XXXIII Pan American Championships suspended

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) announced that the XXXIII Pan American Championships are suspended. These championships were scheduled for September 3-11 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The on-going COVID-19 pandemic likely caused this suspension, which may have been spurred on by the knowledge that both the USA and Canada would not be attending the event due to pandemic concerns.

The Pan Am Championships are an annual competition that usually takes place the week before Easter. They didn’t happen last year due to the pandemic, and were postponed earlier this year from April to September in hopes of having the event in 2021. Those hopes are now dashed.

The rescheduled date for the XXXIII Pan Am Championships is April 9-17, 2022, which is the traditional timing of the championships. The release doesn’t state where the event will take place, so it may not be in Santa Cruz.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Martinez, De La Rosa, Montoya & Salas win in Colorado

Gabriela Martinez, Daniel De La Rosa and the doubles team of Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas were the champions at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, on Sunday. Martinez won her first title on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) by defeating top seed Alexandra Herrera, 12-15, 15-9, 11-4, De La Rosa won for the 5th time on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) by defeating Conrrado Moscoso, 15-7, 15-13, in the final. Lastly, Montoya and Salas got the better of Herrera and Sebastian Fernandez, 15-12, 15-6.

Martinez is the 29th woman to win a women’s pro racquetball event, and the 2nd consecutive first time winner, as Montserrat Mejia won her 1st title at the last LPRT event in June. It’s the first time that there have been 1st time winners in back to back women’s pro tournaments since 1991, when in October, Jackie Paraiso won her first tournament, and then in November, Malia Bailey won for the first time (note, previously we thought this hadn't happened since 1979).

With 5 career IRT wins, De La Rosa joins Tim Doyle in 18th most on the career wins list. At 28, he’s sneaky young, so De La Rosa should have many years ahead of him.

The Mixed Doubles final was between the 7th seeds - Montoya and Salas - and 8th seeds - Fernandez and Herrera, and that was an indication of how deep the talent is on both the LPRT and IRT. There were several good matches in the mixed draw, and we’re not sure that would have been possible in years past. We don’t think that would have been the case a decade ago, or maybe even five years ago.

It’s an indication of the great strides that pro racquetball has made in recent years. Much of that progress has come from development south of the Mexico-USA border.

That development was on show in Colorado on the weekend, and if you missed it, you can check out the action via the (LPRT YouTube channel and the IRT YouTube channel.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Highlands Ranch, Colorado

LPRT Singles  - Final - Sunday

10) Gabriela Martinez d. 1) Alexandra Herrera, 12-15, 15-9, 11-4

IRT Singles  - Final - Sunday

4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-7, 15-13

Mixed Doubles  - Final - Sunday

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera, 15-12, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Seven versus eight in Colorado Mixed Doubles final

It’ll be 7 versus 8 in the Mixed Doubles final Sunday at the World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. Seventh seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas were comfortable winners over 3rd seeds Conrrado Moscoso and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-3, 15-8, in one semi-final, and 8th seeds Sebastian Fernandez and Alexandra Herrera won a close two game match with 5th seeds Gabriela Martinez and Samuel Murray, 15-14, 15-10, in the other semi.

The Mixed Doubles final will be Sunday at 1:15 PM Mountain time. Look for the action via the LPRT and IRT YouTube channels (LPRT YouTube channel & IRT YouTube.), as well as their respective Facebook pages.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray, 15-14, 15-10
7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-3, 15-8

Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera - 1:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Gutsy performance puts De La Rosa into IRT final in Colorado

Daniel De La Rosa put in a gutsy performance in the semi-finals of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. He overcame an injury to pull out a win in three games over Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 10-15, 11-2. The win puts De La Rosa into the finals for the first time since January 2020, when he beat Portillo in Sioux Falls.

Conrrado Moscoso will be De La Rosa’s opponent in Sunday’s final, as Moscoso beat fellow Bolivian Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-14.

After winning a straight forward first game, De La Rosa found himself trailing Portillo, 5-0 and then 12-6. But he kept working and got within two at 12-10, when De La Rosa lunged for a ball and seemed to jam his leg against the right wall. He went down right away, and it looked like a serious injury.

De La Rosa took some injury time, but chose to continue. He lost the next two rallies, so Portillo won game two, 15-10, which forced a tie-breaker.

When the breaker started, they were back and forth. But it was De La Rosa who was scoring points. He got up to 6-0, and Portillo called a timeout. He got the serve back and scored a point to get on the board, 6-1, but a great De La Rosa backhand put a stop to that.

De La Rosa hit a drive serve ace to the right side to make it 7-1. And he kept going from there to win the breaker 11-2.

Afterwards, De La Rosa said he’d pulled a muscle, and he was certainly hobbling around the court in game three. But De La Rosa also dove for some shots, and seemed to want the win more than Portillo.

When asked about what he was thinking after the injury, De La Rosa said he thought “F this. Let’s go.” He also was thinking of his kids, who were there, and how he didn’t want to give up with them watching.

And the injury seemed to sharpen his focus, as De La Rosa made some great shots in the breaker.

”I’m going to enjoy the victory,” he said, and well he should.

In the other semi, Moscoso also won the first game relatively comfortably, 15-10. Then he had some bother in game two, as Keller came back and got to 14 first with a two point lead, 14-12. This forced Moscoso to fight off game point not once but twice before he was able to close it out to win in two games.

Sunday’s final will be De La Rosa’s 19th, and he has a 4-14 finals record. Moscoso will play his 4th final on Sunday, and he’s 1-2 in the previous three.

The IRT final will be 12:15 PM Mountain time on Sunday. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 10-15, 11-2
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 19) Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-14

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 7) Conrrado Moscoso - 12:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Herrera & Martinez wins guarantee new LPRT champion

Gabriela Martinez will play in her first final on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Sunday at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, as she upset the 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 15-10, in the semi-finals on Saturday. Martinez, seeded 10th, will play top seed Alexandra Herrera in the final, as Herrera was a winner over 5th seed Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-10, 11-5, in the other semi.

Vargas was up in game one versus Martinez, leading 4-1 and 8-3. But in the middle of the game Martinez switched from drive serving to lob serving, and that sparked her comeback. She tied the game at 11-11 leading to a Vargas timeout.

Martinez never trailed after that, either in game one, which she won 15-13, or the match. Martinez took a big lead in game two at 9-3, as she continued to use the lob serve to Vargas’s backhand. But Vargas did make the game close, getting within two at 12-10.

Martinez used some drive serves as Vargas came back, because the lobs didn’t seem to be as effective. Indeed, she got a service winner with a drive serve to the right side - Vargas’s forehand - to make the score 13-10. Match point came as Vargas skipped a backhand return of a lob to the left side. Martinez converted that match point with a great backhand reverse pinch winner.

In the other semi, Herrera had leads in all three games against Mendez, and was able to convert two of them to wins. But Mendez made a successful comeback from 8-1 down in game one to eke out a 15-14 win. That showed what Mendez is capable of, but in games two and three she didn’t execute as well as she did late in game one, despite having opportunities to do so.

In game two, Mendez led 3-1 early, but Herrera got the next ten points to lead 13-3. Cue the comeback, as Mendez got within three at 13-10. Herrera did get the serve back then and got to 14-10. But when she hit a plum into the floor on her first game point, you wondered if there would be a repeat of game one. But Herrera held her nerve, and got the serve back for a second game point, which she won with a backhand cross court from a front court position.

Herrera carried the momentum over into game three, as she took a 7-0 lead. Mendez helped her opponent, as she was hitting balls too high, which gave Herrera opportunities that she took advantage of. Mendez did shoot better in the second half of the game, but it wasn’t enough, as Herrera pushed on to win it 11-5.

While Martinez plays her 1st LPRT final on Sunday, Herrera will be playing her 6th, but she’s yet to win one. So, there will be a new LPRT winner on Sunday, and it will be the first time since 1979 that there have been new winners in back to back women’s pro tournaments. In November ’79, Heather McKay - now in the LPRT Hall of Fame - won her first tournament, and then Sarah Green won in December ’79, which was Green’s only win.

Montserrat Mejia won her 1st title at the last LPRT event in June, and either Herrera or Martinez will join her as an LPRT champion, and become the 29th women's pro tour winner.

The LPRT final will be Sunday at 11:15 AM Mountain time. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-10, 11-5
10) Gabriela Martinez d. 3) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 15-10

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Alexandra Herrera v. 10) Gabriela Martinez - 11:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Portillo knocks off Landa in IRT quarterfinals in Colorado

Eduardo Portillo, the 8th seed, knocked off the #1 seed Alejandro Landa, 15-3, 15-4, in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) quarterfinals at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. The win puts Portillo into the semi-finals for the fourth time in his career. He’ll face 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa, who was a winner over 5th seed Andree Parrilla, 15-10, 15-10.

Carlos Keller’s run in Colorado continues, as he defeated Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-6, in the quarterfinals. The win sets up an all Bolivian semi-final, as 7th seed Conrrado Moscoso upset 2nd seed Rocky Carson, 15-4, 13-15, 11-9.

After being dominated in game one, Carson led for most of game two. Then Moscoso drew level at 10-10, and when he took the lead at 13-12, it looked like no breaker would be needed.

However, the veteran Carson held his nerve, and fought back to force that breaker with a backhand pinch shot. Then in the breaker, Carson jumped out to a 7-0 lead, and looked like he was going to complete the reversal of fortune.

But the breaker was a very long game. It took Carson 19 rallies to get to 7-0. Moscoso only got on the board on the 21st rally. Eleven more rallies only produced four more points and Carson ahead 9-2.

There were 23 more rallies in the game, including eight straight sideouts at 9-3, and none produced a point for Carson. The game developed slowly, but the end came quickly, as Moscoso scored 7 points on 9 rallies to win it. That run included two drive serve aces to Carson’s backhand.

Although lower seeded than Carson, Moscoso is actually undefeated against the USA veteran with Saturday’s victory his fourth over the US veteran.

The IRT semi-finals will be 2:15 and 3:15 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

8) Eduardo Portillo d. 1) Alejandro Landa, 15-3, 15-4
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-10, 15-10

19) Carlos Keller d. 11) Mario Mercado, 15-13, 14-15, 11-6
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 2) Rocky Carson, 15-4, 13-15, 11-9

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Eduardo Portillo - 3:15 PM
7) Conrrado Moscoso v. 19) Carlos Keller - 2:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Three upsets in mixed doubles at 2021 World SIngles & Doubles Open Championships

They played two of the four mixed doubles quarterfinals Friday night at the World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, and both were won by the lower seeded teams. Sebastian Fernandez and Alexandra Herrera, the 8th seeds, upset Daniel De La Rosa and Michelle De La Rosa, the top seeds who had won mixed doubles in last version of this event, 15-8, 15-10. Also, 5th seeds Gabriela Martinez and Samuel Murray eked by 4th seeds Andree Parrilla and Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-5, 11-10.

The 2nd seeds Alvaro Beltran and Monserrat Mejia also lost, as 7th seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas got the better them, 7-15, 15-13, 11-6. Montoya and Salas will play 3rd seeds Conrrado Moscoso and Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals, as Moscoso and Vargas beat 11th seeds Cristina Amaya and Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-11.

The Mixed Doubles semi-finals will be 1:15 PM Saturday and the final at 1:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT and IRT YouTube channels (LPRT YouTube channel & IRT YouTube.), as well as their respective Facebook pages.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa, 15-8, 15-10
5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray d. 4) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-5, 11-10

3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Cristina Amaya & Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-11
7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Monserrat Mejia, 7-15, 15-13, 11-6

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera
3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas v. 7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT R16 at the 2021 World Singles & Doubles Open Racquetball Championships

Carlos Keller and Mario Mercado busted one of the brackets in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw in Round of 16 matches at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, by knocking off two of the top seeds in the tournament.

The 19th seed Carlos Keller was a convincing winner over 3rd seed Samuel Murray, 15-6, 15-4, and will face Mercado in the quarterfinals, as Mercado, the 11th seed, ousted 6th seed Alvaro Beltran from the tournament, 15-12, 15-6.

Murray was trying to win two tournaments in a row, but his loss means that the most recent player with consecutive IRT wins not named Kane Waselenchuk is Rocky Carson, who won back to back in April-May of 2016.

On Friday, Carson, who is the 2nd seed this weekend, defeated 15th seed Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-10, and will play 7th seed Conrrado Moscoso in the quarterfinals Saturday, as Moscoso beat 10th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-14, in the 16s.

Tie-breakers were needed in both Round of 16 matches In the top bracket of the draw, as top seed Alejandro Landa had to come back from a game down to get by 17th seed Andres Acuña, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8, and 8th seed Eduardo Portillo’s victory over 9th seed Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1, had a similar storyline.

Finally, in an all Mexico bracket, 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa defeated 11th seed Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-10, while 5th seed Andree Parrilla beat 7th seed Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-3.

With Landa versus Portillo in one quarterfinal on the top of the draw and De La Rosa versus Parrilla in the other quarterfinal a Mexican finalist is guaranteed, as all four of those players hail from Mexico.

The IRT quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10:15 and 11:15 AM. The semi-finals will be 2:15 and 3:15 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa d. 17) Andres Acuña, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8
8) Eduardo Portillo d. 9) Jake Bredenbeck, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1

5) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-3
4) Daniel De La Rosa d. 11) Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-10

19) Carlos Keller d. 3) Samuel Murray, 15-6, 15-4
11) Mario Mercado d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 15-12, 15-6

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 15-14
2) Rocky Carson d. 15) Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-10

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Alejandro Landa v. 8) Eduardo Portillo - 11:15 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Andree Parrilla - 11:15 AM

11) Mario Mercado v. 19) Carlos Keller - 10:15 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Conrrado Moscoso - 10:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT quarterfinals at the 2021 World Singles & Doubles Open Racquetball Championships

Natalia Mendez was the upset winner in the quarterfinals of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, as she defeated the 4th seed Samantha Salas, 15-14, 15-12, in the quarterfinals of pro singles.

Near the end of both games in the Mendez Salas match there was some controversy. In game one, Mendez was serving at 14-14, and on the ensuing rally Salas held up as Mendez seemed to be hindering her shot. Salas thought it was a penalty hinder, or avoidable, but the referee called a non-penalty hinder, so Mendez maintained the serve. She won the game on the next rally.

Salas led for much of game two, but Mendez caught up at 12-12, and then got three points to end the match in two games. But on the last rally, which had some great gets by both players, including a dive by Salas, Mendez hit the ball from a front court position, and Salas thought it skipped. However, the referee called it good. It wasn’t clear whether the shot skipped or not, and the match commentators suggested the referee couldn’t see the shot clearly, which means the shot is assumed to be good.

Thus, Salas was hard done by near the end of both games.

The higher seeds won the other quarterfinals. Top seed Alexandra Herrera beat 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-9, and will play Mendez in the semi-finals Saturday.

On the bottom of the draw, 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas defeated 11th seed Nancy Enriquez, 15-10, 15-8, and will play 10th seed Gabriela Martinez who was a winner over 15th seed Brenda Laime, 15-3, 15-7.

The LPRT semi-finals will be Saturday 9:15 AM and then 12:15 PM with the final Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-9
5) Natalia Mendez d. 4) Samantha Salas, 15-14, 15-12

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Nancy Enriquez, 15-10, 15-8
10) Gabriela Martinez d. 15) Brenda Laime, 15-3, 15-7

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 12:15 PM
3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Gabriela Martinez - 9:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT Round of 16 at 2021 World Singles & Doubles Championships

Three upsets on the bottom half of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) draw at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, as the 2nd, 6th and 7th seeds lost in the Round of 16.

Brenda Laime, the 15th seed, caused the biggest upset, as she knocked off the 2nd seed Monserrat Mejia, 15-5, 9-15, 11-7. Mejia was looking to win two LPRT events in a row, as she won the last event back in June in Kansas, but that won’t happen now. Thus, Paola Longoria remains the only player to win consecutive LPRT events since Rhonda Rajsich won two in row in September and October 2010.

Laime will play 10th seed Gabriela Martinez quarterfinals, as Martinez defeated 7th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-11, 15-14. Barrios had game point on Martinez at 14-11, but Martinez got the serve back and then ran off four straight points to close the match out in two games.

Eleventh seed Nancy Enriquez got the third upset of the Round of 16, as she defeated 6th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-14, 14-15, 11-0. It often seems that two close games will produce a blowout in the breaker, and this match was just the latest example of that.

Enriquez will face 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas in the quarters, as Vargas came back from a game down to defeat 19th seed Micaela Meneses, 10-15, 15-7, 11-4.

The LPRT matches continue Friday with the quarterfinals from 3:30 PM on. The semi-finals will be Saturday 9:15 AM and then 12:15 PM with the final Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera d. 16) Sheryl Lotts, 15-11, 15-3
8) Valeria Centellas d. 9) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-4

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Carla Muñoz, 15-10, 15-7
4) Samantha Salas d. 13) Cristina Amaya, 15-14, 15-5

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 19) Micaela Meneses, 10-15, 15-7, 11-4
11) Nancy Enriquez d. 6) Jessica Parrilla, 15-14, 14-15, 11-0

10) Gabriela Martinez d. 7) Angelica Barrios, 15-11, 15-14
15) Brenda Laime d. 2) Monserrat Mejia, 15-5, 9-15, 11-7

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera v. 8) Valeria Centellas - 6:30 PM
4) Samantha Salas v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 3:30 PM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 11) Nancy Enriquez - 4:30 PM
10) Gabriela Martinez v. 15) Brenda Laime - 5:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT Round of 32 at 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships

There were two upsets in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round of 32 in the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. But neither of them were very surprising.

The largest upset was 19th seed Carlos Keller beating 14th seed Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-1. Keller was up big in game one, but Carter came back and almost pulled it out. However, after squeaking out game one, Keller piled it on in game two. This wasn’t a surprising outcome, as Keller is the two time defending Pan American Champion. That is, he’s pretty good. Keller’s win puts him into the Round of 16 versus 3rd seed Samuel Murray.

The other ‘upset’ was in the 16/17 match, and it’s often a toss up when the seeds are that close. On Friday it was 17th seed Andres Acuña who managed to get the better of 16th seed Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-5. Acuña will play the top seed Alejandro Landa in the 16s later today.

The IRT matches continue today with the Round of 16 from 4:30 PM Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10:15 and 11:15 AM. The semi-finals will be 2:15 and 3:15 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel, as well as its Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa - BYE
17) Andres Acuña d. 16) Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-5

9) Jake Bredenbeck d. 24) Kadim Carrasco, 15-9, 15-7
8) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
7) Rodrigo Montoya d. 21) Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-8

11) Javier Mar d. 20) Miguel Arteaga Guzman, 15-5, 15-6
4) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
19) Carlos Keller d. 14) Thomas Carter, 15-14, 15-1

11) Mario Mercado d. 22) Alan Natera, 15-12, 15-14
6) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
10) Sebastian Franco d. 23) Mauricio Zelada, 15-5, 15-4

15) Eduardo Garay d. 18) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-9, 9-15, 11-9
2) Rocky Carson - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa v. 17) Andres Acuña - 6:30 PM
8) Eduardo Portillo v. 9) Jake Bredenbeck - 6:30 PM

4) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Rodrigo Montoya - 4:30 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 11) Javier Mar - 5:30 PM

3) Samuel Murray v. 19) Carlos Keller - 4:30 PM
6) Alvaro Beltran v. 11) Mario Mercado - 4:30 PM

7) Conrrado Moscoso v. 10) Sebastian Franco - 5:30 PM
2) Rocky Carson v. 15) Eduardo Garay - 5:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

IRT World Singles & Doubles Open Racquetball Championships

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is in action this weekend at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. It’s an unusual event because they are playing Mixed Doubles with the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT, but also the IRT’s #1 player - Kane Waselenchuk - isn’t in Colorado.

Thus, Alejandro Landa is the top seed in a draw of 54 players with Rocky Carson as the #2 seed. Samuel Murray is the 3rd seed with Daniel De La Rosa 4th. Murray won the last IRT event in January in Georgia, where he beat Conrrado Moscoso in the final. Moscoso is seeded 7th this weekend.

The IRT matches began today with the qualifying rounds. The Round of 32 begins Friday at 9:15 AM with the Round of 16 from 4:30 PM Friday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be Saturday morning at 10:15 and 11:15 AM. The semi-finals will be 2:15 and 3:15 PM Saturday and the final at 12:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the IRT YouTube channel., as well as its Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Juan Franciso Cueva d. Hector Barrios, 15-4, 15-9
Victor Migliore d. Alexander Purcell, 15-8, 15-2

Adrian Jaldin Lobo d. Jake Wylie, 15-12, 2-15, 11-4
Juan José Tapia Zuñiga d. Alex Zamudio, 6-15, 15-14, 11-10

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Andre Acuña d. Juan Franciso Cueva, 15-3, 15-12
Edwin Galicia d. Andrés Gómez, 15-5, 15-10

Kadim Carrasco d. Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-4
Abraham Peña d. Scott McClellan, 14-15, 15-5, 11-3

Robert Collins d. Jacob Kingsford, 15-3, 15-5
Anthony Martin d. Joel Adler, 15-11, 15-4

Miguel Arteaga Guzman d. Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-2
Victor Migliore d. Javier Estrada, forfeit

Carlos Keller d. Adrian Jaldin Lobo, 15-5, 15-4
Juan Salvatierra d. Nicholas Riffel, 15-10, 15-4

Erick Fernandez d. Sergio Acuña, 15-11, 15-14
Alan Natera d. Ruben Baez, 15-8, 15-4

Set Cubillos d. Sunshine Arterburn, forfeit
Mauricio Zelada d Javier Martinez, 15-14, 10-15, 11-1

Majeed Shahin d. Ferd Samson, 15-8, 15-10
Sebastian Fernandez d. Juan José Tapia Zuñiga, 15-9, 15-0

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 3 - Thursday

Andre Acuña d. Edwin Galicia, 15-8, 15-13
Kadim Carrasco d. Abraham Peña, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3

Robert Collins d. Anthony Martin, 15-7, 15-6
Miguel Arteaga Guzman d. Victor Migliore, 8-15, 15-8, 11-1

Carlos Keller d. Juan Salvatierra, 15-10, 15-10
Alan Natera d. Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-14, 15-3

Mauricio Zelada d. Set Cubillos, 15-8, 15-9
Sebastian Fernandez d. Majeed Shahin, 15-3, 15-1

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa - BYE
16) Adam Manilla v. 17) Andres Acuña - 12:15 PM

9) Jake Bredenbeck v. 24) Kadim Carrasco - 1:15 PM
8) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
7) Rodrigo Montoya v. 21) Robert Collins - 9:15 AM

11) Javier Mar v. 20) Miguel Arteaga Guzman - 10:15 AM
4) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

3) Samuel Murray - BYE
14) Thomas Carter v. 19) Carlos Keller - 11:15 AM

11) Mario Mercado v. 22) Alan Natera - 11:15 AM
6) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
10) Sebastian Franco v. 23) Mauricio Zelada - 10:15 AM

15) Eduardo Garay v. 18) Sebastian Fernandez - 12:15 AM
2) Rocky Carson - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

LPRT play at the 2021 World Singles & Doubles Racquetball Championships

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is in action this weekend at the 2021 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver. It’s an unusual event, because they are playing Mixed Doubles with the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), but also the LPRT’s #1 player - Paola Longoria - isn’t in Colorado. She was in Tokyo as one of the hosts for Mexican television’s coverage of the Olympics, which just ended on Sunday, so she probably felt she wasn’t prepared for this event.

Thus, Alexandra Herrera is the top seed in a draw of 34 players with Montserrat Mejia as the #2 seed. Mejia won the last LPRT event in June, when she beat Longoria in the final of the TeamRoot.com Super Max Slam. Rounding out the top four seeds are Maria Jose Vargas at #3 and Samantha Salas #4.

Through two rounds of action, there’s only one upset. Nineteenth seed Micaela Meneses beat 14th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-2, in the Round of 32. She’ll play 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas in the Round of 16 Friday, as Vargas defeated 30th seed Camila Rivero, 15-1, 15-1, in the 32s.

The LPRT matches began today with the Rounds of 64 and 32. The Round of 16 will begin Friday morning at 10:15 AM with the quarterfinals Friday afternoon from 3:30 PM. The semi-finals will be Saturday 9:15 AM and then 12:15 PM with the final Sunday at 11:15 AM. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT YouTube channel, as well as the LPRT Facebook page.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

LPRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

32) Maria Muñoz d. 33) Kelly Mortensen, 15-2, 15-1
31) Ximena Gonzalez d. 34) Aisling Hickey, 15-6, 15-6

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Alexandra Herrera d. 32) Maria Muñoz, 15-4, 15-3
16) Sheryl Lotts d. 17) Hollie Scott, forfeit

9) Rhonda Rajsich d. 24) Maria Riquelme, 15-4, 15-5
8) Valeria Centellas d. 25) Graci Wargo, 15-2, 15-0

5) Natalia Mendez d. 28) Erika Manilla, 15-9, 2-15, 11-10
12) Carla Muñoz d. 21) Jessica Chen, 15-4, 15-3

13) Cristina Amaya d. 20) Susana Acosta, 15-7, 15-9
4) Samantha Salas d. 29) Cassi Lee, 15-1, 15-3

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 30) Camila Rivero, 15-1, 15-1
19) Micaela Meneses d. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-2

11) Nancy Enriquez d. 22) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-4, 15-12
6) Jessica Parrilla d. 27) Montserrat Perez, 15-14, 15-9

7) Angelica Barrios d. 26) Annie Roberts, 15-5, 15-0
10) Gabriela Martinez d. 23) Erin Slutzky, 15-6, 15-6

15) Brenda Laime d. 17) Masiel Rivera, 15-9, 15-4
2) Monserrat Mejia d. 31) Ximena Gonzalez, 15-3, 15-8

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera v. 16) Sheryl Lotts - 1:15 PM
8) Valeria Centellas v. 9) Rhonda Rajsich - 1:15 PM

5) Natalia Mendez v. 12) Carla Muñoz - 10:15 AM
4) Samantha Salas v. 13) Cristina Amaya - 10:15 AM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 19) Micaela Meneses - 11:15 AM
6) Jessica Parrilla v. 11) Nancy Enriquez - 11:15 AM

7) Angelica Barrios v. 10) Gabriela Martinez - 12:15 PM
2) Monserrat Mejia v. 15) Brenda Laime - 12:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

World Singles & Doubles Open Racquetball Championships - Mixed Doubles

The World Singles and Doubles Open Championships began today in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, just outside Denver, and it’s really a Grand Slam event as both the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and International Racquetball Tour (IRT) are competing. Moreover, they are playing mixed doubles also, which gives a unique aspect to this event.

This is the second time they’ve played mixed doubles in Denver. The first was in 2018, when the event also had LPRT and IRT doubles divisions. But this time the other division is singles for the pro tour players.

Here we’ll run down the Mixed Doubles Division, and do the singles divisions in separate pieces. The 2018 winners were Daniel and Michelle De La Rosa, who defeated Mario Mercado and Adriana Riveros in the final. The De La Rosas are back, and seeded 1st this year, and Mercado is playing with Valeria Centellas, as Riveros isn’t in Denver. They are seeded 9th.

Rounding out the top seeds are Alvaro Beltran and Montserrat Mejia at #2, Conrrado Moscoso and Maria Jose Vargas #3 and the brother / sister team of Andree and Jessica Parrilla #4.

Although the seedings were difficult to sort out, only one of the top 8 seeds failed to make the quarterfinals. But that match was a veteran team overcoming a young team, as 11th seeds Cristina Amaya and Javier Mar beat 6th seeds Angelica Barrios and Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 15-5. Amaya and Mar will face 3rd seeds Conrrado Moscoso and Maria Jose Vargas in the quarters, as Moscoso and Vargas won an all-Bolivia match with 19th seeds Roland Keller & Micaela Meneses, 15-0, 15-10.

Also, the top seeded De La Rosas eked out a win over 16th seeds Erik Garcia and Masiel Rivera, 15-14, 15-13. They’ll face another stiff test in the quarters as they face the righty-lefty team of Sebastian Fernandez and Alexandra Herrera, who defeated Mercado and Centellas, 15-6, 15-10.

Two notable absences from the event are the #1 players from the respective tours. Paola Longoria, #1 on the LPRT, was in Tokyo as one of the hosts for Mexican television’s coverage of the Olympics, so she probably felt she wasn’t prepared for this event. Kane Waselenchuk, #1 on the IRT, isn’t in Denver either, and we’re not sure why. It is unusual for a tour event to happen in August, so perhaps that was a factor for Waselenchuk.

The Mixed Doubles matches began today with the Rounds of 32 and 16. The quarterfinals will be Friday at 8:30 and semi-finals at 1:15 PM Saturday and the final at 1:15 PM Sunday. All times are Mountain. Look for the action via the LPRT and IRT YouTube channels (LPRT YouTube channel & IRT YouTube.), as well as their respective Facebook pages.

World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships
August 12-15, 2021 - Denver, Colorado

Mixed Doubles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa - BYE
16) Erik Garcia & Masiel Rivera d. 17) Montserrat Perez & Nicholas RIffel, 15-9, 13-15, 11-6

9) Mario Mercado & Valeria Centellas - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera - BYE

5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray - BYE
12) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera - BYE

13) Charlie Pratt & Rhonda Rajsich d. 20) Juan Francisco Cueva & Maria Muñoz, 15-7, 15-8
4) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
19) Roland Keller & Micaela Meneses d. 14) Brenda Laime & Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 9-15, 11-2

11) Cristina Amaya & Javier Mar - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Eduardo Portillo - BYE

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas - BYE
10) Andres Acuña & Natalia Mendez - BYE

15) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 18) Abraham Peña & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-12
2) Alvaro Beltran & Monserrat Mejia - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa d. 16) Erik Garcia & Masiel Rivera, 15-14, 15-13
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera d. 9) Mario Mercado & Valeria Centellas, 15-6, 15-10

5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray d. 12) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera, 15-7, 15-12
4) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla d. 13) Charlie Pratt & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-8, 15-12

3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas d. 19) Roland Keller & Micaela Meneses, 15-0, 15-10
11) Cristina Amaya & Javier Mar d. 6) Angelica Barrios & Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 15-5

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 10) Andres Acuña & Natalia Mendez, 15-13, 15-9
2) Alvaro Beltran & Monserrat Mejia d. 15) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla, 15-5, 14-15, 11-0

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Alexandra Herrera - 8:30 PM
4) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Samuel Murray - 8:30 PM

3) Conrrado Moscoso & Maria Jose Vargas v. 11) Cristina Amaya & Javier Mar - 8:30 PM
7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas v. 2) Alvaro Beltran & Monserrat Mejia - 8:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

USA will not be going to the Pan Am Championships

USA Racquetball (USAR) has announced that they will not be sending a team to the 2021 Pan American Championships in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, September 3-11. This is the first international racquetball event since the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

The announcement of this decision is oddly written, as it states “The USA Racquetball Board of Directors brings the disappointing news that the United States will not be sending our U.S. Team to participate in the Pan American Racquetball Championships,” which makes it sound like the United States has made this decision. But the USAR Board made the decision.

They did so after the USAR Team Committee analyzed the situation, and made a recommendation to the Board to not send a team to Bolivia given the current travel conditions that are still being effected by the coronavirus pandemic. The decision is entirely reasonable, but weirdly presented.

Racquetball Canada is not planning on sending a team to Bolivia either, and reached that decision some time ago. They have yet to hold a National Championships since the pandemic began, although are planning to do so next month: September 16-19 in Brossard, Québec.

USAR still hopes to send a team to the International Racquetball Federation World Championships in Guatemala, October 29-November 6, and Racquetball Canada is also planning to send a team to Worlds.

Hopefully, the pandemic conditions will not prevent that event from going ahead with a full compliment of participating countries.

Follow the bouncing ball…..