Amaya defeats Laime at 31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic

It’s the time of year for traditions, and perhaps the most traditional event on the pro racquetball calendar is the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic. The 31st LPRT Christmas Classic began Friday in Millersville, Maryland. Thirteenth seed Cristina Amaya got the first big upset of the tournament, as she defeated 4th seed Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14, in the Round of 16.

Amaya will play 5th seed Gabriela Martinez in the quarterfinals, as Martinez beat 12th seed Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-12, in the 16s.

The top three seeds all won their respective Round of 16 matches in two straight games. LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia defeated 17th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-3. LPRT #2 Paola Longoria beat 18th seed Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-5, and LPRT #3 Maria Jose Vargas beat 14th seed Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1.

Mejia will play 9th seed Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals, as Salas came back from a game down to upset 8th seed Carla Muñoz, 7-15, 15-9, 11-5.

There was one other upset in the 16s, as 10th Kelani Lawrence won over 7th seed Natalia Mendez by injury forfeit. Reportedly, Mendez hurt her ankle in training earlier in the week, so while she was in Maryland, Mendez wasn’t fit to compete. Lawrence will play Longoria in the quarters Saturday.

Mendez’s injury also meant that she and Vargas had to forfeit their doubles match against Martinez and Rodriguez.

Martinez and Rodriguez’s won over Mendez and Vargas was the only upset in the double quarterfinals, as Martinez and Rodriguez were the 6th seeds, and Mendez and Vargas 3rd seeds.

Play continues Saturday morning with the singles quarterfinals at 10 and 11 AM. The semi-finals will be Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final at noon on Sunday. The doubles semis will be 6 and 7 PM Saturday with the final at 1 PM Sunday. You can watch the action live from Maryland via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Eastern.

31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Pro-Am
Millersville, Maryland - December 8-10, 2023

Singles Round of 32 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
17) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 16) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-10, 15-4

9) Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Carla Muñoz - BYE

5) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
12) Hollie Scott - BYE

13) Cristina Amaya - BYE
4) Brenda Laime- BYE

3) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
14) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 19) Chanis Leon, 15-7, 15-3

11) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
6) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Kelani Lawrence - BYE

18) Naomi Ros d. 15) Lexi York, 12-15, 15-10, 11-5
2) Paola Longoria - BYE

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-3
9) Samantha Salas d. 8) Carla Muñoz, 7-15, 15-9, 11-5

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 12) Hollie Scott, 15-9, 15-12
13) Cristina Amaya d. 4) Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14

3) Maria Jose Vargas d. 14) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-1
6) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-5

10) Kelani Lawrence d. 7) Natalia Mendez, injury forfeit
2) Paola Longoria d. 18) Naomi Ros, 15-1, 15-5

Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Montserrat Mejia v. 9) Samantha Salas - 11 AM
5) Gabriela Martinez v. 13) Cristina Amaya - 11 AM

3) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Alexandra Herrera - 10 AM
2) Paola Longoria v. 10) Kelani Lawrence - 10 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
9) Naomi Ros & Lexi York d. 8) Jessica Parrilla & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-7, 15-8

5) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz - BYE
4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - BYE
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 9) Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 15-9, 15-1
4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott d. 5) Brenda Laime & Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 15-14

6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 3) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, injury default
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-3, 15-3

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Kelani Lawrence v. Hollie Scott - 7 PM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….