

Alan Natera continued his good run at the 2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, as the 32nd seed defeated 8th seed Gerardo Franco, 15-2, 9-15, 11-2, in the quarterfinals. But Natera will face his greatest challenge in the semi-finals, when he takes on Daniel De La Rosa, who was a quarterfinal winner over Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-7.

On the other side of the draw, Andree Parrilla will play Rodrigo Montoya in the semis, as Parrilla took out veteran Polo Gutierrez, 10-15, 15-3, 11-3, and Montoya beat Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-5.

In Men’s Doubles, the top four seeds all lost to seeds 5-8. Montoya and Javier Mar knocked off the #1 seeds Gutierrez and Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-7. They will play Eduardo Garay and Rodrigo Garay in the semi-finals, who were winners over veteran Javier Moreno and Ernesto Ochoa, 15-8, 15-9.

The other semi will be between Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, who were somehow the 6th seeds in the draw though one could argue they should have been the #1 seeds, and Edson Martinez and Andree Parrilla. In the quarters, Beltran and De La Rosa beat Erick Sandoval and Ramon Yañez, 15-6, 15-10, while Martinez and Parrilla defeated Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-6, 8-15, 11-3.

Play continues Saturday and will conclude Sunday in Chihuahua. You can see some of the action via the FRM Facebook page.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo FMR
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 21-25, 2018

Women's Open

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Alexandra Herrera - 1 PM
6) Nancy Enriquez v. 2) Samantha Salas Solis - 12:10 PM

Men's Open Singles

Quarterfinals

32) Alan Natera d. 8) Gerardo Franco, 15-2, 9-15, 11-2
5) Daniel De La Rosa d. 13) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-7

3) Andree Parrilla d. 11) Polo Gutierrez, 10-15, 15-3, 11-3
7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Daniel De La Rosa v. 32) Alan Natera - 5:10 PM
3) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Rodrigo Montoya - 4:20 PM

Men's Open Doubles

Quarterfinals

8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-7
5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay d. 4) Javier Moreno & Ernesto Ochoa, 15-8, 15-9

6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez, 15-6, 15-10
7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera, 15-6, 8-15, 11-3

Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay v. 8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - 7:40 PM
6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla - 6:50 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event - Early rounds

Big upsets at the 2018 Mexican National Team Selection Event in Chihuahua, as the #1 and #2 seeds fell before the quarterfinals. Javier Mar, #1 seed because he won this event last year, lost his first match to 32ed seed Alan Natera, 15-13, 15-14, 11-9, in the Round of 32. Second seed Alejandro Landa only last one more round before he was ousted by 15th seed Jaime Martell, 15-7, 15-14. Also losing was veteran Alvaro Beltran, who was seeded 6th, and lost to 27th seed Ernesto Ochoa, 15-7, 8-15, 11-10.

In women’s play, 6th seed Nancy Enriquez upset 3rd seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-12. But the loss doesn’t eliminate Parrilla from the competition, as she moves over the consolation draw (B side) of the draw, where the winner will have a chance to play the winner of the main draw (A side). Enriquez will play the winner of 2nd seed Samantha Salas and 7th seed Monserrat Mejia.

That A side winner will likely be top seed Paola Longoria, who comfortably won her quarterfinal match against 9th seed Delia Aguilar, 15-4, 15-0. Longoria will play 5th Alexandra Herrera in the semi-finals, as Herrera won a battle of two left-handed players in a tie-breaker with 4th seed Susana Acosta, 15-3, 10-15, 11-4.

Play continues Friday and will conclude Sunday in Chihuahua.

Campeonato Nacional Selectivo FMR
Chihuahua, Mexico - February 21-25, 2018

Women's Open

Round 1

17) Daniela Rico d. 16) Ximena Martinez, 15-14, 15-13
13) Maritza Franco d. 20) Ana Victoria Orozco, 15-1, 15-11
19) Ana Laura Flores d. 14) Alejandro Zuñiga, 15-4, 15-7
15) Abril Sacristán d. 18) Jessica Balderrama Perez, 15-4, 14-15, 11-4

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Daniela Rico, 15-1, 15-1
9) Delia Aguilar d. 8) Denisse Maldonado, 15-5, 15-12

5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Ximena Gonzalez, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8
4) Susana Acosta d. 13) Maritza Franco, 15-8, 15-5

3) Jessica Parrilla d. 19) Ana Laura Flores, 15-3, 15-6
6) Nancy Enriquez d. 11) Fernanda Ruiz, 15-0, 15-0

7) Monserrat Mejia d. 10) Beatriz Hernandez, 15-6, 15-0
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 15) Abril Sacristán, 15-4, 15-3

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Delia Aguilar, 15-4, 15-0
5) Alexandra Herrera d. 4) Susana Acosta, 15-3, 10-15, 11-4

6) Nancy Enriquez d. 3) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-12
2) Samantha Salas Solis d. 7) Monserrat Mejia, 15-11, 15-13

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Alexandra Herrera
6) Nancy Enriquez v. 2) Samantha Salas Solis

Men's Open Singles

Round of 64

1) Javier Mar - BYE
32) Alan Natera d. 33) Rafael Ochoa, 15-3, 15-3

17) Juan Loreto - BYE
16) Christian Longoria - BYE

9) Rodrigo Garay - BYE
24) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

25) Erick Sandoval d. 40) Mario Hidalgo, 15-6, 15-12
8) Gerardo Franco - BYE

5) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
28) Rogelio Castillo d. 37) Sebastian De La Rosa, 15-6, 4-15, 11-8

21) Alberto Meneses - BYE
12) Javier Moreno - BYE

13) Sebastian Fernandez - BYE
20) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE

29) Erick Trujillo d. 36) Sebastian Longoria, 15-8, 15-13
4) Javier Estrada - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
35) Adrian Fernandez d. 30) Mauricio Delgadillo, 15-10, 15-12

19) Emanuel Balderrama - BYE
14) Edson Martinez - BYE

11) Polo Gutierrez - BYE
22) Mario Zamora - BYE

27) Ernesto Ochoa d. 38) Eduardo Garay, 15-9, 8-15, 11-7
6) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

7) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
39) Daniel Maldonado d. 26) Homar Prieto, 15-4, 15-6

23) Ivan Sanchez - BYE
10) Ruben Estrada - BYE

15) Jaime Martell - BYE
18) Daniel Baeza - BYE

34) Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 31) Elias Nieto, 15-3, 15-9
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

Round of 32

32) Alan Natera d. 1) Javier Mar, 13-15, 15-14, 11-9
16) Christian Longoria d. 17) Juan Loreto, 15-9, 15-7

24) Eduardo Portillo d. 9) Rodrigo Garay, 9-15, 15-12, 11-6
8) Gerardo Franco d. 25) Erick Sandoval, 15-7, 8-15, 11-7

5) Daniel De La Rosa d. 28) Rogelio Castillo, 15-3, 15-3
12) Javier Moreno d. 21) Alberto Meneses, 15-11, 15-8

13) Sebastian Fernandez d. 20) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-7, 10-15, 11-2
4) Javier Estrada d. 29) Erick Trujillo, 15-3, 15-4

3) Andree Parrilla d. 35) Adrian Fernandez, 15-6, 15-4
14) Edson Martinez d. 19) Emanuel Balderrama, 15-5, 10-15, 11-1

11) Polo Gutierrez d. 22) Mario Zamora, 15-2, 15-9
27) Ernesto Ochoa d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 15-7, 8-15, 11-10

7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 39) Daniel Maldonado, 15-5, 15-0
10) Ruben Estrada d. 23) Ivan Sanchez, 15-5, 15-4

15) Jaime Martell d. 18) Daniel Baeza, 15-1, 15-3
2) Alejandro Landa d. 34) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-4

Round of 16

32) Alan Natera d. 16) Christian Longoria, 15-9, 13-15, 11-8
8) Gerardo Franco d. 24) Eduardo Portillo, 0-15, 15-7, 11-10

5) Daniel De La Rosa d. 12) Javier Moreno, 15-8, 15-5
13) Sebastian Fernandez d. 4) Javier Estrada, 15-6, 15-10

3) Andree Parrilla d. 14) Edson Martinez, 15-10, 13-15, 11-10
11) Polo Gutierrez d. 27) Ernesto Ochoa, 15-12, 15-13

7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 10) Ruben Estrada, 15-0, 15-12
15) Jaime Martell d. 2) Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-14

Quarterfinals

8) Gerardo Franco v. 32) Alan Natera
5) Daniel De La Rosa v. 13) Sebastian Fernandez

3) Andree Parrilla v. 11) Polo Gutierrez
7) Rodrigo Montoya v. 15) Jaime Martell

Men's Open Doubles

Round of 32

1) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa - BYE
17) Christian Longoria & Jaime Martell d. 16) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Elias Nieto, 15-4, 15-6

9) Mauricio Delgadillo & Erick Trujillo - BYE
8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay - BYE
12) Alejandro Mendoza & Ivan Sanchez - BYE

13) Sebastian Longoria & Juan Loreto - BYE
4) Javier Moreno & Ernesto Ochoa - BYE

3) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez - BYE
19) Sebastian Fernandez & Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Emanuel Balderrama & Daniel Maldonado, 15-9, 15-8

11) Miguel Gardea & Alberto Meneses - BYE
6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla - BYE
10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora - BYE

15) Juan De Los Rios & Rodrigo Rodriguez d. 18) Daniel Baeza & Salvador Ortiz Jr., 15-4, 15-6
2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera - BYE

Round of 16

1) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa d. 17) Christian Longoria & Jaime Martell, 11-15, 15-3, 11-3
8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Mauricio Delgadillo & Erick Trujillo, 15-6, 15-8

5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay d. 12) Alejandro Mendoza & Ivan Sanchez, 15-12, 15-3
4) Javier Moreno & Ernesto Ochoa d. 13) Sebastian Longoria & Juan Loreto, 15-9, 15-5

3) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez d. 19) Sebastian Fernandez & Eduardo Portillo, 15-12, 15-10
6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 11) Miguel Gardea & Alberto Meneses, forfeit

7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla d. 10) Mario Hidalgo & Mario Zamora, 15-8, 15-4
2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera d. 15) Juan De Los Rios & Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-6, 15-13

Quarterfinals

1) Polo Gutierrez & Alejandro Landa v. 8) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya
4) Javier Moreno & Ernesto Ochoa v. 5) Eduardo Garay & Rodrigo Garay

3) Erick Sandoval & Ramon Yañez v. 6) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa
2) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera v. 7) Edson Martinez & Andree Parrilla

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team USA for 2018 Pan American Championships

USA Racquetball has announced its team for the 2018 Pan American Championships in Temuco, Chile from March 23 to 31. Rhonda Rajsich, the reigning Pan American Champion in Women’s Singles, will be there to defend her title. The veteran will be joined by Janel Tisinger, David Horn - a Pan Am Championship silver medalist last year in Men’s Doubles - and Thomas Carter. All players will play both singles and doubles.

Rajsich will be representing Team USA for the 23rd time in her career. Only Cheryl Gudinas (27) and Jackie Paraiso (24) have had USA on their backs more often. But Rajsich has got to 23 over 17 years, which is one behind Paraiso who got to 24 over 21 years. Gudinas’s international career spanned 23 years.

In contrast, Carter will be making his first appearance on Team USA. He’s a left hander, so that will give the USA a lefty-righty doubles team. By our count, Carter is the 105th racquetball player to represent the USA.

Horn and Tisinger have both been on the team several times: 6 times for Horn and 5 for Tisinger. Yet they’ve only been on the team together once before - at the 2014 Pan Am Championships, which was Horn’s first time on the team. That was Tisinger’s second with her first coming back in 2007 at the Pan Am Championships.

Tisinger’s first team appearance was a successful one, as she teamed with Rajsich to win Women’s Doubles. Since then, Tisinger has won Women’s Doubles with Aimee Ruiz at the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, when they upset Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final. She’s only played singles once for the USA, and that was in 2014, when she lost to Susana Acosta in the Round of 16.

Horn’s yet to top the podium for the USA, although he is the #1 player on the World Racquetball Tour (WRT). He’s been in the finals of Men’s Doubles twice: last year with Jake Bredenbeck and in 2014 with Jose Rojas. His best singles result has been the quarterfinals, which he’s reached three times, including last year when he lost to Andres Acuña, who was playing at home in Costa Rica.

Supporting the players will be coach Dave Ellis, trainer Brent Huff and team leader Cheryl Kirk.

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up - Wins for Croft & Connell

Remember Ben Croft? Formerly in the top three of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT)? Has won three US Open Doubles titles with Kane Waselenchuk? Well, he’s still playing, and playing singles.

On the weekend, Croft was in the 2018 Atlanta Singles tournament - a Tier 5 IRT event - in Lilburn, Georgia, where he won a five player round robin without giving up more than six points in any one game (to 15). Overall, Croft surrendered 7 points per match on average in winning the event.

David Stincer came second and Jimmy Lan was third.

Also on the weekend, Lee Connell won the 44th Annual Keystone Classic in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Connell defeated Trevor Webb in the final, 15-10, 11-15, 11-7. Ian Frattinger beat Kirby Shwaykosky, 15-6, 15-8 for third place. Connell and Frattinger won the Keystone doubles title with Matthew Kushnir and Logan Strand coming second in a five team round robin.

Coming Up

The next IRT event is the San Antonio March Madness, March 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas. The next event on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is the 2018 LPRT Peachtree Open in Atlanta, Georgia, March 9-11. The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) will also be in action March 9-11 in Fridley Minnesota with the Life Time Series - Fridley event.

2018 IRT Atlanta Singles
Lilburn, Georgia - February 10-11, 2018

Men’s Open - Final Standings

1. Ben Croft - 4-0
2. David Stincer - 3-1
3. Jimmy Lan - 2-2
4. Marco Mijares - 1-3
5. Todd Upchurch - 0-4

44th Annual Keystone Classic
Winnipeg, Manitoba - February 10-12, 2018

Men’s Open - Final

Lee Connell d. Trevor Webb, 15-10, 11-15, 11-7

Men’s Open - 3rd place

Ian Frattinger d. Kirby Shwaykosky, 15-6, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson defeats Pratt in National Team Qualifying at 2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships

Rocky Carson and Rhonda Rajsich won the National Team Singles Qualifying Divisions Sunday at the 2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. Carson defeated Charlie Pratt, 15-5, 13-15, 11-7, while Rajsich had a walkover win against Kelani Bailey.

Carson dominated game one, going up 14-3. But Pratt fought off three game points before Carson finished it off at 15-5. That little spurt at the end gave Pratt momentum for game two, when he took the early lead 3-0, and 8-4.

However, Carson caught up at 9-9, and then he took the lead 12-9, as he scored six straight points and looked good to win the match in two straight games. Carson maintained the lead to 13-11.

At that point the match stalled, as they traded side outs for nine rallies. Pratt broke the deadlock, scoring two points to tie the game 13-13. Carson called a timeout, and - as often happens - won the next rally to get the serve back.

But Carson was able to use the opening to score, so Pratt got the serve right back. He scored two straight points, winning the game on his first game point with a spectacular shot that he took as he turned around in center court, hitting the ball at shoulder height and put a forehand into the front right corner.

Pratt’s momentum continued into game three, as he got the first two points to lead 2-0. But Carson took control from there, scoring four straight points to lead 4-2. He maintained the lead to the end, which came when a long rally ended with Pratt hitting a backhand down the line shot into the floor to make the score 11-7.

It was a small error, but errors like that were enough to be the difference between him and Carson.

The win puts Carson in the driver's seat for qualifying to play Men's Singles on Team USA at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in China this August. He qualified to play Men's Doubles on the team by winning the USA Racquetball Men's Doubles Championship with Sudsy Monchik on Saturday.

Thus, Carson could qualify to play both singles and doubles at Worlds. But would that be a good idea for a player who will be 39 in May? Carson's in great shape, but Worlds is a long event, lasting over a week, so playing two events during that period will be taxing. Carson is also the 5 time defending Men's Singles champion. Surely, he would want to defend that title, if possible. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out.

As for the women’s final, Bailey won the Women’s Doubles title with Sharon Jackson Saturday, so perhaps she wasn’t feeling the need to play the need to play the singles final with Rajsich, as they have qualified for the US Team that will compete at Worlds. Regardless, it was disappointing that the women's final was not contested.

If you missed any of the action, you can watch archived matches via the USA Racquetball LiveStream Channel. The Men's Singles final is certainly worth a look.

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men’s Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson d. 2) Charlie Pratt, 15-5, 13-15, 11-7

Women’s Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 7) Kelani Bailey, forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball....

Bailey & Jackson win Women's Doubles at 2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships

Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson are the 2018 USA Racquetball Women’s Doubles Champions. They defeated Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8, in the final of the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. This is the first title for both Bailey and Jackson, and the win qualifies them to represent the USA in the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRT) World Championships in China this August.

Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik won the Men’s Doubles title Saturday, as they defeated David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-14, 15-8.

The women’s final was a streaky match. After dropping the first game, Rajsich and Lotts took a 8-0 lead in game two, only to see Bailey and Jackson come back to lead 10-8. That put them in position to win the match in two straight games. However, Rajsich and Lotts weren’t going to go quietly, as they came back to win game two 15-11 and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Rajsich and Lotts again took the early lead at 5-0 with Bailey and Jackson coming back to 5-4, and then tying the game at 7-7. It was back and forth from there to 8-8. Bailey and Jackson scored points on back to back rallies to make it 10-8. But their first match point was lost because a penalty hinder was called on Bailey. They appealed but the line judges upheld the call.

With the serve back, Rajsich and Lotts had the advantage despite the score. However, back to back skips - first by Rajsich and then by Lotts - and they gave the serve back to their opponents.

Bailey and Jackson won it on their 2nd match point, as Bailey - playing the left side - drove serve to Rajsich, and the ball came out of the back left corner into the middle, where Rajsich hit it into the floor with her forehand. A disappointing end to a great match.

National Team Qualifying - Singles

Rajsich will have a chance at a measure of revenge on Sunday, as she’ll play Bailey in the final of the National Team Qualifying singles division. Rajsich defeated Erika Manilla, 15-8, 15-4, in one semi-final, and Bailey beat Lotts, 15-8, 15-8, in the other.

On the men’s side, it’ll be #1 versus #2 in the final, as top seed Rocky Carson defeated Jake Bredenbeck in the semi-finals Saturday, 15-13, 15-9, and 2nd seed Charlie Pratt fended off a strong challenge from David Horn, 15-6, 12-15, 11-6.

You can watch the finals live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball LiveStream Channel. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be early Sunday afternoon. Note the match times below are Mountain time.

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Final - Saturday

2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. 4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 4:10 PM

Women's Doubles

Final - Saturday

3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 11-15, 11-8

Men’s Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-9
2) Charlie Pratt d. 3) David Horn, 15-6, 12-15, 11-6

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson v. 2) Charlie Pratt - 1:50 PM

Women's Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Erika Manilla, 15-8, 15-4
7) Kelani Bailey d. 6) Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 15-8

Final - Sunday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 12:40 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships - Friday results

It was not a good day to be a #1 seed in doubles at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, as the top seeds in both Men’s and Women’s National Team Qualifying lost in the semi-finals, as three of the four semis went breaker. The bigger surprise came on the women’s side, as the defending champions - and current World Champions - Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger - lost to 4th seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8.

How surprising that outcome? Ruiz and Tisinger have won the title four of the last five years. Moreover, Ruiz has been the USA Women’s Doubles champion 11 of the past 13 seasons. But the two years she wasn’t, Rajsich was (and both times her partner was Kim Russell-Waselenchuk).

Rajsich and Lotts will play 3rd seeds Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson in the final, as Bailey and Jackson beat 2nd seeds Erika Manilla and Jackie Paraiso-Larsson, 15-2, 15-14.

Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz, seeking their 2nd title in three seasons, were the top seeds on the men’s side, but they were ousted by 4th seeds David Horn and Mauro Rojas, 15-10, 5-15, 11—8, in the semi-finals. Horn and Rojas will play 2nd seeds Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik, who defeated 6th seeds Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 8-15, 15-13, 11-8.

Thus, the doubles finals look like a new scene, as only three of the eight players have won the title before. Two of them are Carson and Rajsich, who have won nine and two doubles titles, respectively. The other player is Monchik, who has one National Doubles title to his name, which he won with Tim Sweeney back in 1993-94.

National Team Qualifying - Singles

One might say there’s a bit of a changing of the guard in women’s singles at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships, as the younger, higher seeded players won three of the four quarterfinals. Rhonda Rajsich, the #1 seed, was the exception, as she comfortably won her match against Sara Jeys, 15-1, 15-1.

But #2 seed Sharon Jackson fell to her doubles partner, 7th seed Kelani Bailey, 15-4, 15-14. Jackson came from behind in game two to get a game point against Bailey, but couldn’t convert, allowing Bailey to win in two straight.

Bailey will play Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Lotts defeated 3rd seed veteran Jackie Paraiso-Larsson, 15-12, 15-10. Janel Tisinger, the 4th seed, lost to 5th seed Erika Manilla, 15-10, 12-15, 11-4, and Manilla will play Rajsich in the semis.

The higher seeds all won, and won comfortably, on the men’s side. Top seed Rocky Carson beat Dane Elkins, 15-3, 15-7. He’ll play Jake Bredenbeck in the semi-finals Saturday, as Bredenbeck beat Adam Manilla, 15-3, 15-8. On the bottom of the draw, 2nd seed Charlie Pratt defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-3, 15-6, so will face David Horn in the semis, as Horn beat Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-3.

You can watch the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball LiveStream Channel. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz, 15-10, 5-15, 11—8
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik d. 6) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 8-15, 15-13, 11-8

Final - Saturday

2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. 4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 4:10 PM

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8
3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 2) Erika Manilla & Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-2, 15-14

Final - Saturday

3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson v. 4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 3 PM

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Dane Elkins, 15-3, 15-7
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 5) Adam Manilla, 15-3, 15-8

3) David Horn d. 6) Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-3
2) Charlie Pratt d. 7) Nicholas Riffel, 15-3, 15-6

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck - 1:50 PM
2) Charlie Pratt v. 3) David Horn - 12:40 PM

Women's Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 9) Sara Jeys, 15-1, 15-1
5) Erika Manilla d. 4) Janel Tisinger, 15-10, 12-15, 11-4

6) Sheryl Lotts d. 3) Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-12, 15-10
7) Kelani Bailey d. 2) Sharon Jackson, 15-4, 15-14

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 5) Erika Manilla - 10:20 AM
6) Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 11:30 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship - Round 1 results

There was only one upset Thursday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona on the campus of Arizona State University, as 6th seeds Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel beat 3rd seeds Charlie Pratt and Jansen Allen, 15-9, 15-9. They will next play 2nd seeds Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik, who defeated Tim Herman and Michel Myers, 15-1, 15-5.

Jose Diaz are playing with different partners this year, and last year’s finalists Jose and Marco Rojas aren’t playing at all, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Diaz is playing with Jake Bredenbeck, who he has played with in other events, including last year’s US Open, so they are not a new team. But Carson is on a new team with another veteran: Sudsy Monchik. Diaz and Bredenbeck are the top seeds with Carson and Monchik 2nd seeds.

Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich needed a tie-breaker to win their match against Laura Fenton and Michelle De La Rosa, 15-11, 7-15, 11-4. Lotts and Rajsich will play defending champions and current World Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger in the semi-finals.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Mountain time.

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz d. 8) Shane McDougal & Adam Wyatt, 15-1, 15-3
4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas d. 5) Thomas Carter & Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-11

6) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. 3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen, 15-9, 15-9
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik d. 7) Tim Herman & Michael Myers, 15-1, 15-5

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas - 6:35 PM
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. 6) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - 3:05 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 5) Michelle De La Rosa & Laura Fenton, 15-11, 7-15, 11-4

3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 6) Briana Jacquet & Sara Jeys, 15-5, 15-9
2) Erika Manilla & Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - 5:25 PM
2) Erika Manilla & Jacqueline Paraiso v. 3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson - 4:15 PM

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson - BYE
8) Dane Elkins d. 9) Luis Rivero, 15-2, 15-1

5) Adam Manilla - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

3) David Horn - BYE
6) Robert Collins - BYE

7) Nicholas Riffel - BYE
2) Charlie Pratt - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Dane Elkins - 11:30 AM
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 5) Adam Manilla - 11:30 AM

3) David Horn v. 6) Robert Collins - 10:20 AM
2) Charlie Pratt v. 7) Nicholas Riffel - 10:20 AM

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
9) Sara Jeys d. 8) Briana Jacquet, 15-4, 15-8

5) Erika Manilla - BYE
4) Janel Tisinger - BYE

3) Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

7) Kelani Bailey - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 9) Sara Jeys - 12:40 PM
4) Janel Tisinger v. 5) Erika Manilla - 12:40 PM

3) Jacqueline Paraiso v. 6) Sheryl Lotts - 9:10 AM
2) Sharon Jackson v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 9:10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship - Preview

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships start Thursday at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Last year’s Men’s Doubles Champions Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz are playing with different partners this year, and last year’s finalists Jose and Marco Rojas aren’t playing at all, so it will be interesting to see what happens on the men's side. Diaz is playing with Jake Bredenbeck, who he has played with in other events, including last year’s US Open, so they are not a new team. But Carson is on a new team with another veteran: Sudsy Monchik. Diaz and Bredenbeck are the top seeds with Carson and Monchik 2nd seeds.

Jansen Allen and Charlie Pratt are probably the only other team that’s a threat to win the men’s title. They are seeded third. David Horn and Mauro Rojas, the current World Junior Boy’s U18 Champion, are the 4th seeds, and could surprise, but it would be a big surprise.

Also notable, Thomas Carter and Robert Collins are playing together, which seems wrong, because they are both left handed. It’s like crossing the streams, and that’s just not supposed to happen. They are the 5th seeds.

Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger are back to defend their Women’s Doubles title. Last year they beat Jackie Paraiso and Da’monique Davis in the final, and only gave up 21 points over the 4 games they played in winning the title. With only six teams in the women’s draw, Ruiz and Tisinger will again need to play two matches to win the title and have a chance to defend the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championship gold medals they won two years ago, when they upset Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final.

Davis isn’t in Tempe this year, but veteran Paraiso is, and she’s playing with Erika Manilla. They are the 2nd seeds. Other teams to watch for are 3rd seeds Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson and 4th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich.

Singles Play

The top players are also playing singles in Tempe, as part of qualifying for the team that will represent the USA at Worlds in China in August. Carson is the top men’s seed, and won this event last year, when he beat Horn in the final, and Pratt in the semi-finals. Pratt is the 2nd seed this week with Horn 3rd and Bredenbeck 4th.

Rajsich is the top seed on the women’s side, and she won this event last year, beating Jackson in the final. The draw is very similar to last year, as Jackson is seeded 2nd again, and will play either Paraiso or Lotts in the semis (she played Paraiso in the semis last year after Paraiso beat Lotts in the quarterfinals). On the top side, Rajsich will likely play Tisinger in the semis again, although Tisinger needs to beat Manilla in the quarters to make that happen. Also, Jackson could have a tricky first match, as she’ll play her doubles partner Bailey in the quarters.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball website. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the Singles finals on Sunday. Note the match times below are Pacific time.

2018 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz v. 8) Shane McDougal & Adam Wyatt - 12:20 PM
4) David Horn & Mauro Rojas v. 5) Thomas Carter & Robert Collins - 2:30 PM

3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen v. 6) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel - 4:40 PM
2) Rocky Carson & Sudsy Monchik v. Tim Herman & Michael Myers - 6:50 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
4) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 5) Michelle De La Rosa & Laura Fenton - 1:25 PM

3) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson v. 6) Briana Jacquet & Sara Jeys - 5:45 PM
2) Erika Manilla & Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE

Men’s Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rocky Carson - BYE
8) Dane Elkins v. 9) Luis Rivero - 11:15 AM

5) Adam Manilla - BYE
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

3) David Horn - BYE
6) Robert Collins - BYE

7) Nicholas Riffel - BYE
2) Charlie Pratt - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Dane Elkins or 9) Luis Rivero - 11:30 AM
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 5) Adam Manilla - 11:30 AM

3) David Horn v. 6) Robert Collins - 10:20 AM
2) Charlie Pratt v. 7) Nicholas Riffel - 10:20 AM

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Briana Jacquet v. 9) Sara Jeys - 3:35 PM

5) Erika Manilla - BYE
4) Janel Tisinger - BYE

3) Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

7) Kelani Bailey - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Briana Jacquet or 9) Sara Jeys - 12:40 PM
4) Janel Tisinger v. 5) Erika Manilla - 12:40 PM

3) Jacqueline Paraiso v. 6) Sheryl Lotts - 9:10 AM
2) Sharon Jackson v. 7) Kelani Bailey - 9:10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Beltran wins 20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

Alvaro Beltran won Men’s Open at the 20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. The “Lou” as it’s affectionally known is a Tier 2 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Beltran beat Jansen Allen in the final, 14-15, 15-2, 11-7.

In the semi-finals, Beltran defeated Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-6, while Allen squeaked out a tie-breaker over Mario Mercado, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10. Allen trailed 10-3 to Mercado in the breaker, yet managed to come back to win.

Coming Up

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship begins this week in Tempe, Arizona, February 7-11. Also, there’s a new Tier 1 event on the IRT calendar: San Antonio March Madness, March 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas.

20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin - February 2-4, 2018

Men’s Open - Final

Alvaro Beltran d. Jansen Allen, 14-15, 15-2, 11-7

Men’s Open - Semi-finals

Alvaro Beltran d. Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-6
Jansen Allen d. Mario Mercado, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Murray & Saunders win at Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Kitchener, Ontario

Samuel Murray and Jen Saunders won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the second Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season on the weekend in Kitchener, Ontario. Murray is the highest ranked Canadian on the International Racquetball Tour, and Saunders was the top seed on the women’s side, so their wins were not unexpected. However, there were surprises along the way.

The biggest surprise on the men’s side came when Pedro Castro defeated Mike Green, the Canadian #1 ranked player and reigning Canadian Champion, 15-10, 15-12. Sadly for Castro, he wasn’t able to follow up that win, as he fell ill, and wasn’t able to play either his semi-final match with Tim Landeryou or the 3rd place match with Coby Iwaasa.

Murray got to the final with a win over Iwaasa in the other semi, 15-2, 15-5, which was a much closer match than the scores indicated, as Murray and Iwaasa went toe to toe smashing the ball back and forth and making great gets to keep the ball in play.

In the final, Landeryou took the lead in game one, and looked like he was going to win game one, when he led 13-8. But Murray dug in, and came back to take it 15-13. Murray then won game two comfortably, as Landeryou got increasing frustrated, with the final score line of 15-13, 15-3.

The men’s final was a repeat of the first selection event of the season back in November, which Murray also won. He also beat Iwaasa in the semi-finals, so will pass Iwaasa in the Canadian rankings, moving up to #2 behind Green.

On the women’s side, Alexis Iwaasa was the surprise finalist, as she was seeded 6th, and lost her first game of the tournament 15-0. But Iwaasa recovered, winning both her quarterfinal match against Danielle Drury, 0-15, 15-7, 11-8, and semi-final against Christine Richardson, 8-15, 15-10, 11-8. Thus, when Iwaasa dropped the first game against the veteran Saunders, 15-7, it seemed like she had the vet exactly where she wanted.

Iwaasa did pull out the second game, 15-13, to force a tie-breaker. But Saunders was able to eke out the win, taking the match, 15-7, 13-15, 11-7. Iwaasa did have a slight lead in the middle of the breaker, but wasn’t able to carry the day.

These results will be used to select Team Canada for the 2018 Pan American Championships in Temuco, Chile, as well as the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in China in August. The final qualification event for Worlds will be the 2018 Canadian National Championships in Winnipeg, May 20-26 2018.

2018 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
February 2-4, Kitchener, Ontario

Men's Open

Final

3) Samuel Murray d. 4) Tim Landeryou, 15-13, 15-3

3rd Place

2) Coby Iwaasa d. 8) Pedro Castro, forfeit

Semi-finals

4) Tim Landeryou d. 8) Pedro Castro, forfeit
3) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 15-2, 15-5

Quarterfinals

8) Pedro Castro d. 1) Mike Green, 15-10, 15-12
4) Tim Landeryou d. 5) James Landeryou, 15-9, 15–10

3) Samuel Murray d. 6) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-5, 15-6
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Lee Connell, 15-4, 15-8

Women's Open

Final

1) Jen Saunders d. 6) Alexis Iwaasa, 15-7, 13-15, 11-7

3rd place

3) Christine Richardson d. 4) Michèle Morissette, 15-6, 16-14

Semi-finals

1) Jen Saunders d. 4) Michèle Morissette, 15-12, 15-0
6) Alexis Iwaasa d. 3) Christine Richardson, 8-15, 15-10, 11–8

Quarterfinals

1) Jen Saunders d. 9) Juliette Parent, 15-7, 15-5
4) Michèle Morissette d. 5) Valerie Fallu, 15-11, 15-11

6) Alexis Iwaasa d. 3) Danielle Drury, 0-15, 15-7, 11-8
2) Christine Richardson d. 7) Erin Geeraert, 15-9, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….