Landa, Moscoso & Montoya into IRT semi-finals at 2022 US Open

Conrrado Moscoso, Alejandro Landa and Rodrigo Montoya have won the last three International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Singles World Championships, and on Friday they all took another step towards winning the biggest prize on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT): the US Open, as they won their respective quarterfinal matches at the 2022 US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Moscoso defeated IRT #3 Samuel Murray, 15-7, 15-2, and Landa eked out a victory over 4th seed Eduardo Portillo, 15-14, 15-10. Then Montoya defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-14, and he’ll face Landa in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Moscoso and Murray were close in the first game of their match, but after being tied at 6-6 Moscoso outscored Murray 24-3 in winning the match in two straight games.

The other quarterfinal match also involved a former IRF Men’s Singles World Champion in Rocky Carson, who's a five time World Champion. But on Friday he lost to Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 15-14. Parrilla will play Moscoso on Saturday.

The IRT semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 2:10 and 3:10 PM with the final Sunday at 1:10 PM.

You can watch the US Open IRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT YouTube channels or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

16) Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-13, 15-14
5) Alejandro Landa d. 4) Eduardo Portillo, 15-14, 15-10

6) Conrrado Moscoso d. 3) Samuel Murray, 15-7, 15-2
2) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Rocky Carson, 15-9, 15-14

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Alejandro Landa v. 16) Rodrigo Montoya - 3:10 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 6) Conrrado Moscoso - 2:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Longoria into semi-finals at US Open for 14th consecutive year

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and 10 time defending champion got a measure of revenge on 8th seed Brenda Laime by beating her, 15-1, 15-8, in the quarterfinals of the 2022 USA Racquetball US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Laime had upset Longoria in their last meeting at the LPRT at the Beach tournament earlier this month, but she couldn’t get a second win on Friday.

Longoria will play 5th seed Jessica Parrilla in the semifinals Saturday, as Parrilla upset 4th seed Natalia Mendez in three games, 7-15, 15-9, 11-6, in the quarterfinals.

On the other side of the draw, LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera beat 7th seed Carla Muñoz in two straight games, 15-5, 15-2, and will face 3rd seed Erika Manilla, who also won in two straight games, but by a much closer margin. She defeated 6th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-13, 15-14.

Longoria is also in the doubles final with Samantha Salas, as they beat Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-5, in the semi-finals Friday. Longoria and Salas led wire to wire, although Martinez and Rodriguez were close in game one, getting within a point at 6-5 and 9-8.

However, they didn’t score after that in game one. Then they didn’t score until Longoria and Salas were up 9-0 in game two. That put the writing on the wall, and Longoria and Salas finished off the game, 15-5, and the match in two straight games.

The win puts Longoria into the doubles final for an 8th consecutive year. In fact, she’s been in all of the LPRT US Open doubles finals. Salas has been her partner for five of those finals, and they have won it four times. Longoria has two wins with other partners (Veronica Sotomayor and Martinez) in years Salas was injured, so she's 6-1 in US Open doubles finals.

In the final, Longoria and Salas will face a new team in 3rd seeds Manilla and Mendez, who upset the 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-14, in the other semi-final. Manilla and Mendez had leads of 10-3 and 14-8 in game two, only to see Herrera and Parrilla come all the way back to tie it at 14-14 after Manilla skipped a shot to end a long rally.

However, Parrilla returned the favour on the next rally to end her team’s comeback. Herrera did hit a backhand winner on the first match point, but on the second, Manilla hit a forehand pinch winner to take the match in two straight games.

The LPRT singles semi-finals will be on Saturday at 10:10 AM and 1:10 PM and the final will be Sunday at 12:10 AM. The doubles final is 4:10 PM Saturday. All times Central.

You can watch the US Open LPRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Brenda  Laime, 15-1, 15-8
5) Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 7-15, 15-9, 11-7

3) Erika Manilla d. 6) Angelica Barrios, 15-13, 15-14
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 7) Carla Muñoz, 15-5, 15-2

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Jessica Parrilla - 1:10 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 3) Erika Manilla - 10:10 AM

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-5
3) Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez d. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-14

LPRT Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez - 4:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Bredenbecks upset Mar & Montoya in IRT Doubles quarterfinals at 2022 US Open

Brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, the 7th seeds, defeated 2nd seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-7, 15-10, in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) doubles quarterfinals Friday at the 2022 US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The win knocks out the former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Doubles World Champions. The Bredenbecks will play 3rd seeds Samuel Murray and Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals Saturday, as Murray and Parrilla beat Sebastian Franco and Eduardo Garay, 15-10, 15-4, on Friday.

Top seeds and current IRF Men’s Doubles World Champions Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa almost joined Mar and Montoya on the sidelines, as they were pushed to three games by the young team of Sebastian Fernandez and Adam Manilla, but eked out the win, 15-9, 13-15, 11-7. That sets up a rematch of this year’s World Championship final with Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso on Saturday, as Keller and Moscoso beat Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-4, Friday.

The Bredenbecks got off to a good start in game one versus Mar and Montoya, going up 8-1, and they kept the lead all game, although Mar and Montoya made it close at 9-7. But they wouldn’t get any more than that, as the Bredenbecks won it 15-7.

In game two, they were close early, and tied at 5-5. Mar and Montoya got the next five points to lead 10-5, and it looked like they would be playing a tie-breaking third game. So, the Bredenbecks called a timeout.

They got eight points on as many rallies to take the lead at 13-10, and at that point Mar and Montoya called a timeout. They got the serve back on the next rally, but were unable to score any points, as they were assessed a penalty hinder to go half down, and then Montoya skipped a backhand shot to give the brothers the serve back.

Jake Bredenbeck got his side to match point with a forehand pinch shot, and they won it when Montoya skipped a backhand shot to give the Bredenbecks their match winning point.

Franco and Garay actually led for much of game one against Murray and Parrilla, including at 3-0 and 10-5. But they got stuck there, as Murray and Parrilla scored ten unanswered points to comeback and win it, 15-10. Parrilla - playing the right side - hit high lob serves into the center of the court between his opponents, which proved to be an effective strategy.

Garay actually tried to use the same strategy in game two, but not with as much success. The teams were close early, but after being tied 3-3, Murray and Parrilla scored six points to lead 9-3 and went on to close it out 15-4, and win in two straight games.

The IRT doubles semi-finals will be Saturday at 11:10 AM and 12:10 PM with the final Saturday at 5:10 PM.

You can watch the US Open IRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT YouTube channels or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla, 15-9, 13-15, 11-7
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-4

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay, 15-10, 15-4
7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-7, 15-10

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso - 12:10 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 11:10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Montoya upsets De La Rosa in Round of 16 at US Open

Rodrigo Montoya defeated defending US Open champion Daniel De La Rosa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-9, in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round 16 at the 2022 US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The win almost guarantees a new man will be IRT US Open champion. Almost, because 2007 champion Rocky Carson is still alive in the draw, as he came back from a game down to defeat Adam Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5.

In the quarterfinals on Friday, Montoya will play Jake Bredenbeck, who was a winner over Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-12, and Carson will play IRT #2 Andree Parrilla, who beat Eduardo Garay, 15-9, 15-8.

The Montoya-De La Rosa tie-breaker started slowly. There were 11 sideouts at 1-1. De La Rosa broke the tie, and went up 5-1. He maintained that lead through 7-3 and 9-6 at which point Montoya called a timeout.

Montoya hit a great backhand pinch shot to get the serve back when play resumed, but then committed a penalty hinder as he moved forward as De La Rosa was swinging and was unintentionally hit by De La Rosa.

But Montoya got the serve back with another backhand winner, and then got four points on as many rallies. After the first three, which tied the game at 9-9, De La Rosa called a timeout. He’d gifted Montoya his 8th and 9th points with two skipped shots.

After the timeout, De La Rosa skipped another shot to put Montoya on match point at 10-9. A hinder was called at the point, though it seemed like a penalty hinder might have been called on Montoya. De La Rosa hit a forehand winner on the next rally so maybe the ball knew better.

De La Rosa’s joy was short lived though, as Montoya hit a backhand pinch winner on the next rally, and get his 3rd match point. That was enough, as De La Rosa tried to force a forehand shot that skipped. It wasn’t even clear what shot De La Rosa was attempting to hit.

The IRT singles quarterfinals start at 4:10 PM on Friday. The semi-finals will be Saturday afternoon at 2:10 and 3:10 PM with the final Sunday at 1:10 PM.

The IRT comeback of the day was Samuel Murray’s win over Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-3, 11-8, as Murray was down 7-0 in the tie-breaker, but still managed to pull out the victory.

You can watch the US Open IRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT YouTube channels or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

16) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 10-15, 15-14, 11-9
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-12

5) Alejandro Landa d. 12) Andés Acuña, 15-8, 15-9
4) Eduardo Portillo d. 13) Carlos Keller, 15-12, 15-13

3) Samuel Murray d. Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-3, 11-8
6) Conrrado Moscoso d. Diego Garcia, 15-9, 15-6

7) Rocky Carson d. 10) Adam Manilla, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 15) Eduardo Garay, 15-9, 15-8

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

8) Jake Bredenbeck v. 16) Rodrigo Montoya - 9:10 PM
4) Eduardo Portillo v. 5) Alejandro Landa - 4:10 PM

3) Samuel Murray v. 6) Conrrado Moscoso - 5:10 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Rocky Carson - 8:10 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada, 15-12, 15-6

5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-2, 15-5
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso d. 13) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins, forfeit

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla d. 14) Jordan Barth & John Goth, 15-7, 15-6
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay d. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-11, 15-12

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 10) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-5
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Charles Rankin & Paul Saraceno, 15-2, 15-6

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla - 1:10 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 10:10 AM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay - 11:10 AM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 12:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Top seeds all win in LPRT Round of 16 at 2022 US Open

All the higher seeds won in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Round of 16 at the 2022 USA Racquetball US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, but not all of them advanced easily. Three of the eight matches went breaker, and two others were doubles digits in both games.

Seventh seed Carla Muñoz had the biggest hurdle, as she lost the first game of her match against 10th seed Samantha Salas, but then rallied to win in three games, 8-15, 15-8, 11-7. In the other three game matches, the higher seeds lost game two.

Fifth seed Jessica Parrilla needed three games to get past 12th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 8-15, 11-7, and 8th seed Brenda Laime went the distance with 9th seed Kelani Lawrence, winning 15-7, 11-15, 11-5.

The Muñoz-Salas match was a slugfest, as both are power players, so they were trying to hammer the ball past each other. After dropping the first game, Muñoz went out to a big lead in game two at 11-2. But Salas dug in and made it interesting when she she got to 11-6, and 13-8. However, Muñoz held on to force a tie-breaker.

She carried the momentum over into the breaker, going up 7-1. But again Salas dug in, and this time came all the way back to tie the game at 7-7. The exchanged three side outs, and then with the serve back, Muñoz called a timeout.

When play resumed, she won the next two rallies with forehand shots from the left side to the right. Salas then called a timeout.

On the next rally, Muñoz had a chance to get to match point, but she skipped a forehand shot to give Salas the serve. But she made up for the error with a backhand cross court winner on the next rally to again serve at 9-7.

A backhand pinch shot made it 10-7. Then on the first match point, Salas hit a backhand shot that was high and came off the right side wall and back wall. Muñoz set up for a forehand shot, but misjudged where the ball was going. But in moving for the ball, she forced Salas to move to the left side, and then made an awkward forehand shot that pushed the ball into the front right corner for a winner.

Probably not a play she and her coach Cliff Swain had drawn up.

In the Laime versus Lawrence match, Lawrence had a lead in game two at 8-4 after losing game one, 15-7, but Laime came back to tie it at 9-9. Leading to a Lawrence timeout.

Lawrence got the serve back when Laime was assessed a penalty hinder, and she then scored two points to regain the lead at 11-9. After several sideouts, Laime was able to again tie the game at 11-11, and looked like she might win in two straight games.

However, Lawrence hit a forehand shot down the left side to get the serve back, and then hit a drive serve ace to the right side to lead 12-11. Three forehand winners later, and she’d won the game, 15-11, and forced a tie-breaker.

Unfortunately for Lawrence, the wheels came off her bus early the breaker, as Laime won the first five rallies to lead 5-0. Lawrence called timeout.

She got the serve back on the next rally, and scored a couple points, but still trailed Laime 5-2. Then Lawrence skipped a shot, and that led to five more points for Laime, and match point at 10-2.

But Lawrence dug in, and fought off match point three times, while scoring three points of her own to get within five at 10-5 down. However, when she skipped a forehand shot - an unforced error - to give Laime match point a fourth time, it was one time too many, as a Laime backhand into the front left corner ended the game at 11-5, and the match, 2-1, in favour of Laime.

Laime’s win sets up a rematch with LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, as Longoria beat 16th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-7, 15-2, Thursday. The two played in the last LPRT event in Maryland, where Laime handed Longoria her first loss in the quarterfinals since 2008.

You know that Longoria will not want to lose to Laime twice in a row.

The quarterfinals will be Friday afternoon followed by the semi-finals of doubles Friday night. The LPRT singles semi-finals will be on Saturday at 10:10 AM and 1:10 PM and the final will be Sunday at 12:10 AM. The doubles final is 4:10 PM Saturday. All times Central.

You can watch the US Open LPRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Cristina Amaya, 15-7, 15-2
8) Brenda  Laime d. 9) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 11-15, 11-5

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 8-15, 11-7
4) Natalia Mendez d. 13) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 15-14

3) Erika Manilla d. 19) Jenny Daza, 15-2, 15-0
6) Angelica Barrios d. 11) Hollie Scott, 15-13, 15-10

7) Carla Muñoz d. 10) Samantha Salas, 8-15, 15-8, 11-7
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-3, 15-3

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Brenda  Laime - 3:10 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 5) Jessica Parrilla - 2:10 PM

3) Erika Manilla v. 6) Angelica Barrios - 3:10 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 7) Carla Muñoz - 2:10 PM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza, 15-5, 15-4
Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 8:50 PM

Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez v. Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 8:50 PM
Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla v. Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses - 7:40 PM

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott or Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 7:10 PM
Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla or Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses v. Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez v. Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 6:10 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

IRT Round of 32 at 2022 US Open

There were two tie-breakers in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round 32 at the 2022 US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and both resulted in upsets. In one, Diego Garcia held on to defeat 11th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 10-15, 11-8, and in the other Eduardo Garay came back from a game down to defeat 15th seed Thomas Carter, 5-15, 15-12, 11-1.

In the Round of 16, Garcia will take on 6th seed Conrrado Moscoso, who was a straight game winner over Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-10, and Garay faces 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, who was a winner over Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-11, 15-11, in the 32s.

In the Battle of Minnesota, the fight was very one sided, as 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck beat qualifier Jordan Barth, 15-2, 15-2. In other matches that we thought would be closer than they turned out to be Andés Acuña defeated Mauricio Zelada, 15-3, 15-11, and Rocky Carson beat Edwin Galicia, 15-3, 15-5.

The IRT Round of 16 will be tonight, and all of the matches look very enticing.

You can watch the US Open IRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT YouTube channels or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-7, 15-8
16) Rodrigo Montoya v. Sebastian Fernandez, 15-8, 15-12

9) Mario Mercado v. Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-12, 15-6
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. Jordan Barth, 15-2, 15-2

5) Alejandro Landa d. Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-7
12) Andés Acuña d. Mauricio Zelada, 15-3, 15-11

13) Carlos Keller d. Erick Trujillo, 15-14, 15-7
4) Eduardo Portillo v. Christian Wer, 15-2, 15-7

3) Samuel Murray d. Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-2, 15-2
Javier Mar d. 14) Alvaro Beltran, 15-1, 15-0

Diego Garcia d. 11) Sebastian Franco, 15-6, 10-15, 11-8
6) Conrrado Moscoso d. Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-10

7) Rocky Carson d. Edwin Galicia, 15-3, 15-5
10) Adam Manilla d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-7, 15-8

Eduardo Garay d. 15) Thomas Carter, 5-15, 15-12, 11-1
2) Andree Parrilla d. Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-11, 15-11

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 16) Rodrigo Montoya - 7:40 PM
8) Jake Bredenbeck v. 9) Mario Mercado - 7:40 PM

5) Alejandro Landa v. 12) Andés Acuña - 8:50 PM
13) Carlos Keller v. 4) Eduardo Portillo - 7:40 PM

3) Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar - 8:50 PM
6) Conrrado Moscoso v. Diego Garcia - 8:50 PM

7) Rocky Carson v. 10) Adam Manilla - 6:30 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Eduardo Garay - 6:30 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 4:10 PM

5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon - 4:10 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 13) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins - 3 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 14) Jordan Barth & John Goth - 4:10 PM
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer - 5:20 PM

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 10) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller - 4:10 PM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 15) Charles Rankin & Paul Saraceno - 5:20

Follow the bouncing ball…..

LPRT Round of 32 at the 2022 US Open

The Round of 32 of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) at the 2022 USA Racquetball US Open at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis yielded two tie-breakers. In what will surely be one of the longest matches of the week, 19th seed Jenny Daza came back from a game down to defeat 14th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 14-15, 15-12, 11-8. Game one lasted over 30 min, so they were on court for well over an hour to get to the finish.

But the biggest comeback could belong to Sheryl Lotts, as the 15th seed, dropped game one against 18th seed Micaela Meneses, 8-15, but then stormed back to take game two, 15-0, and then the breaker, 11-5.

The Round of 16 will be this afternoon followed by the quarterfinals of doubles tonight. The LPRT quarterfinals will be Friday, with the semi-finals on Saturday and final on Sunday.

You can watch the US Open LPRT action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page.

2022 US Open - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
September 28-October 2, 2022

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Cristina Amaya d. 17) Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-12

9) Kelani Lawrence d. 24) Sunshine Arterburn, forfeit
8) Brenda  Laime d. 25) Annie Roberts, 15-9, 15-4

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 28) Lexi York, 15-9, 15-1
12) Valeria Centellas d. 21) Camila Rivero, 15-1, 15-5

13) Gabriela Martinez d. 20) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-1, 15-1
4) Natalia Mendez d. 29) Estefania Perez-Picon, 15-2, 15-1

3) Erika Manilla d. 30) Angela Ortega, 15-3, 15-6
19) Jenny Daza d. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 14-15, 15-12, 11-8

11) Hollie Scott d. 22) Adrienne Haynes, 15-1, 15-2
6) Angelica Barrios d. 27) Maricruz Ortiz, 15-4, 15-2

7) Carla Muñoz d. 26) Andrea Perez-Picon, 15-1, 15-0
10) Samantha Salas d. 23) Linda Tyler, 15-1, 15-4

15) Sheryl Lotts d. 18) Micaela Meneses, 8-15, 15-0, 11-5
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 31) Michèle Morissette, 15-3, 15-1

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Cristina Amaya - 6:30 PM
9) Kelani Lawrence v. 8) Brenda  Laime - 6:30 PM

5) Jessica Parrilla v. 12) Valeria Centellas - 3 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Gabriela Martinez - 3 PM

3) Erika Manilla v. 19) Jenny Daza - 4:10 PM
6) Angelica Barrios v. 11) Hollie Scott - 4:10 PM

7) Carla Muñoz v. 10) Samantha Salas - 5:20 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 15) Sheryl Lotts - 5:20 PM

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 7:40 PM
Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 8:50 PM

Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez v. Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 8:50 PM
Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla v. Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses - 7:40 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2022 US Open is underway!

The 2022 US Open is underway at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and Jordan Barth - playing in his home state and Diego Garcia - are the only two players won two matches in qualifying to get into the Round of 32 of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division. Barth defeated Juan Salvatierra in the 2nd round of qualifying to set up an all Minnesota battle with Jake Bredenbeck in the 32s. Garcia beat Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-8, and will play Sebastian Franco in the 32s Thursday.

Other IRT matches of interest in the 32s include two re-matches. In one, Andés Acuña plays Mauricio Zelada, who beat Acuña earlier this month in Maryland. In the other, veteran Rocky Carson takes on Edwin Galicia, and they played a close match at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships. Also, the 16/17 match tomorrow could be interesting, as Rodrigo Montoya faces Sebastian Fernandez.

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) just had doubles matches Wednesday. In the early matches, Michèle Morissette and Lexi York defeated the young team of Shane Diaz and Naomi Ros, 15-13, 15-4, but then lost in the evening to Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-8. Martinez and Rodriguez will play Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Also, Camila Rivero and Annie Roberts beat sisters Andrea Perez-Picon and Estefania Perez-Picon, 15-7, 15-6, and will play Brenda Laime and Carla Muñoz tonight.

In the evening matches, Valeria Centellas and Micaela Meneses defeated Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-12, 15-12, and will play Alexandra Herrera and Jessica Parrilla in the quarterfinals Thursday night.

Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza beat Nancy Enriquez and Sheryl Lotts, 15-14, 15-8, in what was a crazy match, but there were big comebacks in each game. Barrios and Daza were up 9-2 in game one, and then gave up 12 unanswered points to trail 14-9. Barrios hit a backhand return winner off a Enriquez drive serve to fight off game point and get the serve back. They then called a timeout.

When play resumed, Barrios and Daza got six straight points without yielding serve to win it 15-14. and make a comeback of their own to pull out game one. Daza got them to 14 with a shoulder high reverse pinch forehand shot, and she won it for them with a forehand cross court that Enriquez couldn't keep in play.

Then in game two, Enriquez and Lotts were up 8-2, yet lost, 15-8. They served three times, but couldn't score a point off Barrios and Daza. It's the kind of loss that will sting for awhile.

The LPRT will play two rounds of singles on Thursday, and then the quarterfinals of doubles. The IRT main Round of 32 will go on Thursday, as will the Round of 16 in doubles. As per tradition, the doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the singles finals on Sunday.

You can watch the US Open action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT and LPRT YouTube channels or their Facebook pages.

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday

Sebastian Fernandez - BYE
Jacob Kingsford d. Matias Arnez, 15-6, 15-12

Rodrigo Rodriguez - BYE
Felipe Camacho - BYE

Juan Salvatierra - BYE
Jordan Barth d. Samuel Kelley, 15-7, 15-14

James Black d. Troy Warigon, 10-15, 15-8, 11-6
Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE

Mauricio Zelada - BYE
Andrés Gómez d. Axel Barojas, 15-1, 15-7

Cole Sendrey - BYE
Jaime Martell - BYE

Christian Wer - BYE
Alejandro Cardona - BYE

John Behm d. Jhonatan Flores, forfeit
Erick Trujillo - BYE

Javier Mar - BYE
Jose Flores Jr. d. Cole Slamko, 15-10, 15-7

Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman - BYE
Joe Kelley - BYE

Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Ezequiel Subieta - BYE

Diego Garcia d. Michael Leduc, 15-7, 15-4
Robert Collins - BYE

Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Ferd Samson d. Charles Rankin, 12-15, 15-6, 11-3

Rodrigo Mendoza d. Rennie Dineros, 15-5, 15-2
Edwin Galicia - BYE

Maurice Miller - BYE
Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - BYE

Juan José Tapia Zúñiga d. Carlos Ramirez, 15-8, 15-9
Eduardo Garay - BYE

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday

Q1 - Sebastian Fernandez d. Jacob Kingsford, 15-1, 15-2
Q16 - Rodrigo Rodriguez d. Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 13-15, 11-5

Q9 - Jordan Barth d. Juan Salvatierra, 15-13, 15-3
Q8 - Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. James Black, 15-5, 15-2

Q5 - Mauricio Zelada d. Andrés Gómez, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3
Q12 - Jaime Martell d. Cole Sendrey, 15-4, 15-1

Q13 - Christian Wer d. Alejandro Cardona, forfeit
Q4 - Erick Trujillo d. John Behm, 15-9, 15-13

Q3 - Javier Mar d. Jose Flores Jr., 15-2, 15-2
Q14 - Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman d. Joe Kelley, 15-6, 8-15, 11-5

Q11 - Sam Bredenbeck d. Ezequiel Subieta, 15-11, 15-10
Q6 - Diego Garcia d. Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-8

Q7 - Kadim Carrasco d. Ferd Samson, 15-3, 15-3
Q10 - Edwin Galicia d. Rodrigo Mendoza, 15-12, 15-5

Q15 - Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. d. Maurice Miller, 15-9, 15-11
Q2: Eduardo Garay d. Juan José Tapia Zúñiga, 15-6, 15-1

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. Rodrigo Rodriguez - 1:50 PM
16) Rodrigo Montoya v. Sebastian Fernandez - 1:50 PM

9) Mario Mercado v. Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 1:50 PM
8) Jake Bredenbeck v. Jordan Barth - 1:50 PM

5) Alejandro Landa v. Jaime Martell - 10:20 AM
12) Andés Acuña v. Mauricio Zelada - 10:20 AM

13) Carlos Keller v. Erick Trujillo - 10:20 AM
4) Eduardo Portillo v. Christian Wer - 10:20 AM

3) Samuel Murray v. Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman - 11:30 AM
14) Alvaro Beltran v. Javier Mar - 11:30 AM

11) Sebastian Franco v. Diego Garcia - 11:30 AM
6) Conrrado Moscoso v. Sam Bredenbeck - 11:30 AM

7) Rocky Carson v. Edwin Galicia - 12:40 PM
10) Adam Manilla v. Kadim Carrasco - 12:40 PM

15) Thomas Carter v. Eduardo Garay - 12:40 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - 12:40 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 4:10 PM

5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon - 4:10 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 13) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins - 3 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 14) Jordan Barth & John Goth - 4:10 PM
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer - 5:20 PM

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 10) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller - 4:10 PM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 15) Charles Rankin & Paul Saraceno - 5:20

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Cristina Amaya v. 17) Nancy Enriquez - 1:50

9) Kelani Lawrence v. 24) Sunshine Arterburn - 1:50
8) Brenda  Laime v. 25) Annie Roberts - 1:50

5) Jessica Parrilla v. 28) Lexi York - 10:20
12) Valeria Centellas v. 21) Camila Rivero - 10:20

13) Gabriela Martinez v. 20) Maria Paz Riquelme - 10:20
4) Natalia Mendez v. 29) Estefania Perez-Picon - 10:20

3) Erika Manilla v. 30) Angela Ortega - 11:30
14) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 19) Jenny Daza - 11:30

11) Hollie Scott v. 22) Adrienne Haynes - 11:30
6) Angelica Barrios v. 27) Maricruz Ortiz - 11:30

7) Carla Muñoz v. 26) Andrea Perez-Picon - 12:40
10) Samantha Salas v. 23) Linda Tyler - 12:40

15) Sheryl Lotts v. 18) Micaela Meneses - 12:40
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 31) Michèle Morissette - 12:40

LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday

Michèle Morissette & Lexi York d. Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros, 15-13, 15-4
Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts d. Andrea Perez-Picon & Estefania Perez-Picon, 15-7, 15-6

Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday

Q1: Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. Michèle Morissette & Lexi York, 15-2, 15-8
Q4: Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza d. Nancy Enriquez & Sheryl Lotts, 15-14, 15-8

Q3: Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-12, 15-12
Q2: Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz v. Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts - 8:40 PM

Main Draw Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza - 7:40 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 8:50 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez v. Q2 - 8:50 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla v. Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses - 7:40 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2022 US Open IRT & LPRT Draws

The 2022 US Open begins tomorrow in Minneapolis, and we have all the draws for both the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) competitions in singles and doubles for you below. Play will begin Wednesday in singles for the IRT and in doubles for the LPRT.

The LPRT will play two rounds of singles on Thursday, and then the quarterfinals of doubles. The IRT main Round of 32 will go on Thursday, as will the Round of 16 in doubles.

As per tradition, the doubles finals will be Saturday afternoon with the singles finals on Sunday.

You can watch the US Open action from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis by going to the IRT and LPRT YouTube channels or their Facebook pages.

Note: all times are central.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday

Sebastian Fernandez - BYE
Matias Arnez v. Jacob Kingsford - 2:50 PM

Rodrigo Rodriguez - BYE
Felipe Camacho - BYE

Juan Salvatierra - BYE
Samuel Kelley v. Jordan Barth - 1:40 PM

Troy Warigon v. James Black - 11:20 AM
Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE

Mauricio Zelada - BYE
Andrés Gómez v. Axel Barojas - 10:10 AM

Cole Sendrey - BYE
Jaime Martell - BYE

Christian Wer - BYE
Alejandro Cardona - BYE

John Behm v. Jhonatan Flores - 10:10 AM
Erick Trujillo - BYE

Javier Mar - BYE
Jose Flores Jr. v. Cole Slamko - 11:20 AM

Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman - BYE
Joe Kelley - BYE

Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Ezequiel Subieta - BYE

Diego Garcia v. Michael Leduc - 11:20 AM
Robert Collins - BYE

Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Ferd Samson v. Charles Rankin - 12:50 PM

Rodrigo Mendoza v. Rennie Dineros - 12:50 PM
Edwin Galicia - BYE

Maurice Miller - BYE
Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - BYE

Carlos Ramirez v. Juan José Tapia Zúñiga - 12:30 PM
Eduardo Garay - BYE

IRT Singles - Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday

Q1 - Sebastian Fernandez v. Matias Arnez or Jacob Kingsford - 6:20 PM
Q16 - Rodrigo Rodriguez v. Felipe Camacho - 6:20 PM

Q9 - Juan Salvatierra v. Samuel Kelley or Jordan Barth - 6:20 PM
Q8 - Erick Cuevas Fernandez v. Troy Warigon or James Black - 4 PM

Q5 - Mauricio Zelada v. Andrés Gómez or Axel Barojas - 4 PM
Q12 - Jaime Martell v. Cole Sendrey - 2:50 PM

Q13 - Christian Wer v. Alejandro Cardona - 2:50 PM
Q4 - Erick Trujillo v. John Behm or Jhonatan Flores - 2:50 PM

Q3 - Javier Mar v. Jose Flores Jr. or Cole Slamko - 4 PM
Q14 - Joe Kelley v. Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman - 4 PM

Q11 - Sam Bredenbeck v. Ezequiel Subieta - 4 PM
Q6 - Robert Collins v. Diego Garcia or Michael Leduc - 4 PM

Q7 - Kadim Carrasco v. Ferd Samson or Charles Rankin - 5:10 PM
Q10 - Edwin Galicia v. Rodrigo Mendoza v. Rennie Dineros - 5:10 PM

Q15 - Maurice Miller v. Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - 5:10 PM
Eduardo Garay v. Carlos Ramirez or Juan José Tapia Zúñiga - 5:10 PM

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. Q16 - 1:50 PM
16) Rodrigo Montoya v. Q1 - 1:50 PM

9) Mario Mercado v. Q8 - 1:50 PM
8) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q9 - 1:50 PM

5) Alejandro Landa v. Q12 - 10:20 AM
12) Andés Acuña v. Q5 - 10:20 AM

13) Carlos Keller v. Q4 - 10:20 AM
4) Eduardo Portillo v. Q13 - 10:20 AM

3) Samuel Murray v. Q14 - 11:30 AM
14) Alvaro Beltran v. Q3 - 11:30 AM

11) Sebastian Franco v. Q6 - 11:30 AM
6) Conrrado Moscoso v. Q11 - 11:30 AM

7) Rocky Carson v. Q10 - 12:40 PM
10) Adam Manilla v. Q7 - 12:40 PM

15) Thomas Carter v. Q7 - 12:40 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. Q15 - 12:40 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 4:10 PM

5) Andés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon - 4:10 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 13) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins - 3 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 14) Jordan Barth & John Goth - 4:10 PM
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay v. 11) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer - 5:20 PM

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 10) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller - 4:10 PM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 15) Charles Rankin & Paul Saraceno - 5:20

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Cristina Amaya v. 17) Nancy Enriquez - 1:50

9) Kelani Lawrence v. 24) Sunshine Arterburn - 1:50
8) Brenda  Laime v. 25) Annie Roberts - 1:50

5) Jessica Parrilla v. 28) Lexi York - 10:20
12) Valeria Centellas v. 21) Camila Rivero - 10:20

13) Gabriela Martinez v. 20) Maria Paz Riquelme - 10:20
4) Natalia Mendez v. 29) Estefania Perez-Picon - 10:20

3) Erika Manilla v. 30) Angela Ortega - 11:30
14) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 19) Jenny Daza - 11:30

11) Hollie Scott v. 22) Adrienne Haynes - 11:30
6) Angelica Barrios v. 27) Maricruz Ortiz - 11:30

7) Carla Muñoz v. 26) Andrea Perez-Picon - 12:40
10) Samantha Salas v. 23) Linda Tyler - 12:40

15) Sheryl Lotts v. 18) Micaela Meneses - 12:40
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 31) Michèle Morissette - 12:40

LPRT Doubles - Qualifying Round 1 - Wednesday

Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros v. Michèle Morissette & Lexi York - 2:50 PM
Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts v. Andrea Perez-Picon & Estefania Perez-Picon - 2:50 PM

Qualifying Round 2 - Wednesday

Q1: Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. Shane Diaz & Naomi Ros or Michèle Morissette & Lexi York - 8:40 PM
Q4: Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza v. Nancy Enriquez & Sheryl Lotts - 7:30 PM

Q3: Valeria Centellas & Micaela Meneses v. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 6:20 PM
Q2: Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz v. either Camila Rivero & Annie Roberts or Andrea Perez-Picon & Estefania Perez-Picon - 8:40 PM

Main Draw Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. Q4 - 7:40 PM
Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. Q1 - 8:50 PM

Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez v. Q2 - 8:50 PM
Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla v. Q3 - 7:40 PM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2022 US Open Preview

The 2022 US Open begins in Minneapolis Wednesday, and it might be the most anticipated US Open ever. Most anticipated because this will be the first US Open without Doug Ganim as tournament director. That responsibility now falls to Connor Shane, the USA Racquetball’s Director of National Events.

The concern about this change is evident from the racquetball community is evident in the fact that participation is down for the event. A little under 400 people are registered to play in Minneapolis, which is about 300 fewer than its had in recent years. That may not be directly related to the change in tournament director, as to the change in venue.

The US Open has been in Minneapolis since 2010, but this will be the first year that the University of Minnesota will be the venue. Previously, it was held at the LifeTime Fitness location under the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, and featured a show court that allowed viewing through all four walls. It was a special court that provided some rare views to the action. It was used this year in Birmingham, Alabama at the 2022 World Games, but will not be used at the US Open.

There are advantages to the University of Minnesota. There are two show courts that are side wall and back wall glass, and there are 12 courts. There were 9 - including the show court - at the LifeTime Target Center location, so two other facilities were needed to handle all the US Open matches. One other facility will be used this week.

A true Grand Slam

Regardless of the off court changes, what will be the same is the quality of play on court, as the top players from both the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) will be in Minneapolis to contest the most prestigious prize in pro racquetball. Those contests could be the most interesting in some time.

Paola Longoria - the LPRT’s #1 player - is the 10 time defending US Open champion (11 time winner overall), and she’s the favourite to win again. However, she comes in having lost her last LPRT match, and has only won three of her last six LPRT events. Winning half the pro events a player entered would be a great record for most players, but Longoria has gone through some seasons undefeated, so it’s surprisingly off her standard.

That does speak to the quality of players now on the LPRT. There are several players who have a chance to win this week, including Alexandra Herrera, the LPRT #2, and a three time winner on tour after winning in Maryland earlier this month. Gabriela Martinez has also won an LPRT event, and Angelica Barrios is the current Pan American Champion, and they are both real threats to win their 1st US Open.

Last year, Daniel De La Rosa won his 1st US Open. That win helped him become the #1 player on the IRT, so he’s a real threat to win again. But as on the women’s side, De La Rosa may be the favourite to win again, but there are other possibilities.

Among the possibilities are Conrrado Moscoso, who was in the final in 2019 and is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men’s Singles, Andree Parrilla and Alejandro Landa, who are both multiple IRT winners, as well as Samuel Murray and Eduardo Portillo, who each have one IRT title under their belts.

No one has won more US Opens than Kane Waselenchuk - 15 total and 12 straight from 2008 to 2019. He’s 41 years old now - turning 42 in November, and was entered in the field this year, but he suffered what looked like a significant injury to his right leg just two weeks ago at the last IRT event. Waselenchuk is now not in the field, presumably due to that injury.

They will also play doubles in Minneapolis, and those matches should also be great. The Mexican teams of Longoria and Samantha Salas on the women’s side, and De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran on the men’s side - are the defending champions, respectively, and both won their respective divisions at the IRF World Championships in August. Thus, they are clearly the teams to beat.

However, there are teams that could beat them. On the men’s side, two teams that could win it are Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya - the 2021 IRF World Champions, and Moscoso and Roland Keller, who were the finalists at Worlds against Beltran and De La Rosa this year, losing in a fifth game tie-breaker.

On the women’s side, Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott won their first LPRT doubles title earlier this month, and Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez have also been a successful team over the years. We think that Herrera will play with Jessica Parrilla, which also makes for a strong team.

Curiously, Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, who were two points from winning Worlds this year against Longoria and Salas, are not playing together. We would have thought they’d want to continue to play together given how close they were to a World Championship. Yet Centellas is playing with Micaela Meneses, and Mendez is playing with Erika Manilla.

All in all, this year’s US Open has the makings of a great event, which will continue the tradition of great racquetball events that was established over the first 25 US Opens.

We’re looking forward to it.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Portillo gets 1st IRT title by winning 2022 IRT Capitol Classic

Eduardo Portillo defeated Javier Mar, 15-7, 15-3, in the final of the 2022 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Capitol Classic in Millersville, Maryland, ending Mar’s nice run through the field. Portillo is the 43rd player to win an IRT event, and the first since Mario Mercado in November of 2021. He’s fifth Mexican born player to win on the IRT, joining Alvaro Beltran, Daniel De La Rosa, Alejandro Landa and Andree Parrilla.

It was a battle of two tall players, who are primarily shooters. They are also both unafraid to throw themselves around the court in an effort to keep the ball in play.

They were close early in game one, and Mar had leads at 3-1 and 5-3. But he would only get five more points in the match after those initial five points in game one.

The difference between the two players was simple: Portillo killed more balls. Too many of Mar’s shots were up, giving Portillo another opportunity, while Portillo - in similar situations - was putting the ball down, making it difficult - if not impossible - for Mar to get to it.

Portillo was playing his third IRT final, while Mar was in a final for the first time. Mar has played in big matches, but usually in doubles. He’s a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men’s Doubles, winning that title in 2021 with Rodrigo Montoya. But being alone in a final can be different than being with a partner in a final.

Portillo’s first time win goes along with the first time doubles win of Jake Bredembeck and Adam Manilla, who won doubles on Saturday by beating Portillo and Andés Acuña. These results - coupled with the upsets that happened earlier in the weekend - bode well for an interesting US Open, which gets underway in a week and a half in Minneapolis.

If you missed any of the action from the 2022 IRT Capitol Classic, check out the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.

2022 IRT Capital Classic, September 15-18, 2022
Millersville, Maryland

Final - Sunday

6) Eduardo Portillo d. 17) Javier Mar, 15-7, 15-3

Doubles - Final - Saturday

8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 15-5, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mar into 1st IRT final, Bredenbeck & Manilla win doubles at 2022 IRT Capitol Classic

The clock has still not struck midnight on Javier Mar’s run at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Capitol Classic in Millersville, Maryland, as he knocked off another higher ranked player on Saturday in the semi-finals, beating 4th seed Samuel Murray, 15-13, 15-13. The win puts Mar into his first IRT final, and he was playing his first semi-final.

Mar will play 6th seed Eduardo Portillo in the final, as Portillo got a win over 2nd seed Kane Waselenchuk after Waselenchuk was forced to default their match early in game one. Portillo had scored the first two points of the match, but Waselenchuk had got the serve back, and drove serve down the left side. Portillo returned the ball down the left side, and Waselenchuk pushed off with his right leg to go get the ball.

But he never got there.

Waselenchuk started hobbling in the service box, and grabbed at the back of his right leg near his ankle. He did a few hops towards the door before going down on all fours. Waselechuk was able to gingerly leave the court, but he quickly decided that he was not going to be able to continue.

Initial reports on the injury are speculative. It seems like it could be a calf injury or perhaps some achilles tendon damage. The question is whether the injury is severe enough to call Waselenchuk’s participation in the US Open into question. The US Open begins on September 28 in Minneapolis. Waselenchuk is the most successful player in US Open history, winning the event a record 15 times.

Doubles

Upsets have been on order throughout the weekend, so it was no surprise that there would be another upset in the doubles final, as 8th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Adam Manilla beat 5th seeds Andrés Acuña and Portillo, 15-5, 15-11.

Bredenbeck and Manilla were also upset winners in the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, when they knocked off 3rd seeds Samuel Murray and Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 4-15, 11-3.In the other semi, Acuña and Portillo defeated 9th seeds Mario Mercado and Mauricio Zelada, 15-4, 15-11.

You can see the 2022 IRT Capitol Classic final via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles final will be at noon Eastern on Sunday.

2022 IRT Capital Classic, September 15-18, 2022
Millersville, Maryland

Semi-finals - Saturday

Javier Mar d. 4) Samuel Murray, 15-13, 15-13
6) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Kane Waselenchuk, 2-0, injury forfeit

Final - Sunday

6) Eduardo Portillo v. Javier Mar - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada, 15-4, 15-11
8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 4-15, 11-3

Doubles - Final - Saturday

8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 15-5, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mar into 1st semi-final at 2022 IRT Capitol Classic

Four quarterfinals and two more upsets at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Capitol Classic in Millersville, Maryland on Saturday. Javier Mar’s glass slipper is still intact, as the 17th seed beat 8th seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-7, 15-8, to reach the semi-finals for the 1st time in his career.

In the semis, Mar will play Samuel Murray, who defeated Conrrado Moscoso, the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion, 15-11, 15-4. Murray and Mar have split their previous two meetings on the IRT.

Sixth seed Eduardo Portillo had the other quarterfinal upset, as he defeated a former IRF World Champion in Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 15-8. It was Portillo’s 2nd win versus Landa in five meetings. He’ll be in his 7th IRT semi-final, and 2nd in 2022.

Kane Waselenchuk will be Portillo’s semi-final opponent, as Waselenchuk beat Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-7, in an all lefthander battle. Waselenchuk, a former IRT #1 player, is 4-0 against Portillo.

You can see the 2022 IRT Capitol Classic matches via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles semi-finals will be at 6 and 7 Saturday night, and the final at noon Sunday. The doubles semi-finals will be at 3 & 4 PM Saturday, and the final Saturday night at 8 PM. All times Eastern.

2022 IRT Capital Classic, September 15-18, 2022
Millersville, Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday

Javier Mar d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-7, 15-8
4) Samuel Murray d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-11, 15-4

6) Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 15-8
2) Kane Waselenchuk d. 10) Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-7

Quarterfinals - Saturday

4) Samuel Murray v. Javier Mar - 6 PM
2) Kane Waselenchuk v. 6) Eduardo Portillo - 7 PM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 4 PM
3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mar beats Parrilla in Round of 16 at 2022 IRT Capitol Classic

Javier Mar knocked off the top seed, Andree Parrilla, 15-10, 15-11, in the Round of 16 Friday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Capitol Classic in Millersville, Maryland to set up a quarterfinal match with Jake Bredenbeck on Saturday morning. Bredenbeck, the 8th seed, defeated 9th seed Sebastian Franco, 15-14, 15-7, on Friday.

The closest match in the 16s was between two former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions, as the 2021 champion, Alejandro Landa, took on the 2018 champion, Rodrigo Montoya. They split the first two games, and then played a very close tie-breaker that had match point opportunities for each player. Eventually, Landa closed it out, winning 15-7, 8-15, 11-10, on his 6th match point chance.

Landa will play 6th seed Eduardo Portillo in the quarters, as Portillo defeated Mauricio Zelada, 15-8, 15-14, in the 16s.

Elsewhere, current IRF World Champion Conrrado Moscoso defeated fellow Bolivian Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-14, and will play Canadian Samuel Murray in the quarterfinals, as Murray beat veteran Alvaro Beltran, 15-2, 15-0, in the Round of 16.

Finally, 2nd seed Kane Waselenchuk will face another lefthander in the quarterfinals, when he takes on 10th seed Adam Manilla. Waselenchuk - a lefthand player, beat a fellow lefty Thomas Carter, 15-10, 15-2, in the 16s, while Manilla defeated 7th seed Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-6.

Upsets were the order of the day in doubles, as three of the quarterfinal matches were won by the lower seeded team, and the top two seeds went out. The giant killers were 9th seeds Mario Mercado and Mauricio Zelada, who held off the top seeds Alvaro Beltran and Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 9-15, 11-4. They’ll play the 5th seeds Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo, who also won in a tie-breaker against 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, 1-15, 15-14, 11-9. Beltran, Keller and Moscoso were in the Men’s Doubles final at the IRF World Championships last month, but they won’t even be in the semi-finals this weekend.

Of the top four seeds only 3rd seeds Samuel Murray and Andree Parrilla, who are a new team, avoided upset by beating 6th seeds Sebastian Franco and Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-2. Murray and Parrilla will face the righty-lefty team of Jake Bredenbeck and Adam Manilla in the semis Saturday, as Bredenbeck and Manilla, the 8th seeds, came back from a game down to defeat the 2nd seeds and former IRF Men’s Doubles World Champions Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 9-15, 15-10, 11-1.

You can see the 2022 IRT Capitol Classic matches via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles quarterfinals begin at 10 AM Saturday morning with the semi-finals at 6 and 7 Saturday night. The final will be at noon Sunday. The doubles semi-finals will be at 3 & 4 PM Saturday, and the final Saturday night at 8 PM. All times Eastern.

2022 IRT Capital Classic, September 15-18, 2022
Millersville, Maryland

Round of 16 - Friday

Javier Mar d. 1) Andree Parrilla, 15-10, 15-11
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Sebastian Franco, 15-14, 15-7

5) Conrrado Moscoso d. 12) Carlos Keller, 15-10, 15-14
4) Samuel Murray d. 13) Alvaro Beltran, 15-2, 15-0

3) Alejandro Landa d. 14) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-7, 8-15, 11-10
6) Eduardo Portillo d. Mauricio Zelada, 15-8, 15-14

10) Adam Manilla d. 7) Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-6
2) Kane Waselenchuk d. 15) Thomas Carter, 15-10, 15-2

Quarterfinals - Saturday

8) Jake Bredenbeck v. Javier Mar - 11 AM
4) Samuel Murray v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso - 10 AM

3) Alejandro Landa v. 6) Eduardo Portillo - 1 PM
2) Kane Waselenchuk v. 10) Adam Manilla - Noon

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 1) Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 9-15, 11-4
5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso, 1-15, 15-14, 11-9

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla d. 6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay, 15-11, 15-2
8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 9-15, 15-10, 11-1

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 9) Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 4 PM
3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Zelada upsets Acuña at 2022 IRT Capitol Classic

Mauricio Zelada caused the first big upset Friday at the Capitol Classic on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in Millersville, Maryland, as he defeated 11th seed Andrés Acuña, 15-13, 15-12, in the Round of 32. Acuña had an excellent summer, winning gold at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in July, and bronze at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

But Zelada has cast a shadow over Acuña’s autumn.

Andree Parrilla is the top seed in Maryland this weekend, as IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa is not in the draw. Second seed is Kane Waselenchuk with Alejandro Landa 3rd seed and Samuel Murray 4th.

Parrilla will play Javier Mar in the 16s, as Mar defeated Eduardo Garay, 15-5, 15-5, in the Round of 32 Friday. Waselenchuk will play fellow left-hander Thomas Carter, who beat Kyle Ulliman, 15-9, 15-11.

Also, in a battle of two former IRF Men’s Singles World Champions, Landa will play Rodrigo Montoya in the 16s, and Murray will play veteran Alvaro Beltran. Montoya beat Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-1, in the 32s, and Beltran eked out a win over Kadim Carrasco, 15-12, 15-14.

They are also playing doubles in Maryland, and the top seeds are Beltran and Landa with Mar and Montoya as the 2nd seeds. Beltran usually partners with De La Rosa, and they won Worlds for the 2nd time last month. We’re not sure if Beltran and Landa have played together before. Mar and Montoya is a long time partnership, and won Worlds together last year.

The 4th seeds in doubles were the runners up at Worlds this year: Roland Keller and Moscoso, but the 3rd seeded team of Samuel Murray and Andree Parrilla is a new one. Murray and Parrilla are entered in the US Open together, so this weekend will be a tune up for them.

With such high quality teams - not to mention Acuña and Portillo, and Jake Bredenbeck and Adam Manilla - the doubles competition will be excellent.

You can see the 2022 IRT Capitol Classic matches via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Play continues Thursday afternoon with the Round of 16 from 4 PM on. They’ll play the quarterfinals from 10 AM Saturday morning with the semi-finals at 6 and 7 Saturday night. The final will be at noon Sunday. All times Eastern.

2022 IRT Capital Classic, September 15-18, 2022
Millersville, Maryland

Round of 128 - Thursday

Javier Mar - BYE
Roland Keller d. David Austin, forfeit

Jim Douglas d. Stacey Young, 14-15, 15-12, 11-9
Joe Kelley - BYE

Alan Natera - BYE
Victor Migliore d. Eridson Lopez, 15-3, 15-4

Cole Sendrey d. Troy Moore, 15-1, 15-5
Kadim Carrasco - BYE

Robert Collines - BYE
John Behm d. Samuel Kelley, 2-15, 15-7, 11-4

Juan Pablo Rodriguez d. Josue Perdomo, 15-8, 15-7
Mauricio Zelada - BYE

Jaime Martell - BYE
Dylan Pruitt d. Abraham Mercado, 15-8, 15-7

Kyle Ulliman d. Ben Bleyer, 12-15, 15-5, 11-10
Absent

Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1 - Javier Mar d. Roland Keller, 15-7, 15-8
Q8 - Joe Kelley d. Jim Douglas, 15-2, 15-3

Q5 - Alan Natera d. Victor Migliore, 15-12, 15-6
Q4 - Kadim Carrasco d. Cole Sendrey, 15-5, 15-6

Q3 - Robert Collins d. John Behm, 15-5, 15-12
Q6 - Mauricio Zelada d. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, forfeit

Q7 - Jaime Martell d. Dylan Pruitt, 15-5, 15-5 =
Q2 - Kyle Ulliman - BYE

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Andree Parrilla - BYE
Javier Mar d. 16) Eduardo Garay, 15-5, 15-5

9) Sebastian Franco d. Joe Kelley, 15-8, 15-6
8) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
12) Carlos Keller d. Alan Natera, 15-7, 15-5

13) Alvaro Beltran d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-12, 15-14
4) Samuel Murray - BYE

3) Alejandro Landa - BYE
14) Rodrigo Montoya d. Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-1

Mauricio Zelada d. 11) Andres Acuña, 15-13, 15-12
6) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

7) Mario Mercado - BYE
10) Adam Manilla d. Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-8

15) Thomas Carter d. Kyle Ulliman, 15-9, 15-11
2) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Andree Parrilla v. Javier Mar - 6 PM
8) Jake Bredenbeck v. 9) Sebastian Franco - 6 PM

5) Conrrado Moscoso v. 12) Carlos Keller - 6 PM
4) Samuel Murray v. 13) Alvaro Beltran - 5 PM

3) Alejandro Landa v. 14) Rodrigo Montoya - 5 PM
6) Eduardo Portillo v. Mauricio Zelada - 4 PM

7) Mario Mercado v. 10) Adam Manilla - 4 PM
2) Kane Waselenchuk v. 15) Thomas Carter - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa - BYE
Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada d. 8) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller, 10-15, 15-13, 11-3

5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Victor Migliore & Kyle Ulliman, 15-5, 15-11
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso v. 13) Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley - 1 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla - BYE
6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay d. 11) Ben Bleyer & Dylan Pruitt, 15-2, 15-8

8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 10) Maurice Miller & Troy Warigon, 15-6, 15-4
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa v. Mario Mercado & Mauricio Zelada - 9 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso or 13) Joe Kelley & Samuel Kelley v. 5) Andres Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 9 PM

3) Samuel Murray & Andree Parrilla v. 6) Sebastian Franco & Eduardo Garay - 8 PM
2) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Herrera, Lawrence & Scott winners at 2022 LPRT at the Beach tournament

Alexandra Herrera broke Brenda Laime’s glass slipper in the final of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) by defeating her, 15-7, 15-12, to win the 2022 LPRT at the Beach tournament presented by INVICTA in Chesapeake, Virginia. Laime, the 8th seed, was in her first career LPRT final having beaten both LPRT #1 Paola Longoria and #6 Erika Manilla on Friday, but Herrera, the LPRT’s #2 player, proved to be one hurdle too many for Laime.

Herrera got a jump start in the final, going up 5-0, and you thought maybe the moment was too big for Laime. However, she showed that was not the case by coming back and taking a lead at 7-6. However, Herrera shut the door on her opponent from there, tying the game at 7-7 and then going on to win game one 15-7.

In game two, the players were close all the way, with the lead switching back and forth. Laime actually led late in the game at 12-9, and looked like she was going to force a tie-breaker. However, Herrera again held her opponent scoreless as she came back, and scored six unanswered points to win the game, 15-12, and the match in two straight games. The win is Herrera's 3rd on tour to go with two she won last season.

Despite the loss, Laime clearly had a breakout tournament, reaching her 1st final and beating Longoria along the way. She’s more of an all round player than a shooter or a power player. Laime does counter punch well, using good hands play to use her opponents’ power against them or turning their loose shots into winners. Also, she hustles around the court very well, and is happy to dive for a ball if that’s what’s needed to keep the rally going.

Doubles

Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott won their first LPRT Doubles title by beating Valeria Centellas and Paola Longoria in the final Saturday, 15-1, 15-12. Thus, Longoria - the LPRT’s #1 player - will leave Virginia without a title in singles or doubles. That doesn’t happen very often, although it did once last year, when Herrera defeated Longoria in singles at the Vero Beach Open and then Herrera and Montserrat Mejia beat Longoria and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the doubles final.

After winning the first game comfortably, Lawrence - playing on her home courts this weekend - and Scott also started well in game two, going up 5-1 and 10-4. However, Longoria and Centellas are both World Champion doubles players, so they were not going to be brushed aside that easily.

Indeed, Longoria and Centellas came back and tied the score at 11-11, and then took a small lead at 12-11. Scott hit a backhand pinch shot to tie it at 12-12, and they got to match point as Longoria skipped two shots on back to back rallies. So she called a timeout.

When play resumed, Scott skipped a backhand that gave the serve back to Centellas and Longoria. But winners by Scott and Lawrence got them the serve back and their second match point opportunity. Longoria hit a forehand cross court winner to keep the game going, and Scott skipped a shot on the following rally, which put Centellas and Longoria back in the service box.

But again, they couldn’t score, and again it was one winner by each of the American players who denied Centellas and Longoria any points. After Scott’s forehand winner, she and Lawrence called a timeout prior to serving for the match for a fourth time at 14-12.

Centellas hit a forehand winner of her own to deny Lawrence and Scott their fourth match point. But on the fifth one, Scott drove serve to the left side, and Longoria returned it to the ceiling. The ball set up in the back court, and Scott hit a backhand pinch shot for the match winner.

If you missed any of the action from Chesapeake, you can check it out via the LPRT YouTube channel. The next LPRT event will be the US Open in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 28-October 2.

2022 LPRT at the Beach presented by INVICTA, September 8-11, 2022
Chesapeake, Virginia

Final - Saturday

2) Alexandra Herrera d. 8) Brenda Laime, 15-7, 15-12

Doubles - Final - Saturday

4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Paola Longoria, 15-1, 15-12

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla, 5-15, 15-8, 11-6
2) Valeria Centellas & Paola Longoria d. 6) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz, 15-11, 8-15, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Laime into 1st LPRT final at the 2022 LPRT at the Beach tournament

Brenda Laime is into her 1st career Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) final, as she came back to defeat 4th seed Erika Manilla, 3-15, 15-9, 11-9, in the semi-finals of the LPRT at the Beach presented by INVICTA tournament in Chesapeake, Virginia Friday. Laime will face LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera in the final Saturday, as Herrera beat 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-6, 15-7, in the other semi-final.

Manilla was on fire in the first game against Laime, playing fast, and taking 13-0 lead before Laime got on the board. But after dropping game one, Laime found her groove in game two, and was able to force Manilla into a tie-breaker by winning game two, 15-9.

In the breaker, they were close - never separated by more than three points, and Manilla led late at 9-6. But she wouldn’t score another point.

There was a bit of controversy at 9-9, as the referee called a hinder, when Manilla believed it should have been an avoidable hinder, as there was some contact as she was taking her backswing. The situation was similar to what happened late in the tie-breaker earlier in the day between Laime and Paola Longoria, which did result in an avoidable for Longoria.

But here the referee stuck with her initial call of a hinder, and there were no line judges for the match for Manilla to appeal to.

On the ensuing play, Laime hit a backhand lob serve to the right side, and Manilla took the return early, skipping the ball to put her opponent on match point at 10-9, which was Laime's first lead of the game. Manilla shouted for a timeout, clearly still frustrated by the hinder call.

When play resumed, Laime again hit a backhand lob serve, though this time down the left side, which is a glass side wall. Manilla tried to shoot the ball on the return, and skipped the shot. Thus, Laime won the breaker 11-9, and the match, two games to one.

In the other semi-final, Herrera and Muñoz were close in game one, and actually tied at 6-6. Then Herrera ran 9 unanswered points to win it 15-6. Game two had a similar storyline: close early, and then Herrera took over, and won the match in two relatively comfortable games.

Laime and Manilla also faced off in doubles, with Laime again coming out on top. She and Muñoz defeated Manilla and Natalia Mendez, 15-4, 15-13. They’ll play top seeds Herrera and Jessica Parrilla in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In Friday’s other doubles match, Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott came back to beat Cristina Amaya and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 8-15, 15-3, 11-1. Lawrence and Scott will play 2nd seeds are Valeria Centellas and Paola Longoria in the other semi Saturday.

You can watch the action from Chesapeake live via the LPRT YouTube channel. The singles final is 5 PM Saturday. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final at 6 PM. All times EDT.

2022 LPRT at the Beach presented by INVICTA, September 8-11, 2022
Chesapeake, Virginia

Semi-finals - Friday

8) Brenda Laime d. 4) Erika Manilla, 3-15, 15-9, 11-9
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 15-6, 15-7

Final - Saturday

2) Alexandra Herrera v. 8) Brenda Laime - 5 PM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 8-15, 15-3, 11-1

6) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz d. 3) Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez, 15-4, 15-13
2) Valeria Centellas & Paola Longoria - BYE

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla v. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - Noon
2) Valeria Centellas & Paola Longoria v. 6) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Laime upsets Longoria in QFs at the 2022 LPRT at the Beach tournament

For the first time since February 2008, Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) lost in the quarterfinals, as she was beaten by 8th seed Brenda Laime, 15-11, 13-15, 11-10, at the LPRT at the Beach event in Chesapeake, Virginia Friday. Laime has caused big upsets before, as she defeated the #2 player twice last season (once versus Montserrat Mejia & once versus Alexandra Herrera), but this is her first win over Longoria.

Laime led for much of the tie-breaker, including at 9-6. But Longoria tied it, when an avoidable hinder was called against Laime, as the referee deemed there was contact on Longoria’s backswing. The line judges agree with the referee’s call, which was a generous one at best.

In real time, it didn’t even look like a hinder. Slowing it down in replay, and it looks like Longoria is moving into Laime more than Laime is getting in Longoria’s way.

On the next rally, Longoria drive serves to the left side, and Laime skips her backhand return, putting Longoria on match point at 10-9. When Longoria has a open forehand set up, you thought “well, this is over,” and Longoria will have found a way through this difficulty.

But Longoria skipped that shot!

Longoria got an open forehand reverse pinch shot - one of her favourite shots to hit - on the next rally, and she skipped that!

You’d be hard pressed to find back to back unforced errors by Longoria in any game over the last decade, which is part of why she’s #1. But it happened today, and the second one gave Laime match point, serving 10-10.

On that rally, Laime drove serve to the right, and they exchanged shots until Longoria tried to hit an around the wall ball that fell into the front court allowing Laime a chance to hit a forehand winner, which she did, passing the ball wide to the right side to complete the upset.

The other three quarterfinal matches also featured at least one game that was decided by one point, and two of the match deciding games were decided by one. LPRT #2 Alexandra Herrera actually had two one point games versus 7th seed Kelani Lawrence, winning 15-14, 15-14. It didn’t look like that match would be over in two games when Lawrence was up 14-8 in game two, but Herrera - a two time winner on the LPRT - dug in and got it done in two.

In the other matches, 4th seed Erika Manilla came back from a game down to defeat 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-2, 11-3, and 6th seed Carla Muñoz upset 3rd seed Natalia Mendez, 15-11, 15-14. Manilla will play Laime in one semi-final, while Herrera takes on Muñoz in the other.

There are only six teams in doubles, but five of those teams are new, which should make for some interesting matches. We think only Lawrence and Hollie Scott have played together before.

The top seeds are Herrera and Parrilla, who will take on the winner of Lawrence and Scott versus Cristina Amaya and Maria Renee Rodriguez. The 2nd seeds are Valeria Centellas and Longoria, who’ll play the winner of Manilla and Mendez versus Laime and Muñoz.

You can watch the action from Chesapeake live via the LPRT YouTube channel. The singles semi-finals are at 4 and 5 PM Friday with the final at 5 PM Saturday. The doubles quarterfinals are 6 and 7 PM Friday with the semis Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the final at 6 PM. All times EDT.

2022 LPRT at the Beach presented by INVICTA, September 8-11, 2022
Chesapeake, Virginia

Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Linda Tyler d. 16) Laura Bradt, 15-14, 15-5

9) Hollie Scott - BYE
8) Brenda Laime - BYE

5) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
12) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

13) Cristina Amaya - BYE
4) Erika Manilla - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez - BYE
14) Stephanie Synhorst - BYE

11) Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE

7) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
10) Valeria Centellas - BYE

15) Sunshine Arterburn - BYE
2) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Linda Tyler, 15-1, 15-2
8) Brenda Laime d. 9) Hollie Scott, 15-3, 15-9

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Sheryl Lotts, 15-9, 15-11
4) Erika Manilla d. 13) Cristina Amaya, 9-15, 15-6, 11-5

3) Natalia Mendez d. 14) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-5, 15-3
6) Carla Muñoz d. 11) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-5, 15, 12

7) Kelani Lawrence d. 10) Valeria Centellas, 13-15, 15-8, 11-3
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 15) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-0, 15-0

Quarterfinals - Friday

8) Brenda Laime d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-11, 13-15, 11-10
4) Erika Manilla d. 5) Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-2, 11-3

6) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Natalia Mendez, 15-11, 15-14
2) Alexandra Herrera d. 7) Kelani Lawrence, 15-14, 15-14

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Erika Manilla v. 8) Brenda Laime - 5 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera v. 6) Carla Muñoz - 4 PM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 7 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Natalia Mendez d. 6) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Paola Longoria - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….