Last weekend’s Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Sixth seed Alan Natera was the surprise winner, as he upset top seed Gerardo Franco in the final, 15-10, 15-5. In the semi-finals, Natera defeated 7th seed Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10, and Franco beat 5th seed Erik Garcia, 15-3, 15-7.
Natera also got the better of Franco in the Pro Mixed Doubles Final in San Antonio, as he and Monserrat Mejia defeated Franco and Paola Longoria, 15-7, 15-7. In the semis, Natera and Mejia beat Javier Estrada and Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-14, while Franco and Longoria defeated Ana Laura Flores and Raul Valadez, 15-8, 15-9.
Adriana Riveros won Women’s Open at The Battle at the Alamo, as she beat Susana Acosta, 15-12, 15-7. Both Riveros and Acosta needed three games to advance to the final, as Riveros went tie-breaker with Maria Renee Rodriguez in the semi-finals, winning 13-15, 15-4, 11-0, and Acosta hung on to upset 2nd seed Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 8-15, 11-6.
Over in Sarasota, Eduardo Garay won Men’s Open at the Florida Pro-Am, as Mike Harmon had to default in the tie-breaker of their match due to injury. Harmon had won the first game, Garay the second, and Garay was ahead in the breaker when Harmon had to call it quits, making the final scoreline, 12-15, 15-10, 5-1, injury default.
In the semi-finals, Garay defeated Mario Mercado, 11-15, 15-11, 11-2, and Harmon beat Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-12.
Garay had a chance to win both Open Singles and Doubles in Sarasota, but he and Mercado fell to David Horn and Rodrigo Montoya in the doubles final, 15-10, 15-8.
The focus of the racquetball world will be on Syosset, New York this weekend, where the Syosset Open will happen. The Syosset Open is both an IRT event and an Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event. It’s rare for both the IRT and LPRT to be at the same tournament, so it will be a special weekend. Moreover, they are playing Mixed Pro Doubles in Syosset, which should be fun.
There are 20 teams in Mixed Pro Doubles, with 21 players in the LPRT draw and 49 players in the IRT draw, making the Syosset Open one of the largest IRT’s draws this season. Play will begin on Thursday in Syosset.
2019 Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Women’s Open Final
1) Adriana Riveros d. 6) Susana Acosta, 15-12, 15-7
Semi-finals
1) Adriana Riveros d. 5) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-4, 11-0
6) Susana Acosta d. 2) Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 8-15, 11-6
Men’s IRT Final
6) Alan Natera d. 1) Gerardo Franco, 15-10, 15-5
Semi-finals
1) Gerardo Franco d. 5) Erik Garcia, 15-3, 15-7
6) Alan Natera d. 7) Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10
Pro Mixed Doubles Final
11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria, 15-7, 15-7
Semi-finals
1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria d. 12) Ana Laura Flores & Raul Valadez, 15-8, 15-9
11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 7) Javier Estrada & Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-14
Quarterfinals
1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria d. 8) Alejandro Cardona & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-4, 8-15, 11-8
12) Ana Laura Flores & Raul Valadez d. 13) Nancy Enriquez & Jesus Quevedo, 15-5, 15-11
11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 3) Erik Garcia & Brenda Laime, 10-15, 15-10, 11-6
7) Javier Estrada & Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Yesid Bazoberry & Adriana Riveros, 15-3, 15-5
2019 Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Men’s Open Final
3) Eduardo Garay d. 9) Mike Harmon, 12-15, 15-10, 5-1, injury default
Semi-finals
9) Mike Harmon d. 4) Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-12
3) Eduardo Garay d. 2) Mario Mercado, 11-15, 15-11, 11-2
Quarterfinals
9) Mike Harmon d. 1) Maurice Miller, 6-15, 15-13, 11-7
4) Andres Acuña d. 21) Kadim Carrasco, 15-11, 15-10
3) Eduardo Garay d. 11) Justus Benson, forfeit
2) Mario Mercado d. 10) Set Cubillos, 15-3, 15-1
Men’s Open Doubles Final
2) David Horn & Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado, 15-10, 15-8
Semi-finals
1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado d. 4) Eduardo Portillo & Oscar Nieto, 15-13, 14-15, 11-7
2) David Horn & Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Dylan Pruitt & Kyle Ulliman, 15-3, 15-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Landa defeats Beltran to win 2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am final
Alejandro Landa won the 2019 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Florida Pro-Am in Sarasota, Florida on Saturday by beating Alvaro Beltran in the final, 15-13, 15-12. Landa's win is the 3rd of his career, and it's the second time he has beaten Beltran in a final. Overall, Landa is 3-1 in finals. The others all came last season.
The IRT will be back in action next weekend, when the Syosset Open happens in Syosset, New York, May 2-5. The Syosset Open is also a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event, and they are going to play LPRT & IRT mixed doubles in Syosset, which should be fun.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Final - Saturday
3) Alejandro Landa d. 8) Alvaro Beltran, 15-13, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
The IRT will be back in action next weekend, when the Syosset Open happens in Syosset, New York, May 2-5. The Syosset Open is also a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event, and they are going to play LPRT & IRT mixed doubles in Syosset, which should be fun.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Final - Saturday
3) Alejandro Landa d. 8) Alvaro Beltran, 15-13, 15-12
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria defeats Salas to win 2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
Paola Longoria's undefeated Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season continues, as the #1 LPRT player won the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas Sunday. Longoria defeated Samantha Salas, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4, in the final. She reached the final with a win over LPRT #5 Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6, while Salas - the LPRT's #2 player - defeated LPRT #3 Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4, in the other semi.
In game one of the final, it looked like Salas might carry the day, as she overcame an early 5-0 lead by Longoria to lead 9-6. Salas got to game point at 10-8 with a flat forehand winner. But on the next rally, she skipped a backhand shot after being forced into the back left corner by Longoria.
After Longoria scored a point with a backhand cross court shot from the right side that made it 10-9, Salas got her 2nd game point opportunity, but Longoria forced her into skipping another backhand shot. Salas got the serve right back with another flat forehand. Longoria hit a forehand pinch shot to fend off Salas's 3rd game point.
Longoria then won three consecutive rallies starting each of them with a lob nick serve to the left side - Salas's backhand side. That led to two winners by Longoria and one error by Salas that Longoria forced her into by driving a backhand shot cross court. With those three points, Longoria closed out game one, 12-10.
Game two had a similar structure to game one early, as Longoria had a small lead, but they were tied at 5-5. Unlike game one, Longoria then won six unanswered points to take game two, 11-5.
Longoria led all the way in game three, with Salas getting close at 6-4. But Salas scored no points after that, as a backhand skip by Salas made it 10-4, and gave Longoria her 1st match point. Longoria won it on the next rally with a backhand reverse pinch shot.
The victory is Longoria's 7th of the season. She missed the last LPRT event due to an injury, but with a win in San Antonio and a victory in both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles (with Salas) earlier this month at the 2019 Pan American Racquetball Championships, it seems Longoria is fully fit, which spells trouble for all the other players. She played 12 games in San Antonio, and gave up only 49 points - a little over 4 points a game on average.
The LPRT's next event is the Syosset Open in Syosset, New York, May 2-5, which will also be an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, and they are going to play LPRT & IRT mixed doubles in Syosset, which should be fun. If you missed the action from San Antonio, you can watch the matches via the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Samantha Salas, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6
2) Samantha Salas d. 3) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
In game one of the final, it looked like Salas might carry the day, as she overcame an early 5-0 lead by Longoria to lead 9-6. Salas got to game point at 10-8 with a flat forehand winner. But on the next rally, she skipped a backhand shot after being forced into the back left corner by Longoria.
After Longoria scored a point with a backhand cross court shot from the right side that made it 10-9, Salas got her 2nd game point opportunity, but Longoria forced her into skipping another backhand shot. Salas got the serve right back with another flat forehand. Longoria hit a forehand pinch shot to fend off Salas's 3rd game point.
Longoria then won three consecutive rallies starting each of them with a lob nick serve to the left side - Salas's backhand side. That led to two winners by Longoria and one error by Salas that Longoria forced her into by driving a backhand shot cross court. With those three points, Longoria closed out game one, 12-10.
Game two had a similar structure to game one early, as Longoria had a small lead, but they were tied at 5-5. Unlike game one, Longoria then won six unanswered points to take game two, 11-5.
Longoria led all the way in game three, with Salas getting close at 6-4. But Salas scored no points after that, as a backhand skip by Salas made it 10-4, and gave Longoria her 1st match point. Longoria won it on the next rally with a backhand reverse pinch shot.
The victory is Longoria's 7th of the season. She missed the last LPRT event due to an injury, but with a win in San Antonio and a victory in both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles (with Salas) earlier this month at the 2019 Pan American Racquetball Championships, it seems Longoria is fully fit, which spells trouble for all the other players. She played 12 games in San Antonio, and gave up only 49 points - a little over 4 points a game on average.
The LPRT's next event is the Syosset Open in Syosset, New York, May 2-5, which will also be an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, and they are going to play LPRT & IRT mixed doubles in Syosset, which should be fun. If you missed the action from San Antonio, you can watch the matches via the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Samantha Salas, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6
2) Samantha Salas d. 3) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Beltran versus Landa in 2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am final
Alvaro Beltran won another tie-breaker at the 2019 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Florida Pro-Am in Sarasota, Florida, as he upset IRT #4 Andree Parrilla, 4-15, 15-7, 11-10, in the semi-finals. Beltran - currently ranked 6th on the IRT - will play IRT #3 Alejandro Landa in the final, as Landa upset IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the other semi-final, 15-5, 15-7.
It's Beltran's 2nd final of the season, as he was runner up to IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk in Portland in December. Beltran defeated Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Landa will play his first final since April 2018, when he defeated Beltran in Cincinnati to win the 2nd event of his career. Landa's record in finals is 2-1, with all of those happening last season. In contrast, Beltran has been in 40 finals, winning three times.
The final will be Saturday night at 7:00 PM Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 4-15, 15-7, 11-10
3) Alejandro Landa d. 2) Rocky Carson, 15-5, 15-7
Final - Saturday
3) Alejandro Landa v. 8) Alvaro Beltran - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
It's Beltran's 2nd final of the season, as he was runner up to IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk in Portland in December. Beltran defeated Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Landa will play his first final since April 2018, when he defeated Beltran in Cincinnati to win the 2nd event of his career. Landa's record in finals is 2-1, with all of those happening last season. In contrast, Beltran has been in 40 finals, winning three times.
The final will be Saturday night at 7:00 PM Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Semi-finals - Saturday
8) Alvaro Beltran d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 4-15, 15-7, 11-10
3) Alejandro Landa d. 2) Rocky Carson, 15-5, 15-7
Final - Saturday
3) Alejandro Landa v. 8) Alvaro Beltran - 7 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria on track at 2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), is on track to continue her undefeated season, as she's through to the semi-finals at the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. In six games, she's surrendered only 10 points and handed out three donuts. Longoria blanked Maria Renee Rodriguez in game one of their Round of 16 match, winning 11-0, 11-2, 11-5, and then blanked Cristina Amaya twice in their quarterfinal match, 11-0, 11-3, 11-0.
In the semi-finals, Longoria will face a long time nemesis in Rhonda Rajsich, who needed two tie-breakers to get to the semis. Rajsich came back from a game down to defeat Brenda Laime, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, in the 16s, and then in the quarters fended off the challenge of Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 12-14, 11-2, 11-13, 11-3.
On the other side of the draw, LPRT #2 Samantha Salas will play #3 Maria Jose Vargas in what will be a rematch of last month's Bolivia Open final, won by Vargas. Like Longoria, Salas won both her Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches in three straight games, beating Susana Acosta, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8, and Nancy Enriquez, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7, respectively. Vargas needed five games to beat Monserrat Mejia, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 11-8, in the Round of 16, and only three games to defeat Natalia Mendez, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3.
The semi-finals go late Saturday afternoon with the final on Sunday at noon. You can watch the action via the LPRT website or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17) Laura Brandt, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7
9) Cristina Amaya - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Brenda Laime d. 21) Daniela Rico, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
13) Ana Laura Flores d. 20) Hanna Shnurman, 11-1, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Monserrat Mejia d. 19) Daniela Molina, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2
11) Cassi Lee v. 22) - 11:05 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Susana Acosta d. 18) Carolina Luque, 11-1, 11-8, 11-2
2) Samantha Salas - BYE
Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 11-2, 11-5
9) Cristina Amaya d. 8) Adriana Riveros, 11-9, 11-0, 9-11, 0-11, 11-3
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Brenda Laime, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 13) Ana Laura Flores, 11-6, 11-2, 11-1
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 14) Monserrat Mejia, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 11-8
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-1, 11-9
7) Nancy Enriquez d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-1
2) Samantha Salas d. 15) Susana Acosta, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Cristina Amaya, 11-0, 11-3, 11-0
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 12-14, 11-2, 11-13, 11-3
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3
2) Samantha Salas d. 7) Nancy Enriquez, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - 5:35 PM
2) Samantha Salas v. 3) Maria Jose Vargas - 4:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, Longoria will face a long time nemesis in Rhonda Rajsich, who needed two tie-breakers to get to the semis. Rajsich came back from a game down to defeat Brenda Laime, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, in the 16s, and then in the quarters fended off the challenge of Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 12-14, 11-2, 11-13, 11-3.
On the other side of the draw, LPRT #2 Samantha Salas will play #3 Maria Jose Vargas in what will be a rematch of last month's Bolivia Open final, won by Vargas. Like Longoria, Salas won both her Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches in three straight games, beating Susana Acosta, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8, and Nancy Enriquez, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7, respectively. Vargas needed five games to beat Monserrat Mejia, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 11-8, in the Round of 16, and only three games to defeat Natalia Mendez, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3.
The semi-finals go late Saturday afternoon with the final on Sunday at noon. You can watch the action via the LPRT website or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17) Laura Brandt, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7
9) Cristina Amaya - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Brenda Laime d. 21) Daniela Rico, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
13) Ana Laura Flores d. 20) Hanna Shnurman, 11-1, 11-6, 5-11, 11-2
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Monserrat Mejia d. 19) Daniela Molina, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2
11) Cassi Lee v. 22) - 11:05 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
10) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
15) Susana Acosta d. 18) Carolina Luque, 11-1, 11-8, 11-2
2) Samantha Salas - BYE
Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-0, 11-2, 11-5
9) Cristina Amaya d. 8) Adriana Riveros, 11-9, 11-0, 9-11, 0-11, 11-3
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Brenda Laime, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-1, 11-9
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 13) Ana Laura Flores, 11-6, 11-2, 11-1
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 14) Monserrat Mejia, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 11-8
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Cassi Lee, 11-3, 11-1, 11-9
7) Nancy Enriquez d. 10) Adrienne Haynes, 6-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-1
2) Samantha Salas d. 15) Susana Acosta, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8
Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Cristina Amaya, 11-0, 11-3, 11-0
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 12-14, 11-2, 11-13, 11-3
3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 11-4, 11-2, 11-3
2) Samantha Salas d. 7) Nancy Enriquez, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - 5:35 PM
2) Samantha Salas v. 3) Maria Jose Vargas - 4:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Beltran defeats Waselenchuk in quarterfinals of 2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am
Alvaro Beltran defeated Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), 15-11, 8-15, 11-8, in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Florida Pro-Am in Sarasota, Florida Friday. It's only the 3rd time Waselenchuk has lost a completed match in a little over a decade, but two of those losses are to Beltran, the first coming back in January 2009. It's a shocking result.
The win put Beltran into the semi-finals against IRT #4 Andree Parrilla, who defeated David Horn in the quarters, 15-2, 15-6. In the other semi-final it will be IRT #2 Rocky Carson up against #3 Alejandro Landa.
In the quarters, Carson beat Daniel De La Rosa, 15-7, 15-3, and Landa defeated Sebastian Franco, 15-12, 15-11.
The semi-finals will be Noon and 1 PM Saturday with the final Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Thomas Carter, 15-6, 15-3
8) Alvaro Beltran d. Eduardo Garay, 15-7, 15-9
David Horn d. 5) Samuel Murray, 15-2, 15-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. Jake Bredenbeck, 15-11, 15-9
3) Alejandro Landa d. Andres Acuña, 15-3, 15-2
6) Sebastian Franco d. Jose Diaz, 15-12, 15-9
7) Daniel De La Rosa d. Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 15-3
2) Rocky Carson d. Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-9
Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Alvaro Beltran d. 1) Kane Waselenchuk, 15-11, 8-15, 11-8
4) Andree Parrilla d. David Horn, 15-2, 15-6
3) Alejandro Landa d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 15-12, 15-11
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-7, 15-3
Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Andree Parrilla v. 8) Alvaro Beltran - Noon
2) Rocky Carson v. 3) Alejandro Landa - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The win put Beltran into the semi-finals against IRT #4 Andree Parrilla, who defeated David Horn in the quarters, 15-2, 15-6. In the other semi-final it will be IRT #2 Rocky Carson up against #3 Alejandro Landa.
In the quarters, Carson beat Daniel De La Rosa, 15-7, 15-3, and Landa defeated Sebastian Franco, 15-12, 15-11.
The semi-finals will be Noon and 1 PM Saturday with the final Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Thomas Carter, 15-6, 15-3
8) Alvaro Beltran d. Eduardo Garay, 15-7, 15-9
David Horn d. 5) Samuel Murray, 15-2, 15-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. Jake Bredenbeck, 15-11, 15-9
3) Alejandro Landa d. Andres Acuña, 15-3, 15-2
6) Sebastian Franco d. Jose Diaz, 15-12, 15-9
7) Daniel De La Rosa d. Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 15-3
2) Rocky Carson d. Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-9
Quarterfinals - Friday
8) Alvaro Beltran d. 1) Kane Waselenchuk, 15-11, 8-15, 11-8
4) Andree Parrilla d. David Horn, 15-2, 15-6
3) Alejandro Landa d. 6) Sebastian Franco, 15-12, 15-11
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-7, 15-3
Semi-finals - Saturday
4) Andree Parrilla v. 8) Alvaro Beltran - Noon
2) Rocky Carson v. 3) Alejandro Landa - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, April 25, 2019
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am - Thursday results
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) returns to Florida for the 2019 Florida Pro-Am in Sarasota, Florida this weekend. IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk will try to continue his undefeated season. Waselenchuk's first test will come against Thomas Carter in the Round of 16, as Carter defeated Felipe Camacho in the Round of 32, 15-6, 15-13.
The Round of 64 and 32 were held on Thursday, and there were a few surprises. Eduardo Garay defeated Mario Mercado, 5-15, 15-2, 11-9, in the 32s to reach the Round of 16, where he'll play 8th seed Alvaro Beltran. Also, Andres Acuña defeated Jansen Allen, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4, in the 32s, and will play 4th seed Alejandro Landa in the 16s Friday morning.
The IRT Round of 16 will be streamed live Friday from 10 AM via the IRT Network or the IRT Facebook page with the quarterfinals Friday afternoon from 5 PM on. The semi-finals will be Noon and 1 PM Saturday with the final Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Felipe Camacho d. Andrés Gómez, 15-5, 15-6
Thomas Carter d. Austin Cunningham, 15-1, 15-8
Mario Mercado - BYE
Eduardo Garay d. Justus Benson, 15-11, 15-5
Troy Warigon d. Sergio Acuña, 15-6, 15-7
David Horn - BYE
Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Maurice Miller d. Kyle Ulliman, 10-15, 15-6, 11-10
Andres Acuña d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-7, 15-9
Jansen Allen d. Robert Arellano, 15-2, 15-6
Jose Diaz - BYE
Set Cubillos d. Scott McClellan, 15-8, 15-8
Kadim Carrasco d. Michael Arterburn, forfeit
Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
Robert Collins d. Oscar Nieto, 15-2, 15-9
Eduardo Portillo d. Joe Kelley, 15-6, 15-6
Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday
Q8) Thomas Carter d. Felipe Camacho, 15-6, 15-13
Q1) Eduardo Garay d. Mario Mercado, 5-15, 15-2, 11-9
Q4) David Horn d. Troy Warigon, 15-7, 15-10
Q5) Jake Bredenbeck d. Maurice Miller, 15-14, 15-6
Q6) Andres Acuña d. Jansen Allen, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4
Q3) Jose Diaz d. Set Cubillos, 15-13, 15-4
Q2) Rodrigo Montoya v. Kadim Carrasco
Q7) Robert Collins v. Eduardo Portillo
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Thomas Carter - 10 AM
8) Alvaro Beltran v. Eduardo Garay - 10 AM
5) Samuel Murray v. David Horn - 10 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. Jake Bredenbeck - 10 AM
3) Alejandro Landa v. Andres Acuña - 11 AM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Jose Diaz - 11 AM
7) Daniel De La Rosa v. Rodrigo Montoya or Kadim Carrasco - 11 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Robert Collins or Eduardo Portillo - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The Round of 64 and 32 were held on Thursday, and there were a few surprises. Eduardo Garay defeated Mario Mercado, 5-15, 15-2, 11-9, in the 32s to reach the Round of 16, where he'll play 8th seed Alvaro Beltran. Also, Andres Acuña defeated Jansen Allen, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4, in the 32s, and will play 4th seed Alejandro Landa in the 16s Friday morning.
The IRT Round of 16 will be streamed live Friday from 10 AM via the IRT Network or the IRT Facebook page with the quarterfinals Friday afternoon from 5 PM on. The semi-finals will be Noon and 1 PM Saturday with the final Saturday night at 7:00 PM. All times Eastern.
2019 IRT Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Felipe Camacho d. Andrés Gómez, 15-5, 15-6
Thomas Carter d. Austin Cunningham, 15-1, 15-8
Mario Mercado - BYE
Eduardo Garay d. Justus Benson, 15-11, 15-5
Troy Warigon d. Sergio Acuña, 15-6, 15-7
David Horn - BYE
Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
Maurice Miller d. Kyle Ulliman, 10-15, 15-6, 11-10
Andres Acuña d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-7, 15-9
Jansen Allen d. Robert Arellano, 15-2, 15-6
Jose Diaz - BYE
Set Cubillos d. Scott McClellan, 15-8, 15-8
Kadim Carrasco d. Michael Arterburn, forfeit
Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
Robert Collins d. Oscar Nieto, 15-2, 15-9
Eduardo Portillo d. Joe Kelley, 15-6, 15-6
Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday
Q8) Thomas Carter d. Felipe Camacho, 15-6, 15-13
Q1) Eduardo Garay d. Mario Mercado, 5-15, 15-2, 11-9
Q4) David Horn d. Troy Warigon, 15-7, 15-10
Q5) Jake Bredenbeck d. Maurice Miller, 15-14, 15-6
Q6) Andres Acuña d. Jansen Allen, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4
Q3) Jose Diaz d. Set Cubillos, 15-13, 15-4
Q2) Rodrigo Montoya v. Kadim Carrasco
Q7) Robert Collins v. Eduardo Portillo
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Thomas Carter - 10 AM
8) Alvaro Beltran v. Eduardo Garay - 10 AM
5) Samuel Murray v. David Horn - 10 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. Jake Bredenbeck - 10 AM
3) Alejandro Landa v. Andres Acuña - 11 AM
6) Sebastian Franco v. Jose Diaz - 11 AM
7) Daniel De La Rosa v. Rodrigo Montoya or Kadim Carrasco - 11 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Robert Collins or Eduardo Portillo - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo - Preview
The Battle at the Alamo has become one of most reliable stops on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), and it begins Friday in San Antonio, Texas, where 22 players will compete for the title. Twenty one of those players will be trying to prevent LPRT #1 Paola Longoria from continuing her undefeated season.
The field has the top 8 LPRT players, including LPRT #2 Samantha Salas, #3 Maria Jose Vargas, who is the most recent LPRT winner, as she won the Bolivia Open last month by defeating Salas in the final. If they meet in San Antonio, it will be in the semi-finals.
Longoria's path to the final will may have to go through LPRT #8 Frédérique Lambert in the quarterfinals, although Lambert will have to beat 9th seed Adriana Riveros to set that up. If Longoria get to the semi-finals, she'll likely have either LPRT #4 Alexandra Herrera or LPRT #5 Rhonda Rajsich awaiting her.
Play begins Friday morning with the Rounds of 32 and 16. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning with the semi-finals Saturday night and final on Sunday at noon. You can watch some of the action via the LPRT website or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Susana Acosta v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 11:05 AM
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Cassi Lee v. 21) Hanna Shnurman - 10 AM
13) Brenda Laime v. 20) Daniela Molina - 10 AM
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Ana Laura Flores v. 19) Carolina Luque
11) Adrienne Haynes v. 22) Daniela Rico - 11:05 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
10) Cristina Amaya - BYE
15) Monserrat Mejia v. 18) Laura Brandt - 11:05 AM
2) Samantha Salas - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
The field has the top 8 LPRT players, including LPRT #2 Samantha Salas, #3 Maria Jose Vargas, who is the most recent LPRT winner, as she won the Bolivia Open last month by defeating Salas in the final. If they meet in San Antonio, it will be in the semi-finals.
Longoria's path to the final will may have to go through LPRT #8 Frédérique Lambert in the quarterfinals, although Lambert will have to beat 9th seed Adriana Riveros to set that up. If Longoria get to the semi-finals, she'll likely have either LPRT #4 Alexandra Herrera or LPRT #5 Rhonda Rajsich awaiting her.
Play begins Friday morning with the Rounds of 32 and 16. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning with the semi-finals Saturday night and final on Sunday at noon. You can watch some of the action via the LPRT website or the LPRT LiveStream channel.
2019 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28
Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Susana Acosta v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 11:05 AM
9) Adriana Riveros - BYE
8) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Cassi Lee v. 21) Hanna Shnurman - 10 AM
13) Brenda Laime v. 20) Daniela Molina - 10 AM
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Ana Laura Flores v. 19) Carolina Luque
11) Adrienne Haynes v. 22) Daniela Rico - 11:05 AM
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
10) Cristina Amaya - BYE
15) Monserrat Mejia v. 18) Laura Brandt - 11:05 AM
2) Samantha Salas - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Mexico & Bolivia win doubles at 2019 Pan American Championships
Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas won their 6th Pan American Championship Women’s Doubles title together Saturday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, as they defeated Colombians Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-6. Six titles is a record for the most by one team. Overall, Longoria has won 7 Pan Am Women’s Doubles titles, including the last five straight years, and Salas now has 8 titles, which is one fewer than Jackie Paraiso (USA).
In Men’s Doubles, 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia came back from a game down to defeat 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada in three games, 2-15, 15-9, 11-2. The win is the 2nd for Keller, who joins his brother Carlos in being the only two South American men with two gold medals at Pan Am Championships. Also, it’s the first year Bolivians have won both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles, and the first time a country other than the USA or Mexico has done that.
In the women’s final, Mexico jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game one. Colombia came back and got within three trailing 10-7, which led to Mexico calling a timeout. Longoria got her side the serve back with a backhand pinch winner, and they ran the score up to 14-7.
Colombia fought off the first game point with a great backhand serve return by Adriana Riveros, but they were only able to get one point of their own before giving up serve again. Salas hit a pinch shot winner to end the first game, 15-8.
In game two, Colombia got the first two points, and then Salas got hot and hit four winners that helped get Mexico to a 5-2 lead. They ran that lead up to 10-2 before Colombia scored again. As in game one, Colombia had a bit of a comeback, as they cut the deficit to four at 10-6. But a Riveros backhand skip derailed the comeback, and Colombia wouldn’t serve again.
With the serve back, Mexico won it by hitting five winners over the next six rallies: three by Longoria and two by Salas. Longoria got the match winner, which was a strange one, as she hit a backhand cross court overhead shot that seemed like it was off the frame of her racquet but ended up hitting low on the front wall, so it was unreturnable.
In the men’s final, Canada charged out to a 8-2 lead in game one, and just kept piling on the points as they won it 15-2. While Canada played well, the Bolivians were not sharp.
That changed in game two, as the Bolivians took a 9-2 lead. Canada came back and got to within three at 10-7. But Bolivia ended it when Moscoso hit a winning backhand pinch shot to make it 15-9, and force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Bolivia once again took the early lead at 5-0. Canada called a timeout, and that led to two errors by the Bolivians that gave the serve back to Canada. Canada scored a point off an avoidable hinder call. Then the Moscoso took over the game.
There were 14 rallies from 5-1 to the end of the game, and Moscoso ended 10 of those rallies, hitting 8 winners (including one ace serve) and 2 skips. He also forced the match winning point, as he drove serve to the left, and Murray tried to return it with a backhand pinch shot, only to skip his shot.
If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-8, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 2-15, 15-9, 11-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
In Men’s Doubles, 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia came back from a game down to defeat 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada in three games, 2-15, 15-9, 11-2. The win is the 2nd for Keller, who joins his brother Carlos in being the only two South American men with two gold medals at Pan Am Championships. Also, it’s the first year Bolivians have won both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles, and the first time a country other than the USA or Mexico has done that.
In the women’s final, Mexico jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game one. Colombia came back and got within three trailing 10-7, which led to Mexico calling a timeout. Longoria got her side the serve back with a backhand pinch winner, and they ran the score up to 14-7.
Colombia fought off the first game point with a great backhand serve return by Adriana Riveros, but they were only able to get one point of their own before giving up serve again. Salas hit a pinch shot winner to end the first game, 15-8.
In game two, Colombia got the first two points, and then Salas got hot and hit four winners that helped get Mexico to a 5-2 lead. They ran that lead up to 10-2 before Colombia scored again. As in game one, Colombia had a bit of a comeback, as they cut the deficit to four at 10-6. But a Riveros backhand skip derailed the comeback, and Colombia wouldn’t serve again.
With the serve back, Mexico won it by hitting five winners over the next six rallies: three by Longoria and two by Salas. Longoria got the match winner, which was a strange one, as she hit a backhand cross court overhead shot that seemed like it was off the frame of her racquet but ended up hitting low on the front wall, so it was unreturnable.
In the men’s final, Canada charged out to a 8-2 lead in game one, and just kept piling on the points as they won it 15-2. While Canada played well, the Bolivians were not sharp.
That changed in game two, as the Bolivians took a 9-2 lead. Canada came back and got to within three at 10-7. But Bolivia ended it when Moscoso hit a winning backhand pinch shot to make it 15-9, and force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Bolivia once again took the early lead at 5-0. Canada called a timeout, and that led to two errors by the Bolivians that gave the serve back to Canada. Canada scored a point off an avoidable hinder call. Then the Moscoso took over the game.
There were 14 rallies from 5-1 to the end of the game, and Moscoso ended 10 of those rallies, hitting 8 winners (including one ace serve) and 2 skips. He also forced the match winning point, as he drove serve to the left, and Murray tried to return it with a backhand pinch shot, only to skip his shot.
If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-8, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 2-15, 15-9, 11-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria & Keller Singles Champions at 2019 Pan American Championships
Paola Longoria of Mexico won her 8th Pan American Championship in Women’s Singles Saturday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, where she defeated Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas in the final, 15-7, 15-2. Longoria last won this title in 2016, but was runner up the past two years to the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich. She was not going to finish 2nd a third time.
Carlos Keller of Bolivia successfully defended his Men’s Singles Pan American Championship by defeating the USA’s Charlie Pratt, 15-2, 8-15, 11-5. Keller is the first South American player to win multiple Men’s Singles titles and the first man to successfully defend the title since Mexican Alvaro Beltran did so in 2009 (that was the last year of three consecutive titles for Beltran).
In the women’s final, Longoria took leads of 8-1 and 11-2 in game one, and won by a comfortable margin. But Vargas did score some points late in the game, so seemed to build some momentum for game two. However, any momentum Vargas built was quickly snuffed out by Longoria in the second game, as she jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Vargas got stuck in at the point, and there were nine rallies producing only one point, which was in Vargas’s favour. But she still trailed 6-1.
Longoria seemed to go into cruise control from there, and Vargas looked like she gave up the fight. Vargas only served three times from 6-1 to the end, and made a few bad errors. Also, she didn’t call a timeout in game two. The last rally was indicative of the match, as Longoria on a second serve hit a lob to the left side that kissed off the side wall. Vargas swung at the ball, but completely missed it. A sad ending.
But in the match Longoria took care of business, and she could be a double winner Saturday, as she’s in the Women’s Doubles final also with partner Samantha Salas. Her eight Women’s Singles Pan American Championships are a record, and twice as many as the women with the 2nd most. Americans Rajsich, Michelle Gould and Cheryl Gudinas all won Women’s Singles four times at Pan Am Championships.
In the men’s final, Keller cruised through game one only yielding two points to Pratt. But Pratt had dropped the first game of both his quarterfinal and semi-final matches, so he was in a familiar position.
Pratt took the early lead in game two at 3-0, but Keller came back and took over the lead at 7-3. Once again Pratt came back, and tied the game at 8-8. He scored seven unanswered points from there, while holding Keller at 8, to win game two, 15-8. Keller made some bad skips late in game two, which didn’t bode well for the tie-breaker.
Yet in the breaker, Keller took the early lead with three winners on the first three rallies to lead 3-0. They exchanged seven sideouts at that point, and there was the sense that the player who broke that stalemate would win the match. Pratt broke it, getting his first point of the breaker when Keller skipped a backhand serve return off a lob serve to the left that came off the side wall. Keller made that mistake a few times in the match, but Pratt never used that serve as his first serve.
However, after scoring his first point, Pratt was unable to follow it up, as Keller hit a good ceiling ball that went deep into the back left corner and flummoxed Pratt, who was unable to keep the rally going. That led to Keller going out to a 9-1 lead. Pratt called both his timeouts in that stretch, but to no avail.
Pratt did get a few points to make the score 9-4, and it seemed like a comeback could be on order. Then Keller got point 10 with a great backhand down the line shot. Still Pratt didn’t give up, and fought off Keller’s first match point with a backhand cross court winner.
Back in the service box, Pratt scored a point to make it 10-5. But Keller took the serve back with backhand cross court that cracked out on the right wall. However, match point number two went by as Pratt forced Keller to hit the ball into the back wall, and it didn’t make the front wall.
Keller regained the serve with a solid backhand shot, and then won it with another backhand winner.
If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-2
Men's Singles - Final - Saturday
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 4) Charles Pratt (USA), 15-2, 8-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Carlos Keller of Bolivia successfully defended his Men’s Singles Pan American Championship by defeating the USA’s Charlie Pratt, 15-2, 8-15, 11-5. Keller is the first South American player to win multiple Men’s Singles titles and the first man to successfully defend the title since Mexican Alvaro Beltran did so in 2009 (that was the last year of three consecutive titles for Beltran).
In the women’s final, Longoria took leads of 8-1 and 11-2 in game one, and won by a comfortable margin. But Vargas did score some points late in the game, so seemed to build some momentum for game two. However, any momentum Vargas built was quickly snuffed out by Longoria in the second game, as she jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Vargas got stuck in at the point, and there were nine rallies producing only one point, which was in Vargas’s favour. But she still trailed 6-1.
Longoria seemed to go into cruise control from there, and Vargas looked like she gave up the fight. Vargas only served three times from 6-1 to the end, and made a few bad errors. Also, she didn’t call a timeout in game two. The last rally was indicative of the match, as Longoria on a second serve hit a lob to the left side that kissed off the side wall. Vargas swung at the ball, but completely missed it. A sad ending.
But in the match Longoria took care of business, and she could be a double winner Saturday, as she’s in the Women’s Doubles final also with partner Samantha Salas. Her eight Women’s Singles Pan American Championships are a record, and twice as many as the women with the 2nd most. Americans Rajsich, Michelle Gould and Cheryl Gudinas all won Women’s Singles four times at Pan Am Championships.
In the men’s final, Keller cruised through game one only yielding two points to Pratt. But Pratt had dropped the first game of both his quarterfinal and semi-final matches, so he was in a familiar position.
Pratt took the early lead in game two at 3-0, but Keller came back and took over the lead at 7-3. Once again Pratt came back, and tied the game at 8-8. He scored seven unanswered points from there, while holding Keller at 8, to win game two, 15-8. Keller made some bad skips late in game two, which didn’t bode well for the tie-breaker.
Yet in the breaker, Keller took the early lead with three winners on the first three rallies to lead 3-0. They exchanged seven sideouts at that point, and there was the sense that the player who broke that stalemate would win the match. Pratt broke it, getting his first point of the breaker when Keller skipped a backhand serve return off a lob serve to the left that came off the side wall. Keller made that mistake a few times in the match, but Pratt never used that serve as his first serve.
However, after scoring his first point, Pratt was unable to follow it up, as Keller hit a good ceiling ball that went deep into the back left corner and flummoxed Pratt, who was unable to keep the rally going. That led to Keller going out to a 9-1 lead. Pratt called both his timeouts in that stretch, but to no avail.
Pratt did get a few points to make the score 9-4, and it seemed like a comeback could be on order. Then Keller got point 10 with a great backhand down the line shot. Still Pratt didn’t give up, and fought off Keller’s first match point with a backhand cross court winner.
Back in the service box, Pratt scored a point to make it 10-5. But Keller took the serve back with backhand cross court that cracked out on the right wall. However, match point number two went by as Pratt forced Keller to hit the ball into the back wall, and it didn’t make the front wall.
Keller regained the serve with a solid backhand shot, and then won it with another backhand winner.
If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-2
Men's Singles - Final - Saturday
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 4) Charles Pratt (USA), 15-2, 8-15, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Four countries going for gold in doubles at 2019 Pan American Championships
It’ll be #1 versus #2 in Women’s Doubles in the final of the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, as Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas - the #1 seeds - will take on Colombians Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, the 2nd seeds, in the final. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas beat Bolivians Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja, 15-2, 15-6, while Amaya and Riveros defeated the 11th seeded Canadian team of Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, 13-15, 15-3, 11-8.
The Mexico-Bolivia semi-final was a battle between three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women's Doubles World Champions in Mexico, and the current IRF World Champions in Bolivia. But it wasn't much a match, as Mexico played very well. The Bolivians had used a front back formation with their court positioning, including at last year's World Championships, but it wasn't effective in game one against Mexico, so Bolivia changed to a side to side formation. That worked slightly better, but Mexico was on a roll by that point.
The Men’s Doubles final will be 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia versus 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada, as both sides came back from a game down in their respective semi-final matches to upset higher seeded teams. The Bolivians took out the top seeded Mexican team of Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-11, 11-7, and the Canadians defeated the 3rd seeded team of Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho from Costa Rica, 8-15, 15-1, 11-3.
The final will be a replay of a group stage match that was decided by an 11-10 tie-breaker in Bolivia’s favour, so it should be a great final.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-6
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 13-15, 15-3, 11-8
Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 2 PM
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 14-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 8-15, 15-1, 11-3
Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 3:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
The Mexico-Bolivia semi-final was a battle between three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women's Doubles World Champions in Mexico, and the current IRF World Champions in Bolivia. But it wasn't much a match, as Mexico played very well. The Bolivians had used a front back formation with their court positioning, including at last year's World Championships, but it wasn't effective in game one against Mexico, so Bolivia changed to a side to side formation. That worked slightly better, but Mexico was on a roll by that point.
The Men’s Doubles final will be 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia versus 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada, as both sides came back from a game down in their respective semi-final matches to upset higher seeded teams. The Bolivians took out the top seeded Mexican team of Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-11, 11-7, and the Canadians defeated the 3rd seeded team of Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho from Costa Rica, 8-15, 15-1, 11-3.
The final will be a replay of a group stage match that was decided by an 11-10 tie-breaker in Bolivia’s favour, so it should be a great final.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-6
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 13-15, 15-3, 11-8
Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 2 PM
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 14-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 8-15, 15-1, 11-3
Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 3:30 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, April 19, 2019
Semi-final results from 2019 Pan American Championships
Mexican Paola Longoria will have a chance to win her 8th Pan American Championship in Women’s Singles Saturday when she plays Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas in the final at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Longoria ended the run of Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz, 15-5, 15-3, in one semi-final, while Vargas needed a tie-breaker to defeat her team-mate Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-9, 14-15, 11-7. If Vargas wins Saturday, it will be her 2nd Pan Am title in Women’s Singles, as she won it in 2014.
Carlos Keller of Bolivia has a chance to defend his Men’s Singles title, as he defeated Mexican Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, 15-13, 15-8. In the final, Keller will face the USA’s Charlie Pratt, as Pratt came back from a game down to defeat Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 13-15, 15-11, 11-7, in the other semi.
Vargas and Mendez were close through the midway point of game one in their match, as they were tied at 8-8. But Vargas was able to push at the end, scoring seven points to Mendez’s one to win it 15-9.
Game two was similar, in that they were tied at 5-5, and Vargas pushed ahead to lead 9-6, and 13-8. Cue the comeback. They exchanged seven sideouts, and then Mendez called a timeout prior to serving. She hit two great pinch shots - a forehand and a backhand - to get within three at 13-10, and Vargas called a timeout.
Another sideout exchange followed. Then Vargas got to 14 when Mendez skipped a backhand return of a drive serve to the left side. However, Vargas was called for an avoidable, denying her first match point. But she got the serve back with a great backhand winner.
Mendez denied Vargas’s second match point with a winning backhand return off another drive serve to the left. Mendez followed that up with a four more winners to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at 15-14.
In the tie-breaker, Vargas took the early lead at 5-0, but Mendez came back to tie it at 7-7. However, she could score no more, as Vargas pushed on to win 11-7.
Acuña had a big lead on Pratt in game one of their semi-final, as he led 8-0 and 10-1. But Pratt’s not one to give up, and he came back to within one at 11-10, and then 14-13, but he never tied the game. Eventually Acuña was able to finish it off, 15-13.
Acuña got off to another good start in game two, as he was up 6-0. However, Pratt started his comeback sooner, and tied the score at 8-8. They were back and forth from there with ties at 10-10 and 11-11. Then Pratt pulled ahead, and led 14-11, when Acuña called a time out.
When play resumed, Acuña got the serve back with a backhand shot that cracked off the left side wall. But he couldn’t follow that up, as Pratt got the serve right back. With his second game point, Pratt hit drive serve to the left that cracked out for an ace to win the game 15-11.
The breaker had three streaks. Pratt had the first one, and led 4-0. Acuña got the second, and led 6-4. The third streak was Pratt’s as he got six points to lead 10-6. Late in the game, Acuña seemed to be feeling the pressure, as he made three bad skips. The first two gave Pratt his 9th and 10th points. The third denied Acuña a point after he’d fought off Pratt’s first match point.
However, Acuña fought off Pratt’s second match point with a great forehand pinch shot, and got a point with a great reverse pinch shot, which was a shot he tried for on one of those bad skips. With back to back great shots, the match was clearly not over. Pratt wisely called a time out with the score 10-7.
On the ensuing rally, Pratt hit a solid forehand shot to get the serve back. He ended the match in style by hitting a drive serve that stuck in the back left corner for an ace. Thus, Pratt will have a chance to win his first gold medal in the final on Saturday.
It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-9, 14-15, 11-7
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3
Women's Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 11 AM
Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 13-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), 15-13, 15-8
Men's Singles - Final - Saturday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Carlos Keller of Bolivia has a chance to defend his Men’s Singles title, as he defeated Mexican Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, 15-13, 15-8. In the final, Keller will face the USA’s Charlie Pratt, as Pratt came back from a game down to defeat Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 13-15, 15-11, 11-7, in the other semi.
Vargas and Mendez were close through the midway point of game one in their match, as they were tied at 8-8. But Vargas was able to push at the end, scoring seven points to Mendez’s one to win it 15-9.
Game two was similar, in that they were tied at 5-5, and Vargas pushed ahead to lead 9-6, and 13-8. Cue the comeback. They exchanged seven sideouts, and then Mendez called a timeout prior to serving. She hit two great pinch shots - a forehand and a backhand - to get within three at 13-10, and Vargas called a timeout.
Another sideout exchange followed. Then Vargas got to 14 when Mendez skipped a backhand return of a drive serve to the left side. However, Vargas was called for an avoidable, denying her first match point. But she got the serve back with a great backhand winner.
Mendez denied Vargas’s second match point with a winning backhand return off another drive serve to the left. Mendez followed that up with a four more winners to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at 15-14.
In the tie-breaker, Vargas took the early lead at 5-0, but Mendez came back to tie it at 7-7. However, she could score no more, as Vargas pushed on to win 11-7.
Acuña had a big lead on Pratt in game one of their semi-final, as he led 8-0 and 10-1. But Pratt’s not one to give up, and he came back to within one at 11-10, and then 14-13, but he never tied the game. Eventually Acuña was able to finish it off, 15-13.
Acuña got off to another good start in game two, as he was up 6-0. However, Pratt started his comeback sooner, and tied the score at 8-8. They were back and forth from there with ties at 10-10 and 11-11. Then Pratt pulled ahead, and led 14-11, when Acuña called a time out.
When play resumed, Acuña got the serve back with a backhand shot that cracked off the left side wall. But he couldn’t follow that up, as Pratt got the serve right back. With his second game point, Pratt hit drive serve to the left that cracked out for an ace to win the game 15-11.
The breaker had three streaks. Pratt had the first one, and led 4-0. Acuña got the second, and led 6-4. The third streak was Pratt’s as he got six points to lead 10-6. Late in the game, Acuña seemed to be feeling the pressure, as he made three bad skips. The first two gave Pratt his 9th and 10th points. The third denied Acuña a point after he’d fought off Pratt’s first match point.
However, Acuña fought off Pratt’s second match point with a great forehand pinch shot, and got a point with a great reverse pinch shot, which was a shot he tried for on one of those bad skips. With back to back great shots, the match was clearly not over. Pratt wisely called a time out with the score 10-7.
On the ensuing rally, Pratt hit a solid forehand shot to get the serve back. He ended the match in style by hitting a drive serve that stuck in the back left corner for an ace. Thus, Pratt will have a chance to win his first gold medal in the final on Saturday.
It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-9, 14-15, 11-7
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3
Women's Singles - Final - Saturday
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 11 AM
Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 13-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), 15-13, 15-8
Men's Singles - Final - Saturday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Doubles Quarterfinals at 2019 Pan American Championships
The current World Champions will play the three time former World Champions in the semi-finals of Women’s Doubles Friday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, where the top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico - three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Champions - will faceoff with the current IRF World Champions from Bolivia: Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja. In the quarterfinals, Longoria and Salas defeated 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-7, 15-6, while Centellas and Sabja beat the USA’s Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, 15-2, 15-5.
On the other side of the draw, 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia were comfortable winners over the Cuban team of Yurisleidis Alluie and Maria Regla Viera, 15-3, 15-4, which ensures a medal for the host country. But the 3rd seeds Maria Paz Muñoz and Ana Lucia Sarmiento of Ecuador were upset by the 11th seeded Canadian team of Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, who came back to win in a tie-breaker, 8-15, 15-9, 11-8.
The 1st and 4th seeds will also faceoff in the Men’s Doubles semi-finals, Mexicans Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, the 1st seeds, will play 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia. The Mexican team beat 8th seeds Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-6 in the quarterfinals, while the Bolivians defeated 5th seeds Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5.
One upset in the quarters of Men’s Doubles, as the 7th seeded Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray defeated the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas in a tie-breaker, 13-15, 15-1, 11-7. In the semi-finals, the Canadians will play 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, who also needed three games to get past the veteran team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri from Argentina, 15-5, 12-15, 11-1.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-6
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-2, 15-5
11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 8-15, 15-9, 11-8
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-3, 15-4
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 2 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 4 PM
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-5, 12-15, 11-1
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA), 13-15, 15-1, 11-7
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 3 PM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
On the other side of the draw, 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia were comfortable winners over the Cuban team of Yurisleidis Alluie and Maria Regla Viera, 15-3, 15-4, which ensures a medal for the host country. But the 3rd seeds Maria Paz Muñoz and Ana Lucia Sarmiento of Ecuador were upset by the 11th seeded Canadian team of Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, who came back to win in a tie-breaker, 8-15, 15-9, 11-8.
The 1st and 4th seeds will also faceoff in the Men’s Doubles semi-finals, Mexicans Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, the 1st seeds, will play 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia. The Mexican team beat 8th seeds Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-6 in the quarterfinals, while the Bolivians defeated 5th seeds Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5.
One upset in the quarters of Men’s Doubles, as the 7th seeded Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray defeated the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas in a tie-breaker, 13-15, 15-1, 11-7. In the semi-finals, the Canadians will play 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, who also needed three games to get past the veteran team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri from Argentina, 15-5, 12-15, 11-1.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-6
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-2, 15-5
11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 8-15, 15-9, 11-8
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-3, 15-4
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 2 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 4 PM
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-5, 12-15, 11-1
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA), 13-15, 15-1, 11-7
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 3 PM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Doubles Round of 16 at 2019 Pan American Championships
They will play two rounds of both Men's and Women's Doubles Thursday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, and in men’s play the Argentina veterans Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, seeded 11th, upset the 6th seeded Dominican Republic team of Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5. Argentina will play the 3rd seeded Costa Ricans Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho in the quarterfinals, as Costa Rica beat Jesus Icaza and Carlos Medrano of Honduras, 15-4, 15-2.
Costa Rica versus Argentina should be a good match, as should other quarterfinal matches between 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia and Colombians Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado, and the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas versus Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray.
In Women’s Doubles, the top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico versus 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina should also be a cracking match.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-7, 15-8
12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. 5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 11-15, 11-5
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 6-15, 15-9, 11-4
7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-3
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 5 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 6 PM
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 6 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - 5 PM
Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1
5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-1, 15-6
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. 6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-11, 15-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 5 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 6 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Costa Rica versus Argentina should be a good match, as should other quarterfinal matches between 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia and Colombians Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado, and the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas versus Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray.
In Women’s Doubles, the top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico versus 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina should also be a cracking match.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-7, 15-8
12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. 5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 11-15, 11-5
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 6-15, 15-9, 11-4
7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-3
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 5 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 6 PM
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 6 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - 5 PM
Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1
5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-1, 15-6
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. 6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-11, 15-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 5 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 6 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Quarterfinal craziness at 2019 Pan American Championships
Here’s how crazy things can be at an international racquetball event like the 2019 Pan American Championships now going on in Barranquilla, Colombia. Two players who lost all their group stage matches in Women’s Singles are into the semi-finals, so they’ve made the podium, despite what happened the first three days of the competition. Indeed, the Women’s Singles semi-finalists are the 3rd seed, 12th seed, 15th seed and 24th seed. Astounding.
Natalia Mendez of Argentina, the 24th seed, knocked off the top seed Mexican Monserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-13, in the quarterfinals Thursday. Also, Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, who beat the 2nd seed Cristina Amaya (Colombia) on Wednesday, followed up that win with a victory over 7th seed Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic in the quarters on Thursday, 14-15, 15-13, 11-3. Neither Mendez or Muñoz won a match in the group stage of the event.
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Rhonda Rajsich of the USA was making a bid for a three-peat in Barranquilla, as she’s the two time defending Women's Singles champion, but Argentina’s María José Vargas denied Rajsich that chance by defeating her, 15-4, 15-8, in the quarters. Vargas will play Mendez in the semis, which guarantees an Argentine woman will be in the final.
Paola Longoria of Mexico, the 7 time Pan American Women’s Singles champion, advanced to the semi-finals with a win over Valeria Centellas of Bolivia, 14-15, 15-4, 11-7. Longoria will play Muñoz in the semis Friday.
Things are just about as crazy in Men’s Singles, as the top two seeds lost in the quarterfinals Thursday. Eighth seed Andres Acuña of Costa Rica was the big dragon slayer, as he upset top seed Alejandro Landa of Mexico, 6-15, 15-14, 11-7. Landa had a chance to win the match in two straight games, but Acuña survived, and moves on to the semi-finals.
Speaking of survival, Charles Pratt of the USA barely survived his quarterfinal match with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, as he came back to win in three games, 3-15, 15-12, 11-10. He also had to get out of a big hole in the third game, as Moscoso was up 8-1, and 10-7. Moscoso had two chances to win it, but skipped a forehand shot on the first chance, and Pratt hit a forehand winner to deny the second chance.
With the serve back at 10-7, Pratt won four straight rallies, three of which Moscoso ended by skipping shots, including on match point. On that point, Pratt had hit a forehand from the left side of the court that went wide off the right side wall, coming off the back wall. That gave Moscoso an opportunity to hit a winner, but he’d turned around to follow the ball and maybe went for too much - tried for a kill shot rather than solid pass - which resulted in a skip.
Pratt got to match point with a great forehand volley from a center court position. He’ll play Acuña in the semi-finals Friday.
Bolivian Carlos Keller, the 7th seed, ousted 2nd seed David Horn of the USA, 15-12, 15-10. He’ll play Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, as Beltran defeated Dominican Luis Perez, 15-9, 15-6.
It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-13, 15-13
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-4, 15-8
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-4, 11-7
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-13, 11-3
Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - Noon
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico), 6-15, 15-14, 11-7
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 3-15, 15-12, 11-10
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-6
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 2) David Horn (USA), 15-12, 15-10
Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Natalia Mendez of Argentina, the 24th seed, knocked off the top seed Mexican Monserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-13, in the quarterfinals Thursday. Also, Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, who beat the 2nd seed Cristina Amaya (Colombia) on Wednesday, followed up that win with a victory over 7th seed Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic in the quarters on Thursday, 14-15, 15-13, 11-3. Neither Mendez or Muñoz won a match in the group stage of the event.
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Rhonda Rajsich of the USA was making a bid for a three-peat in Barranquilla, as she’s the two time defending Women's Singles champion, but Argentina’s María José Vargas denied Rajsich that chance by defeating her, 15-4, 15-8, in the quarters. Vargas will play Mendez in the semis, which guarantees an Argentine woman will be in the final.
Paola Longoria of Mexico, the 7 time Pan American Women’s Singles champion, advanced to the semi-finals with a win over Valeria Centellas of Bolivia, 14-15, 15-4, 11-7. Longoria will play Muñoz in the semis Friday.
Things are just about as crazy in Men’s Singles, as the top two seeds lost in the quarterfinals Thursday. Eighth seed Andres Acuña of Costa Rica was the big dragon slayer, as he upset top seed Alejandro Landa of Mexico, 6-15, 15-14, 11-7. Landa had a chance to win the match in two straight games, but Acuña survived, and moves on to the semi-finals.
Speaking of survival, Charles Pratt of the USA barely survived his quarterfinal match with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, as he came back to win in three games, 3-15, 15-12, 11-10. He also had to get out of a big hole in the third game, as Moscoso was up 8-1, and 10-7. Moscoso had two chances to win it, but skipped a forehand shot on the first chance, and Pratt hit a forehand winner to deny the second chance.
With the serve back at 10-7, Pratt won four straight rallies, three of which Moscoso ended by skipping shots, including on match point. On that point, Pratt had hit a forehand from the left side of the court that went wide off the right side wall, coming off the back wall. That gave Moscoso an opportunity to hit a winner, but he’d turned around to follow the ball and maybe went for too much - tried for a kill shot rather than solid pass - which resulted in a skip.
Pratt got to match point with a great forehand volley from a center court position. He’ll play Acuña in the semi-finals Friday.
Bolivian Carlos Keller, the 7th seed, ousted 2nd seed David Horn of the USA, 15-12, 15-10. He’ll play Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, as Beltran defeated Dominican Luis Perez, 15-9, 15-6.
It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-13, 15-13
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-4, 15-8
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-4, 11-7
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-13, 11-3
Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - Noon
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico), 6-15, 15-14, 11-7
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 3-15, 15-12, 11-10
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-6
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 2) David Horn (USA), 15-12, 15-10
Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 1 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Round of 16 results at 2019 Pan American Championships
There were two tie-breakers in the Round of 16 of Women’s Singles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, and the winners will face off in the quarterfinals. Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador caused the big upset by knocking off 2nd seed Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8, ruining Amaya’s dreams of medaling on home soil. Muñoz will play the Dominican Republic’s Merynanyelly Delgado in the quarters on Thursday, as Delgado came back to beat Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 12-15, 15-12, 11-0.
Elsewhere in women’s play, the three-peat is still a possibility for the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich who defeated 4th seed Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-10, 15-14, on Wednesday. But the two time defending champion will face a tough test in the quarters, when Rajsich will play Argentina’s María José Vargas, who beat Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-2, 15-0, in the 16s.
Also, top seed Monserrat Mejia of Mexico beat Ecuador’s Maria Jose Muñoz, 15-9, 15-4, and will also have a tough test in the quarters, when she plays Natalia Mendez of Argentina. Mendez, the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated 8th seed Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, 15-3, 15-11, in the 16s.
Mejia’s team-mate 3rd seed Paola Longoria of Mexico will also have a challenge in the quarters, after defeating Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-2, 15-7, in the 16s, as she’ll play the young Bolivian Valeria Centellas, who is half of the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Championship team. Centellas defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 15-7, 15-8, in the 16s on Wednesday.
In Men’s Singles, the top 8 seeds all made the quarterfinals, although two needed tie-breakers to get there. And as in Women’s Singles, those tie-breaker winners will playoff in the quarters. Third seed Alvaro Beltran, the veteran Mexican, came back from a game down to defeat 14th seed Mario Mercado of Colombia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. Beltran will face 6th seed Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic in the quarters, as Ugalde beat 11th seed Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-7, 13-15, 11-1, in the 16s.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-4
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-11
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-0
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 4) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-10, 15-14
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-2, 15-7
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 15-7, 15-8
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 12-15, 15-12, 11-0
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 10 AM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - 10 AM
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-3
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-2
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 13-15, 11-1
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-10, 15-9
2) David Horn (USA) d. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-7
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 9 AM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 9 AM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - 9 AM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 9 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Elsewhere in women’s play, the three-peat is still a possibility for the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich who defeated 4th seed Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-10, 15-14, on Wednesday. But the two time defending champion will face a tough test in the quarters, when Rajsich will play Argentina’s María José Vargas, who beat Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-2, 15-0, in the 16s.
Also, top seed Monserrat Mejia of Mexico beat Ecuador’s Maria Jose Muñoz, 15-9, 15-4, and will also have a tough test in the quarters, when she plays Natalia Mendez of Argentina. Mendez, the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated 8th seed Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, 15-3, 15-11, in the 16s.
Mejia’s team-mate 3rd seed Paola Longoria of Mexico will also have a challenge in the quarters, after defeating Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-2, 15-7, in the 16s, as she’ll play the young Bolivian Valeria Centellas, who is half of the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Championship team. Centellas defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 15-7, 15-8, in the 16s on Wednesday.
In Men’s Singles, the top 8 seeds all made the quarterfinals, although two needed tie-breakers to get there. And as in Women’s Singles, those tie-breaker winners will playoff in the quarters. Third seed Alvaro Beltran, the veteran Mexican, came back from a game down to defeat 14th seed Mario Mercado of Colombia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. Beltran will face 6th seed Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic in the quarters, as Ugalde beat 11th seed Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-7, 13-15, 11-1, in the 16s.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-4
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-11
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-0
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 4) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-10, 15-14
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-2, 15-7
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 15-7, 15-8
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 12-15, 15-12, 11-0
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 10 AM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - 10 AM
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-3
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-2
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 13-15, 11-1
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-10, 15-9
2) David Horn (USA) d. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-7
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 9 AM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 9 AM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - 9 AM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 9 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Singles Round of 32 at 2019 Pan American Championships
No surprises in the opening matches of the medal rounds in Women’s and Men’s Singles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Both the Round of 32 and 16 will be played on Wednesday. We’d highlighted that the best match in the 32s could be Fernando Rios of Ecuador versus Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, and it did not disappoint, as Rios won in two close games, 15-14, 15-12. Rios will play the other Costa Rican in the draw - Andres Acuña, who was a winner over Jesus Icaza of Honduras, 15-5, 15-3.
But Rios and Camacho were not the closest match in the Round of 32, as Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala squeaked out a win over Colombian Andres Gomez, 15-14, 15-14. Salvatierra will play 4th seed Charles Pratt (USA) in the Round of 16.
In Women’s Singles, there was one upset by the seedings, but it wasn’t really an upset as Natalia Mendez of Argentina is the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) but was seeded 24th in the draw, beat 9th seeded Maria Regia Viera of Cuba, 15-5, 15-2. Mendez will play Bolivian Angelica Barrios in the Round of 16, as Barrios defeated Canadian Erin Geeraert, 15-4, 15-4, in the 32.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-5, 15-2
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-4, 15-4
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-9
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-9
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-2
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-2, 15-4
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 2 PM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 3 PM
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 3 PM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 3 PM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 3 PM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) - 3 PM
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - 4 PM
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 4 PM
Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-8
9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-12
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-5, 15-3
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-9
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-0, 15-5
13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-14, 15-14
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-2, 15-4
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-0, 15-3
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile), 15-6, 15-6
11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-11
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-6
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-4, 15-8
15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-1
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE
Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - 4 PM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - 5 PM
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 5 PM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 6 PM
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) - 6 PM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
But Rios and Camacho were not the closest match in the Round of 32, as Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala squeaked out a win over Colombian Andres Gomez, 15-14, 15-14. Salvatierra will play 4th seed Charles Pratt (USA) in the Round of 16.
In Women’s Singles, there was one upset by the seedings, but it wasn’t really an upset as Natalia Mendez of Argentina is the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) but was seeded 24th in the draw, beat 9th seeded Maria Regia Viera of Cuba, 15-5, 15-2. Mendez will play Bolivian Angelica Barrios in the Round of 16, as Barrios defeated Canadian Erin Geeraert, 15-4, 15-4, in the 32.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-5, 15-2
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-4, 15-4
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-9
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-9
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-2
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-2, 15-4
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 2 PM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 3 PM
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 3 PM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 3 PM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 3 PM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) - 3 PM
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - 4 PM
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 4 PM
Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-8
9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-12
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-5, 15-3
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-9
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-0, 15-5
13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-14, 15-14
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-2, 15-4
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-0, 15-3
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile), 15-6, 15-6
11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-11
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-6
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-4, 15-8
15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-1
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE
Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - 4 PM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - 5 PM
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 5 PM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 6 PM
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) - 6 PM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 6 PM
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, April 15, 2019
Doubles medal rounds at 2019 Pan American Championships
Mexican teams are the top seeds for the medal rounds in both Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. But Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, the top seeds in Women’s Doubles, could face a tough test in the quarterfinals, as they could play 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, who won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Bolivia Open two weeks ago.
Even if they win that match, the Mexicans could face the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions - Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja of Bolivia - in the semi-finals, as the Bolivians are the 4th seeds. In contrast, the bottom half of the draw looks kinder for 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia.
In men’s play, top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) could face 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the semi-finals. On the bottom of the draw, there’s more uncertainty as 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica will play either one of two tricky teams in the quarterfinals: either a young Dominican Republic team of Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez, who can shoot with anybody when they are hot, or the veteran Argentina team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, who have caused more than their share of upsets over the years.
The USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas are the 2nd seeds, and they could have a tricky quarterfinal match also, as they will face either Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray or the surprising Cuban team of Enier Chacon and Mykel Mollet.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1 PM
5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 1 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 1 PM
7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) v. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 1 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) - 11 AM
5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - 11 AM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 11 AM
6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - Noon
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - Noon
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru) - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Even if they win that match, the Mexicans could face the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions - Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja of Bolivia - in the semi-finals, as the Bolivians are the 4th seeds. In contrast, the bottom half of the draw looks kinder for 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia.
In men’s play, top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) could face 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the semi-finals. On the bottom of the draw, there’s more uncertainty as 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica will play either one of two tricky teams in the quarterfinals: either a young Dominican Republic team of Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez, who can shoot with anybody when they are hot, or the veteran Argentina team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, who have caused more than their share of upsets over the years.
The USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas are the 2nd seeds, and they could have a tricky quarterfinal match also, as they will face either Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray or the surprising Cuban team of Enier Chacon and Mykel Mollet.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1 PM
5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 1 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 1 PM
7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) v. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 1 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday
1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) - 11 AM
5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - 11 AM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 11 AM
6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - Noon
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - Noon
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru) - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Singles medal rounds for 2019 Pan American Championships
The Women’s and Men’s medal round draws have been released for the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. The medal round will begin on Wednesday, and there will play both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 Wednesday. The quarterfinals will be Thursday, semi-finals on Friday and final on Saturday.
In Women’s Singles the top four seeds are Monserrat Mejia of Mexico as #1, Colombian Cristina Amaya #2, Mexican Paola Longoria #3 and Chilean Carla Muñoz #4. Muñoz as the 4th seed should have the toughest of the brackets, and she’ll likely face 2 time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich (USA) in the 16s, and if she wins that either 5th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala or 12th seed María José Vargas of Argentina in the quarterfinals. But top seed Mejia could also face a tough test in the quarterfinals when she’ll likely play either Natalia Mendez of Argentina or Angelica Barrios of Bolivia.
There will be tough matches in Men’s Singles also, where Alejandro Landa (Mexico) is the top seed, David Horn (USA) is 2nd seed, Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) 3rd and Charles Pratt (USA) 4th. Horn has defending champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia in his bracket, so there could be a rematch of last year’s final in the quarterfinals. Beltran could have a tough test before the quarters, as he could face Colombian Mario Mercado - a top 10 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in the 16s. Pratt will also likely have a tough test in the quarters, as he’ll probably play either Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso or Canadian Samuel Murray.
But consider that Fernando Rios of Ecuador and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica - two quality players - will faceoff in the first Round of 32. That is a tough draw.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 9 AM
9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 9 AM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada) - 9 AM
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 9 AM
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 10 AM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala) - 10 AM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile) - 10 AM
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) v. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM
9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras) - 11 AM
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela) - 11 AM
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - Noon
13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia) - Noon
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru) - Noon
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru) - Noon
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile) - 1 PM
11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 1 PM
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) - 2 PM
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 2 PM
15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 2 PM
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
In Women’s Singles the top four seeds are Monserrat Mejia of Mexico as #1, Colombian Cristina Amaya #2, Mexican Paola Longoria #3 and Chilean Carla Muñoz #4. Muñoz as the 4th seed should have the toughest of the brackets, and she’ll likely face 2 time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich (USA) in the 16s, and if she wins that either 5th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala or 12th seed María José Vargas of Argentina in the quarterfinals. But top seed Mejia could also face a tough test in the quarterfinals when she’ll likely play either Natalia Mendez of Argentina or Angelica Barrios of Bolivia.
There will be tough matches in Men’s Singles also, where Alejandro Landa (Mexico) is the top seed, David Horn (USA) is 2nd seed, Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) 3rd and Charles Pratt (USA) 4th. Horn has defending champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia in his bracket, so there could be a rematch of last year’s final in the quarterfinals. Beltran could have a tough test before the quarters, as he could face Colombian Mario Mercado - a top 10 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in the 16s. Pratt will also likely have a tough test in the quarters, as he’ll probably play either Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso or Canadian Samuel Murray.
But consider that Fernando Rios of Ecuador and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica - two quality players - will faceoff in the first Round of 32. That is a tough draw.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 9 AM
9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 9 AM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada) - 9 AM
5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 9 AM
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 10 AM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala) - 10 AM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile) - 10 AM
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday
1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) v. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM
9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras) - 11 AM
5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela) - 11 AM
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - Noon
13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia) - Noon
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru) - Noon
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru) - Noon
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile) - 1 PM
11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 1 PM
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) - 2 PM
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 2 PM
15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 2 PM
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball….
Day 3 at the 2019 Pan American Championships
There were more tie-breakers on the last day of the group stage at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Canadians were involved in two close tie-breakers in Women’s Singles, but unfortunately lost both to Cubans. Maria Regia Viera defeated Michèle Morissette, 13-15, 15-9, 11-10, and Yurisleidis Alluie beat Erin Geeraert, 11-15, 15-11, 11-9.
Chilean Carla Muñoz and Bolivian Angelica Barrios won their groups with tie-breaker wins Monday. Muñoz defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 5-15, 15-3, 11-6, while Barrios pulled out a win over Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-9, 8-15, 11-10.
Mexican Monserrat Mejia will be the top seed for the medal round, as she defeated Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-14, 15-5, to win Group A. We previously mentioned that Cristina Amaya of Colombia will be 2nd seed as the winner of Group B. While it’s good to win your group, if Amaya is going to reach the final, she’ll need to get by Mexican Paola Longoria in the semi-finals (assuming they both win their matches to get to the semis), as Longoria won Group C with a win over Lilian Zea of Venezuela, 15-0, 15-3.
The men’s matches were all over in two straight games in singles and doubles with one exception. Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic caused an upset in Group F by defeating Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 9-15, 11-8. The win puts Perez and Murray tied in the group, but on a head to head tie-breaker, Perez wins the group.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Monday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-14, 15-5
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-3
María José Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 5-15, 15-3, 11-6
Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 11-15, 15-11, 11-9
Group E
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-6
Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0, forfeit
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-0, 15-2
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 13-15, 15-9, 11-10
Group G
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 8-15, 11-10
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-1
Women's Doubles - Monday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-9, 15-5
Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-8
Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-10
Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group D
Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 12-15, 11-8
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
Men's Singles - Monday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) d. Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-7
Andres Gomez (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-5
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-6
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-10, 15-1
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-6, 15-1
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-7, 15-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-3, 15-5
Group F
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-10, 9-15, 11-8
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-10, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-3, 15-3
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-4
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-7
Men's Doubles - Monday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 15-5
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 15-13
Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d, Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-6
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 14-15, 15-7, 11-4
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-12, 15-1
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Chilean Carla Muñoz and Bolivian Angelica Barrios won their groups with tie-breaker wins Monday. Muñoz defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 5-15, 15-3, 11-6, while Barrios pulled out a win over Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-9, 8-15, 11-10.
Mexican Monserrat Mejia will be the top seed for the medal round, as she defeated Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-14, 15-5, to win Group A. We previously mentioned that Cristina Amaya of Colombia will be 2nd seed as the winner of Group B. While it’s good to win your group, if Amaya is going to reach the final, she’ll need to get by Mexican Paola Longoria in the semi-finals (assuming they both win their matches to get to the semis), as Longoria won Group C with a win over Lilian Zea of Venezuela, 15-0, 15-3.
The men’s matches were all over in two straight games in singles and doubles with one exception. Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic caused an upset in Group F by defeating Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 9-15, 11-8. The win puts Perez and Murray tied in the group, but on a head to head tie-breaker, Perez wins the group.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Monday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-14, 15-5
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-3
María José Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 5-15, 15-3, 11-6
Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 11-15, 15-11, 11-9
Group E
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-6
Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0, forfeit
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-0, 15-2
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 13-15, 15-9, 11-10
Group G
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 8-15, 11-10
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-1
Women's Doubles - Monday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-9, 15-5
Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-8
Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-10
Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group D
Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 12-15, 11-8
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE
Men's Singles - Monday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) d. Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-7
Andres Gomez (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-5
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-6
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-10, 15-1
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-6, 15-1
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-7, 15-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-3, 15-5
Group F
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-10, 9-15, 11-8
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-10, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-3, 15-3
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-4
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-7
Men's Doubles - Monday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 15-5
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 15-13
Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d, Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-6
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 14-15, 15-7, 11-4
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-12, 15-1
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-5
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Day 2 at 2019 Pan American Championships
Another day of racquetball, another day of 11-10 tie-breakers at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. In Men’s Singles, Guatemala’s Juan Salvatierra squeaked out a win over Chile’s Francisco Troncoso, 13-15, 15-10, 11-10. In Women’s Doubles, the Cuban team of Yurisleidis Alluie and Maria Regla Viera came back from a game down to defeat Canadians Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, 11-15, 15-8, 11-10. In Men’s Doubles there was an 11-9 breaker, as the Cuban team of Enier Chacon and Mykel Mollet upset the Ecuador team of Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-15, 15-3, 11-9.
In Women’s Singles, Colombian Cristina Amaya will be pleased, as she’s claimed the 2nd seed position for the medal round by defeating Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-5, which follows up a win on Saturday over two time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich of the USA. Thus, Amaya will have an inside track to the podium in her home country.
Also, consider the situation of Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz, who is in Group A of Women’s Singles, and lost a tie-breaker to Mexico’s Monserrat Mejia on Saturday, and then today lost another close match to Bolivia’s Adriana Riveros, 15-14, 15-9. Muñoz has clearly played well, but faced two quality opponents and will finish last in her group.
Another woman who’s had a tough start is Argentina’s Natalia Mendez, as she’s lost both of her first two games. Sunday she lost to Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-11, 15-7, and lost Saturday to Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala. Compounding that loss, Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas lost in Women’s Doubles to Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. The Colombians could claim the #2 seed in doubles with a win over the USA’s Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts on Monday.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Sunday
Group A
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-9
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-5
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-3, 15-1
Group E
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-11, 15-7
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-4
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-1
Group G
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-8
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-8
Women's Doubles - Sunday
Group A
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-10
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - BYE
Group C
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-8, 15-14
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
Group D
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-3
Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Men's Singles - Sunday
Group A
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-13, 15-9
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 7-15, 15-3, 11-6
David Horn (USA) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-6, 15-9
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 13-15, 15-10, 11-10
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-2, 15-2
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-7
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-5
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 4-15, 11-6
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-2
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-5, 13-15, 11-7
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-4
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-7
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Sunday
Group A
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-9
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-11, 15-11
Group C
Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-3, 11-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 10-15, 11-2
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-10
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
In Women’s Singles, Colombian Cristina Amaya will be pleased, as she’s claimed the 2nd seed position for the medal round by defeating Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-5, which follows up a win on Saturday over two time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich of the USA. Thus, Amaya will have an inside track to the podium in her home country.
Also, consider the situation of Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz, who is in Group A of Women’s Singles, and lost a tie-breaker to Mexico’s Monserrat Mejia on Saturday, and then today lost another close match to Bolivia’s Adriana Riveros, 15-14, 15-9. Muñoz has clearly played well, but faced two quality opponents and will finish last in her group.
Another woman who’s had a tough start is Argentina’s Natalia Mendez, as she’s lost both of her first two games. Sunday she lost to Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-11, 15-7, and lost Saturday to Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala. Compounding that loss, Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas lost in Women’s Doubles to Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. The Colombians could claim the #2 seed in doubles with a win over the USA’s Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts on Monday.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Sunday
Group A
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-9
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-5
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-3, 15-1
Group E
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-11, 15-7
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-4
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-1
Group G
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-8
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-8
Women's Doubles - Sunday
Group A
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-10
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - BYE
Group C
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-8, 15-14
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
Group D
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-3
Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
Men's Singles - Sunday
Group A
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-13, 15-9
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 7-15, 15-3, 11-6
David Horn (USA) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-6, 15-9
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 13-15, 15-10, 11-10
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-2, 15-2
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-7
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-5
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 4-15, 11-6
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-2
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-5, 13-15, 11-7
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-4
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-7
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-6
Men's Doubles - Sunday
Group A
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-9
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-11, 15-11
Group C
Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-3, 11-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 10-15, 11-2
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-10
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Day 1 results from 2019 Pan American Championships
On the first day of the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia there have already been upsets, as the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich - the 2 times defending champion in Women’s Singles - lost to Colombian Cristina Amaya, 15-14, 14-15, 11-8, which could give her a tougher draw in the medal round en route to defending her title. Some other Women’s Singles results of note include Mexican Monserrat Mejia’s win over Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-9, 11-15, 11-4, and Mejia’s team-mate Paola Longoria defeated Argentina’s María José Vargas in two close games, 15-12, 15-13. Also, Maria Rene Rodriguez of Guatemala was also a close winner over Natalia Mendez of Argentina, 15-12, 15-13.
Chilean Francisco Troncoso almost had a big upset in Men’s Singles, as he had a match point against Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in game two of their match, but Beltran fought it off and forced the match into a tie-breaker, which he won, 12-15, 15-14, 11-3.
One of the premier matches on Day 1 was between Charles Pratt of the USA and Colombian Mario Mercado, two of the top players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). After a decisive win by Pratt in game one, Mercado came back to take game two and force a tie-breaker, which went Pratt’s way, 15-2, 9-15, 11-7.
Defending Men’s Singles champion, Carlos Keller of Bolivia got off to a successful start in his quest to defend the title by beating Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 15-13, 15-7. Keller’s team-mate Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), who won the most recent IRT event, also had a good start to the Championships, as he defeated Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-5, 15-7.
There were a couple of 11-10 tie-breakers. In one, Venezuelan Roberto Leyes defeated Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic, 15-14, 3-15, 11-10. The other was in Men’s Doubles, as Bolivians Roland Keller and Moscoso held on to fend off Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 15-12, 13-15, 11-10.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 11-15, 11-4
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-1, 15-2
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-13
Group E
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-11
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Group G
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-3, 11-8
Women's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-4, 15-4
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE
Group B
Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-10
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-9, 15-14
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group D
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-10
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Men's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-7, 15-2
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 12-15, 15-14, 11-3
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-8
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 9-15, 11-7
Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-9, 15-0
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-9
Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 3-15, 11-10
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-7
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-13, 15-7
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-8, 15-7
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-7
Men's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-10
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 15-9
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-1
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5
Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-5, 15-5
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 13-15, 11-10
Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-7, 7-15, 11-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Chilean Francisco Troncoso almost had a big upset in Men’s Singles, as he had a match point against Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in game two of their match, but Beltran fought it off and forced the match into a tie-breaker, which he won, 12-15, 15-14, 11-3.
One of the premier matches on Day 1 was between Charles Pratt of the USA and Colombian Mario Mercado, two of the top players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). After a decisive win by Pratt in game one, Mercado came back to take game two and force a tie-breaker, which went Pratt’s way, 15-2, 9-15, 11-7.
Defending Men’s Singles champion, Carlos Keller of Bolivia got off to a successful start in his quest to defend the title by beating Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 15-13, 15-7. Keller’s team-mate Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), who won the most recent IRT event, also had a good start to the Championships, as he defeated Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-5, 15-7.
There were a couple of 11-10 tie-breakers. In one, Venezuelan Roberto Leyes defeated Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic, 15-14, 3-15, 11-10. The other was in Men’s Doubles, as Bolivians Roland Keller and Moscoso held on to fend off Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 15-12, 13-15, 11-10.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 11-15, 11-4
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group B
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-1, 15-2
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-13
Group E
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-11
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Group G
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-3, 11-8
Women's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-4, 15-4
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE
Group B
Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-10
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-9, 15-14
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group D
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-10
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Men's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-7, 15-2
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 12-15, 15-14, 11-3
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-8
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) d. Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 9-15, 11-7
Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-9, 15-0
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-9
Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 3-15, 11-10
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-7
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-13, 15-7
Group H
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-8, 15-7
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-7
Men's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-10
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 15-9
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-1
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5
Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-5, 15-5
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 13-15, 11-10
Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-7, 7-15, 11-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, April 12, 2019
2019 Pan American Championships begin Saturday
The 2019 Pan American Championships begin Saturday in Barranquilla, Colombia. As expected, there will be three days of group play that will set the stage for an elimination round beginning on Wednesday. The seedings for the groups are based on past country results, so countries whose players have done well in the last three Pan American Championships are seeded higher than countries whose players have not done as well. The group stage lasts three days (Saturday to Monday) followed by a rest day (Tuesday) before the medal round begins on Wednesday.
In soccer competitions that involve a group stage, often one group is nicknamed the "Group of Death," because all the teams drawn into that group are strong, and only the top teams will advance to the elimination round. If one of the groups in Barranquilla was the Group of Death, it would have to be Group B in Women's Doubles, which has the USA team of Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, the Argentina team of Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, as well as the host country representatives Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia). Matches between those teams have tie-breaker written all over them.
Of course, international racquetball events are more forgiving than soccer events, as no one is eliminated after the group stage, although we'd prefer if some of the players were. Because if there isn't elimination after the group stage, why play those games? Players have had remarkable results in the group stage and gotten a bad seeding in the elimination round. None more than Ecuador's Fernando Rios, who beat Jose Rojas of the USA at the 2014 World Championships, yet had to play Mexico's Polo Gutierrez in the 1st round of elimination, because Gutierrez lost some matches in the group stage due to defaults. Rather than Rios being rewarded for his win - and Gutierrez punished for his losses - Rios had a tough opponent in the elimination round, and Gutierrez - undoubtedly fresher because he'd played fewer matches - won their match.
Players eliminated from medal contention could still play matches in a consolation division. Other sports, such as Rugby 7s, do that sort of thing, so players would still be able to get match experience, which is what the lesser players need to have. The lesser players don't need to play one more match in a medal round that ends up with a score line of 15-1, 15-1, and the winner of such a match doesn't need to play it either.
Also, by eliminating players from the medal competition after the group stage the length of the event may be reduced, which would be welcome.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. María José Vargas (Argentina)
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. Erin Geeraert (Canada)
Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)
Group E
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic)
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
Josefina Toro (Chile) v. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba)
Group G
Maria Gomar (Guatemala) v. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
Women's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE
Group B
Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group D
Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia)
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Men's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. Johan Igor (Chile)
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) v. Andres Gomez (Colombia)
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru)
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) v. Mario Mercado (Colombia)
Enier Chacon (Cuba) v. Jonathan Luque (Peru)
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Jesus Icaza (Honduras)
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela)
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
Group H
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela)
Men's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru)
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) v. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba)
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela)
Follow the bouncing ball….
In soccer competitions that involve a group stage, often one group is nicknamed the "Group of Death," because all the teams drawn into that group are strong, and only the top teams will advance to the elimination round. If one of the groups in Barranquilla was the Group of Death, it would have to be Group B in Women's Doubles, which has the USA team of Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, the Argentina team of Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, as well as the host country representatives Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia). Matches between those teams have tie-breaker written all over them.
Of course, international racquetball events are more forgiving than soccer events, as no one is eliminated after the group stage, although we'd prefer if some of the players were. Because if there isn't elimination after the group stage, why play those games? Players have had remarkable results in the group stage and gotten a bad seeding in the elimination round. None more than Ecuador's Fernando Rios, who beat Jose Rojas of the USA at the 2014 World Championships, yet had to play Mexico's Polo Gutierrez in the 1st round of elimination, because Gutierrez lost some matches in the group stage due to defaults. Rather than Rios being rewarded for his win - and Gutierrez punished for his losses - Rios had a tough opponent in the elimination round, and Gutierrez - undoubtedly fresher because he'd played fewer matches - won their match.
Players eliminated from medal contention could still play matches in a consolation division. Other sports, such as Rugby 7s, do that sort of thing, so players would still be able to get match experience, which is what the lesser players need to have. The lesser players don't need to play one more match in a medal round that ends up with a score line of 15-1, 15-1, and the winner of such a match doesn't need to play it either.
Also, by eliminating players from the medal competition after the group stage the length of the event may be reduced, which would be welcome.
The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.
XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary
Women's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
Group C
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. María José Vargas (Argentina)
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Group D
Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. Erin Geeraert (Canada)
Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)
Group E
Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic)
Group F
Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
Josefina Toro (Chile) v. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba)
Group G
Maria Gomar (Guatemala) v. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
Women's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE
Group B
Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group D
Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia)
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE
Men's Singles - Saturday
Group A
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. Johan Igor (Chile)
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
David Horn (USA) v. Andres Gomez (Colombia)
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE
Group C
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru)
Group D
Charles Pratt (USA) v. Mario Mercado (Colombia)
Enier Chacon (Cuba) v. Jonathan Luque (Peru)
Group E
Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Jesus Icaza (Honduras)
Group F
Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela)
Group G
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
Group H
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela)
Men's Doubles - Saturday
Group A
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Group B
Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru)
Group C
Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) v. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba)
Group D
Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela)
Follow the bouncing ball….
2019 Pan American Championships - Preview
The XXXII Pan American Championships begins Saturday in Barranquilla, Colombia, which was the site of the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. Thus, some of the players in the field have been there before, but for many players - those from Argentina, Chile, Canada, USA - it will be a new venue. This is the 4th time Colombia has hosted the Pan American Championships (or Tournament of the Americas, as this event was once known), but the previous three times were in Cali, not Barranquilla.
The USA veteran Rhonda Rajsich comes into the event as the two time defending champion in Women’s Singles. She beat Mexican Paola Longoria in the both finals, and you can be sure that Longoria would like to take back the title she’s won a record seven times. Rajsich has won it four times, which is tied for 2nd most with Cheryl Gudinas and Michelle Gould.
Carlos Keller of Bolivia won Men’s Singles last year in Temuco, Chile, where he defeated David Horn of the USA in the final. Keller became just the 2nd Bolivian to win Men’s Singles after Ricardo Monroy won in 2010.
Mexico swept doubles in 2018, as Longoria and Alexandra Herrera won Women’s Doubles and Alvaro Beltran and Ricardo Montoya won Men’s Doubles. Based on the recent Mexico Team Selection Event, we believe they will be represented by Longoria and Monserrat Mejia in Women’s Singles, Beltran and Alejandro Landa in Men’s Singles, Longoria and Samantha Salas in Women’s Doubles, and Montoya and Javiar Mar in Men’s Doubles.
But the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) who oversees this event has yet to release any official team rosters, which is typical for them, and incredibly frustrating.
However, we know that the USA will be represented by seven players. Rajsich will be there to defend her Women’s Singles title. We were concerned about whether she’d be fit for the event, as word from the last Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event in Bolivia was that she had a severely damage knee. Not that that stopped her from playing the doubles final in Bolivia, and it seems she’s up for her Pan Am Championship title defence even though she might not be 100%.
Joining Rajsich in Colombia are Kelani Bailey Lawrence, who will also play Women’s Singles, and Sheryl Lotts, who will play Women’s Doubles with Bailey Lawrence. The USA men’s team will be David Horn and Charlie Pratt in Men’s Singles, and Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas in Men’s Doubles. Horn and Pratt reached the podium in Men’s Singles at last year’s IRF World Championships, and they’ll look to do that again in Barranquilla.
Canada is sending six players to Colombia. Jen Saunders and Danielle Drury will play Women’s Doubles with Erin Geeraert and Michèle Morissette playing Women’s Singles. Samuel Murray and Coby Iwaasa will play both Men’s Singles and Doubles.
This year’s Pan American Championships have an added importance as they are the qualifying event for the 2019 Pan American Games to be held this summer in Lima, Peru. How well a team does in Barranquilla will determine how many players can be sent to Lima. If a team does really well, then they could send as many as 4 players to Lima. Men’s and women’s teams are separate, so a country whose men and women both do well in Barranquilla could qualify 8 players for Lima (4 men and 4 women).
But if a country doesn’t do well, they may only be able to send 2 players to Lima, or may fail to qualify for the Pan Am Games at all.
You can see some of the action from Barranquilla via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page beginning on Saturday. If the event follows the format used in recent IRF events, then there will be three days of group play with the results used to seed players for an elimination, or medal, round to determine the medalists. The finals will be next Saturday, April 20.
Here’s the 2017 Pan American Championships medalists.
XXXI Pan American Racquetball Championships
Temuco, Chile - March 24-31, 2018
Women's Singles
GOLD - Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
SILVER - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
BRONZE - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) and Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Men's Singles
GOLD - Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
SILVER - David Horn (USA)
BRONZE - Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) and Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
Women's Doubles
GOLD - Alexandra Herrera & Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
BRONZE - Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) and Carla Muñoz & Josefa Parada (Chile)
Men’s Doubles
GOLD - Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray (Canada) and Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The USA veteran Rhonda Rajsich comes into the event as the two time defending champion in Women’s Singles. She beat Mexican Paola Longoria in the both finals, and you can be sure that Longoria would like to take back the title she’s won a record seven times. Rajsich has won it four times, which is tied for 2nd most with Cheryl Gudinas and Michelle Gould.
Carlos Keller of Bolivia won Men’s Singles last year in Temuco, Chile, where he defeated David Horn of the USA in the final. Keller became just the 2nd Bolivian to win Men’s Singles after Ricardo Monroy won in 2010.
Mexico swept doubles in 2018, as Longoria and Alexandra Herrera won Women’s Doubles and Alvaro Beltran and Ricardo Montoya won Men’s Doubles. Based on the recent Mexico Team Selection Event, we believe they will be represented by Longoria and Monserrat Mejia in Women’s Singles, Beltran and Alejandro Landa in Men’s Singles, Longoria and Samantha Salas in Women’s Doubles, and Montoya and Javiar Mar in Men’s Doubles.
But the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) who oversees this event has yet to release any official team rosters, which is typical for them, and incredibly frustrating.
However, we know that the USA will be represented by seven players. Rajsich will be there to defend her Women’s Singles title. We were concerned about whether she’d be fit for the event, as word from the last Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event in Bolivia was that she had a severely damage knee. Not that that stopped her from playing the doubles final in Bolivia, and it seems she’s up for her Pan Am Championship title defence even though she might not be 100%.
Joining Rajsich in Colombia are Kelani Bailey Lawrence, who will also play Women’s Singles, and Sheryl Lotts, who will play Women’s Doubles with Bailey Lawrence. The USA men’s team will be David Horn and Charlie Pratt in Men’s Singles, and Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas in Men’s Doubles. Horn and Pratt reached the podium in Men’s Singles at last year’s IRF World Championships, and they’ll look to do that again in Barranquilla.
Canada is sending six players to Colombia. Jen Saunders and Danielle Drury will play Women’s Doubles with Erin Geeraert and Michèle Morissette playing Women’s Singles. Samuel Murray and Coby Iwaasa will play both Men’s Singles and Doubles.
This year’s Pan American Championships have an added importance as they are the qualifying event for the 2019 Pan American Games to be held this summer in Lima, Peru. How well a team does in Barranquilla will determine how many players can be sent to Lima. If a team does really well, then they could send as many as 4 players to Lima. Men’s and women’s teams are separate, so a country whose men and women both do well in Barranquilla could qualify 8 players for Lima (4 men and 4 women).
But if a country doesn’t do well, they may only be able to send 2 players to Lima, or may fail to qualify for the Pan Am Games at all.
You can see some of the action from Barranquilla via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page beginning on Saturday. If the event follows the format used in recent IRF events, then there will be three days of group play with the results used to seed players for an elimination, or medal, round to determine the medalists. The finals will be next Saturday, April 20.
Here’s the 2017 Pan American Championships medalists.
XXXI Pan American Racquetball Championships
Temuco, Chile - March 24-31, 2018
Women's Singles
GOLD - Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
SILVER - Paola Longoria (Mexico)
BRONZE - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) and Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Men's Singles
GOLD - Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
SILVER - David Horn (USA)
BRONZE - Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) and Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
Women's Doubles
GOLD - Alexandra Herrera & Paola Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
BRONZE - Stefanny Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) and Carla Muñoz & Josefa Parada (Chile)
Men’s Doubles
GOLD - Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER - Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
BRONZE - Nicolas Bousquet & Samuel Murray (Canada) and Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
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