2014 Krowning Moment Bobcat Open - Waselenchuk to meet Carson in final

It will be #1 versus #2 in the first final of the 2014-15 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season, as Kane Waselenchuk and Rocky Carson won their respective semi-final matches at the 2014 Krowning Moment Bobcat Open in San Marcos, Texas. Waselenchuk, the IRT's top player, beat Jose Rojas, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1, and Carson, IRT @2, defeated Alejandro Landa, 11-2, 13-11, 11-6, in the semis.

Both matches were three straight, and each had one relatively easy game, but the other games were competitive. Waselenchuk started well against Rojas, going up 5-0 and 8-2 in game one. But Rojas held tough and closed the gap to two at 8-6 before Waselenchuk closed it out.

In game two, Rojas led 4-2, but then Waselenchuk switched serving strategies to use a walking serve from right centre to left centre, and drove the ball to the left, right and hit Zs to the left. The result was nine straight points, including three aces, and an 11-6 win.

After that streak, there was no recovery for Rojas, as Waselenchuk easily won the third game, 11-1.

Carson looked strong in the first game against Landa, winning 11-2. But in game two, they were back and forth early, resulting in a 5-5 tie. Then Carson got on a roll, and ran the score to 10-6.

However, Landa has been the comeback kid this tournament, making three comebacks to defeat Chris Crowther on Friday. Today, Landa scored five straight points to have a game point of his own at 11-10.

But on that rally, Landa skipped a shot that gave the serve back to Carson, but Carson failed to score. So, Landa got a second opportunity, but a long rally ended with a forehand pinch shot by Carson for a winner.

Landa didn't get another opportunity, as the veteran Carson scored the next three points to go up 2-0.

Game three had a similar pattern to game two, as they were again close early, and tied at 6-6. But Carson held Landa at six, as he scored five unanswered points to win the game 11-6 and take the match in three straight games.

The final will be 7 PM Saturday night on the IRT Network, but tune in early to see an interview with Waselenchuk.

2014 Krowning Moment Bobcat Open
San Marcos, Texas

Semi-finals - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1
Rocky Carson d. Alejandro Landa, 11-2, 13-11, 11-6

Final - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson - 7 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball….