Longoria wins twice at 2021 LPRT Christmas Classic

Paola Longoria won twice on Sunday at the 29th Annual Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic Pro-Am in Millersville, Maryland, where she defeated Maria Jose Vargas in the singles final, 15-13, 15-5, and then teamed up with Vargas to win the doubles title over Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1. The wins further confirm Longoria as the LPRT’s #1 player.

Longoria was up 7-1 in game one, but then found herself behind, as Vargas scored seven straight points to go up 8-7. That lead didn’t last long, as a Longoria forehand winner got her the serve back, and she scored three points to go up 11-8.

Longoria stayed ahead, but Vargas kept battling and tied the score at 13-13. They exchanged sideouts, and then Longoria was able to close out the game with two forehand pinch shot winners, 15-13.

They were close early in game two, tied at 3-3, and only a 1 point difference at 5-4, Longoria ahead. She extended that lead out to 14-4, and the writing was on the wall then. Vargas got a point back, but no more as Longoria won it 15-5.

Other divisions

The Christmas Classic was also a Tier 5 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event. Mario Mercado won the IRT division, as he was the beneficiary of a forfeit by Eduardo Portillo in the final. In the semi-finals, Mercado defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 7-15, 11-9, and Portillo beat Mauricio Zelada, 15-11, 15-0.

Mercado and Zelada took the doubles title with a win over Jacob Matthews and Brent Walters in the final, 15-11, 15-6. In the semis, Mercado and Zelada defeated Austin Cunningham and Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-8, while Matthews and Walters beat David Austin and Portillo, 15-13, 15-5.

With both LPRT and IRT players on hand, they also played pro mixed doubles with Herrera and Portillo winning the title by defeating Erika Manilla and Mercado, 15-9, 15-4, in the final. In the semi-finals, Herrera and Portillo beat Ben Bleyer and Masiel Rivera, 15-5, 15-3, while Manilla and Mercado needed a tie-breaker to defeat Kelani Lawrence and Jacob Matthews, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3.

The LPRT won’t be in action again until mid-February, when they go to Florida for the Vero Beach Open, February 17-19, 2022. If you missed any of the Christmas Classic action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

29th Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
December 10-12, 2021 - Millersville, Maryland

LPRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 15-5

LPRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

3) Paola Longoria & Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 10-15, 15-7, 11-1

IRT Singles - Final

3) Mario Mercado d. 1) Eduardo Portillo, forfeit

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Mauricio Zelada, 15-11, 15-0
3) Mario Mercado d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 7-15, 11-9

IRT Doubles - Final

1) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brent Walters, 15-11, 15-6

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 4) Austin Cunningham & Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-8
3) Jacob Matthews & Brent Walters d. 2) David Austin & Eduardo Portillo, 15-13, 15-5

Pro Mixed Doubles - Final

1) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Erika Manilla & Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-4

Pro Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Ben Bleyer & Masiel Rivera, 15-5, 15-3
2) Erika Manilla & Mario Mercado d. 6) Kelani Lawrence & Jacob Matthews, 12-15, 15-9, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….