Sunday, April 30, 2023

Longoria defeats Laime to win 2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo

Paola Longoria defeated Brenda Laime, 15-7, 15-3, to win the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday. Longoria’s win helps her in the race to be #1 at the end of the season. She’s been the #1 LPRT player for 13 seasons, including the last 10 consecutive.

Longoria played well in the final, and in playing well, it took away Laime’s opportunities to counter-punch, which is as aspect of her game that Laime usually does very well.

Longoria may also have not felt much pressure against Laime, who as the 11th seed, isn’t one of the strongest players on tour. Laime did beat Longoria last season, but that’s likely more motivation for Longoria to ensure a loss wasn’t going happen again on Saturday.

The win is Longoria’s 3rd of the season, but first since the US Open in October. Montserrat Mejia has won the last four LPRT events, and she is the threat to stop Longoria’s #1 ranking streak. But Mejia lost in the quarterfinals in San Antonio, so she may need to win the last two events to have a chance to finish #1.

Mejia won’t have to wait long to try to win another LPRT event, as the LPRT will be in action next weekend at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina, May 4-7, 2023. The 2022-23 LPRT season will end with the LPRT at the Beach tournament in Chesapeake, Maryland, June 15-17, 2023.

Other divisions

In what was a bit of surprise, Carla Muñoz and Alan Natera won the Mixed Doubles title. They were seeded 3rd, and upset top seeds Maria Jose Vargas and Alejandro Landa in the final, 15-13, 15-13.

In the semi-finals, Muñoz and Natera defeated 10th seeds Laime and Marcelo Vargas Aguilar, 13-15, 15-12, 11-7. Laime and Vargas Aguilar got to the semis by knocking off 2nd seeds Holly Scott and Daniel De La Rosa in the quarterfinals.

In the other semi, Vargas and Landa beat Erika Manilla and Erik Garcia, 15-5, 15-9.

Valeria Centellas defeated Annie Roberts, 15-9, 15-4, to win the LPRT U21 division. In the semi-finals, Centellas, the top seed, beat 4th seed Camila Rivero, 15-8, 15-10, and 2nd seed Roberts beat 3rd seed Martina Katz, 15-3, 15-4.

If you missed any of the action from San Antonia, go to the LPRT YouTube channel.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 27-29, 2023

Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 11) Brenda Laime, 15-7, 15-3

LPRT U21 Singles - Final - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas d. 2) Annie Roberts, 15-9, 15-4

LPRT U21 Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas d. 4) Camila Rivero, 15-8, 15-10
2) Annie Roberts d. 3) Martina Katz, 15-3, 15-4

Mixed Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa v. 3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera, 15-13, 15-13

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa d. 4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia, 15-5, 15-9
3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera d. 10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar, 13-15, 15-12, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, April 28, 2023

Longoria & Laime in final at 2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo

Paola Longoria, the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), has not had an easy time of it at the 2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. However, she’s passed all the tests that have come her way, and made it through to the final on Saturday. Longoria advanced to the final by defeating former LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, 15-10, 8-15, 11-7. It was the second tie-breaker she had to play Friday after needing three games to get past Carla Muñoz in the quarterfinals, at hat was after a 15-13, 15-14 match against Gabriela Martinez in the Round of 16 on Thursday.

No, it’s not been an easy path to the final at all.

Longoria will face 11th seed Brenda Laime in the final, as Laime defeated veteran Samantha Salas in the other semi, 15-11, 15-11.

Longoria got off to a good start against Vargas, going up 5-1 in game one. But Vargas came back and tied it at 7-7, only to see Longoria surge ahead again to lead 12-7, and close it out at 15-10.

In game two, Vargas took the lead early, and when she led 7-3, Longoria called a time out. Vargas maintained the lead, and when it was 11-4, Longoria called her second timeout.

She was able to narrow the gap after that, making it 12-8. However, the writing was on the wall, and Vargas closed it out at 15-8.

Usually, when the first two games are not close, the tie-breaker is. But that didn’t look likely, when Longoria jumped out to a 4-0 lead. At 5-1, Vargas called a timeout.

That did little to slow Longoria down, as she went out to a 9-2 lead. Longoria had a chance to make it 10, but made an unforced error when she skipped a backhand shot.

Cue the comeback.

Vargas scored five unanswered points from there to make it 9-7, and wasn’t deterred by Longoria calling both her timeouts during that run. You had the sense that maybe she could come all the way back.

Vargas was using a Z serve to Longoria’s backhand for her second serve, and it’d made Longoria a bit uncomfortable. So, it was predictable that Vargas was going to hit it for second serve at 7 serve 9, and Longoria jumped over to take it early with her forehand for a winner.

That halted Vargas’s momentum, and led to a back and forth of sideouts. Longoria broke the deadlock with a forehand cross court winner to make it 10-7. She only needed the one match point, as Vargas skipped a backhand shot on the next rally, giving Longoria the win.

It was a very competitive match, but not one of great overall quality. Both players were great for spurts, but neither seemed to really be on their "A" game, which for the neutral made for a good watch.

What to expect in the final

A final between the tour’s #1 player, who’s dominated the sport for 15 years, and an 11th seed seems like a complete mismatch. If there was a betting line on this, Longoria would be the clear favourite over Laime.

And yet Laime is in with a shout here, in part, because she already has a win over Longoria. She’s also lost to Longoria four times, but still one win over Longoria is more than most players on tour have.

So, we’re saying there’s a chance.

You can watch Laime take her chance live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. The final will 4:40 PM Saturday Central time.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 27-29, 2023

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 12) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-10, 8-15, 11-7
11) Brenda Laime d. 10) Samantha Salas, 15-11, 15-11

Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 11) Brenda Laime - 4:40 PM

LPRT U21 Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas - BYE
8) Naomi Ros d. 9) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-2, 15-7

4) Camila Rivero - BYE

3) Martina Katz - BYE
6) Paula Mansilla - BYE

7) Yanna Salazar d. 10) Leonela Osorio, 15-7, 15-8
2) Annie Roberts - BYE

LPRT U21 Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas d. 8) Naomi Ros, 15-7, 15-6
4) Camila Rivero - BYE

3) Martina Katz d. 6) Paula Mansilla, 15-6, 15-6
2) Annie Roberts d. 7) Yanna Salazar, 15-13, 15-12

LPRT U21 Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas v. 4) Camila Rivero - 10:10 AM
2) Annie Roberts v. 3) Martina Katz - 10:10 AM

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa d. 8) Alexandra Herrera & Diego Gastelum, 15-10, 15-9
4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Cole Sendrey, 15-4, 15-8

3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera d. 11) Paola Longoria & Christian Longoria, 14-15, 15-2, 11-7
10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar d. 2) Hollie Scott & Daniel De La Rosa, 12-15, 15-7, 11-8

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa v. 4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia - 11:15 AM

3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera v. 10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar - 11:15 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia's winning streak ends at the Alamo

Three tie-breakers in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas Friday. The most significant result was 10th seed Samantha Salas upsetting LPRT #2 Montserrat Mejia, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6, which was Mejia’s first loss on tour since August. She’s won four consecutive LPRT tournaments, but that streak ends at the Alamo.

Eighth seed Carla Muñoz almost went one better than Salas, as she went to a tie-breaker with LPRT #1 Paola Longoria. But in the end Longoria prevailed, coming back from a game down to defeat Muñoz, 12-15, 15-10, 11-4. Longoria will play Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals later on Friday, as Vargas beat Erika Manilla, 15-3, 15-6.

Salas will play 11th seed Brenda Laime in the other semi-final, as Laime held on to defeat Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 1-15, 11-7, in the quarters.

In the Salas-Mejia tie-breaker, Salas got the first four points, but Mejia responded by winning the next four to tie it 4-4. Salas went up 7-4, helped by two drive serve aces to the right side. Again Mejia responded by getting within one at 7-6.

That was as close as she got, as Salas won the final four points on consecutive rallies - and despite Mejia taking a timeout at 10-6. In that streak, Mejia skipped two shots that were open chances to win those rallies, and the unforced errors killed her.

Muñoz started well against Longoria, leading for almost all of game one, although it did take her six game points to finish it off. Longoria got off to a good start in game two, with 5-2 and 7-4 leads, but Muñoz came back and tied it at 7-7 and 8–8. She took the lead at 10-8 with a drive serve ace to the left side, but Longoria came back and tied it 10-10.

When Longoria went ahead 11-10, Muñoz called a timeout, but that didn’t help her cause, as Longoria hit a drive serve ace to the left side when play resumed. She also won the next three rallies to close out game two, 15-10.

The breaker was all Longoria, as she took a 5-0 lead, so Muñoz called a timeout. That did lead to a sideout and a point when played resumed, but Longoria then took the serve back and five rallies later and it was 10-1. Although the writing was on the wall, Muñoz did get a few points before Longoria ended it at 11-4.

Muñoz will have another chance to beat Longoria, as they’ll face off in the Pro Mixed Doubles quarterfinals Friday night. Longoria and her brother Christian defeated Mejia and Diego Romano, 11-15, 15-4, 11-2, in the first round of mixed play, and will play Muñoz and Alan Natera in the quarters.

You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. The semi-finals are at 4:40 and 5:45 PM Friday and the final at 4:40 PM Saturday. All times Central.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 27-29, 2023

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 12-15, 15-10, 11-4
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 4) Erika Manilla, 15-3, 15-6

11) Brenda Laime d. 14) Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 1-15, 11-7
10) Samantha Salas d. 2) Montserrat Mejia, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 12) Maria Jose Vargas - 5:45 PM
10) Samantha Salas v. 11) Brenda Laime - 4:40 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa - BYE
8) Alexandra Herrera & Diego Gastelum d. 9) Stephanie Synhorst & Brennen Jennings, 15-6, 15-7

5) Kelani Lawrence & Cole Sendrey - BYE
4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia - BYE

3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera - BYE
11) Paola Longoria & Christian Longoria d. 6) Montserrat Mejia & Diego Romano, 11-15, 15-4, 11-2

10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar d. 7) Natalia Mendez & Sam Hojat, 15-6, 15-10
2) Hollie Scott & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa v. 8) Alexandra Herrera & Diego Gastelum - 9 PM
4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia v. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Cole Sendrey - 7:55 PM

3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera v. 11) Paola Longoria & Christian Longoria - 7:55 PM
2) Hollie Scott & Daniel De La Rosa v. 10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar - 9 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Thursday, April 27, 2023

2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo begins

The 2023 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Battle at the Alamo has begun in San Antonio, Texas, and already there are some surprises, as there were four upsets in the Round of 16. Fourteenth seed Valeria Centellas had the biggest one, as she defeated 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 13-15, 11-1. Centellas will play another upset winner in the quarterfinals on Friday, when she takes on 11th seed Brenda Laime, who beat 6th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-6, in the 16s.

An upset of lesser proportions was the 10th seed Samantha Salas’s win over 7th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-6, 15-13. Salas will play LPRT #2 Montserrat Mejia, winner of the last four LPRT events, in the quarters, as Mejia beat 15th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-6, 15-5, Thursday.

Technically, Maria Jose Vargas’s win over Jessica Parrilla, 15-12, 15-11, was an upset, as it was the 12th seed defeating the 5th seed, but Vargas has been as high as #2 in the LPRT rankings. Her ranking has dropped, as she was inactive for much of the season being pregnant and then having her third child. Vargas will take on 4th seed Erika Manilla in the quarters, as Manilla beat 13th seed Hollie Scott, 15-13, 15-5, in the 16s.

Gabriela Martinez almost had the largest upset of all, as she came within a few points of knocking off LPRT #1 Paola Longoria. She led early in both games in what was a battle of the women who’ve met in the three of the last four Women’s Singles finals at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships (Longoria winning two of those & Martinez one). But Longoria fought back, and eked out the victory, 15-13, 15-14.

Martinez was down 14-8 in game two, and came back to tie it, but couldn’t quite get the final point.

Longoria will play 8th seed Carla Muñoz in the quarterfinals, as Muñoz came back to defeat 9th seed Kelani Lawrence, 12-15, 15-9, 11-8, Thursday.

There isn’t an LPRT Doubles event in San Antonio, but there is a pro Mixed Doubles event. In that event, Longoria is on the lowest seeded team, as she’s playing with her younger brother Christian Longoria. Christian’s a good player, but hasn’t played a lot on the pro level, so it will be interesting to see how they do.

They’ll be starting off with a tough match, as they are going up against Mejia and Diego Romano. The winner will play 3rd seeds Muñoz and Alan Natera.

The top seeds in Mixed Doubles are Vargas and Alejandro Landa with Scott and Daniel De La Rosa as the 2nd seeds.

You can watch the action live from San Antonio via the LPRT YouTube channel. The quarterfinals begin at 11:15 AM Friday morning, with the semi-finals at 4:40 and 5:45 PM Friday and the final at 4:40 PM Saturday. All times Central.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 27-29, 2023

First Round - Thursday

32) Shane Diaz d. 33) Danna Portillo, 15-2, 15-0

Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria d. 32) Shane Diaz, 15-1, 15-1
17) Gabriela Martinez d. 16) Nancy Enriquez, 15-6, 15-11

9) Kelani Lawrence d. 24) Martina Katz, 15-9, 15-3
8) Carla Muñoz d. 25) Camila Rivero, 15-7, 15-8

5) Jessica Parrilla d. 28) Yanna Salazar, 12-15, 15-4, 11-6
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 21) Linda Tyler, 15-1, 15-4

13) Hollie Scott d. 20) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-3, 15-6
4) Erika Manilla d. 29) Naomi Ros, 15-7, 9-15, 11-5

3) Alexandra Herrera d. Khyathi Velpuri, 15-0, 15-0
14) Valeria Centellas d. 19) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-0, 15-0

11) Brenda Laime d. 22) Annie Robers, 15-8, 15-9
6) Natalia Mendez d. 27) Paula Mansilla, 15-2, 15-2

7) Angelica Barrios - forfeit
10) Samantha Salas d. 23) Lexi York, 15-5, 15-8

15) Cristina Amaya d. 18) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-2, 15-11
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 31) Leonela Osorio, 15-3, 15-1

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 15-14
8) Carla Muñoz d. 9) Kelani Lawrence, 12-15, 15-9, 11-8

12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Jessica Parrilla, 15-12, 15-11
4) Erika Manilla d. 13) Hollie Scott, 15-13, 15-5

14) Valeria Centellas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 13-15, 11-1
11) Brenda Laime d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-6

10) Samantha Salas d. 7) Angelica Barrios, 15-6, 15-13
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 15) Cristina Amaya, 15-6, 15-5

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Carla Muñoz - 12:20 PM
4) Erika Manilla v. 12) Maria Jose Vargas - 12:20 PM

11) Brenda Laime v. 14) Valeria Centellas - 11:15 AM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 10) Samantha Salas - 11:15 AM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Alejandro Landa - BYE
8) Alexandra Herrera & Diego Gastelum v. 9) Stephanie Synhorst & Brennen Jennings - 5:45 PM

5) Kelani Lawrence & Cole Sendrey - BYE
4) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia - BYE

3) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera - BYE
6) Montserrat Mejia & Diego Romano v. 11) Paola Longoria & Christian Longoria - 1:25 PM

7) Natalia Mendez & Sam Hojat v. 10) Brenda Laime & Marcelo Vargas Aguilar - 1:25 PM
2) Hollie Scott & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, April 24, 2023

3s beat 1s at 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman SoCal Open

Threes were wild Sunday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open in Canoga Park, California, as the 3rd seeds were winners in both singles and doubles. Jake Bredenbeck upset top seed Conrrado Moscoso, 15-12, 15-11, in the singles final, while the doubles final went to a tie-breaker with the top seeds, Alvaro Beltran and Rodrigo Montoya, losing to 3rd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, 15-8, 14-15, 11-9.

The singles final began oddly, as it was a match up of two power players, which generally means a lot of drive serving. Bredenbeck did drive serve, but Moscoso mostly used lob serves throughout the match, hitting a lot of them to the right side: Bredenbeck’s forehand.

Also, while the scores of both games were close, it felt like a Bredenbeck win was inevitable, which was strange because Moscoso is not only the current IRT #1 player, but he also won the 2023 Pan American Championships two weeks ago - beating Bredenbeck in the semi-finals - and the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championship last year, so he was clearly the favourite going in.

But Bredenbeck took an early lead in game one at 3-0, and never trailed or was even tied in that game. He reached game point at 14-8. Moscoso came back to 14-12, so Bredenbeck called a timeout. That led to a side out, and then Bredenbeck got the game winning point by hitting a backhand to the left side, which was out of Moscoso’s reach.

Moscoso got his first lead of the match by scoring the first two points of game two, and then went out to a 8-3 lead. However, Bredenbeck tied it at 8-8, and they were back and forth from there with ties at 9-9 and 10-10.

Then Bredenbeck opened up a 13-10 lead. He reached match point off a forehand reverse pinch shot that made it 14-11. Unlike game one, Bredenbeck only needed one opportunity to end game two, as he hit a drive jam serve that came off the left side wall at the dashed line and Moscoso skipped his backhand return shot.

Afterwards, Bredenbeck said “it feels good,” to win his 2nd IRT title. “I’ve been getting closer and closer. Made a few finals, a few semis, and just was coming up a little short. And today was able to get it done.”

He was also complimentary to Moscoso, saying “hats off to Conrrado. He’s obviously a hell of a player. He’s got me the last two times. It was nice to get this one, especially in a final.” It was the second straight final between Bredenbeck and Moscoso, and Moscoso previously winning last month in Lombard, Illinois.

The doubles final was a bit of twist in that Beltran and De La Rosa are usually partners, and in fact, are the current IRF Men’s Doubles World Champions winning the title for Mexico last year. But they were on opposite teams Sunday.

We’re not sure why they didn’t play together, but De La Rosa participated in the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship with Landa, and they won the title. That suggests De La Rosa will be playing for the USA from now on, and it could simply be that he wants to continue his partnership with Landa, rather than play with Beltran, who, at 44, must nearing the end of his career.

However, Beltran’s not done yet, as his good play in the final demonstrated.

De La Rosa and Landa were in control throughout game one, but Beltran and Montoya took a 6-0 lead early in game two. De La Rosa and Landa tied the game at 6-6, and they were back and forth up to 12-12.

Beltran and Montoya reached game point at 14-12, when Montoya hit a forehand shot down the left side that cracked out. However, a De La Rosa winner put his side back in the box.

He and Landa got two points, but then a great Beltran pinch from deep in the court denied De La Rosa and Landa’s first match point. On the next rally, Montoya hit a backhand pinch shot in the front court that ended the game, and forced a tie-breaker.

Beltran and Montoya led for most of the breaker, including at 6-2, 8-5 and 9-7. But Montoya skipped a shot at 9-7, which yielded the serve to his opponents. They never served again.

De La Rosa and Landa scored four unanswered points to win the game, 11-9, and match 2-1. Landa scored the last two points with a forehand pinch shot for their 10th point and then won it with a forehand kill shot.

The next main event will be in August, when the KWM Gutterman World Singles and Doubles Open happens in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, August 10-13. However, there will be a smaller event in Costa Rica in June, and the 2023 Outdoor Nationals are in July.

If you missed the SoCal finals - or any of the other action, and the singles semi-finals were good too, both went to a tie-breaker - go to the IRT YouTube channel and click on the “Live” link.

2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open
April 20-23, 2023 - Canoga Park, California

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Rodrigo Montoya, 13-15, 15-14, 11-2
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 6-15, 11-6

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 1) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-12, 15-11

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-8, 15-10
3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla, 15-10, 15-10

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-8, 14-15, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, April 21, 2023

Top seeds into the semi-finals at 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman SoCal Open

Day two of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open in Canoga Park, California has mostly gone to form, as four of the top five seeds are in the singles semi-finals and all four top seeds are in the doubles semis. Rodrigo Montoya, the 5th seed, is the exception, as he upset 4th seed Andree Parrilla in the quarterfinals, 15-6, 1-15, 11-8.

IRT #1 Conrrado Moscoso advanced to the semi-finals with a straight game win over 8th seed Alan Natera, 15-6, 15-7. He’ll play Montoya in the semis Saturday night.

Daniel De La Rosa, the IRT’s #2 player, will play #3 Jake Bredenbeck in the other semi-final, after he defeated 7th seed Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-6, and Bredenbeck beat 11th seed Jaime Martell, 15-11, 15-2, in the quarterfinals.

Martell was in the quarters, as he had the only upset win in the Round of 16, when he defeated 6th seed Alejandro Landa, 15-14, 15-12.

Landa was a winner doubles, however, as he and De La Rosa defeated Natera and Cristhian Sanchez, 15-10, 15-9, in the quarterfinals. In the semi-finals, they’ll play the lefty-righty team of Adam Manilla and Parrilla, who beat Martell and Erick Trujillo, 15-5, 15-9.

Montoya and veteran Alvaro Beltran, the top seeds in doubles, beat 8th seeds Robert Collins and Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-5, 15-14, in the quarters. They’ll play 4th seeds Kadim Carrasco and Moscoso in the other semi-final. Carrasco and Moscoso needed three games to defeat 5th seeds Bredenbeck and his brother Sam Bredenbeck, 15-8, 9-15, 11-9, in the quarterfinals.

All of the semi-finals should be very good, and you can see them via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The semi-finals in singles will be Saturday evening at 6 and 7 PM with the doubles semis at 11 AM and noon. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Pacific.

2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open
April 20-23, 2023 - Canoga Park, California

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 17) Rodrigo Mendoza, 15-2, 15-2
8) Alan Natera d. 9) Robert Collins, 15-12, 15-2

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 12) Rocky Carson, 15-9, 15-1
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-0, 15-12

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Kadim Carrasco, 15-9, 15-2
11) Jaime Martell d. 6) Alejandro Landa, 15-14, 15-12

7) Adam Manilla d. 23) Axel Barojas, 15-4, 15-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 15) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-7, 15-12

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 8) Alan Natera, 15-6, 15-7
5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 1-15, 11-8

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 11) Jaime Martell, 15-11, 15-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-6

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Rodrigo Montoya - 7 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Robert Collins & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., 15-5, 15-14
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-8, 9-15, 11-9

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Alan Natera & Cristhian Sanchez, 15-10, 15-9
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 7) Jaime Martell & Erick Trujillo, 15-5, 15-9

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - 1 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Play underway at 2023 KWM Gutterman IRT SoCal Open

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is in action this weekend with the 2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open in Canoga Park, California. Play began on Thursday, and there were no surprises in early play, although there were some notable matches.

Veteran Rocky Carson, former IRT #1 and International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion, beat Cody Elkins, 15-2, 15-1, to set up a showdown with another former IRF World Champion: Rodrigo Montoya. Montoya defeated Cristhian Sanchez, 15-5, 15-5, Thursday.

Also, Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimizu made the trip across the Pacific for the weekend. He played 6th seed Alejandro Landa Thursday, and lost 15-6, 15-9.

Finally, Alvaro Beltran, who has been out of action since October, when he injured his left arm playing at the 3WallBall Outdoor World Championships in Las Vegas, is in the doubles draw with Montoya. They are the top seeds, and later today will play 8th seeds Robert Collins and Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., who defeated 9th seeds Erick Cuevas Fernandez and Carlos Ramirez, 13-15, 15-0, 11-6, on Thursday.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play continues with the Round of 16 Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM followed by the doubles quarterfinals at 1 PM. The singles final will be Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Pacific.

2023 KWM Gutterman SoCal Open
April 20-23, 2023 - Canoga Park, California

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
17) Rodrigo Mendoza d. 16) Sebastian Fernandez, forfeit

9) Robert Collins d. 24) John Wolfe, 15-2, 15-10
8) Alan Natera d. 25) Bradley Levine, 15-2, 15-0

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 28) Cristhian Sanchez, 15-5, 15-5
12) Rocky Carson d. 21) Cody Elkins, 15-2, 15-1

13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. 20) Jim Douglas, 15-5, 15-1
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
14) Kadim Carrasco d. 19) Carlos Ramirez, 15-4, 15-11

11) Jaime Martell d. 22) Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez, 15-4, 2-15, 11-4
6) Alejandro Landa d. 27) Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-6, 15-9

7) Adam Manilla d. 26) Kalyan Kosetty, 15-0, 15-1
23) Axel Barojas d. 10) Erick Trujillo - forfeit

15) Sam Bredenbeck d. 18) Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr., forfeit
2) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 17) Rodrigo Mendoza - 11 AM
8) Alan Natera v. 9) Robert Collins - 11 AM

5) Rodrigo Montoya v. 12) Rocky Carson - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 11 AM

3) Jake Bredenbeck v. 14) Kadim Carrasco - 10 AM
6) Alejandro Landa v. 11) Jaime Martell - 10 AM

7) Adam Manilla v. 23) Axel Barojas - 10 AM
2) Daniel De La Rosa v. 15) Sam Bredenbeck - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. d. 9) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Carlos Ramirez, 13-15, 15-0, 11-6

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE
6) Alan Natera & Cristhian Sanchez d. 11) Andres Ruelas Jr. & Sebastian Alejandro Ruelas Reza, 15-8, 15-8

7) Jaime Martell & Erick Trujillo v. 10) Christian Longoria & Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez, 10-15, 15-7, 11-4
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Robert Collins & Guillermo Jesus Ortega Jr. - 1 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 1 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Alan Natera & Cristhian Sanchez - 1 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 7) Jaime Martell & Erick Trujillo - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Moscoso defends & Mejia wins 1st at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia successfully defended the Men’s Singles title he won a year ago by defeating team-mate Carlos Keller, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, in the final at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday. The win is Moscoso’s fourth Pan Am title overall, as he won Men’s Doubles in 2019 and Mixed Doubles this year.

Montserrat Mejia won the Women’s Singles Pan Am Championship for the first time by defeating former Pan American Champion María José Vargas of Argentina, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9. The win continues the great run of form that Mejia has been on, as she’s won the last four events on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour. Mejia is the second Mexican to win Women’s Singles after Paola Longoria.

If you missed the finals, then check them out on the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women’s Open - Final - Saturday

6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 4) María José Vargas (Argentina), 11-8, 11-6, 11-9

Women’s Open - 3rd place - Saturday

2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), forfeit

Women’s Open - 5-8 Playoff - Saturday

5th - Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia), 11-6, 11-4, 11-8

7th - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), forfeit

Women’s Open - 9-12 playoff - Saturday

9th - Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-8, 11-6, 11-8

11th - Erika Manilla (USA) or Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8

Women’s Open -13-16 playoff - Saturday

13th - Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 5-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8

15th - Rhonda Rajsich (USA) or Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4

Women’s Open - 17-20 places

17th - Juliette Parent (Canada)
18th - Michèle Morissette (Canada)
19th - Paula Mansilla (Chile)
20th - Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia)

Men's Singles - Final - Saturday

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia), 11-8, 11-9, 11-9

Men's Singles - 3rd place - Saturday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Diego Garcia (Argentina), forfeit

Men's Singles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th - Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), forfeit

7th - Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-9, 11-5, 12-10

Men's Singles - 9-12 Playoff - Saturday

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-5, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4

Thomas Carter (USA) or Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-3, 11-1, 11-1

Men's Singles - 13-16 Playoff - Saturday

13th - Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8

15th - Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - injury forfeit

Men's Singles - 17-24 places

17th - Set Cubillos (Colombia)
18th - Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
19th - Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
20th Diego Gatica (Chile)

21st - Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
22nd - Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico)
23rd - Rafael Gatica (Chile)
24th - Yandy Espinosa (Cuba)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico wins twice, Bolivia once in doubles at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Mexico won two of the three doubles titles with the third going to Bolivia on Saturday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Mexico has won at least one doubles title at the Pan Am Championships every year since 2009, when the USA won both men’s and women’s titles.

Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia won the Women’s Doubles title, as the lefty-righty team denied the host nation’s chance at gold by defeating Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, in the final. It’s the second Pan Am doubles title for Herrera who won in 2018 with Paola Longoria, and the first for Mejia.

Mexico also won the Men’s Doubles title, as Rodrigo Montoya and Eduardo Portillo defeated Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso in the final, 11-3, 14-12, 11-13, 11-8. It’s the first time since 2018, when Montoya won with Alvaro Beltran, that Mexico has won the men’s title, and the 8th time Mexico won both men’s and women’s titles at the Pan Am Championships. It’s the first win for Portillo and second for Montoya.

Montoya had a chance to win two titles Saturday, as he was in the Mixed Doubles final with Paola Longoria. A win would have been a successful title defence for Montoya, as he won the first ever Pan Am Mixed Doubles title last year with Samantha Salas. However, he wasn’t able to repeat this year, as Moscoso and Angelica Barrios came back from a game down to defeat the Mexicans, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9. The win is Barrios’s first Pan Am doubles title, though she won Women’s Singles last year, and it’s Moscoso’s second doubles title at Pan Ams, as he won the men’s title in 2019 with Roland Keller.

If you missed any of the finals, check out the matches via the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday

2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-6, 12-10

Women's Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 11-9, 11-4, 11-6

Women's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th Place - Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador), 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-4

7th - Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - ?

Women's Doubles - 9th &10th

9th - Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada)
10th - Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 11-3, 14-12, 11-13, 11-8

Men's Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) d. 3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4

Men's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th - Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada), 18-16, 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7

7th - Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina), injury forfeit

Men's Doubles - 9th-11th

9th - Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
10th - Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
11th - Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

Mixed Doubles - Final - Saturday

2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9

Mixed Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. 4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina), forfeit

Mixed Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th - Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia), forfeit

7th - Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - ?

Mixed Doubles - 9th-12th

9th - Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada)
10th - Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)
11th - Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
12th - Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba)

Follow the bouncing ball….

All Bolivia men’s final at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The Men’s Singles final at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday will be an all-Bolivia affair, as two time Pan American Champion and top seed Carlos Keller takes on team-mate and current Pan American Champion Conrrado Moscoso.

The Women’s Singles final will be former Pan American Champion María José Vargas of Argentina against Mexican Montserrat Mejia, the hottest player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour, having won the last four LPRT events.

In the men’s semi-finals, Moscoso, the 3rd seed, upset 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck of the USA, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3, while Keller had an epic battle with 13th seed Diego Garcia of Argentina that went the distance and then some, as Keller came back from a game down twice to win it, 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8, 21-19. The 21-19 fifth game is the longest game of the tournament.

Vargas ended the run of 17th seed Maricurz Ortiz from Costa Rica with a decisive three game win, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9, in one women’s semi-final, while Mejia defeated Argentina’s Natalia Mendez, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, in other semi.

You can watch the finals via live streaming on the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-2, 11-6, 11-9
6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5

Women’s Singles - Final - Saturday

4) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 11 AM

Women’s Singles - 3rd place - Saturday

2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

Women’s Singles - 5-8 Playoff - Friday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 11-3, 11-8, 11-7
Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9

Women’s Singles - 5-8 Playoff - Saturday

5th - Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 10 AM

7th - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 10 AM

Women’s Singles - 9-12 playoff - Friday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Erika Manilla (USA), 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9

Women’s Singles - 9-12 playoff - Saturday

9th - Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 11 AM

11th - Erika Manilla (USA) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 11 AM

Women’s Singles - 13-16 playoff - Round 1 - Friday

Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7

Women’s Singles -13-16 playoff - Round 2 - Saturday

13th - Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 11 AM

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) - Noon

Women’s Singles - 17-20 playoff - Saturday

17th - Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), forfeit

19th - Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), forfeit

Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 13) Diego Garcia (Argentina), 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8, 21-19
3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA), 11-6, 11-7, 11-3

Men's Singles - Finals - Saturday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Men's Singles - 3rd place - Saturday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 11 AM

Men's Singles - 5-8 playoff - Round 1 - Friday

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-2
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10

Men's Singles - 5-8 playoff - Round 2 - Saturday

5th - Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - 10 AM

7th - Trevor Webb (Canada) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Men's Singles - 9-12 Playoff - Round 1 - Friday

Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Thomas Carter (USA), 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-9, 15-13

Men's Singles - 9-12 Playoff - Round 2 - Saturday

Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Coby Iwaasa (Canada) - 1 PM

Thomas Carter (USA) v. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

Men's Singles - 13-16 Playoff - Round 1 - Friday

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 5-11, 11-4, injury forfeit
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), forfeit

Men's Singles - 13-16 Playoff - Round 2 - Saturday

13th - Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - Noon

15th - Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - injury forfeit

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 4 - Friday

17th - Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 6-11, 11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8

19th - Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Diego Gatica (Chile), 11-13, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9

Men's Singles - 21-24 Playoff - Round 2 - Friday

21st - Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico), 11-7, 11-9, 11-3

23rd - Rafael Gatica (Chile) d. Yandy Espinosa (Cuba), 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 3-11, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

One versus two in doubles finals at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The doubles finals at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala will all be 1 v 2 matches with Mexico in all three finals - men’s, women’s and mixed - Bolivia in two and Guatemala in one.

The Guatemalan women’s team of Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez were the #1 seeds in Women’s Doubles, and they reached the final by beating 4th seeds Bolivia, Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5.

In the final, Guatemala will play Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, who took out Argentina’s Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4. Argentina was the defending champion in Women’s Doubles, as Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas won the title last year.

Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Eduardo Portillo are the top seeds in Men’s Doubles, and they reached the final by beating USA brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck in the semi-finals, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7. Mexico will play Bolivia in the final, as 2nd seeds Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso defeated 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Gabriel Garcia of Costa Rica, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10, in the other semi-final.

Montoya and Moscoso will also face off in the Mixed Doubles final. Montoya and Mexican team-mate Paola Longoria, the top seeds, defeated 4th seeds Maria Jose Vargas and Diego Garcia of Argentina, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 17-15, in one semi-final, while Moscoso and Angelica Barrios also won in four games over 3rd seeds Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key of the USA, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8.

Moscoso has a chance to win three titles Saturday, as he's in the Men's Singles final as well as the Men's Doubles and Mixed Doubles final. If he wins the two men's titles, Moscoso will be the 4th man to win both at a Pan American Championship after Mexicans Alejandro Landa in 2018 and Polo Gutierrez in 2013, and American Bill Sell in 1988.

You can watch the finals via the live stream at the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia), 11-9, 11-4, 11-5
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4

Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 2 PM

Women's Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) v. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 2 PM

Women's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-8, 11-5, 11-5

Women's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th Place - Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) - 1 PM

7th - Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - Noon

Women's Doubles - 9-10 playoff - Friday

9th - Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-7, 11-4, 11-7

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA), 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10

Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Men's Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - 1 PM

Men's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 12-14, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7
Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina), injury forfeit

Men's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th - Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) - 2 PM

7th - Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina), injury forfeit

Men's Doubles - Round One - 9-11 playoff - Thursday

Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - BYE
Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) d. Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-5, 11-7, 12-10

Men's Doubles - Round Two - 9-11 playoff - Friday

9th - Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 11-3, 11-9, 11-4

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina), 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 17-15
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA), 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8

Mixed Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 3 PM

Mixed Doubles - 3rd place - Saturday

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) v. 4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 3 PM

Mixed Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8
Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. 6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6

Mixed Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Saturday

5th - Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) - 3 PM

7th - Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 2 PM

Mixed Doubles - 9-12 playoff - Round 2 - Friday

9th - Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-17, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8

11th - Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, April 7, 2023

Expected doubles teams into semis at 2023 Pan American Championships

There were no surprises in doubles, and no tie-breakers either on Thursday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, so Friday’s semi-finals should all be good, as the best teams face off.

In Women’s Doubles, top seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala beat 8th seeds Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz of Chile, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7, and will play 4th seeds Bolivia, as Angelica Barrios and Jenny Daza defeated the USA’s Michelle Key and Erika Manilla, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7.

On the other side of the draw, 2nd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia of Mexico beat 10th seeds Maria Jose Muñoz and Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, and will face Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez of Argentina, who were straight game winners over Colombians Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 11-5, 11-8, 14-12.

The top seeded men’s team of Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Eduardo Portillo defeated 8th seeds Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer of Guatemala, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7, in the quarterfinals, and will face USA brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck in the semi-finals, as the Bredenbecks beat Ecuador’s Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2.

Second seeds Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso from Bolivia defeated 7th seeds Fernando Kurzbard and Daniel Maggi of Argentina, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, in the quarters. In the semis, they’ll play 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Gabriel Garcia of Costa Rica beat Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Trevor Webb, 11-3, 11-2, 14-12.

Finally, the Mixed Doubles semi-finals also have the top four seeds. Mexicans Paola Longoria and Rodrigo Montoya, the top seeds, defeated Colombians Amaya and Set Cubillos, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-0, so they’ll play 4th seeds Maria Jose Vargas and Diego Garcia of Argentina, who were winners over Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez and Juan Salvatierra, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8.

The other semi will be Bolivia versus USA. Second seeds Angelica Barrios and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia beat 10th seeds Maria Paz Muñoz and Juan Francisco Cueva, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8, while 3rd seeds Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key from the USA defeated 6th seeds Jaime Mansilla and Carla Muñoz of Chile, 13-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.

You can watch matches via the live stream at the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 8) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-5, 11-3, 11-7
4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. 5) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA), 11-5, 11-5, 11-7

6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 11-5, 11-8, 14-12
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 10) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador), 11-6, 11-5, 11-5

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - 1 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 3 PM

Women's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 3 PM
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) v. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 3 PM

Women's Doubles - 9-10 playoff - Friday

Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) v. Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 4 PM

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 11-3, 12-10, 11-7
5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) d. 4) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-5, 11-4, 11-2

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. 6) Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-3, 11-2, 14-12
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 7) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina), 11-8, 11-8, 11-6

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - Noon
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 2 PM

Men's Doubles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
6) Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) v. Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) - 1 PM

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 8) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia), 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-0
4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. 6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 13-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 10) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 11-6, 11-3, 11-8

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 5 PM
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - 4 PM

Mixed Doubles - 9-12 playoff - Round 1 - Thursday

Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. 9) Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), forfeit

Mixed Doubles - 9-12 playoff - Round 2 - Friday

9th - Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) v. Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 5 PM

11th - Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) v. Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Ortiz & Garcia into semis at 2023 Pan American Championships

Costa Rica’s Maricurz Ortiz, the 17th seed, continued her run through the Women’s Singles draw at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Thursday, although she needed to come back from two games down to defeat veteran Colombian Cristina Amaya, 4-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-4. The win puts Ortiz into the semi-finals and onto the podium, as she’s assured of finishing with bronze or better.

Next up for Ortiz will be former Pan American Champion María José Vargas of Argentina, who had a come back of her own, as she was down 2-1 against current World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico, but came back to win in five games, 11-5, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5. That was Longoria’s first loss internationally since the 2018 World Championships, when she lost to Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez in the final, and the first loss at the Pan American Championships since 2018, when the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich beat her in the final.

The other two women’s quarterfinals went four games. Mexican Montserrat Mejia defeated Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, to deny the Guatemalan’s chance at gold on home soil. Also, Argentina’s Natalia Mendez won the first two games against Bolivian Yasmine Sabja, but then had to hang on for the win, as the third and fourth games both went to extra points with Mendez eventually winning 11-8, 11-8, 13-15, 12-10.

Diego Garcia, the young Argentine player, continue to impress in Men’s Singles, as the 13th seed upset 5th seed Eduardo Portillo of Mexico, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, in the quarterfinals. That might be the only five game match we’ve ever seen that had the same score for each game. Unique?

In the semi-finals, Garcia’s next opponent will be two time Pan American Champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia, who lost the first game to Costa Rican Andres Acuña but then bounced back to win the next three, taking the match 6-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-9.

The other semi-final will be #2 versus #3, as 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck of the USA plays 3rd seed Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia. In the quarters, Bredenbeck defeated 7th seed Andree Parrilla of Mexico, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, and Moscoso beat 11th seed Trevor Webb of Canada, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8.

You can watched some of the matches via live streaming on the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women’s Open - Quarterfinals - Thursday

17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 4-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-4

4) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 5) Paola Longoria (Mexico), 11-5, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5

6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia), 11-8, 11-8, 13-15, 12-10

Women’s Open - Semi-finals - Friday

4) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 11 AM

Women’s Open - 5-8 Playoff - Friday

5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 10 AM
3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 11 AM

Women’s Open - First Round of 9-16 - Thursday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Erika Manilla (USA) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 13-11, 11-4, 11-9

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), forfeit
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-7, 13-11, 11-8

Women’s Open - Second Round of 9-16 - Friday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Erika Manilla (USA) - 10 AM
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 11 AM

Women’s Open - First Round of 13-16 - Friday

Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1 PM
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) - 1 PM

Women’s Open - First Round of 17-20 - Wednesday

Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - BYE
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-6, 11-4, 11-0

Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
Paula Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Women’s Open - Second Round of 17-20 - Thursday

Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 11-5, 11-8, 11-4
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-8, 11-4, 11-5

Women’s Open - Third Round of 17-20 - Friday

17th - Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 2 PM

19th - Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Paula Mansilla (Chile) - Noon

21st - Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-4, 11-2, 12-10

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 6-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-9
13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-7, 11-4, 11-8
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. 7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico), 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8

Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 10 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 10 AM

Men's Singles - 5-8 playoff - Friday

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. Trevor Webb (Canada) - 10 AM
Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

Men's Singles - First Round of 9-16 Playoff - Thursday

Thomas Carter (USA) d. 17) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), forfeit

Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 10-12, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-6, 11-5

Men's Singles - First Round of 9-16 Playoff - Friday

Thomas Carter (USA) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - Noon
Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. Coby Iwaasa (Canada) - Noon

Men's Singles - 13-16 Playoff - Friday

Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - 11 AM
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - Noon

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 3 - Thursday

Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Diego Gatica (Chile), 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 4 - Friday

17th - Maikel Moyet (Cuba) v. Set Cubillos (Colombia) - 11 AM

19th - Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Diego Gatica (Chile) - 1 PM

Men's Singles - 21-24 Playoff - Round 1 - Thursday

Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 11-5, 11-8, 11-8
Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico) d. Yandy Espinosa (Cuba), 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9

Men's Singles - 21-24 Playoff - Round 2 - Friday

21st - Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico) - 2 PM

23rd - Rafael Gatica (Chile) v. Yandy Espinosa (Cuba) - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Mixed Doubles results at 2023 Pan American Championships

There were only four doubles matches Tuesday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and they were all in Mixed Doubles with two of them going tie-breaker.

The upset of the day went to Ecuador, the 10th seeds, as Maria Paz Muñoz and Juan Francisco Cueva came back from 2-1 down to defeat 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Danielle Ramsay of Canada, 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9. Ecuador will play 2nd seeds Angelica Barrios and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the quarterfinals Thursday.

But the longest match of the day goes to Colombia and Costa Rica, the 8th and 9th seeds, respectively, whose second game alone went 18-16. That game went to the Colombians Cristina Amaya and Set Cubillos, who then had a bit of a let down in game three, with the Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Maricruz Ortiz winning that 11-3.

But the Colombians bounced back and won the next two games to take the match, 8-11, 18-16, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7. Colombia faces top seeds Paola Longoria and Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico in the quarters Thursday.

Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Juan Salvatierra beat Cubans Samira Ferrer Marcilli and Maikel Moyet, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6, and will play 4th seeds Maria Jose Vargas and Diego Garcia of Argentina in the quarters. Finally, 6th seeds Jaime Mansilla and Carla Muñoz of Chile defeated 11th seeds Merynanyelly Delgado and Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, which put them in the quarters against the USA’s Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key.

You can watch matches via the live stream at the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 8) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1:45 PM
4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) v. 5) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) - 1:45 PM

3) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 1:45 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 10) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 1:45 PM

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - 2:30 PM
4) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - 2:30 PM

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 6) Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) - 2:30 PM
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 7) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) - 2:30 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. 9) Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 8-11, 18-16, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7

5) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 12) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-6, 11-9, 11-6
4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - BYE
6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 11) Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3

10) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) - 4:45 PM
4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 4 PM

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) v. 6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 4:45 PM
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 10) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 4:45 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Ortiz knocks off defending champion Barrios at 2023 Pan American Championships

You want upsets? We had upsets on Wednesday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The largest one came in Women’s Singles, as 17th seed Maricruz Ortiz of Costa Rica knocked off the top seed and defending champion Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8. Boom.

Ortiz is a young, tall, lean power player, but this win was more about Barrios, who did not have her A game, as she made several unforced errors, including skipping a set up backhand shot that ended game three. Barrios is playing three divisions here - singles, doubles and mixed doubles - which is a lot of racquetball, and perhaps that caught up to her. However, Ortiz is also playing three divisions, so maybe it was just not Barrios’s day, and the magic she had at last year’s championships, which were in her home country of Bolivia, was just not repeatable.

Ortiz will play Colombian Cristina Amaya in the quarterfinals, as Amaya beat Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4, with the winner getting a spot on the podium. It’s been awhile since the veteran Amaya was on the podium, and you can be sure she wants to get there again.

Bolivia was also involved in the other upset in Women’s Singles as 10th seed Yasmine Sabja of Bolivia came back from 2-1 down to defeat 7th seed Carla Muñoz of Chile, 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9. Muñoz was a bronze medalist at last year’s championships, but won’t be this year. Sabja will play Argentina’s Natalia Mendez in the quarters, as the 2nd seed beat 18th seed Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9.

The big matches in the quarters of Women’s Singles are the 4/5 and 3/6 contests. Former Pan American Champion María José Vargas of Argentina will play current World Champion Paola Longoria of Mexico in the 4/5 match, and the hometown favorite Gabriela Martinez faces off with Mexican Montserrat Mejia in the 3/6 match.

Vargas, Longoria and Martinez all won their Round of 16 matches in three straight games, but Mejia had a battle with the USA’s Erika Manilla that lasted four long games, as Mejia prevailed 11-9, 16-14, 8-11, 15-13.

In Men’s Singles, there were some upsets in the Round of 16 also, but nothing quite so seismic as Ortiz’s win. However, 15th seed Edwin Galicia of Guatemala almost had a big upset as he was up 2-1 on 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck of the USA, but the American came back to prevail in five games, winning 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5. Bredenbeck will play Mexican Andree Parrilla in the quarterfinals, as Parrilla beat Ecuador’s Juan Francisco Cueva, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3.

The USA was involved in the largest upset Wednesday, as 4th seed Thomas Carter won the first two games against 13th seed Diego Garcia of Argentina, only to see the Argentine come back and win the next three games to take the match 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6. Garcia plays Mexico’s Eduardo Portillo in the quarters, as the 5th seed beat 12th seed Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5.

Two time Pan American Champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia defeated 17th seed Fernando Kurzbard of Argentina, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6, and will play last year’s World Games Champion Andres Acuña of Costa Rica in the quarters, as Acuña beat his team-mate Gabriel Garcia, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6.

Keller’s team-mate Conrrado Moscoso, who’s the defending Pan American Champion defeated 14th seed Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5, and plays Canadian Trevor Webb who won a close all Canuck battle with Coby Iwaasa - who's been substituted for the injured Samuel Murray - 11-5, 11-9, 12-10.

You can watched some of the matches via live streaming on the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women’s Open - Round of 16 - Wednesday

17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 1) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia), 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8
8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 9) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 1-9, 11-3, 11-4

5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 11-5, 11-5, 15-13
4) María José Vargas (Argentina) d.13) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 11-5, 11-2, 11-3

3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 14) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-8, 13-11, 11-1
6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 11) Erika Manilla (USA), 11-9, 16-14, 8-11, 15-13

10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. 7) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 18) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 11-5, 11-9

Women’s Open - Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 10:45 AM

4) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 10:45 AM

3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 10 AM
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 10:45 AM

Women’s Open - First Round of 9-16 - Thursday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
Erika Manilla (USA) v. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 10 AM

Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 10 AM

Women’s Open - First Round of 17-20 - Wednesday

Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - BYE
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-6, 11-4, 11-0

Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-9, 11-9
Paula Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Women’s Open - Second Round of 17-20 - Thursday

Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. Juliette Parent (Canada) - 10:45 AM
Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 10:45 AM

Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 17) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 11-9, 11-9, 11-6
9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-6, 11-6

5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 12) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-4, 11-5, 11-5

13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 4) Thomas Carter (USA), 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 14) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
11) Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 6) Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 11-5, 11-9, 12-10

7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. 10) Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) V. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11:30 AM
5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 11:30 AM

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada) - 11:30 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - 11:30 AM

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 1

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. Ronal Cardona (Honduras), 12-10, 11-8, 11-5

Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE
Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - BYE

Diego Gatica (Chile) - BYE
Yandy Espinosa (Cuba) - BYE

Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico) - BYE
Set Cubillos (Colombia) - BYE

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 2 - Wednesday

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-8, 11-6, 13-11
Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 11-4, 11-6, 11-3

Diego Gatica (Chile) d. Yandy Espinosa (Cuba), 12-10, 11-6, 11-8
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico), 11-6, 11-4, 11-5

Men's Singles - 17-20 Playoff - Round 3

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. Diego Gatica (Chile)

Men's Singles - 21-24 Playoff - Round 1 - Thursday

Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Rafael Gatica (Chile) - 11:30 AM
Yandy Espinosa (Cuba) v. Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico) - 10h45

Follow the bouncing ball….

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Doubles Round of 16 at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

There were only a few double matches Tuesday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as most of the teams had byes in the Men’s and Women’s Rounds of 16 and there were no Mixed Doubles matches.

Both women’s matches were tie-breakers. Tenth seeds Maria Jose Muñoz and Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador came back from a game down and then held on to win in five games and upset 7th seeds Michèle Morissette and Danielle Ramsay of Canada, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9. Also, Chile’s Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz - the 8th seeds - won a close match versus Costa Rica’s Jimena Gomez and Maricruz Ortiz - the 9th seeds - 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-6.

In the quarterfinals, M.J. Muñoz and Armiento will play Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia, the 2nd seeds, while Mansilla and C. Muñoz face top seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala.

Only one men’s match went more than three games, as 7th seeds Fernando Kurzbard and Daniel Maggi of Argentina defeated 10th seeds Rafael Gatica and Rodrigo Salgado from Chile, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9. Argentina will play 2nd seeds Bolivia - Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso - in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Of note, Canadian Samuel Murray, who injured his knee in Tuesday’s doubles match versus Mexico, was deemed unable to continue in the tournament. Rules allowed for Murray to be replaced, so Trevor Webb is now playing doubles with Coby Iwaasa, and Iwaasa is playing singles in place of Murray.

In their first match together, Iwaasa and Webb beat Ronal Cardona and Carlos Medrano from Honduras, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2, so they will play 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Gabriel Garcia of Costa Rica in the quarters.

You can watch matches via the live stream at the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
8) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 9) Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-6

5) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) - BYE
4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - BYE
6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

10) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. 7) Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 12-14, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9

2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 8) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) v. 5) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) - BYE

3) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. 6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) -
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 10) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) -

Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. 9) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-5, 11-3, 11-8

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
4) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - BYE

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - BYE
6) Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 11) Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-5, 11-6, 11-2

7) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) v. 10) Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) -
4) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) -

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 6) Coby Iwaasa & Trevor Webb (Canada) -
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 7) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) -

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. 9) Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 3:15 PM

5) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 12) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 4 PM
4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - BYE
6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 11) Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 4 PM

7) Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) v. 10) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 4 PM
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Rounds of 32 at 2023 Pan American Championships

The medal round began Tuesday with the Round of 32 in both women's and men's play at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and there were a few upsets, but not real surprises as the upsets happened between closely seeded players.

In Women’s Singles, 18th seed Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic defeated 15th seed Maria Paz Riquelme of Colombia, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2, and 17th seed Maricruz Ortiz from Costa Rica beat 16th seed Paula Mansilla of Chile, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6.

In a near upset, Canadian Juliette Parent, seeded 21st, went the distance with 12th seed Rhonda Rajsich before succumbing to the veteran in five games, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8. Parent and Rajisch played in the group stage, so their meeting on day one of the medal round was strange. Moreover Rajisch will play Paola Longoria of Mexico in the Round of 16, and Longoria was in the same group as Rajsich and Parent. It makes the seeding seem odd.

In Men’s Singles, 10th seed Juan Francisco Cueva of Ecuador was pushed to five games by 23rd seed Abraham Mercado of Puerto Rico, 11-3, 11-4, 6-11, 11-13, 11-1, in what was the only five game match of the Men's 32s. Cueva will play 7th seed Andree Parrilla in the Round of 16.

The only upset in Men’s Singles, was 17th seed Fernando Kurzbard of Argentina defeating 16th seed Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic, 11-6, 2-11, 11-6, 12-10, so Kurzbard will play the #1 seed Carlos Keller of Bolivia in the 16s Wednesday.

You can watched some of the matches via live streaming on the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women’s Open - Round of 32 - Tuesday

1) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 16) Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-5, 11-3, 11-6

9) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
12) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 21) Juliette Parent (Canada), 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8

13) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 20) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-5, 11-4, 11-1
4) María José Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
14) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) d. 19) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 12-10, 11-6, 11-7

11) Erika Manilla (USA) d. 22) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE

18) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 15) Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Women’s Open - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 12:15 PM
8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 9) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 1 PM

5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 1:45 PM
4) María José Vargas (Argentina) v.
13) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 12:15 PM

3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 14) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) - 12:15 PM
6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 11) Erika Manilla (USA) - 1 PM

7) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 2:30 PM
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 18) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM

Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Tuesday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
17) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. 16) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 2-11, 11-6, 12-10

9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 24) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-6, 11-8, 11-2
8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) 3. 25) Ronal Cardona (Honduras), 11-9, 11-6, 11-7

5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
12) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 21) Rafael Gatica (Chile), 11-6, 11-9, 12-10

13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 20) Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-9, 11-5, 11-4
4) Thomas Carter (USA) - BYE

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
14) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 19) Diego Gatica (Chile), 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4

11) Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 22) Yandy Espinosa (Cuba), 11-2, 11-5, 11-1
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - BYE
10) Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. 23) Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico), 11-3, 11-4, 6-11, 11-13, 11-1

15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 18) Set Cubillos (Colombia), 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 17) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - 10:45 AM
8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11:30 AM

5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 12) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 11:30 AM

4) Thomas Carter (USA) v. 13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 10:45 AM

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 14) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 10:45 AM
6) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada) - 11:30 AM

7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) v. 10) Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 11:30 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) V. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 10:45 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday doubles results & draws at 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

A sad event in doubles Monday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as Canadian Samuel Murray went down in the tie-breaker of their Men’s Doubles match with Mexico. It have been a great match to that point with all four players - Canadians Murray and Coby Iwaasa and Mexicans Eduardo Portillo and Rodrigo Montoya - making wonderful plays.

Then at 6-4 in game five, Murray twisted his left knee, and went down. Play continued for a couple shots before everyone realized that Murray was injured. They helped Murray off the court, and upon a brief examination determined it was better that he not continue, so Mexico won, 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 7-4, injury forfeit. The win gives Mexico top seed for the medal round that begins Tuesday.

Word was that Murray will be re-evaluated on Tuesday to determine his fitness to continue in the tournament.

In a bit of a surprise, Cubans Yandy Espinosa and Maikel Moyet came back from a 2-1 down against Chileans Rafael Gatica and Rodrigo Salgado to win, 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, and claim third spot in Group 3.

In Women’s Doubles, there was one closely contested match and one tie-breaker on Monday. The closely contested match was between traditional powerhouses Mexico and the USA with Mexico managing to carry the day in four games. Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia defeated Michelle Key and Erika Manilla, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7, and win game two, so they will be 2nd seeds in the medal round.

The tie-breaker saw Ecuador hold on to defeat Costa Rica. Maria Jose Muñoz and Ana Sarmiento won the first two games against Jimena Gomez and Maricruz Ortiz, but then had to win it in a tie-breaker, 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, which gave them 3rd spot in Group 3.

The USA was also involved in a close match in Mixed Doubles, and unfortunately for them again came out on the losing end, as Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas and Diego Garcia defeated Michelle Key and Sam Bredenbeck, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10. The win put Argentina on top of Group 3.

Match streaming is in full swing, so to see matches, check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-8, 11-5, 11-6
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group 1 Standings

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
3) Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada)

Group 2 - Monday

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA), 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7
Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

Group 2 Standings

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
2) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA)
3) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile)

Group 3 - Monday

Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) d. Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia), 11-7, 10-12, 11-1, 11-3
Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6

Group 3 Standings

1) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia)
2) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia)
3) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador)
4) Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

Women's Doubles - Medal Round Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
8) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 9) Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 1 PM

3) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - BYE
6) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

5) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla (USA) - BYE
4) Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia) - BYE

7) Michèle Morissette & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) v. 10) Maria Jose Muñoz & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 1 PM

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Men's Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 8-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 7-4, injury forfeit
Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) - BYE

Group 1 Standings

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
3) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina)

Group 2 - Monday

Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA), 11-8, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-7, 11-9, 11-8

Group 2 Standings

1) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA)
3) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
4) Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

Group 3 - Monday

Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3
Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 7-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7

Group 3 Standings

1) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)
2) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
3) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
4) Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)

Men's Doubles - Medal Round Quarterfinals - Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) v. 9) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 1:45 PM

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
4) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - BYE

3) Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)
6) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 11) Ronal Cardona & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 1:45 PM

7) Fernando Kurzbard & Daniel Maggi (Argentina) v. 10) Rafael Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado (Chile) - 1:45 PM
2) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Mixed Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-3, 11-6, 11-6
Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-5, 11-3

Group 1 Standings

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) 
2) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
3) Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada)
4) Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)

Group 2 - Monday

Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-6, 11-7, 12-10
Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-8, 11-2, 11-7

Group 2 Standings

1) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
2) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
4) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba)

Group 3 - Monday

Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA), 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10
Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) d. Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia), 11-8, 14-12, 12-10

Group 3 Standings

1) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina)
2) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA)
3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
4) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia)

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round Quarterfinals - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya & Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. 9) Felipe Camacho & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

5) Gabriela Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 12) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
4) Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina)

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - BYE
6) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 11) Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)

7) Coby Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) v. 10) Maria Paz Muñoz & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
2) Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, April 3, 2023

Final day results & singles draws for the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Group play wrapped up Monday at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, setting the stage for the elimination round beginning Tuesday. There were a couple of tie-breakers Monday, as Colombian Maria Paz Riquelme came back from 2-1 down to defeat Costa Rica’s Jimena Gomez, 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, in one of them, and in the other Dominican Republic’s Merynanyelly Delgado eked out the victory over Canadian Juliette Parent, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9.

The top seeds in Women’s Singles are defending champion Angelica Barrios of Bolivia at #1, Natalia Mendez of Argentina #2, Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala #3, and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina #4. But Paola Longoria - the current International Racquetball Federation World Champion is not to be overlooked as the 5th seed.

The Men’s top seeds are Carlos Keller of Bolivia at #1 with the USA’s Jake Bredenbeck #2, Keller’s team-mate Conrrado Moscoso at #3 and Thomas Carter - Bredenbeck’s team-mate - #4.

Match streaming is available to see matches, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches. For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Women's Singles

Group 1 - Monday

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-5, 11-5
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

Group 1 Standings

1) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
2) Carla Muñoz (Chile)
3) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala)

Group 2 - Monday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 11-3, 11-7, 11-5
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Group 2 Standings

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
3) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)

Group 3 - Monday

Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia), 11-8, 11-9, 11-8
Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-3, 11-0, 11-4

Group 3 Standings

1) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
2) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia)
3) Paula Mansilla (Chile)
4) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba)

Group 4 - Monday

María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6
Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6

Group 4 Standings

1) María José Vargas (Argentina)
2) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
3) Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia)
4) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)

Group 5 - Monday

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 11-8, 11-5, 11-4
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 9-11, 11-5, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9

Group 5 Standings

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA)
3) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
4) Juliette Parent (Canada)

Group 6 - Monday

Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Erika Manilla (USA), 11-9, 15-13, 11-8
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 11-6, 11-5, 11-7

Group 6 Standings

1) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
2) Erika Manilla (USA)
3) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
4) Michèle Morissette (Canada)

Men's Singles

Group 1 - Monday

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Diego Garcia (Argentina), 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE

Group 1 Standings

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
2) Diego Garcia (Argentina)
3) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)

Group 2 - Monday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-1, 15-13, 11-5
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE

Group 2 Standings

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA)
2) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)
3) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)

Group 3 - Monday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 11-7, 11-5, 11-3
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group 3 Standings

1) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
2) Trevor Webb (Canada)
3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic)

Group 4 - Monday

Thomas Carter (USA) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-3, 11-4, 11-8
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Ronal Cardona (Honduras), 11-3, 11-4, 11-8

Group 4 Standings

1) Thomas Carter (USA)
2) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
3) Set Cubillos (Colombia)
4) Ronal Cardona (Honduras)

Group 5 - Monday

Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9
Diego Gatica (Chile) d. Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico), forfeit

Group 5 Standings

1) Samuel Murray (Canada)
2) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
3) Diego Gatica (Chile)
4) Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico)

Group 6 - Monday

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador), 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4
Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 13-11, 12-10, 11-3

Group 6 Standings

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
2) Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
3) Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
4) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

Group 7 - Monday

Andree Parrilla (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-7, 11-7
Yandy Espinosa (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 5-11, 11-5, 11-3, 13-11

Group 6 Standings

1) Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
2) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)
3) Yandy Espinosa (Cuba)
4) Rafael Gatica (Chile)

Women’s Open - Medal Round - Tuesday

1) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. 17) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

9) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

5) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
12) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 21) Juliette Parent (Canada) - 10 AM

13) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 20) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba) - 10 AM
4) María José Vargas (Argentina)

3) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
14) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) v. 19) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

11) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 22) Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 10 AM
6) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
10) Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE

15) Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) v. 18) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
2) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Men's Singles - Medal Round - Tuesday

1) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. 17) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)

9) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 24) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 25) Ronal Cardona (Honduras)

5) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
12) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 21) Rafael Gatica (Chile)

13) Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. 20) Maikel Moyet (Cuba)
4) Thomas Carter (USA) - BYE

3) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - BYE
14) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 19) Diego Gatica (Chile)

11) Trevor Webb (Canada) v. 22) Yandy Espinosa (Cuba)
6) Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

7) Andree Parrilla (Mexico) - BYE
10) Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) v. 23) Abraham Mercado (Puerto Rico)

15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 18) Set Cubillos (Colombia)
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA)

Follow the bouncing ball….