There will be a new LPRT #1 for first time in 11 seasons

For the first time in 11 seasons, there will be a new #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). Montserrat Mejia will be #1 after this weekend’s 2023 LPRT Battle at the Beach Season Finale in Norfolk, Virginia, as she won her semi-final match against Angelica Barrios, 15-3, 13-15, 11-1, and Paola Longoria, who has been #1 for 11 seasons, lost her semi-final match against Maria Jose Vargas, 15-14, 15-12. Those results mean Mejia will finish ahead of Longoria in the season ending rankings, regardless of whether she wins the final against Vargas on Saturday.

Longoria’s loss denies fans a Longoria-Mejia final, which would have been a showdown for the #1 ranking. However, full credit to Vargas, who has been ranked as high as #2 in previous seasons, but has only played the second half of the season after having her third child last year. It was Vargas's second win over Longoria on tour this season, and third in 2023, as she also defeated Longoria at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Guatemala.

If Vargas wins Saturday, she would be the fifth player to win on tour this season after Longoria, Mejia, Alexandra Herrera and Gabriela Martinez. This is the first season since 2007-08 with four winners (then Cheryl Gudinas, Rhonda Rajsich, Christie Van Hees & Longoria), which is why this season has been so interesting, and it speaks to the quality of the players on tour now.

There have never been five winners in a women’s pro racquetball season.

Mejia had two tough matches Friday to get to the final. She defeated Carla Muñoz in two straight games, but the match lasted almost 90 min. Then Mejia needed three games to fend off Barrios, as Barrios fought back to eke out the second game after Mejia was lights out in the first game. In the breaker, Mejia was again lights out, moving very well, and hitting unretrievable shots.

The Longoria-Vargas match was a slug fest with both players hitting great shots. Longoria was ahead 11-6 in game one, but Vargas got within two at 11-9 and then caught up at 12-12 and went ahead 13-12. Longoria hit a drive serve ace to the left side to tie it at 13-13.

But a couple rallies later, Longoria skipped a serve return that put Vargas on game point at 14-13. A Longoria backhand denied that game point. Vargas appealed that the shot skipped but the line judges upheld the good shot call.

A Longoria kiss lob serve went for a winner, as Vargas couldn’t return it, which tied the score 14-14. However, Vargas made no mistake with an opportunity on the next rally hitting a powerful forehand winner to the left side. She won it on the ensuing rally, as Longoria skipped a shot to end game one at 15-14.

Vargas stormed out to a 5-0 lead in game two, so Longoria called a timeout. Longoria did comeback and tie it at 7-7, which resulted in a Vargas timeout. That led to Vargas regaining the lead at 8-7, and she held that lead for the rest of the game.

Indeed, Longoria didn’t get within two of Vargas after that. A drive serve ace to the left side - Longoria’s backhand - put Vargas on match point at 14-11. A Longoria backhand winner kept the match going, and then she hit a nice forehand rekill to make it 14-12.

On the next rally, Vargas hit a backhand cross court winner to get herself a second match point opportunity, and she converted it. Vargas drove serve to the left, and Longoria hit a backhand pinch return that Vargas crouched down to get to, hitting a forehand winner from one knee to win game two, 15-12, and defeat Longoria in two straight games, which denies her the #1 LPRT ranking.

The singles final is Saturday at 4 PM, but there are doubles semi-finals Saturday morning at 10 and 11 with the doubles final at 6 PM Saturday. All time EDT.

You can watch the LPRT Season Finale by going to the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Beach Season Finale
Norfolk, Virginia - June 15-17, 2023

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Jessica Parrilla, 15-4, 15-8
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 13) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 15-1

6) Angelica Barrios d. 14) Valeria Centellas, 15-13, 15-8
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-12

LPRT Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-14, 15-12
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Angelica Barrios, 15-3, 13-15, 11-1

LPRT Singles - Final - Saturday

2) Montserrat Mejia v. 12) Maria Jose Vargas - 4 PM

LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Gabriela Martinez & Maricruz Ortiz d. 9) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-4, 15-4

5) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
4) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Kelani Lawrence & Erika Manilla - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Susana Acosta & Valeria Centellas d. Sunshine Arterburn & Grace Ratley, 15-2, 15-3
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

LPRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8) Gabriela Martinez & Maricruz Ortiz, 15-7, 0-15, 11-1
5) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 4) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla, 15-13, 15-0

3) Kelani Lawrence & Erika Manilla d. 6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 15-6, 15-14
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Susana Acosta & Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-11

LPRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 11 AM
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 3) Kelani Lawrence & Erika Manilla - 10 AM

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2023 LPRT Battle at the Beach Season Finale begins

One of the most interesting Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) seasons winds up this weekend in Norfolk, Virginia where 22 players - including the top 14 players - are competing in the 2023 LPRT Battle at the Beach Season Finale. This season is so interesting, because Montserrat Mejia has raised her game, and won 4 events, having only won once previously. Four wins is one more than Paola Longoria has won this season. Longoria has been the #1 LPRT player for 11 consecutive seasons, yet may not be next week.

Longoria is still #1 currently, but she’s only 70 ranking points ahead of Mejia in #2. Moreover, Mejia is actually ahead in season to date ranking points by 26, so Longoria needs to finish better than Mejia this weekend, if she is going to be #1 yet again.

The season has also been interesting, because Longoria and Mejia haven’t been the only two winners on tour. Alexandra Herrera and Gabriela Martinez have also won titles. In fact, Martinez won the last LPRT event in South Carolina.

So, while there is a race for #1, which there really hasn’t been for over a decade, the players in that race have only met three times this season. Longoria defeated Mejia in the first event of the season last August, but it was an 11-10 tie-breaker win. Then in the fall, Mejia beat Longoria in a breaker in Lombard, Illinois. Mejia followed that up by defeating Longoria in two straight games at the Christmas Classic.

That was their last meeting, so they haven’t met in over six months. If they meet in the final on Saturday, it will be for for #1.

Play began on Thursday, and already there is intrigue, as half of the top eight seeds failed to make the quarterfinals. But both Longoria and Mejia won their Round of 16 matches by comfortable margins. Longoria beat 16th seed Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-0, and Mejia defeated veteran Cristina Amaya, 15-2, 15-4.

Next up for Longoria will be 9th seed Jessica Parrilla, who won the 8/9 match with 8th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-10,15-8. If Longoria wins that, then she’ll face either Maria Jose Vargas, who has beaten her this season, or Kelani Lawrence, who had an impressive win over LPRT #4 Erika Manilla, 15-3, 15-7. Vargas advanced by coming back to defeat LPRT #5 Brenda Laime, 10-15, 15-8, 11-5.

Mejia plays LPRT #7 Carla Muñoz in the quarterfinals, as Muñoz defeated LPRT #10 Samantha Salas, 14-15, 15-5, 11-9. A win there, and then Mejia would face either #6 Angelica Barrios or #14 Valeria Centellas, who took out LPRT #3 Alexandra Herrera in two straight games, 15-13, 15-10. Barrios denied Martinez’s chance for back to back LPRT wins with a 15-14, 7-15, 11-5, victory.

Thus, while a Longoria v. Mejia final would a fitting end to the 2022-23 LPRT season, that is by no means guaranteed.

The singles quarterfinals are Friday morning with the semi-finals Friday afternoon and final Saturday at 4 PM. The doubles starts Friday at noon with two Round of 16 matches, and then the quarters will be Friday evening. The doubles semis will be Saturday morning at 10 and 11 with the final Saturday night at 6 PM.

You can watch the LPRT Season Finale by going to the LPRT YouTube channel or their Facebook page.

2023 LPRT Battle at the Beach Season Finale - Norfolk, Virginia
June 15-17, 2023

LPRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 17) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-0, 15-0

9) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
8) Natalia Mendez - BYE

5) Brenda Laime - BYE
12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 21) Jazmin Aguilar, 15-0, 15-2

13) Kelani Lawrence d. 20) Maricruz Ortiz, 15-9, 15-2
4) Erika Manilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
14) Valeria Centellas d. 14) Susana Acosta, 15-5, 15-2

11) Gabriela Martinez d. 22) Anna Aguilar, 15-1, 15-4
6) Angelica Barrios - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz - BYE
10) Samantha Salas - BYE

15) Cristina Amaya d. 18) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-8, 15-11
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

LPRT Singles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-0
9) Jessica Parrilla d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 15-10,15-8

12) Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Brenda Laime, 10-15, 15-8, 11-5
13) Kelani Lawrence d. 4) Erika Manilla, 15-3, 15-7

14) Valeria Centellas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 15-13, 15-10
6) Angelica Barrios d. 11) Gabriela Martinez, 15-14, 7-15, 11-5

7) Carla Muñoz d. 10) Samantha Salas, 14-15, 15-5, 11-9
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 15) Cristina Amaya, 15-2, 15-4

LPRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Jessica Parrilla - 11 AM
12) Maria Jose Vargas v. 13) Kelani Lawrence - 11 AM

6) Angelica Barrios v. 14) Valeria Centellas - 10 AM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 7) Carla Muñoz - 10 AM

LPRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
8) Gabriela Martinez & Maricruz Ortiz v. 9) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme - Noon

5) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
4) Carla Muñoz & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Kelani Lawrence & Erika Manilla - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Susana Acosta & Valeria Centellas v. Sunshine Arterburn & Grace Ratley - Noon
2) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Countries qualifying for 2023 Pan Am Games & 2023 Central American & Caribbean Games

The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) has officially released the list of qualifying countries for the 2023 Pan American Games and 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games. These games are both quadrennial events, so they happen every four years, and are part of the Olympic cycle of events that lead up to an Olympics.

The 2023 Pan Am Games will be held in Santiago, Chile, and the 2023 Central American Games will be in San Salvador, El Salvador. Countries qualified based on their performances at the 2023 Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala in April.

Usually, the Central American and Caribbean Games are held the year before the Pan Am Games, as the former is supposed to be a building block to the latter, which is supposed to be a building block to the Olympics, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to Panama - the original host of the 2022 Central American and Caribbean Games - pulling out of hosting. That necessitated a search for a new host, and a one year delay in the games.

San Salvador, El Salvador was chosen as the new host for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, but seven sports are being played in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, due to a lack of venues in El Salvador. Racquetball - along with tae kwon do, modern pentathlon, equestrian, canoeing, shooting and field hockey - will be played in the Dominican.

The countries that qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games are:

Men’s teams - 1) Chile (as host), 2) Bolivia, 3) Mexico, 4) United States, 5) Argentina, 6) Costa Rica, 7) Canada, 8) Ecuador, 9) Guatemala, 10) Cuba

Women’s teams - 1) Chile (as host), 2) Mexico, 3) Argentina, 4) Bolivia, 5) Guatemala, 6) United States, 7) Colombia, 8) Ecuador, 9) Costa Rica, 10) Canada

The first four qualifiers can send 3 athletes, and the next four countries can send 2 athletes to Chile. So, for example, the United States can send 3 men and 2 women, while Argentina can send 3 women and 2 men.

The countries that qualified for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games are:

Men’s teams - 1) Dominican Republic (as host), 2) Mexico, 3) Costa Rica, 4) Guatemala, 5) Cuba, 6) Honduras, 7) Colombia, 8) Puerto Rico

Women’s teams - 1) Dominican Republic (as host), 2) Mexico, 3) Guatemala, 4) Colombia, 5) Costa Rica, 6) Cuba, 7) Honduras, 8) Puerto Rico

Countries may be able to send more athletes than under the rules for the Pan Am Games. Again, under those rules, the first four qualifiers can send 3 athletes, and the next four countries can send 2 athletes to the Dominican. So, for example, Costa Rica can send 3 men and 2 women, while Colombia can send 3 women and 2 men. But as it’s a smaller games, perhaps more athletes can be selected to go.

The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games will be held from June 23 to July 8, with the racquetball competition taking place from June 24 to July 1 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 2023 Pan American Games will take place October 20 to November 5 with racquetball tentatively scheduled to take place at the start of the games: October 20-26.

Below is a summary of who made the podium at the 2023 Pan American Championships to refresh your memory. Also, if you want to see any of the finals from those championships (as well as some matches from earlier in the tournament), check out the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Medalist Summary

Women’s Singles

Gold - Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
Silver - María José Vargas (Argentina)
Bronze - Natalia Mendez (Argentina) and Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

Men's Singles

Gold - Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Silver - Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Bronze - Jake Bredenbeck (USA) and Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Women's Doubles

Gold - Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
Silver - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Bronze - Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) and Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia)

Men's Doubles

Gold - Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
Silver - Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Bronze - Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) and Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)

Mixed Doubles

Gold - Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Silver - Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
Bronze - Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) and Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Follow the bouncing ball….