2026 Central American & Caribbean Games - Team Results

The team events concluded the racquetball competition at the 2026 Central American & Caribbean Games (CACGs) on Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Once again, Mexico won both the Men’s and Women’s Team events, as they have in every CACG since 1990. In the Men’s Team competition, Mexico beat Costa Rica in the final in two straight matches, while the Women’s Team competition required three matches to determine the winner with Mexico defeating Guatemala, two matches to one.

The team competitions are a best of three matches: two singles and a doubles match. The order of the matches varies across a draw, but the final is always the singles matches and then the doubles match, if necessary.

In the women’s final, Mexican Montserrat Mejia beat Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7, first, and then Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez defeated Mexico’s Alexandra Herrera, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, which was a rematch of the Women’s Singles final that Herrera won.

The tie-breaking third match was also a rematch, as Mexico won gold over Guatemala in the Women’s Doubles final, and so it was again as Herrera and Mejia beat Martinez and Rodriguez, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9.

In men’s play, Mexican Rodrigo Montoya led off against Costa Rican Gabriel Garcia, winning 11-6, 12-10, 11-7, and Montoya’s team-mate Eduardo Portillo needed five games to fend off Andrés Acuña, 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, and close out the final.

The semi-final and quarterfinal matches were all won two straight with one exception. In the men’s quarterfinals, Cuba upset the home country of Dominican Republic in three matches. In the first match, Maykel Moyet of Cuba eked out a win against Dominican Ramon De Leon, 10-12, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8, 15-13. Luis Perez of the Dominican won the second match in three straight games, defeating Yandy Espinosa, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7, to force a deciding doubles match.

Espinosa and Moyet won a close four game match against Perez and Junior Rodriguez, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, to win the quarterfinal for Cuba, and get on the podium by making the semi-finals.

Central American & Caribbean Games History

With three silver medals at this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games, Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez is now has 13 CACG medals, which is the 2nd most racquetball medals in Central American and Caribbean Games history behind only Dominican Claudine Garcia’s 14. However, she has yet to win gold at the games, which Garcia did once in Women’s Singles in 1993.

Martinez’s 13 medals is just ahead of Mexican greats Paola Longoria, Javier Moreno and Alvaro Beltran, but all of Longoria’s and Moreno’s 12 medals were gold, as were 10 of Beltran’s. Also, Costa Rican Andrés Acuña has tied those Mexicans on 12, after he won four medals at this games, including his first gold CACG medal.

The Central American & Caribbean Games are part of the quadrennial of international games that lead up to the Summer Olympic Games. The next level of games in the Americas is the Pan American Games, which will be played next year in Lima, Peru in July and August, and racquetball will be included in those games.

XXV Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - July 25 - August 1, 2026

Women’s Team - Final

Mexico d. Guatemala, 2-1

Match 1: Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-5, 11-7
Match 2: Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 12-10, 11-7, 11-9

Match 3: Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-6, 11-9

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Dominican Republic, 2-0
Guatemala d. Costa Rica, 2-0

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE
Dominican Republic d. Venezuela, 2-0

Costa Rica d. Cuba, 2-0
Guatemala - BYE

Men’s Team - Final

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6

Men’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Guatemala, 2-0
Costa Rica d. Cuba, 2-0

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE
Guatemala d. Honduras, 2-0

Cuba d. Dominican Republic, 2-1
Costa Rica d. Venezuela, 2-0

Follow the bouncing ball….

2026 Central American & Caribbean Games - Individual Results

The 2026 Central American & Caribbean Games (CACGs) began a week ago in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the racquetball competition started last Saturday. Six countries are competing: Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, as well as the host Dominican Republic. The team competition is still in process, but the five individual competitions - men’s and women’s singles and doubles as well as mixed doubles - have concluded.

Mexico won four of the five individual events with Costa Rica preventing a Mexican sweep by winning Mixed Doubles.

Alexandra Herrera was a double gold medalist, as she won gold in Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with Montserrat Mejia. Herrera defeated Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez in the singles final, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9. It was Martinez’s 3rd silver medal in singles at the CACGs. In doubles, Herrera and Mejia defeated Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the final, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6, which was a repeat of the 2023 final. Thus, this is the 2nd consecutive title for Herrera and Mejia, and it’s the 4th consecutive silver medal for Martinez and Rodriguez.

In men’s play, Mexican Rodrigo Montoya beat team-mate Eduardo Portillo in singles, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6, which was a reversal of the 2023 CACGs final, when Portillo defeated Montoya. Portillo and Andree Parrilla won doubles by beating Guatemalans Christian Aldana and Juan Salvatierra in the final, 11-1, 12-10, 11-8. Mexico has won every men’s doubles title at the CACGs going back to 1990.

Montoya had a chance at a second gold medal, as he and Jessica Parrilla were in the Mixed Doubles final, but they lost to Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Larissa Faeth, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9. This is just the second time Mixed Doubles has been part of the CACGs, and Mexico were the defending champions.

Other matches of note. Costa Rican teen-ager Larissa Faeth defeated Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, in the quarterfinals of Women’s Singles, which is probably the largest upset of the tournament. Also, Guatemalans Christian Aldana and Juan Salvatierra coming back from 2-1 down to defeat the Costa Rican brothers Andrés and Sergio Acuña, 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, in the Men’s Doubles semi-final was another significant upset.

Racquetball was first included in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1990. Since then, Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two games: 1993 and 1998. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela won Men’s Singles in both those years, while the Women’s Singles titles went to Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic in 1993 and Anna Maldonado of Puerto Rico in 1998. Mexico has won gold in Men’s and Women’s Doubles at every Central American and Caribbean Games.

XXV Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - July 25 - August 1, 2026

Women’s Singles - Final

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-6, 12-10, 11-9

Semi-finals

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 12-10, 11-7, 11-2

Quarterfinals

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-5, 11-1
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Mariana Tobon Gordon (Venezuela), 7-11, 11-7, 11-0, 11-3

Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) d. Montserrat Mejia (Mexico), 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7
Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Andrea Reyes Perez (Guatemala), 12-10, 11-7, 11-2

Women’s Doubles - Final

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 11-8, 11-4, 11-6

Semi-finals

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-2, 11-3, 11-2
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Cespedes & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 13-11, 11-2

Men’s Singles - Final

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 11-4, 11-4, 11-6

Semi-finals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Ramon de Leon (Dominican Republic), 8-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8

Quarterfinals

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6
Ramon de Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 17-15, 11-9, 11-2

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-2, 11-8, 11-4
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Hector Sierra Mansilla (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-4, 13-11

Men’s Doubles - Final

Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Christian Aldana & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-1, 12-10, 11-8

Semi-finals

Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Luis Perez & Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Christian Aldana & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Andrés Acuña & Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5

Mixed Doubles - Final

Andrés Acuña & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Montoya & Jessica Parrilla (Mexico), 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9

Semi-finals

Andrés Acuña & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Ana Cardentey & Maykel Moyet Suarez (Cuba), 14-12, 12-10, 11-2
Rodrigo Montoya & Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) d. Christian Aldana & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico wins Team Events at 2023 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico won both the Men’s and Women’s Team events on Saturday at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, so they remain undefeated in the team competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games going back to 1990. The Mexican men defeated Costa Rica, and the women beat Guatemalan athletes competing as Centro Caribe Sport (CCS) due to an International Olympic Committee ban of Guatemala’s National Olympic Committee from international competitions.

The team competition has countries going head to head over three matches: two singles matches and doubles. The order of the matches can vary, and for the final it was the singles matches played first and then doubles, if necessary. However, doubles wasn’t necessary as Mexico won both of the singles matches in the finals.

In the Men’s final, Eduardo Portillo of Mexico defeated Costa Rica’s Felipe Camacho, 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, in the first match, but in the second match Andrés Acuña of Costa Rica almost forced a tie-breaking third match, as he came back from two games down against Rodrigo Montoya only to narrowly lose in the tie-breaker. Montoya won 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10.

Montserrat Mejia won the first match of the Women’s Final for Mexico by defeating Anna Aguilar (CCS), 11-0, 11-4, 11-2. Then Paola Longoria clinched gold for Mexico with a close win over Gabriela Martinez (CCS), 14-12, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10. That was a repeat of the Women’s Singles final earlier in the week, which Longoria also won.

Mexico beat Cuba, 2 matches to 0, in the Men’s Team semi-finals, while Costa Rica needed three matches to see off the Centro Caribe Sports team, 2-1. In the Women’s Team semi-finals, Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic in two straight matches, and the Centro Caribe Sports team also won in two straight matches against Costa Rica.

The Central American and Caribbean Games are part of the Olympic cycle of games. They are smaller event that leads up to the Summer Olympics. The next event in the cycle is the Pan American Games, which will happen this year in Santiago, Chile from 20 October to 5 November 2023. Usually, the Central American and Caribbean Games happen the year prior to the Pan American Games, but they were pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - June 24 - July 1

Women’s Team Event - Final

Mexico d. Centro Caribe Sport, 2-0

Match 1 - Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Anna Aguilar (CCS), 11-0, 11-4, 11-2
Match 2 - Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez (Centro Caribe Sport), 14-12, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10

Semi-finals

Mexico d. Dominican Republic, 2-0

Match 1 - Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-5, 11-0
Match 2 - Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-9, 11-5

Centro Caribe Sport d. Costa Rica, 2-0

Match 1 - Anna Aguilar (CCS) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-8, 12-10, 11-3
Match 2 - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Centro Caribe Sport) d. Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-9, 11-8

Men’s Team Event - Final

Mexico d. Costa Rica, 2-0

Match 1 - Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 11-3, 11-4, 11-5
Match 2 - Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10.

Semi-finals

Mexico d. Cuba, 2-0

Match 1 - Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-8, 11-6, 11-8
Match 2 - Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Yandy Espinoza & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-7, 11-7

Costa Rica d. Caribe Centro Sports, 2-1

Match 1 - Edwin Galicia (Centro Caribe Sport) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-8, 11-3
Match 2 - Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Juan Salvatierra & Christian Wer (Centro Caribe Sport), 11-6, 11-9, 11-4
Match 3 - Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Juan Salvatierra (Centro Caribe Sport), 11-8, 11-5, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

2023 Central American & Caribbean Games - Individual events

The 2023 Central American & Caribbean Games have being going on in San Salvador, El Salvador, but the racquetball competition is being held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (as were some other sports) due to facility availability. Six countries participated: Costa Rica, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, the host Dominican Republic and Guatemalan born athletes, but not Guatemala. That is, athletes from Guatemala are competing under the banner of Central Caribe Sport (CCS), as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the Guatemalan National Olympic Committee due to government interference last October.

Mexican athletes swept the gold medals in the individual competitions. For the fifth time, Paola Longoria won gold in Women’s Singles, and Eduardo Portillo won gold in Men’s Singles, which is his first international gold medal. In doubles, Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia won Women’s Doubles with Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya winning Men’s Doubles. Longoria and Portillo teamed up to win the Mixed Doubles title.

The Women’s Singles final was the same as in 2018, as Longoria faced Gabriela Martinez (CCS), 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4. That was the 3rd time the two have faced off in the last year, as they were also the Women's Singles finalists at World Games and the International Racquetball Federation World Championships last summer, and Longoria has won all three of the finals.

Mexican gold was guaranteed in Men’s Singles, as Portillo and team-mate Rodrigo Montoya faced off in the final. The games were close, but Portillo won three straight, 11-7, 13-11, 15-13.

Although Mexico won all three doubles titles, each of the finals went a full five games. In Women’s Doubles, Herrera and Mejia came back from two games down to defeat Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez (CCS), 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-6. Martinez and Rodriguez were also runners-up in 2018, when Longoria and Samantha Salas won gold.

Mar and Montoya won the first two games against Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Gabriel Garcia, but then had to hang on to win the match in a tie-breaker, as the Costa Ricans won games three and four. Mexico prevailed, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6. In 2018, Mexico and Costa Rica also faced off in the Men’s Doubles final, as Daniel De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran defeated Acuña and Felipe Camacho.

Longoria and Portillo went down 2 games to 1 against Martinez and Edwin Galicia (CCS), but then came back to win the match in five games: 11-6, 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6. This was the first time Mixed Doubles was part of the racquetball competition at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two Central American and Caribbean Games. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela is the only non-Mexican man to win Men’s Singles, doing so In 1993 and 1998. Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic (1993) and Antia Maldonado of Puerto Rico (1998) are the two non-Mexican women to win gold in Women’s Singles at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Mexico has won gold in Men’s and Women’s Doubles at every Central American and Caribbean Games.

2023 Central American & Caribbean Games
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - June 24 - July 1

Women’s Singles - Final

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez (Centro Caribe Sport), 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4

Semi-finals

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-6, 11-3
Gabriela Martinez (Centro Caribe Sport) d. Montserrat Mejia (Mexico), 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6

Women’s Doubles - Final

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Centro Caribe Sport), 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-6

Semi-finals

Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 11-1, 11-3, 11-5
Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Centro Caribe Sport) d. Jimena Gomez & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3

Men’s Singles - Final

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 11-7, 13-11, 15-13

Semi-finals

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Centro Caribe Sport), 11-6, 11-6, 11-7
Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-7, 11-3, 11-8

Men’s Doubles - Final

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6

Semi-finals

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra & Christian Wer (Centro Caribe Sport), 11-9, 11-4, 11-5
Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Yandy Espinoza & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-9, 11-8

Mixed Doubles - Final

Paola Longoria & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Centro Caribe Sport), 11-6, 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6

Semi-finals

Paola Longoria & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes & Ramón De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 11-8, 11-7
Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Centro Caribe Sport) d. Andrés Acuña & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico wins gold in Men's & Women's Team events at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico was golden once again in the Men’s and Women’s Team events at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico has won gold in the team events at every Central American & Caribbean Games (CACG) since 1990, when racquetball was first included in the CACG program.

In the Men’s Team final, Mexico defeated Costa Rica in two matches. Rodrigo Montoya beat Andrés Acuña, 15-10, 15-2, in singles, and then Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa closed the deal by defeating Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-2, in doubles.

The Women’s Team final was also over in two straight matches, as Mexico defeated Colombia. Alexandra Herrera beat Cristina Amaya in singles, 15-7, 15-12, and then Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-12, 15-5, in doubles.

With the victories, Beltran now has 12 medals in the CACG, which is tied for 2nd in overall with Javier Moreno, and two fewer than Claudine Garcia's (Dominican Republic) 14. Longoria has 10, and Salas 9.

The 2022 CACG will be in Panama, and racquetball is on the program.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-28
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Costa Rica, 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-2
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-2
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), not played

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Colombia - 2-0

1. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-7, 15-12
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-12, 15-5
3. Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), not played

Follow the bouncing ball….

Colombia upsets Guatemala to reach Women's Team final at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Colombia upset Guatemala to reach the final of the Women’s Team event at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia on Friday. They will play the top seeded Mexican team for gold in the final on Saturday. Colombia had to come from a match down to defeat Guatemala in their semi-final, while Mexico beat Costa Rica in two straight matches. The Men’s Team final will see #1 Mexico play #2 Costa Rica.

In their semi, Gabriela Martinez got Guatemala off to a good start against Colombia, as she defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 7-15, 11-6. But the Colombians levelled the match by winning doubles, as Riveros and Cristina Amaya won in three games against Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. In the deciding third match, Rodriguez won the first game against Amaya, but then the Colombian veteran took the next two games to carry the day for her country, winning 14-15, 15-6, 11-8.

In the other women’s semi, Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-2, 15-9, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Sauma and Maricruz Ortiz in doubles, 15-3, 15-3.

In the Men’s Team semis, Mexico beat Guatemala, 2-0, as Daniel De La Rosa defeated Edwin Galicia, 15-2, 15-14, and he and Alvaro Beltran beat Galicia and Christian Wer in doubles, 15-8, 15-4. Then Costa Rica needed three matches to fend off Cuba.

In the first match, Cuban Maykel Moyet took out Costa Rican Felipe Camacho in straight games, 15-6, 15-13. But Camacho and Andrés Acuña were able to level the contest at 1-1 as they won the doubles match against Moyet and Enier Chacon, 15-7, 15-11. Acuña then won it for Costa Rica by defeating Chacon, 15-6, 15-2.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico d. Guatemala - 2-0

1. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-14
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
3. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), not played

Costa Rica d. Cuba - 2-1

1. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-13
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-11
3. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 15-2

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Costa Rica

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Costa Rica - 2-0

1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
3. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Maricruz Ortiz, not played

Colombia d. Guatemala, 2-1

1. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
3. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 14-15, 15-6, 11-8

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team Competition Day 1 at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

International racquetball competitions are long, and when they have two parts - the individual singles and doubles competitions followed by a team competition - it can be difficult to perform well in both. So it was Thursday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, where some players who did well in the first part of the week didn’t fare so well on Thursday. The top two seeds in the Men’s Team competition didn’t have problems. Mexico - the #1 seeds - defeated Honduras in two straight matches, and 2nd seeds Costa Rica did similarly with Venezuela.

However, the other matches could be described as upsets based on what happened earlier in the week. Cuba defeated Colombia two matches to one. Colombian Mario Mercado needed a tie-breaker to beat Cuban Enier Chacon, 15-6, 14-15, 11-9. But Cuba levelled the match with a win in doubles, as Chacon and Maykel Moyet beat Mercado and Set Cubillos, 15-13, 15-12. In the deciding match, Moyet defeated Hosman Gomez, 15-12, 15-1, to carry the day for Cuba, who will play Mexico in the semi-finals Friday.

Dominican Republic got two bronze medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competitions earlier in the week, but they won’t be on the podium in the Men’s Team event, as Guatemala defeated them, 2-1. First, Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala beat Ramón De León of Dominican Republic, 15-13, 15-13. The Dominicans won the doubles match with De León and Luis Pérez defeated Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer, 15-4, 15-12. Then Guatemalan Edwin Galicia got his team the win by defeating Pérez in two straight games, 15-13, 15-4.

The Women’s Team quarterfinal matches were all over in two matches. Costa Rica defeated the Dominican Republic. Colombia beat Venezuela, and Guatemala got the better of Cuba. In the semi-finals, Costa Rica will play Mexico, who had a bye in the quarters, with Colombia playing Guatemala.

The Men’s and Women’s Team finals will be on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico d. Honduras - 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Carlos Medrano & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-4
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Carlos Medrano & (Honduras), not played

Guatemala d. Dominican Republic - 2-1

1. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-13
2. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-12
3. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-4

Cuba d. Colombia - 2-1

1. Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 14-15, 11-9
2. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-13, 15-12
3. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-12, 15-1

Costa Rica d. Venezuela - 2-0

1. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-6
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-3
3. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Luis Zea (Venezuela), not played

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Guatemala
Costa Rica v. Cuba

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE

Costa Rica d. Dominican Republic - 2-0

1. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-9
2. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 13-15. 11–1
3. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), not played

Colombia d. Venezuela, 2-0

1. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-1
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-9
3. Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon (Venezuela), not played

Guatemala d. Cuba, 2-0

1. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue (Cuba), 15-2, 15-7
2. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-8
3. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Viera (Cuba), not played

Women’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Costa Rica
Guatemala v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & De La Rosa are double gold medalists at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Paola Longoria and Daniel De La Rosa won twice on Wednesday, as Mexicans swept the racquetball gold medals Wednesday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Longoria won gold in Women’s Singles for the third consecutive time when she defeated Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-13, 15-7. Her team-mate Daniel De La Rosa fought back from a game down to win the Men’s Singles final, and beat Mario Mercado of Colombia, 9-15, 15-2, 11-5.

In doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 9-15, 15-9, 11-5, to win Women’s Doubles, while De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran won Men’s Doubles by beat Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-3.

Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two Central American & Caribbean Games. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela is the only non-Mexican man to win Men’s Singles, doing so In 1993 and 1998. Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic (1993) and Antia Maldonado of Puerto Rico (1998) are the two non-Mexican women to win gold in Women’s Singles at the Central American & Caribbean Games.

The Women’s Doubles final was a rematch of the final from four years ago. Mexico has won every Women’s Doubles title at the Central American & Caribbean Games. But after Guatemala won the first game, it looked like they were going to end that streak, and upset Mexico, as Guatemala led 8-1 in game two. But Mexico turned the tables, and won 25 of the next 31 points en route to the three game win.

Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet in the World Championship final in Costa Rica next month.

Mexico has also won gold in Men’s Doubles at every Central American & Caribbean Games, since racquetball was introduced to the games in 1990. De La Rosa and Beltran’s win was the 2nd consecutive Men’s Doubles title for Beltran, who won with Javier Moreno four years ago.

Acuña and Camacho’s silver medal was the 2nd time Costa Rica has finished second in Men’s Doubles at the Central American & Caribbean Games, but the first since 1990, when Orlando Lopez and Maurico Morera were runners up to Mexicans Francisco Martin and Arturo Martin.

The team event will begin Thursday at the Central American & Caribbean Games with the team event finals on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 4) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 9-15, 15-2, 11-5

Women’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-7

Men’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-3

Women’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 9-15, 15-9, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexicans in both Men's & Women's Singles - as well as Doubles - finals at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico will have a chance to sweep the gold medals in singles racquetball on Wednesday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico won gold in both Men’s and Women’s Singles four years ago, and also won silver in each division, but they won’t do that this year in either division.

In Women’s Singles, Paola Longoria of Mexico will have a chance to defend her gold medals, as she defeated Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-0,15-4, in the semi-finals Tuesday. But Longoria’s team-mate Alexandra Herrera lost in the other semi-final to Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-20-15, 11-7. Thus, Longoria and Martinez will play for gold for a 2nd time at an international event. They met in the final of the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, which were also in Colombia - in Cali.

On the men’s side, Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico will have a chance to go one better than he did four years ago, when he was a silver medalist at the 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games. Then he lost the final to team-mate Alvaro Beltran. But a win on Tuesday in the semi-finals over Andés Acuña of Costa Rica, 15-7, 15-7, puts De La Rosa back in the final.

He’ll face Mario Mercado of Colombia in the final, as Mercado defeated Luis Pérez of the Dominican Republic, 15-5, 13-15, 11-4, in the other semi-final. They were tied at 4-4 in the breaker, when Mercado went on a seven point streak that Pérez had no answer for.

Mexico will also have a chance to sweep gold in doubles. Indeed, Mexican teams have won all the gold medals in Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the Central American and Caribbean Games going back to the introduction of racquetball in 1990.

This year De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran will represent Mexico in the Men’s Doubles final after they defeated the Dominican Republic’s Ramón De León and Luis Pérez, 15-9, 15-11. They will play 2nd seeds Andrés Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, who beat Colombians Mercado and Set Cubillos, 15-4, 15-3, in the other semi-final.

Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will have a chance to defend the gold medals they won four years ago at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, and they beat Maricruz Ortiz and Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-3, 15-2. In the final, Longoria and Salas will take on 2nd seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, who needed three games to defeat Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-12, 12-15, 11-4.

All the gold medal finals are on Wednesday, and the team event will begin Thursday with the team event finals on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 13-15, 11-4
3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-7

Men’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 4) Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-4
2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico), 15-2, 0-15, 11-7

Women’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-4, 15-3

Men’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)

Women’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-2
2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-12, 12-15, 11-4

Women’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Perez & Delgado with upsets as medal round begins at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic caused the biggest upset Monday in the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games wrapped up Sunday in Barranquilla, Colombia, as Perez knocked off the #1 seed in Men’s Singles, Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico, winning their quarterfinal match in two straight games, 15-10, 15-11, in the quarterfinals. Thus, Perez will be on the podium, as his win guarantees him at least a bronze medal. He’ll face 4th seed Mario Mercado of Colombia in the semi-finals. Mercado defeated Edwin Galicia of Guatemala in the quarters, 15-10, 15-14.

Perez’s team-mate Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) had the biggest upset on the women’s side, as she upset 4th seed Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 15-10, 15-11, in the quarterfinals, which will put her on the podium as well. Delgado will play top seed Paola Longoria of Mexico in the semi-finals on Tuesday, as Longoria beat Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-8, 15-7, in the quarterfinals Monday.

Amaya did get the better of Delgado in Women’s Doubles, as Amaya and Riveros beat Delgado and Alejandra Jiménez, 15-4, 15-5, in the quarterfinals.

The Dominican Men’s Doubles team also won on Monday, when Perez and Ramón De León and Luis Pérez defeated the Venezuelan team of Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro, 15-5, 8-15, 11-8. With three quarterfinals wins on Monday, the Dominican Republic athletes assured themselves of returning home with more medals this year than they had four years ago, when they only got two: silver in Men’s Doubles - earned by Perez and Junior Rodriguez, and bronze in the Men’s Team event.

The semi-finals are on Tuesday and gold medal finals on Wednesday July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 16) Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-1, 15-5
8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 9) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-7, 15-0

5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 12) Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-2
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 13) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-4, 15-4

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 14) Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-1
11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 6) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-9

7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. 10) Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 14-15, 11-1
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 15) Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-1, 15-2

Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Monday

8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 15-10, 15-11
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-14

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-9, 13-15, 11-2

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico)

Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 8) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-4, 15-3
5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. 4) Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-5, 8-15, 11-8

3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 6) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-9, 10-15, 11-7
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 7) Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-10, 10-15, 11-2

Men’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia)

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 9) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-4

12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 5) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 6-15, 15-2, 11-8
4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. 13) Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-6

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. 14) Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-4
6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 11) Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-3

7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 10) Maria Viera (Cuba), 14-15, 15-11, 11-8
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-10, 15-11

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. 6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-3
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. 7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-4

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) v. 3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico)

Women’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. 5) Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-12, 15-10

3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 6) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-5
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-7

Women’s Doubles - Semi-finals - Tuesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 3

The Group Stage of the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games wrapped up Sunday in Barranquilla, Colombia. Thus, they have determined the seedings for the playoff round. Mexicans are the top seeds in all divisions, which is unsurprising as they are also the defending champions in all four divisions: Men’s Singles and Doubles as well as Women’s Singles and Doubles.

In Men’s Singles, Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) is the top seed with Costa Rican Andres Acuña 2nd seed, Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) is 3rd seed and Colombian Mario Mercado is 4th seed. In Men’s Doubles, De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran are seeded 1st with Acuña and Felipe Camacho 2nd, Mercado and Set Cubillos are 3rd and 4th are the Venezuelan team of Cesar Castillo and Cesar Castro.

In Women’s Singles, Mexican Paola Longoria is the top seed with team-mate Alexandra Herrera the 3rd seed. Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala is 2nd and Cristina Amaya of Colombia is 4th. In Women’s Doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas are seeded 1st, with Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez 2nd, Amaya and Adriana Riveros 3rd and Costa Ricans Maricruz Ortiz and Melania Sauma 4th.

The playoff rounds for both singles and doubles begin July 23 with all finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 3

Group A

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-1, 15-4
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-7, 15-7

Group B

Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-3
Hosman Gomez (Colombia) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-3

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-6, 15-9

Group D

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-6
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-3

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 16) Luis Zea (Venezuela)
8) Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

5) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 12) Hosman Gomez (Colombia)
4) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 13) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 14) Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela)
6) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 11) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)

7) Maykel Moyet (Cuba) v. 10) Ramón De León (Dominican Republic)
2) Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 15) Robin Romero (Cuba)

Men’s Doubles - Day 3

Group A

Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-8, 15-7
Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-4, 15-13

Group B

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-6, 15-3
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-13, 13-15, 11-7

Men’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. 8) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras)
4) Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) v. 5) Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic)

3) Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 6) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 7) Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba)

Women’s Singles - Day 3

Group A

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-2
Diana Rangel (Venezuela) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-4
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0

Group D

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-7
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-5, 15-5

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Monday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
8) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 9) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)

5) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 12) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)
4) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 13) Loraine Felipe (Cuba)

3) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. 14) Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic)
6) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 11) Diana Rangel (Venezuela)

7) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 10) Maria Viera (Cuba)
2) Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Women’s Doubles - Day 3

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-1
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-7, 15-7
Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-6

Women’s Doubles - Quarterfinals - Monday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
4) Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. 5) Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba)

3) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 6) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic)
2) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 7) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 2

On Day 2 of the racquetball competition at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia there were no surprises in singles with just two tie-breakers. In Men’s Singles, Luis Pérez of Dominican Republic needed three games to beat Hosman Gomez of Colombia, 15-5, 10-15, 11-0, and in Women’s Singles Venezuelan Mariana Tobon came back from a game down to defeat Costa Rican Melania Sauma, 10-15, 15-11, 11-5.

In Men’s Doubles, the Mexican team of Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa were forced to a tie-breaker for a second time in as many days Saturday, as they needed three games to defeat Cubans. Enier Chacon and Maykel Moyet, 15-9, 14-15, 11-6. Men’s Doubles has become very competitive in recent international tournaments. Mexico remains the odds on favourite to win gold, but if they don’t, it won’t be a tremendous surprise.

Also testifying to the competitiveness of Men’s Doubles, the Colombian team of Set Cubillos and Mario Mercado went breaker with Ramón De León and Luis Pérez of Dominican Republic, winning 15-13, 12-15, 11-4. The Dominicans forced Mexico to a breaker on Friday.

The playoff rounds for both singles and doubles begin July 23 with all finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 2

Group A

Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-9
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-1, 15-0

Group B

Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-5, 10-15, 11-0
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-0, 15-0
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2

Group D

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-1
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-12

Men’s Doubles - Day 2

Group A

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-10, 15-4

Group B

Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-9, 14-15, 11-6
Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 12-15, 11-4

Women’s Singles - Day 2

Group A

Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-2
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-11
Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-0, 15-0
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-11, 11-5

Group D

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-7, 15-3
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-4, 15-8

Women’s Doubles - Day 2

Group A

Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-11
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-3
Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - Day 1

The racquetball competition has begun at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. The format has a group stage prior to a playoff round with the group stage results used to seed players for the playoffs.

On day 1 there haven’t been any big surprises. In Men’s Singles, one match went tie-breaker, as Ramón De León of the Dominican Republic came back to defeat Luis Zea of Venezuela, 10-15, 15-8, 11-2.

In Women’s Singles, Colombian Cristina Amaya and Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez needed three games to find winner with Amaya coming out on top, 11-15, 15-12, 11-3. Also notable, their team-mates Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) and Adriana Riveros (Colombia) face off with Martinez winning, 15-14, 15-9.

The first round of Men’s and Women’s Doubles will happen later today. The playoff round begins July 23 with finals on July 25.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Day 1

Group A

Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-1
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6

Group B

Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-8
Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-3, 15-10

Group C

Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-2
Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. Robin Romero (Cuba), 15-6, 15-1

Group D

Ramón De León (Dominican Republic) d. Luis Zea (Venezuela), 10-15, 15-8, 11-2
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-3

Men’s Doubles - Day 1

Group A

Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-14
Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-2, 15-8

Group B

Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon & Maykel Moyet (Cuba), 15-11, 15-10
Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 11-15, 11-3

Women’s Singles - Day 1

Group A

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-0
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-14, 15-9
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group C

Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-6
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-13, 15-6

Group D

Maria Viera (Cuba) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-0, 15-13
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)

Women’s Doubles - Day 1

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-4, 15-12
Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group B

Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-12, 15-8
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 13-15, 15-6, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

A busy month of international racquetball

A busy month of international racquetball begins Friday with the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games that are taking place in Barranquilla, Colombia. Like the Olympics, the Central American and Caribbean Games are a quadrennial event involving countries around the Caribbean Sea. These games will be a lead up to the 2019 Pan American Games taking place in Lima, Peru.

Then next month the 19th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships will be held in San Jose, Costa Rica, August 10-18. These championships were originally to be held in Haining, China, but that fell through due to difficulties co-ordinating with the government.

Team USA

Earlier this month, USA Racquetball announced its team for the 2018 World Championships. David Horn and Charlie Pratt will play Men’s Singles with Rocky Carson and Sudsy Monchik playing Men’s Doubles. Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts will play both Women’s Singles and Doubles. David Ellis will coach the team with Brent Huff as the trainer and Cheryl Kirk as the leader.

There are two surprising aspects the US Team. One is that Rajsich and Lotts are playing Women's Doubles, as Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson defeated them to win Women’s Doubles at the 2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championships. But Bailey is getting married during the period that Worlds is occurring, so she declined the invitation to play on the team.

The other surprising aspect is that Carson isn’t playing Men’s Singles. We’re surprised by that because he is the 5 time defending World Champion in Men’s Singles. Carson hasn’t lost a singles match at Worlds since 2004 (he didn’t play singles in 2006). We expected that he’d want to try to keep that steak going. But it seems the appeal of playing doubles with Monchik was too strong, and that Carson didn’t want to play two events at Worlds.

Monchik will be playing on Team USA for just the second time. He played Men’s Doubles at the 1995 Pan American Games in Argentina, where he and Tim Sweeney won gold.

Follow the bouncing ball….

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games - A summing up

Mexico won all the gold medals at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (CACG) in Veracruz, Mexico. The gold results weren’t surprising, as the Mexicans were the defending champions in all divisions, and they have a strong team, including two time Women’s Singles World Champion Paola Longoria, who is also Women’s Doubles World Champion with partner Samantha Salas.

On the men’s side, Mexico was represented in Men’s Singles by former World Champion Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, who’s the 5th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). In Men’s Doubles, Mexico had Beltran and Javier Moreno, who have been World Champions together.

In short, the Mexican team was stacked.

Thus, it was a good tournament for Mexico, the host country, and it was also a good event for Guatemala, who collected four medals, including two silver medals for their women: Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez. Those results bode well for the future for Guatemala, as Martinez is only 15 and Rodriguez 19, so they should have many years ahead of them.

Costa Rica had some good results, including a silver in the Men’s Team event and bronze for Felipe Camacho in Men’s Singles. Camacho also got a bronze medal four years, but in Men’s Doubles with Teobaldo Fumero.

Also, the Dominican Republic players Luis Perez and Junior Rodriguez got silver in Men’s Doubles, which equalled the Dominican performance from four years ago. Perez is 23 and Rodriguez 19, so they could also be medals threats for years to come.

Generally, the medalists in Veracruz this year are younger than those in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico four years ago. This reinforces the youth movement that’s been seen in other competitions, especially the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT).

Multiple medalists

Five players - four women and one man - were multiple medalists in the individual events in Veracruz. Three of them were Mexicans: Longoria with gold in Women’s Singles and Doubles, Salas with silver in Women’s Singles and gold in Women’s Doubles, and Beltran with gold in Men’s Singles and Doubles.

The two other players with multiple medals were Martinez of Guatemala with silver in Women’s Doubles and bronze in Women’s Singles, and Cristina Amaya of Colombia with bronze in both Women’s Singles and Doubles.

Part of the Olympic movement

You may be wondering why you should care about the Central American and Caribbean Games? It’s a regional competition, so there are only a handful of countries competing. Thus, is this really important?

Yes. Yes, it is.

In sport, people talk about quadrennials or four year cycles, because the Olympic Games happen every four years. Athletes are always trying to prepare for the next Olympic Games, and the smaller competitions are part of that preparation.

Moreover, just as athletes try to progress from small competitions to larger ones, so do the events themselves. In the Americas, it begins with the Central American Games, which last happened in 2013 - the first year after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. That involves seven countries. Racquetball has been part of that event since 1990.

The next year is the Central American and Caribbean Games, which is happening now in 2014. Overall, 32 countries participate in the CACGs, and racquetball has been included since 1990. The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia.

This is followed by the Pan American Games, which involves 42 countries, and will be held next year in Toronto. Racquetball has been part of the Pan Am Games since 1995 (the sport was not included in the 2007 games).

The in 2016 the Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That involves countries from all around the world, but sadly it doesn’t include racquetball yet.

So, the Central American and Caribbean Games is part of the Olympic quadrennial, and a stepping stone to get to Rio in 2016. The importance of the CACG - outside of their importance alone - is that it’s part of the building process for the Olympics.

When racquetball becomes an Olympic Games sport, then it will be clearer how the CACG is important for developing players to perform on the world stage.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Singles

GOLD - Paola LONGORIA (Mexico)
SILVER - Samantha SALAS (Mexico)
BRONZE - Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala), Cristina AMAYA (Colombia)

Men's – Singles

GOLD - Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico)
SILVER - Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico)
BRONZE - Felipe CAMACHO (Costa Rica), Alejandro HERRERA (Colombia)

Women's – Doubles

GOLD - Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico)
SILVER - Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala)
BRONZE - Mariana TOBON & Ishlhey PAREDES (Venezuela), Cristina AMAYA & Maria GOMEZ (Colombia)

Men – Doubles

GOLD - Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico)
SILVER - Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic)
BRONZE - Cesar CASTRO & Cesar CASTILLO (Venezuela), Edwin GALICIA & Christian WER (Guatemala)

Women's Team

GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - Guatemala
BRONZE - Venezuela, Colombia

Men's Team

GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - Costa Rica
BRONZE - Colombia, Dominican Republic

Medal Summary

1. Mexico (6 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze)
2. Guatemala (2 silver, 2 bronze)
3. Costa Rica (1 silver, 1 bronze)
3. Dominican Republic (1 silver, 1 bronze)
5. Colombia (5 bronze)
6. Venezuela (3 bronze)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico wins both Men's & Women's Team Events at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico wins the Women's and Men's Team competitions at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico on Monday, which wraps up the racquetball portion of the competition. Mexico successfully defended the team gold medals they won four years ago, and they only needed two matches in both the women's and men's finals.

Daniel De La Rosa started it off with a two game win over Costa Rican Andres Acuña, 15-7, 15-9. Alvaro Beltran completed the Mexican win over Costa Rica by defeating Felipe Camacho, 15-7, 15-10.

The two wins in singles meant the doubles match, which would have put Beltran and Javier Moreno against Andres Aviles and Joaquin Solera, wasn't played.

The Mexican women also won in two straight against Guatemala. Samantha Salas defeated Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-10, in the first match, and Paola Longoria beat Gabriela Martinez in the second match 15-9, 15-1.

Rodriguez was close to Salas in their games, and led early in game two at 6-5, but never again. Longoria and Martinez were tied at 5-5, but then Longoria, the World Champion, pulled away to lead at 11-7 and went on to win it. Game two was all Longoria.

Thus, Mexico swept the gold medals in all divisions in Veracruz. Six in total, as well as two silver medals, as the singles finals were all Mexico battles.

Guatemala finishes second in the medal standings with two silver and two bronze. Costa Rica got one silver and one bronze, as did the Dominican Republic. Colombia got five bronze medals, and Venezuela three.

This concludes the racquetball portion of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, although the games continue to November 30. The 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Barranquilla, Colombia.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Team - Final

Mexico d. Guatemala, 2-0

Men's Team - Final

Mexico d. Costa Rica, 2-0

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team Compeition Day 2 at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

The Mexican Women's and Men's Teams have advanced to the finals in the Team competitions at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico. In the semi-finals, on the Men’s side, they defeated Colombia in the semi-finals, while the women beat Venezuela.

In the Men’s semis, Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) beat Alejandro Herrera, 15-9, 15-2, and teamed up with Javier Moreno to defeat Herrera and Andres Ramirez, 15-8, 9-15, 11-6. Thus, Colombia pushed it to a tie-breaker in an effort to have a third and deciding match played, but they didn’t quite get there.

Mexico will play Costa Rica in the Men’s Team final on Monday. Costa Rica defeated the Dominican Republic in the other semi-finals, 2-0. Felipe Camacho beat Luis Perez, 15-6, 15-7, and Andres Aviles and Joaquin Solera beat Perez and Junior Rodriguez, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7.

The Colombia and Guatemala women are going to a third match, as Cristina Amaya defeated Ana Gabriela Martinez, 15-3, 15-5, but Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez beat Amaya and Maria Gomez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1.

In the third and deciding match, Rodriguez came back from a game down to defeat Gomez, 9-15, 15-5, 11-5, for a spot in the final against Mexico.

The Mexicans - Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas - defeated Venezuela easily, as Longoria beat Mariana Tobon, 15-1, 15-2, and they teamed up to win doubles, beating Tobon and Mariana Tobon, 15-2, 15-1.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Venezuela, 2-0
Guatemala d. Colombia, 2-1

Women's Team - Final

Mexico v. Guatemala

Men's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Colombia, 2-0
Costa Rica d. Dominican Republic, 2-0

Men's Team - Final

Mexico v. Costa Rica

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team competition Day 1 at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

The Women's and Men's Team competitions begin on Saturday at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico. The team competition is a best of three with two singles matches and a doubles match. The order of the matches will vary across the rounds, so the order is not necessarily singles, singles, doubles. Doubles could be the first, second or third match.

Only one match from day one needed three matches to determine the outcome. Colombia defeated Guatemala, 2-1. Alejandro Herrera defeated Edwin Galicia, 15-8, 10-15, 11-7, but Christian Wer beat Francisco Gomez, 15-9, 15-14, to force a third match, which was doubles. In that, Herrera and Andres Ramirez beat Galicia and Wer, 15-11, 15-4, to take the match.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico d. Nicaragua
Venezuela d. Dominican Republic, 2-0

Colombia d. Costa Rica, 2-0
Guatemala d. Honduras, 2-0

Women's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico v. Venezuela
Colombia v. Guatemala

Men's Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE
Colombia d. Guatemala, 2-1

Costa Rica d. Venezuela, 2-0
Dominican Republic d. Honduras, 2-0

Men's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico v. Colombia
Costa Rica v. Dominican Republic

Follow the bouncing ball….

Gold medal sweep for Mexico at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico won all four gold medals the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, Friday. Alvaro Beltran started it off by successfully defending his Central American and Caribbean Games gold medal by defeating countryman Daniel De La Rosa in the Men’s Singles final, 15-7, 15-2.

Beltran and De La Rosa were close in game one, when Beltran led 8-7. However, after that point, De La Rosa only got two more points in the match, as Beltran got seven unanswered points to take game one, 15-7, and then won game two going away at 15-2.

Paola Longoria followed that up by also successfully defending her title in Women’s Singles by defeating team-mate Samantha Salas, 15-2, 15-3, in the final. They will team up to play in the Women's Doubles final later today against Guatemala.

Beltran went two for two, as he and Javier Morneo won the Men’s Doubles final, defeating Dominicans Luis Perez and Junior Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-6. Moreno was one of the defending gold medalists, winning in 2010 with Polo Gutierrez.

Longoria and Salas teamed up to win the Women's Doubles title by defeating Guatemalans Ana Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 15-2. Salas was one of the defending gold medalists, as she won gold with Susana Acosta in 2010.

This ends the individual competitions in Veracruz. There will be a team competition beginning Saturday and running to Monday.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Singles - Final

Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. Samantha SALAS (Mexico), 15-2, 15-3

Men's – Singles - Final

Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) d. Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico), 15-7, 15-2

Women's – Doubles - Final

Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico) v. Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala)

Men – Doubles - Final

Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico) d. Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic), 15-10, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico positioned to sweep gold after winning doubles semi-finals at 2014 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexicans have a chance to sweep the gold medals at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, as both their Women’s and Men’s Doubles teams won their respective semi-final matches Thursday.

In Women's Doubles, Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated the Venezuelan team of Mariana Tobon and Ishlhey Paredes, 15-6, 15-6. Their opponents will be the young Guatemalan team of Ana Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, which is a bit of a surprise, as they defeated a veteran Colombian team of Cristina Amaya and Maria Gomez, 15-12, 15-12.

On the Men’s Doubles side, it’s a replay of four years ago, as Mexico will play the Dominican Republic in the final. Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno defeated Venezuelans Cesar Castro and Cesar Castillo, 15-6, 15-5, in one semi-final while the Dominican team of Luis Perez and Junior Rodriguez beat Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer of Guatemala, 15-12, 15-12, in the other semi.

Thus, Javier Moreno and Luis Perez face off against each other once again, but with different partners. Four years ago Moreno and Polo Gutierrez defeated Perez and Simon Perdomo in the Men’s Doubles final in Puerto Rico.

Guatemala is doing one better in Women’s Doubles than they did four years ago, when Marie Gomar and Luci Zachrisson got to the semi-finals, where they lost to Salas and Susana Acosta.

Four years ago Martinez was 11. But now she’s the two time reigning U14 Girl’s World Junior Champion. Also this year she and Rodriguez were the silver medalists in U18 Girl’s Doubles at World Juniors.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's – Doubles - Semi-finals

Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico) d. Mariana TOBON & Ishlhey PAREDES (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-6
Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala) d. Cristina AMAYA & Maria GOMEZ (Colombia), 15-12, 15-14

Women's – Doubles - Final

Paola LONGORIA & Samantha SALAS (Mexico) v. Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala)

Men – Doubles - Semi-finals

Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico) d. Cesar CASTRO & Cesar CASTILLO (Venezuela), 15-6, 15-5
Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin GALICIA & Christian WER (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-12

Men – Doubles - Final

Alvaro BELTRAN & Javier MORENO (Mexico) v. Luis PEREZ & Junior RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic)

Follow the bouncing ball….