Mexico wins gold in Men's & Women's Team events at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico was golden once again in the Men’s and Women’s Team events at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico has won gold in the team events at every Central American & Caribbean Games (CACG) since 1990, when racquetball was first included in the CACG program.

In the Men’s Team final, Mexico defeated Costa Rica in two matches. Rodrigo Montoya beat Andrés Acuña, 15-10, 15-2, in singles, and then Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa closed the deal by defeating Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-2, in doubles.

The Women’s Team final was also over in two straight matches, as Mexico defeated Colombia. Alexandra Herrera beat Cristina Amaya in singles, 15-7, 15-12, and then Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-12, 15-5, in doubles.

With the victories, Beltran now has 12 medals in the CACG, which is tied for 2nd in overall with Javier Moreno, and two fewer than Claudine Garcia's (Dominican Republic) 14. Longoria has 10, and Salas 9.

The 2022 CACG will be in Panama, and racquetball is on the program.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-28
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Costa Rica, 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-2
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-2
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), not played

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Colombia - 2-0

1. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-7, 15-12
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-12, 15-5
3. Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), not played

Follow the bouncing ball….

Colombia upsets Guatemala to reach Women's Team final at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Colombia upset Guatemala to reach the final of the Women’s Team event at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia on Friday. They will play the top seeded Mexican team for gold in the final on Saturday. Colombia had to come from a match down to defeat Guatemala in their semi-final, while Mexico beat Costa Rica in two straight matches. The Men’s Team final will see #1 Mexico play #2 Costa Rica.

In their semi, Gabriela Martinez got Guatemala off to a good start against Colombia, as she defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 7-15, 11-6. But the Colombians levelled the match by winning doubles, as Riveros and Cristina Amaya won in three games against Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. In the deciding third match, Rodriguez won the first game against Amaya, but then the Colombian veteran took the next two games to carry the day for her country, winning 14-15, 15-6, 11-8.

In the other women’s semi, Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-2, 15-9, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Sauma and Maricruz Ortiz in doubles, 15-3, 15-3.

In the Men’s Team semis, Mexico beat Guatemala, 2-0, as Daniel De La Rosa defeated Edwin Galicia, 15-2, 15-14, and he and Alvaro Beltran beat Galicia and Christian Wer in doubles, 15-8, 15-4. Then Costa Rica needed three matches to fend off Cuba.

In the first match, Cuban Maykel Moyet took out Costa Rican Felipe Camacho in straight games, 15-6, 15-13. But Camacho and Andrés Acuña were able to level the contest at 1-1 as they won the doubles match against Moyet and Enier Chacon, 15-7, 15-11. Acuña then won it for Costa Rica by defeating Chacon, 15-6, 15-2.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico d. Guatemala - 2-0

1. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-14
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
3. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), not played

Costa Rica d. Cuba - 2-1

1. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-13
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-11
3. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 15-2

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Costa Rica

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Costa Rica - 2-0

1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
3. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Maricruz Ortiz, not played

Colombia d. Guatemala, 2-1

1. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
3. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 14-15, 15-6, 11-8

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team Competition Day 1 at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

International racquetball competitions are long, and when they have two parts - the individual singles and doubles competitions followed by a team competition - it can be difficult to perform well in both. So it was Thursday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, where some players who did well in the first part of the week didn’t fare so well on Thursday. The top two seeds in the Men’s Team competition didn’t have problems. Mexico - the #1 seeds - defeated Honduras in two straight matches, and 2nd seeds Costa Rica did similarly with Venezuela.

However, the other matches could be described as upsets based on what happened earlier in the week. Cuba defeated Colombia two matches to one. Colombian Mario Mercado needed a tie-breaker to beat Cuban Enier Chacon, 15-6, 14-15, 11-9. But Cuba levelled the match with a win in doubles, as Chacon and Maykel Moyet beat Mercado and Set Cubillos, 15-13, 15-12. In the deciding match, Moyet defeated Hosman Gomez, 15-12, 15-1, to carry the day for Cuba, who will play Mexico in the semi-finals Friday.

Dominican Republic got two bronze medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competitions earlier in the week, but they won’t be on the podium in the Men’s Team event, as Guatemala defeated them, 2-1. First, Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala beat Ramón De León of Dominican Republic, 15-13, 15-13. The Dominicans won the doubles match with De León and Luis Pérez defeated Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer, 15-4, 15-12. Then Guatemalan Edwin Galicia got his team the win by defeating Pérez in two straight games, 15-13, 15-4.

The Women’s Team quarterfinal matches were all over in two matches. Costa Rica defeated the Dominican Republic. Colombia beat Venezuela, and Guatemala got the better of Cuba. In the semi-finals, Costa Rica will play Mexico, who had a bye in the quarters, with Colombia playing Guatemala.

The Men’s and Women’s Team finals will be on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico d. Honduras - 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Carlos Medrano & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-4
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Carlos Medrano & (Honduras), not played

Guatemala d. Dominican Republic - 2-1

1. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-13
2. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-12
3. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-4

Cuba d. Colombia - 2-1

1. Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 14-15, 11-9
2. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-13, 15-12
3. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-12, 15-1

Costa Rica d. Venezuela - 2-0

1. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-6
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-3
3. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Luis Zea (Venezuela), not played

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Guatemala
Costa Rica v. Cuba

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE

Costa Rica d. Dominican Republic - 2-0

1. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-9
2. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 13-15. 11–1
3. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), not played

Colombia d. Venezuela, 2-0

1. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-1
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-9
3. Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon (Venezuela), not played

Guatemala d. Cuba, 2-0

1. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue (Cuba), 15-2, 15-7
2. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-8
3. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Viera (Cuba), not played

Women’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Costa Rica
Guatemala v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & De La Rosa are double gold medalists at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Paola Longoria and Daniel De La Rosa won twice on Wednesday, as Mexicans swept the racquetball gold medals Wednesday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Longoria won gold in Women’s Singles for the third consecutive time when she defeated Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-13, 15-7. Her team-mate Daniel De La Rosa fought back from a game down to win the Men’s Singles final, and beat Mario Mercado of Colombia, 9-15, 15-2, 11-5.

In doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 9-15, 15-9, 11-5, to win Women’s Doubles, while De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran won Men’s Doubles by beat Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-3.

Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two Central American & Caribbean Games. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela is the only non-Mexican man to win Men’s Singles, doing so In 1993 and 1998. Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic (1993) and Antia Maldonado of Puerto Rico (1998) are the two non-Mexican women to win gold in Women’s Singles at the Central American & Caribbean Games.

The Women’s Doubles final was a rematch of the final from four years ago. Mexico has won every Women’s Doubles title at the Central American & Caribbean Games. But after Guatemala won the first game, it looked like they were going to end that streak, and upset Mexico, as Guatemala led 8-1 in game two. But Mexico turned the tables, and won 25 of the next 31 points en route to the three game win.

Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet in the World Championship final in Costa Rica next month.

Mexico has also won gold in Men’s Doubles at every Central American & Caribbean Games, since racquetball was introduced to the games in 1990. De La Rosa and Beltran’s win was the 2nd consecutive Men’s Doubles title for Beltran, who won with Javier Moreno four years ago.

Acuña and Camacho’s silver medal was the 2nd time Costa Rica has finished second in Men’s Doubles at the Central American & Caribbean Games, but the first since 1990, when Orlando Lopez and Maurico Morera were runners up to Mexicans Francisco Martin and Arturo Martin.

The team event will begin Thursday at the Central American & Caribbean Games with the team event finals on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 4) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 9-15, 15-2, 11-5

Women’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-7

Men’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-3

Women’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 9-15, 15-9, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexicans in both Men's & Women's Singles - as well as Doubles - finals at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico will have a chance to sweep the gold medals in singles racquetball on Wednesday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico won gold in both Men’s and Women’s Singles four years ago, and also won silver in each division, but they won’t do that this year in either division.

In Women’s Singles, Paola Longoria of Mexico will have a chance to defend her gold medals, as she defeated Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-0,15-4, in the semi-finals Tuesday. But Longoria’s team-mate Alexandra Herrera lost in the other semi-final to Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-20-15, 11-7. Thus, Longoria and Martinez will play for gold for a 2nd time at an international event. They met in the final of the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, which were also in Colombia - in Cali.

On the men’s side, Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico will have a chance to go one better than he did four years ago, when he was a silver medalist at the 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games. Then he lost the final to team-mate Alvaro Beltran. But a win on Tuesday in the semi-finals over Andés Acuña of Costa Rica, 15-7, 15-7, puts De La Rosa back in the final.

He’ll face Mario Mercado of Colombia in the final, as Mercado defeated Luis Pérez of the Dominican Republic, 15-5, 13-15, 11-4, in the other semi-final. They were tied at 4-4 in the breaker, when Mercado went on a seven point streak that Pérez had no answer for.

Mexico will also have a chance to sweep gold in doubles. Indeed, Mexican teams have won all the gold medals in Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the Central American and Caribbean Games going back to the introduction of racquetball in 1990.

This year De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran will represent Mexico in the Men’s Doubles final after they defeated the Dominican Republic’s Ramón De León and Luis Pérez, 15-9, 15-11. They will play 2nd seeds Andrés Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, who beat Colombians Mercado and Set Cubillos, 15-4, 15-3, in the other semi-final.

Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will have a chance to defend the gold medals they won four years ago at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, and they beat Maricruz Ortiz and Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-3, 15-2. In the final, Longoria and Salas will take on 2nd seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, who needed three games to defeat Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-12, 12-15, 11-4.

All the gold medal finals are on Wednesday, and the team event will begin Thursday with the team event finals on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 13-15, 11-4
3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-7

Men’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 4) Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-4
2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 15-2, 0-15, 11-7

Women’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-4, 15-3

Men’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)

Women’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-2
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-4

Women’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Perez & Delgado with upsets as medal round begins at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic caused the biggest upset Monday in the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games wrapped up Sunday in Barranquilla, Colombia, as Perez knocked off the #1 seed in Men’s Singles, Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico, winning their quarterfinal match in two straight games, 15-10, 15-11, in the quarterfinals. Thus, Perez will be on the podium, as his win guarantees him at least a bronze medal. He’ll face 4th seed Mario Mercado of Colombia in the semi-finals. Mercado defeated Edwin Galicia of Guatemala in the quarters, 15-10, 15-14.

Perez’s team-mate Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) had the biggest upset on the women’s side, as she upset 4th seed Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 15-10, 15-11, in the quarterfinals, which will put her on the podium as well. Delgado will play top seed Paola Longoria of Mexico in the semi-finals on Tuesday, as Longoria beat Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-8, 15-7, in the quarterfinals Monday.

Amaya did get the better of Delgado in Women’s Doubles, as Amaya and Riveros beat Delgado and Alejandra Jiménez, 15-4, 15-5, in the quarterfinals.

The Dominican Men’s Doubles team also won on Monday, when Perez and Ramón De León and Luis Pérez defeated the Venezuelan team of Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro, 15-5, 8-15, 11-8. With three quarterfinals wins on Monday, the Dominican Republic athletes assured themselves of returning home with more medals this year than they had four years ago, when they only got two: silver in Men’s Doubles - earned by Perez and Junior Rodriguez, and bronze in the Men’s Team event.

The semi-finals are on Tuesday and gold medal finals on Wednesday July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 16) Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-5
8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 9) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-7, 15-0

5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 12) Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-2
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 13) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-4, 15-4

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 14) Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-1
11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 6) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-9

7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. 10) Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 14-15, 11-1
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 15) Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-1, 15-2

Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Monday

8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 15-10, 15-11
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-14

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-9, 13-15, 11-2

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)

Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 8) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-4, 15-3
5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 4) Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-5, 8-15, 11-8

3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 6) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-9, 10-15, 11-7
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 7) Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-10, 10-15, 11-2

Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 9) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-4

12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 5) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 6-15, 15-2, 11-8
4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 13) Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-6

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. 14) Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-4
6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 11) Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-3

7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 10) Maria Viera (Cuba), 14-15, 15-11, 11-8
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-10, 15-11

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. 6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-3
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. 7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-4

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) v. 3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)

Women’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. 5) Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-12, 15-10

3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 6) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-5
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-7

Women’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 3

The Group Stage of the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games wrapped up Sunday in Barranquilla, Colombia. Thus, they have determined the seedings for the playoff round. Mexicans are the top seeds in all divisions, which is unsurprising as they are also the defending champions in all four divisions: Men’s Singles and Doubles as well as Women’s Singles and Doubles.

In Men’s Singles, Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) is the top seed with Costa Rican Andres Acuña 2nd seed, Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) is 3rd seed and Colombian Mario Mercado is 4th seed. In Men’s Doubles, De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran are seeded 1st with Acuña and Felipe Camacho 2nd, Mercado and Set Cubillos are 3rd and 4th are the Venezuelan team of Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro.

In Women’s Singles, Mexican Paola Longoria is the top seed with team-mate Alexandra Herrera the 3rd seed. Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala is 2nd and Cristina Amaya of Colombia is 4th. In Women’s Doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas are seeded 1st, with Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez 2nd, Amaya and Adriana Riveros 3rd and Costa Ricans Maricruz Ortiz and Melania Sauma 4th.

The playoff rounds for both singles and doubles begin July 23 with all finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 3

Group A

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-1, 15-4
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-7, 15-7

Group B

Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-3
Hosman Gomez (Colombia) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-3

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-6, 15-9

Group D

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-6
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-3

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 16) Luis Zea (Venezuela)
8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 12) Hosman Gomez (Colombia)
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 13) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 14) Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela)
6) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)

7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba) v. 10) Ramón De León (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 15) Robin Romero (Cuba)

Men’s Doubles - Day 3

Group A

Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-4, 15-13

Group B

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-6, 15-3
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-13, 13-15, 11-7

Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 8) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
4) Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)

3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 6) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 7) Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba)

Women’s Singles - Day 3

Group A

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-2
Diana Rangel (Venezuela) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-4
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0

Group D

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-7
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-5, 15-5

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 9) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)

5) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 13) Loraine Felipe (Cuba)

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. 14) Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic)
6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 11) Diana Rangel (Venezuela)

7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 10) Maria Viera (Cuba)
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Women’s Doubles - Day 3

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-1
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-7
Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-6

Women’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. 5) Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba)

3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 6) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic)
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 2

On Day 2 of the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia there were no surprises in singles with just two tie-breakers. In Men’s Singles, Luis Pérez of Dominican Republic needed three games to beat Hosman Gomez of Colombia, 15-5, 10-15, 11-0, and in Women’s Singles Venezuelan Mariana Tobon came back from a game down to defeat Costa Rican Melania Sauma, 10-15, 15-11, 11-5.

In Men’s Doubles, the Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa were forced to a tie-breaker for a second time in as many days Saturday, as they needed three games to defeat Cubans. Enier Chacon and Maykel Moyet, 15-9, 14-15, 11-6. Men’s Doubles has become very competitive in recent international tournaments. Mexico remains the odds on favourite to win gold, but if they don’t, it won’t be a tremendous surprise.

Also testifying to the competitiveness of Men’s Doubles, the Colombian team of Set Cubillos and Mario Mercado went breaker with Ramón De León and Luis Pérez of Dominican Republic, winning 15-13, 12-15, 11-4. The Dominicans forced Mexico to a breaker on Friday.

The playoff rounds for both singles and doubles begin July 23 with all finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 2

Group A

Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-9
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-1, 15-0

Group B

Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-5, 10-15, 11-0
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-0, 15-0
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2

Group D

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-1
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-12

Men’s Doubles - Day 2

Group A

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-10, 15-4

Group B

Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-9, 14-15, 11-6
Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 12-15, 11-4

Women’s Singles - Day 2

Group A

Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-2
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-11
Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-11, 11-5

Group D

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-7, 15-3
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-8

Women’s Doubles - Day 2

Group A

Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-11
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-3
Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 1

The racquetball competition has begun at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. The format has a group stage prior to a playoff round with the group stage results used to seed players for the playoffs.

On day 1 there haven’t been any big surprises. In Men’s Singles, one match went tie-breaker, as Ramón De León of the Dominican Republic came back to defeat Luis Zea of Venezuela, 10-15, 15-8, 11-2.

In Women’s Singles, Colombian Cristina Amaya and Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez needed three games to find winner with Amaya coming out on top, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3. Also notable, their team-mates Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) and Adriana Riveros (Colombia) face off with Martinez winning, 15-14, 15-9.

The first round of Men’s and Women’s Doubles will happen later today. The playoff round begins July 23 with finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 1

Group A

Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-1
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6

Group B

Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-8
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-10

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-2
Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-6, 15-1

Group D

Ramón De León (Dominican Republic) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 10-15, 15-8, 11-2
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-3

Men’s Doubles - Day 1

Group A

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-14
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-2, 15-8

Group B

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-11, 15-10
Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 11-15, 11-3

Women’s Singles - Day 1

Group A

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-0
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-14, 15-9
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-6
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-13, 15-6

Group D

Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-13
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)

Women’s Doubles - Day 1

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-4, 15-12
Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-12, 15-8
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 13-15, 15-6, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

A busy month of international racquetball

A busy month of international racquetball begins Friday with the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games that are taking place in Barranquilla, Colombia. Like the Olympics, the Central American and Caribbean Games are a quadrennial event involving countries around the Caribbean Sea. These games will be a lead up to the 2019 Pan American Games taking place in Lima, Peru.

Then next month the 19th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships will be held in San Jose, Costa Rica, August 10-18. These championships were originally to be held in Haining, China, but that fell through due to difficulties co-ordinating with the government.

Team USA

Earlier this month, USA Racquetball announced its team for the 2018 World Championships. David Horn and Charlie Pratt will play Men’s Singles with Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik playing Men’s Doubles. Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts will play both Women’s Singles and Doubles. David Ellis will coach the team with Brent Huff as the trainer and Cheryl Kirk as the leader.

There are two surprising aspects the US Team. One is that Rajsich and Lotts are playing Women's Doubles, as Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson defeated them to win Women’s Doubles at the 2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships. But Bailey is getting married during the period that Worlds is occurring, so she declined the invitation to play on the team.

The other surprising aspect is that Carson isn’t playing Men’s Singles. We’re surprised by that because he is the 5 time defending World Champion in Men’s Singles. Carson hasn’t lost a singles match at Worlds since 2004 (he didn’t play singles in 2006). We expected that he’d want to try to keep that steak going. But it seems the appeal of playing doubles with Monchik was too strong, and that Carson didn’t want to play two events at Worlds.

Monchik will be playing on Team USA for just the second time. He played Men’s Doubles at the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina, where he and Tim Sweeney won gold.

Follow the bouncing ball….

Ten Years Later

Ten years ago - July 7, 2008 - the first article of The Racquetball Blog was published, so July 7, 2018 is our 10th Anniversary. Yay! We haven’t looked back on our history for awhile, but anniversaries always good for that.

The Racquetball Blog’s mission is stated above: “independent writing and reporting on racquetball.” This outlet isn’t tied to one organization or company or tour. We’re trying to cover everything, and to do so in a “just the facts, ma’am” kind of way.

Recently, someone was critical of us for not taking more of a stand on things, making predictions and being more opinionated. However, we’re not interested in stirring the pot unnecessarily. We’ll make arguments for things when there’s a sound basis for it. For example, it should have been clear what we thought of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) changing their match format (spoiler: it was dumb and unnecessary). And we’ve often expressed concerns about the number of women playing racquetball, including in junior tournaments.

We often did predictions in the early days, but with the dominance of Paola Longoria and Kane Waselenchuk that began to seem a bit unnecessary. If one of them in the draw? If so, then we predict that they will win.

However, after Waselenchuk won the 2008 US Open, we wrote about who had the best chance to beat him, arguing that Alvaro Beltran was mostly likely to defeat Waselenchuk. In the 2009 California Open - next IRT event that happened after our analysis came out - Beltran beat Waselenchuk. Waselenchuk’s only lost once since.

Since 2008, there have been 2718 pieces on The Racquetball Blog (this is 2719). Racquetball is a great game. Yes, there are issues, and things that could be improved, although most of the problems would likely be resolved if there were, say, 20% more players. More players could create other problems, but those would be nicer to deal with.

Will The Racquetball Blog be around for another 10 years? That’s hard to say, as 10 years is a long time. Sometimes it seems we’re a bit of a voice in the wilderness, but if you are reading this, and know other racquetball people who might like it too, let them know. We appreciate the word of mouth.

Also, if you want to give us feedback on what you’re reading, you can contact us via email - theracquetballblog at gmail.com - or on Twitter @racquetballblog. Comments can also be left at the bottom of articles, although they may not show up immediately, as there’s a spam filter on them.

Regardless of whether you comment or not, we hope that you continue to enjoy reading The Racquetball Blog, and continue to ...

Follow the bouncing ball….