Weekend Round Up - Wins for Acuña, Parrilla & Meneses as well as USAR High School Championships

There were several racquetball events that wrapped on the weekend, and we want to do a run down of them. Fridley, Minnesota hosted the Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame Tournament - a Tier 3 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - which featured three top 15 IRT players: Samuel Murray, Jake Bredenbeck and Andres Acuña, and Acuña, the 15th ranked IRT player, who the event beating the two IRT top 10 players in the process.

Acuña defeated top seed Samuel Murray (IRT #5), 15-10, 15-7, in the final, after beating 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck (IRT #9), 15-10, 15-8, in the semi-finals. Murray defeated Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-5, in the other semi.

The Bredenbeck brothers won doubles, as Jake and Sam defeated Murray and Michael Leduc, 15-2, 15-4, in the final. They had a closer win in the semi-finals over Acuña and Alonso, 15-11, 15-14, while Murray and Leduc beat John Goth and Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-14.

Another IRT event took place in Pueblo, Colorado, where Andree Parrilla won the Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout - a Tier 4 event. Parrilla beat David Horn, 15-2, 15-5. In the semi-finals, Parrilla defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-7, and Horn had to come back from a game down to get past Adam Manilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-9.

Finally, at the Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts, 4th seed Micaela Meneses won the Women’s Open title by defeating 2nd seed Carla Muñoz, 8-11, 11-10, 11-5, in the final. She knocked off top seed Kelani Lawrence, 11-4, 11-8, in one semi-final, while Muñoz held on to defeat 3rd seed Jenny Daza, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3, in the other semi.

USA Racquetball National High School Championships

The largest event that happened last week was the USA Racquetball (USAR) High School Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where 346 kids were hitting the ball around. It’s a fabulous total, although the vast majority of the players - 289 - were from Missouri. Add on 30 kids from Oregon, and you have 92% of the players from two states. Indeed, there were players from just 8 states overall.

Nonetheless, having kids playing racquetball is great. And having hundreds of kids doing so is astounding.

Josh Shea was the only player from New York state, but he won the Boy’s #1 Singles title living up to his top seeding, although he did need a tie-breaker to defeat 2nd seed Andrew Gleason of Iowa, 15-4, 13-15, 11-3. The Girl’s #1 Singles final was also between the top seeds, as 2nd seed Naomi Ros of Texas upset top seed Heather Mahoney from California, 15-9, 15-6.

However, Mahoney did win the Girl’s #1 Doubles title with partner Ava Naworski. They were the 3rd seeds, and defeated 4th seeds Avery Oppermann and Gabbie Roseman of Missouri, 15-3, 15-11, in the final. The Boy’s #1 Doubles title went to top seeds Gabe Collins and Jacob Schmidt of Missouri who beat fellow Missourians and 3rd seeds Will Shorey and Jared Thornberry in two close games, 15-13, 15-14.

On the horizon

Coming up on the racquetball calendar will be the IRT’s 37th Annual Papa Nicholas Coffee Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, March 17-20; that’s a Tier 1 event. The next Tier 1 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event is the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, April 29-May 1, but they’ll play outdoors in the 2022 Beach Bash in Hollywood, Florida March 24-27.

Internationally, the 33rd Pan American Championships will be in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, April 9-16, and racquetball is part of the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, July 7-22. Also, USA Racquetball (USAR) will have their 2022 National Doubles and Singles Championships in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A & M University May 25-29, and Racquetball Canada has announced its National Championships will happen in Brossard, Québec, May 24-28.

Thus, there are a lot of great events coming up over the next few months, and that will set the stage for the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame Tournament - IRT Tier 3
March 3-6, 2022 - Fridley, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Final

3) Andres Acuña d. 1) Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-7

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray d. 5) Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-5
3) Andres Acuña d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-8

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Samuel Murray d. 8) John Goth, 15-9, 15-4
5) Jordy Alonso d. 4) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-1

3) Andres Acuña d. 6) Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-6
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Lee Meinerz, 15-2, 15-3

IRT Doubles - Final

2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 1) Samuel Murray & Michael Leduc, 15-2, 15-4

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray & Michael Leduc d. 4) John Goth & Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-14
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jordy Alonso, 15-11, 15-14

Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout - IRT Tier 4
March 4-6, 2022 - Pueblo, Colorado

IRT Singles - Final

1) Andree Parrilla d. 3) David Horn, 15-2, 15-5

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Andree Parrilla d. 2) Adam Manilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-9
3) David Horn 4) Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-7

Boston Open
March 4-6, 2022 - Marlborough, Massachusetts

Women’s Open Singles - Final

4) Micaela Meneses d. 2) Carla Muñoz, 8-11, 11-10, 11-5

Women’s Open Singles - Semi-final

4) Micaela Meneses d. 1) Kelani Lawrence, 11-4, 11-8
2) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Jenny Daza, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3

Women’s Open Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Kelani Lawrence d. 9) Tasha Kay, 11-0, 11-1
4) Micaela Meneses d. 5) Sheryl Lotts, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3

3) Jenny Daza d. 6) Camila Rivero, 11-9, 11-10
2) Carla Muñoz d. 7) Annie Roberts, 11-1, 5-11, 11-6

2022 USA Racquetball National High School Championships
March 2-6, 2022 - St. Louis, Missouri

Boy’s Singles #1 - Final

1) Josh Shea (Hendrick Hudson) d. 2) Andrew Gleason (Johnston School District), 15-4, 13-15, 11-3

Boy’s Singles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Josh Shea (Hendrick Hudson) d. 4) DJ Mendoza (Douglas Macarthur High School), 15-10, 15-6
2) Andrew Gleason (Johnston School District) d. 3) Benjamin Horner (Ankeny Centennial), 15-2, 15-12

Girl’s Singles #1 - Final

2) Naomi Ros (Douglas Macarthur High School) d. 1) Heather Mahoney (Casa Grade High School), 15-9, 15-6

Girl’s Singles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Heather Mahoney (Casa Grade High School) d. 4) Brielle Fernando (Beaverton High School), 15-7, 15-6
2) Naomi Ros (Douglas Macarthur High School) d. 3) Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School), 15-6, 15-0

Boy’s Doubles #1 - Final

1) Gabe Collins & Jacob Schmidt (Christian Brothers College High School) d. 3) Will Shorey & Jared Thornberry (St. Louis University High School), 15-13, 15-14

Boy’s Doubles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Gabe Collins & Jacob Schmidt (Christian Brothers College High School) d. 4) Riley Edwards & Drake Howard (Barlow), 15-4, 15-8
3) Will Shorey & Jared Thornberry (St. Louis University High School) d. 7) Charlie Buren & Jonathon Ruck (Lafayette High School), 15-9, 15-10

Girl’s Doubles #1 - Final

3) Heather Mahoney & Ava Naworski (Casa Grade High School) d. 4) Avery Oppermann & Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School), 15-3, 15-11

Girl’s Doubles #1 - Semi-finals

4) Avery Oppermann & Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School) d. 1) Brielle Fernando & Payton Lemke (Beaverton High School), 15-13, 13-15, 11-4
3) Heather Mahoney & Ava Naworski (Casa Grade High School) d. 2) Hailey Fitts & Hannah Werk (Lafayette High School), 13-15, 15-1, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Waselenchuk, Portillo, Muñoz and Manilla & Riffel, Goth & Hansen

There were two Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events on the weekend. Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the IRT, won the 2020 Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout in Pueblo, Colorado, where he defeated IRT #11 Rodrigo Montoya in the final, 15-9, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Waselenchuk beat Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-6, and Montoya defeated Erik Garcia, 15-7, 15-5.

They played doubles in Pueblo also, as Manilla and Nicholas Riffel capturing the title with a win over Garcia and David Horn, 15-12, 15-9. In the semis, Manilla and Riffel defeated Luis Martinez and Montoya, 15-0, 15-4, and Garcia and Horn beat Nick Blanchard and C. J. Sanders, 15-12, 15-7.

The 2020 Arcsserve Series - Hall of Fame Tournament took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Eduardo Portillo defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 12-15, 15-8, 11-0. In the semi-finals, Portillo beat Justus Benson, 15-2, 15-3, and in all Bredenbeck battle, Jake Bredenbeck got the better of his younger brother Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-8.

The Bredenbecks teamed up in doubles, and were the top seeds. However, they lost to the veteran team of John Goth and Blake Hansen, 15-6, 15-11. In the semi-finals, Goth and Hansen needed a tie-breaker to get past Portillo and Andrew Gleason, 15-7, 9-15, 11-6, while the Bredenbecks beat Benson and Brad Hansen, 15-2, 15-9.

Finally, at the 2020 Boston Open, Carla Muñoz won Women’s Open by defeating Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-2, 11-9, in the final. In the semis, Muñoz defeated Maria Riquelme, 11-3, 11-0, and Rodriguez defeated Sheryl Lotts, 11-9, 11-9.

This week, the IRT will be in action with one of their traditional events: the 35th Annual KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. Thirty nine IRT players have registered, so it’s sure to be a great event.

2020 Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout, IRT Tier 4, March 6-8, 2020
Pueblo, Colorado

IRT Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-9, 15-6

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Adam Manilla, 15-7, 15-6
2) Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Erik Garcia, 15-7, 15-5

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 9) Matt Melster, 15-1, 15-4
4) Adam Manilla d. 5) Nicholas Riffel, 15-13, 15-3

6) Erik Garcia d. 3) David Horn, 14-15, 15-6, 3-0, injury forfeit
2) Rodrigo Montoya d. 10) Andrew Clarke, 15-3, 15-6

IRT Doubles Final

2) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. 1) Erik Garcia & David Horn, 15-12, 15-9

Semi-finals

1) Erik Garcia & David Horn d. 4) Nick Blanchard & C. J. Sanders, 15-12, 15-7
2) Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel d. 3) Luis Martinez & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-0, 15-4

2020 Arcsserve Series - Hall of Fame Tournament, IRT Tier 4, March 6-8, 2020
Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Final

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 12-15, 15-8, 11-0

Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Justus Benson, 15-2, 15-3
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-8

IRT Doubles Final

2) John Goth & Blake Hansen d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-6, 15-11

Semi-finals

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 5) Justus Benson & Brad Hansen, 15-2, 15-9
2) John Goth & Blake Hansen d. 6) Andrew Gleason & Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 9-15, 11-6

2020 Boston Open, March 6-8, 2020
Marlborough, Massachusetts

Women’s Open Final

1) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-2, 11-9

Semi-finals

1) Carla Muñoz d. 4) Maria Riquelme, 11-3, 11-0
3) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 2) Sheryl Lotts, 11-9, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Zelada, Bailey Lawrence, Portillo & Rodriguez

Mauricio Zelada won the 2020 Wintergreen Classic - a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Laurel, Maryland on the weekend. Zelada defeated Maurice Miller in the final, 15-14, 10-15, 11-0. Zelada also needed three games to win his semi-final match against Troy Warigon, winning 15-4, 9-15, 11-4. Miller beat David Austin in the other semi, 15-5, 15-7.

There were three Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) players in the Wintergreen Classic, and Kelani Bailey Lawrence came out on top, defeating both Valeria Centellas, 15-5, 15-5, and Masiel Rivera, 15-4, 15-14.

But Centellas and Miller teamed up to win the Mixed Open Doubles title, as they defeated Bailey Lawrence and Warigon in the final, 15-10, 15-12. In the semi-finals, Centellas and Miller beat Rivera and Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-14, and Bailey Lawrence and Warigon defeated Kristen Junkin and Ross Weinberg, 15-11, 15-6.

In Austin, Texas, Eduardo Portillo won Men’s Open at the 2020 Longhorn Open with a forfeit win over Mario Mercado in the final. In the semi-finals, Portillo beat Alan Natera, 8-15, 15-6, 11-6, and Mercado defeated a surprise semi-finalist, Juan Loreto, who was the 14th seed, 15-10, 4-15, 11-7.

Maria Renee Rodriguez won Women’s Open at the Longhorn Open, as she defeated Linda Tyler, 15-12, 6-15, 11-6, in the final. Rodriguez beat Shane Diaz in one semi-final, 15-2, 15-0, with Tyler defeating Annie Furr, 15-7, 15-3, in the other.

But Tyler got the better of Rodriguez in the Mixed Open Doubles final, as she and husband Garrett Tyler defeated Rodriguez and Richard Eisemann, 15-6, 15-12.

There are two pro events this coming weekend. The IRT is in action in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the Lewis Drug Pro-Am, and the LPRT will play in Greenville, South Carolina for the Sweet Caroline Open.

2020 IRT Tier 5 Wintergreen Classic, January 17-19, 2020
Laurel, Maryland

Men’s Open Final

2) Mauricio Zelada d. 1) Maurice Miller, 15-14, 10-15, 11-0

Semi-finals

1) Maurice Miller d. 4) David Austin, 15-5, 15-7.
2) Mauricio Zelada d. 3) Troy Warigon, 15-4, 9-15, 11-4

Women’s Open

1. Kelani Bailey Lawrence
2. Valeria Centellas
3. Masiel Rivera

Mixed Open Doubles Final

2) Valeria Centellas & Maurice Miller d. 1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon, 15-10, 15-12

Semi-finals

1) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon d. 5) Kristen Junkin & Ross Weinberg, 15-11, 15-6
2) Valeria Centellas & Maurice Miller d. 3) Masiel Rivera & Dylan Pruitt, 15-9, 15-14

2020 IRT Longhorn Open, January 16-19, 2020
Austin, Texas

Men’s Open Final

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Mario Mercado, forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo d. 5) Alan Natera, 8-15, 15-6, 11-6
2) Mario Mercado d. 14) Juan Loreto, 15-10, 4-15, 11-7

Men’s Open Final

1) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 2) Linda Tyler, 15-12, 6-15, 11-6

Semi-finals

1) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 5) Shane Diaz, 15-2, 15-0
2) Linda Tyler d. 6) Annie Furr, 15-7, 15-3

Mixed Open Doubles Final

2) Linda Tyler & Garrett Tyler d. 1) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Richard Eisemann, 15-6, 15-12

Semi-finals

1) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Richard Eisemann d. 4) Kanesha Madison & Eddie Vann, 15-10, 15-1
2) Linda Tyler & Garrett Tyler d. 3) Karen Grisz & Mike Grisz, 15-6, 8-15, 11-1

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Miller, Muñoz & Mendez & Miller & change at Racquetball Canada

Maurice Miller won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division at the 2019 Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland on the weekend. Miller came back from a game down in the final to defeat Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-4, 11-4.

Warigon got to the final by the narrowest win possible in the semi-finals, as he knocked off the 2nd seed Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-14, 11-10. Miller beat Thomas Gerhardt, 15-1, 15-9, in the other semi.

Miller also got the better of Warigon in the Mixed Open Doubles final, as he and Natalia Mendez defeated Warigon and Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4, in the final. But they did team up to win the Men’s Open Doubles title, as they beat David Austin and Dylan Pruitt in the final, 15-9, 15-14.

Carla Muñoz won the Women’s Open division in Laurel. She defeated Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11, in the final. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Abril Prado, 15-3, 15-8, and York defeated Amie Brewer, 15-4, 15-6.

Racquetball Canada

Last week, Racquetball Canada announced Kathy Brook will be their new Executive Director. Brook succeeds Donna Harris, and brings a wealth of experience within the Canadian sport system to the position and organization.

Racquetball Canada will begin 2020 with new people at both their staff positions with Brook as Executive Director and Jen Saunders as Administrator of High Performance and Sport Development. Saunders takes over from Geri Powell, who is retiring at the end of the year. It will be interesting to see how the organization moves forward with new people in these positions.

Looking ahead to 2020

The most significant event of 2020 will be the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships from August 14-22 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 2020 Worlds will be the qualifying event for the 2021 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.

Prior to that the annual Pan American Championships will be April 4-12 at a site still to be determined. Bolivia was mentioned as a possibility for the Pan Am Championships during the streaming of the World Junior Championships, but that’s unconfirmed as now. Yes, we’re less than four months away from the event, and we’re still not sure where it’s going to happen.

On the pro side, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be busier in the second part of the season than the first, as they have 8 events (maybe 9, as one is listed as tentative on the schedule) in 2020 compared with 5 events so far. Two of those events will be in January with the Florida Open January 9-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Sweet Caroline Open January 23-25 in Greenville, South Carolina.

The IRT will be even busier in January, as there are three events on their schedule. It will begin with the Longhorn Open January 17-19 in Austin, Texas with the 42nd Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, January 23-26, and completing the run of three events on back to back to back weekends will be the Lou Bradley Memorial in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, January 30-February 2. That will be quite the run for the players. After that there are just three other IRT events in 2020 with the season ending in Bolivia at the Open Bolivia American Iris May 13-16.

2019 Christmas Classic, December 13-15, 2019
Laurel, Maryland

IRT Singles - Final

1) Maurice Miller d. 3) Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-4, 11-4

Semi-finals

1) Maurice Miller d. 4) Thomas Gerhardt, 15-1, 15-9
3) Troy Warigon d. 2) Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-14, 11-10

Women’s Open - Final

1) Carla Muñoz d. 2) Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11

Semi-finals

1) Carla Muñoz d. 4) Abril Prado, 15-3, 15-8
2) Lexi York d. 6) Amie Brewer, 15-4, 15-6

Mixed Open Doubles - Final

1) Natalia Mendez & Maurice Miller d. 2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4

Semi-finals

1) Natalia Mendez & Maurice Miller d. 4) Joe Kelley & Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-9
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon d. 3) Samuel Kelley & Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Portillo and Muñoz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Women’s Open Final

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

Semi-Finals

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

Quarterfinals

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

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

IRT Singles Final

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

Semi-Finals

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

Quarterfinals

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

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

Men’s Open Doubles Final

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

Semi-Finals

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

Mixed Doubles Final

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

Semi-Finals

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

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up - Wins for Martell & Cubillos

In El Paso, Texas, Jaime Martell won the 3rd Bi-National Tournament - a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - by defeating Eduardo Garay in the final, 16-14, 13-15, 11-7. In the semi-finals, Martell beat Luis Renteria, 15-9, 15-5, while Garay defeated Jorge Trevino.

Set Cubillos won Men’s Open at the Arizona IRT Pro-Am in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday, as he defeated Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 15-5, in the final. In the semi-finals, Cubillos beat Francisco Troncoso, 15-5, 15-11, and Camacho defeated Anthony Martin, 15-10, 15-2.

The IRT will have the second of back to back Tier 1 events this weekend in Fullerton, California, where they’ll compete in the Los Compadres Auto Sales Open. They’ll also play doubles in Fullerton, which will have some great doubles teams and should be a fun addition to the tournament.

Coming up in November, the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) 2019 World Junior Championships will take place in San José, Costa Rica, November 8-16, and the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT’s) will play in Chicago at the LPRT Pro Am Turkey Shoot, November 22-24.

3rd Bi-National Tournament - IRT Tier 4
El Paso, Texas, October 24-27, 2019

Men’s IRT Final

2) Jaime Martell d. 1) Eduardo Garay, 16-14, 13-15, 11-7

Semi-Finals

1) Eduardo Garay d. 4) Jorge Trevino
2) Jaime Martell d. 14) Luis Renteria, 15-9, 15-5

2019 Arizona Pro-Am, October 24-27, 2019
Tempe, Arizona

Men’s Open Final

2) Set Cubillos d. 1) Felipe Camacho, 15-13, 15-5

Semi-Finals

1) Felipe Camacho d. 5) Anthony Martin, 15-10, 15-2
2) Set Cubillos d. 3) Francisco Troncoso, 15-5, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Horn wins Bay Club Classic

David Horn won the Bay Club Classic - a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - on the weekend in Pleasanton, California. Horn defeated Charlie Pratt in the final, 15-13, 15-11. In the semi-finals, Horn beat Adam Manilla, 15-13, 15-11, and Pratt defeated Jose Diaz, 15-12, 15-6.

Couple of close results in the earlier rounds. In the quarterfinals, an all left hander battle between Manilla and Robert Collins needed a tie-breaker to decide it with Manilla coming out on top, 15-3, 14-15, 11-3. Also in the Round of 16, Mauro Rojas squeaked out a win over Sebastian Fernandez, 15-11, 9-15, 11-10, which set up the quarterfinal with Pratt.

2019 Bay Club Classic - IRT Tier 4
Pleasanton, California, October 11-13, 2019

Men’s Final (seeding)

(1) David Horn d. (6) Charlie Pratt, 15-13, 15-11

Semi-finals

(1) David Horn d. (5) Adam Manilla, 15-13, 15-11
(6) Charlie Pratt d. (2) Jose Diaz, 15-12, 15-6

Quarterfinals

(1) David Horn d. (9) Christian Longoria, 15-2, 15-8
(5) Adam Manilla d. (4) Robert Collins, 15-3, 14-15, 11-3

(6) Charlie Pratt d. (14) Mauro Rojas, 15-10, 15-6
(2) Jose Diaz d. (7) Diego Garcia, 15-12, 15-11

Round of 16

(1) David Horn d. (16) Tony Jammal, 15-1, 15-1
(9) Christian Longoria d. (8) Diego Gatica, 15-1, 15-3

(5) Adam Manilla d. (21) Mitch Forrest Jr., 15-5, 15-3
(4) Robert Collins d. (20) Vedant Chauhan, 15-7, 15-12

(14) Mauro Rojas d. (3) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-11, 9-15, 11-10
(6) Charlie Pratt d. (22) Nikhil Prasad, 15-7, 15-10

(7) Diego Garcia d. (10) Francisco Troncoso, 15-7, 15-11
(2) Jose Diaz d. (18) Rafael Gatica, 15-4, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up: Wins for Natera, Riveros & Garay

Last weekend’s Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Sixth seed Alan Natera was the surprise winner, as he upset top seed Gerardo Franco in the final, 15-10, 15-5. In the semi-finals, Natera defeated 7th seed Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10, and Franco beat 5th seed Erik Garcia, 15-3, 15-7.

Natera also got the better of Franco in the Pro Mixed Doubles Final in San Antonio, as he and Monserrat Mejia defeated Franco and Paola Longoria, 15-7, 15-7. In the semis, Natera and Mejia beat Javier Estrada and Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-14, while Franco and Longoria defeated Ana Laura Flores and Raul Valadez, 15-8, 15-9.

Adriana Riveros won Women’s Open at The Battle at the Alamo, as she beat Susana Acosta, 15-12, 15-7. Both Riveros and Acosta needed three games to advance to the final, as Riveros went tie-breaker with Maria Renee Rodriguez in the semi-finals, winning 13-15, 15-4, 11-0, and Acosta hung on to upset 2nd seed Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 8-15, 11-6.

Over in Sarasota, Eduardo Garay won Men’s Open at the Florida Pro-Am, as Mike Harmon had to default in the tie-breaker of their match due to injury. Harmon had won the first game, Garay the second, and Garay was ahead in the breaker when Harmon had to call it quits, making the final scoreline, 12-15, 15-10, 5-1, injury default.

In the semi-finals, Garay defeated Mario Mercado, 11-15, 15-11, 11-2, and Harmon beat Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-12.

Garay had a chance to win both Open Singles and Doubles in Sarasota, but he and Mercado fell to David Horn and Rodrigo Montoya in the doubles final, 15-10, 15-8.

The focus of the racquetball world will be on Syosset, New York this weekend, where the Syosset Open will happen. The Syosset Open is both an IRT event and an Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event. It’s rare for both the IRT and LPRT to be at the same tournament, so it will be a special weekend. Moreover, they are playing Mixed Pro Doubles in Syosset, which should be fun.

There are 20 teams in Mixed Pro Doubles, with 21 players in the LPRT draw and 49 players in the IRT draw, making the Syosset Open one of the largest IRT’s draws this season. Play will begin on Thursday in Syosset.

2019 Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 26-28

Women’s Open Final

1) Adriana Riveros d. 6) Susana Acosta, 15-12, 15-7

Semi-finals

1) Adriana Riveros d. 5) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 13-15, 15-4, 11-0
6) Susana Acosta d. 2) Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 8-15, 11-6

Men’s IRT Final

6) Alan Natera d. 1) Gerardo Franco, 15-10, 15-5

Semi-finals

1) Gerardo Franco d. 5) Erik Garcia, 15-3, 15-7
6) Alan Natera d. 7) Alejandro Cardona, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10

Pro Mixed Doubles Final

11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria, 15-7, 15-7

Semi-finals

1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria d. 12) Ana Laura Flores & Raul Valadez, 15-8, 15-9
11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 7) Javier Estrada & Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-14

Quarterfinals

1) Gerardo Franco & Paola Longoria d. 8) Alejandro Cardona & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-4, 8-15, 11-8
12) Ana Laura Flores & Raul Valadez d. 13) Nancy Enriquez & Jesus Quevedo, 15-5, 15-11

11) Monserrat Mejia & Alan Natera d. 3) Erik Garcia & Brenda Laime, 10-15, 15-10, 11-6
7) Javier Estrada & Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Yesid Bazoberry & Adriana Riveros, 15-3, 15-5

2019 Florida Pro-Am, April 25-27
Sarasota, Florida

Men’s Open Final

3) Eduardo Garay d. 9) Mike Harmon, 12-15, 15-10, 5-1, injury default

Semi-finals

9) Mike Harmon d. 4) Andres Acuña, 15-10, 15-12
3) Eduardo Garay d. 2) Mario Mercado, 11-15, 15-11, 11-2

Quarterfinals

9) Mike Harmon d. 1) Maurice Miller, 6-15, 15-13, 11-7
4) Andres Acuña d. 21) Kadim Carrasco, 15-11, 15-10

3) Eduardo Garay d. 11) Justus Benson, forfeit
2) Mario Mercado d. 10) Set Cubillos, 15-3, 15-1

Men’s Open Doubles Final

2) David Horn & Rodrigo Montoya d. 1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado, 15-10, 15-8

Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado d. 4) Eduardo Portillo & Oscar Nieto, 15-13, 14-15, 11-7
2) David Horn & Rodrigo Montoya d. 6) Dylan Pruitt & Kyle Ulliman, 15-3, 15-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up - Wins for Lotts & Kukoyi

Sheryl Lotts won Women’s Open at the 2019 Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina on the weekend. Lotts defeated Cristina Amaya in the final, 15-9, 7-15, 11-10. In the semi-finals, Lotts beat Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 15-8, while Amaya won a tie-breaker with Hollie Scott, 15-9, 14-15, 11-9. Lotts’s win capped a strong weekend for her, as she played well in the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) doubles division with Rhonda Rajsich, losing in two close games to eventual event winners Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas. Lotts also had a close match versus Rajsich in LPRT singles.

Conversely, Amaya had a disappointing weekend in Greenville, as she lost in the LPRT to Scott, also in a tie-breaker. Then she and Adriana Riveros lost their first match in doubles to Lotts and Rajsich in two games.

International Racquetball Tour

There was an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event on the weekend also. The 2019 Atlanta Singles & Regional Doubles Championships were held in Lilburn, Georgia, and it was a Tier 5 IRT event. Fifth seed Bolaji Kukoyi won the event by defeating 3rd seed Alex Kerr in the final, 15-7, 12-15, 11-8.

National Racquetball

The focus will shift to national events over the next two weekends, as Racquetball Canada’s National Team Selection Event - the 2nd of the season - will happen in Grande Prairie, Alberta this coming weekend. The next weekend will be the USA Racquetball National Doubles in Tempe, Arizona, February 6-10.

2019 Sweet Caroline Open
Greenville, South Carolina - January 25-27, 2019

Women’s Open - Final

Sheryl Lotts d. Cristina Amaya, 15-9, 7-15, 11-10

Semi-finals

Cristina Amaya d. Hollie Scott, 15-9, 14-15, 11-9
Sheryl Lotts d. Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 15-8

Quarterfinals

Cristina Amaya d. Cassi Lee, 15-1, 15-0
Hollie Scott d. Adrienne Haynes, 13-15, 15-3, 11-1
Sheryl Lotts d. Susana Acosta, 7-15, 15-14, 11-2
Sharon Jackson d. Cecilia Pratt, 15-10, 15-6

2019 Atlanta Singles & Regional Doubles Championships
IRT Tier 5, Lilburn, Georgia - January 25-27, 2019

IRT - Final

Bolaji Kukoyi d. Alex Kerr, 15-7, 12-15, 11-8

Semi-finals

Bolaji Kukoyi d. Michael Arterburn, 15-0, 15-0
Alex Kerr d. Marco Mijares, 1-15, 15-13, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Horn & Amaya win in Illinois

David Horn won the 2018 Turkey Shoot Open - a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Lombard, Illinois on the weekend by defeating Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 15-8, 13-15, 11-3. Horn beat Geoff Goldblatt, 15-3, 15-9, in one semi-final, while Bredenbeck defeated Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-6, in the other.

Cristina Amaya won the Women’s Open division of the Turkey Shoot, as she got an injury forfeit win over Adriana Riveros in the final. In the semi-finals, Amaya defeated Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-14, 5-15, 11-0, and Riveros beat Valeria Centellas in two close games, 15-10, 15-14.

Centellas’s performance in Illinois was impressive, as she was coming off a week of racquetball at the 2018 World Junior Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where she won gold in both Girl’s U16 Singles and Doubles. In Women’s Open at the Turkey Shoot, she beat Sharon Jackson and Lexi York before falling to Riveros in two close games.

It’s Thanksgiving in the USA this week, so no big tournaments there. But the 1st Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season will happen in Valleyfield, Québec this weekend.

2018 Turkey Shoot, November 16-18, 2018
Lombard, Illinois

Women’s Open Final

1) Cristina Amaya d. 2) Adriana Riveros, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Cristina Amaya d. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-14, 5-15, 11-0
2) Adriana Riveros d. 14) Valeria Centellas, 15-10, 15-14

Quarterfinals

1) Cristina Amaya d. 9) Susana Acosta, 15-10, 15-7
5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 4) Sheryl Lotts, 12-15, 15-9, 11-0
14) Valeria Centellas d. 11) Lexi York, 15-14, 15-9
2) Adriana Riveros d. 7) Stefanny Barrios, 12-15, 15-12, 11-6

Men’s Pro Singles - Final

1) David Horn d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 13-15, 11-3

Semi-finals

1) David Horn d. 4) Geoff Goldblatt, 15-3, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

2018 Costa Rica Open - Wins by Horn, Parrilla & Camacho & Mercado

David Horn won the Costa Rica Open - a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - on the weekend in San Jose, Costa Rica. Horn beat Alvaro Beltran, 15-4, 15-6, in the final. In the semi-finals, Horn upset top seed Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 12-15, 11-7, and Beltran defeated Mario Mercado, 15-4, 15-9.

In the Men’s Open division, Andree Parrilla was the winner, and he beat both Horn and Beltran to it. Parrilla got the better of Horn in the quarterfinals, 15-7, 15-5, and Beltran in the semis, 15-11, 15-14. In the final Parrilla beat Andres Acuña, 12-15, 15-10, 11-3.

Felipe Camacho and Mario Mercado won the Men’s Open Doubles division, and they beat Beltran and Landa, 15-11, 15-9, in the final. In the semi-finals, Camacho and Mercado needed a tie-breaker to get past Horn and Parrilla, 6-15, 15-8, 11-6, while Beltran and Landa defeated Ramon De Leon and Luis Perez in two straight games, 15-9, 15-7.

Coming up this week is the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Georgia Open, May 18-20, in Lilburn, Georgia. Then the Canadian Racquetball Championships will begin on Sunday, May 20. They play doubles for the first three days, and then singles from Wednesday to Saturday. Finally, the USA Racquetball National Singles Championships begins next week on May 23 in Pleasanton, California.

2018 Costa Rica Open - IRT Tier 3, May 9-12, 2018
San Jose, Costa Rica

IRT Final

David Horn d. Alvaro Beltran, 15-4, 15-6

IRT Semi-finals

David Horn d. Alejandro Landa, 15-12, 12-15, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Mario Mercado, 15-4, 15-9

IRT Quarterfinals

Alejandro Landa d. Andres Acuña, 10-15, 15-6, 11-2
David Horn d. Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 15-8
Mario Mercado Felipe Camacho, 15-8, 15-1
Alvaro Beltran d. Justus Benson, 9-15, 15-6, 11-5

Men’s Open Final

Andree Parrilla d. Andres Acuña, 12-15, 15-10, 11-3

Men’s Open Semi-finals

Andres Acuña d. Maykel Moyet Suarez, 15-5, 15-6
Andree Parrilla d. Alvaro Beltran, 15-11, 15-14

Men’s Open Quarterfinals

Maykel Moyet Suarez d. Justus Benson, 15-9, 15-3
Andres Acuña d. Felipe Camacho, 15-9, 14-15, 11-5
Alvaro Beltran d. Mario Mercado, 15-9, 15-14
Andree Parrilla d. David Horn, 15-7, 15-5

Men’s Open Doubles - Final

Felipe Camacho & Mario Mercado d. Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 15-9

Men’s Open Doubles - Semi-finals

Alvaro Beltran & Alejandro Landa d. Ramon De Leon & Luis Perez, 15-9, 15-7
Felipe Camacho & Mario Mercado d. David Horn & Andree Parrilla, 6-15, 15-8, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up: Wins for De La Rosa, Parrilla & Muñoz

Daniel De La Rosa defeated Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 15-12, to win the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) on the weekend. In the semi-finals, De La Rosa beat Javier Mar, 14-15, 15-5, 11-3, and Parrilla defeated David Horn, 12-15, 15-12, 11-8.

Parrilla did win Men’s Open with an injury forfeit decision over Mar. In the semis, Parrilla defeated Eduardo Portillo, 14-15, 15-13, 11-1, and Mar beat John Rhodes, 15-2, 15-6.

Carla Muñoz won Women’s Open in San Antonio by defeating Lucia Gonzalez in the final, 15-6, 15-10. But the big win in Women’s Open was Yasmine Sabja taking out Cristina Amaya, who was the 2nd seed, in the first round, 15-11, 15-14.

Finally in San Antonio, Daniel De La Rosa did perhaps the most dangerous thing in racquetball: he played doubles with his wife. But it worked out for him and Michelle De La Rosa (née Key), as they won Mixed Doubles by coming back from a game down to defeat Paola Longoria and Edson Martinez, 13-15, 15-7, 11-3.

The big event this week is the last event of the 2017-18 IRT season: the Florida IRT Regional Championships in Sarasota, April 26-29. And, yes, Kane Waselenchuk is entered. So, fingers crossed that he’ll play.

2018 Battle at the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas - April 20-22, 2018

IRT Singles - Final

Daniel De La Rosa d. Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 15-12

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

Daniel De La Rosa d. Javier Mar, 14-15, 15-5, 11-3
Andree Parrilla d. David Horn, 12-15, 15-12, 11-8

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals

Daniel De La Rosa d. Erik Mendoza, 15-7, 15-3
Javier Mar d. Alejandro Almada, 15-3, 15-6
David Horn d. Edson Martinez, 15-13, 9-15, 11-10
Andree Parrilla d. Eduardo Portillo, 15-10, 15-9

Men’s Singles - Final

Andree Parrilla d. Javier Mar, injury forfeit

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals

Andree Parrilla d. Eduardo Portillo, 14-15, 15-13, 11-1
Javier Mar d. John Rhodes, 15-2, 15-6

Women’s Singles - Final

Carla Muñoz d. Lucia Gonzalez, 15-6, 15-10

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals

Carla Muñoz d. Diana Aguilar, 15-10, 15-11
Lucia Gonzalez d. Yasmine Sabja, 4-15, 15-4, 11-9

Mixed Doubles - Final

Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa d. Paola Longoria & Edson Martinez, 13-15, 15-7, 11-3

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals

Daniel De La Rosa & Michelle De La Rosa d. Daniel Bautista & Lucia Gonzalez, 15-3, 15-10
Paola Longoria & Edson Martinez d. Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Diaz & Murray and Bredenbeck does the double in Pueblo

Jose Diaz and Samuel Murray won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Future Doubles event on the weekend at the IRT March Madness tournament in San Antonio, Texas. They got a walkover win against Felipe Camacho and Alejandro Landa in the final, presumably because Landa was spent after his singles final with Sebastian Franco.

Diaz and Murray beat Adam Manilla and Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-3, in the semi-finals, while Camacho and Landa got a forfeit win over Franco and Mario Mercado. Franco likely saved himself for the final, which in retrospect seems like it was a good idea, as he won his first IRT title over Landa Saturday.

Juan Salvatierra took the Men’s Open title in San Antonio by coming back from a game down to defeat Francisco Troncoso in a tie-breaker, 9-15, 15-10, 11-2. In the semi-Finals, Salvatierra beat Edwin Galicia, 15-10, 15-7, and Troncoso defeated Erik Mendoza, 15-3, 15-3.

Also on the weekend, Jake Bredenbeck won the IRT Tier 4 Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout in Pueblo, Colorado. In the final, Bredenbeck pulled out a tie-breaker versus Ben Croft, who continues his return to tournament play, 15-14, 12-15, 11-3. In the semi-finals, Croft knocked off top seed David Horn, 15-8, 15-10, and Bredenbeck beat Justus Benson, 15-10, 15-4.

Bredenbeck and Horn took the IRT Doubles title over Croft and Matt Meister, 15-6, 15-9. In those semi-Finals, Bredenbeck and Horn beat Lukas Le and Aaron Booker, 15-9, 15-7, while Croft and Meister defeated Benson and Erik Garcia, 15-10, 15-3.

This week the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be in action at the 2018 LPRT Peachtree Open in Atlanta.

2018 IRT March Madness, March 1-4, 2018
San Antonio, Texas

IRT Future Doubles Final

Jose Diaz & Samuel Murray d. Felipe Camacho & Alejandro Landa, forfeit

Semi-Finals

Jose Diaz & Samuel Murray d. Adam Manilla & Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-3
Felipe Camacho & Alejandro Landa d. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, forfeit

Men’s Open Final

Juan Salvatierra d. Francisco Troncoso, 9-15, 15-10, 11-2

Semi-Finals

Francisco Troncoso d. Erik Mendoza, 15-3, 15-3
Juan Salvatierra d. Edwin Galicia, 15-10, 15-7

Quarterfinals

Francisco Troncoso d. Hanzel Martinez, 15-9, 15-12
Erik Mendoza d. Lorenzo Valdez, 14-15, 15-7, 11-1
Juan Salvatierra d. Brennen Jennings, 14-15, 15-12, 11-7
Edwin Galicia d. Christian Wer, 14-15, 15-14, 11-8

2018 IRT Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout, March 2-4, 2018
Pueblo, Colorado

IRT Singles Final

Jake Bredenbeck d. Ben Croft, 15-14, 12-15, 11-3

Semi-Finals

Ben Croft d. David Horn, 15-8, 15-10
Jake Bredenbeck d. Justus Benson, 15-10, 15-4

Quarterfinals

David Horn d. Aaron Booker, 15-4, 15-8
Ben Croft d. Erik Garcia, 15-11, 15-7
Justus Benson d. Matt Meister, 15-11, 15-11
Jake Bredenbeck d. Lukas Le, 15-4, 15-6

IRT Doubles Final

Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn d. Ben Croft & Matt Meister, 15-6, 15-9

Semi-Finals

Jake Bredenbeck & David Horn d. Lukas Le & Aaron Booker, 15-9, 15-7
Ben Croft & Matt Meister d. Justus Benson & Erik Garcia, 15-10, 15-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up - Wins for Croft & Connell

Remember Ben Croft? Formerly in the top three of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT)? Has won three US Open Doubles titles with Kane Waselenchuk? Well, he’s still playing, and playing singles.

On the weekend, Croft was in the 2018 Atlanta Singles tournament - a Tier 5 IRT event - in Lilburn, Georgia, where he won a five player round robin without giving up more than six points in any one game (to 15). Overall, Croft surrendered 7 points per match on average in winning the event.

David Stincer came second and Jimmy Lan was third.

Also on the weekend, Lee Connell won the 44th Annual Keystone Classic in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Connell defeated Trevor Webb in the final, 15-10, 11-15, 11-7. Ian Frattinger beat Kirby Shwaykosky, 15-6, 15-8 for third place. Connell and Frattinger won the Keystone doubles title with Matthew Kushnir and Logan Strand coming second in a five team round robin.

Coming Up

The next IRT event is the San Antonio March Madness, March 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas. The next event on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is the 2018 LPRT Peachtree Open in Atlanta, Georgia, March 9-11. The World Racquetball Tour (WRT) will also be in action March 9-11 in Fridley Minnesota with the Life Time Series - Fridley event.

2018 IRT Atlanta Singles
Lilburn, Georgia - February 10-11, 2018

Men’s Open - Final Standings

1. Ben Croft - 4-0
2. David Stincer - 3-1
3. Jimmy Lan - 2-2
4. Marco Mijares - 1-3
5. Todd Upchurch - 0-4

44th Annual Keystone Classic
Winnipeg, Manitoba - February 10-12, 2018

Men’s Open - Final

Lee Connell d. Trevor Webb, 15-10, 11-15, 11-7

Men’s Open - 3rd place

Ian Frattinger d. Kirby Shwaykosky, 15-6, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Beltran wins 20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

Alvaro Beltran won Men’s Open at the 20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. The “Lou” as it’s affectionally known is a Tier 2 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Beltran beat Jansen Allen in the final, 14-15, 15-2, 11-7.

In the semi-finals, Beltran defeated Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-6, while Allen squeaked out a tie-breaker over Mario Mercado, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10. Allen trailed 10-3 to Mercado in the breaker, yet managed to come back to win.

Coming Up

The USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship begins this week in Tempe, Arizona, February 7-11. Also, there’s a new Tier 1 event on the IRT calendar: San Antonio March Madness, March 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas.

20th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin - February 2-4, 2018

Men’s Open - Final

Alvaro Beltran d. Jansen Allen, 14-15, 15-2, 11-7

Men’s Open - Semi-finals

Alvaro Beltran d. Gerardo Franco, 15-14, 15-6
Jansen Allen d. Mario Mercado, 15-10, 10-15, 11-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Muñoz & Monchik

Carla Muñoz won Women’s Open at the Sweet Caroline Open in Greenville, South Carolina on the weekend by defeating Susana Acosta, 15-2, 15-12, in the final. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 15-8, and Acosta defeated Kelani Bailey, 15-4, 15-12.

Charlie Pratt won the Men’s Open title in Greenville by defeating Maurice Miller in the final, 15-8, 15-11. Pratt got to the final with a win over Thomas Gerhardt in one semi, 15-13, 15-10, while Miller defeated Allan Crockett, 15-7, 15-5, in the other.

Minot Open

Over in Minot, North Dakota, Sudsy Monchik won the Minot Open, a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour by defeating Lee Connell in the final, 15-7, 15-8. In the semis, Monchik beat Brian Knowles, 15-7, 15-5, and Connell defeated Justin Johnson, 15-6, 15-0.

Monchik also won Men’s Doubles in Minot with Justin Johnson, as they defeated Connell and Tanner Prentice, 15-9, 15-8, in the final. Monchik and Johnson beat John Koch and Nic Koch, 15-8, 15-5, in the semi-finals, while Connell and Prentice defeated Jeff Jackson and Brian Knowles, 15-6, 15-11.

Coming Up

National tournaments will take center stage the next two weekends. Racquetball Canada has its 2nd National Team Selection Event of the season in Kitchener, Ontario this weekend, February 2-4, while the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship happens in Tempe, Arizona, February 7-11.

2018 Sweet Caroline Open
Greenville, South Carolina - January 25-28, 2018

Women’s Open - Final

Carla Muñoz d. Susana Acosta, 15-2, 15-12

Women’s Open - Semi-finals

Carla Muñoz d. Sharon Jackson, 15-5, 15-8
Susana Acosta d. Kelani Bailey, 15-4, 15-12

Women’s Open - Quarterfinals

Carla Muñoz d. Nancy Enriquez, forfeit
Sharon Jackson d. Brenda Laime, 15-7, 15-1

Susana Acosta d. Jen Saunders, 11-15, 15-7, 11-10
Kelani Bailey d. Maria Renee Rodriquez, 15-13, 15-5

Men’s Open - Final

Charlie Pratt d. Maurice Miller, 15-8, 15-11

Men’s Open - Semi-finals

Charlie Pratt d. Thomas Gerhardt, 15-13, 15-10
Maurice Miller d. Allan Crockett, 15-7, 15-5

2018 Minot Open
Minot, North Dakota - January 26-28, 2018

Men’s Open - Final

Sudsy Monchik d. Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-8

Men’s Open - Semi-finals

Sudsy Monchik d. Brian Knowles, 15-7, 15-5
Lee Connell d. Justin Johnson, 15-6, 15-0

Men’s Open Doubles - Final

Sudsy Monchik & Justin Johnson d. Lee Connell & Tanner Prentice, 15-9, 15-8

Men’s Open Doubles - 3rd Place

Jeff Jackson & Brian Knowles d. John Koch & Nic Koch, 15-9, 15-11

Men’s Open Doubles - Semi-finals

Sudsy Monchik & Justin Johnson d. John Koch & Nic Koch, 15-8, 15-5
Lee Connell & Tanner Prentice d. Jeff Jackson & Brian Knowles, 15-6, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Beltran and the Longorias win in Tijuana

Alvaro Beltran won the Men’s Open division at the Torneo Milenio - a Tier 5 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Tijuana, Mexico Sunday. Beltran defeated Sebastian Fernandez in the final, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3. In the semi-finals, both Beltran and Fernandez fought back from 2-1 down to win in five games, and both won the breaker 11-0.

Beltran beat Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, and Fernandez defeated Christian Longoria, 11-1, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-0.

Longoria teamed up with his sister Paola Longoria to win the Men’s Open Doubles division by beating German Garcia and Victor Moncada, 15-7, 15-11, in the final. In the semi-finals, the Longorias defeated Sebastian Fernandez and Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-6, 15-11, while Garcia and Moncada got by Beltran and Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-12.

The IRT kicks off its 2017-18 season next weekend in Canoga Park, California with the 2017 Phase IV Scientific Health & Performance Pro Am September 7-10.

2017 Torneo Milenio, August 23-27, 2017
Tijuana, Mexico

Men’s Open Final

Alvaro Beltran d. Sebastian Fernandez, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3

Semi-Finals

Alvaro Beltran d. Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0
Sebastian Fernandez d. Christian Longoria, 11-1, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-0

Men’s Open Doubles - Final

Christian Longoria & Paola Longoria d. German Garcia & Victor Moncada, 15-7, 15-11

Semi-Finals

Christian Longoria & Paola Longoria d. Sebastian Fernandez & Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 15-6, 15-11
German Garcia & Victor Moncada d. Alvaro Beltran & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-12

Follow the bouncing ball….

Parrilla wins twice, Muñoz once at 2017 Battle at the Alamo

Andree Parrilla was a double winner on the weekend at the 2017 Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, as he won both the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division, as well as the Men’s Open division. In the IRT final he defeated Bradly Rogers in four games, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4, 11-4, while he got the better of Edson Martinez over three games, 13-15, 15-3, 11-6.

In the IRT semi-finals, Parrilla defeated Javier Mar, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, and Rogers beat Martinez, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4. Curiously, Martinez beat Rogers in the quarterfinals of Men’s Open, 15-7, 15-3. In the Men’s Open semis, Parrilla beat Eduardo Garay, 15-5, 15-6, and Martinez defeated Alejandro Almada, 15-7, 9-15, 11-3.

Also in San Antonio, Carla Muñoz won Women’s Open with a walkover win against Lucia Gonzalez in the final. In the semi-finals, Carla Muñoz beat Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-9, and Gonzalez defeated Adrienne Haynes, 15-11, 9-15, 11-7.

IRT Season Ending

This week the 2016-17 IRT season comes to a close with the Florida IRT Pro-Am in Sarasota, April 27-30. The season was going to close in Portland with the Tournament of Champions, but that event has been postponed.

2017 Battle at the Alamo, April 21-23, 2017
San Antonio, Texas

Men’s IRT Final

Andree Parrilla d. Bradly Rogers, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4, 11-4

Semi-finals

Andree Parrilla d. Javier Mar, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5
Bradly Rogers d. Edson Martinez, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4

Men’s Open - Final

Andree Parrilla d. Edson Martinez, 13-15, 15-3, 11-6

Semi-finals

Andree Parrilla d. Eduardo Garay, 15-5, 15-6
Edson Martinez d. Alejandro Almada, 15-7, 9-15, 11-3

Women’s Open - Final

Carla Muñoz d. Lucia Gonzalez, forfeit

Semi-finals

Lucia Gonzalez d. Adrienne Haynes, 15-11, 9-15, 11-7
Carla Muñoz d. Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Wins for Reid & Goedker

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

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

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

2017 WRT Mt Rainier Open
Seattle, Washington

WRT Consolation Final

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

Semi-finals

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

Motor City Rollout - IRT Tier 5
Mt Clemens, Michigan

Final

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

Semi-finals

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

Follow the bouncing ball….

Carson wins 19th Annual Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am

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

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

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

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

Final

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

Semi-finals

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

Quarterfinals

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

Round of 16

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

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

Follow the bouncing ball….