Monday, November 25, 2019

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Portillo and Muñoz

The 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois on the weekend was a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, as well as a Tier 1 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event. Eduardo Portillo won the IRT event by defeating Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 15-0, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Portillo beat Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-9, while Bredenbeck went the distance with Thomas Carter, winning 5-15, 15-5, 11-5.

Portillo also got the better of Bredenbeck in Men’s Open Doubles, as he and Noe Rivera beat Bredenbeck and Lucas Shoemaker, 15-6, 15-6, in the semi-finals. But in the final, Sam Bredenbeck - Jake’s younger brother - and Ulliman managed to eke out a win over Portillo and Rivera, 9-15, 15-9, 11-7. They got to the final by defeating Carter and Jeremy Dixon, 15-8, 15-7, in the other semi-final.

There was also Mixed Open Doubles in Lombard, and most of the IRT guys and some of the LPRT gals played that also. In the Mixed Open final, it was Valeria Centellas and Portillo defeating Sam Bredenbeck and Aimee Ruiz, 15-10, 15-10. Centellas and Portillo reached the final with a win over Jake Bredenbeck and Natalia Mendez, 15-5, 15-11, in one semi-final, while Bredenbeck and Ruiz had a walk over win against Noe Rivera and Maria Jose Vargas in the other semi.

We suspect Jake had seen enough of Portillo by the end of the weekend.

There was a great Women’s Open draw in Lombard with Carla Muñoz, who was only seeded 6th, emerging on top, as she beat top seed Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-5, in the final. Mejia was in three finals on Sunday: the Women’s Open final, which was played first, followed by the LPRT final, and the LPRT Doubles final. Considering all the racquetball Mejia had to play to get to those finals, it is perhaps not surprising that she went 0-3 on Sunday.

In the semi-finals, Muñoz defeated Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-7, while Mejia went tie-breaker with Kelani Bailey Lawrence, winning 12-15, 15-8, 11-5. In the quarterfinals, Muñoz beat Daniela Rico, 15-10, 15-4, and Mejia defeated veteran Susana Acosta, 15-8, 15-11. Also in the quarters, Amaya beat Maria Renee Rogriguez, 15-5, 15-4, and while Bailey Lawrence needed a tie-breaker to get past Hollie Scott, 15-14, 11-15, 11-2.

The next event on the pro racquetball schedule will be the IRT 2019 SPC John A. Pelham Memorial tournament in Portland, Oregon, December 5-8. The LPRT will next be in action at their traditional Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 13-15.

2019 Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Women’s Open Final

6) Carla Muñoz d. 1) Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-5

Semi-Finals

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
6) Carla Muñoz d. 2) Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-7

Quarterfinals

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Susana Acosta, 15-8, 15-11
4) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 5) Hollie Scott, 15-14, 11-15, 11-2

6) Carla Muñoz d. 14) Daniela Rico, 15-10, 15-4
2) Cristina Amaya d. 10) Maria Renee Rogriguez, 15-5, 15-4

IRT Singles Final

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-0, 15-6

Semi-Finals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 5) Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Thomas Carter, 5-15, 15-5, 11-5

Quarterfinals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 8) Geoff Goldblatt, 15-10, 15-0
5) Kyle Ulliman d. 4) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-1, 15-1

3) Thomas Carter d. 11) Rom Dresbach, 15-11, 15-8
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Fernando Rivera, 15-7, 15-2

Men’s Open Doubles Final

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Kyle Ulliman d. 4) Eduardo Portillo & Noe Rivera, 9-15, 15-9, 11-7

Semi-Finals

4) Eduardo Portillo & Noe Rivera d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Lucas Shoemaker, 15-6, 15-6
2) Sam Bredenbeck & Kyle Ulliman d. 3) Thomas Carter & Jeremy Dixon, 15-8, 15-7

Mixed Doubles Final

4) Valeria Centellas & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Aimee Ruiz, 15-10, 15-10

Semi-Finals

4) Valeria Centellas & Eduardo Portillo d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Natalia Mendez, 15-5, 15-11
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Aimee Ruiz d. 2) Noe Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas, forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball….

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Longoria wins singles & doubles at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open

Paola Longoria, the #1st player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won twice Sunday in both the singles and doubles finals of the 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois. She handily defeated Montserrat Mejia in the singles final, 15-2, 15-6, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Mejia and Alexandra Herrera, 4-15, 15-10, 11-7, in the doubles final. Longoria remains undefeated in singles this season, and their doubles win is a measure of revenge for Longoria and Salas, who lost to Mejia and Herrera in the US Open final last month.

Mejia was playing in her first LPRT singles final, and got off to a good start by scoring the first two points of the game. However, those were the only points she’d get, as Longoria came back with 15 unanswered points. She went from 3-2 to 12-2 without giving up serve. Strangely, Mejia didn’t call timeout at all in game one.

Game two began the same way, as Mejia took the lead at 3-0 and 5-1. Then Longoria took a timeout, because that’s what you do when the game is going against you. When play resumed, Longoria got a sideout, and then began scoring points. She got to 6-5, and then took another timeout, and spent that period attending to her left knee. There didn’t seem to be an incident that resulted in her injurying it, and after she moved it around and walked on it a bit, Longoria was good to continue the match.

And continue she did, as Longoria pushed on to win game two 15-6. So from that timeout, when she was down 5-1, she outscored Mejia 14-1. That’s the kind of dominance Longoria had in the final, and really on the LPRT for the past decade.

Another strange aspect of the match was that Mejia called a timeout - her first TO of the match - when the score was 14-6 in game two. Can you say “too late?” Sure, you can. But notably, Mejia won the rally after the timeout, although she didn’t score any points, as Longoria got immediately got a sideout in response.

In the doubles final, Herrera and Mejia were dominant in game one. Longoria and Salas used their timeouts to try to derail the H & M train, but to no avail, as the young team took game one, 15-4. They started game two strongly also, as Herrera and Mejia took a 7-0 lead.

But Longoria and Salas are three time LPRT US Open Doubles Champions and three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles Champions for a reason, and they responded to the challenge posed by the young team by coming back to tie game two at 8-8. One thing they did in making that come back was to have Salas serve lobs into the middle - between the lefty-righty team of Herrera and Mejia. Often those serves were taken by Mejia who drove the ball to the right side, but Salas was there to hit a winner, which she did a lot. An alternative return would be to try to drive the ball back up the middle, rather than drive it to one of the sides, which is where the Longoria and Salas were positioned. But Herrera and Mejia never tried that.

Longoria and Salas pushed on to lead 12-8, and they went on to win game two 15-10, forcing a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Herrera and Mejia again took the early lead at 4-1, but again they weren’t able to hold it, as Longoria and Salas tied it at 4-4. Longoria then cost her side a point, as she was demonstrably upset by the referee’s call, which resulted in a technical, and a loss of point, because Longoria had been warned earlier in the match for not being so upset about referee’s calls. In this instance, a hinder was called as Longoria was impeding Herrera getting to a ball that was playable, and a replay seemed like the correct call. But Longoria seemed to think there was no hinder. However, they didn’t appeal the hinder call, which could have been done even after the technical was assessed (technicals cannot be appealed).

However, that incident was just a blip on Longoria and Salas’s run from 1-4 down to a 9-4 lead. They held Herrera and Mejia off the scoreboard on four side in service opportunities. Herrera and Mejia did put together three straight points on consecutive rallies late in the game to make it 9-7. But a Longoria and Salas timeout at that point stopped that run, as they got a side out when play resumed.

With serve back, Longoria put her team on game point with a flat forehand pinch shot, 10-7. She had an opportunity to end it on the next rally, as Longoria stood in the front court with a seemingly easy forehand shot, but she skipped the ball. But that made it half down, so they had a second match point. Longoria lob served into the middle of her opponents, and the ensuing rally ended when Herrera skipped a forehand shot that gave the game and match to Longoria and Salas.

The LPRT will next be in action at their traditional Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 13-15. If you missed any of the LPRT Turkey Shoot action you can watch it (or watch it again) via the LPRT YouTube channel.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria d. 10) Montserrat Mejia, 15-2, 15-6

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 4-15, 15-10, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, November 23, 2019

In her 1st final, Mejia plays Longoria at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open

Montserrat Mejia will play in her 1st Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) final Sunday at the 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois, because she defeated Natalia Mendez in the semi-finals, 15-14, 8-15, 11-4. The final will be Mejia’s first, but Paola Longoria’s 109th, as the LPRT #1 beat Alexandra Herrera in the other semi-final, 15-8, 15-9.

In game one of their match, Mejia had a 8-0 lead on Mendez, but Mendez fought back to tie it at 12-12. From there, Mendez pushed on and got to game point first, when Mejia skipped a shot to make it 14-12. But Mendez’s game point opportunity went by when she skipped a forehand shot as she slipped to the floor.

Mejia took full advantage of the opportunity gifted to her by hitting forehand winners on the next three rallies to close out the game. The first two were down the line, the second being right along the right side wall. The third was a wide angle pass as Mejia was forward on the right side. On the last rally, Mendez had two chances to end it, as the ball came high off the back wall, but she left her shots up, which gave Mejia the opportunity to hit a winner, making it 15-13.

Mendez was undetered as she bounced back to win game two, 15-8, and that set up the tie-breaker.

The breaker was strange, because Mendez scored the first four points, and she thought she had a 5th with a drive serve ace to the right side. However, the referee saw it short, and although Mendez appealed the decision, one of the line judges agreed with the referee’s call, so it was second serve. She got her second serve in, but lost the rally. And Mendez didn’t score again.

Mejia tied the game at 4-4 with four points on almost as many rallies. They then played 11 rallies at 4-4 before the deadlock broke after Mendez skipped a shot with Mejia serving. With the deadlock over, Mejia scored scored five more points on consecutive rallies to get to match point at 10-4. Mendez called timeouts at 6-4 and 9-4, but that didn’t stop Mejia.

But Mendez did stop two game points, but wasn’t able to score one herself. Then Mejia converted the third match point with a backhand pinch shot that was the third shot of a rally that began with a Z serve to the left side that Mendez cut off with a backhand return, but only managed to put the ball into the center, where Mejia was able to set up for the winning pinch shot. Mendez relied on that Z serve in the second half of the breaker, and it was only late that Mendez tried to cut them off.

Watch the singles final live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page) at noon Sunday. The doubles final will follow at 1 PM. All times central.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-8, 15-9
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 8-15, 11-4

Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-12
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-5, 15-4

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia advances to semis with win over Vargas at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open

Montserrat Mejia is through to the semi-finals at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois after she defeated LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 9-15, 11-7, Saturday morning. It’s the 3rd time Mejia has been in the semi-finals this season. Vargas had been a finalist in all three previous LPRT events this season, including a win in Virginia Beach, but she won’t be a finalist this weekend.

Vargas had a big lead in game one against Mejia at 12-5. But Mejia came all the way back to tie it at 12-12. Vargas served at 13-13, and they played a 9 shot rally in which Vargas dove twice to keep the ball in play. Mejia then won the game with back to back drive serves to the left side that Vargas returned into the floor. One wonders if Vargas should have taken a timeout after losing the long rally at 13-13 to recover from expending the energy on that rally, and she did have a timeout.

Game two had a similar storyline, as Vargas was up 13-3, and when Mejia came back to 14-9, you wondered if game two was going to end the same as game one. However, Vargas was able to close out game two at 15-9.

Thus, they needed a tie-breaker to determine the winner. The breaker was streaky. Mejia scored the first three points, so led 3-0. Vargas got the next six to lead 6-3. Mejia called a timeout, and then was able to put together four points to lead 7-6. Vargas tied it 7-7, but that was the last point she’d score.

There was a bit of controversy when Mejia was up 9-7, as Vargas hit a ball down the right side that was right on the glass. But Mejia couldn’t reach the ball because Vargas was between her and the ball. The referee called a hinder, which may have been the right call, although the ball was tight to the wall and Mejia was going to be hard pressed to get it, even without Vargas’s presence. Vargas was clearly upset by the hinder call, and as in game one, she skipped the last two serve returns to give Mejia the game and match.

Mejia will play 6th seed Natalia Mendez in the semi-finals later today, as Mendez also needed a tie-breaker to win her quarterfinal match against 19th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-10, 13-15, 11-6.

LPRT #1 Paola Longoria won her quarterfinal match comfortably against 8th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-2, 15-5. Longoria was ahead 14-0 in game one before Amaya got on the board, and needed an ace serve to do so. Longoria will play LPRT #4 Alexandra Herrera in the semis, as Herrera beat Erin Rivera, 15-6, 15-3.

Watch the semi-finals live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page) at 3:00 and 4:30 PM Saturday. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Cristina Amaya, 15-2, 15-5
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 21) Erin Rivera, 15-6, 15-3

6) Natalia Mendez d. 19) Jessica Parrilla, 15-10, 13-15, 11-6
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 9-15, 11-7

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Alexandra Herrera - 4:30 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 3 PM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - 9:30 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 8:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, November 22, 2019

Upsets in Round of 16 at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open

The upsets continued at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois, as they played the Round of 16 Friday afternoon. LPRT #3 Samantha Salas was the biggest upset victim, as she lost to 19th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-3, 15-14, but LPRT #5 Rhonda Rajsich also lost. She was beaten by 21st seed Erin Rivera, 15-13, 7-15, 11-8. Finally a less surprising result, as 10th seed Montserrat Mejia defeated 7th seed Nancy Enriquez. 15-5, 15-7.

In the quarterfinals, Parrilla will play Natalia Mendez, who defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14; Rivera will play Alexandra Herrera, who was a straight game winner over Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 15-14; and Mejia faces Maria Jose Vargas.

The top two LPRT players - #1 Paola Longoria and #2 Maria Jose Vargas - were dominant in their matches. Longoria beat Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-1, and Vargas dismissed Sheryl Lotts, 15-0, 15-5. After getting blanked in game one, Lotts started well in game two, and was actually tied with Vargas at 5-5. Sadly for her, she didn’t score another point, as Vargas got 10 unanswered points to win the game and match.

In the Parrilla-Salas match, Parrilla was up 8-1 and 10-2 in game two after decisively winning game one, 15-3. But Salas made a hard comeback, and she tied the score at 12-12 with a drive serve ace to the left side (Parrilla’s backhand). They traded points from there with Parrilla always getting ahead first.

Salas gifted Parrilla her 1st match point, as she skipped a backhand shot that was a set up off the back wall that made it 14-13. However, Parrilla wasn’t able to convert that match point as she seemed to be indecisive as to how to play the ball as it went into the back right corner. Salas tied the game 14-14 on the next rally with a controlled backhand shot as Parrilla’s forehand return of serve came into the middle of the court.

It was Parrilla’s turn to fend off game point, and she did so with a backhand cross court shot. It looked like Parrilla’s second match point would go by just as the first did, as Salas had a backhand set up off the back wall. However, she skipped it to hand the game and match to Parrilla. Salas was clearly upset after that rally, throwing her eye guards to the ground.

Look for this weekend’s action live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page). The quarterfinals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-1
8) Cristina Amaya d. 9) Masiel Rivera, 15-6, 14-15, 11-10

21) Erin Rivera d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-13, 7-15, 11-8
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 15-14

19) Jessica Parrilla d. 3) Samantha Salas, 15-3, 15-14
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14

10) Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Nancy Enriquez. 15-5, 15-7
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-0, 15-5

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Cristina Amaya - Noon
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 21) Erin Rivera - Noon

6) Natalia Mendez v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 11 AM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz, 15-13, 15-4
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-6, 15-2
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York, 15-9, 15-10

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - 9:30 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 8:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot - Round of 32

The first round of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open is done in Lombard, Illinois with a couple of upsets. One is unsurprising, as 20th seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence - a USA National Team member - defeated 13th seed Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-1, and the other came in a battle of two young Mexican players. Erin Rivera, the 21st seed, got the better of 12th seed Ana Laura Flores, but needed three games to do it, winning 15-7, 8-15, 11-8. In the Round of 16, Lawrence will play 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, while Rivera plays 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich.

In doubles, the young team of Hollie Scott and Lexi York knocked off veteran Aimee Ruiz and Masiel Rivera by a narrow margin, winning 15-14, 5-15, 11-10. Scott and York didn’t score more points in the match, but still managed to win two games and move to the quarterfinals tonight against 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas.

Also, Erin Rivera and Flores - after playing singles against each other - teamed up to play doubles, but sadly for them, they lost to Valeria Centellas and Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 5-15, 11-5. Centellas and Muñoz will play top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals tonight.

Look for this weekend’s action live beginning with the Round of 16 via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page). The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Carla Muñoz d. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-6, 15-4

9) Masiel Rivera d. 24) Cheryl Gudinas, 15-5, 15-4
8) Cristina Amaya d. 25) Daniela Rico, 15-5, 15-13

5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 26) Melania Sauma, 15-1, 15-8
21) Erin Rivera d. 12) Ana Laura Flores, 15-7, 8-15, 11-8

20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 13) Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-1
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Samantha Salas - BYE
19) Jessica Parrilla d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 15-7, 15-9

11) Adriana Riveros d. 22) Hollie Scott, 3-15, 15-13, 11-4
6) Natalia Mendez d. 27) Katie Neils, 15-2, 15-3

7) Nancy Enriquez d. 26) Lexi York, 15-10, 15-8
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 23) Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 15-11

15) Sheryl Lotts d. 18) Susana Acosta, 15-10, 15-6
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
8) Cristina Amaya v. 9) Masiel Rivera - 6 PM

5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 21) Erin Rivera - 3 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 3 PM

3) Samantha Salas v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 4 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 11) Adriana Riveros - 4 PM

7) Nancy Enriquez v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 5 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Sheryl Lotts - 5 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz d. 9) Ana Laura Flores & Erin Rivera, 15-9, 5-15, 11-5

5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts d. 12) Cassi Lee & Katie Neils, 15-12, 15-1
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 11) Susana Acosta & Cheryl Gudinas, 15-10, 15-8

10) Holly Scott & Lexi York d. 7) Aimee Ruiz & Masiel Rivera, 15-14, 5-15, 11-10
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz - 9 PM
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts - 9 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 8 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York - 8 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open - Preview

The 2019 Turkey Shoot Open - the 28th Annual - happens this weekend in Lombard, Illinois, and a field of 28 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) players will be competing in singles and there are 12 teams in doubles. The top 10 LPRT players - and 18 of the top 20 - are in the field led by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria. She’s the top seed in both singles and doubles with partner Samantha Salas, who is the 3rd seed in singles behind 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas.

Illinois resident Cheryl Gudinas is in the field playing both singles and doubles with Susana Acosta. Also playing doubles is former US National and World Doubles Champion Aimee Ruiz. She’s playing with Masiel Rivera, a player who has impressed us this season, so we’re really interested to see how they do.

Ruiz and Rivera are seeded 7th, so they play 10th seeded young American team of Holly Scott and Lexi York. The winner will face 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas in the quarterfinals.

Look for this weekend’s action live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click “LPRT Live” at the top of the page). The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.

2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Lombard, Illinois


Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Carla Muñoz v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 11 AM

9) Masiel Rivera v. 24) Cheryl Gudinas - 11 AM
8) Cristina Amaya v. 25) Daniela Rico - 11 AM

5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 26) Melania Sauma - 10 AM
12) Ana Laura Flores v. 21) Erin Rivera - 10 AM

13) Cassi Lee v. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 10 AM
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Samantha Salas - BYE
14) Adrienne Haynes v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 10 AM

11) Adriana Riveros v. 22) Hollie Scott - 10 AM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 27) Katie Neils - 10 AM

7) Nancy Enriquez v. 26) Lexi York - 11 AM
10) Montserrat Mejia v. 23) Valeria Centellas - 11 AM

15) Sheryl Lotts v. 18) Susana Acosta - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz v. 9) Ana Laura Flores & Erin Rivera - 1 PM

5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts v. 12) Cassi Lee & Katie Neils - 1 PM
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 11) Susana Acosta & Cheryl Gudinas - Noon

7) Aimee Ruiz & Masiel Rivera v. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York - Noon
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bolivia tops team standings at 2019 IRF World Junior Champinoships

Bolivia topped both the Boy’s and Girl’s Team standings, so the Overall Team standings as well at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships last week in San José, Costa Rica. Mexico was 2nd and the USA 3rd in both Boy’s and Girl’s and Overall standings.

Costa Rica came 4th overall with their highest point total (1136) since 2014 (1092), and maybe their highest ever, which perhaps proves it helps to play at home. It certainly helped Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez, who won Boy’s U18 Doubles, and Maricruz Ortiz, who won Girl’s U16 Singles.

Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Gerson Miranda ended their junior years on a high, winning Girl’s and Boy’s U18 Singles, respectively. Barrios also won Girl’s U18 Doubles with Valeria Centellas, who was runner up to Barrios in her first year of 18 singles play.

Hector Barrios of Bolivia was the only boy to win gold in both singles and doubles. He beat Mexican Sebastian Longoria in the Boy’s U16 Singles final and with Adrian Jaldin defeated the USA’s Nikhill Prasad and Timothy Hansen in the Boy’s U16 Doubles final.

Shout out to the Cubans Suniaris Rodriguez and Loraine Felipe, who earned bronze medals in Girl’s U16 Doubles. Those are the first medals for Cuba at World Juniors as far as we know.

Also a shout out to Ireland’s Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O’Gorman, who were the first Irish players in an IRF World Junior final in over 20 years, when they played for gold in Boy’s U14 Doubles. They lost to Mexico’s Luis Renteria and Jorge Gutierrez, but it’s a big achievement nonetheless.

The IRF streamed several of the matches from San José, so if you want see them, check out their Facebook page). The next international event will be the Pan American Championships April 4-12, 2020, but the site is still to be determined. Bolivia was mentioned as a possibility during one of the matches from San José, but given the domestic unrest there right now, we’re not sure if that will be the host nation.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


Boy’s Team Standings

1. Bolivia - 1080
2. Mexico - 872
3. USA - 654
4. Costa Rica - 636
5. Ecuador - 492
6. Guatemala - 318
7. Colombia - 270
8. Chile - 254
9. Canada - 242
10. Argentina - 238
11. Ireland - 192
12. Korea - 114

Girl’s Team Standings

1. Bolivia - 1220
2. Mexico - 896
3. USA - 800
4. Costa Rica - 500
5. Ecuador - 324
6. Canada - 286
7. Guatemala - 256
8. Cuba - 188
9. Argentina - 168
10. Chile - 96
11. Ireland - 88

Overall Team Standings

1. Bolivia - 2300
2. Mexico - 1768
3. USA - 1454
4. Costa Rica - 1136
5. Ecuador - 816
6. Guatemala - 574
7. Canada - 528
8. Argentina - 406
9. Chile - 350
10. Ireland - 280
11. Chile - 270
12. Cuba - 188
13. Korea - 114

U18 Girl's Singles

GOLD: Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
SILVER: Valeria Centellas (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Martina Katz (Argentina) & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador)

U16 Girl's Singles

GOLD: Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Micaela Meneses (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Annie Roberts (USA) & Ximena Martinez (Mexico)

U14 Girl's Singles

GOLD: Heather Mahoney (USA)
SILVER: Angela Ortega (Mexico)
BRONZE: Camila Rivero (Bolivia) & Ava Kaiser (USA)

U18 Boy's Singles

GOLD: Gerson Miranda (Bolivia)
SILVER: Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
BRONZE: Diego Garcia (Argentina) & Jose Ramos (Mexico)

U16 Boy's Singles

GOLD: Hector Barrios (Bolivia)
SILVER: Sebastian Longoria (Mexico)
BRONZE: Timothy Hansen (USA) & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia)

U14 Boy's Singles

GOLD: Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia)
SILVER: Nikhil Prasad (USA)
BRONZE: Hector Sierra (Guatemala) & Juan Rodriguez (Colombia)

U18 Boy's Doubles

GOLD: Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador)
BRONZE: Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) and Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico)

U16 Boy's Doubles

GOLD: Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia)
SILVER: Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA)
BRONZE: Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) and Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico)

U14 Boy's Doubles

GOLD: Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico)
SILVER: Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland)
BRONZE: Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) and Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia)

U18 Girl's Doubles

GOLD: Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia)
SILVER: Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico)
BRONZE: Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) and Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA)

U16 Girl's Doubles

GOLD: Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia)
SILVER: Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) and Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba)

U14 Girl's Doubles

GOLD: Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia)
SILVER: Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico)
BRONZE: Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) and Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Four gold for Bolivia & Costa Rica wins gold at home at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

Bolivia swept gold in the Girl’s Doubles divisions and won one of the Boy’s divisions also on Saturday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica. Bolivia won every final that they had a team in.

Five of the six finals were won in two straight games. But they saved the best for last, and it was a crowd pleaser too, as the Men’s U18 final was between the home country’s 9th seeded Costa Rica team of Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez and the 6th seeded Esteban De Janon and Juan Flores of Ecuador. That match went to a tie-breaker with Freer and Sanchez coming out on top, 8-15, 15-6, 11-0, to win gold on home soil. Freer cracked out several drive serves in the breaker to help his team to the win.

In Boy’s U16, Bolivians Hector Barrios and Adrian Jaldin defeated the USA’s Nikhil Prasad and Timothy Hansen, 15-11, 15-10, and Irish luck ran out in the Boy’s U14 final, as Mexicans Luis Renteria and Jorge Gutierrez beat Ireland’s Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O’Gorman, 15-4, 15-6.

In girls’ action, Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas completed Bolivia’s gold medal sweep by winning Girl’s U18 over 3rd seeds Marifer Gutierrez and Anna Rivera of Mexico, 15-6, 15-8. The Bolivians sweep got started in Girl’s U14 with 2nd seeds Valeria Miranda and Krystin Salinas of Bolivia defeating Gisele Nieto and Angela Ortega of Mexico, 15-8, 15-11, and it continued when Bolivians Micaela Meneses and Camila Rivero captured gold in U16, as they beat 2nd seeds Guadalupe Griffin and Ximena Martinez of Mexico, 15-5, 15-4.

The IRF streamed some of the finals via its Facebook page), and the matches are archived there, so if you missed some of the action - or want to see it again - check it out on Facebook.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Boy's Doubles

Final - Saturday

9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador), 8-15, 15-6, 11-0

U16 Boy's Doubles

Final - Saturday

2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) d. 5) Nikhil Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA), 15-11, 15-10

U14 Boy's Doubles

Final - Saturday

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland), 15-4, 15-6

U18 Girl's Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico), 15-6, 15-8

U16 Girl's Doubles

Final - Saturday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. 2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico), 15-5, 15-4

U14 Girl's Doubles

Final - Saturday

2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) d. 1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico), 15-8, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Four Gold for Bolivia, one for Costa Rica & the USA at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

Bolivians swept gold in boy’s singles at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, and they also captured gold in one girl’s divisions. The results are confirmation of Bolivia’s strength as a racquetball super-power.

Gerson Miranda of Bolivia was top seed in Boy’s U18, and he lived up to that seeding by beating Costa Rican Tomas Sanchez in the final, 15-7, 15-6.

The other two Boy’s finals went to a tie-breaker. In the U16 final, 2nd seed Hector Barrios of Bolivia upset the top seed Sebastian Longoria of Mexico, 15-4, 13-15, 11-7, and in Boy's U14, the top seed Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) came back from a game down to defeat Nikhil Prasad of the USA, 8-15, 15-11, 11-4.

Bolivian Angelica Barrios got the better of her team-mate Valeria Centellas in the Girl’s U18 final, winning 15-10, 15-13, and earning Bolivia its 4th gold medal.

Costa Rican Maricruz Ortiz denied Bolivia a fifth gold medal, as she came back against Bolivian Micaela Meneses to win gold in Girl’s U16, 11-15, 15-2, 11-10. We thought that would be a close match, as Ortiz and Meneses were impressive in their earlier matches, and it lived up to the billing.

Heather Mahoney won the USA’s only gold medal, as she defeated Mexican Angela Ortega, 15-10, 15-10, in the Girl’s U14 final.

The IRF streamed some of the finals via its Facebook page), and the matches are archived there, so if you missed some of the action - or want to see it again - check it out on Facebook.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Final - Saturday

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-13

U16 Girl's Singles

Final - Saturday

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia), 11-15, 15-2, 11-10

U14 Girl's Singles

Final - Saturday

2) Heather Mahoney (USA) d. 8) Angela Ortega (Mexico), 15-10, 15-10

U18 Boy's Singles

Final - Saturday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-6

U16 Boy's Singles

Final - Saturday

2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) d. 1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico), 15-4, 13-15, 11-7

U14 Boy's Singles

Final - Saturday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) d. 2) Nikhil Prasad (USA), 8-15, 15-11, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Friday, November 15, 2019

Crazy doubles results at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

Remember how we said yesterday that doubles matches at international events can be a toss up? Well consider that the six final teams in Boy’s Doubles at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, come from six countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ireland, Mexico and the USA. In contrast, the Girl’s Doubles finals will all be Bolivia versus Mexico.

Also notable is that the boy’s teams in the finals are the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th seeds. In the girl’s finals, it’s #1 versus #2 in two of the finals, and #1 versus #3 in the other.

Let’s start with perhaps the most surprising finalists: Ireland’s Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O’Gorman. In Boy’s U14, they defeated Colombians Juan Rodriguez and Duvan Torres in two close games, 15-14, 15-12, to become the first Irish players in a final at World Juniors since 1998 (according to a tweet by Racquetball Ireland).


In the final, the Irish boys will play the 3rd seeded Mexicans Luis Renteria and Jorge Gutierrez, who needed three games to upset 2nd seeds Jhonatan Flores and Ezequiel Subieta of Bolivia, 15-5, 6-15, 11-5.

As with the quarterfinals in Boy’s U18, the semis were also close with both going tie-breaker and one ending in an upset. The 9th seeded Costa Ricans Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez caused that upset by holding off the 4th seeded Argentina team of Diego Garcia and Tomas Oyhanart, 15-3, 9-15, 11-8.

Thus, Freer and Sanchez will have a chance to win gold at home, when they play 6th seeds Esteban De Janon and Juan Flores of Ecuador on Saturday. Ecuador also won a close tie-breaker in defeating the 7th seeded Mexican team of Emir Martinez and Jose Ramos, 15-10, 8-15, 11-9.

When did we last see a final between the 6th seed and the 9th seed? Have we ever seen it?

In Boy’s U16, the 5th seeded USA team of Nikhill Prasad and Timothy Hansen upset the 1st seeds Sebastian Longoria and Erick Trujillo of Mexico by just about the closest scoreline possible: 15-14, 14-15, 11-8. The USA will play Bolivia in the final, as Hector Barrios and Adrian Jaldin of Bolivia defeated Josue Bermeo and Pablo Vera of Ecuador, 15-9, 15-13.

In Girl’s U18, top seeds Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas of Bolivia are in the final, as expected, as they beat 4th seeds Fabiana Landy and Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, 15-1, 15-2. Bolivia will play the Mexicans Marifer Gutierrez and Anna Rivera, who were the only upset winners in girl’s doubles Friday, as they were seeded 3rd and defeated the 2nd seeded USA team of Nikita Chauhan and Erin Slutzky, 15-9, 15-6.

Also of note, Cubans Suniaris Rodriguez and Loraine Felipe were one game away from becoming the first Cuban team to be in a World Junior Final, as they went tie-breaker in the Girl’s U16 semi-finals, but ultimately fell to Mexicans Guadalupe Griffin and Ximena Martinez, 4-15, 15-8, 11-5. Mexico will play Bolivia in the final, as Bolivians Micaela Meneses and Camila Rivero defeated Costa Ricans Sofia Freer and Maricruz Ortiz, 15-13, 15-8.

The IRF will stream some of the finals live via its Facebook page). The times for the matches are central standard time.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Boy's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-3, 9-15, 11-8
6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) d. 7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico), 15-10, 8-15, 11-9

Final - Saturday

6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) v. 9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - 3 PM

U16 Boy's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA) d. 1) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico), 15-14, 14-15, 11-8
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) d. 3) Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-13

Final - Saturday

2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA) - 2 PM

U14 Boy's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) d. 4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia), 15-14, 15-12
3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia), 15-5, 6-15, 11-5

Final - Saturday

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) - 1 PM

U18 Girl's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 4) Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-2
3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) d. 2) Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA), 15-9, 15-6

Final - Saturday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) - 3 PM

U16 Girl's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. 4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-8
2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. 3) Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 4-15, 15-8, 11-5

Final - Saturday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. 2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - 2 PM

U14 Girl's Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. 4) Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA), 15-3, 15-1
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) d. 3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-11

Final - Saturday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Semi-finals at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

The semi-finals were on tap Friday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica with the winners to play off in the finals on Saturday.

In the Boy’s U18, top seed Gerson Miranda from Bolivia defeated 4th seed Diego Garcia of Argentina, 15-6, 15-8 in one semi-final, while Costa Rican Tomas Sanchez - playing on home soil - won a crazy match with Mexican Jose Ramos, 15-10, 0-15, 11-10. Ramos scored 20 straight points - 15 straight in game two and then the first 5 in game three - but still lost the match.

After being down 5-0 in the tie-breaker, Sanchez took the lead at 9-6, only to see Ramos catch up and tie it 9-9 with a backhand kill shot. Sanchez stopped Ramos’s run there with a backhand kill shot of his own. Sanchez got to 10-9 on the next rally with a forehand winner. But his first match point went by as Ramos returned Sanchez drive serve to the left side with a backhand pinch winner.

Sanchez got the serve back with a nice forehand shot that he was sort of jammed on, but didn’t try to do too much with - just put it into the open space where Ramos couldn’t reach it. On match point #2, Sanchez hit backhand down the line that Ramos put to the ceiling. Then that happened a second time. Sanchez then tried to change it up, and attempted a pinch shot from deep on the left side that didn’t make the front wall. It would have been better to keep hitting the down the line.

With the serve back, Ramos tied it at 10-10 with a good forehand pinch shot. That gave him an opportunity to serve for the match. On that rally, Ramos had a similar set up to previous rally, but this time he skipped the pinch shot, giving the serve back to Sanchez.

Match point #3 was the charm for Sanchez. Ramos hit another forehand pinch shot, but left it up, and Sanchez - a tall, lanky player - was able to reach it and put a soft, controlled backhand down the left side well that Ramos couldn’t reach.

As Sanchez joyously laid on his back, Ramos walked straight off the court, gathered his things and was gone seconds after the match was over.

In Boy’s U14, it will be #1 versus #2 in the final, as top seed Jhonatan Flores of Bolivia beat 13th seed Hector Sierra of Guatemala, 15-1, 15-5, and 2nd seed Nikhil Prasad of the USA defeated 14th seed Juan Rodriguez of Colombia, 15-6, 15-8. Sierra and Rodriguez had good runs in the event, but fell short on Friday.

The Girl’s U18 final is as expected: a showdown between the two Bolivians - Valeria Centellas and Angelica Barrios. In the semi-finals, Centellas defeated Martina Katz of Argentina, 15-5, 15-3, and Barrios beat Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, 15-4, 15-0.

The first semi-final in Girl’s U16 was not close, as Costa Rican Maricruz Ortiz looked very strong in her win over the USA’s Annie Roberts, 15-1, 15-2. In the final, Ortiz will play Bolivian Micaela Meneses, who defeated Mexican Ximena Martinez, 15-0, 15-9. Both players have been impressive in their medal round matches: Meneses has handed out two doughnuts and Ortiz one, and both have only surrendered double digit points in one of the six games they have played.

There were two close semi-final matches in Girl’s U14 with one of them going tie-breaker. Mexican Angela Ortega, seeded 8th, narrowly upset 4th seed Ava Kaiser of the USA, 15-12, 15-14, and Kaiser’s team-mate - the 2nd seed Heather Mahoney -squeaked out a win in three games over 3rd seed Camila Rivero from Bolivia, 15-9, 6-15, 11-9.

Of the 12 finalists, six are Bolivian with two each from Costa Rica, Mexico and the USA. Bolivia is guaranteed gold in Girl’s U18, as both finalists are Bolivian, and could win as many as five gold medals in singles.

The IRF will be streaming some of the finals via its Facebook page). The times for the matches are central standard time.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 4) Martina Katz (Argentina), 15-5, 15-3
3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-4, 15-0

Final - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - Noon

U16 Girl's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 9) Annie Roberts (USA), 15-1, 15-2
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. 3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico), 15-0, 15-9

Final - Saturday

2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. 5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 11 AM

U14 Girl's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 4) Ava Kaiser (USA), 15-12, 15-14
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) d. 3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia), 15-9, 6-15, 11-9

Final - Saturday

2) Heather Mahoney (USA) v. 8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 10 AM

U18 Boy's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 4) Diego Garcia (Argentina), 15-6, 15-8
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 7) Jose Ramos (Mexico), 15-10, 0-15, 11-10

Final - Saturday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - Noon

U16 Boy's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. 4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia), 11-15, 15-11, 11-8
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) d. 6) Timothy Hansen (USA), 8-15, 15-9, 11-5

Final - Saturday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) - 11 AM

U14 Boy's Singles

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) d. 13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-5
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) d. 14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia), 15-6, 15-8

Final - Saturday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) v. 2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Three upsets in Boy's U18 Doubes at 2019 IRT World Junior Championships

Doubles matches at international events can often seem to be a toss up, and there was evidence of that in the boys' play Thursday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, as two of the three top seeds in Boy’s Doubles lost. But in the Girl’s divisions the top four seeds are all through to the semi-finals.

In Boy’s U18, the 9th seeded Costa Ricans Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez knocked off the #1 seeds Julio Guzman and Gerson Miranda of Bolivia in two straight games, 15-8, 15-8. But that was only one of three upsets in the Boy’s U18 quarterfinals.

The Mexican team of Emir Martinez and Jose Ramos, who were seeded 7th, beat 2nd seeds Jose Pablo Cardona and Nathan Martinez of Guatemala, 15-6, 15-7, and 6th seeds Esteban De Janon and Juan Flores of Ecuador defeated 3rd seeds Dylan Pruitt and Joshua Shea of the USA in two close games, 15-14, 15-11. The match that wasn’t an upset was won by 4th seeds Diego Garcia and Tomas Oyhanart of Argentina, who defeated 5th seeds Rafael Gatica and Johan Igor of Chile, 15-12, 15-7.

In the Boy’s U18 semi-finals, Costa Rica will play Argentina, and Ecuador will play Mexico.

Some Irish luck was involved in the other upset of a #1 seed, as the Irish team of Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O’Gorman upset the top seeded USA team of Vedant Chauhan and Joshua Shea, 3-15, 15-14, 11-10, in Boy’s U14.

In Girl’s U18, 2nd seeds Nikita Chauhan and Erin Slutzky of the USA has a comfortable win over 7th seeds Aranxa Anguizola and Abigail Solana of Costa Rica, 15-3, 15-1, while top seeds Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas of Bolivia had a bye.

Bolivia will play 4th seeds Fabiana Landy and Ana Sarmiento from Ecuador, as Ecuador defeated 5th seeds Paula Mansilla and Josefina Toro of Chile, 15-10, 15-5, and the USA will face 3rd seeds Marifer Gutierrez and Anna Rivera of Mexico after Mexico beat 6th seeds Cassie Prentice and Camila Wilscam of Canada, 15-4, 15-2.

The IRF is streaming some matches via its Facebook page). The times for the matches are central standard time.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Boy's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 1) Julio Guzman & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-8
4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) d. 5) Rafael Gatica & Johan Igor (Chile), 15-12, 15-7

6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) d. 3) Dylan Pruitt & Joshua Shea (USA), 15-14, 15-11
7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 2) Jose Pablo Cardona & Nathan Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-7

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) v. 9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - 7 PM
6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) v. 7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - 7 PM

U16 Boy's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) d. 8) Seunghwan & Namwoo Lee (Korea), 15-1, 15-4
5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA) d. 4) Santiago Gamboa & Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-6

3) Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) d. 6) Naman Gauri & Nathan Jauvin (Canada), 15-6, 15-12
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-7, 15-10

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. 5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA) - 6 PM
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 3) Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) - 6 PM

U14 Boy's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) d. 1) Vedant Chauhan & Joshua Shea (USA), 3-15, 15-14, 11-10
4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) d. 5) Antonio Sanchez & Victor Segura (Costa Rica), 15-6, 10-15, 11-7

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 6) Adrian Carchi & Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-9
2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) d. 7) Jose Pablo Caseres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala), 15-13, 14-15, 11-2

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) v. 8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) - 5 PM
2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. 3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - 5 PM

U18 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 5) Paula Mansilla & Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-10, 15-5

3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) d. 6) Cassie Prentice & Camila Wilscam (Canada), 15-4, 15-2
2) Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA) d. 7) Aranxa Anguizola & Abigail Solana (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 4) Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - 7 PM
2) Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA) v. 3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) - 7 PM

U16 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 5) Alondra Canchola & Annie Roberts (USA), 15-5, 15-12

3) Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba) d. 6) Kelly-Marie Barrett & Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-8, 15-1
2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) d. 7) Adriana Valdez & Angela Villacreses (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-0

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. 4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 6 PM
2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. 3) Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba) - 6 PM

U14 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - BYE
4) Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA) d. 5) Ofelia Wilscam & Tamara Wilscam (Canada), 15-2, 15-8

3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) d. Kenia Brenes & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 15-11, 15-10
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) d. Sarah Ainsworth & Thea Coleman (Ireland), 15-6, 15-10

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 4) Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA) - 5 PM
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) v. 3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles quarterfinals at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

Thursday was quarterfinal day at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, and the quarters did produce some upsets.

In Boy’s U18, 7th seed Jose Ramos of Mexico beat his team-mate 2nd seed Emir Martinez, 15-7, 15-6. Ramos will face 6th seed Tomas Sanchez of Costa Rica, who also had to defeat a team-mate to advance. Sanchez beat fellow Costa Rican Pablo Freer, 15-7, 15-10, in the quarters Friday. So Ramos plays Sanchez in one B18 semi-final.

The other Boy’s U18 semi, top seed Gerson Miranda of Bolivia plays 4th seed Diego Garcia of Argentina. In the quarters, Miranda defeated Ben Baron (USA), 15-4, 15-6, and Garcia defeated Juan Flores (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-12. We're expecting the Miranda-Garcia winner to go on to win gold also.

Bolivians Valeria Centellas and Angelica Barrios remain on track to meet in the final of Girl’s U18, as they won their respective quarterfinal matches Thursday. Centellas beat Marifer Gutierrez of Mexico, 15-5, 15-4, while Barrios defeated Anna Rivera of Mexico, 15-4, 15-8.

In the semi-finals, Centellas will play Argentina’s Martina Katz, as she beat the USA’s Graciana Wargo, 15-8, 15-1, and Barrios will face Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, who was a winner over Nikita Chauhan of the USA, 15-6, 15-6.

In other matches of note, while Katz assured herself of a medal in Girl’s U18 with the win over Wargo, she won’t be on the podium in Girl’s U16, as she lost to Maricruz Ortiz of Costa Rica, 15-12, 15-4. In the U16 semis, Ortiz will play the USA’s Annie Roberts, the 9th seed, who upset the top seed Guadalupe Griffin of Mexico, 12-15, 15-4, 11-8.

The top seed in Girl’s U14 was also upset, as 8th seed Angela Ortega of Mexico squeaked out the victory over 1st seed Natalia Mita of Bolivia, 15-8, 8-15, 11-10. Ortega will play 4th seed Ava Kaiser of the USA in the semi-finals, as Kaiser defeated 5th seed Jasmin Aguilar of Guatemala, 15-6, 15-7.

The USA’s Timothy Hansen, the 6th seed in Boy’s U16, defeated 3rd seed Aldo Caraveo of Mexico, 15-10, 15-7. Hansen will play 2nd seed Hector Barrios of Bolivia in the semi-finals, as Barrios beat 10th seed Felipe Guillen of Costa Rica, 15-3, 15-9.

Three of the four quarterfinal matches in Boy’s U14 went tie-breaker, and in two of them, the lower seeded player came out with the W. Thirteenth seed Hector Sierra of Guatemala beat 5th seed Luis Renteria of Mexico, 15-7, 4-15, 11-3, and 14th seed Juan Rodriguez of Colombia defeated 6th seed Jorge Gutierrez of Mexico, 10-15, 15-11, 11-4. But the top seeds survived. First seed Jhonatan Flores from Bolivia needed three games to get past 9th seed Vedant Chauhan of the USA, 15-13, 11-15, 11-0, while 2nd seed Nikhil Prasad (USA) had a comfortable win over 10th seed Duvan Torres of Colombia, 15-2, 15-4. In the semis, Flores will play Sierra and Prasad will face Rodriguez.

The IRF is streaming some matches via its Facebook page). The times for the matches are central standard time.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 8) Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-5, 15-4
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) d. 5) Graciana Wargo (USA), 15-8, 15-1

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 6) Anna Rivera (Mexico), 15-4, 15-8
2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. 7) Nikita Chauhan (USA), 15-6, 15-6

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 4) Martina Katz (Argentina) - 4 PM
2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - 4 PM

U16 Girl's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

9) Annie Roberts (USA) d. 1) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico), 12-15, 15-4, 11-8
5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 4) Martina Katz (Argentina), 15-12, 15-4

3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) d. 6) Loraine Felipe (Cuba), 15-12, 15-9
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. 10) Erin Slutzky (USA), 15-13, 15-0

Semi-finals - Friday

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 9) Annie Roberts (USA) - 3 PM
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. 3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - 3 PM

U14 Girl's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. 1) Natalia Mita (Bolivia), 15-8, 8-15, 11-10
4) Ava Kaiser (USA) d. 5) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-7

3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. 6) Gisele Nieto (Mexico), 15-5, 15-1
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) d. 7) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-7

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Ava Kaiser (USA) v. 8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) - 1 PM
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) v. 3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) - 1 PM

U18 Boy's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 8) Ben Baron (USA), 15-4, 15-6
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 5) Juan Flores (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-12

6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-10
7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 2) Emir Martinez (Mexico), 15-7, 15-6

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 4 PM
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. 7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) - 4 PM

U16 Boy's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. 8) Namwoo Lee (Korea), 15-5, 15-9
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) d. 12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-4, 15-6

6) Timothy Hansen (USA) d. 3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico), 15-10, 15-7
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) d. 10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-9

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) - 3 PM
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) v. 6) Timothy Hansen (USA) - 3 PM

U14 Boy's Singles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) d. 9) Vedant Chauhan (USA), 15-13, 11-15, 11-0
13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala) d. 5) Luis Renteria (Mexico), 15-7, 4-15, 11-3

14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) d. 6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico), 10-15, 15-11, 11-4
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) d. 10) Duvan Torres (Colombia), 15-2, 15-4

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) v. 13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - 2 PM
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) v. 14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Wednesday doubles results from the 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

There were only two doubles matches Wednesday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, and they were both in boy’s doubles.

One was in Boy’s U14, as the Irish team of Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O’Gorman defeated Canadian brothers Asher Pocsai and Christian Pocsai, 15-9, 15-3. The Irish will next play top seeds Vedant Chauhan and Joshua Shea of the USA.

The other was in Boy’s U18, as Canadians Kyle Dick and Sean Sauvé were facing off with Costa Ricans Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez. The winner will play the top seeded Bolivian team of Julio Guzman and Gerson Miranda.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Boy's Doubles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Julio Guzman & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE
8) Kyle Dick & Sean Sauvé v. 9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)

5) Rafael Gatica & Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) - BYE

3) Dylan Pruitt & Joshua Shea (USA) - BYE
6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
2) Jose Pablo Cardona & Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Julio Guzman & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 8) Kyle Dick & Sean Sauvé or 9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) v. 5) Rafael Gatica & Johan Igor (Chile)

3) Dylan Pruitt & Joshua Shea (USA) v. 6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador)
2) Jose Pablo Cardona & Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) v. 7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico)

U16 Boy's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. 8) Seunghwan & Namwoo Lee (Korea)
4) Santiago Gamboa & Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) v. 5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA)

3) Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) v. 6) Naman Gauri & Nathan Jauvin (Canada)
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile)

U14 Boy's Doubles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Vedant Chauhan & Joshua Shea (USA)
8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) d. 9) Asher Pocsai & Christian Pocsai (Canada), 15-9, 15-3

5) Antonio Sanchez & Victor Segura (Costa Rica) - BYE
4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) - BYE

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE
6) Adrian Carchi & Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Jose Pablo Caseres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - BYE
2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Vedant Chauhan & Joshua Shea (USA) v. 8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland)
4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) v. 5) Antonio Sanchez & Victor Segura (Costa Rica)

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 6) Adrian Carchi & Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador)
2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. 7) Jose Pablo Caseres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala)

U18 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 5) Paula Mansilla & Josefina Toro (Chile)

3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) v. 6) Cassie Prentice & Camila Wilscam (Canada)
2) Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA) v. 7) Aranxa Anguizola & Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)

U16 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 5) Alondra Canchola & Annie Roberts (USA)

3) Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba) v. 6) Kelly-Marie Barrett & Juliette Parent (Canada)
2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. 7) Adriana Valdez & Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)

U14 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - BYE
4) Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA) v. 5) Ofelia Wilscam & Tamara Wilscam (Canada)

3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) v. Kenia Brenes & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) v. Sarah Ainsworth & Thea Coleman (Ireland)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Round of 16 results from 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

The Round of 16 results are in from all the singles divisions at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica. Here's a rundown of what happened in the U18 divisions.

In Boy’s U18, Pablo Freer of Costa Rica, playing at home, upset 3rd seed Johan Igor of Chile, 15-14, 15-10 to set up an all Costa Rica quarterfinal, as Freer will play team-mate Tomas Sanchez, who beat Canadian Kyle Dick, 15-2, 15-2. Thus, Costa Rica is guaranteed a medal in Boy’s U18 as either Freer or Sanchez will make the semi-finals, which means a spot on the podium.

Mexico is also guaranteed a medal in Boy’s U18, as team-mates Emir Martinez and Jose Ramos will play in the quarterfinals with the winner to face the winner of the Costa Rica match. In the 16s, Martinez beat Rafael Gatica of Chile, 15-6, 15-7, while Ramos needed a tie-breaker to get past Nathan Martinez of Guatemala, 15-6, 13-15, 11-4.

Four different countries are represented on the top half of the Boy’s U18 draw: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and the USA. Top seed Gerson Miranda of Bolivia beat Esteban De Janon of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-6, and will play the USA’s Ben Baron in the quarters, as Baron defeated Canadian Sean Sauvé, 15-11, 15-5, in the 16s. The other quarter sees 4th seed Diego Garcia of Argentina face off with Juan Flores of Ecuador. Garcia beat Bolivian Charlie Chavez, 15-5, 15-0, and Flores defeated Jose Pablo Cardona of Guatemala, 15-11, 15-4.

The Girl’s U18 quarterfinals will have two Bolivia-Mexico matches. In one, Bolivian Valeria Centellas, the top seed, will play Mexican Marifer Gutierrez, as Gutierrez defeated Canadian Cassie Prentice, 15-1, 15-8, in the Round of 16 Wednesday. Centellas had a bye. In the other, Bolivian Angelica Barrios, the 3rd seed, faces 6th seed Anna Rivera of Mexico, as Rivera beat Aranxa Anguizola of Costa Rica, 15-1, 15-2.

Also in Girl’s U18 Round of 16 matches, 5th seed Graciana Wargo of the USA needed three games to get past Canadian Camila Wilscam, 15-5, 14-15, 11-0. Wargo will play 4th seed Martina Katz of Argentina in the quarters, as Katz beat Chilean Josefina Toro, 15-1, 15-6. The other quarterfinal will be between 2nd seed Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, who had a bye in the Round of 16 and 7th seed Nikita Chauhan (USA), as Chauhan defeated 10th seed Abigail Solana (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
8) Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 9) Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-1, 15-8

5) Graciana Wargo (USA) d. 12) Camila Wilscam (Canada), 15-5, 14-15, 11-0
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) d. 13) Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-6

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
6) Anna Rivera (Mexico) d. 11) Aranxa Anguizola (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2

7) Nikita Chauhan (USA) d. 10) Abigail Solana (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-6
2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 8) Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico)
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) v. 5) Graciana Wargo (USA)

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 6) Anna Rivera (Mexico)
2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 7) Nikita Chauhan (USA)
U16 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. 16) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-0
9) Annie Roberts (USA) d. 8) Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba), 15-0, 15-1

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 12) Fabiana Landy (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-0
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) d. 13) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-7

3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) d. 14) Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-1
6) Loraine Felipe (Cuba) d. 11) Adriana Valdez (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-6

10) Erin Slutzky (USA) d. 7) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 14-15, 15-8, 11-5
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. 15) Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-4, 15-6

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. 9) Annie Roberts (USA)
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) v. 5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. 6) Loraine Felipe (Cuba)
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. 10) Erin Slutzky (USA)

U14 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Natalia Mita (Bolivia) d. 16) Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-5
8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. 9) Thea Coleman (Ireland), 15-6, 15-12

5) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) d. 12) Paula Mansilla (Chile), 15-6, 15-13
4) Ava Kaiser (USA) d. 13) Ofelia Wilscam (Canada), 15-5, 15-7

3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. 14) Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland), 15-0, 15-0
6) Gisele Nieto (Mexico) d. 11) Angela Villacreses (Ecuador), 12-15, 15-11, 11-2

7) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) d. 10) Tamara Wilscam (Canada), 15-6, 15-1
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) d. 15) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-3

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. 8) Angela Ortega (Mexico)
4) Ava Kaiser (USA) v. 5) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala)

3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. 6) Gisele Nieto (Mexico)
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) v. 7) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala)

U18 Boy's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 17) Esteban De Janon (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-6
8) Ben Baron (USA) d. 9) Sean Sauvé (Canada), 15-11, 15-5

5) Juan Flores (Ecuador) d. 12) Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-4
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 13) Charlie Chavez (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-0

14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) d. 3) Johan Igor (Chile), 15-14, 15-10
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 11) Kyle Dick (Canada), 15-2, 15-2

7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 10) Nathan Martinez (Guatemala), 15-6, 13-15, 11-4
2) Emir Martinez (Mexico) d. 15) Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-6, 15-7

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 8) Ben Baron (USA)
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. 5) Juan Flores (Ecuador)

6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. 14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica)
2) Emir Martinez (Mexico) v. 7) Jose Ramos (Mexico)

U16 Boy's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. 17) Juan Segovia (Colombia), 15-3, 15-1
8) Namwoo Lee (Korea) d. 9) Diego Gatica (Chile), 10-15, 15-10, 11-5

12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 5) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador), 15-11, 8-15, 11-8
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) d. 13) Pablo Vera (Ecuador), 7-15, 15-1, 11-2

3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) d. 14) Andrew Gleason (USA), injury forfeit
6) Timothy Hansen (USA) d. 11) Victor Seguria (Costa Rica), 15-4, 15-1

10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) d. 7) Nathan Jauvin (Canada), 15-3, 15-11
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) d. 18) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-5, 15-4

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 8) Namwoo Lee (Korea)
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile)

3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) v. 6) Timothy Hansen (USA)
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) v. 10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica)

U14 Boy's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) d. 17) Adrian Carchi (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-6
9) Vedant Chauhan (USA) d. 8) Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland), 15-1, 15-1

5) Luis Renteria (Mexico) d. 12) Jose Pablo Caseres (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-7
13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala) d. 4) Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica), 9-15, 15-14, 11-10

14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) d. 3) Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia), 15-14, 15-13
6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 11) Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-5

10) Duvan Torres (Colombia) d. 7) Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-9
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) d. 18) Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland), 15-0, 15-5

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) v. 9) Vedant Chauhan (USA)
5) Luis Renteria (Mexico) v. 13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala)

6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia)
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) v. 10) Duvan Torres (Colombia)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Round of 32 results from 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

The Round of 32 results in boys singles are out from the first day of the medal round competition at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica.

In Boy’s U18, Esteban De Janon of Ecuador defeated Micah Farmer of the USA in two close games, 15-12, 15-12, and will play top seed Bolivian Gerson Miranda next in the Round of 16. Also in Boy’s U18, Chilean Rafael Gatica beat Colombian Juan Segovia, 15-14, 15-7. Gatica will play Emir Martinez of Mexico next.

In Boy’s U16, Colombian Juan Segovia defeated Canadian Naman Gauri, 15-11, 15-7, so will play top seed Sebastian Longoria of Mexico later today. Also, Tomas Oyhanart of Argentina beat Guatemala’s Bayron Rosil, 15-11, 15-4, and will face 2nd seed Hector Barrios of Bolivia next.

Finally, in Boy’s U14, Adrian Carchi of Ecuador beat Seunghwan Hong of Korea, 15-8, 15-3, in the Round of 32, and will play top seed Jhonatan Flores of Bolivia in the Round of 16. Irish player Daniel Hanrahan defeated Canadian Christian Pocsai, 15-11, 15-7, and plays the USA’s Nikhil Prasad in the 16s today.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
8) Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 9) Cassie Prentice (Canada)

5) Graciana Wargo (USA) v. 12) Camila Wilscam (Canada)
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) v. 13) Josefina Toro (Chile)

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
6) Anna Rivera (Mexico) v. 11) Aranxa Anguizola (Costa Rica)

7) Nikita Chauhan (USA) v. 10) Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)
2) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

U16 Girl's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) - BYE
16) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) d. 17) Kelly-Marie Barrett (Canada), 15-1, 15-0

9) Annie Roberts (USA) - BYE
8) Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba) - BYE

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - BYE
12) Fabiana Landy (Ecuador) - BYE

13) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) - BYE
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) - BYE

3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - BYE
14) Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

6) Loraine Felipe (Cuba) - BYE
11) Adriana Valdez (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE
10) Erin Slutzky (USA) - BYE

15) Juliette Parent (Canada) - BYE
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE

U14 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. 16) Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica)
8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 9) Thea Coleman (Ireland)

5) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) v. 12) Paula Mansilla (Chile)
4) Ava Kaiser (USA) v. 13) Ofelia Wilscam (Canada)

3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. 14) Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland)
6) Gisele Nieto (Mexico) v. 11) Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)

7) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) v. 10) Tamara Wilscam (Canada)
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) v. 15) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)

U18 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE
17) Esteban De Janon (Ecuador) d. 16) Micah Farmer (USA), 15-12, 15-12

9) Sean Sauvé (Canada) - BYE
8) Ben Baron (USA) - BYE

5) Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE
12) Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala) - BYE

13) Charlie Chavez (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - BYE

3) Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE

11) Kyle Dick (Canada) - BYE
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
10) Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

15) Rafael Gatica (Chile) d. 18) Juan Segovia (Colombia), 15-14, 15-7
2) Emir Martinez (Mexico) - BYE

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 17) Esteban De Janon (Ecuador)
8) Ben Baron (USA) v. 9) Sean Sauvé (Canada)

5) Juan Flores (Ecuador) v. 12) Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala)
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. 13) Charlie Chavez (Bolivia)

3) Johan Igor (Chile) v. 14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica)
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. 11) Kyle Dick (Canada)

7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 10) Nathan Martinez (Guatemala)
2) Emir Martinez (Mexico) v. 15) Rafael Gatica (Chile)

U16 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
17) Juan Segovia (Colombia) d. 16) Naman Gauri (Canada), 15-11, 15-7

9) Diego Gatica (Chile) - BYE
8) Namwoo Lee (Korea) - BYE

5) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) - BYE
12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

13) Pablo Vera (Ecuador) - BYE
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) - BYE
14) Andrew Gleason (USA) - BYE

11) Victor Seguria (Costa Rica) - BYE
6) Timothy Hansen (USA) - BYE

7) Nathan Jauvin (Canada) - BYE
10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) - BYE

18) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) d. 15) Bayron Rosil (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-4
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 17) Juan Segovia (Colombia)
8) Namwoo Lee (Korea) v. 9) Diego Gatica (Chile)

5) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) v. 12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile)
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 13) Pablo Vera (Ecuador)

3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) v. 14) Andrew Gleason (USA)
6) Timothy Hansen (USA) v. 11) Victor Seguria (Costa Rica)

7) Nathan Jauvin (Canada) v. 10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica)
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia) v. 18) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina)

U14 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) - BYE
17) Adrian Carchi (Ecuador) d. 16) Seunghwan Hong (Korea), 15-8, 15-3

9) Vedant Chauhan (USA) - BYE
8) Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) - BYE

5) Luis Renteria (Mexico) - BYE
12) Jose Pablo Caseres (Guatemala) d. 21) Matias Guzman (Chile), 15-0, 15-3

13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala) d. 20) Asher Pocsai (Canada), 15-7, 15-9
4) Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE
14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) d. 19) Manuel Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-2, 15-2

11) Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica) - BYE
6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE

7) Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) - BYE
10) Duvan Torres (Colombia) - BYE

18) Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland) d. 15) Christian Pocsai (Canada), 15-11, 15-7
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) - BYE

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) v. 17) Adrian Carchi (Ecuador)
8) Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) v. 9) Vedant Chauhan (USA)

5) Luis Renteria (Mexico) v. 12) Jose Pablo Caseres (Guatemala)
4) Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. 13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala)

3) Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. 14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia)
6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 11) Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica)

7) Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) v. 10) Duvan Torres (Colombia)
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) v. 18) Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles draws for 2019 World Junior Championships

The doubles draws are out for the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica. There will be a few matches on Wednesday, but many of the teams, especially in the Girl’s divisions, won’t play until Thursday.

In Boy’s U18, Bolivians Julio Guzman and Gerson Miranda are the top seeds with Guatemalans Jose Pablo Cardona and Nathan Martinez the 2nd seeds. But Guatemala will have to play the 7th seeded Mexico team of Emir Martinez and Jose Ramos first. The USA’s Dylan Pruitt and Joshua Shea are 3rd seeds with Diego Garcia and Tomas Oyhanart of Argentina 4th seeds.

In Girl’s U18, Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas are the top seeds with the USA team of Nikita Chauhan and Erin Slutzky seeded 2nd. Mexico’s Marifer Gutierrez and Anna Rivera are 3rd seeds with Ecuador’s Fabiana Landy and Ana Sarmiento as 4th seeds.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Boy's Doubles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Julio Guzman & Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE
8) Kyle Dick & Sean Sauvé v. 9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)

5) Rafael Gatica & Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
4) Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) - BYE

3) Dylan Pruitt & Joshua Shea (USA) - BYE
6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
2) Jose Pablo Cardona & Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

U16 Boy's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. 8) Seunghwan & Namwoo Lee (Korea)
4) Santiago Gamboa & Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) v. 5) Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA)

3) Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) v. 6) Naman Gauri & Nathan Jauvin (Canada)
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile)

U14 Boy's Doubles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Vedant Chauhan & Joshua Shea (USA)
8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) v. 9) Asher Pocsai & Christian Pocsai (Canada)

5) Antonio Sanchez & Victor Segura (Costa Rica) - BYE
4) Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) - BYE

3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE
6) Adrian Carchi & Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Jose Pablo Caseres & Hector Sierra (Guatemala) - BYE
2) Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE

U18 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 5) Paula Mansilla & Josefina Toro (Chile)

3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico) v. 6) Cassie Prentice & Camila Wilscam (Canada)
2) Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA) v. 7) Aranxa Anguizola & Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)

U16 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 5) Alondra Canchola & Annie Roberts (USA)

3) Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba) v. 6) Kelly-Marie Barrett & Juliette Parent (Canada)
2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. 7) Adriana Valdez & Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)

U14 Girl's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico) - BYE
4) Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA) v. 5) Ofelia Wilscam & Tamara Wilscam (Canada)

3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) v. Kenia Brenes & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) v. Sarah Ainsworth & Thea Coleman (Ireland)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Draws for 2019 IRF World Junior Championships

The draws are out for the medal rounds of competition at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica, which begin Wednesday.

As we mentioned earlier in the week, the Girl’s U18 final will likely be between Bolivian team-mates Valeria Centellas, who’s seeded #1, and Angelica Barrios, seeded #3, as they have the most experience - and some successful experiences - playing at the next level. But Ana Sarmiento of Ecuador, who is the 2nd seed, and Argentina’s Martina Katz, who’s 4th seed and playing up a division as she’s also in U16, have been impressive, so it will be interesting to see how they fare against the Bolivians.

In Boy’s U18, the winner could come from the top of the draw, as both Bolivian Gerson Miranda, the #1 seed, and Argentina’s Diego Garcia, the #4 seed, are on that half of the draw. The top seeds on the bottom of the draw are Emir Martinez of Mexico (#2) and Johan Igor of Chile (#3).

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019


U18 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE
8) Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 9) Cassie Prentice (Canada)

5) Graciana Wargo (USA) v. 12) Camila Wilscam (Canada)
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) v. 13) Josefina Toro (Chile)

3) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE
6) Anna Rivera (Mexico) v. 11) Aranxa Anguizola (Costa Rica)

7) Nikita Chauhan (USA) 10) Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)
1) Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

U16 Girl's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) - BYE
16) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) v. 17) 4) Kelly-Marie Barrett (Canada)

9) Annie Roberts (USA) - BYE
8) Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba) - BYE

5) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - BYE
12) Fabiana Landy (Ecuador) - BYE

13) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) - BYE
4) Martina Katz (Argentina) - BYE

3) Ximena Martinez (Mexico) - BYE
14) Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

6) Loraine Felipe (Cuba) - BYE
11) Adriana Valdez (Ecuador) - BYE

7) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE
10) Erin Slutzky (USA) - BYE

15) Juliette Parent (Canada) - BYE
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) - BYE

U14 Girl's Singles

Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. 16) Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica)
8) Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 9) Thea Coleman (Ireland)

5) Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) v. 12) Paula Mansilla (Chile)
4) Ava Kaiser (USA) v. 13) Ofelia Wilscam (Canada)

3) Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. 14) Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland)
6) Gisele Nieto (Mexico) v. 11) Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)

7) Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) v. 10) Tamara Wilscam (Canada)
2) Heather Mahoney (USA) v. 15) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)

U18 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Micah Farmer (USA) v. 17) Esteban De Janon (Ecuador)

9) Sean Sauvé (Canada) - BYE
8) Ben Baron (USA) - BYE

5) Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE
12) Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala) - BYE

13) Charlie Chavez (Bolivia) - BYE
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - BYE

3) Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE
14) Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE

11) Kyle Dick (Canada) - BYE
6) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
10) Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

15) Rafael Gatica (Chile) v. 18) Juan Segovia (Colombia)
2) Emir Martinez (Mexico) - BYE

U16 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Naman Gauri (Canada) v. 17) Juan Segovia (Colombia)

9) Diego Gatica (Chile) - BYE
8) Namwoo Lee (Korea) - BYE

5) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) - BYE
12) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

13) Pablo Vera (Ecuador) - BYE
4) Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) - BYE
14) Andrew Gleason (USA) - BYE

11) Victor Seguria (Costa Rica) - BYE
6) Timothy Hansen (USA) - BYE

7) Nathan Jauvin (Canada) - BYE
10) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica) - BYE

15) Bayron Rosil (Guatemala) v. 18) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina)
2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia), 2-0

U14 Boy's Singles

Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Seunghwan Hong (Korea) v. 17) Adrian Carchi (Ecuador)

9) Vedant Chauhan (USA) - BYE
8) Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) - BYE

5) Luis Renteria (Mexico) - BYE
12) Jose Pablo Caseres (Guatemala) v. 21) Matias Guzman (Chile)

13) Hector Sierra (Guatemala) v. 20) Asher Pocsai (Canada)
4) Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) - BYE
14) Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) v. 19) Manuel Oyhanart (Argentina)

11) Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica) - BYE
6) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) - BYE

7) Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) - BYE
10) Duvan Torres (Colombia) - BYE

15) Christian Pocsai (Canada) v. 3) Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland)
2) Nikhil Prasad (USA) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….