Monday, February 20, 2017

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Reid & Goedker

Dylan Reid won the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Consolation division at the Mount Rainier Open in Seattle on Sunday by defeating Tim Prigo in the final, 15-3, 15-4. In the semi-finals, Reid beat Sebastian Fernandez, 15-14, 15-5, and Prigo defeated Rich Carver, 15-7, 15-5.

In Mt Clemens, Michigan, Steve Goedker, seeded 6th in the draw, defeated each of the top three seeds to win the Motor City Rollout - a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Goedker beat top seed Scott Young in the final, 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 14-12, and 2nd seed Jason Kennedy, 11-4, 11-4, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6, in the semi-finals, and 3rd seed William Garrow, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4, in the quarterfinals.

The next main pro event will be the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) New Jersey Open in Warren, N.J., March 3-5.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


WRT Consolation Final

Dylan Reid d. Tim Prigo, 15-3, 15-4

Semi-finals

Dylan Reid d. Sebastian Fernandez, 15-14, 15-5
Tim Prigo d. Rich Carver, 15-7, 15-5

Motor City Rollout - IRT Tier 5
Mt Clemens, Michigan


Final

6) Steve Goedker d. 1) Scott Young, 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 14-12

Semi-finals

1) Scott Young d. 4) Ian Brooks, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11 [sic]
6) Steve Goedker d. 2) Jason Kennedy, 11-4, 11-4, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Sunday, February 19, 2017

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Montoya wins twice

Rodrigo Montoya won both the singles and doubles titles Sunday at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Mount Rainier Open in Seattle. Montoya defeated David Horn, 15-5, 15-5, to take the singles title, which was the 3rd of his career. Montoya’s win maintained his undefeated record when reaching a WRT final. Last year he defeated Alejandro Cardona to win the Pleasanton Open, and earlier this year Montoya beat Javier Mar to take the Longhorn Open.

Montoya’s three WRT wins puts him 5th on the most WRT titles behind Cardona with 12, Polo Gutierrez (10), Alejandro Landa (8), and Jake Bredenbeck (4).

Montoya’s win over Horn came despite playing much less racquetball over the weekend, as Horn did not play doubles, while Montoya partnered with Andree Parrilla. The pair were successful in the doubles final, beating 3rd seeds Sebsatian Fernandez and Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-5, 15-1.

The next WRT event is the WRT Midwest Championships in Minneapolis, March 10-12.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Final

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) David Horn, 15-5, 15-5

Doubles - Final

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-5, 15-1

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, February 18, 2017

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Horn & Montoya advance to final

David Horn remains on track to win his 2nd World Racquetball Tour (WRT) title at the Mount Rainier Open in Seattle, as the top seed is into the Sunday’s final after defeating 4th seed Polo Gutierrez, 15-12, 15-10. Gutierrez was playing his first WRT event since September, and did not look his best against Horn. Horn still had to make the shots, and he has lived up to the #1 seeding so far.

Third seed Rodrigo Montoya will face Horn in the final, as Montoya upset 2nd seed Andree Parrilla, who’s also his doubles partner, 15-6, 15-14. It looked like Montoya would win in two comfortable games, as he was up 14-6 in game two. However, Parrilla staged a great come back to tie the score at 14-14.

Yet Montoya got the serve back with a forehand winner, and then hit a drive serve to the left side that had produced several aces for him in the match. This time the serve jammed out away from the corner, and Parrilla stepped towards the corner and turned to take it with his forehand. However, Parrilla skipped the return, ending his come back, and giving the game and match to Montoya.

As mentioned Montoya and Parrilla played doubles together in Seattle, and we believe they had their quarterfinal doubles match immediately before their semi-final singles match. They won the doubles quarter, but in a tie-breaker against Felipe Camacho and Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-1, 11-3, and they were to play the doubles semi-finals later on Saturday night.

Horn, in contrast, didn’t play doubles this weekend; neither did Gutierrez. Thus, come Sunday’s final, Montoya will have played a lot more racquetball in the preceding 48 hours than Horn, which could be to Horn’s advantage.

Watch the final live from Seattle via the WRT website at noon Pacific time with the doubles final following immediately afterwards.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Semi-finals - Saturday

1) David Horn d. 4) Polo Gutierrez, 15-12, 15-10
3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-14

Semi-finals - Sunday

1) David Horn v. 3) Rodrigo Montoya - Noon

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-1, 11-3
5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria d. 13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-12, 10-15, 11-1

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-11
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria, 15-5, 15-5
3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso, 15-8, 11-15, 11-1

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Quarterfinals

After a couple of upsets in the Round of 16 at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Mount Rainier Open in Seattle, all four top seeds won in the quarterfinals to book their places in the semi-finals. That includes top seed David Horn, although again he didn’t do it the easy way, as he came from a game down to defeat Jordy Alonso, 9-15, 15-9, 11-4. Next up for Horn is 4th seed and 10 time WRT event winner Polo Gutierrez, who defeated Christian Longoria, 15-14, 12-15, 11-9, in the quarters. If Horn starts slow against Gutierrez, it could be too much to overcome.

In the other semi will be 2nd seed Andree Parrilla against 3rd seed Rodrigo Montoya. Parrilla defeated Gerardo Franco in two straight games, 15-4, 15-3, and Montoya took out Mauro Rojas, 15-4, 15-13, in the quarters.

You can watch the semi-finals live from Seattle via the WRT website from 5 PM Pacific time. The final will be Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington

Quarterfinals


1) David Horn d. 25) Jordy Alonso, 9-15, 15-9, 11-4
4) Polo Gutierrez d. 5) Christian Longoria, 15-14, 12-15, 11-9

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 11) Mauro Rojas, 15-4, 15-13
2) Andree Parrilla d. 7) Gerardo Franco, 15-4, 15-3

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) David Horn v. 4) Polo Gutierrez - 6 PM
2) Andree Parrilla v. 3) Rodrigo Montoya - 5 PM

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada
5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria v. 13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. v. 11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, February 17, 2017

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Round of 16

David Horn is the #1 seed at a World Racquetball Tour (WRT) event for the first time in his career this weekend at the Mount Rainier Open in Seattle, but he almost didn’t survive the Round of 16, as he needed tie-breaker to fend off the challenge of 16th seed Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 6-15, 11-9, in what was a heated match with both players questioning the referee’s calls several times. In fact, Camacho was given two technicals in the tie-breaker, which could have made the difference.

In the breaker, Horn got up early with a 5-1 lead. Camacho made it 5-2, but after Horn got a side-out, Camacho hit the ball violently after the rally, and was assessed a technical, which made the score 5-1 again. Two more winners by Horn upped his lead to 7-1.

Camacho again got to two points at 7-2, but lost serve as he failed to check whether Horn had his racquet up on second serve. That wasn’t the first time Camacho had lost serve that way, so getting burned twice by it was not good. There were hinders on the next two rallies, and then another dispute by Camacho, which seemed to result in him getting another technical, as the score was 7-1 when play resumed.

Horn made it 8-1 with a backhand pinch shot, but lost serve when he skipped a backhand pinch on the next rally. Cue the comeback, as Camacho scored six straight rallies to make the score 8-7. Horn called a timeout at 8-4, but that didn’t stop Camacho’s streak. Horn stopped the streak with a forehand pinch return off a Camacho drive Z serve to the right side.

With the serve back, Horn scored two consecutive points, and seemed to win a third, as Camacho appeared to get a ball after it bounced twice. However, the referee didn’t see it that way, and Camacho ended up winning the rally with a forehand shot down the left side.

Camacho called a timeout to collect himself, and scored two points to make it 10-9. He thought he had tied the game when Horn hit a backhand shot, but the referee saw Horn’s shot as good despite Camacho’s protests otherwise.

Horn made no mistake on his second match point, as he hit a forehand winner down the right wall to win the breaker, and take the match in three games.

You can watch matches live from Seattle via the WRT website beginning with the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Mount Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Round of 16

1) David Horn d. 16) Felipe Camacho, 15-12, 6-15, 11-9
25) Jordy Alonso d. 9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-8, 15-14

5) Christian Longoria d. 21) Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-7, 15-8
4) Polo Gutierrez d. 13) Danny Lavely, 15-10, 9-6, injury forfeit

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 19) Mauricio Zelada, 15-4, 15-6
11) Mauro Rojas d. 6) Jake Bredenbeck

7) Gerardo Franco d. 23) Wayne Antone IV, 15-10, 14-15, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla d. 15) Victor Camacho, 15-8, 15-6

Quarterfinals

1) David Horn v. 25) Jordy Alonso
4) Polo Gutierrez v. 5) Christian Longoria

3) Rodrigo Montoya v. 11) Mauro Rojas
2) Andree Parrilla v. 7) Gerardo Franco

Doubles - Round of 32

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
16) Rick Charbonneau & Ryan Charbonneau d. 17) Johan Igor & Ari Weissbrot, 9-15, 15-8, 11-8

8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada - BYE
9) Jake Birnel & Andrew Conti - BYE

5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid - BYE

13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE
4) Luis Avila & Danny Lavely - BYE

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - BYE
14) A. C. Bates & Jorge Carlos Thomas d. 19) Robert Allen & Daniel Pischke, forfeit

11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Wayne Antone IV & Gerardo Franco - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Rich Carver & Mitchell Turner - BYE

18) Kenneth Celmer & Rich King d. 15) Rafael Gatica & Esteban Martinez, 15-12, 15-8
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso - BYE

Doubles - Round of 16

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 16) Rick Charbonneau & Ryan Charbonneau, 15-2, 15-10
8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada d. 9) Jake Birnel & Andrew Conti, 15-4, 15-2

5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria d. 12) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid, 15-9, 15-12
13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu d. 4) Luis Avila & Danny Lavely, 15-13, 15-7

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 14) A. C. Bates & Jorge Carlos Thomas, 15-1, 14-15, 11-3
11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Wayne Antone IV & Gerardo Franco, 15-11, 15-12

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 10) Rich Carver & Mitchell Turner, 15-5, 15-5
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso d. 18) Kenneth Celmer & Rich King, 15-4, 15-0

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla v. 8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada
5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria v. 13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. v. 11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck

Follow the bouncing ball….

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Rounds of 64 & 32

Play has begun at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Mount Rainier Open in Seattle, and American junior champion 23) Wayne Antone IV has the first big upset, as he defeated 10th seed Luis Avila, 13-15, 15-1, 11-9. Antone will next play 7th seed Gerardo Franco in the Round of 16, as Franco beat 26th seed Andrew Conti, 15-3, 15-11, in the Round of 32.

Two upsets in the Round of 32, as 25th seed Jordy Alonso took out 8th seed Francisco Troncoso, 15-4, 15-5, and veteran Japanese team member Hiroshi Shimizu beat 12th seed Sebsatian Fernandez, 1-15, 15-6, 11-7. Shimizu will now play World Junior U18 Champion Christian Longoria, who is the 5th seed, and he also needed a tie-breaker in the 32s in defeating Jake Birnel, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5.

You can watch matches live from Seattle via the WRT website beginning with the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington

Round of 64


1) David Horn - BYE
33) Jeremy McGlothin d. 32) Rafael Gatica, 15-10, 15-7

17) Brad Schopieray - BYE
16) Felipe Camacho - BYE

9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - BYE
24) Mitchell Turner - BYE

25) Jordy Alonso d. 40) Dylan Reid, 15-8, 15-5
8) Francisco Troncoso - BYE

5) Christian Longoria - BYE
28) Jake Birnel d. 37) Jorge Carlos Thomas, 15-3, 15-5

12) Sebsatian Fernandez - BYE
21) Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE

13) Danny Lavely - BYE
20) Russel Cahill - BYE

36) Johan Igor d. 29) Esteban Martinez, 15-7, 15-14
4) Polo Gutierrez - BYE

3) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
30) Eduardo Portillo d. 35) Mason Masuda, 15-1, 15-0

14) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - BYE
19) Mauricio Zelada - BYE

11) Mauro Rojas - BYE
22) Rich Carver - BYE

38) Ari Weissbrot d. 18) A. C. Bates, 15-13, 15-6
6) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
26) Andrew Conti d. 39) Esteban Rodriguez-Marek, forfeit

10) Luis Avila - BYE
23) Wayne Antone IV - BYE

15) Victor Camacho - BYE
18) Tim Prigo - BYE

34) Patrick Allin d. 31) Rick Charbonneau, 15-7, 15-1
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE

Round of 32

1) David Horn d. 33) Jeremy McGlothin, 15-3, 15-2
16) Felipe Camacho d. 17) Brad Schopieray, forfeit

9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. d. 24) Mitchell Turner, 15-4, 15-10
25) Jordy Alonso d. 8) Francisco Troncoso, 15-4, 15-5

5) Christian Longoria d. 28) Jake Birnel, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
21) Hiroshi Shimizu d. 12) Sebsatian Fernandez, 1-15, 15-6, 11-7

13) Danny Lavely d. 20) Russel Cahill, 15-3, 15-5
4) Polo Gutierrez d. 36) Johan Igor, 15-0, 15-1

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 30) Eduardo Portillo, 15-3, 12-15, 11-0
19) Mauricio Zelada d. 14) Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 15-1, 15-6

11) Mauro Rojas d. 22) Rich Carver, 15-7, 15-14
6) Jake Bredenbeck d. 38) Ari Weissbrot, 9-15, 15-6, 11-2

7) Gerardo Franco d. 26) Andrew Conti, 15-3, 15-11
23) Wayne Antone IV d. 10) Luis Avila, 13-15, 15-1, 11-9

15) Victor Camacho d. 18) Tim Prigo, 15-14, 15-12
2) Andree Parrilla d. 34) Patrick Allin, 15-7, 15-10

Round of 16

1) David Horn v. 16) Felipe Camacho
9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. v. 25) Jordy Alonso

5) Christian Longoria v. 21) Hiroshi Shimizu
4) Polo Gutierrez v. 13) Danny Lavely

3) Rodrigo Montoya v. 19) Mauricio Zelada
6) Jake Bredenbeck v. 11) Mauro Rojas

7) Gerardo Franco v. 23) Wayne Antone IV
2) Andree Parrilla v. 15) Victor Camacho

Doubles - Round of 32

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
16) Rick Charbonneau & Ryan Charbonneau d. 17) Johan Igor & Ari Weissbrot, 9-15, 15-8, 11-8

8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada - BYE
9) Jake Birnel & Andrew Conti - BYE

5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid - BYE

13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE
4) Luis Avila & Danny Lavely - BYE

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - BYE
14) A. C. Bates & Jorge Carlos Thomas d. 19) Robert Allen & Daniel Pischke, forfeit

11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Wayne Antone IV & Gerardo Franco - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Rich Carver & Mitchell Turner - BYE

15) Rafael Gatica & Esteban Martinez v. 18) Kenneth Celmer & Rich King
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Thursday, February 16, 2017

WRT 2017 Mt Rainier Open - Preview

The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) is back in action this weekend with the Mount Rainier Open in Seattle, where 40 players are in the draw which might be a WRT record. However, WRT #1 Alejandro Cardona is not one of the 40, so David Horn is the top seed with Andree Parrilla 2nd seed, Rodrigo Montoya 3rd seed, and Polo Gutierrez is the 4th seed. However, if you put those four players in order of their WRT tour wins, Gutierrez would be tops, as he’s won 10 WRT tournaments. Montoya and Parrilla have won twice, and Horn only once.

They are also playing doubles in Seattle, although of those top four singles seeds only two are in doubles, as Montoya and Parrilla have teamed up and are the top seeds in a draw of 19 teams.

You can watch matches live from Seattle via the WRT website beginning with the quarterfinals on Saturday morning at 10 AM Pacific time. The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5 and 6 PM Saturday with the final on Sunday at noon.

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington


Round of 64

1) David Horn - BYE
32) Dylan Reid v. 33) Jeremy McGlothin

17) Brad Schopieray - BYE
16) Felipe Camacho - BYE

9) Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - BYE
24) Mitchell Turner - BYE

25) Jordy Alonso v. 40) Rafael Gatica
8) Francisco Troncoso - BYE

5) Christian Longoria - BYE
28) Jake Birnel v. 37) Jorge Carlos Thomas

12) Sebsatian Fernandez - BYE
21) Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE

13) Danny Lavely - BYE
20) Russel Cahill - BYE

29) Esteban Martinez v. 36) Johan Igor
4) Polo Gutierrez - BYE

3) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
30) Eduardo Portillo v. 35) Mason Masuda

14) Alexi David Cocco Hayes - BYE
19) Mauricio Zelada - BYE

11) Mauro Rojas - BYE
22) Rich Carver - BYE

18) A. C. Bates v. 38) Ari Weissbrot
6) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

7) Gerardo Franco - BYE
26) Andrew Conti v. 39) Esteban Rodriguez-Marek

10) Luis Avila - BYE
23) Wayne Antone IV - BYE

15) Victor Camacho - BYE
18) Tim Prigo - BYE

31) Rick Charbonneau v. 34) Patrick Allin
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE

Doubles - Round of 32

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla - BYE
16) Rick Charbonneau & Ryan Charbonneau v. 17) Johan Igor & Ari Weissbrot

8) Felipe Camacho & Mauricio Zelada - BYE
9) Jake Birnel & Andrew Conti - BYE

5) Jordy Alonso & Christian Longoria - BYE
12) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid - BYE

13) Patrick Allin & Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE
4) Luis Avila & Danny Lavely - BYE

3) Sebsatian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr. - BYE
19) Robert Allen & Daniel Pischke - BYE

11) Victor Camacho & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Wayne Antone IV & Gerardo Franco - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Rich Carver & Mitchell Turner - BYE

15) Rafael Gatica & Esteban Martinez v. 18) Kenneth Celmer & Rich King
2) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, February 13, 2017

Carson & Rajsich win US Team Singles at USA Racquetball Doubles Championships

Rocky Carson and Rhonda Rajsich, the top seeds in the US Team Qualifying Singles divisions at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona won their respective finals Sunday. Carson’s win over David Horn was by a comfortable margin, 15-1, 15-7, but Rajsich needed a tie-breaker, and came from a game down to defeat Sharon Jackson, 12-15, 15-2, 11-2.

This singles competition is one of three parts for qualifying for the US Team for 2017-18. The others are the 2016 US Open, and the 2017 USA Racquetball Singles Championships in May. Players are awarded points based on their results in these three events: 20% from the US Open, 30% from this weekend, and 50% from the Singles Championships.

After this weekend, the Carson and Rajsich lead the respective men’s and women’s qualifying races with Horn and Jackson in the respective 2nd places. Robert Collins and Charlie Pratt are tied for 3rd in the men’s standings, and Janel Tisinger is 3rd in the women’s standings.

If you missed any of the action, check out the USA Racquetball Livestream channel to see how it went down.

2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions


Men’s Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson d. 3) David Horn, 15-1, 15-7

Women’s Singles

Final - Sunday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 2) Sharon Jackson, 12-15, 15-2, 11-2

Men’s 2017-18 US Team Qualifying Standings
(through 2 of the 3 qualifying events)

1. Rocky Carson - 46 points
2. David Horn - 26
3. Robert Collins - 19
3. Charlie Pratt - 19
5. Jake Bredenbeck - 15
6. Jose Rojas - 12
7. Jose Diaz - 11

Women’s 2017-18 US Team Qualifying Standings
(through 2 of the 3 qualifying events)

1. Rhonda Rajsich - 36 points
2. Sharon Jackson - 25
3. Janel Tisinger - 19
4. Jackie Paraiso - 18
5. Sheryl Lotts - 11
6. Da’monique Davis - 10

Follow the bouncing ball....

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Ruiz & Tisinger and Carson & Diaz win at 50th Annual USA Racquetball National Double Championships

The top seeds carried the day on Saturday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships at the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as both the #1 seeds in Men’s and Women’s US Team Qualifying divisions won the final matches on Saturday.

On the men’s side, Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz - a new team - came back from a game down to narrowly defeated the brother team of Jose and Marco Rojas, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10. The women’s final was not as close, as reigning USA and World Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger defeated Da’monique Davis and Jackie Paraiso, 15-5, 15-5.

Singles Play

Carson has a chance to be a double winner in Tempe, as he is in the final of the US Team Qualifying Men’s Singles division after defeating Charlie Pratt, 15-5, 15-13. He’ll play David Horn in the final, as Horn beat Robert Collins in the other semi-final, 15-5, 15-7.

In Women’s Singles, top seed Rhonda Rajsich came back from a game down to defeat 4th seed Tisinger, 12-15, 15-7, 11-10. Second seed Sharon Jackson also needed a tie-breaker in the other semi-final to beat 3rd seed Paraiso, 15-7, 14-15, 11-5.

You can watch the singles finals live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel, and if you’ve missed any of the action, check out that USA Racquetball channel to see the matches again.

2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles


Final - Saturday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson d. 2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10

Women's Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger d. 3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-5, 15-5

Men’s Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson d. 4) Charlie Pratt, 15-5, 15-13
3) David Horn d. 7) Robert Collins, 15-5, 15-7

Final - Sunday

1) Rocky Carson v. 3) David Horn - 1:10 PM

Women's Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Janel Tisinger, 12-15, 15-7, 11-10
2) Sharon Jackson d. 3) Jacqueline Paraiso, 15-7, 14-15, 11-5

Final - Sunday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 2) Sharon Jackson - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball....

Friday, February 10, 2017

50th Annual USA Racquetball National Doubles - Friday results

The surprise result Friday at the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona came in Women’s Doubles, as 3rd seeds Da’monique Davis and Jacqueline Paraiso upset the 2nd seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts, 15-13, 15-10, in the semi-finals. Thus, they’ll go for the championship on Saturday against reigning USA and World Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, who defeated 5th seeds Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson, 15-9, 15-2, in the other semi.

We believe this will be Davis’s first time in the final, although it’s old hat for the veteran Paraiso, who has 14 USA Women’s Doubles titles to her credit.

On the men’s side, it will be #1 versus #2, as top seeds Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz beat 5th seeds Robert Collins and David Horn, 15-10, 15-10, and 2nd seeds Marco Rojas and Jose Rojas defeated 3rd seeds Charlie Pratt and Jansen Allen in three games, 15-14, 5-15, 11-4.

Singles Play

There were no upsets in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Singles USA Team Qualifying division, but there were three tie-breakers. Top seed Rhonda Rajsich needed a breaker to fend off 8th seed Kelani Bailey, 15-14, 6-15, 11-7, but 2nd seed Sharon Jackson ousted 7th seed Da’monique Davis in two straight games, 15-8, 15-5.

Rajsich will face 4th seed Janel Tisinger in the semi-finals Saturday after Tisinger came back to beat 5th seed Cheryl Gudinas, 8-15, 15-11, 11-6. Jackson will be up against Paraiso in the other semi, as the veteran came back from a game down to defeat 6th seed Sheryl Lotts, 14-15, 15-13, 11-8.

In Men’s Singles, there was only one upset as 7th seed Robert Collins defeated 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-14, although Bredenbeck, a natural right-hander, was playing left-handed due to a right shoulder injury he suffered at last year’s US Open. Collins, who is left-handed, will play David Horn in the semi-finals, as Horn narrowly defeated Thomas Carter, 15-8, 7-15, 11-5.

They were close in the breaker, and tied at 5-5 when Horn went down after twisting his left knee. But after that Horn didn’t give up a point, scoring six unanswered to take the breaker 11-5, and win the match.

Top seed Rocky Carson will face 4th seed Charlie Pratt in the other semi, as both won their quarterfinal matches in two straight games. Carson’s win was by a wider margin, as he beat 8th seed Majeed Shahin, 15-2, 15-1, while Pratt defeated 5th seed Jose Diaz in two close games, 15-10, 15-13.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.

2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles


Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson d. 5) Robert Collins & David Horn, 15-10, 15-10
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas d. 3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen, 15-14, 5-15, 11-4

Final - Saturday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson v. 2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas - 4:10 PM

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger d. 5) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson, 15-9, 15-2
3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 15-13, 15-10

Final - Saturday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso - 3 PM

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday


1) Rocky Carson d. 8) Majeed Shahin, 15-2, 15-1
4) Charlie Pratt d. 5) Jose Diaz, 15-10, 15-13

3) David Horn d. 6) Thomas Carter, 15-8, 7-15, 11-5
7) Robert Collins d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-14

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson v. 4) Charlie Pratt - 11:30 AM
3) David Horn v. 7) Robert Collins - 12:40 AM

Women's Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 8) Kelani Bailey, 15-14, 6-15, 11-7
4) Janel Tisinger d. 5) Cheryl Gudinas, 8-15, 15-11, 11-6

3) Jacqueline Paraiso d. 6) Sheryl Lotts, 14-15, 15-13, 11-8
2) Sharon Jackson d. 7) Da’monique Davis, 15-8, 15-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 4) Janel Tisinger - 10:20 AM
2) Sharon Jackson v. 3) Jacqueline Paraiso - 10:20 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

Thursday, February 9, 2017

50th Annual USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Thursday results

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships are on at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, although only a few matches have been played in the US Team Qualifying Divisions. In a small upset, Robert Collins and David Horn, the 5th seeds, defeated 4th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Anthony Herrera, 15-10, 15-6. Bredenbeck suffered a right shoulder injury at last year’s US Open and he’s still not fully recovered from that. Thus, he’s playing most of the time with his left hand, which was a challenge for both him and his opponents.

Collins and Horn will play top seeds Rocky Carson and Jose Diaz in the semi-finals on Friday. In the other semi, 2nd seeds Jose Rojas and Marco Rojas are up against Jansen Allen and Charlie Pratt, who took out Thomas Carter and Zachary Patterson, 15-10, 15-11, on Thursday in the quarters.

On the women’s side, there was only one match on Thursday, when Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson defeated Miriam McCloskey and Fran Transfiguracion, 15-9, 15-7, to book a semi-final showdown with top seeds and defending USA Champions Aimee Ruiz and Janel Tisinger, who are also the current World Champions. In the other semi-final, 2nd seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts will play 3rd seeds Da’monique Davis and Jacqueline Paraiso.

Singles Play

For the second year, the USA Doubles Championship also has a singles division for players who are trying to qualify for the US National Team. Rocky Carson is the top seed on the men’s side, and looks to be the odds on favourite to win the division. Things are not so clear on the women’s side.

Rhonda Rajsich is the top seed, but this will be her first tournament since the death of her father last October. Moreover, her results last season were lower than expected, as she lost early at the World Championships and hadn’t made it past the quarterfinals at any of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) events she’s played. Thus, it’s difficult to know what to expect from her this weekend.

Rajsich is scheduled to play 8th seed Kelani Bailey first, and then the winner of 4th seed Janel Tisinger and 5th seed Cheryl Gudinas for a spot in the final. On the other side of the draw, 2nd seed Sharon Jackson faces 7th seed Da’monique Davis first with the winner meeting either 3rd seed Jacqueline Paraiso or 6ht seed Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals.

You can watch some of the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.

2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarter finals - Thursday


1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson - BYE
5) Robert Collins & David Horn d. 4) Anthony Herrera & Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-6

3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen v. 6) Thomas Carter & Zachary Patterson, 15-10, 15-11
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jose Diaz & Rocky Carson v. 5) Robert Collins & David Horn
2) Marco Rojas & Jose Rojas v. 3) Charlie Pratt & Jansen Allen

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday


1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger - BYE
5) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson d. 4) Miriam McCloskey & Fran Transfiguracion, 15-9, 15-7

3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Aimee Ruiz & Janel Tisinger v. 5) Kelani Bailey & Sharon Jackson
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Da’monique Davis & Jacqueline Paraiso

Men’s Singles

Quarterfinals - Friday


1) Rocky Carson v. 8) Majeed Shahin
4) Charlie Pratt v. 5) Jose Diaz

3) David Horn v. 6) Thomas Carter
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 7) Robert Collins

Women's Singles

Round of 16 - Thursday


1) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
8) Kelani Bailey d. 9) Fran Transfiguracion, 15-4, 15-6

5) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
4) Janel Tisinger - BYE

3) Jacqueline Paraiso - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

7) Da’monique Davis - BYE
2) Sharon Jackson - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rhonda Rajsich v. 8) Kelani Bailey
4) Janel Tisinger v. 5) Cheryl Gudinas

3) Jacqueline Paraiso v. 6) Sheryl Lotts
2) Sharon Jackson v. 7) Da’monique Davis

Follow the bouncing ball....

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Calgary

Mike Green and Jennifer Saunders won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the Canadian Racquetball National Team Selection Event last weekend in Calgary. Green defeated Samuel Murray in the Men’s final, 15-12, 15-11, and Saunders got the best of Christine Richardson, 15-8, 15-9, in the Women's final.

Green reaffirmed his status as the #1 player in Canada with his victory. Murray could have taken over the #1 ranking with a win, as he had defeated Green in Brossard, Québec back in November 2015.

Saunders followed up her win at the first Selection Event of the season in Valleyfield, Québec by defeating Richardson, who tied her career best finish at a Selection Event with the runner-up finish. Also notable, Danielle Drury had a career best 3rd place finish, as he defeated Michèle Morissette in the 3rd place match, 15-12, 14-16, 13-11.

This Selection Event was the last opportunity to earn points to be selected for the Canadian National Team for the 2017 Pan American Championships in Costa Rica in April. The 2017 Canadian National Championships will be in Brossard, Québec in May.

2017 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
February 2-5, Calgary

Men's Open

Final


1) Mike Green d. 2) Samuel Murray, 15-12, 15-11

3rd Place

3) Tim Landeryou d. 5) Pedro Castro, 15-11, 11-3, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Mike Green d. 5) Pedro Castro, 15-6, 15-8
2) Samuel Murray d. 3) Tim Landeryou, 15-8, 15-2

Quarterfinals

1) Mike Green d. 9) Lee Connell, 15-8, 15-11
5) Pedro Castro d. 4) James Landeryou, 15-8, 9-15, 11–6

3) Tim Landeryou d. 6) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-7, 15-12
2) Samuel Murray d. 7) Tommy Murray, 15-2, 15-4

Women's Open

Final


1) Jennifer Saunders d. 3) Christine Richardson, 15-8, 15-9

3rd place

5) Danielle Drury d. 2) Michèle Morissette, 15-12, 14-16, 13-11

5th place

6) Cassie Prentice d. 4) Alexis Iwaasa, forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, February 6, 2017

Carson wins 19th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

Rocky Carson won the 19th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am tournament - a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. Carson defeated Jose Rojas in the final, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7.

In the semi-finals, Carson beat Mario Mercado, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4, while Rojas, the 3rd seed, was an upset winner over 2nd seed Alvaro Beltran 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6. Mercado was also an upset winner over 4th seed Jansen Allen in the quarterfinals, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.

This week’s big event is the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship in Tempe, Arizona, where players seeking US Team qualification, like Carson, will play both singles and doubles. US Team competition begins on Thursday, and runs to Sunday on the Arizona State University campus.

19th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Final


Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7

Semi-finals

Rocky Carson d. Mario Mercado, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4
Jose Rojas d. Alvaro Beltran 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6

Quarterfinals

Rocky Carson d. Brad Hansen, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Mario Mercado d. Jansen Allen, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7
Jose Rojas d. Jordan Barth, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3

Round of 16

Rocky Carson d. Blake Hanson, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8
Brad Hansen d. Brad Starken, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
Mario Mercado d. Justus Benson, 11-5, 11-7, 11-1
Jansen Allen d. Brad McCunnitt

Jose Rojas d. Jamin Goodwin, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Jordan Barth d. Matt Stamborksi, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7
Juan Herrera d. Shawn Merrill, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
Alvaro Beltran d. Geoff Goldblatt, 11-0, 11-4, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….