2023 Pan American Championships - Preview

The 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships begin Saturday in Guatemala City, so it’s a good time to look back on what happened last year in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and ahead to what we could expect this year.

Last’s years champions were all first time winners in their respective divisions. Bolivians swept singles for the first time with Conrrado Moscoso winning the men’s title and Angelica Barrios winning the women’s title. In doubles, Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray won Men's Doubles with Argentina’s Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas winning Women’s Doubles. Mixed Doubles was a first time time event at last year’s Pan Am Championships, and Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas took the title.

We expect all of those players to be in Guatemala to defend their titles. Some of the line ups are uncertain at this point. But we know that Team USA has six players: Jake and Sam Bredenbeck as well as Thomas Carter on the men’s side, with Erika Manilla, Michelle De La Rosa, and Rhonda Rajsich on the women’s side. Also, Team Canada will be Iwaasa, Murray and Trevor Webb, as well as Michèle Morissette, Juliette Parent and Danielle Ramsay.

This event is the qualifying event for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile this October. How many players countries can send to Chile will depend on how well they do in Guatemala. To that end, there will not be a team event this year, as players will play down for all the positions. That is, losing in the medal round does not end a player’s tournament, as there will be a 3rd place match, as well as matches for 5th to 8th, 9th to 16th, etc.

Note, both semi-finalists will be bronze medalists, but for the purposes of Pan Am Games qualification, a “3rd place” match will be played. Similarly for those who lose in the quarterfinals, and Round of 16.

The tournament will begin with three days of group play beginning Saturday. Those results will lead to seeding for the medal round that will begin on Tuesday. For draws, look to the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website. Also, some of the matches will be streamed. We’re not sure when the streaming will begin, but check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia - April 9-16, 2022

Women's Singles

Gold - Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
Silver -  María José Vargas (Argentina)
Bronze - Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), Carla Muñoz (Chile)

Men's Singles

Gold - Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Silver -  Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Bronze - Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), Alejandro Landa (USA)

Women's Doubles

Gold - Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) 
Silver - Alejandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico)
Bronze - Erika Manilla & Rhonda Rajsich (USA), Micaela Meneses & Yazmine Sabja  (Bolivia)

Men's Doubles

Gold - Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
Silver - Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Bronze - Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA), Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)

Mixed Doubles

Gold - Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) 
Silver - Micaela Meneses & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Bronze - Alejandro Landa & Erika Manilla (USA), Valeria Centellas & Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Women’s Team

Gold - Argentina
Silver - Mexico
Bronze - USA, Bolivia

Men’s Team

Gold - Bolivia
Silver - Mexico
Bronze - Costa Rica, USA

Follow the bouncing ball….

Roberts & Dowell win at 2023 USA Racquetball Intercollegiates

Annie Roberts of the University of the Pacific won Women’s #1 Singles at the 2023 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio last weekend. She defeated Andrea Ibarra of the University of New Mexico in the final, 15-7, 15-7. Roberts’s win was a successful defence of the title, which she won for the first time last year.

John Dowell from the University of Missouri won Men’s #1 Singles in a tie-breaker over Nathan Buring of Oregon State University, 12-15, 15-8, 11-9. It was Dowell’s first Intercollegiate title.

Buring did win Men’s #1 Doubles with Cody Boucher by beating Arthur Schmeiser and Patrick Biegun (Northern Arizona), 15-8, 15-0, in the final. That was a measure of revenge for last year, when they lost to Schmeiser and Ben Baron in the semi-finals.

Baldwin Wallace’s Angie Case and Julia Stein won Women’s #1 Doubles, as they upset the top seeds Abby Lachance and Kate Zawalski of the University of Missouri, 15-7, 15-8, in the final. It was the second year Lachance and Zawalski lost in the final, as they last year's final to Roberts and Alondra Canchola.

Intercollegiate participation

There were 109 players at the 2023 Intercollegiate Championships, which was up from last year’s 88, but still lower than the numbers seen pre-pandemic, when there were regularly over 200 players in this event.

The women’s participation was 36.7%, which was down slightly from the last two events, when over 40% of the players were women. But it’s a higher rate than in any of the seven years before 2019.

Also of note is that there were no players from the University of Colorado - Pueblo, which has been one of the strongest programs for more than two decades.

2023 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Columbus, Ohio - March 15-18, 2023
(with seedings)

Women's Singles - Final

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific) d. 7) Andrea Ibarra (New Mexico), 15-7, 15-7

Women's Singles - 3rd Place

4) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young) d. 6) Katt Macgregor (Oregon State), 15-7, 15-1

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific) d. 4) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young), 15-1, 15-5
7) Andrea Ibarra (New Mexico) d. 6) Katt Macgregor (Oregon State), 15-7, 15-1

Women's Doubles - Final

3) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 1) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri), 15-7, 15-8

Women's Doubles - 3rd Place

5) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State) d. 2) Rebekah Barney & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young), 15-14, 15-9

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri) d. 5) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State), 15-7, 15-14
3) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 2) Rebekah Barney & Stephanie Cook, 15-4, 15-9

Men's Singles - Final

1) John Dowell (Missouri) d. 3) Nathan Buring (Oregon State), 12-15, 15-8, 11-9

Men's Singles - 3rd Place

2) Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona) d. 4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University), 15-5, 15-13

Men's Singles - Semi-finals

1) John Dowell (Missouri) d. 4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University), 6-15, 15-4, 11-4
3) Nathan Buring (Oregon State) d. 2) Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona), 15-10, 9-15, 11-10

Men's Doubles - Final

1) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State) d. 2) Patrick Biegun & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona), 15-8, 15-0

Men's Doubles - 3rd Place

5) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University) d. Trevor Melton & Garrison Walker (Liberty University), 15-12, 15-11

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State) d. 5) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University), 15-8, 15-10
2) Patrick Biegun & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona) d. Trevor Melton & Garrison Walker (Liberty University), 15-8, 15-14

USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions

Women's Singles

2023

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Andrea Ibarra (New Mexico)
3) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)
4) Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)

2022

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Shane Diaz (Northeast Lakeview College)
3) Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kate Zawalski (Missouri)

2019

1) Hollie Scott (Washington)
2) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
4) Melania Sauma (Arizona State)

2018

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
2) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
3) Hollie Scott (Washington)
4) Lexi York (Oregon State)

2017

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
2) Melania Sauma (Arizona State)
3) Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M)

2016

1) Carla Muñoz (Las Positas)
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
3) Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Devon Pimentelli (Bellevue College)

2015

1) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)
3) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado)
4) Rachel Creel (Oregon State)

2014

1) Devon Pimentelli (Canada College)
2) Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
3) Samantha Simmons (Maryland)
4) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)

2013

1) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2) Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3) Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
4) Kelly Gremley (Purdue)

2012

1) Sharon Jackson (Alabama)
2) Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Hailey Miller (Oregon)

2011

1) Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2) Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kelly Gremley (Purdue)

2010

1) Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
2) Michelle Key (Univ. of Arizona)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)

2009

1) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
3) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Teresa Diaz (Delta College)

2008

1) Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Sue Sublaban (Delta College)

2007

1) Kimberly Irons (Ohio University)
2) Jesi Fuller (University of New Mexico)
3) Da'monique Davis (University of Alabama)
4) Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace)

2006

1) Adrienne Fisher (University of Alabama)
2) Ashley Legget (Oregon State)
3) Jesi Fuller (University of New Mexico)
4) Allison Dauer (North Carolina)

Women's Doubles

2023

1) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri)
3) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)
4) Rebekah Barney & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)

2022

1) Alondra Canchola & Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri)
3) Faith Malek & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Autumn Lewis & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)

2019

1) Brenda Laime & Adriana Riveros (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Natalie Lorati & Lexi York (Oregon State)
3) Elyse Duffie & Elena Robles (Purdue)
4) Lindsay Briglia & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)

2018

1) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
2) Natalie Lorati & Lexi York (Oregon State)
3) Kayla Day & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
4) Tylynn Barker & Courtnie Duncan (Utah State)

2017

1) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
2) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
3) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri)

2016

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State)
2) Jordan Giljum & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
3) Jessilee Loucks & Lindsey Raven (Brigham Young)
4) Alexis Templeton & Antonia Duran (New Mexico)

2015

1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State)
3) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
4) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State)

2014

1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2) Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3) Anna Schwartz & Rachel Schmidt (Missouri)
4) Adrienne Schneider & Sara Moulton (Brigham Young)

2013

1) Danielle Key & Devon Pimentelli (Arizona State)
2) Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
4) Eliza Culverwell & Mary Culverwell (Brigham Young)

2012

1) Madeleine Angles & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2) Molly Haragan & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Danielle Key & Izayadeth Aguayo (Arizona State)
4) Leah Redwine & Hailey Miller (University Of Oregon)

2011

1) Sharon Jackson & Brittany Travers (University of Alabama)
2) Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon)
4) Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)

2010

1) Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazur (University of Alabama)
2) Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Haley Strom & Holly Hettesheimer (University Of Cincinnati)
4) Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)

2009

1) Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Eliza Culverwell & Charlotte Macfarlane (Brigham Young)

2008

1) Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2) Mallory Parry & Darla Wenger (Brigham Young)
3) Sarah Hettesheimer & Tyler Fridley (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kara Mazer & Brittany Travers (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Da'monique Davis & Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer & Kristin Matushevski (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Michelle Key & Jessica Montemayor (Arizona State)
4) Mallory Parry & Katherine Affeltranger (Brigham Young)

2006

1) Ashley Legget & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2) Da'monique Davis & Kelley Fisher (University of Alabama)
3) Jesi Fuller & Natalie Alexia Lopez (New Mexico State)
4) Gretchen Miller & Kristen Karl (Pennsylvania State)

Men's Singles

2023

1) John Dowell (Missouri)
2) Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
3) Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University)

2022

1) Arial Tito (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Ben Baron (Northern Arizona)
3) Jeremy Dixon (Adler)
4) John Dowell (Missouri)

2019

1) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada (Texas)
3) Jeremy Dixon (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Jacob Matthews (East Carolina)

2018

1) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada (Texas)
3) Sam Bredenbeck (Oregon State)
4) Kyle Ulliman (Baldwin Wallace)

2017

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
4) Mauro Rojas (Delta College)

2016

1) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
2) David Horn (California State-Hayward)
3) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)

2015

1) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
2) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
3) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)

2014

1) Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla (Colorado State)
4) Joel Barshaw (Oregon State)

2013

1) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cole Burr (Brigham Young)
4) Jordan Matthews (North Carolina State)

2012

1) Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3) John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
4) Jose Diaz (Delta College)

2011

1) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama)
4) John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)

2010

1) Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Taylor Knoth (Univ. of Oregon)
3) Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4) Allan Crockett (Univ. of Alabama)

2009

1) Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Allan Crockett (University of Alabama)
3) Tony Carson (Colorado State)
4) Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs)

2008

1) Tony Carson (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs)
3) Bradly Rogers (Wichita)
4) Allan Crockett (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Ben Croft (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Agustin Tristan (University of Alabama)
3) Evan Ussery (University of New Mexico)
4) Phil Matthews (University of Illinois)

2006

1) Ben Croft (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Agustin Tristan (University of Alabama)
3) Mike Harmon (Manatee Community College)
4) Louis Vogel (University of New Mexico)

Men's Doubles

2023

1) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
2) Patrick Biegun & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
3) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University)
4) Trevor Melton & Garrison Walker (Liberty University)

2022

1) Ben Baron & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
2) Samuel Lazcano Ramirez & Arial Tito (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
4) John Dowell & James Storgion (Missouri)

2019

1) Erik Garcia & Lukas Le (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada & Jerry Yang (Texas)
3) Jeremy Dixon & Daniel Herrera (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Nathan Buring & Nick Buring (Oregon State)

2018

1) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Jeremy Dixon & Kyle Ulliman (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Alexander DeHart (Oregon State)
4) Alejandro Almada & Jerry Yang (Texas)

2017

1) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado)
4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College)

2016

1) Jose Diaz & Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
2) Jeremy McGlothin & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Matt McAdam & Nick Riffel (Colorado)

2015

1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado)
2) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas)

2014

1) Felipe Camacho & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado State)
3) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4) Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State)

2013

1) Taylor Knoth & Joel Bradshow (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano & Jake Bredenbeck (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cole Burr & Brian Zundel (Brigham Young)
4) Alex Fischler & Joe Koch (Missouri)

2012

1) Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Grant Stalley & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3) Brad Falvey & Danny Lavely (Alabama)
4) Cole Burr & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)

2011

1) Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama)
3) Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
4) Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)

2010

1) David Horn & Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Jansen Allen & Tyler Otto (Colorado State)
3) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4) David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)

2009

1) Tony Carson & Jansen Allen (Colorado State)
2) Jose Rojas & Ismael Aldana Jr. (Delta College)
3) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)

2008

1) Tony Carson & Charlie Pratt (Colorado State)
2) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)
3) David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (Colorado State)
2) Chris Crockett & Shane Karmelin (University of Alabama)
3) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Marco Hidalgo & Evan Ussery (New Mexico State)

2006

1) Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (Colorado State)
2) Augustin Tristan & Shane Karmelin (University of Alabama)
3) Scott Perryman & Jared Torres (Brigham Young)
4) Joe Linnell & Benjamin Toth (Ohio State)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Moscoso, Manilla & Parrilla win at 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Conrrado Moscoso won his 2nd event of the year by defeating Jake Bredenbeck, 13-15, 15-14, 11-7, in the final of the 38th Annual International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. Moscoso is 2-1 in finals this season, while Bredenbeck is 0-2.

But the doubles final was surprising, as 2nd seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla defeated top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-10, 15-10. It’s first loss in a doubles match this season for Mar and Montoya, who’ve won twice together and once each with other partners. They are the class of IRT doubles now, yet the lefty-righty team of Manilla and Parrilla, who were playing together for the first time, beat them. Impressive.

Bredenbeck led early in game one of the singles final at 4-1, but Moscoso tied it 4-4 and they were back and forth until 9-9. Moscoso then won four rallies in a row - even with a Bredenbeck timeout in the middle of that run - to lead 13-9, so it seemed he was going to take game one.

But Bredenbeck laid out to hit a great backhand shot that got him back in the service box, where he then hit back to back ace serves: a drive to the right followed by a drive to the left. A backhand rekill put Bredenbeck within one of Moscoso at 13-12.

Moscoso stopped the run with a backhand cross court shot, but was then called for an avoidable hinder on the next rally. When he skipped a forehand serve return of a Bredenbeck lob to the right side that made it 13-13, Moscoso called a timeout.

However, that didn’t change things, as he skipped another forehand shot on the next rally making it 14-13. Bredenbeck only needed one chance to win it, as he hit a backhand winner to close out game one, 15-9, on a run of six unanswered points.

Bredenbeck’s point streak continued in game two, as he went up 8-0: fourteen consecutive points! Bredenbeck maintained the lead, as he got to 14 first, leading 14-9. The match was virtually in hand.

Moscoso had other plans, though, and he fought off that match point with a winning backhand pinch shot. That proved to be Bredenbeck’s only match point, as Moscoso did what had been done to him in game one: score the last six points to win the game.

Moscoso ended it in spectacular fashion, as he hit a shot between his legs while facing the back wall that was a pinch shot winner out of the right front corner.

That forced a tie-breaker, and they were close early in the breaker, including being tied at 4-4 and 5-5. But Moscoso edged ahead from there, as he pushed out to a 9-5 lead. Bredenbeck cut the lead to 9-7 with a drive serve ace, but never got closer than that.

The last point was a classic racquetball rally: Moscoso drove serve to the left side, and Bredenbeck returned it to the ceiling. Moscoso moved to the back left corner, and hit a great backhand splat shot from 37 feet for the winner.

Moscoso said afterwards “only focus” was the difference between games one and two. He complimented his opponent: “Jake is very strong” and his “game is very fast,” so Moscoso was very happy to win their match.

Moscoso’s win was the 6th of his career, tying him with Ruben Gonzalez, Drew Kachtik and Jerry Hilecher, and putting him just one behind Mike Ray and two off John Ellis.

Doubles

Mar and Montoya started well in the doubles final, as they went out to an 8-1 lead in game one. But Manilla and Parrilla caught up at 9-9, and they pushed on to win 15-10, as Manilla hit a forehand winner down the left side.

Mar and Montoya led early in game two also at 4-1. Again, Manilla and Parrilla caught up, tying at 4-4. The teams were back and forth from there, but when Mar and Montoya got ahead 10-8, you had a feeling that they were going to force a breaker.

That feeling proved to be false, as a Mar skip put Manilla and Parrilla back in the service box, and they wouldn’t leave it, scoring seven unanswered points to win 15-10. Parrilla started the run with a great forehand pinch shot from the back left corner.

Interestingly, Parrilla was serving lob nicks over to Montoya, rather than serving to Mar, who was the player on his side of the court. The end came when Manilla hit a Z serve to the left side where Montoya returned it with a forehand down the left, but in doing so, Montoya was trapped against the left wall. The ball was well up as it came to him, so Manilla held up. Despite jumping up to avoid contact from Manilla, Montoya was called for an avoidable hinder. He appealed the call, but the line judges upheld the call, so the match was over.

Parrilla has had success in Lombard over the years, and afterwards was asked whether that helped today, but he said rather than the court he felt “comfortable playing with Adam.” That it was “an advantage to play with a smart guy like him and because he’s a lefty that helps in doubles too.” But Parrilla “didn’t feel that comfortable playing in the court, because it’s hard to play in a fish bowl” like that.

”I’m happy that we won,” said Parrilla, “and played smart.” He thought the key was “we were choosing the right shots to take.”

Manilla thanked Andree afterwards, saying he’s “such an incredible doubles partner, so smooth, so patient, and it’s easy to play with a guy,” when you know if he has “a set up he just puts it away.”

Perhaps this could be the start of a beautiful partnership.

If you missed any of the finals from Lombard check out the IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 13-15, 15-14, 11-7

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-10, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Moscoso & Bredenbeck play off in 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout final

It’ll be #1 versus #2 in both singles and doubles finals on Sunday at the 38th Annual International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. Both singles semi-finals were close. Top seed Conrrado Moscoso narrowly defeated Rodrigo Montoya in two games, 15-14, 15-14, and 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck came back from a game down to defeat 3rd seed Eduardo Portillo, 9-15, 15-5, 11-7.

Moscoso’s win in doubles was a bit of revenge for losing to Montoya earlier in the day in the doubles semi-finals, as Montoya and Javier Mar, the top seeds, defeated Moscoso and Alejandro Landa, the 4th seeds, 15-10, 15-11. In the other doubles semi, 2nd seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla dropped the first game to 3rd seeds Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray, but won the match in three games, 13-15, 15-6, 11-4.

In the Moscoso-Montoya match, Montoya had significant leads in both games. He led 9-2 in game one, only to see Moscoso come back and tie it at 12-12. Montoya got to 14 first, but skipped a forehand shot for the game, which gave the serve back to Moscoso. Three Moscoso winners on consecutive rallies won him the game.

In game two, they were close early, but then Montoya took a 9-5 lead. As in game one, Moscoso came back and they were tied at 12-12, and then Montoya got to 14 first. His first game point ended in an avoidable call, which, of course, Montoya didn’t like, but it seemed like the right call.

Another avoidable call put Moscoso on match point at 14-14. However, he skipped a forehand pinch shot on that first match point. They were back and forth with Montoya on game point and Moscoso match point with each player having three opportunities to finish it (Montoya also had two at 14-13, so five game points overall). Moscoso finally finished it by hitting a drive serve that jammed off the left wall, so Montoya turned to take it with his forehand, but skipped the return.

”I’m so happy,” Moscoso said afterwards, and congratulated Montoya for playing a great match. Asked what was different today compared to two weeks ago, when Montoya defeated Moscoso in what wasn’t such a close match, Moscoso said “I don’t know.” Although Moscoso was “feeling tired” after the match, he said he’ll be ready for the final.

In contrast, the first two games of Bredenbeck and Portillo weren’t close. But the breaker was close. Bredenbeck took the early lead, 4-1. Portillo tied it 4-4, and led 5-4. They remained close until Bredenbeck was up 8-7. From there, Bredenbeck won three consecutive rallies to finish it off, 11-7.

Asked about how he bounced back from losing game one, Bredenbeck said “I always tell myself never quit, never give up,” and “all you need is a couple shots to change the momentum.” He added that “it feels awesome” to be in another final.

You can see the IRT finals from Lombard via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Central.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-14
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Eduardo Portillo, 9-15, 15-5, 11-7

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-10, 15-11
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray, 13-15, 15-6, 11-4

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Montoya into semi-finals at 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Rodrigo Montoya will have a chance to win back to back titles on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as he came back to defeat Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-13, 11-7, in the quarterfinals of the 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois Friday night. It was a close match in all three games, but Montoya pulled ahead for good after they were tied at 5-5 in the tie-breaker. He finished it with winners on three consecutive rallies.

Asked afterwards whether he feels more pressure to win again after winning his first IRT tournament two weeks ago, Montoya said “no,” and that it was the “opposite.” He feels now he can “just relax and enjoy,” adding “this is my passion.”

Montoya will play top seed Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals Saturday night, as Moscoso beat Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-7, in the quarters. They two met two weeks ago in the semi-finals in Minneapolis, where Montoya won in two games.

It’ll be 2 versus 3 in the other semi-final, as 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck will take on 3rd seed Eduardo Portillo. Both players won their respective quarterfinal matches in two straight games. Bredenbeck beat his doubles partner Samuel Murray, 15-3, 15-7, and Portillo took out Alejandro Landa, 15-2, 15-9. Landa picked up a leg injury in February and his movement on court still seems to be hampered by it.

You can see the IRT semis and final from Lombard via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The doubles semi-finals will be Saturday at noon and 1 PM with the singles semis at 6 and 7 PM Saturday. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Central.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 9) Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-7
5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 13-15, 15-13, 11-7

3) Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Alejandro Landa, 15-2, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-3, 15-7

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Rodrigo Montoya - 7 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 3) Eduardo Portillo - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso - 1 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Acuña into quarterfinals at 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Andrés Acuña upset Adam Manilla, 15-3, 5-15, 11-8, for the only upset win in the Round of 16 at the 38th Annual International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, as Acuña was the 9th seed and Manilla the 8th seed. Acuña will play top seed Conrrado Moscoso in the quarterfinals Friday night, although Moscoso was pushed to a tie-breaker by fellow Bolivian Kadim Carrasco, the 17th seed. But Moscoso prevailed in the end, winning 15-5, 8-15, 11-4.

Second seed Jake Bredenbeck was almost pushed to a breaker by 15th seed Jaime Martell, who was up in the second game of their match, 8-2, and 12-8. Bredenbeck caught up at 12-12, and then went ahead 13-12.

However, Martell got to 14 first at 14-13 with a wide angle forehand pass shot. Bredenbeck then called timeout. When play resumed, Bredenbeck hit a backhand pinch shot that rekilled a Martell down the line shot. He won it on the next rally with a forehand cross court pass that Martell unsuccessfully dove to get.

Bredenbeck will play his doubles partner, Samuel Murray, in the quarters, as Murray, the 7th seed defeated 10th seed Javier Mar, 15-2, 15-13, in the 16s.

Bredenbeck and Murray are the 3rd seeds in doubles, and they defeated 6th seeds Kadim Carrasco and Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-9, in the quarterfinals, and will face 2nd seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Manilla and Parrilla beat 7th seeds Robert Collins and Erick Trujillo, 15-13, 15-3.

The #1 seeds in doubles - Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya - defeated 8th seeds Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer, 15-8, 15-5, and will play 4th seeds Alejandro Landa and Conrrado Moscoso, who needed a breaker get by 5th seeds Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 14-15, 11-5.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play continues with quarterfinals Friday from 5 PM on. The doubles semi-finals will be Saturday at noon and 1 PM with the singles semis at 6 and 7 PM Saturday. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Central.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 17) Kadim Carrasco, 15-5, 8-15, 11-4
9) Andrés Acuña d. 8) Adam Manilla, 15-3, 5-15, 11-8

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 12) Alan Natera, 15-9, 15-14
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Erick Trujillo, 15-1, 15-7

3) Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Robert Collins, 15-13, 15-6
6) Alejandro Landa d. 11) Thomas Carter, 14-15, 15-11, 11-9

7) Samuel Murray d. 10) Javier Mar, 15-2, 15-13
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 15) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-14

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 9) Andrés Acuña - 7 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 5) Rodrigo Montoya - 8 PM

3) Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Alejandro Landa - 5 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 7) Samuel Murray - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer, 15-8, 15-5
4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 14-15, 11-5

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray d. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-9
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo, 15-13, 15-3

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso - 1 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

No surprises in first rounds of 38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

The Round of 32 at the 38th Annual International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois was straight forward Thursday, as all the matches were over in two straight games. Top seed Conrrado Moscoso beat 32nd seed Benjamin Horner, 15-4, 15-1, and second seed Jake Bredenbeck defeated 34th seed Jeremy Dixon, 15-6, 15-3.

There was one upset as the 16/17 match went to the 17th seed Kadim Carrasco, who beat 16th seed Erik Cuevas Fernandez, 15-6, 15-8. Carrasco will play Moscoso in the Round of 16 Friday morning.

There were no surprises in the first round of doubles either, although there was one tie-breaker. Fifth seeds Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo dropped the first game against 12th seeds Thomas Carter and Fernando Javier Rivera, but came back to win the next two, taking the match 10-15, 15-7, 11-5. Acuña and Portillo will play 4th seeds Alejandro Landa and Moscoso in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play continues with the Round of 16 Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM followed by the doubles quarterfinals at 2 PM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Central.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 32) Benjamin Horner, 15-4, 15-1
17) Kadim Carrasco d. 16) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-6, 15-8

9) Andrés Acuña d. 24) Set Cubillos, 15-1, 15-0
8) Adam Manilla d. 25) Diego Gatica, 15-11, 15-2

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 28) Christian Longoria, 15-12, 15-8
12) Alan Natera d. 21) Carlos Ramirez, 15-3, 15-3

13) Erick Trujillo d. 20) Edwin Galicia, 15-1, 15-11
4) Andree Parrilla d. 29) Victor Migliore, 15-1, 15-3

3) Eduardo Portillo d. 30) Kyle Ulliman, 15-13, 15-7
14) Robert Collins d. 19) Rodrigo Mendoza, 15-7, 15-4

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-6
6) Alejandro Landa d. 27) Rodrigo Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-8

7) Samuel Murray d. 26) Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-8, 15-6
10) Javier Mar d. 23) Christian Wer, 15-10, 15-5

15) Jaime Martell d. 18) Juan Salvatierra, 15-12, 15-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 34) Jeremy Dixon, 15-6, 15-3

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 17) Kadim Carrasco - 11 AM
8) Adam Manilla v. 9) Andrés Acuña - 11 AM

5) Rodrigo Montoya v. 12) Alan Natera - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Erick Trujillo - 11 AM

3) Eduardo Portillo v. 14) Robert Collins - 10 AM
6) Alejandro Landa v. 11) Thomas Carter - 10 AM

7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Javier Mar - 10 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 15) Jaime Martell - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer d. 9) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-9, 15-10

5) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 12) Thomas Carter & Fernando Javier Rivera, 10-15, 15-7, 11-5
4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera d. 11) Victor Migliore & Kyle Ulliman, 15-6, 15-2

7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo v. 10) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Diego Gastelum, 15-12, 15-6
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer - 2 PM
4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 2 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray v. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera - 2 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout - Preview

The Shamrock Shootout at the Glass Court Swim & Fitness club is one of the longest running events on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). The 38th Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout begins today in Lombard, Illinois, where 36 players will be competing for the title. There are also 12 teams in the IRT doubles division.

Nine of the top 10 IRT players are in Illinois, but not IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa. Thus, Conrrado Moscoso, IRT #2, is the top seed this weekend. De La Rosa and Moscoso have won three of the four events this season - De La Rosa two and Moscoso one - but it’s Rodrigo Montoya who won the last event two weeks ago in Minneapolis. That was Montoya’s first career win, and he’s up to #6 in the rankings. A good result this weekend could put him into the top 5.

In doubles, top seeds Javier Mar and Montoya will be looking to win their 3rd title today this year, and it would be the 4th title for each of them in 2023, as one of them was on the winning side in the other two finals this season.

Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla are the second seeds in doubles with Jake Bredenbeck and Samuel Murray 3rd seeds, and Alejandro Landa and Moscoso 4th seeds. Landa and Moscoso have been in two finals this season, but making a third this weekend will be difficult, as they’ll likely play 5th seeds Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo in the quarterfinals and then top seeds Mar and Montoya in the semi-finals.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play begins Thursday afternoon and there will be four doubles matches Thursday night at 8 PM. The singles Round of 16 will be Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the doubles quarterfinals Friday at 2 PM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at Noon. All times Central.

38th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
March 16-19, 2023 - Lombard, Illinois

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

1) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
32) Benjamin Horner d. 33) Rafael Gatica, 15-13, 15-9

16) Kadim Carrasco - BYE
17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE

9) Andrés Acuña -BYE
24) Set Cubillos - BYE

8) Adam Manilla - BYE
25) Diego Gatica - BYE

5) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
28) Christian Longoria - BYE

21) Carlos Ramirez - BYE
12) Alan Natera - BYE

13) Erick Trujillo - BYE
20) Edwin Galicia - BYE

29) Victor Migliore d. 36) Samuel Lopez Kim, 15-4, 15-4
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
30) Kyle Ulliman d. 35) Blase Zerz, 15-4, 15-2

19) Rodrigo Mendoza - BYE
14) Robert Collins - BYE

11) Thomas Carter - BYE
22) Diego Gastelum - BYE

27) Rodrigo Rodriguez - BYE
6) Alejandro Landa - BYE

7) Samuel Murray - BYE
26) Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - BYE

23) Christian Wer - BYE
10) Javier Mar - BYE

15) Jaime Martell - BYE
18) Juan Salvatierra - BYE

34) Jeremy Dixon d. 31) James Black, 12-15, 15-14, 11-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 32) Benjamin Horner - 5 PM
16) Kadim Carrasco v. 17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 6 PM

9) Andrés Acuña v. 24) Set Cubillos - 6 PM
8) Adam Manilla v. 25) Diego Gatica - 5 PM

5) Rodrigo Montoya v. 28) Christian Longoria - 5 PM
12) Alan Natera v. 21) Carlos Ramirez - 6 PM

13) Erick Trujillo v. 20) Edwin Galicia - 6 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 29) Victor Migliore - 5 PM

3) Eduardo Portillo v. 30) Kyle Ulliman - 4 PM
14) Robert Collins v. 19) Rodrigo Mendoza - 3 PM

11) Thomas Carter v. 22) Diego Gastelum - 3 PM
6) Alejandro Landa v. 27) Rodrigo Rodriguez - 4 PM

7) Samuel Murray v. 26) Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 4 PM
10) Javier Mar v. 23) Christian Wer - 3 PM

15) Jaime Martell v. 18) Juan Salvatierra - 3 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 34) Jeremy Dixon - 4 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer v. 9) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 8 PM

5) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Thomas Carter & Fernando Javier Rivera - 8 PM
4) Alejandro Landa & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Samuel Murray - BYE
6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera v. 11) Victor Migliore & Kyle Ulliman - 8 PM

7) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo v. 10) Erick Cuevas Fernandez & Diego Gastelum - 8 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Two wins for Ortiz & one for Cullen - Weekend Round Up

Maricruz Ortiz was a double winner on the weekend at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts, where she won Women’s Open and the LPRT U21 division.

In the Open final, Ortiz beat veteran Nancy Enriquez, 1-11, 11-7, 11-7. In the semi-finals, Ortiz defeated Stephanie Synhorst, 11-5, 11-4, and Enriquez beat Marjolaine Parent, 11-0, 11-2.

In the U21 division, Ortiz defeated lefthander Martina Katz, 15-1, 15-10, in the final. In the semi-finals, Ortiz upset top seed Valeria Centellas, 15-10, 7-15, 11-5, while Katz defeated Annie Roberts in two close games, 15-12, 15-14.

At the 2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kurtis Cullen won Men’s Open. In the final, he came back from a game down to defeat Andrés Gómez, 13-15, 15-0, 11-4. In the semis, Cullen beat Diego Gatica, 15-7, 15-12, and Gómez held on to defeat Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-6, 13-15, 11-2.

USA Racquetball High School Championships

The 2023 USA Racquetball High School Championships concluded in Portland, Oregon on Sunday. There was a field of 231 players, across a multitude of divisions with the largest being Boy’s #6 Singles with 97 players. Max Adelman of St. Louis University High School had to win six matches to claim the Boy’s #6 title (he was the top seed, so had a bye in the Round of 128). Adelman played 15th seed and classmate Ben Williams in the final, winning 15-4, 15-7.

Benjamin Horner of Ankeny Centennial in Ankeny, Iowa won Boy’s #1 by defeating DJ Mendoza (Douglas Macarthur High School, San Antonio), 15-11, 15-9, in what was a final between the top two seeds.

Mendoza’s class-mate Naomi Ros won her the Girl’s #1 division. She beat Gabbie Roseman of Kirkwood High School, Missouri, 15-2, 15-0, in the final. Indeed, Ros only gave up 17 points across four matches: 2.13 points per game. But in each of her last three matches Ros’s opponents only scored twice. She gave up almost twice as many points in the Round of 16 (11 in a 15-7, 15-4 win over 16th seed Victoria Rodriguez of Katela High School, California) than in the quarterfinals, semi-finals and final combined! (6 total).

Thus, you should not be surprised to learn that Ros and Mendoza won Mixed Doubles #1, defeating Roseman and Zach West in the final, 15-5, 15-9.

Upcoming events

There are several big racquetball events coming up in March. The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) will be in action at the 38th Annual Papa Nicholas Coffee Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, March 16-19, and the 2023 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships will be going on at Ohio State University March 15-19.

At the end of the month, the 2023 Pan American Championships will begin March 31 in Guatemala and run through to April 8. The defending champions are Bolivians Conrrado Moscoso and Angelica Barrios in Men’s and Women’s Singles, respectively, as well as Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada in Men’s Doubles and Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina in Women’s Singles, and, finally, Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas of Mexico in Mixed Doubles.

So there’s lots of racquetball to look forward to this month.

2023 Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Women’s Open Final

2) Maricruz Ortiz d. 1) Nancy Enriquez, 1-11, 11-7, 11-7

Semi-finals

1) Nancy Enriquez d. 5) Marjolaine Parent, 11-0, 11-2
2) Maricruz Ortiz d. 3) Stephanie Synhorst, 11-5, 11-4

LPRT U21 Final

4) Maricruz Ortiz d. 3) Martina Katz, 15-1, 15-10

Semi-finals

4) Maricruz Ortiz d. 1) Valeria Centellas, 15-10, 7-15, 11-5
3) Martina Katz d. 2) Annie Roberts, 15-12, 15-14

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Men’s Open Final

4) Kurtis Cullen d. 2) Andrés Gómez, 13-15, 15-0, 11-4

Semi-finals

4) Kurtis Cullen d. 1) Diego Gatica, 15-7, 15-12
2) Andrés Gómez d. 3) Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-6, 13-15, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Montoya wins singles and doubles at 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

Sunday was Rodrigo Montoya’s day at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he won both singles and doubles. In the singles final, Montoya defeated IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa, 15-3, 14-15, 11-3. That win came after defeating IRT #2 Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals, and #4 Eduardo Portillo in the quarterfinals.

Thus, Montoya’s path to becoming the 45th player to win an IRT event wasn’t an easy one. He’s the sixth Mexican born player to win on the IRT, and the 9th player to win an IRT event as well as an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Men’s Singles World Championship.

He also won doubles with Javier Mar by beating De La Rosa and Conrrado Moscoso in the final, 15-13, 15-8, and afterwards said "this was a perfect tournament."

In the singles final, Montoya’s margin of victory was surprisingly wide, despite the match going to a tie-breaker. After winning game one, 15-3, Montoya led from the hop in game two, including at 9-4 and 12-10. De La Rosa caught up at 12-12, and then went at ahead 13-12.

Montoya got the serve back at that point, and tied the score when De La Rosa skipped a backhand pinch shot: an unforced error. He won a 17 shot rally with a forehand pinch shot as the ball came out of the back left corner to make it 14-13.

De La Rosa hit a forehand winner to deny Montoya’s match point. He followed that up with back to back points off drive serves to the right side - a service winner and a clean ace - to win game two, 15-14, and force a tie-breaker.

But the breaker was again all Montoya, as he led 4-0, 6-2 and then won it 11-3.

Montoya said he was “super happy” after the win.

In the doubles final, Mar and Montoya led early in game one at 5-0, but De La Rosa and Moscoso came back to tie it at 5-5, and then again at 9-9. The lead went back and forth from there with another tie at 13-13.

De Le Rosa skipped a backhand shot that gave the serve back to Mar and Montoya at 13-13. Montoya returned the favour as he skipped a forehand shot on the next rally. Then Mar hit a winner in the front court to put his side on game point at 14-13.

De La Rosa hit a forehand reverse pinch shot to put his side back in the service box needing two points to win game one. But Mar hit a winning return to put De La Rosa and Moscoso half down. They seemed to tie the game 14-14 on an avoidable call, but Mar and Montoya appealed it, and both line judges disagreed with the referee, so the score remained 14-13.

De La Rosa skipped a backhand shot on the next rally, giving Mar and Montoya a second game point opportunity. But a De La Rosa reverse pinch denied them that opportunity.

Prior to their third game point, Mar and Montoya called a timeout. When play resumed, a powerful Montoya drive serve to De La Rosa’s backhand led to a weak return that came off the back wall, and Mar hit a forehand kill shot to win it, 15-14.

Mar and Montoya carried the momentum of game one over into game two, taking a 11-1 lead and reaching match point at 14-4. That put the writing on the wall, and while De La Rosa and Moscoso did score a few more points, the outcome wasn’t in doubt, as Mar and Montoya finished it off at 15-8.

Mar said it “feels really good” to win, especially as he was coming off a right shoulder injury. Mar thanked his partner “for all the effort that he makes,” as well as Conrrado and Daniel: “they are incredible players.”

Both said they felt more motivation going forward. “This is just the beginning,” said Mar. “We are going to try to win more and more.”

Given that between them they have won all four of the IRT doubles titles this year - two of them together and one each with different partners - as well as an IRF Men’s Doubles World Championship, the news that Mar and Montoya are more motivated can only be bad news for the rest of the field.

The IRT will be back in action in two weeks at the 38th Annual Papa Nicholas Coffee Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, March 16-19.

If you missed any of Montoya’s impressive play, or the other fun matches in Minneapolis, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-3, 14-15, 11-3

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mejia wins 4th straight LPRT event at 2023 Frontline Boston Open

Montserrat Mejia has done something only one other player has done in almost 15 years: win four consecutive events on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), as she won the 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts on Sunday. In the final, Mejia defeated 8th seed Angelica Barrios, 15-9, 15-14. In 2008, Rhonda Rajsich won six tournaments in a row, and since then Paola Longoria has won the vast majority of the LPRT events.

Until now.

Mejia got off to a good start in the final, going up 7-0 in game one. But Barrios settled in, and got within two points at 11-9. However, Mejia held her at 9, as she closed out game one 15-9.

The reverse happened in game two, as Barrios stormed out to an 8-0 lead. Mejia plugged away, and came back to tie the game at 10-10, then she went ahead 12-10. Barrios called a timeout.

When play resumed, Barrios hit a soft backhand down the right side to get the serve back. She then won four points on as many rallies to reach game point at 14-12. On her first game point, Barrios hit a touch shot in the front court, and Mejia was right there to hit it, which resulted in an avoidable call, which seemed like the right call.

But Barrios’s disappointment at that call may have carried over to the next two rallies, as she skipped shots on both, which put Mejia on match point at 14-14. Mejia didn’t need a second opportunity, as she hit a forehand reverse pinch winner from deep on the left side to make it 15-14.

Despite the loss, the result is encouraging for Barrios, who will be trying to defend her Women’s Singles Pan American Championship beginning March 31 in Guatemala.

Mejia had a chance to win doubles as well on Sunday, as she and Erika Manilla were in the final against veterans Longoria and Samantha Salas. But it was the veterans, who are the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions, who were able to get the win, 15-4, 14-15, 11-7, in what turned into a very feisty affair.

Longoria and Salas dominated game one with three of Manilla and Mejia’s four points coming on their first time serving. Game two had a similar start, as Longoria and Salas were up 6-1, but Manilla and Mejia came back to within on at 7-6.

The game stalled at 8-6, as there were seven sideouts in a row. The young team broke the deadlock and then went ahead at 12-9, so the veterans called a timeout. Longoria and Salas were then able to draw level with Manilla and Mejia at 12-12, so the young team called a timeout.

No feistiness between the teams so far, and even some genuine concern when Manilla bumped her head on the side wall as she tried to get out of the way of Longoria setting up for a shot. Manilla was on the floor after hitting the previous shot, and as she pushed out of the way towards the left side wall she made contact with it.

All three of the other players were concerned for Manilla, who took a couple of minutes to recover from the incident. Looking at the play, it seemed worse that it could have been, as Manilla’s head was not the primary point of contact as she pushed herself out of the way. Thankfully, she was able to continue the match.

When play resumed the score was 13-13 with the veterans serving. Mejia skipped a forehand reverse pinch that put Longoria and Salas on match point at 14-13, but then Manilla and Mejia hit cross court winners on back to back rallies to put themselves back in the service box.

Longoria skipped a serve return off of a Mejia drive serve, and appealed for a screen serve, but the call was upheld, which made the score 14-14. At that point, Longoria and Salas were out of appeals. That’s crucial for what happens next.

On the next rally, Manilla hits a shot, and feels that she’s been hindered somewhat, so her left hand is in the air, as she is moving to get out of the way of Salas, who is going to hit the ball next. It seems like Manilla is out of Salas’s way, but in making her swing Salas may have contacted Manilla, and Salas’s shot skipped.

We say “may have” here, because the referee didn’t see any contact, so called no hinder, and Longoria and Salas were out of appeals, so they couldn’t appeal the call to the line judges. Salas is adamant there was contact, and is clearly annoyed that nothing was called. Looking at the play on video, it seems possible there was contact, but it's not definitive.

Manilla immediately after the play puts her hand up to high five Salas, as the game is over and high fives or fist bumps between opponents are common after games as symbols of sportsmanship. Salas doesn’t feel the game should be over, so she’s not interested in a high five with Manilla, who pursues Salas around the court for over 7 sec looking for a high five until Salas says something presumably to the effect of “get your hand out of my face” before going to talk to the referee.

Salas’s discussion with the referee didn’t change the call of no hinder and skipped shot, so the game ended there at 15-14 for Manilla and Mejia.

Fair to say that tension was higher than normal going into the tie-breaker. It was the veterans that took the early lead in the breaker at 5-1, so Manilla and Mejia called a timeout.

A few rallies later, Salas is serving at 6-2, and her drive Z to the right comes out towards the centre of the court, and Manilla hits a cross court return right into Salas’s leg. It seemed like there could have been enough space to go cross court, and players had held up several times during the game, but Manilla didn’t in this case.

As Salas was already annoyed with Manilla, this didn’t help. Manilla seemed apologetic to Salas, but as she tried to give the ball to her opponent, Salas had some words for her. That went on for a few seconds, and their respective partners got between them, so as to calm the situation. The referee came on the court, and explained the result of the play was an avoidable, so the serve went to Longoria.

That call was accepted without further incident.

But there was another incident a few rallies later, as Salas and Manilla were close together as Longoria was making a shot on the left side. All of a sudden Manilla was on the floor.

There didn’t seem to be any cause to Manilla’s fall, although on review she and Salas are moving at the same time, and Salas steps on Manilla’s foot, which seems entirely accidental. However, given what happened earlier in the match it didn't seem to be taken as accidental, so some more words are exchanged, although it’s unclear from outside the court what those words were. Hence, the referee, who has warned the players about their behaviour, can’t make a call about something he didn’t hear, although Longoria and Salas talked to him for awhile about it.

The upshot is a hinder on the play.

The veterans extend their lead to 9-2, so the young team calls a timeout. That doesn't stop Longoria and Salas from getting to 10-2 as Salas holds up on a forehand with Manilla in front of her. Remarkably, the veterans had to appeal to get this called an avoidable, as the referee judged it to be a hinder, although it seemed to be almost a textbook avoidable situation.

Manilla made up for that on the next rally with a backhand killshot winner with her back physically against the wall as well as numerically - in facing game point. With the serve back, she and Mejia got three points to make it 10-5, so the veterans called timeout.

Manilla and Mejia got two more points after the timeout, making the score 10-7, but then Salas hit a cross court winner to stop the comeback. She followed that up with another cross court winner on their second game point to finish off the match.

After the final shot, the teams exchanged high fives, and then Longoria and Salas embraced for several seconds, which was perhaps a mixture of relief, joy, and “take that!”

The LPRT will next be in action at the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, April 27-29. If you missed any of the action from Massachusetts, go to the LPRT YouTube channel. There were several good matches through the weekend, as well as some feisty performances.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Final - Sunday

2) Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Angelica Barrios, 15-9, 15-14

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia, 15-4, 14-15, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Barrios & Mejia reach the final at 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open

There was only one upset in singles play Saturday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts, but it was a seismic one as LPRT #1 Paola Longoria lost to 8th seed Angelica Barrios, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7. It’s Barrios’s first win over Longoria, who lost prior to the semi-finals for the second tournament in a row. The last time Longoria lost prior to the semis at all was in the 2007-08 season. That’s she’s done so in consecutive events is shocking.

In the breaker, Longoria led for most of the early game, and then they were tied at 5-5 and 7-7. But Barrios won the next four points to win 11-7. She won five rallies with backhand winners, including the last two points, which were both three shot rallies.

Barrios followed up the win over Longoria with a win over Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 7-15, 11-6. In that breaker, Barrios led wire to wire. She got to match point with a drive serve ace to the left side, and then won it on her first match point with a forehand winner.

Montserrat Mejia, who is looking for her 4th consecutive LPRT title, will face Barrios in the final Sunday, as she defeated 3rd seed Erika Manilla, 15-7, 15-9, in what was a battle of doubles partners.

Manilla and Mejia won their doubles semi-final match against Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-3, and will face top seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas, who beat Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-8.

You can watch the finals live from Massachusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. On Sunday, the singles final is at noon and doubles final at 1 PM. All times Eastern.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Quarterfinals - Saturday

8) Angelica Barrios d. 1) Paola Longoria, 7-15, 15-13, 11-7
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 13) Valeria Centellas, 15-0, 15-9

3) Erika Manilla d. 11) Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-6
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 10) Samantha Salas, 15-8, 15-2

Semi-finals - Saturday

8) Angelica Barrios d. 12) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 7-15, 11-6
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Erika Manilla, 15-7, 15-9

Final - Sunday

2) Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Angelica Barrios - Noon

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-8
3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-3

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Montoya & De La Rosa to face off in final of 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

Another day, another Rodrigo Montoya upset win. This time he beat Conrrado Moscoso, the #2 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), 15-13, 15-3, in the semi-finals of the KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Moscoso was in two of the first three finals this year, but he won’t be in the final Sunday.

”I’m so happy for this win,” said Montoya afterwards. He was very complimentary to Moscoso, saying “Conrrado’s never an easy player, and if I was up 14-3 you never know Conrrado could get back in and take the game.” But Montoya’s “happy to play in another final tomorrow.”

Daniel De La Rosa - the #1 IRT player - will be in the final against Montoya, although it looked like De La Rosa wasn’t going to make it, as Jake Bredenbeck won the first game of their semi-final match. But De La Rosa recovered to win the next two games, winning the match 2 games to 1 by scores of 7-15, 15-10, 11-2.

Sunday’s final will be De La Rosa’s fourth of this year, and he’s won two of the previous three.

Afterwards De La Rosa said Bredenbeck was “amazing” in the first game, but he just tried to “stay postiive” and “keep fighting” and in game two he found his rhythm and was able to carry that through the rest of the match.

Montoya and Moscoso were back and forth in game one of their semi. Montoya led 5-2, then they were tied 7-7 and 9-9. Moscoso went ahead from there to lead 12-9 and 13-11. But Montoya held him there, and got the last four points of the game, two of them come off the serve.

He hit a drive serve to the left side for an ace that made it 13-13. Then on his first game point Montoya hit a drive jam serve that Moscoso turned to take with his forehand and skipped that shot.

Game two was like the first game of Montoya’s quarterfinal against Eduardo Portillo, as Moscoso got the first three points of the game - just as Portillo got the first four points in game one against Montoya. But for the second time, Montoya ran the table

De La Rosa and Montoya will face off twice Sunday, as they are on the opposite sides of the doubles final also. Montoya is playing with Javier Mar, his usual doubles partner, and De La Rosa is playing with Moscoso.

In the doubles semis, top seeds Mar Montoya defeated 5th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-10, and 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Moscoso needed three games to fend off a strong challenge from 3rd seeds Andrés Acuña and Portillo, 15-12, 4-15, 11-3.

You can see the IRT finals via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at 1 PM. All times Central.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 7-15, 15-10, 11-2
6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-3

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 6) Rodrigo Montoya - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-12, 15-10
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso d. 3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo, 15-12, 4-15, 11-3

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Montoya upsets Portillo in quarterfinals of 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

Rodrigo Montoya upset 3rd seed Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 15-4, in an all Mexico battle in the quarterfinals at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota Friday. Remarkably, Montoya, the 6th seed, was down 4-0 in game one, but then won 15 unanswered points to win game one, and take the wind out of Portillo’s sails.

Montoya will face IRT #2 Conrrado Moscoso in the semi-finals, although Moscoso’s quarterfinal victory over 7th seed Samuel Murray wasn’t as straight forward as the 15-13, 15-3, scoreline suggests. They were back and forth early in game one, and tied at 10-10. Moscoso then went out to a 14-10 lead, but Murray kept battling, and fought off six game points before Moscoso was able to finish it off at 15-13.

Moscoso had an early 4-1 lead in game two, when he slipped on the floor, likely due to sweat on the floor, as Murray has just dove to get to the ball where Moscoso slipped. He stayed down clutching at his left knee, and an injury timeout ensued.

After 9 min, Moscoso felt he was fit to continue, but it seemed he didn’t want to put a lot of pressure on his left leg, which meant no drive serving. Moscoso’s drive serve is a big weapon, so you’d think he’d be in tough without it.

However, he hit high lob serves along the right wall that Murray had some difficulty returning. The result was Moscoso taking 11 of the 12 points after play resumed following Moscoso’s injury, and a straight game win.

On the top of the draw, IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa beat 8th seed Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-9. Manilla tied De La Rosa in game two, 8-8, but De La Rosa turned it on from there to outscore Manilla 7-1 to win 15-9 and avoid going to a tie-breaker.

There was a tie-breaker in the last quarterfinal, as Jake Bredenbeck had to come back from a game down against Alan Natera, winning 13-15, 15-3, 11-4, so he’ll play De La Rosa in the semis on Saturday. That will be a rematch of the Georgia final two weeks ago, which was won by De La Rosa.

You can see the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The singles semi-finals will be at 3 & 4 PM with the doubles semis Saturday morning at 10 and 11 AM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at 1 PM. All times Central.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 8) Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-9
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 12) Alan Natera, 13-15, 15-3, 11-4

6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 3) Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 15-4
2) Conrrado Moscoso d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-13, 15-3

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 4) Jake Bredenbeck - 4 PM
2) Conrrado Moscoso v. 6) Rodrigo Montoya - 3 PM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 11 AM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso v. 3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Four upsets in Round of 16 at 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open

Four of the eight Round of 16 matches at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts Friday were upsets, although two of them were not real surprises. But the two top seeds were winners in straight games. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria beat 16th seed Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1, and the 2nd seed Montserrat Mejia defeated 15th seed Nancy Enriquez, 15-7, 15-4. Longoria will play 8th seed Angelica Barrios, who beat 9th seed Brenda Laime, 15-10, 15-5, which was a surprisingly large margin. Mejia’s next opponent is 10th seed Samantha Salas, who had one of those upsets, as she defeated 7th seed Kelani Lawrence, 15-13, 14-15, 11-4, but this wasn’t very surprising, as Salas is a former #2 player.

It was surprising when 13th seed Valeria Centellas knocked off 4th seed Natalia Mendez, especially as she did so in straight games, 15-6, 15-11. Centellas will face 12th seed Maria Jose Vargas in the quarters, as Vargas came back to defeat 5th seed Jessica Parrilla, 13-15, 15-6, 11-5. While Vargas’s win is quite an upset by the seeding, like Salas, Vargas is a former #2 player on tour, and was a finalist two weeks ago in Arizona.

The final upset was 11th seed Hollie Scott’s win over 6th seed Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 15-13, which sets up an All American battle in the quarters when Scott plays 3rd seed Erika Manilla, who was a winner over 14th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-6, 15-13. Amaya had a large lead in game two, and looked like she was going to force a tie-breaker, but couldn’t find the way to finish the game off.

No upsets in doubles. Third seeds rd seeds Manilla and Mejia came back to defeat 6th seeds Barrios and Laime, 5-15, 15-10, 11-2, and will play 2nd seeds Centellas and Mendez in the semi-finals on Saturday. Centellas and Mendez beat 7th seeds Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-6, 15-3, in the quarters.

The other semi-final will be top seeds Longoria and Salas against 4th seeds Lawrence and Scott. In the quarters, Longoria and Salas beat 8th seeds Martina Katz and Annie Roberts, 15-5, 15-2, and Lawrence and Scott defeated 5th seeds Muñoz and Parrilla, 15-8, 15-6.

You can watch the action live from Massachusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play continues Saturday with singles quarterfinals in the morning and semi-finals in the afternoon and doubles semi-finals in the evening. Play concludes Sunday with the singles final at noon and doubles final at 1 PM. All times Eastern.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1
8) Angelica Barrios d. 9) Brenda Laime, 15-10, 15-5

12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Jessica Parrilla, 13-15, 15-6, 11-5
13) Valeria Centellas d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-11

3) Erika Manilla d. 14) Cristina Amaya, 15-6, 15-13
11) Hollie Scott d. 6) Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 15-13

10) Samantha Salas d. 7) Kelani Lawrence, 15-13, 14-15, 11-4
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 15) Nancy Enriquez, 15-7, 15-4

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Angelica Barrios - 11 AM
12) Maria Jose Vargas v. 13) Valeria Centellas - 11 AM

3) Erika Manilla v. 11) Hollie Scott - 10 AM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 10) Samantha Salas - 10 AM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8) Martina Katz & Annie Roberts, 15-5, 15-2
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-6

3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 5-15, 15-10, 11-2
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-6, 15-3

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - 6 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Portillo survives Round of 16 at 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

The top four seeds all advanced through the Round of 32 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota Friday morning, although 3rd seed Eduardo Portillo had to come back from a game down to defeat 14th seed Sam Bredenbeck, 7-15, 15-11, 11-3. He’ll play fellow Mexican Rodrigo Montoya, the 6th seed, as Montoya beat his doubles partner 11th seed Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-13. The Portillo/Montoya match will be a repeat of the recent Mexican Nationals final, which was won by Montoya.

IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa defeated veteran John Goth, 15-4, 15-7, and will play 8th seed Adam Manilla in the quarterfinals, as Manilla beat 9th seed Andrés Acuña, 15-11, 15-3, in the 16s. Also, IRT #2 Conrrado Moscoso defeated fellow Bolivian Kadim Carrasco, 15-4, 15-10, and will face Canadian Samuel Murray in the quarters, as Murray beat lefthander Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-3.

There was an upset in the Round of 16, but it was by forfeit, as 12th seed Alan Natera got a default win over 5th seed Alejandro Landa. Natera will play 4th seed Jake Bredenbeck in the quarterfinals, as Bredenbeck beat lefty Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-0.

There was an upset in the doubles quarterfinals, although not a big one, as it happened in the 4/5 match. Fifth seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck defeated 4th seeds Adam Manilla and Samuel Murray in two close games, 15-14, 15-10. The Bredenbecks will play the top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya in the semi-finals Saturday morning, as Mar and Montoya won what was surprisingly the second closest quarterfinal match by beating 9th seeds Lee Meinerz and Carlos Pando, 15-10, 15-13.

It’ll be 2 v 3 in the other semi, as 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Moscoso beat 7th seeds Diego Gatica and Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-6, 15-4, and 3rd seeds Acuña and Portillo defeated 6th seeds Kadim Carrasco and Natera, 15-4, 15-9.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play continues Friday afternoon and evening with the four quarterfinals played consecutively from 5 PM on. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday at 2 PM. The singles and doubles semi-finals will be on Saturday. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at 1 PM. All times Central.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 17) John Goth, 15-4, 15-7
8) Adam Manilla d. 9) Andrés Acuña, 15-11, 15-3

12) Alan Natera d. 5) Alejandro Landa, forfeit
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 13) Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-0

3) Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Sam Bredenbeck, 7-15, 15-11, 11-3
6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 11) Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-13

7) Samuel Murray d. 10) Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-3
2) Conrrado Moscoso d. 15) Kadim Carrasco, 15-4, 15-10

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 8) Adam Manilla - 7 PM
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 12) Alan Natera - 8 PM

3) Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Rodrigo Montoya - 5 PM
2) Conrrado Moscoso v. 7) Samuel Murray - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando, 15-10, 15-13
5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 4) Adam Manilla & Samuel Murray, 15-14, 15-10

3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera, 15-4, 15-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso d. 7) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-6, 15-4

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 11 AM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso v. 3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

No upsets in Round of 32 at 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open

There were no upsets in the first round of play at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2023 Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts Friday morning. Indeed, all the singles matches in the Round of 32 were over in two straight games.

The closest matches were Maria Jose Vargas’s win over Maricruz Ortiz, 15-11, 15-11, and Nancy Enriquez's defeat of Stephanie Synhorst by that same, 15-11, 15-11, scoreline. In the Round of 16 this afternoon, Vargas will play 5th seed Jessica Parrilla while Enriquez takes on 2nd seed Montserrat Mejia.

There was a tie-breaker in the first round of doubles, as 8th seeds Martina Katz and Annie Roberts needed three games to fend off 9th seeds Juliette Parent and Marjolaine Parent, 15-11, 11-15, 11-6. Katz and Roberts will play top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals tonight.

You can watch the action live from Massachusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play continues Friday afternoon and evening, and concludes Sunday with the singles final at noon and doubles final at 1 PM. All times Eastern.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 17) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-4, 15-4

9) Brenda Laime - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios - BYE

5) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 21) Maricruz Ortiz, 15-11, 15-11

13) Valeria Centellas d. 20) Martina Katz, 15-3, 15-1
4) Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Erika Manilla - BYE
14) Cristina Amaya d. 19) Annie Roberts, 15-4, 15-11

11) Hollie Scott d. 22) Juliette Parent, 15-5, 15-9
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE

7) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
10) Samantha Salas d. 23) Marjolaine Parent, 15-2, 15-0

15) Nancy Enriquez d. 18) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-11, 15-11
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Paz Riquelme - 5 PM
8) Angelica Barrios v. 9) Brenda Laime - 5 PM

5) Jessica Parrilla v. 12) Maria Jose Vargas - 2 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Valeria Centellas - 2 PM

3) Erika Manilla v. 14) Cristina Amaya - 3 PM
6) Carla Muñoz v. 11) Hollie Scott - 3 PM

7) Kelani Lawrence v. 10) Samantha Salas - 4 PM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 15) Nancy Enriquez - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Martina Katz & Annie Roberts d. 9) Juliette Parent & Marjolaine Parent, 15-11, 11-15, 11-6

5) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8) Martina Katz & Annie Roberts - 7 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - 7 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 6 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Goth wins in R32 at 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

Only one upset in the singles Round of 32 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and that happened in the 16/17 match, as 17th seed John Goth beat 16th seed Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-0. The win puts Goth into the Round of 16 against IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa Friday morning.

In doubles, 9th seeds Lee Meinerz and Carlos Pando upset 8th seeds Blake Hansen and Derek Ott, 15-11, 15-2, which gives them a match with top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya on Friday afternoon.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play continues Friday morning with the Round of 16 at 10 and 11 AM followed by the doubles quarterfinals at 2 PM. The four singles quarterfinal matches will be played consecutively from 5 PM on. The singles and doubles semi-finals will be on Saturday. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at 1 PM. All times Central.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
17) John Goth d. 16) Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-0

9) Andrés Acuña d. 24) Lee Meinerz, 15-2, 15-4
8) Adam Manilla d. 25) Derek Ott, 15-2, 15-0

5) Alejandro Landa - BYE
12) Alan Natera d. 21) Kurtis Cullen, 15-3, 15-6

13) Robert Collins d. 20) Rodrigo Salgado Jr., 15-11, 15-4
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

3) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
14) Sam Bredenbeck d. 19) Diego Gatica, 15-7, 15-6

11) Javier Mar d. 22) Samuel Schulze, 15-3, 15-4
6) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

7) Samuel Murray - BYE
10) Thomas Carter d. 23) Blake Hansen, 15-2, 15-6

15) Kadim Carrasco d. 18) Andrés Gómez, 15-10, 15-9
2) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 17) John Goth - 11 AM
8) Adam Manilla v. 9) Andrés Acuña - 11 AM

5) Alejandro Landa v. 12) Alan Natera - 11 AM
4) Jake Bredenbeck v. 13) Robert Collins - 11 AM

3) Eduardo Portillo v. 14) Sam Bredenbeck - 10 AM
6) Rodrigo Montoya v. 11) Javier Mar - 10 AM

7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Thomas Carter - 10 AM
2) Conrrado Moscoso v. 15) Kadim Carrasco - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando d. 8) Blake Hansen & Derek Ott, 15-11, 15-2

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
4) Adam Manilla & Samuel Murray - BYE

3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera - BYE

7) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - BYE
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 9) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando - 2 PM
4) Adam Manilla & Samuel Murray v. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 2 PM

3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera - 2 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso v. 7) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Preview of 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be in action this weekend at the 2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open in Marlbrough, Massachusetts. There are 23 players in the draw, including the 13 of the top 14 players, led by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria and #3 Montserrat Mejia, who’ll be trying to win her fourth straight event.

The last player to win four consecutive women’s pro events not named Longoria was Rhonda Rajsich back in 2008, when she won six in a row bridging over the end of the 2007-08 season and start of 2008-09. The three events before that streak were won by Cheryl Gudinas.

Since then Longoria has dominated, but she lost in the Round of 16 two weeks ago in Arizona, where Maria Jose Vargas defeated her. It was Longoria’s first loss in the Round of 16 since January 2007, when Jo Shattuck beat her in Stockton, California. There’s a possibility that Longoria and Vargas will meet in the semis this weekend.

In doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas, the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions, are the top seeds with Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez as the 2nd seeds, Erika Manilla and Mejia the 3rd seeds and 4th seeds Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott. The trickiest quarterfinal match will likely be Manilla and Mejia versus 6th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime.

You can watch the action live from Massachusetts via the LPRT YouTube channel. Play begins 9 AM Friday morning, and concludes Sunday with the singles final at noon and doubles final at 1 PM. All times Eastern.

2023 LPRT Frontline Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts, March 3-5, 2023

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 17) Sunshine Arterburn - 11 AM

9) Brenda Laime - BYE
8) Angelica Barrios - BYE

5) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
12) Maria Jose Vargas v. 21) Maricruz Ortiz - 9 AM

13) Valeria Centellas v. 20) Martina Katz - 9 AM
4) Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Erika Manilla - BYE
14) Cristina Amaya v. 19) Annie Roberts - 9 AM

11) Hollie Scott v. 22) Juliette Parent - 10 AM
6) Carla Muñoz - BYE

7) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
10) Samantha Salas v. 23) Marjolaine Parent - 10 AM

15) Nancy Enriquez v. 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 10 AM
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Paz Riquelme or 17) Sunshine Arterburn - 5 PM
8) Angelica Barrios v. 9) Brenda Laime - 5 PM

5) Jessica Parrilla v. 12) Maria Jose Vargas or 21) Maricruz Ortiz - 2 PM
4) Natalia Mendez v. 13) Valeria Centellas or 20) Martina Katz - 2 PM

3) Erika Manilla v. 14) Cristina Amaya or 19) Annie Roberts - 3 PM
6) Carla Muñoz v. 11) Hollie Scott or 22) Juliette Parent - 3 PM

7) Kelani Lawrence v. 10) Samantha Salas or 23) Marjolaine Parent - 4 PM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 15) Nancy Enriquez or 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Martina Katz & Annie Roberts v. 9) Juliette Parent & Marjolaine Parent - 11 AM

5) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8) Martina Katz & Annie Roberts or 9) Juliette Parent & Marjolaine Parent - 7 PM
4) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 5) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - 7 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - 6 PM
2) Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Preview of 2023 IRT KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action this weekend with play starting later today in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event. There are 25 players in the field, so it's a bit smaller than usual, but 9 of the top 10 are there, so there will be plenty of good matches. Leading the way will be IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa, whose win in Georgia two weeks ago put him ahead of Conrrado Moscoso, who’s now #2.

De La Rosa and Moscoso have split the three events so far this year with De La Rosa winning two and Moscoso one. They’ve faced off in two of the three finals, splitting them one a piece. But two weeks ago Moscoso wasn’t at the event in Georgia, where De La Rosa defeated Jake Bredenbeck in the final.

De La Rosa and Moscoso are teaming up for doubles, where they are the 2nd seeds behind Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya. Either Mar or Montoya has won each of the three doubles events this season. They did so once together, and once with another partner (Mar with De La Rosa and Montoya with Andree Parrilla), when they both weren’t at the tournament.

A Mar and Montoya versus De La Rosa and Moscoso match is the likely doubles final on Sunday, although a few other teams will try to prevent that - such as 3rd seeds Andrés Acuña and Eduardo Portillo, 4th seeds Adam Manilla and Samuel Murray and 5th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck, but it would be fun to see the top seeds face off.

Of note, Alejandro Landa, who had a crazy incident two weeks ago, during a doubles match with De La Rosa and against Jake Bredenbeck and Murray, isn’t playing doubles this weekend. We’re uncertain if he chose not to play doubles or he couldn’t find a doubles partner.

You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. Singles play begins Thursday afternoon and there will be one doubles match Thursday night at 7 PM. The singles Round of 16 will be Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the doubles quarterfinals at 2 PM. The singles final is Sunday at 11 AM with doubles to follow at 1 PM. All times Central.

2023 KWM Gutterman Minnesota Hall of Fame Event
March 2-5, 2023 - Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
16) Jim Douglas v. 17) John Goth - 6 PM

9) Andrés Acuña v. 24) Lee Meinerz - 4 PM
8) Adam Manilla v. 25) Derek Ott - 4 PM

5) Alejandro Landa - BYE
12) Alan Natera v. 21) Kurtis Cullen - 6 PM

13) Robert Collins v. 20) Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - 6 PM
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

3) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
14) Sam Bredenbeck v. 19) Diego Gatica - 5 PM

11) Javier Mar v. 22) Samuel Schulze - 5 PM
6) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

7) Samuel Murray - BYE
10) Thomas Carter v. 23) Blake Hansen - 5 PM

15) Kadim Carrasco v. 18) Andrés Gómez - 4 PM
2) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Blake Hansen & Derek Ott v. 9) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando - 7 PM

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
4) Adam Manilla & Samuel Murray - BYE

3) Andrés Acuña & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Kadim Carrasco & Alan Natera - BYE

7) Diego Gatica & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. - BYE
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

De La Rosa, Montoya & Parrilla win at 2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open

The top seeds won both singles and doubles at the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Williams Accounting & Consulting Open in Lilburn, Georgia on Sunday. In singles, top seed Daniel De La Rosa beat 3rd seed Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-12, while in doubles top seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla defeated 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 13-15, 11-5. De La Rosa has been in all three singles finals this year, winning two of them. Also, Montoya’s been in two doubles finals in 2023, winning both times, while Landa has been in all three doubles finals this year, but has yet to win one.

In three IRT events this year, no one has won both singles and doubles at the same event.

De La Rosa led for most of game one versus Bredenbeck, and he got to game point at 14-7. But Bredenbeck fought off four game points, and got a few points of his own before De La Rosa ended it by forcing Bredenbeck into skipping a forehand return off a drive jam serve to the left side.

Bredenbeck carried that late game momentum over into game two, taking a 5-0 lead. He maintained the lead up to 9-9, and when De La Rosa won the next point to lead 10-9, Bredenbeck called a timeout.

The timeout didn’t turn the tide, as De La Rosa lengthened his lead to 13-9, but Bredenebck did come back to within one at 13-12. Bredenbeck gave De La Rosa his 14th point when he skipped a backhand shot that he tried to kill from waist high.

De La Rosa got the win on the next rally, although there was a bit a controversy to the end. De La Rosa hit a forehand shot down the right side that went off the side wall to the front wall, and rolled. But it hit the side wall at around floor level a couple feet from the front, so it seemed like it was a skip. That is, it seemed it rolled in, as well as out, and the referee called it a skip. But De La Rosa, who had fist pumped after making the shot, appealed the call, and the line judges both disagreed with the referee’s call, so it was overturned; the shot was judged to be good. Match over.

Bredenbeck looked stunned at the call being overturned.

Afterwards, De La Rosa congratulated Bredenbeck, saying “he played amazing. He gives everything on the court.”

For his part, Bredenbeck said “Daniel’s a hell of a player. Obviously one of the best in the world [and he] continues to prove that.” Bredenbeck said he was “just a little bit off and at this level that doesn’t work,” and “I didn’t feel like I was hitting the ball clean, like I was yesterday.” He was a little frustrated to not perform how he wanted.

But overall Bredenbeck feels he’s “starting to put the pieces together,” and still feels “like I’m learning and growing and getting better. Hopefully, I can continue to improve and start getting wins instead of 2nd places.”

In the doubles final, Montoya and Parrilla jumped out to a 11-0 lead in game one, and got to game point at 14-7. De La Rosa and Landa did fight back and get within two at 14-12, but couldn’t complete the comeback.

In game two, De La Rosa and Landa led early, 5-1 and 8-2, but Montoya and Parrilla led late, 12-9 and 13-11. Yet they couldn’t finish it out, as De La Rosa and Landa came back to win 15-13, as Landa hit a winning forehand cross court shot, and hobbled off the court.

Credit to Landa for gutting it out through the match, as he was clearly showing the effects of the ankle injury he suffered in the quarterfinals against Samuel Murray.

Early in the tie-breaker, it seemed that Landa’s perseverance was going to be rewarded with a win, as he and De La Rosa took a 5-1 lead. But unfortunately for them, that’s all the points they got, as Montoya and Parrilla scored ten unanswered points to win the breaker 11-5, and take the title.

The match winner came as Landa pushed a shot down the line from the front court, and Parrilla was there in before Landa could get out of the way. Parrilla held up and an avoidable was called. De La Rosa and Landa appealed, but the line judges - this time - agreed with the referee’s call, ending the match. Unlike De La Rosa and Landa's semi-final, there was no protest at the outcome of that appeal.

The IRT will next play in Minneapolis for the Minnesota Hall of Fame event, March 2-5, 2023. If you missed any of the action from Georgia, check out IRT YouTube channel.

2023 IRT Williams Accounting & Consulting Open
February 16-19, 2023 - Lilburn, Georgia

Final - Sunday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-12

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Rodrigo Montoya & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 13-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….