Mercado wins 1st IRT title by defeating De La Rosa in the 2021 IRT Arizona Open final

Mario Mercado won his first International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title Sunday by claiming the 2021 IRT Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona, and he had to do it against the #1 IRT player in Daniel De La Rosa. Moreover, Mercado had to come from behind for the victory, as De La Rosa won game one of the final. But Mercado was up to the task, as he defeated De La Rosa, 6-15, 15-12, 11-0. Mercado is the 42nd player to win an IRT event and just the 2nd Colombian and 2nd Bolivian born player to do so.

”I cannot believe this,” Mercado said afterwards. But he’s “super happy” to win his first IRT event.

Mercado served well in the match, and said “one of my best things is my serve.” He’s also very good at putting the ball into the front left corner, which he did many times for winners to force De La Rosa to lunge forward to try to keep the ball in play.

After De La Rosa won game one, he went up 4-1 in game two, and you thought maybe he would win his 4th IRT title in a row. However, Mercado won eight unanswered points to lead 9-4. He wouldn’t give up the lead from there, although De La Rosa did made it close, as he get within one point at 13-12.

De La Rosa had a chance to tie the game at 13, as he had a forehand set up. But he skipped that shot. And De La Rosa didn’t score again in the match.

Mercado won game two on a backhand cross court, and then won eleven unanswered points to blank De La Rosa in the tie-breaker.

The IRT will be in action next weekend, when they play at the Sarasota Open in Florida. If you missed any of this weekend’s matches, check out the IRT YouTube channel..

Arizona Open Racquetball Championships
November 11-14, 2021 - Tempe, Arizona

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

10) Mario Mercado d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 6-15, 15-12, 11-0

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico & Bolivia win doubles at 2019 Pan American Championships

Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas won their 6th Pan American Championship Women’s Doubles title together Saturday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, as they defeated Colombians Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-6. Six titles is a record for the most by one team. Overall, Longoria has won 7 Pan Am Women’s Doubles titles, including the last five straight years, and Salas now has 8 titles, which is one fewer than Jackie Paraiso (USA).

In Men’s Doubles, 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia came back from a game down to defeat 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada in three games, 2-15, 15-9, 11-2. The win is the 2nd for Keller, who joins his brother Carlos in being the only two South American men with two gold medals at Pan Am Championships. Also, it’s the first year Bolivians have won both Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles, and the first time a country other than the USA or Mexico has done that.

In the women’s final, Mexico jumped out to a 9-0 lead in game one. Colombia came back and got within three trailing 10-7, which led to Mexico calling a timeout. Longoria got her side the serve back with a backhand pinch winner, and they ran the score up to 14-7.

Colombia fought off the first game point with a great backhand serve return by Adriana Riveros, but they were only able to get one point of their own before giving up serve again. Salas hit a pinch shot winner to end the first game, 15-8.

In game two, Colombia got the first two points, and then Salas got hot and hit four winners that helped get Mexico to a 5-2 lead. They ran that lead up to 10-2 before Colombia scored again. As in game one, Colombia had a bit of a comeback, as they cut the deficit to four at 10-6. But a Riveros backhand skip derailed the comeback, and Colombia wouldn’t serve again.

With the serve back, Mexico won it by hitting five winners over the next six rallies: three by Longoria and two by Salas. Longoria got the match winner, which was a strange one, as she hit a backhand cross court overhead shot that seemed like it was off the frame of her racquet but ended up hitting low on the front wall, so it was unreturnable.

In the men’s final, Canada charged out to a 8-2 lead in game one, and just kept piling on the points as they won it 15-2. While Canada played well, the Bolivians were not sharp.

That changed in game two, as the Bolivians took a 9-2 lead. Canada came back and got to within three at 10-7. But Bolivia ended it when Moscoso hit a winning backhand pinch shot to make it 15-9, and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Bolivia once again took the early lead at 5-0. Canada called a timeout, and that led to two errors by the Bolivians that gave the serve back to Canada. Canada scored a point off an avoidable hinder call. Then the Moscoso took over the game.

There were 14 rallies from 5-1 to the end of the game, and Moscoso ended 10 of those rallies, hitting 8 winners (including one ace serve) and 2 skips. He also forced the match winning point, as he drove serve to the left, and Murray tried to return it with a backhand pinch shot, only to skip his shot.

If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-8, 15-6

Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday

4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 2-15, 15-9, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & Keller Singles Champions at 2019 Pan American Championships

Paola Longoria of Mexico won her 8th Pan American Championship in Women’s Singles Saturday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, where she defeated Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas in the final, 15-7, 15-2. Longoria last won this title in 2016, but was runner up the past two years to the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich. She was not going to finish 2nd a third time.

Carlos Keller of Bolivia successfully defended his Men’s Singles Pan American Championship by defeating the USA’s Charlie Pratt, 15-2, 8-15, 11-5. Keller is the first South American player to win multiple Men’s Singles titles and the first man to successfully defend the title since Mexican Alvaro Beltran did so in 2009 (that was the last year of three consecutive titles for Beltran).

In the women’s final, Longoria took leads of 8-1 and 11-2 in game one, and won by a comfortable margin. But Vargas did score some points late in the game, so seemed to build some momentum for game two. However, any momentum Vargas built was quickly snuffed out by Longoria in the second game, as she jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Vargas got stuck in at the point, and there were nine rallies producing only one point, which was in Vargas’s favour. But she still trailed 6-1.

Longoria seemed to go into cruise control from there, and Vargas looked like she gave up the fight. Vargas only served three times from 6-1 to the end, and made a few bad errors. Also, she didn’t call a timeout in game two. The last rally was indicative of the match, as Longoria on a second serve hit a lob to the left side that kissed off the side wall. Vargas swung at the ball, but completely missed it. A sad ending.

But in the match Longoria took care of business, and she could be a double winner Saturday, as she’s in the Women’s Doubles final also with partner Samantha Salas. Her eight Women’s Singles Pan American Championships are a record, and twice as many as the women with the 2nd most. Americans Rajsich, Michelle Gould and Cheryl Gudinas all won Women’s Singles four times at Pan Am Championships.

In the men’s final, Keller cruised through game one only yielding two points to Pratt. But Pratt had dropped the first game of both his quarterfinal and semi-final matches, so he was in a familiar position.

Pratt took the early lead in game two at 3-0, but Keller came back and took over the lead at 7-3. Once again Pratt came back, and tied the game at 8-8. He scored seven unanswered points from there, while holding Keller at 8, to win game two, 15-8. Keller made some bad skips late in game two, which didn’t bode well for the tie-breaker.

Yet in the breaker, Keller took the early lead with three winners on the first three rallies to lead 3-0. They exchanged seven sideouts at that point, and there was the sense that the player who broke that stalemate would win the match. Pratt broke it, getting his first point of the breaker when Keller skipped a backhand serve return off a lob serve to the left that came off the side wall. Keller made that mistake a few times in the match, but Pratt never used that serve as his first serve.

However, after scoring his first point, Pratt was unable to follow it up, as Keller hit a good ceiling ball that went deep into the back left corner and flummoxed Pratt, who was unable to keep the rally going. That led to Keller going out to a 9-1 lead. Pratt called both his timeouts in that stretch, but to no avail.

Pratt did get a few points to make the score 9-4, and it seemed like a comeback could be on order. Then Keller got point 10 with a great backhand down the line shot. Still Pratt didn’t give up, and fought off Keller’s first match point with a backhand cross court winner.

Back in the service box, Pratt scored a point to make it 10-5. But Keller took the serve back with backhand cross court that cracked out on the right wall. However, match point number two went by as Pratt forced Keller to hit the ball into the back wall, and it didn’t make the front wall.

Keller regained the serve with a solid backhand shot, and then won it with another backhand winner.

If you missed the finals, check out the matches via theIRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Singles - Final - Saturday

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-2

Men's Singles - Final - Saturday

7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 4) Charles Pratt (USA), 15-2, 8-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Four countries going for gold in doubles at 2019 Pan American Championships

It’ll be #1 versus #2 in Women’s Doubles in the final of the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, as Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas - the #1 seeds - will take on Colombians Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros, the 2nd seeds, in the final. In the semi-finals, Longoria and Salas beat Bolivians Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja, 15-2, 15-6, while Amaya and Riveros defeated the 11th seeded Canadian team of Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, 13-15, 15-3, 11-8.

The Mexico-Bolivia semi-final was a battle between three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women's Doubles World Champions in Mexico, and the current IRF World Champions in Bolivia. But it wasn't much a match, as Mexico played very well. The Bolivians had used a front back formation with their court positioning, including at last year's World Championships, but it wasn't effective in game one against Mexico, so Bolivia changed to a side to side formation. That worked slightly better, but Mexico was on a roll by that point.

The Men’s Doubles final will be 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia versus 7th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray of Canada, as both sides came back from a game down in their respective semi-final matches to upset higher seeded teams. The Bolivians took out the top seeded Mexican team of Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 14-15, 15-11, 11-7, and the Canadians defeated the 3rd seeded team of Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho from Costa Rica, 8-15, 15-1, 11-3.

The final will be a replay of a group stage match that was decided by an 11-10 tie-breaker in Bolivia’s favour, so it should be a great final.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-6
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 13-15, 15-3, 11-8

Women's Doubles - Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 2 PM

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 14-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 8-15, 15-1, 11-3

Men's Doubles - Final - Saturday

4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 3:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Semi-final results from 2019 Pan American Championships

Mexican Paola Longoria will have a chance to win her 8th Pan American Championship in Women’s Singles Saturday when she plays Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas in the final at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Longoria ended the run of Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz, 15-5, 15-3, in one semi-final, while Vargas needed a tie-breaker to defeat her team-mate Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-9, 14-15, 11-7. If Vargas wins Saturday, it will be her 2nd Pan Am title in Women’s Singles, as she won it in 2014.

Carlos Keller of Bolivia has a chance to defend his Men’s Singles title, as he defeated Mexican Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, 15-13, 15-8. In the final, Keller will face the USA’s Charlie Pratt, as Pratt came back from a game down to defeat Andres Acuña of Costa Rica, 13-15, 15-11, 11-7, in the other semi.

Vargas and Mendez were close through the midway point of game one in their match, as they were tied at 8-8. But Vargas was able to push at the end, scoring seven points to Mendez’s one to win it 15-9.

Game two was similar, in that they were tied at 5-5, and Vargas pushed ahead to lead 9-6, and 13-8. Cue the comeback. They exchanged seven sideouts, and then Mendez called a timeout prior to serving. She hit two great pinch shots - a forehand and a backhand - to get within three at 13-10, and Vargas called a timeout.

Another sideout exchange followed. Then Vargas got to 14 when Mendez skipped a backhand return of a drive serve to the left side. However, Vargas was called for an avoidable, denying her first match point. But she got the serve back with a great backhand winner.

Mendez denied Vargas’s second match point with a winning backhand return off another drive serve to the left. Mendez followed that up with a four more winners to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at 15-14.

In the tie-breaker, Vargas took the early lead at 5-0, but Mendez came back to tie it at 7-7. However, she could score no more, as Vargas pushed on to win 11-7.

Acuña had a big lead on Pratt in game one of their semi-final, as he led 8-0 and 10-1. But Pratt’s not one to give up, and he came back to within one at 11-10, and then 14-13, but he never tied the game. Eventually Acuña was able to finish it off, 15-13.

Acuña got off to another good start in game two, as he was up 6-0. However, Pratt started his comeback sooner, and tied the score at 8-8. They were back and forth from there with ties at 10-10 and 11-11. Then Pratt pulled ahead, and led 14-11, when Acuña called a time out.

When play resumed, Acuña got the serve back with a backhand shot that cracked off the left side wall. But he couldn’t follow that up, as Pratt got the serve right back. With his second game point, Pratt hit drive serve to the left that cracked out for an ace to win the game 15-11.

The breaker had three streaks. Pratt had the first one, and led 4-0. Acuña got the second, and led 6-4. The third streak was Pratt’s as he got six points to lead 10-6. Late in the game, Acuña seemed to be feeling the pressure, as he made three bad skips. The first two gave Pratt his 9th and 10th points. The third denied Acuña a point after he’d fought off Pratt’s first match point.

However, Acuña fought off Pratt’s second match point with a great forehand pinch shot, and got a point with a great reverse pinch shot, which was a shot he tried for on one of those bad skips. With back to back great shots, the match was clearly not over. Pratt wisely called a time out with the score 10-7.

On the ensuing rally, Pratt hit a solid forehand shot to get the serve back. He ended the match in style by hitting a drive serve that stuck in the back left corner for an ace. Thus, Pratt will have a chance to win his first gold medal in the final on Saturday.

It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-9, 14-15, 11-7
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3

Women's Singles - Final - Saturday

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 11 AM

Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 13-15, 15-11, 11-7
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), 15-13, 15-8

Men's Singles - Final - Saturday

4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles Quarterfinals at 2019 Pan American Championships

The current World Champions will play the three time former World Champions in the semi-finals of Women’s Doubles Friday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, where the top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico - three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Champions - will faceoff with the current IRF World Champions from Bolivia: Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja. In the quarterfinals, Longoria and Salas defeated 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, 15-7, 15-6, while Centellas and Sabja beat the USA’s Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, 15-2, 15-5.

On the other side of the draw, 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia were comfortable winners over the Cuban team of Yurisleidis Alluie and Maria Regla Viera, 15-3, 15-4, which ensures a medal for the host country. But the 3rd seeds Maria Paz Muñoz and Ana Lucia Sarmiento of Ecuador were upset by the 11th seeded Canadian team of Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, who came back to win in a tie-breaker, 8-15, 15-9, 11-8.

The 1st and 4th seeds will also faceoff in the Men’s Doubles semi-finals, Mexicans Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, the 1st seeds, will play 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia. The Mexican team beat 8th seeds Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-6 in the quarterfinals, while the Bolivians defeated 5th seeds Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5.

One upset in the quarters of Men’s Doubles, as the 7th seeded Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray defeated the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas in a tie-breaker, 13-15, 15-1, 11-7. In the semi-finals, the Canadians will play 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, who also needed three games to get past the veteran team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri from Argentina, 15-5, 12-15, 11-1.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 15-7, 15-6
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-2, 15-5

11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 8-15, 15-9, 11-8
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-3, 15-4

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - 2 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 4 PM

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5

3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-5, 12-15, 11-1
7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA), 13-15, 15-1, 11-7

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 3 PM
3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles Round of 16 at 2019 Pan American Championships

They will play two rounds of both Men's and Women's Doubles Thursday at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, and in men’s play the Argentina veterans Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, seeded 11th, upset the 6th seeded Dominican Republic team of Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5. Argentina will play the 3rd seeded Costa Ricans Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho in the quarterfinals, as Costa Rica beat Jesus Icaza and Carlos Medrano of Honduras, 15-4, 15-2.

Costa Rica versus Argentina should be a good match, as should other quarterfinal matches between 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia and Colombians Andres Gomez and Mario Mercado, and the 2nd seeded USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas versus Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray.

In Women’s Doubles, the top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas of Mexico versus 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina should also be a cracking match.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-7, 15-8

12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. 5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 11-15, 11-5
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 6-15, 15-9, 11-4

7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-3
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. 8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 5 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 6 PM

3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 6 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - 5 PM

Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1

5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-6
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-1, 15-6

3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. 6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5

7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-11, 15-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 5 PM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM

3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 6 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Quarterfinal craziness at 2019 Pan American Championships

Here’s how crazy things can be at an international racquetball event like the 2019 Pan American Championships now going on in Barranquilla, Colombia. Two players who lost all their group stage matches in Women’s Singles are into the semi-finals, so they’ve made the podium, despite what happened the first three days of the competition. Indeed, the Women’s Singles semi-finalists are the 3rd seed, 12th seed, 15th seed and 24th seed. Astounding.

Natalia Mendez of Argentina, the 24th seed, knocked off the top seed Mexican Monserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-13, in the quarterfinals Thursday. Also, Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, who beat the 2nd seed Cristina Amaya (Colombia) on Wednesday, followed up that win with a victory over 7th seed Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic in the quarters on Thursday, 14-15, 15-13, 11-3. Neither Mendez or Muñoz won a match in the group stage of the event.
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Rhonda Rajsich of the USA was making a bid for a three-peat in Barranquilla, as she’s the two time defending Women's Singles champion, but Argentina’s María José Vargas denied Rajsich that chance by defeating her, 15-4, 15-8, in the quarters. Vargas will play Mendez in the semis, which guarantees an Argentine woman will be in the final.

Paola Longoria of Mexico, the 7 time Pan American Women’s Singles champion, advanced to the semi-finals with a win over Valeria Centellas of Bolivia, 14-15, 15-4, 11-7. Longoria will play Muñoz in the semis Friday.

Things are just about as crazy in Men’s Singles, as the top two seeds lost in the quarterfinals Thursday. Eighth seed Andres Acuña of Costa Rica was the big dragon slayer, as he upset top seed Alejandro Landa of Mexico, 6-15, 15-14, 11-7. Landa had a chance to win the match in two straight games, but Acuña survived, and moves on to the semi-finals.

Speaking of survival, Charles Pratt of the USA barely survived his quarterfinal match with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, as he came back to win in three games, 3-15, 15-12, 11-10. He also had to get out of a big hole in the third game, as Moscoso was up 8-1, and 10-7. Moscoso had two chances to win it, but skipped a forehand shot on the first chance, and Pratt hit a forehand winner to deny the second chance.

With the serve back at 10-7, Pratt won four straight rallies, three of which Moscoso ended by skipping shots, including on match point. On that point, Pratt had hit a forehand from the left side of the court that went wide off the right side wall, coming off the back wall. That gave Moscoso an opportunity to hit a winner, but he’d turned around to follow the ball and maybe went for too much - tried for a kill shot rather than solid pass - which resulted in a skip.

Pratt got to match point with a great forehand volley from a center court position. He’ll play Acuña in the semi-finals Friday.

Bolivian Carlos Keller, the 7th seed, ousted 2nd seed David Horn of the USA, 15-12, 15-10. He’ll play Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, as Beltran defeated Dominican Luis Perez, 15-9, 15-6.

It seems that Facebook is the best option for seeing some of the matches from Barranquilla. But check out the IRF Website for results, and the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-13, 15-13
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-4, 15-8

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia), 14-15, 15-4, 11-7
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 14-15, 15-13, 11-3

Women's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - Noon

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico), 6-15, 15-14, 11-7
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 3-15, 15-12, 11-10

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-6
7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 2) David Horn (USA), 15-12, 15-10

Men's Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Round of 16 results at 2019 Pan American Championships

There were two tie-breakers in the Round of 16 of Women’s Singles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia, and the winners will face off in the quarterfinals. Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador caused the big upset by knocking off 2nd seed Cristina Amaya of Colombia, 9-15, 15-7, 11-8, ruining Amaya’s dreams of medaling on home soil. Muñoz will play the Dominican Republic’s Merynanyelly Delgado in the quarters on Thursday, as Delgado came back to beat Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 12-15, 15-12, 11-0.

Elsewhere in women’s play, the three-peat is still a possibility for the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich who defeated 4th seed Carla Muñoz of Chile, 15-10, 15-14, on Wednesday. But the two time defending champion will face a tough test in the quarters, when Rajsich will play Argentina’s María José Vargas, who beat Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 15-2, 15-0, in the 16s.

Also, top seed Monserrat Mejia of Mexico beat Ecuador’s Maria Jose Muñoz, 15-9, 15-4, and will also have a tough test in the quarters, when she plays Natalia Mendez of Argentina. Mendez, the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), defeated 8th seed Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, 15-3, 15-11, in the 16s.

Mejia’s team-mate 3rd seed Paola Longoria of Mexico will also have a challenge in the quarters, after defeating Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-2, 15-7, in the 16s, as she’ll play the young Bolivian Valeria Centellas, who is half of the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women’s Doubles World Championship team. Centellas defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 15-7, 15-8, in the 16s on Wednesday.

In Men’s Singles, the top 8 seeds all made the quarterfinals, although two needed tie-breakers to get there. And as in Women’s Singles, those tie-breaker winners will playoff in the quarters. Third seed Alvaro Beltran, the veteran Mexican, came back from a game down to defeat 14th seed Mario Mercado of Colombia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. Beltran will face 6th seed Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic in the quarters, as Ugalde beat 11th seed Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-7, 13-15, 11-1, in the 16s.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019

Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-4
24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia), 15-3, 15-11

12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-0
13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 4) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-10, 15-14

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-2, 15-7
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 15-7, 15-8

7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 12-15, 15-12, 11-0
15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 9-15, 15-7, 11-8

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 10 AM
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 10 AM

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - 10 AM
7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 10 AM

Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-3
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-2

5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-6

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-7, 13-15, 11-1

7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-10, 15-9
2) David Horn (USA) d. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-7

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 9 AM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) - 9 AM

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - 9 AM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 9 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles Round of 32 at 2019 Pan American Championships

No surprises in the opening matches of the medal rounds in Women’s and Men’s Singles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Both the Round of 32 and 16 will be played on Wednesday. We’d highlighted that the best match in the 32s could be Fernando Rios of Ecuador versus Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, and it did not disappoint, as Rios won in two close games, 15-14, 15-12. Rios will play the other Costa Rican in the draw - Andres Acuña, who was a winner over Jesus Icaza of Honduras, 15-5, 15-3.

But Rios and Camacho were not the closest match in the Round of 32, as Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala squeaked out a win over Colombian Andres Gomez, 15-14, 15-14. Salvatierra will play 4th seed Charles Pratt (USA) in the Round of 16.

In Women’s Singles, there was one upset by the seedings, but it wasn’t really an upset as Natalia Mendez of Argentina is the 6th ranked player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) but was seeded 24th in the draw, beat 9th seeded Maria Regia Viera of Cuba, 15-5, 15-2. Mendez will play Bolivian Angelica Barrios in the Round of 16, as Barrios defeated Canadian Erin Geeraert, 15-4, 15-4, in the 32.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-1

24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-5, 15-2
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-4, 15-4

5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-9

13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-11, 15-9
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4

11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-2
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE

7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-2, 15-4

15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Women's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - 2 PM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 3 PM

5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 12) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 3 PM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - 3 PM

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. 14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - 3 PM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) - 3 PM

7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) - 4 PM
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - 4 PM

Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-8

9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-12
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-5, 15-3

5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-9
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-0, 15-5

13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-14, 15-14
4) Charles Pratt (USA) d. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-2, 15-4

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-0, 15-3
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile), 15-6, 15-6

11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-11, 15-11
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3

7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-6
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-4, 15-8

15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-1
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE

Men's Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. 16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - 4 PM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) - 5 PM

5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 12) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 5 PM
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 5 PM

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) - 5 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 6 PM

7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) - 6 PM
2) David Horn (USA) v. 15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles medal rounds at 2019 Pan American Championships

Mexican teams are the top seeds for the medal rounds in both Men’s and Women’s Doubles at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. But Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, the top seeds in Women’s Doubles, could face a tough test in the quarterfinals, as they could play 8th seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, who won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Bolivia Open two weeks ago.

Even if they win that match, the Mexicans could face the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions - Valeria Centellas and Yazmine Sabja of Bolivia - in the semi-finals, as the Bolivians are the 4th seeds. In contrast, the bottom half of the draw looks kinder for 2nd seeds Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros of Colombia.

In men’s play, top seeds Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) could face 4th seeds Roland Keller and Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia in the semi-finals. On the bottom of the draw, there’s more uncertainty as 3rd seeds Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica will play either one of two tricky teams in the quarterfinals: either a young Dominican Republic team of Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez, who can shoot with anybody when they are hot, or the veteran Argentina team of Fernando Kurzbard and Shai Manzuri, who have caused more than their share of upsets over the years.

The USA team of Jake Bredenbeck and Mauro Rojas are the 2nd seeds, and they could have a tricky quarterfinal match also, as they will face either Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray or the surprising Cuban team of Enier Chacon and Mykel Mollet.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 9) Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1 PM

5) Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) v. 12) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 1 PM
4) Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE
6) Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. 11) Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - 1 PM

7) Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) v. 10) Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 1 PM
2) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Men's Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 9) Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) - 11 AM

5) Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - 11 AM
4) Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 13) Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM

3) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 14) Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 11 AM
6) Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - Noon

7) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 10) Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - Noon
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 15) Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru) - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Singles medal rounds for 2019 Pan American Championships

The Women’s and Men’s medal round draws have been released for the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. The medal round will begin on Wednesday, and there will play both the Round of 32 and Round of 16 Wednesday. The quarterfinals will be Thursday, semi-finals on Friday and final on Saturday.

In Women’s Singles the top four seeds are Monserrat Mejia of Mexico as #1, Colombian Cristina Amaya #2, Mexican Paola Longoria #3 and Chilean Carla Muñoz #4. Muñoz as the 4th seed should have the toughest of the brackets, and she’ll likely face 2 time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich (USA) in the 16s, and if she wins that either 5th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala or 12th seed María José Vargas of Argentina in the quarterfinals. But top seed Mejia could also face a tough test in the quarterfinals when she’ll likely play either Natalia Mendez of Argentina or Angelica Barrios of Bolivia.

There will be tough matches in Men’s Singles also, where Alejandro Landa (Mexico) is the top seed, David Horn (USA) is 2nd seed, Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) 3rd and Charles Pratt (USA) 4th. Horn has defending champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia in his bracket, so there could be a rematch of last year’s final in the quarterfinals. Beltran could have a tough test before the quarters, as he could face Colombian Mario Mercado - a top 10 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in the 16s. Pratt will also likely have a tough test in the quarters, as he’ll probably play either Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso or Canadian Samuel Murray.

But consider that Fernando Rios of Ecuador and Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica - two quality players - will faceoff in the first Round of 32. That is a tough draw.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
16) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 17) Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - 9 AM

9) Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) v. 24) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 9 AM
8) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 25) Erin Geeraert (Canada) - 9 AM

5) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE
12) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 21) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 9 AM

13) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. 20) Michèle Morissette (Canada) - 10 AM
4) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

3) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
14) Adriana Riveros (Colombia) v. 19) Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM

11) Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. 22) Maria Gomar (Guatemala) - 10 AM
6) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) - BYE

7) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - BYE
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 23) Josefina Toro (Chile) - 10 AM

15) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 18) Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)
2) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Men's Singles - Round of 32 - Wednesday

1) Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE
16) Mykel Mollet (Cuba) v. 17) Francisco Troncoso (Chile) - 11 AM

9) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 24) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) - 11 AM
8) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 25) Jesus Icaza (Honduras) - 11 AM

5) Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 25) Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela) - 11 AM
12) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 21) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - Noon

13) Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 20) Andres Gomez (Colombia) - Noon
4) Charles Pratt (USA) v. 29) Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru) - Noon

3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. 30) Jonathan Luque (Peru) - Noon
14) Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. 19) Johan Igor (Chile) - 1 PM

11) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 22) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM
6) Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 1 PM

7) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 26) Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) - 2 PM
10) Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. 23) Shai Manzuri (Argentina) - 2 PM

15) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 18) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 2 PM
2) David Horn (USA) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Day 3 at the 2019 Pan American Championships

There were more tie-breakers on the last day of the group stage at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. Canadians were involved in two close tie-breakers in Women’s Singles, but unfortunately lost both to Cubans. Maria Regia Viera defeated Michèle Morissette, 13-15, 15-9, 11-10, and Yurisleidis Alluie beat Erin Geeraert, 11-15, 15-11, 11-9.

Chilean Carla Muñoz and Bolivian Angelica Barrios won their groups with tie-breaker wins Monday. Muñoz defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence of the USA, 5-15, 15-3, 11-6, while Barrios pulled out a win over Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 15-9, 8-15, 11-10.

Mexican Monserrat Mejia will be the top seed for the medal round, as she defeated Adriana Riveros of Colombia, 15-14, 15-5, to win Group A. We previously mentioned that Cristina Amaya of Colombia will be 2nd seed as the winner of Group B. While it’s good to win your group, if Amaya is going to reach the final, she’ll need to get by Mexican Paola Longoria in the semi-finals (assuming they both win their matches to get to the semis), as Longoria won Group C with a win over Lilian Zea of Venezuela, 15-0, 15-3.

The men’s matches were all over in two straight games in singles and doubles with one exception. Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic caused an upset in Group F by defeating Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 9-15, 11-8. The win puts Perez and Murray tied in the group, but on a head to head tie-breaker, Perez wins the group.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Monday

Group A

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-14, 15-5
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Group B

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-3
María José Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Group D

Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA), 5-15, 15-3, 11-6
Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 11-15, 15-11, 11-9

Group E

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-6
Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0, forfeit

Group F

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-0, 15-2
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 13-15, 15-9, 11-10

Group G

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 8-15, 11-10
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-1

Women's Doubles - Monday

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba), 15-9, 15-5
Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-8
Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - BYE

Group C

Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-10
Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE

Group D

Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-14, 12-15, 11-8
Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) - BYE

Men's Singles - Monday

Group A

Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
Johan Igor (Chile) - BYE

Group B

David Horn (USA) d. Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 15-9, 15-7
Andres Gomez (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-5
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-6

Group D

Charles Pratt (USA) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-10, 15-1
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-6, 15-1

Group E

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-7, 15-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-3, 15-5

Group F

Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-10, 9-15, 11-8
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5

Group G

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-10, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-3, 15-3

Group H

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-4
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 15-7

Men's Doubles - Monday

Group A

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 15-5
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 15-13
Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d, Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-6

Group C

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 15-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba), 14-15, 15-7, 11-4

Group D

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-12, 15-1
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-7, 15-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Day 2 at 2019 Pan American Championships

Another day of racquetball, another day of 11-10 tie-breakers at the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia. In Men’s Singles, Guatemala’s Juan Salvatierra squeaked out a win over Chile’s Francisco Troncoso, 13-15, 15-10, 11-10. In Women’s Doubles, the Cuban team of Yurisleidis Alluie and Maria Regla Viera came back from a game down to defeat Canadians Danielle Drury and Jennifer Saunders, 11-15, 15-8, 11-10. In Men’s Doubles there was an 11-9 breaker, as the Cuban team of Enier Chacon and Mykel Mollet upset the Ecuador team of Juan Francisco Cueva and Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-15, 15-3, 11-9.

In Women’s Singles, Colombian Cristina Amaya will be pleased, as she’s claimed the 2nd seed position for the medal round by defeating Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-5, which follows up a win on Saturday over two time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich of the USA. Thus, Amaya will have an inside track to the podium in her home country.

Also, consider the situation of Ecuador’s Maria Paz Muñoz, who is in Group A of Women’s Singles, and lost a tie-breaker to Mexico’s Monserrat Mejia on Saturday, and then today lost another close match to Bolivia’s Adriana Riveros, 15-14, 15-9. Muñoz has clearly played well, but faced two quality opponents and will finish last in her group.

Another woman who’s had a tough start is Argentina’s Natalia Mendez, as she’s lost both of her first two games. Sunday she lost to Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-11, 15-7, and lost Saturday to Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala. Compounding that loss, Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas lost in Women’s Doubles to Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1. The Colombians could claim the #2 seed in doubles with a win over the USA’s Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts on Monday.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Sunday

Group A

Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-14, 15-9
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-5
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE

Group C

María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-4
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Group D

Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-8
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-3, 15-1

Group E

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-4
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-11, 15-7

Group F

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-4
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-1

Group G

Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-8
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-8

Women's Doubles - Sunday

Group A

Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-10
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-1
Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) - BYE

Group C

Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-8, 15-14
Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) - BYE

Group D

Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-3
Maria Gomar & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - BYE

Men's Singles - Sunday

Group A

Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-13, 15-9
Alejandro Landa (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 7-15, 15-3, 11-6
David Horn (USA) - BYE

Group C

Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-6, 15-9
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 13-15, 15-10, 11-10

Group D

Charles Pratt (USA) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-2, 15-2
Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-7

Group E

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-5
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 4-15, 11-6

Group F

Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-2
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-5, 13-15, 11-7

Group G

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 12-15, 15-8, 11-4

Group H

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-7
Coby Iwaasa (Canada) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-11, 15-6

Men's Doubles - Sunday

Group A

Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-9
Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-0
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-11, 15-11

Group C

Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 11-15, 15-3, 11-9
Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-8, 10-15, 11-2

Group D

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-10
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-1, 15-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Day 1 results from 2019 Pan American Championships

On the first day of the 2019 Pan American Championships in Barranquilla, Colombia there have already been upsets, as the USA’s Rhonda Rajsich - the 2 times defending champion in Women’s Singles - lost to Colombian Cristina Amaya, 15-14, 14-15, 11-8, which could give her a tougher draw in the medal round en route to defending her title. Some other Women’s Singles results of note include Mexican Monserrat Mejia’s win over Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-9, 11-15, 11-4, and Mejia’s team-mate Paola Longoria defeated Argentina’s María José Vargas in two close games, 15-12, 15-13. Also, Maria Rene Rodriguez of Guatemala was also a close winner over Natalia Mendez of Argentina, 15-12, 15-13.

Chilean Francisco Troncoso almost had a big upset in Men’s Singles, as he had a match point against Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran in game two of their match, but Beltran fought it off and forced the match into a tie-breaker, which he won, 12-15, 15-14, 11-3.

One of the premier matches on Day 1 was between Charles Pratt of the USA and Colombian Mario Mercado, two of the top players on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). After a decisive win by Pratt in game one, Mercado came back to take game two and force a tie-breaker, which went Pratt’s way, 15-2, 9-15, 11-7.

Defending Men’s Singles champion, Carlos Keller of Bolivia got off to a successful start in his quest to defend the title by beating Fernando Rios of Ecuador, 15-13, 15-7. Keller’s team-mate Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), who won the most recent IRT event, also had a good start to the Championships, as he defeated Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 15-5, 15-7.

There were a couple of 11-10 tie-breakers. In one, Venezuelan Roberto Leyes defeated Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic, 15-14, 3-15, 11-10. The other was in Men’s Doubles, as Bolivians Roland Keller and Moscoso held on to fend off Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 15-12, 13-15, 11-10.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Saturday

Group A

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-9, 11-15, 11-4
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group B

Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Group C

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. María José Vargas (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE

Group D

Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) d. Erin Geeraert (Canada), 15-1, 15-2
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba), 15-7, 15-13

Group E

Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 15-12, 15-13
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 15-11

Group F

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-6, 15-6
Maria Regia Viera (Cuba) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-1, 15-4

Group G

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-4
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 10-15, 15-3, 11-8

Women's Doubles - Saturday

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-4, 15-4
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE

Group B

Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA), 15-8, 15-10
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-9, 15-14
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group D

Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia) d. Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-10
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE

Men's Singles - Saturday

Group A

Alejandro Landa (Mexico) d. Johan Igor (Chile), 15-1, 15-4
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

David Horn (USA) d. Andres Gomez (Colombia), 15-7, 15-2
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE

Group C

Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 12-15, 15-14, 11-3
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru), 15-1, 15-8

Group D

Charles Pratt (USA) d. Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-2, 9-15, 11-7
Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Jonathan Luque (Peru), 15-9, 15-0

Group E

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Jesus Icaza (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2

Group F

Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-9
Roberto Leyes (Venezuela) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Republic), 15-14, 3-15, 11-10

Group G

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-7
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-13, 15-7

Group H

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 15-8, 15-7
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-7

Men's Doubles - Saturday

Group A

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-10
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group B

Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-10, 15-9
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru), 15-0, 15-1

Group C

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5
Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba) d. Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-5, 15-5

Group D

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 13-15, 11-10
Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela) d. Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-7, 7-15, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

2019 Pan American Championships begin Saturday

The 2019 Pan American Championships begin Saturday in Barranquilla, Colombia. As expected, there will be three days of group play that will set the stage for an elimination round beginning on Wednesday. The seedings for the groups are based on past country results, so countries whose players have done well in the last three Pan American Championships are seeded higher than countries whose players have not done as well. The group stage lasts three days (Saturday to Monday) followed by a rest day (Tuesday) before the medal round begins on Wednesday.

In soccer competitions that involve a group stage, often one group is nicknamed the "Group of Death," because all the teams drawn into that group are strong, and only the top teams will advance to the elimination round. If one of the groups in Barranquilla was the Group of Death, it would have to be Group B in Women's Doubles, which has the USA team of Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, the Argentina team of Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, as well as the host country representatives Cristina Amaya and Adriana Riveros (Colombia). Matches between those teams have tie-breaker written all over them.

Of course, international racquetball events are more forgiving than soccer events, as no one is eliminated after the group stage, although we'd prefer if some of the players were. Because if there isn't elimination after the group stage, why play those games? Players have had remarkable results in the group stage and gotten a bad seeding in the elimination round. None more than Ecuador's Fernando Rios, who beat Jose Rojas of the USA at the 2014 World Championships, yet had to play Mexico's Polo Gutierrez in the 1st round of elimination, because Gutierrez lost some matches in the group stage due to defaults. Rather than Rios being rewarded for his win - and Gutierrez punished for his losses - Rios had a tough opponent in the elimination round, and Gutierrez - undoubtedly fresher because he'd played fewer matches - won their match.

Players eliminated from medal contention could still play matches in a consolation division. Other sports, such as Rugby 7s, do that sort of thing, so players would still be able to get match experience, which is what the lesser players need to have. The lesser players don't need to play one more match in a medal round that ends up with a score line of 15-1, 15-1, and the winner of such a match doesn't need to play it either.

Also, by eliminating players from the medal competition after the group stage the length of the event may be reduced, which would be welcome.

The IRF will be live streaming matches from Barranquilla, look for the action via the IRF Website or the IRF Facebook page.

XXXII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Barranquilla, Colombia - April 12-20, 2019
Results Summary

Women's Singles - Saturday

Group A

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group B

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Group C

Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. María José Vargas (Argentina)
Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE

Group D

Kelani Bailey Lawrence (USA) v. Erin Geeraert (Canada)
Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. Yurisleidis Alluie (Cuba)

Group E

Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic)

Group F

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. Michèle Morissette (Canada)
Josefina Toro (Chile) v. Maria Regia Viera (Cuba)

Group G

Maria Gomar (Guatemala) v. Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic)

Women's Doubles - Saturday

Group A

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Danielle Drury & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
Yurisleidis Alluie & Maria Regla Viera (Cuba) - BYE

Group B

Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) - BYE

Group C

Maria Paz Muñoz & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Josefa Parada & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group D

Maria Gomar & Maria Rene Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Valeria Centellas & Yazmine Sabja (Bolivia)
Mariana Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela) - BYE

Men's Singles - Saturday

Group A

Alejandro Landa (Mexico) v. Johan Igor (Chile)
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

David Horn (USA) v. Andres Gomez (Colombia)
Mykel Mollet (Cuba) - BYE

Group C

Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Sebastian Mendiguri (Peru)

Group D

Charles Pratt (USA) v. Mario Mercado (Colombia)
Enier Chacon (Cuba) v. Jonathan Luque (Peru)

Group E

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Jesus Icaza (Honduras)

Group F

Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) v. Roberto Leyes (Venezuela)

Group G

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) v. Carlos Medrano (Honduras)

Group H

Coby Iwaasa (Canada) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. Luis Felipe Zea (Venezuela)

Men's Doubles - Saturday

Group A

Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Group B

Jake Bredenbeck & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. Fernando Kurzbard & Shai Manzuri (Argentina)
Andres Gomez & Mario Mercado (Colombia) v. Sebastian Mediguri & Oscar Navarro (Peru)

Group C

Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Rafael Gatica & Francisco Troncoso (Chile) v. Enier Chacon & Mykel Mollet (Cuba)

Group D

Roland Keller & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
Jesus Icaza & Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Gregorio Machado & Luis Reveron (Venezuela)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mexico wins gold in Men's & Women's Team events at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Mexico was golden once again in the Men’s and Women’s Team events at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Mexico has won gold in the team events at every Central American & Caribbean Games (CACG) since 1990, when racquetball was first included in the CACG program.

In the Men’s Team final, Mexico defeated Costa Rica in two matches. Rodrigo Montoya beat Andrés Acuña, 15-10, 15-2, in singles, and then Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa closed the deal by defeating Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-2, in doubles.

The Women’s Team final was also over in two straight matches, as Mexico defeated Colombia. Alexandra Herrera beat Cristina Amaya in singles, 15-7, 15-12, and then Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Amaya and Adriana Riveros, 15-12, 15-5, in doubles.

With the victories, Beltran now has 12 medals in the CACG, which is tied for 2nd in overall with Javier Moreno, and two fewer than Claudine Garcia's (Dominican Republic) 14. Longoria has 10, and Salas 9.

The 2022 CACG will be in Panama, and racquetball is on the program.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-28
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Costa Rica, 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-2
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-2
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), not played

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico d. Colombia - 2-0

1. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-7, 15-12
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-12, 15-5
3. Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), not played

Follow the bouncing ball….

Colombia upsets Guatemala to reach Women's Team final at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Colombia upset Guatemala to reach the final of the Women’s Team event at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia on Friday. They will play the top seeded Mexican team for gold in the final on Saturday. Colombia had to come from a match down to defeat Guatemala in their semi-final, while Mexico beat Costa Rica in two straight matches. The Men’s Team final will see #1 Mexico play #2 Costa Rica.

In their semi, Gabriela Martinez got Guatemala off to a good start against Colombia, as she defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-13, 7-15, 11-6. But the Colombians levelled the match by winning doubles, as Riveros and Cristina Amaya won in three games against Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-10, 11-7. In the deciding third match, Rodriguez won the first game against Amaya, but then the Colombian veteran took the next two games to carry the day for her country, winning 14-15, 15-6, 11-8.

In the other women’s semi, Paola Longoria of Mexico beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-2, 15-9, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Sauma and Maricruz Ortiz in doubles, 15-3, 15-3.

In the Men’s Team semis, Mexico beat Guatemala, 2-0, as Daniel De La Rosa defeated Edwin Galicia, 15-2, 15-14, and he and Alvaro Beltran beat Galicia and Christian Wer in doubles, 15-8, 15-4. Then Costa Rica needed three matches to fend off Cuba.

In the first match, Cuban Maykel Moyet took out Costa Rican Felipe Camacho in straight games, 15-6, 15-13. But Camacho and Andrés Acuña were able to level the contest at 1-1 as they won the doubles match against Moyet and Enier Chacon, 15-7, 15-11. Acuña then won it for Costa Rica by defeating Chacon, 15-6, 15-2.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico d. Guatemala - 2-0

1. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-14
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
3. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), not played

Costa Rica d. Cuba - 2-1

1. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-13
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-7, 15-11
3. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 15-2

Men’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Costa Rica

Women’s Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Costa Rica - 2-0

1. Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9
2. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
3. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Maricruz Ortiz, not played

Colombia d. Guatemala, 2-1

1. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Riveros (Colombia), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 13-15, 15-10, 11-7
3. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 14-15, 15-6, 11-8

Women’s Team - Final - Saturday

Mexico v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Team Competition Day 1 at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

International racquetball competitions are long, and when they have two parts - the individual singles and doubles competitions followed by a team competition - it can be difficult to perform well in both. So it was Thursday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, where some players who did well in the first part of the week didn’t fare so well on Thursday. The top two seeds in the Men’s Team competition didn’t have problems. Mexico - the #1 seeds - defeated Honduras in two straight matches, and 2nd seeds Costa Rica did similarly with Venezuela.

However, the other matches could be described as upsets based on what happened earlier in the week. Cuba defeated Colombia two matches to one. Colombian Mario Mercado needed a tie-breaker to beat Cuban Enier Chacon, 15-6, 14-15, 11-9. But Cuba levelled the match with a win in doubles, as Chacon and Maykel Moyet beat Mercado and Set Cubillos, 15-13, 15-12. In the deciding match, Moyet defeated Hosman Gomez, 15-12, 15-1, to carry the day for Cuba, who will play Mexico in the semi-finals Friday.

Dominican Republic got two bronze medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competitions earlier in the week, but they won’t be on the podium in the Men’s Team event, as Guatemala defeated them, 2-1. First, Juan Salvatierra of Guatemala beat Ramón De León of Dominican Republic, 15-13, 15-13. The Dominicans won the doubles match with De León and Luis Pérez defeated Edwin Galicia and Christian Wer, 15-4, 15-12. Then Guatemalan Edwin Galicia got his team the win by defeating Pérez in two straight games, 15-13, 15-4.

The Women’s Team quarterfinal matches were all over in two matches. Costa Rica defeated the Dominican Republic. Colombia beat Venezuela, and Guatemala got the better of Cuba. In the semi-finals, Costa Rica will play Mexico, who had a bye in the quarters, with Colombia playing Guatemala.

The Men’s and Women’s Team finals will be on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico d. Honduras - 2-0

1. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-2, 15-3
2. Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Carlos Medrano & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-4
3. Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Carlos Medrano & (Honduras), not played

Guatemala d. Dominican Republic - 2-1

1. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Ramón De León (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-13
2. Ramón De León & Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-12
3. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Luis Pérez (Dominican Republic), 15-13, 15-4

Cuba d. Colombia - 2-1

1. Mario Mercado (Colombia) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 15-6, 14-15, 11-9
2. Maykel Moyet & Enier Chacon (Cuba) d. Set Cubillos & Mario Mercado (Colombia), 15-13, 15-12
3. Maykel Moyet (Cuba) d. Hosman Gomez (Colombia), 15-12, 15-1

Costa Rica d. Venezuela - 2-0

1. Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Ricardo Gomez (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-6
2. Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Cesar Castillo & Cesar Castro (Venezuela), 15-4, 15-3
3. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Luis Zea (Venezuela), not played

Men’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Guatemala
Costa Rica v. Cuba

Women’s Team - Quarterfinals

Mexico - BYE

Costa Rica d. Dominican Republic - 2-0

1. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-9
2. Maricruz Ortiz & Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jiménez (Dominican Republic), 15-9, 13-15. 11–1
3. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), not played

Colombia d. Venezuela, 2-0

1. Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Diana Rangel (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-1
2. Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon & Lilian Zea (Venezuela), 15-9, 15-9
3. Adriana Riveros (Colombia) d. Marian Tobon (Venezuela), not played

Guatemala d. Cuba, 2-0

1. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue (Cuba), 15-2, 15-7
2. Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Yurisleidis Allue & Maria Viera (Cuba), 15-4, 15-8
3. Gabriella Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Viera (Cuba), not played

Women’s Team - Semi-finals - Friday

Mexico v. Costa Rica
Guatemala v. Colombia

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria & De La Rosa are double gold medalists at 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games

Paola Longoria and Daniel De La Rosa won twice on Wednesday, as Mexicans swept the racquetball gold medals Wednesday at the 2018 Central American & Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. Longoria won gold in Women’s Singles for the third consecutive time when she defeated Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, 15-13, 15-7. Her team-mate Daniel De La Rosa fought back from a game down to win the Men’s Singles final, and beat Mario Mercado of Colombia, 9-15, 15-2, 11-5.

In doubles, Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez of Guatemala, 9-15, 15-9, 11-5, to win Women’s Doubles, while De La Rosa and Alvaro Beltran won Men’s Doubles by beat Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 15-3.

Mexico has won gold in singles at all but two Central American & Caribbean Games. Fabian Balmori of Venezuela is the only non-Mexican man to win Men’s Singles, doing so In 1993 and 1998. Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic (1993) and Antia Maldonado of Puerto Rico (1998) are the two non-Mexican women to win gold in Women’s Singles at the Central American & Caribbean Games.

The Women’s Doubles final was a rematch of the final from four years ago. Mexico has won every Women’s Doubles title at the Central American & Caribbean Games. But after Guatemala won the first game, it looked like they were going to end that streak, and upset Mexico, as Guatemala led 8-1 in game two. But Mexico turned the tables, and won 25 of the next 31 points en route to the three game win.

Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet in the World Championship final in Costa Rica next month.

Mexico has also won gold in Men’s Doubles at every Central American & Caribbean Games, since racquetball was introduced to the games in 1990. De La Rosa and Beltran’s win was the 2nd consecutive Men’s Doubles title for Beltran, who won with Javier Moreno four years ago.

Acuña and Camacho’s silver medal was the 2nd time Costa Rica has finished second in Men’s Doubles at the Central American & Caribbean Games, but the first since 1990, when Orlando Lopez and Maurico Morera were runners up to Mexicans Francisco Martin and Arturo Martin.

The team event will begin Thursday at the Central American & Caribbean Games with the team event finals on Saturday.

2018 Central American & Caribbean Games - July 20-29
Barranquilla, Colombia

Men’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 4) Mario Mercado (Colombia), 9-15, 15-2, 11-5

Women’s Singles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-7

Men’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. 2) Andrés Acuña & Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-3

Women’s Doubles - Final - Wednesday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. 2) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 9-15, 15-9, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….