With a new year about to begin, you may be looking to make some resolutions regarding your racquetball game. To help you make your resolutions, we here at The Racquetball Blog would like to ask you a question: What kind of racquetball player are you?
Generally, there are three types of racquetball players: 1) power players, 2) shooters, and 3) what we’ll call all-rounders (borrowing a term from cricket), as these are players who not especially powerful or really shooters. How do you determine which category you fall into? Well, what do you do when you’re in trouble?
When someone is in trouble they will go to their strength - that is, bring out their big weapon, so when a power player is down in a game, he or she will try to amp up the power to get out trouble. Similarly, a shooter will try to shoot themselves out of trouble, going for winners with every swing of their racquet. That is, when people are in trouble, they will try to bring out their big weapon, whether that be power or shooting.
Now, all round players - those who are not especially powerful or a real shooter - don’t have a weapon to go to, so they don’t have a big asset to apply when they are in trouble. All rounders need to work hard during their matches to grind out wins. Being fit is important in sports, but it’s especially important if you have an all round game style, because you don’t have a big weapon that can serve as a “Get out of Jail Free” card.
Now, as you get better at racquetball, you’ll develop both skills of being able to play with power and shooting the ball. But still you’ll likely do one better than the other. If you can do both really well, then your name might be Kane Waselenchuk, who is great because he is both a power player and a shooter. But that doesn’t make him an all rounder.
Rocky Carson is a classic all rounder, as he has plenty of power and can certainly shoot the ball, but we wouldn’t call him a power player or a shooter. However, Carson is in great shape, and certainly grinds out wins. Indeed, he’s spoken more than once about how he loves to compete, so grinding out wins is exactly what he likes to do.
Once you know the type of player you are, then you next want to know the type of player you are playing. A power player versus a shooter will be a contest of who can take who out of their game: can the power player overpower the shooter so he or she can’t get set up to shoot the ball, or can the shooter put the ball out of reach so the power player cannot crush it like he or she wants?
A classic example of this happened in the Men’s Singles final of the 2016 Pan American Championships, when Daniel De La Rosa played Jake Bredenbeck. De La Rosa is a shooter and Bredenbeck is a prototypical power player. The match was in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, which is at altitude. Balls will travel further at altitude, so a player needs to adjust to that if they are unaccustomed to it. But San Luis Potosi is De La Rosa’s hometown, while Bredenbeck grew up in the relatively low lands of Minnesota. On that day, in those circumstances, the shooter beat the power player, and did so convincingly.
But the trickier match ups are when like plays like. That is, when a power player plays another power player, or a shooter plays another shooter. These are situations where fire is fighting fire, and it becomes a case of which fire is hotter, which is always tricky. So matches between players like Bredenbeck and Alejandro Cardona - both power players - or between De La Rosa and Andree Parrilla - both shooters are difficult to plan for, because each player is trying to do the same thing.
So, before making your racquetball New Year’s resolutions first ask yourself what kind of player you are. Once you have a good handle on that, then you will be in a better position to move forward and make plans for the new year.
Follow the bouncing ball…..
Monday, December 31, 2018
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Top 10 Racquetball Stories of the Year
2018 has been a big year for racquetball, which made picking a top 10 stories of the year list a bit difficult. This is the 11th time The Racquetball Blog has named its Top Racquetball Stories of the year, and some of the newsmakers have been on past lists, but not the person in the #1 spot!
Top Racquetball Stories of 2018
10. Montserrat Mejia. Mejia and Alexandra Herrera upset Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in Women’s Doubles at the Mexican qualifying event for the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, so they represented Mexico in Women’s Doubles for the first time at Worlds in Costa Rica, and were the silver medalists. Also, Mejia successfully defended her title in Girl’s U18 Singles at the 2018 IRF World Junior Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where she defeated Gabriela Martinez in the final for the 2nd consecutive year.
9. USA Racquetball. USA Racquetball encountered controversy that landed it in the pages of USA Today, and not in a good way. The exact nature of the events remains unexplained, but included the involvement of the US Center for SafeSport. This led to the release of two staff, including Executive Director Jason Thoerner. The organization is likely still dealing with the aftermath of this, but they have hired Mike Wedel to replace Thoerner as Executive Director. Early indications, including an interview done on The Racquetball Show podcast, suggest Wedel is a good hire.
8. Daniel De La Rosa. De La Rosa won gold for Mexico in Men’s Doubles with Alvaro Beltran at the 2018 IRF World Championships and the pair also won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Men’s Doubles division at the US Open. He was also a double gold medalist at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games, as De La Rosa won both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles with Beltran.
7. Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja. This Bolivian pair won Women’s Doubles at the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, and became the first South American team to do so. Both had good years individually also. Centellas, 17, won gold in Girls U16 singles and doubles at the IRF World Junior Championships. 2018 marked Sabja's return to competitive racquetball, as she was playing her first competitions since 2009, and was silver medalist in Women's Singles at the 2018 South American Games.
6. Samantha Salas. Salas ends the year as the #2 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). She won her 3rd career LPRT title in June, and has been a finalist at the first four events of the 2018-19 season. Also, Salas captured gold for Mexico in Women’s Doubles with Paola Longoria at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games.
5. Rodrigo Montoya. Montoya, from Mexico, became the 11th player to win Men’s Singles at the IRF World Championships, when he defeated Charlie Pratt (USA) at the 2018 IRF World Championships in Costa Rica in August. Montoya also won Men’s Doubles at the 2018 Pan American Championships with Alvaro Beltran.
4. Gabriela Martinez. The 19 year old Guatemalan became the first teenager - and 9th woman overall - to win Women’s Singles at the 2018 IRF World Championships in Costa Rica, where she defeated Paola Longoria in the final. Martinez was also silver medalist in singles and doubles (with Maria Renee Rodriguez) at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, and she and Rodriguez were also finalists in Women’s Doubles at the 2018 Pan American Championships, when they beat Longoria and Alexandra Herrera in the preliminary round but lost to them in the final. Martinez also reached the LPRT semi-finals at the US Open for the first time. Overall, it was a great year, but when Martinez was playing her last match as a junior - the final of Girl’s U18 Singles at the 2018 IRF World Junior Championships - she lost to Mexican Monserrat Mejia for the 2nd consecutive year.
3. Paola Longoria. It was a strange year for Longoria, as she had success - she continues to be the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won her 9th US Open, and won gold in both singles and doubles at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - but Longoria also lost four singles matches to four different opponents. Four losses in a year would be great for most players, but the bar is much higher for Longoria, who has gone through some years undefeated. She lost a few times in 2017 also, so are we seeing a trend? Or is it that the competition is becoming better? Two of her losses were to younger players (Gabriela Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas), and two were to veterans who have beaten her previously (Rhonda Rajsich & Samantha Salas). Longoria will turn 30 in 2019, so she’s one of the veteran players on the LPRT, but we’re sure there are several good seasons ahead of her.
2. Kane Waselenchuk. Waselenchuk has been on our list of top newsmakers for 11 straight years, because he’s been the best male racquetball player during that period. Has he won all the tournaments he’s entered or has he been the #1 player throughout that period? No, but like Serena Williams over the last two decades of women’s tennis, if Waselenchuk is in the draw, you expect him to win. Waselenchuk dropped a bombshell during his post-match interview in June, when he suggested there was a 90% chance he would retire, but that 10% has come through, and racquetball is all the better for it.
1. Alejandro Landa. Landa’s never been one of our top stories of the year, although he was an honorable mention in 2017, as he won Men’s Singles and Doubles (with Polo Gutierrez) at the 2017 Pan American Championships. But Landa never had a year like he did in 2018. He’s the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and a two time winner on tour; only Waselenchuk won more IRT events in 2018 than Landa. Few - if any - people would have seen this coming 12 months ago, so you would have got long odds on it happening, if you were looking to bet on it. But this is one of the great things about sports: the unexpected can happen. Was he helped by circumstances? Sure, but everyone who has success is, and no one gave Landa those titles or the #1 ranking. He earned them, and good on him for doing so.
Honorable mentions: Rhonda Rajsich successfully defended her title in Women’s Singles at the 2018 Pan American Championships in Chile with one of her career best performances in the final, when she defeated Longoria in three games. Rocky Carson was the #1 player on the IRT at the end of the 2017-18 season; while everyone spent so much time speculating on who the next #1 player would be after Waselenchuk, Carson went out and became that guy. Sudsy Monchik won Men’s Doubles with Rocky Carson at the 2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships, and were finalists in Men’s Doubles at the 2018 IRF World Championships. Maria Jose Vargas. won her 3rd LPRT title in March, and finished 2018 as the 4th ranked LPRT player; she also won gold for Argentina in Women’s Singles and Doubles (with Natalia Mendez) at the 2018 South American Games.
Overall, 2018 was a great year for racquetball, and we look forward to another great year in 2019, which will be highlighted by the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. If you enjoy The Racquetball Blog tell all your friends, and follow us on Twitter (@racquetballblog) and on Facebook.
Best wishes to you for 2019.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Top Racquetball Stories of 2018
10. Montserrat Mejia. Mejia and Alexandra Herrera upset Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in Women’s Doubles at the Mexican qualifying event for the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, so they represented Mexico in Women’s Doubles for the first time at Worlds in Costa Rica, and were the silver medalists. Also, Mejia successfully defended her title in Girl’s U18 Singles at the 2018 IRF World Junior Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where she defeated Gabriela Martinez in the final for the 2nd consecutive year.
9. USA Racquetball. USA Racquetball encountered controversy that landed it in the pages of USA Today, and not in a good way. The exact nature of the events remains unexplained, but included the involvement of the US Center for SafeSport. This led to the release of two staff, including Executive Director Jason Thoerner. The organization is likely still dealing with the aftermath of this, but they have hired Mike Wedel to replace Thoerner as Executive Director. Early indications, including an interview done on The Racquetball Show podcast, suggest Wedel is a good hire.
8. Daniel De La Rosa. De La Rosa won gold for Mexico in Men’s Doubles with Alvaro Beltran at the 2018 IRF World Championships and the pair also won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Men’s Doubles division at the US Open. He was also a double gold medalist at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games, as De La Rosa won both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles with Beltran.
7. Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja. This Bolivian pair won Women’s Doubles at the 2018 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, and became the first South American team to do so. Both had good years individually also. Centellas, 17, won gold in Girls U16 singles and doubles at the IRF World Junior Championships. 2018 marked Sabja's return to competitive racquetball, as she was playing her first competitions since 2009, and was silver medalist in Women's Singles at the 2018 South American Games.
6. Samantha Salas. Salas ends the year as the #2 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). She won her 3rd career LPRT title in June, and has been a finalist at the first four events of the 2018-19 season. Also, Salas captured gold for Mexico in Women’s Doubles with Paola Longoria at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games.
5. Rodrigo Montoya. Montoya, from Mexico, became the 11th player to win Men’s Singles at the IRF World Championships, when he defeated Charlie Pratt (USA) at the 2018 IRF World Championships in Costa Rica in August. Montoya also won Men’s Doubles at the 2018 Pan American Championships with Alvaro Beltran.
4. Gabriela Martinez. The 19 year old Guatemalan became the first teenager - and 9th woman overall - to win Women’s Singles at the 2018 IRF World Championships in Costa Rica, where she defeated Paola Longoria in the final. Martinez was also silver medalist in singles and doubles (with Maria Renee Rodriguez) at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, and she and Rodriguez were also finalists in Women’s Doubles at the 2018 Pan American Championships, when they beat Longoria and Alexandra Herrera in the preliminary round but lost to them in the final. Martinez also reached the LPRT semi-finals at the US Open for the first time. Overall, it was a great year, but when Martinez was playing her last match as a junior - the final of Girl’s U18 Singles at the 2018 IRF World Junior Championships - she lost to Mexican Monserrat Mejia for the 2nd consecutive year.
3. Paola Longoria. It was a strange year for Longoria, as she had success - she continues to be the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won her 9th US Open, and won gold in both singles and doubles at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - but Longoria also lost four singles matches to four different opponents. Four losses in a year would be great for most players, but the bar is much higher for Longoria, who has gone through some years undefeated. She lost a few times in 2017 also, so are we seeing a trend? Or is it that the competition is becoming better? Two of her losses were to younger players (Gabriela Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas), and two were to veterans who have beaten her previously (Rhonda Rajsich & Samantha Salas). Longoria will turn 30 in 2019, so she’s one of the veteran players on the LPRT, but we’re sure there are several good seasons ahead of her.
2. Kane Waselenchuk. Waselenchuk has been on our list of top newsmakers for 11 straight years, because he’s been the best male racquetball player during that period. Has he won all the tournaments he’s entered or has he been the #1 player throughout that period? No, but like Serena Williams over the last two decades of women’s tennis, if Waselenchuk is in the draw, you expect him to win. Waselenchuk dropped a bombshell during his post-match interview in June, when he suggested there was a 90% chance he would retire, but that 10% has come through, and racquetball is all the better for it.
1. Alejandro Landa. Landa’s never been one of our top stories of the year, although he was an honorable mention in 2017, as he won Men’s Singles and Doubles (with Polo Gutierrez) at the 2017 Pan American Championships. But Landa never had a year like he did in 2018. He’s the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and a two time winner on tour; only Waselenchuk won more IRT events in 2018 than Landa. Few - if any - people would have seen this coming 12 months ago, so you would have got long odds on it happening, if you were looking to bet on it. But this is one of the great things about sports: the unexpected can happen. Was he helped by circumstances? Sure, but everyone who has success is, and no one gave Landa those titles or the #1 ranking. He earned them, and good on him for doing so.
Honorable mentions: Rhonda Rajsich successfully defended her title in Women’s Singles at the 2018 Pan American Championships in Chile with one of her career best performances in the final, when she defeated Longoria in three games. Rocky Carson was the #1 player on the IRT at the end of the 2017-18 season; while everyone spent so much time speculating on who the next #1 player would be after Waselenchuk, Carson went out and became that guy. Sudsy Monchik won Men’s Doubles with Rocky Carson at the 2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships, and were finalists in Men’s Doubles at the 2018 IRF World Championships. Maria Jose Vargas. won her 3rd LPRT title in March, and finished 2018 as the 4th ranked LPRT player; she also won gold for Argentina in Women’s Singles and Doubles (with Natalia Mendez) at the 2018 South American Games.
Overall, 2018 was a great year for racquetball, and we look forward to another great year in 2019, which will be highlighted by the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. If you enjoy The Racquetball Blog tell all your friends, and follow us on Twitter (@racquetballblog) and on Facebook.
Best wishes to you for 2019.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, December 20, 2018
10 years of top 10 lists
If you’ve been following the bouncing ball loyally, then you know that The Racquetball Blog had its 10th anniversary this past July. Each of the last 10 years we have complied a "Best Stories of the Year” list, and this year will be no different.
However, this year’s list will be out next week. Today - because it’s a Throwback Thursday! - we’re going to review our decade of "Best Stories.” Two people have been newsworthy enough - in our ever so humble opinion - to be in the top 10 each year: Paola Longoria and Kane Waselenchuk.
Usually, Longoria and Waselenchuk have been so notable that we’ve put them in the top three. Longoiria’s been #1 five times (2011-2014) and Waselenchuk three (2008-2010). Three times they were #1 and #2 (Longoria was ahead each of those years). Waselenchuk’s always been in the top three, but in 2010 we put Longoria 8th! What the what?!?
The next two most frequent racquetball newsmakers of the past decade are Rhonda Rajsich and Rocky Carson, who have appeared on our year end list 8 and 7 times, respectively. Alvaro Beltran has made the list 4 times and Samantha Salas 3. Other players who have had notable years in the last decade include Cristina Amaya (2013), Kristen Bellows (2009), Ben Croft (2010), Krystal Csuk (2012), Daniel De La Rosa (2013, 2014), Sebastian Franco & Alejandro Herrera (2014), Ruben Gonzalez (2011), David Horn (2017), Jack Huczek (2010), Brenda Kyzer (2008), Frédérique Lambert (2016, 2017), Jason Mannino (2009, 2010), Gabriela Martinez (2016), Sudsy Monchik (2015, 2017), Charlie Pratt (2017), Jose Rojas (2013), Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (2016), Veronica Sotomayor (2008, 2015), Cliff Swain (2015) and Maria Jose Vargas (2013, 2014).
We have highlighted performances at the International Racquetball Federation’s (IRF) World Junior Championships by Bolivians (2009, 2017), Mexicans (2013, 2017) and the USA (2008). Other international competitions have also been notable in the past 10 years, including the Pan American Games (2009, 2011, 2015), and the World Games (2009).
There have been significant developments in the pro racquetball over the decade also, which has put each of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - which was the Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) back in 2008 - and World Racquetball Tour (WRT) in our year end top 10 more than once.
All in all it’s been quite a decade, and when we look back over the top 100+ stories of it, it’s pretty amazing. In 2008, the US Open was still in Memphis, there was no World Racquetball Tour (WRT), and video streaming of matches over the internet was just beginning. Now, video streaming is common place, the US Open is in Minneapolis, and the WRT — actually, we’re not sure what’s going on with the WRT.
We do have a handle on what will be on The Racquetball Blog’s Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2018, and you can probably guess who two of the year’s newsmakers will be, but we’ll reveal the entire list next week.
Follow the bouncing ball….
However, this year’s list will be out next week. Today - because it’s a Throwback Thursday! - we’re going to review our decade of "Best Stories.” Two people have been newsworthy enough - in our ever so humble opinion - to be in the top 10 each year: Paola Longoria and Kane Waselenchuk.
Usually, Longoria and Waselenchuk have been so notable that we’ve put them in the top three. Longoiria’s been #1 five times (2011-2014) and Waselenchuk three (2008-2010). Three times they were #1 and #2 (Longoria was ahead each of those years). Waselenchuk’s always been in the top three, but in 2010 we put Longoria 8th! What the what?!?
The next two most frequent racquetball newsmakers of the past decade are Rhonda Rajsich and Rocky Carson, who have appeared on our year end list 8 and 7 times, respectively. Alvaro Beltran has made the list 4 times and Samantha Salas 3. Other players who have had notable years in the last decade include Cristina Amaya (2013), Kristen Bellows (2009), Ben Croft (2010), Krystal Csuk (2012), Daniel De La Rosa (2013, 2014), Sebastian Franco & Alejandro Herrera (2014), Ruben Gonzalez (2011), David Horn (2017), Jack Huczek (2010), Brenda Kyzer (2008), Frédérique Lambert (2016, 2017), Jason Mannino (2009, 2010), Gabriela Martinez (2016), Sudsy Monchik (2015, 2017), Charlie Pratt (2017), Jose Rojas (2013), Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger (2016), Veronica Sotomayor (2008, 2015), Cliff Swain (2015) and Maria Jose Vargas (2013, 2014).
We have highlighted performances at the International Racquetball Federation’s (IRF) World Junior Championships by Bolivians (2009, 2017), Mexicans (2013, 2017) and the USA (2008). Other international competitions have also been notable in the past 10 years, including the Pan American Games (2009, 2011, 2015), and the World Games (2009).
There have been significant developments in the pro racquetball over the decade also, which has put each of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) - which was the Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) back in 2008 - and World Racquetball Tour (WRT) in our year end top 10 more than once.
All in all it’s been quite a decade, and when we look back over the top 100+ stories of it, it’s pretty amazing. In 2008, the US Open was still in Memphis, there was no World Racquetball Tour (WRT), and video streaming of matches over the internet was just beginning. Now, video streaming is common place, the US Open is in Minneapolis, and the WRT — actually, we’re not sure what’s going on with the WRT.
We do have a handle on what will be on The Racquetball Blog’s Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2018, and you can probably guess who two of the year’s newsmakers will be, but we’ll reveal the entire list next week.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Longoria at double winner at 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic
Paola Longoria won twice on Sunday, as she won both singles and doubles at the 2018 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, and provided more evidence of why she is the #1 player on the LPRT. In the singles final, Longoria defeated Alexandra Herrera, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7, and then teamed up with Kelani Bailey Lawrence to beat Herrera and Frédérique Lambert in the doubles final, 15-7, 15-10.
Longoria won each of her four singles matches en route to the title in three straight games giving up an average of 3.92 points per game, including handing out two doughnuts. The win maintains Longoria's undefeated season.
Longoria usually plays doubles with fellow Mexican Samantha Salas, but Salas wasn’t in Maryland reportedly due to travel difficulties. So she teamed up with Bailey Lawrence, who is only ranked 32nd in singles and 21st in doubles on the LPRT. But Bailey Lawrence is half of the current USA Racquetball National Doubles Champions, winning the title with Sharon Jackson last February. Her low LPRT ranking is mainly due to not playing many events.
At the start of the doubles final, it looked like 2nd seeds Herrera and Lambert, who were also playing together for the first time, would cause the upset as they put 6 points on the board before Longoria and Bailey Lawrence scored. Most of those points began with Lambert hitting a drive Z serve to Bailey Lawrence, as they were both playing on the right side. However, once the top seeds Longoria and Bailey Lawrence got going they held their lefty-righty opponents (Herrera is left handed & Lambert right handed) to only one more point while scoring 15 of their own, winning 15-7.
Longoria and Bailey Lawrence took an early lead at 4-1 in game two, and never trailed from there, as they went on to win it 15-10 and take the match in two straight games.
The LPRT will next be in action in 2019 at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, January 25-27. If you missed any of the action from Maryland, check out the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert, 15-7, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria won each of her four singles matches en route to the title in three straight games giving up an average of 3.92 points per game, including handing out two doughnuts. The win maintains Longoria's undefeated season.
Longoria usually plays doubles with fellow Mexican Samantha Salas, but Salas wasn’t in Maryland reportedly due to travel difficulties. So she teamed up with Bailey Lawrence, who is only ranked 32nd in singles and 21st in doubles on the LPRT. But Bailey Lawrence is half of the current USA Racquetball National Doubles Champions, winning the title with Sharon Jackson last February. Her low LPRT ranking is mainly due to not playing many events.
At the start of the doubles final, it looked like 2nd seeds Herrera and Lambert, who were also playing together for the first time, would cause the upset as they put 6 points on the board before Longoria and Bailey Lawrence scored. Most of those points began with Lambert hitting a drive Z serve to Bailey Lawrence, as they were both playing on the right side. However, once the top seeds Longoria and Bailey Lawrence got going they held their lefty-righty opponents (Herrera is left handed & Lambert right handed) to only one more point while scoring 15 of their own, winning 15-7.
Longoria and Bailey Lawrence took an early lead at 4-1 in game two, and never trailed from there, as they went on to win it 15-10 and take the match in two straight games.
The LPRT will next be in action in 2019 at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, January 25-27. If you missed any of the action from Maryland, check out the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert, 15-7, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Herrera & Longoria into final at 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic
Alexandra Herrera broke the glass slipper that Michelle De La Rosa was wearing at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, as Herrera beat De La Rosa in three straight games, 11-1, 11-0, 11-8. De La Rosa had beaten 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert and 7th seed Cristina Amaya to reach the semis, but couldn’t by 3rd seed Herrera.
Herrera will play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the final on Sunday, as Longoria defeated 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich in the other semi-final, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.
Both Longoria and Herrera could be double winners Sunday, as they will face off in the LPRT doubles final also. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Kelani Bailey Lawrence defeated Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-8, while Herrera and Frédérique Lambert won two close games against Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-14.
The finals will be Sunday with singles final at noon and doubles final at 1 PM eastern time. You can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Michelle De La Rosa, 11-1, 11-0, 11-8
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - Noon
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-8
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-14
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Herrera will play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the final on Sunday, as Longoria defeated 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich in the other semi-final, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.
Both Longoria and Herrera could be double winners Sunday, as they will face off in the LPRT doubles final also. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Kelani Bailey Lawrence defeated Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-8, while Herrera and Frédérique Lambert won two close games against Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-14.
The finals will be Sunday with singles final at noon and doubles final at 1 PM eastern time. You can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Michelle De La Rosa, 11-1, 11-0, 11-8
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria v. 3) Alexandra Herrera - Noon
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-8
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-14
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
De La Rosa continues to roll at 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic
Michelle De La Rosa will play in only her second semi-final on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Saturday, as she defeated Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4, in the quarterfinals of the 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland. De La Rosa’s first semi-final was over two years ago: September 2016 in the Paola Longoria Experience, when she beat then 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich in the quarters and lost to Frédérique Lambert in semis. In Laurel, De La Rosa beat 2nd seed Lambert in the Round of 16 yesterday.
Alexandra Herrera will play De La Rosa in the semi-finals later today, as Herrera, the 3rd seed, beat 6th seed Natalia Mendez in the quarters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8.
On the top of the draw, LPRT #1 Paola Longoria beat 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 11-1, 11-0, in the quarterfinals, and in the semi-finals, she’ll play 5th seed Rajsich, who was an upset winner over 4th seed Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-9, 11-1, in the quarters.
The semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 4 PM and 5 PM, and you can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The doubles semis will follow at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 11-1, 11-0
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-9, 11-1
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 4 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Alexandra Herrera will play De La Rosa in the semi-finals later today, as Herrera, the 3rd seed, beat 6th seed Natalia Mendez in the quarters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8.
On the top of the draw, LPRT #1 Paola Longoria beat 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 11-1, 11-0, in the quarterfinals, and in the semi-finals, she’ll play 5th seed Rajsich, who was an upset winner over 4th seed Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-9, 11-1, in the quarters.
The semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 4 PM and 5 PM, and you can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The doubles semis will follow at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 11-4, 11-1, 11-0
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-9, 11-1
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 11-9, 11-5, 2-11, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 4 PM
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, December 14, 2018
De La Rosa upsets Lambert to advance to quarters at 2018 LPRT Christmas Classic
Michelle De La Rosa got the big upset of the Round of 16 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, as she took out 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert in decisive fashion, winning in three straight games, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7. Lambert did fight off several match points in game three, but the writing was on the wall by the point, so it was just delaying the inevitable.
De La Rosa’s puts her in the quarterfinals on Saturday, when she’ll play 7th seed Cristina Amaya, who was also a straight game winner, beating Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3.
The winner of De La Rosa and Amaya will play the winner of 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera and 6th seed Natalia Mendez. in the 16s, Herrera beat Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0, and Mendez defeated Danielle Maddux - De La Rosa’s younger sister - 11-8, 11-4, 11-2. Maddux had a chance to avenge that defeat in doubles, as she and De La Rosa faced Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, but it was not to be, as Mendez and Vargas came back from a game down to win, 13-15, 15-11, 11-4.
There were two more five game matches on the top of the singles draw, as two young players pushed two veterans into tie-breakers. But the vets didn’t crumble. Fourth seed Vargas came back from 0-2 down to defeat Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, and 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich outlasted Masiel Rivera, 11-2, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-2.
Rajsich also played a tie-breaker in doubles, as she and Sheryl Lotts beat Cristina Amaya and Carla Muñoz, 6-15, 15-7, 11-5, which was a measure of revenge for Lotts, who had lost to Muñoz in singles, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and you can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The singles semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM followed by the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 11-0, 11-4, 11-3
8) Carla Muñoz d. 9) Sheryl Lotts, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Masiel Rivera, 11-2, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-2
4) Maria Jose Vargas d. 13) Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 19) Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0
6) Natalia Mendez d. 22) Danielle Maddux, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
7) Cristina Amaya d. 10) Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Carla Muñoz - Noon
4) Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - Noon
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Natalia Mendez - 11 AM
7) Cristina Amaya v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 11 AM
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 8) Cassi Lee & Hollie Scott, 15-3, 15-6
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz, 6-15, 15-7, 11-5
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux, 13-15, 15-11, 11-4
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert d. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera, 15-2, 15-5
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
De La Rosa’s puts her in the quarterfinals on Saturday, when she’ll play 7th seed Cristina Amaya, who was also a straight game winner, beating Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3.
The winner of De La Rosa and Amaya will play the winner of 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera and 6th seed Natalia Mendez. in the 16s, Herrera beat Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0, and Mendez defeated Danielle Maddux - De La Rosa’s younger sister - 11-8, 11-4, 11-2. Maddux had a chance to avenge that defeat in doubles, as she and De La Rosa faced Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, but it was not to be, as Mendez and Vargas came back from a game down to win, 13-15, 15-11, 11-4.
There were two more five game matches on the top of the singles draw, as two young players pushed two veterans into tie-breakers. But the vets didn’t crumble. Fourth seed Vargas came back from 0-2 down to defeat Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8, and 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich outlasted Masiel Rivera, 11-2, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-2.
Rajsich also played a tie-breaker in doubles, as she and Sheryl Lotts beat Cristina Amaya and Carla Muñoz, 6-15, 15-7, 11-5, which was a measure of revenge for Lotts, who had lost to Muñoz in singles, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9.
The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and you can watch the action from Laurel live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The singles semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM followed by the doubles semis at 6 and 7 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 11-0, 11-4, 11-3
8) Carla Muñoz d. 9) Sheryl Lotts, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Masiel Rivera, 11-2, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-2
4) Maria Jose Vargas d. 13) Lucia Gonzalez, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 19) Laura Brandt, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0
6) Natalia Mendez d. 22) Danielle Maddux, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
7) Cristina Amaya d. 10) Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 2) Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Carla Muñoz - Noon
4) Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - Noon
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Natalia Mendez - 11 AM
7) Cristina Amaya v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 11 AM
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 8) Cassi Lee & Hollie Scott, 15-3, 15-6
5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz, 6-15, 15-7, 11-5
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux, 13-15, 15-11, 11-4
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert d. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera, 15-2, 15-5
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
LPRT 2018 Christmas Classic - Round of 32
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic is underway in Laurel, Maryland, and there have already been three 5 game matches. Laura Brandt came back from 2-1 down to defeat Jennifer Dering, 11-8, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, and in a see-saw battle. Michelle De La Rosa squeaked out a victory over Hollie Scott, 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10, and De La Rosa’s sister (their maiden name was Key), Danielle Maddux was an upset winner over Adrienne Haynes, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4.
De La Rosa was up 10-7 on Scott, only to see Scott tie the game at 10-10. De La Rosa managed to pull it out, winning it with a forehand kill shot after a weak backhand return of a drive Z serve to the left side.
De La Rosa will play 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert in the Round of 16, while Brandt will take on 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, and Maddux faces 6th seed Natalia Mendez.
Also of note, Lucia Gonzalez defeated Valeria Centellas in four games, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10. Gonzalez plays 4th seed Maria Jose Vargas in the 16s.
You can watch the action from Laurel all weekend live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and nnon. The semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 17) Amie Brewer, 11-7, 11-0, 11-4
9) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Masiel Rivera d. 21) Katharine Neils, 11-0, 11-8, 11-1
13) Lucia Gonzalez d. 20) Valeria Centellas, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10
4) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
19) Laura Brandt d. 14) Jennifer Dering, 11-8, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4
22) Danielle Maddux d. 11) Adrienne Haynes, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Cassi Lee - BYE
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 18) Hollie Scott, 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 6 PM
8) Carla Muñoz v. 9) Sheryl Lotts - 6 PM
5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 12) Masiel Rivera - 3 PM
4) Maria Jose Vargas v. 13) Lucia Gonzalez - 3 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 19) Laura Brandt - 4 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 22) Danielle Maddux - 4 PM
7) Cristina Amaya v. 10) Cassi Lee - 5 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 5 PM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 8) Cassi Lee & ? - 8 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
De La Rosa was up 10-7 on Scott, only to see Scott tie the game at 10-10. De La Rosa managed to pull it out, winning it with a forehand kill shot after a weak backhand return of a drive Z serve to the left side.
De La Rosa will play 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert in the Round of 16, while Brandt will take on 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, and Maddux faces 6th seed Natalia Mendez.
Also of note, Lucia Gonzalez defeated Valeria Centellas in four games, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10. Gonzalez plays 4th seed Maria Jose Vargas in the 16s.
You can watch the action from Laurel all weekend live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and nnon. The semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 17) Amie Brewer, 11-7, 11-0, 11-4
9) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Masiel Rivera d. 21) Katharine Neils, 11-0, 11-8, 11-1
13) Lucia Gonzalez d. 20) Valeria Centellas, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 12-10
4) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
19) Laura Brandt d. 14) Jennifer Dering, 11-8, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4
22) Danielle Maddux d. 11) Adrienne Haynes, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-4
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Cassi Lee - BYE
15) Michelle De La Rosa d. 18) Hollie Scott, 11-1, 9-11, 11-4, 3-11, 12-10
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 6 PM
8) Carla Muñoz v. 9) Sheryl Lotts - 6 PM
5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 12) Masiel Rivera - 3 PM
4) Maria Jose Vargas v. 13) Lucia Gonzalez - 3 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera v. 19) Laura Brandt - 4 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 22) Danielle Maddux - 4 PM
7) Cristina Amaya v. 10) Cassi Lee - 5 PM
2) Frédérique Lambert v. 15) Michelle De La Rosa - 5 PM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 8) Cassi Lee & ? - 8 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, December 13, 2018
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic - Preview
The Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland has become a tradition on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) schedule, and the tradition continues this weekend, as 22 LPRT players will face off in Maryland for the last LPRT event of 2018. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria heads a field of 22 players that includes 8 of the top 11 LPRT players.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this weekend’s event comes in doubles, where Longoria will play with Kelani Bailey Lawrence for the 1st time, as her usual partner Samantha Salas won’t be in Maryland. Longoria had previously played with Alexandra Herrera, but Herrera is playing with Frédérique Lambert. Nonetheless, Longoria and Bailey Lawrence are the #1 seeds with Herrera and Lambert #2.
Those two teams could meet in the final, but the road to the final could be tricky for Herrera and Lambert, who will need to play first play Valeria Centellas and Masiel Rivera, and Centellas is half of the current Women’s Doubles World Champions (she won the title last August with Yazmine Sabja). If they win that match, Herrera and Lambert will have to play the winner of 3rd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas and sister act 6th seeds Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux, which will also not be an easy match.
You can watch the action from Laurel all weekend live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and nnon. The semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 17) Amie Brewer - 11 AM
9) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Masiel Rivera v. 21) Katharine Neils - 10 AM
13) Lucia Gonzalez v. 20) Valeria Centellas - 10 AM
4) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Jennifer Dering v. 19) Laura Brandt - 10 AM
11) Adrienne Haynes v. 22) Danielle Maddux - 11 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Cassi Lee - BYE
15) Michelle De La Rosa v. 18) Hollie Scott - 11 AM
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 8) Cassi Lee & ? - 8 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this weekend’s event comes in doubles, where Longoria will play with Kelani Bailey Lawrence for the 1st time, as her usual partner Samantha Salas won’t be in Maryland. Longoria had previously played with Alexandra Herrera, but Herrera is playing with Frédérique Lambert. Nonetheless, Longoria and Bailey Lawrence are the #1 seeds with Herrera and Lambert #2.
Those two teams could meet in the final, but the road to the final could be tricky for Herrera and Lambert, who will need to play first play Valeria Centellas and Masiel Rivera, and Centellas is half of the current Women’s Doubles World Champions (she won the title last August with Yazmine Sabja). If they win that match, Herrera and Lambert will have to play the winner of 3rd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas and sister act 6th seeds Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux, which will also not be an easy match.
You can watch the action from Laurel all weekend live via the LPRT LiveStream channel or the LPRT Facebook page. The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and nnon. The semi-finals will be 4 and 5 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
2018 LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am, December 14-16, 2018
Laurel, Maryland
Round of 32 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 17) Amie Brewer - 11 AM
9) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Masiel Rivera v. 21) Katharine Neils - 10 AM
13) Lucia Gonzalez v. 20) Valeria Centellas - 10 AM
4) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Jennifer Dering v. 19) Laura Brandt - 10 AM
11) Adrienne Haynes v. 22) Danielle Maddux - 11 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Cassi Lee - BYE
15) Michelle De La Rosa v. 18) Hollie Scott - 11 AM
2) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Kelani Bailey Lawrence v. 8) Cassi Lee & ? - 8 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Carla Muñoz v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Rhonda Rajsich - 8 PM
3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Michelle De La Rosa & Danielle Maddux - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Frédérique Lambert v. 7) Valeria Centellas & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Waselenchuk defeats Beltran to win 2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
Kane Waselenchuk defeated Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-12, to win the 2018 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon on Saturday for his 2nd win of the 2018-19 IRT season. There have only been three events so far this season, and Waselenchuk’s won two of them; he didn’t play in the first event.
Waselenchuk reached the final with a comfortable win over defending Pelham Memorial champion Charles Pratt in the semi-finals, 15-3, 15-5, while Beltran needed a tie-breaker to defeat IRT #2 Rocky Carson, 7-15, 15-10, 11-5, in the other semi.
Waselenchuk jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one of the final, and never let Beltran get within three in that game, as he went on to win 15-6. He began the game with a drive serve to the left side for an ace, and ended it with a soft forehand shot, which are both characteristic plays for Waselenchuk.
Game two was a long battle. After 33 rallies, they were tied at 4-4. In contrast, game one had 39 rallies total. They then spent 15 rallies at 4-4 before Beltran skipped a backhand serve return of a lob Z to the left side to make it 5-4 in favor of Waselenchuk.
Waselenchuk ran the lead up to four at 10-6, so Beltran called a timeout. It looked like Waselenchuk might run away with the game, and he did extend the lead to 13-6, getting his 13th point with a drive serve ace to the right side.
But Beltran kept working, and got a couple points back, which caused Waselenchuk to call a timeout when he got the serve back at 13-8. However, coming out of the timeout, Waselenchuk skipped a forehand shot to give the serve back to Beltran.
Beltran hit a drive serve ace of his own to the left side, so to the lefthanded Waselenchuk’s forehand, and got another point when Waselenchuk skipped a forehand return of a lob nick serve to the left side, which made the score 13-10.
After an exchange of sideouts, Waselenchuk made it 14-10 with a forehand winner down the right side. But Beltran denied Waselenchuk’s first match point with a great forehand pinch return winner off a lob Z serve to the right side. That led to two more points, as good serves by Beltran forced serve return errors by Waselenchuk.
But at 14-12, Beltran hit a loose drive serve to the left that came far off the back wall to set up Waselenchuk, who drove the ball down the left side for an easy winner. Waselenchuk won the match on his second match point, as he ended a rally, where Beltran dove twice to keep the rally going, with a soft forehand in the front right court.
Game two took 63 min and there were 94 rallies, which might make it one of the longest games in IRT history.
If you missed the final, or any of the other action from Portland, go to the IRT YouTube channel. The IRT will next be in action on the first weekend of 2019, when they’ll play the LA Open in Canoga Park, California, January 3-6, 2019.
2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
November 29-December 1 - Portland, Oregon
Final - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-12
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. Charles Pratt, 15-3, 15-5
6) Alvaro Beltran d. 2) Rocky Carson, 7-15, 15-10, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk reached the final with a comfortable win over defending Pelham Memorial champion Charles Pratt in the semi-finals, 15-3, 15-5, while Beltran needed a tie-breaker to defeat IRT #2 Rocky Carson, 7-15, 15-10, 11-5, in the other semi.
Waselenchuk jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game one of the final, and never let Beltran get within three in that game, as he went on to win 15-6. He began the game with a drive serve to the left side for an ace, and ended it with a soft forehand shot, which are both characteristic plays for Waselenchuk.
Game two was a long battle. After 33 rallies, they were tied at 4-4. In contrast, game one had 39 rallies total. They then spent 15 rallies at 4-4 before Beltran skipped a backhand serve return of a lob Z to the left side to make it 5-4 in favor of Waselenchuk.
Waselenchuk ran the lead up to four at 10-6, so Beltran called a timeout. It looked like Waselenchuk might run away with the game, and he did extend the lead to 13-6, getting his 13th point with a drive serve ace to the right side.
But Beltran kept working, and got a couple points back, which caused Waselenchuk to call a timeout when he got the serve back at 13-8. However, coming out of the timeout, Waselenchuk skipped a forehand shot to give the serve back to Beltran.
Beltran hit a drive serve ace of his own to the left side, so to the lefthanded Waselenchuk’s forehand, and got another point when Waselenchuk skipped a forehand return of a lob nick serve to the left side, which made the score 13-10.
After an exchange of sideouts, Waselenchuk made it 14-10 with a forehand winner down the right side. But Beltran denied Waselenchuk’s first match point with a great forehand pinch return winner off a lob Z serve to the right side. That led to two more points, as good serves by Beltran forced serve return errors by Waselenchuk.
But at 14-12, Beltran hit a loose drive serve to the left that came far off the back wall to set up Waselenchuk, who drove the ball down the left side for an easy winner. Waselenchuk won the match on his second match point, as he ended a rally, where Beltran dove twice to keep the rally going, with a soft forehand in the front right court.
Game two took 63 min and there were 94 rallies, which might make it one of the longest games in IRT history.
If you missed the final, or any of the other action from Portland, go to the IRT YouTube channel. The IRT will next be in action on the first weekend of 2019, when they’ll play the LA Open in Canoga Park, California, January 3-6, 2019.
2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
November 29-December 1 - Portland, Oregon
Final - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 15-6, 15-12
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. Charles Pratt, 15-3, 15-5
6) Alvaro Beltran d. 2) Rocky Carson, 7-15, 15-10, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk & Pratt to face off in semi-finals at 2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
Kane Waselenchuk took another step towards reclaiming the #1 position on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Friday at the 2018 Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon, as he defeated current #1 Alejandro Landa, 15-9, 15-8, in the quarterfinals. Waselenchuk will play defending Pelham Memorial champion Charles Pratt in the semi-finals on Saturday after Pratt beat David Horn in two close games, 15-10, 15-14.
Waselenchuk and Landa were close early in game one of their match, and tied at 4-4. But Waselenchuk won the next five points to lead 9-4. Landa called a timeout, and took the serve back and scored two points to make it 9-6. But that was as close as he got, as Waselenchuk went on to win, 15-10.
Game two had a similar story. A tie at 3-3, and then a 8-3 lead for Waselenchuk. This time Landa came back to within one at 9-8. But when Waselenchuk took the serve back at that point he kept Landa out of the service box while scoring the last six points of the match, winning game two 15-8.
In a battle of the Team USA men’s singles players from this past summer’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, Horn and Pratt went toe to toe. But except for a 2-0 lead for Horn in game one, Pratt never trailed. After winning the first game, 15-10, he took a big lead in game two at 8-1.
Horn is a battler, though, and he tied the score at 8-8, and then again at 14-14, when it looked like he was going to force a tie-breaker after fighting off two match points. But Pratt got the serve back with a forehand cross court winner. Then on match point #3, Pratt hit a drive jam serve to the left side that came off the back wall and around to the right side that went for an ace, as Horn could not catch up to it.
The other semi-final will be between familiar foes. IRT #2 Rocky Carson will play #8 Alvaro Beltran for the 48th time on tour. Carson holds a 26-21 advantage over their long careers, although this will be their first showdown in 2018. They met twice in 2017, and split those matches: Carson won in Florida in April, and Beltran in Sioux Falls, SD in January.
In the quarterfinals, Carson beat 7th seed Samuel Murray, 15-4, 15-10, while Beltran upset fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT’s #3 player, 15-8, 15-8.
The semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and will be streamed live on the IRT Network and the IRT YouTube channel. The final will be Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Pacific.
2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
November 29-December 1 - Portland, Oregon
Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. 1) Alejandro Landa, 15-9, 15-8
Charles Pratt d. David Horn, 15-10, 15-14
6) Alvaro Beltran d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 15-8
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-4, 15-10
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk v. Charles Pratt - Noon
2) Rocky Carson v. 6) Alvaro Beltran - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk and Landa were close early in game one of their match, and tied at 4-4. But Waselenchuk won the next five points to lead 9-4. Landa called a timeout, and took the serve back and scored two points to make it 9-6. But that was as close as he got, as Waselenchuk went on to win, 15-10.
Game two had a similar story. A tie at 3-3, and then a 8-3 lead for Waselenchuk. This time Landa came back to within one at 9-8. But when Waselenchuk took the serve back at that point he kept Landa out of the service box while scoring the last six points of the match, winning game two 15-8.
In a battle of the Team USA men’s singles players from this past summer’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, Horn and Pratt went toe to toe. But except for a 2-0 lead for Horn in game one, Pratt never trailed. After winning the first game, 15-10, he took a big lead in game two at 8-1.
Horn is a battler, though, and he tied the score at 8-8, and then again at 14-14, when it looked like he was going to force a tie-breaker after fighting off two match points. But Pratt got the serve back with a forehand cross court winner. Then on match point #3, Pratt hit a drive jam serve to the left side that came off the back wall and around to the right side that went for an ace, as Horn could not catch up to it.
The other semi-final will be between familiar foes. IRT #2 Rocky Carson will play #8 Alvaro Beltran for the 48th time on tour. Carson holds a 26-21 advantage over their long careers, although this will be their first showdown in 2018. They met twice in 2017, and split those matches: Carson won in Florida in April, and Beltran in Sioux Falls, SD in January.
In the quarterfinals, Carson beat 7th seed Samuel Murray, 15-4, 15-10, while Beltran upset fellow Mexican Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT’s #3 player, 15-8, 15-8.
The semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and will be streamed live on the IRT Network and the IRT YouTube channel. The final will be Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Pacific.
2018 IRT Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
November 29-December 1 - Portland, Oregon
Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Kane Waselenchuk d. 1) Alejandro Landa, 15-9, 15-8
Charles Pratt d. David Horn, 15-10, 15-14
6) Alvaro Beltran d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 15-8
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-4, 15-10
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Kane Waselenchuk v. Charles Pratt - Noon
2) Rocky Carson v. 6) Alvaro Beltran - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
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