The Racquetball Blog

IRT - 2012 San Diego Open QFs

2012-02-25T09:21:00.001-06:00

Two of the players who made it through the qualifying rounds of the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2012 San Diego Open have made it to the semi-finals. For one of those players, Tony Carson, it's his first career semi-final, while for the other, Alvaro Beltran, it's his second consecutive semi-final, as he also got to the semis earlier this month in Salt Lake City.

Carson reached the semis with wins over Charlie Pratt, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, in the Round of 16 and Alex Landa, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10, in the quarter finals, while Beltran defeated Andy Hawthorne in the 16s, 10-12, 11-5, 11-0, 5-11, 11-9, before ending Ben Croft's winning streak at 5 matches, with a four game victory in the quarter finals, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8.

Tony Carson will face 4th seed Jose Rojas, who had a relatively easy path to the semis with two straight game victories over Juan Herrera in the 16s, 11-9, 11-2, 11-1, and Javier Moreno in the quarters, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4.

Beltran is up against IRT #2 Rocky Carson (no relation to Tony Carson), who advanced to the semis with wins over Colin Mohr, 11-0, 11-4, 11-2, in the Round of 16 and Shane Vanderson in the quarter finals, 11-5, 11-2, fft.

The IRT Network will be web-cast the San Diego Open semi-finals on Saturday beginning at 4:00 PM PST.

2012 San Diego Open - San Diego, California

Quarter finals

Tony Carson d. Alex Landa, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-10

Jose Rojas d. Javier Moreno, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4

Alvaro Beltran d. Ben Croft, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8

Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 11-2, fft

Semi-finals

Jose Rojas v. v. Tony Carson - 5:00 PM PST

Rocky Carson v. Alvaro Beltran - 4:00 PM PST

Round of 16

Alex Landa d. Kane Waselenchuk, fft

Tony Carson d. Charlie Pratt, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8

Javier Moreno d. Chris Crowther, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4

Jose Rojas d. Juan Herrera, 11-9, 11-2, 11-1

Ben Croft d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3

Alvaro Beltran d. Andy Hawthorne, 10-12, 11-5, 11-0, 5-11, 11-9

Shane Vanderson d. Jose Diaz, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2

Rocky Carson d. Colin Mohr, 11-0, 11-4, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 San Diego Open Preliminary Results

2012-02-23T18:54:00.006-06:00

The qualifying rounds are over at the 2012 San Diego Open, this weekend's Tier 1 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and although IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk isn't in the draw due to injury, there is a Canadian in the Round of 16 as Colin Mohr - the lowest seed in his bracket - made it through qualifying and will play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the Round of 16 on Friday.

To make the 16s, Mohr defeated fellow Canuck, James Landeryou, in the last qualifying round, 9-11, 13-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-3, in the only third round qualifying match to go five games.

Tim Landeryou, James's older brother, had a chance to reach the 16s, but lost to Colombian Juan Herrera, 11-5, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10. Eearlier, Landeryou beat racquetball legend Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7, in the second qualifying round.

The other big winner coming out of qualifying was Jose Diaz, who beat Anthony Herrera, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, in the last round of qualifying after defeating Lee Connell in the previous round, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6. Diaz will face Shane Vanderson in the 16s on Friday.

Former IRT #1 Sudsy Monchik's tournament ended with a loss to Alex Landa in the straight games, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6. Landa then beat Taylor Knoth, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, and that win will put him into the quarter finals, as Kane Waselenchuk's withdrawal from the tournament was after the draw was publicized, so he could not be removed from it.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the San Diego Open Round of 16 on Friday beginning at 11:30 AM PST.

2012 San Diego Open - San Diego, California

Round 3

Q8: Alex Landa d. Taylor Knoth, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5
Q1: Tony Carson d. Felipe Munoz, 11-2, 11-2, 11-9

Q4: Javier Moreno d. Polo Gutierrez, 13-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9
Q5: Juan Herrera d. Tim Landeryou, 11-5, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10

Q6: Daniel De La Rosa d. Felipe Camacho, 11-6, 11-9, 11-1
Q3: Alvaro Beltran d. Ryan Meyer, 11-1, 11-5, 3-11, 11-4

Q2: Jose Diaz d. Anthony Herrera, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9
Q7: Colin Mohr d. James Landeryou, 9-11, 13-11, 11-3, 4-11, 11-3

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Alex Landa
Charlie Pratt v. Tony Carson

Chris Crowther v. Javier Moreno
Jose Rojas v. Juan Herrera

Ben Croft v. Daniel De La Rosa
Andy Hawthorne v. Alvaro Beltran

Shane Vanderson v. Jose Diaz
Rocky Carson v. Colin Mohr

Round 2

Alex Landa d. Sudsy Monchik, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6
Taylor Knoth d. Daniel Bautista, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3

Felipe Munoz d. Andres Herrera, 12-14, 11-0, 3-11, 13-11, 11-8
Polo Gutierrez d. John Scott, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0

Juan Herrera d. Richard Eisemann, 12-10, 11-4, 11-4
Tim Landeryou d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7

Felipe Camacho d. Brian Pineda, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4
Daniel De La Rosa d. Guillermo Leyva, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6

Hiroshi Shimizu d. Ryan Meyer, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8
Jose Diaz d. Lee Connell, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6

James Landeryou d. Brad Schopieray, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
Colin Mohr d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-3, 1-11, 11-9, 11-8

Round 1

Sudsy Monchik d. Rafael Filippini, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4
Daniel Bautista d. Jeremy McGlothin, fft

Richard Eisemann d. Fabian Mendieta, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9
Tim Landeryou d. Jacob Varela, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6

Brian Pineda d. Joe Paraiso, fft
Guillermo Leyva d. Hank Minardo, 11-0, 11-3, 11-3

James Landeryou d. Jorge Travino, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
Colin Mohr d. Armondo Bermudez, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 San Diego Open Preliminary Draws

2012-02-23T10:43:00.003-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) swings back into action this weekend with the 2012 San Diego Open. But IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk is again absent from the event due to the back injury that he picked up at the California Open and prevented him from finishing the New York City Pro-Am. This will be the second consecutive IRT event that Waselenchuk has missed, as he also missed the Salt Lake City event earlier this month.

Although Waselenchuk isn't there, his withdrawal came after the draw was made public, and by IRT rule he must remain in the draw. Thus, some lucky qualifier is going to get a walkover win against him in the Round of 16.

The highest seeds in the top of the draw are Jose Rojas (#4) and Chris Crowther (#5), but they'll likely meet in the quarter finals, with the winner going to the semi-finals against - at best - the 8th seed.

Charlie Pratt is the 8th seed, and he'll have a good chance to make his first semi-final, as he'll only have face qualifiers to get to the semis. Those toughest of those will likely be 9th seed Tony Carson, who could also be set up for the semis if he can beat Pratt.

All the big matches prior to the final will be on the bottom of the draw, as the Salt Lake City finalists - Ben Croft and Rocky Carson - and semi finalist - Shane Vanderson - as well as Alvaro Beltran, will all be slugging it out to get to the final.

The most interesting potential qualifying matches will be the all Mexico battle of Javier Moreno and Polo Gutierrez, and the Alex Landa and Taylor Knoth match, which will grant the winner a pass to the quarter finals. Both Landa and Knoth do have to beat someone to set that up, and for Landa that might be former IRT #1 Sudsy Monchik.

What a difference a week can make

Last week, we wrote about how Jeremy Lin reminded us of Waselenchuk, but now that an injury is keeping Waselenchuk out of yet another tournament, we're not thinking of Lin but rather Peyton Manning, the NFL quarter back who sat out all of last season due to a neck injury.

One injury can end an athletic career, and while we trust that is not the case with Waselenchuk, his injury does remind us that the difference between greatness and mediocrity can be very small.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the San Diego Open matches beginning Thursday February 23 at 8 PM PST.

2012 San Diego Open - San Diego, California

Round 1

Rafael Filippini v. Sudsy Monchik

Jeremy McGlothin v. Daniel Bautista

Fabian Mendieta v. Richard Eisemann

Tim Landeryou v. Jacob Varela

Brian Pineda v. Joe Paraiso

Hank Minardo v. Guillermo Leyva

James Landeryou v. Jorge Travino

Armondo Bermudez v. Colin Mohr

Round 2

Alex Landa v. Rafael Filippini or Sudsy Monchik

Taylor Knoth v. Jeremy McGlothin v. Daniel Bautista

Felipe Munoz v. Andres Herrera

Polo Gutierrez v. John Scott

Juan Herrera v. Fabian Mendieta or Richard Eisemann

Ruben Gonzalez v. Tim Landeryou or Jacob Varela

Felipe Camacho v. Brian Pineda or Joe Paraiso

Daniel De La Rosa v. Hank Minardo or Guillermo Leyva

Hiroshi Shimizu v. Ryan Meyer

Lee Connell v. Jose Diaz

Brad Schopieray v. James Landeryou or Jorge Travino

Arthur Schmeiser v. Armondo Bermudez or Colin Mohr

Round 3

Q8: Alex Landa / Rafael Filippini / Sudsy Monchik v. Taylor Knoth / Jeremy McGlothin / Daniel Bautista

Q1: Tony Carson v. Felipe Munoz or Andres Herrera

Q4: Javier Moreno v. Polo Gutierrez or John Scott

Q5: Juan Herrera / Fabian Mendieta / Richard Eisemann v. Ruben Gonzalez / Tim Landeryou / Jacob Varela

Q6: Felipe Camacho / Brian Pineda / Joe Paraiso v. Daniel De La Rosa / Hank Minardo / Guillermo Leyva

Q3: Alvaro Beltran v. Hiroshi Shimizu or Ryan Meyer

Q2: Anthony Herrera v. Lee Connell or Jose Diaz

Q7: Brad Schopieray / James Landeryou / Jorge Travino v. Arthur Schmeiser / Armondo Bermudez / Colin Mohr

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8

Charlie Pratt v. Q1

Chris Crowther v. Q4

Jose Rojas v. Q5

Ben Croft v. Q6

Andy Hawthorne v. Q3

Shane Vanderson v. Q2

Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

Lin-sane like Kane

2012-02-16T13:30:00.003-06:00

If you're in North America, and you're a sports fan, then you have heard of Jeremy Lin, because the hype about Lin following his performances since becoming the starting point guard for the New York Knicks has been inescapable. Lin has come from out of the blue and made an immediate impact on the Knicks and the NBA.

It's a great case of an athlete finding his niche in sport and making the most of it. Some have spoken of Lin and Steve Nash in the same breath, as Nash also had a huge impact in the NBA when he moved from Dallas to Phoenix, where Mike D'Antoni was the head coach, and it's D'Antoni, who's Lin's head coach now in New York.

But we here at The Racquetball Blog have been thinking of Lin as akin to Kane Waselenchuk. Waseelenchuk, who was spotlighted in a New York Times article this week, is another athlete who has found his niche in sport.

Waselenchuk could probably play any sport well, but he might not excel at them as he does at racquetball for a few reasons. One is that Waselenchuk's not a big guy, so hockey, football, and especially basketball wouldn't be great options, as those sports generally looks for players well over 6' tall.

Baseball and soccer would have been interesting options for Waselenchuk, but in any team sport Waselenchuk would just be one of the players, and you might not really appreciate how much talent he has. Thus, we think an individual sport suits Waselenchuk more than a team sport.

Though Waselenchuk has great body control that would be the envy of athletes in sports like wrestling, diving, or skiing, his eye-hand coordination is also outstanding, so a sport with a fancy stick and ball is called for.

Tennis is the most popular stick and ball sport world wide. But again, tennis usually demands a big guy. Most of the great tennis players are over 6', though a couple were 5'11" (Andre Agassi & John McEnroe), which what Waselenchuk's listed as in the US Open media guide but he might not be even that tall.

However, one of Waselenchuk's great attributes - perhaps the thing that separates him more than anything else from other racquetball players, even the great players like Cliff Swain and Sudsy Monchik - is his creativity in making shots. That creativity can be better expressed on a racquetball court - where there is no barrier to hit the ball over - than in other racquet sports, because you can - in theory - hit a winning shot from anywhere. Waselenchuk puts that theory into practice in just about every match he plays.

Sporting events are occasions where incredible things can happen. Things that make for the stuff of clichés like "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" Those incredible things can happen to anyone at almost any time.

But when an athlete finds their proper place in sport, the place where they truly fit, then real magic can happen. Indeed, it can almost be expected to happen. That's what Jeremy Lin has found in New York.

And that's what Kane Waselenchuk found on a racquetball court long ago.

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Tim Landeryou wins 38th Annual Keystone Classic

2012-02-13T17:00:00.002-06:00

Tim Landeryou won the 38th Annual Keystone Classic - the longest running racquetball tournament in the world, and a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on the weekend by defeating his younger brother James Landeryou, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8. Tim Landeryou reach the final with a semi-final victory over Kurtis Cullen, 11-4, 11-2, 11-0, while James Landeryou needed a fifth game to defeat Eric Desrochers, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 4-11, 11-4.

But the brothers teamed up and won the doubles title with a straight game victory over Desrochers and Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-12.

The next IRT Tier 1 event will be the San Diego Open, February 22-26, but there is a Tier 4 event this weekend, as the Winter Classic begins Friday in Overland Park, Kansas.

38th Keystone Classic, Winnipeg

Singles Final

Tim Landeryou d. James Landeryou, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8

Semi-finals

Tim Landeryou d. Kurtis Cullen, 11-4, 11-2, 11-0

James Landeryou d. Eric Desrochers, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 4-11, 11-4

Doubles Final

Tim Landeryou & James Landeryou d. Eric Desrochers & Lee Connell, 15-7, 15-12

Follow the bouncing ball....

USA National Doubles Championships - Final

2012-02-12T20:56:00.002-06:00

The 45th USA Racquetball National Doubles Championship concluded Sunday in Tempe, Arizona, and there were some expected and some not so expected results. The expected results were on the men's side, as Rocky Carson and Ben Croft won the US Team Qualifying event by defeating Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson in the final, 15-7, 15-4.

The win was Carson's sixth title and Croft's third, but it's their first title together. Carson won all his previous titles with Jack Huczek and Croft won both his with Mitch Williams.

Crowther and Vanderson were finalists last year also, when Carson and Huczek took the title.

The surprise result came on the women's side, as defending champs Jackie Paraiso and Aimee Ruiz lost in the semi-finals to Kim Russell-Waselenchuk and Rhonda Rajsich, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7.

Russell-Waselenchuk and Rajsich went on to win the title by defeating Krystal Csuk and Cheryl Gudinas, 15-11, 15-5, in the final. The final was a re-match of one of last year's semi-finals, which Csuk and Gudinas won, but they then lost the final to Paraiso and Ruiz.

The win is Russell-Waselenchuk's sixth, but first since 2004, when she won with Paraiso. It's Rajsich's first US National doubles title, and the first US National women's doubles title that has not been at least shared by either Ruiz or Paraiso since 2001, when Gudinas and Russell-Waselenchuk teamed up to win it.

Ruiz and Paraiso took the third place match by beating Marci Drexler and Laura Fenton, 15-6, 15-10.

The mixed open doubles title went to Ruiz and Andy Hawthorne, who were 13-15, 15-9, 11-3 winners over Charlie Pratt and Janel Tisinger.

2012 45th USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships

Tempe, Arizona

US National Team Divisions

Men's

Quarter finals

Rocky Carson & Ben Croft d. Brad Schopieray & John Scott, 15-4, 15-4

Charles Pratt & Tony Carson d. Alex Ackermann & Jansen Allen, 11-15, 15-10, 11-6

Andy Hawthorne & Jose Rojas d. Anthony Herrera & Rafael Filippini, 7-15, 15-12, 11-4

Chris Crowther & Shane Vanderson d. Blake Hansen & Travis Mettenbrink, 15-9, 15-6

Semi-finals

Rocky Carson & Ben Croft d. Charles Pratt & Tony Carson, 15-4, 10-15, 11-6

Chris Crowther & Shane Vanderson d. Andy Hawthorne & Jose Rojas, 15-8, 15-9

Final

Rocky Carson & Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther & Shane Vanderson, 15-7, 15-4

3rd place

Andy Hawthorne & Jose Rojas d. Charles Pratt & Tony Carson, 15-13, 15-8

Women's

Quarter finals

Jacqueline Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz d. Da'monique Davis & Sharon Jackson, 15-6, 15-3

Kim Russell-Waselenchuk & Rhonda Rajsich d. Janel Tisinger & Kristen Bellows, 15-9, 15-4

Laura Fenton & Marci Drexler d. Danielle Key & Michelle Key, 11-15, 15-8, 11-6

Krystal Csuk & Cheryl Gudinas d. Amy Foster & Elaine Albrecht, 15-8, 15-7

Semi-finals

Kim Russell-Waselenchuk & Rhonda Rajsich d. Jacqueline Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz, 13-15, 15-6, 11-7

Krystal Csuk & Cheryl Gudinas d. Laura Fenton & Marci Drexler, 15-14, 10-15, 11-7

Final

Kim Russell-Waselenchuk & Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk & Cheryl Gudinas, 15-11, 15-5

Third

Aimee Ruiz & Jacqueline Paraiso d. Laura Fenton & Marci Drexler, 15-6, 15-10

Mixed Open

Semi-finals

Charles Pratt & Janel Tisinger d. Jacqueline Paraiso & Tony Carson, 6-15, 15-14, 11-4

Aimee Ruiz & Andy Hawthorne d. Rhonda Rajsich & Shawn Royster, 15-4, 15-11

Final

Aimee Ruiz & Andy Hawthorne d. Charles Pratt & Janel Tisinger, 13-15, 15-9, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball....

Top seeds Gagnon & Saunders win Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

2012-02-06T08:05:00.002-06:00

Men's and women's #1 seeds won their respective divisions at Racquetball Canada's National Team Selection Event at Golds Gym Regina West in Regina. But Vincent Gagnon had a more difficult time of it than Jennifer Saunders, as Gagnon needed a tie-breaker to defeat 2nd seed Kris Odegard, winning the final 15-11, 10-15, 11-8.

In the women's final, Saunders defeated 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert in two straight games, 15-6, 15-6.

in getting to the finals all four players earned valuable National Team Selection points that will help them earn spots on the team that will represent Canada at the International Racquetball Federation World Championships. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from the first National Team Selection Event of the season in Oakville last November as well as this year's Canadian National Championships in May in Brossard, Que. to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2012 World Racquetball Championships.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Regina, Saskatchewan

Men's Open

Final: Vincent Gagnon d. Kris Odegard, 15-11, 10-15, 11-8

3rd Place: Tim Landeryou d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-8, 15-9

5th Place: Eric Desrochers d. James Landeryou, 15-12, 15-6

7th Place: Francis Guillemette d. Corey Osborne, injury default

Women's Open

Final: Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 15-6, 15-6

3rd Place: Josée Grand'Maître d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 13-15, 15-9, 11-8

5th Place: Christine Richardson d. Michelle Morissette, 15-6, 15-3

7th Place: Nadia Verilli d. Brigitte Richard, 15-10, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball....

Top seeds to clash in finals of Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

2012-02-04T23:19:00.006-06:00

Jennifer Saunders, current Canadian champion and top women's seed, will face second seed Frédérique Lambert, the Canadian and World U18 Racquetball Champion, Sunday in the final of Racquetball Canada's second National Team Selection Event of the season in Regina. Saunders advanced to the final with a straight game victory over Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-10, 15-7, in the semi-finals on Saturday.

In the other women's semi-final, Lambert beat Josée Grand'Maître, 15-7, 15-4.

On the men's side, top seed Vincent Gagnon made it to the final after beating Nathanial Husulak, 15-8, 15-5.

Gagnon's opponent on Sunday will be second seed, Kris Odegard, as he defeated Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-7, in what was a battle of doubles team-mates from the Pan American Games last year in Guadalajara, where they came home with bronze medals.

Results from this weekend will be combined with results from Oakville as well as this year's Canadian National Championships in May in Brossard, Que. to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2012 World Racquetball Championships.

The tournament schedule and results are available on line through the Racquetball Canada website.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Regina, Saskatchewan

Men's Open

Semi-finals

Vincent Gagnon d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-8, 15-5

Kris Odegard d. Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-7

Final

Vincent Gagnon v. Kris Odegard

Quarter finals

Vincent Gagnon d. Francis Guillemette, 15-3, 15-3  

Nathaniel Husulak d. James Landeryou, 15-4, 14-16, 11-6

Tim Landeryou d. Eric Desrochers, 15-7, 15-6

Kris Odegard d. Corey Osborne, 15-3, 15-1

Women's Open

Semi-finals

Jennifer Saunders d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-10, 15-7

Frédérique Lambert d. Josée Grand'Maître, 15-7, 15-4

Final

Jennifer Saunders vs. Frédérique Lambert

Follow the bouncing ball....

Croft wins 1st career IRT event in Salt Lake City

2012-02-04T23:08:00.002-06:00

Ben Croft won the first International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Tier 1 event of his career by defeating IRT #2 Rocky Carson, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, in the final of the MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am in Salt Lake City, Utah. Croft, the IRT's #3 ranked player, was playing in only his second IRT final, having lost the 2010 Mexico Open to Kane Waselenchuk.

But he was a winner in Salt Lake City.

Croft and Carson went back and forth all match, except perhaps for the first game, which Carson won 11-4. In game two, they were tied at 2, 3, and 5, before Croft put together a streak of points to go up 10-5, and win 11-7.

In game three, Croft built a big lead early at 6-1. But then Carson narrowed the lead to one at 6-5. But that was as much as he got, as Croft won 11-5.

Carson took the early lead in game four at 4-1. Croft then tied at 4-4 before Carson extended the lead to 7-4, and stayed ahead to win 11-5 and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, they again were neck and neck early with ties at 1, 2, 3, and 4. Then Croft got the next five points to put him two points away from his first tour win. Croft might have gotten a little tight as Carson clawed a point back, but that was all Carson could muster on this day, as Croft finished it off 11-5.

Upon winning Croft dropped onto the court, lying on his back in perhaps both joy and disbelief, as afterwards he said "it's surreal" and "I'm happy."

Croft's service strategy was to hit drive serves to the right side, Carson's forehand. Asked about that strategy afterwards, he said Carson's "backhand is so tough" and with the left side of the court a glass wall, Croft figured Carson's backhand server returns into that wall would be hard to pick up.

Thus, Croft served to the solid white right side wall, which also put the ball on his strong side: his forehand side. "I feel my forehand's better than my backhand," said Croft.

When he needed a second serve, Croft stood slightly left of center in the service box and drove the ball into the front left corner to produce Z serves that went to the right back corner, just as his straight drive serves were doing.

It's only Croft's third career win over Carson, and first in 10 meetings.

Croft got to the final by defeating Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals earlier on Saturday, 6-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-5, while Carson beat Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-0, 11-7, in the other semi.

The next IRT event is the San Diego Open, February 22-26 in Sorrento Valley, California.

2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am - Salt Lake City, Utah

Final

Ben Croft d. Rocky Carson, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5

Semi-finals

Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-2, 11-0, 11-7

Ben Croft d. Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am QFs

2012-02-04T10:04:00.002-06:00

Only two of the top four seeds have made it through to the semi-finals at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both first seed Rocky Carson and second seed Ben Croft have had a relatively paths to the semis, as they won both their two matches on Friday in three straight games.

Carson beat Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6, in the Round of 16 before seeing off Andy Hawthorne in the quarter finals, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6, while Croft took out Felipe Camacho, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5, in the 16s and veteran left hander Javier Moreno, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4, in the quarters in what was a battle of former University of Colorado - Pueblo players.

Joining Carson and Croft in the semi-finals are Alvaro Beltran and Shane Vanderson.

Beltran came through qualifying on Thursday, and then beat Charlie Pratt in the 16 on Friday, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9. In the quarters, Beltran faced third seed Jose Rojas, and after dropping the first game won the next three games to win the match, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10, and advance to the semi-finals, where he'll face Croft.

Vanderson's path to the semis was the most dramatic, as he was down 2-0 against fourth seed Chris Crowther, before staging a comeback in the last quarter final match on Friday, winning 4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5.

Vanderson will be face Carson in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the MonaVie Salt Lake Pro-Am semi-finals at at 11 AM MST and noon MST with the final to follow on Saturday night at 7 PM MST.

2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am - Salt Lake City, Utah

Quarter finals

Rocky Carson d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6

Shane Vanderson d. Chris Crowther, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5

Alvaro Beltran d. Jose Rojas, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10

Ben Croft d. Javier Moreno, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4

Semi-finals

Rocky Carson v. Shane Vanderson

Ben Croft v. Alvaro Beltran

Round of 16

Rocky Carson d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8

Andy Hawthorne d. Anthony Herrera, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-0

Shane Vanderson d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7

Chris Crowther d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2

Jose Rojas d. Brad Schopieray, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9

Alvaro Beltran d. Charlie Pratt, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9

Javier Moreno d. Tony Carson, 11-7, 11-3, fft

Ben Croft d. Felipe Camacho, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

Regina hosting Canada's best racquetball players this weekend

2012-02-03T15:20:00.002-06:00

Also happening this weekend is Racquetball Canada's second National Team Selection Event of the season in Regina. This is players last chance to qualify for the Pan American Championships in Temuco, Chile and their second chance to qualify to be part of Team Canada at the 2012 World Championships. Their first chance was at the first Selection Event back last November in Oakville, Ont.

Jennifer Saunders is the top women's seed, and her biggest competition will be Canadian and World U18 Champion Frédérique Lambert. Saunders beat Lambert in the final of the Oakville event, but needed a tie-breaker to do it.

On the men's side, Vincent Gagnon is the top seed with Kris Odegard 2nd seed, as current Canadian champion and Canadian #1 Mike Green is not in Regina due to injury.

Play begins in Regina on Friday and continues through Sunday.

The tournament schedule and results are available on line through the Racquetball Canada website.

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am Prelim Results UPDATED

2012-02-03T15:08:00.001-06:00

We've now got complete results from preliminary rounds at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two of the players to make the Round of 16 are Alvaro Beltran and Ruben Gonzalez, but both needed tie-breakers to get past their Round of 32 opponents.

Beltran was ahead during his match against Andrew Gale, winning the first game 11-3, but Gale came back and squeaked out game two 12-10. The pattern repeated itself in games three and four, as Beltran won comfortably, 11-3, in the third and Gale took the fourth 11-9. The pattern held tn the fifth, as Beltran won 11-1. He'll face Charlie Pratt in the 16s on Friday.

Gonzalez had a different path to the 16s, as he lost the first game of his match versus Cole Burr, 11-5. Gonzaleez could have gone down two games as he faced a game point at 11-10, despite having led 10-5. But the legend pulled out the second game, 13-11, to even the match.

In game three, Gonzalez was ahead the whole way, although Burr did make it close before losing 11-8. One might have thought Burr would roll over at that point, but instead he took a 10-2 lead in game four en route to a 11-5 win.

Game five was similar to game two, as Gaonzalez led early at 3-1, 5-2 and then 10-5. However, Burr again dug deep, and came back to tie the game at 10-10. But the effort might have taken too much out of Burr as Gonzalez got the serve back and hit two cut drive aces to the right side that were just out of Burr's reach, giving Gonzalez the game, 12-10, and the match.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the MonaVie Salt Lake Pro-Am Round of 16 beginning at 11:30 AM MST on Friday. Remember, the semi-finals and final will both be played on Saturday. The semi-finals will go at 11 AM MST and noon MST with the final slated for 7 PM MST.

2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am - Salt Lake City, Utah

Round 1

Cole Burr d. John Scott, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9

Ruben Gonzalez d. Anthony Martin, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7

Joe Workman d. Jeremy McGlothin, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 0-11, 11-5

Matthew Majxner d. Steve Bohman, 11-6, 11-3, 11-0

Armando Bermudez d. Favian Elmore, 2-11, 1-11, 11-1, 11-5, 11-5

Scott Burr d. Brian Pineda, 11-2, 5-11, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10

Brad Schopieray d. Anthony Montanez, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4

Andrew Gale d. Brandon Gould, 11-4, 11-5, 11-1

Rafael Filippini d. Tim Prigo, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9

Felipe Camacho d. Billy Ray Martinez, fft

Ernesto Ruiz d. Peter Wrigley, 11-2, 11-5, 11-0

Round 2

Q8: Ruben Gonzalez d. Cole Burr, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10

Q1: Anthony Herrera d. Joe Workman, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3

Q4: Juan Herrera d. Matthew Majxner, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9

Q5: Arthur Schmeiser d. Armando Bermudez, 11-1, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7

Q6: Brad Schopieray d. Scott Burr, 11-9, 11-4, 11-1

Q3: Alvaro Beltran d. Andrew Gale, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-1

Q2: Javier Moreno d. Rafael Filippini, 11-7, 11-0, 11-4

Q7: Felipe Camacho d. Ernesto Ruiz, 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 11-3

Main Draw - Round of 16

Rocky Carson v. Ruben Gonzalez

Andy Hawthorne v. Anthony Herrera

Shane Vanderson v. Juan Herrera

Chris Crowther v. Arthur Schmeiser

Jose Rojas v. Brad Schopieray

Charlie Pratt v. Alvaro Beltran

Tony Carson v. Javier Moreno

Ben Croft v. Felipe Camacho

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am Prelim Results

2012-02-03T08:49:00.001-06:00

There are partial results from the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am in Salt Lake City, Utah, so we can only tell you two of the players who have got through to the 16s. Those two, Alvaro Beltran and Ruben Gonzalez, both needed tie-breakers to get past their Round of 32 opponents.

Beltran was ahead during his match against Andrew Gale, winning the first game 11-3, but Gale came back and squeaked out game two 12-10. The pattern repeated itself in games three and four, as Beltran won comfortably, 11-3, in the third and Gale took the fourth 12-10. The pattern held tn the fifth, as Beltran won 11-1. He'll face Charlie Pratt in the 16s on Friday.

2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am - Salt Lake City, Utah

Round 1

Cole Burr d. John Scott, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9

Ruben Gonzalez d. Anthony Martin, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7

Joe Workman d. Jeremy McGlothin, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 0-11, 11-5

Matthew Majxner d. Steve Bohman, 11-6, 11-3, 11-0

Favian Elmore v. Armando Bermudez

Brian Pineda v. Scott Burr

Brad Schopieray d. Anthony Montanez, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4

Andrew Gale d. Brandon Gould, 11-4, 11-5, 11-1

Rafael Filippini d. Tim Prigo, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9

Felipe Camacho d. Billy Ray Martinez, fft

Ernesto Ruiz d. Peter Wrigley, 11-2, 11-5, 11-0

Round 2

Q8: Ruben Gonzalez d. Cole Burr, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8, 5-11, 12-10

Q1: Anthony Herrera v. Joe Workman

Q4: Juan Herrera v. Matthew Majxner

Q5: Arthur Schmeiser v. Favian Elmore or Armando Bermudez

Q6: Brian Pineda or Scott Burr v. Brad Schopieray

Q3: Alvaro Beltran d. Andrew Gale, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 10-12, 11-1

Q2: Javier Moreno v. Rafael Filippini

Q7: Felipe Camacho v. Ernesto Ruiz

Main Draw - Round of 16

Rocky Carson v. Ruben Gonzalez

Andy Hawthorne v. Q1

Shane Vanderson v. Q4

Chris Crowther v. Q5

Jose Rojas v. Q6

Charlie Pratt v. Alvaro Beltran

Tony Carson v. Q2

Ben Croft v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am Preview

2012-02-02T08:52:00.002-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action this weekend with the MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro-Am in Salt Lake City, Utah. But IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk will not be in action, as his back injury that first occurred at the California Open and recurred at the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am continues to keep Waselenchuk from playing.

In an IRT release, Waselenchuk indicated that if this was the last event of the season and the #1 title was on the line, then he'd likely be playing. But neither of those conditions hold, and Waselenchuk wants to get back to 100% before resuming play, as there's a lot of season left, and as The Racquetball Blog has noted that includes two back to back to back tournament periods.

Thus, IRT #2 Rocky Carson is the top seed in Utah with Ben Croft 2nd seed. And for the first time, Tony Carson is granted a spot in the Round of 16 as one of the top 8 seeds.

The big names in the preliminary rounds, are the Mexican veterans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno, as well as Ruben Gonzalez. If they make it through qualifying, Beltran will play Charlie Pratt, Moreno will slot in against Tony Carson and Gonzalez will face Rocky Carson (the Carsons are not related).

Of note, the semi-finals and final will both be played on Saturday. The semi-finals will go at 11 AM MST and noon MST with the final slated for 7 PM MST.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the MonaVie Salt Lake Pro-Am.

2012 MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am - Salt Lake City, Utah

Round 1

John Scott v. Cole Burr

Ruben Gonzalez v. Anthony Martin

Jeremy McGlothin v. Joe Workman

Matthew Majxner v. Steve Bohman

Favian Elmore v. Armando Bermudez

Brian Pineda v. Scott Burr

Anthony Montanez v. Brad Schopieray

Brandon Gould v. Andrew Gale

Rafael Filippini v. Tim Prigo

Felipe Camacho v. Billy Ray Martinez

Ernesto Ruiz v. Peter Wrigley

Round 2

Q8: John Scott or Cole Burr v. Ruben Gonzalez or Anthony Martin

Q1: Anthony Herrera v. Jeremy McGlothin or Joe Workman

Q4: Juan Herrera v. Matthew Majxner or Steve Bohman

Q5: Arthur Schmeiser v. Favian Elmore or Armando Bermudez

Q6: Brian Pineda or Scott Burr v. Anthony Montanez or Brad Schopieray

Q3: Alvaro Beltran v. Brandon Gould or Andrew Gale

Q2: Javier Moreno v. Rafael Filippini or Tim Prigo

Q7: Felipe Camacho or Billy Ray Martinez v. Ernesto Ruiz or Peter Wrigley

Main Draw - Round of 16

Rocky Carson v. Q8

Andy Hawthorne v. Q1

Shane Vanderson v. Q4

Chris Crowther v. Q5

Jose Rojas v. Q6

Charlie Pratt v. Q3

Tony Carson v. Q2

Ben Croft v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Wilson Tour of Hope: Longoria wins in Cincinnati

2012-02-02T08:49:00.002-06:00

The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) had a satellite event last weekend in Cincinnati, and although it wasn't a Tier 1 event, the Wilson Tour for Hope tournament attracted the top two WPRO players: Paola Longoria (#1) and Rhonda Rajsich (#2), as well as WPRO #3 Kerri Wachtel, who's a Cincinnati resident and was one of the tournament directors.

Longoria, the WPRO #1 player, won the event, but it was Wachtel, not Rajsich that she beat in the final, as Wachtel upset Rajsich in the semi-finals.

Longoria defeated Wachtel, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7, in the final. Longoria reached the final by defeating Krystal Csuk in the semi-finals, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10, and Laura Fenton, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3, in the quarter-finals.

On the other side of the draw, Wachtel beat Rajsich, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, in the semi-finals, and Sharon Jackson in the quarter finals, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.

In women's doubles, Longoria and Wachtel teamed up to defeat Csuk and Fenton in the final, 15-9, 15-9.

2012 Wilson Tour of Hope, Cincinnati, Ohio

First Round

Laura Fenton d. Mercedes Arias, 11-1, 7-11, 11-1, 11-3

Elaine Albrecht d. Da'monique Davis, 11-9, 11-7, 11-0

Sharon Jackson d. Cheyenne Hayes, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8

Lily Berry d. Sheryl Lotts, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria d. Laura Fenton, 11-6, 11-1, 11-3

Krystal Csuk d. Elaine Albrecht, 11-3, 11-1, 11-2

Kerri Wachtel d. Sharon Jackson, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9

Rhonda Rajsich d. Lily Berry, 11-6, 11-0, 11-2

Semi-finals

Paola Longoria d. Krystal Csuk, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10

Kerri Wachtel d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4

Final

Paola Longoria d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT competitiveness

2012-02-01T11:43:00.005-06:00

There were some great tennis matches on the weekend down under in Australia. Some of us in The Racquetball Blog office thought was "man, wouldn't it be cool if there were great rivalries like Nadal-Federer or Djokovic-Nadal in racquetball?"

The biggest rivalry on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) now would be between IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk and IRT #2 Rocky Carson, as they met in 17 of the last 23 IRT Tier 1 or Grand Slam finals (73.9%). But given the long winning streaks Waselenchuk has had the past four seasons, it's a lop-sided rivalry. Of course, even rivalries with lop-sided outcomes can be great to watch. The outcomes of the Nadal-Federer and Djokovic-Nadal rivalries are certainly one-sided, but who wouldn't want to see them play at every event? Waselenchuk and Carson have had some epic matches, so they are somewhat similar to those tennis rivalries.

But you needn't have any specific rivalries for great IRT matches. You simply need matches that could go either way. So let's take a bigger view of the state competitiveness on the IRT and look at how many matches go three, four and five games. Greater competitiveness should mean more matches going four or five games, rather than three straight games.

We've got that data for you from the last six IRT seasons, including the current season. Waselenchuk didn't play in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, so how much his dominance in the last four seasons can be compared to those two.

First, the quarter finals (note: these are proportions, as the number of matches changes across seasons due to the varying number of tournaments; data is from The IRT Historical Archive):

Season	QF 3g	QF 4g	QF 5g
2011-12	0.46	0.38	0.17
2010-11	0.55	0.23	0.16
2009-10	0.39	0.36	0.17
2008-09	0.43	0.35	0.18
2007-08	0.54	0.27	0.18
2006-07	0.56	0.33	0.12

The proportion of four game matches has varied a bit across these seasons, but there isn't a clear trend (admittedly it's hard to get a trend out of only six data points). For five game matches, the proportion has been relatively constant across these seasons, and it was lowest in 2006-07, a season Waselenchuk wasn't playing.

Now the semi-final data:

Season	SF 3g	SF 4g	SF 5g
2011-12	0.75	0.08	0.17
2010-11	0.41	0.30	0.30
2009-10	0.61	0.33	0.06
2008-09	0.54	0.27	0.19
2007-08	0.39	0.32	0.25
2006-07	0.38	0.35	0.23

So far this season only 1 of 12 semi-final matches has gone four games. It's only partial data for the season, of course, so we'd be surprised if this continued, given the relative stability of the proportion of four game matches over the previous five seasons.

The curious data point is that only 6% of the semi-finals in 2009-10 went five games. That was Waselenchuk's undefeated season, so he was in approximately half of the semi-finals that season (he missed one event) and all of those matches were three gamers. Another contributing factor is that season had only 9 events compared to at least 13 in the other seasons (except this season, which is only half done).

And lastly, the finals, and we've chosen to go with the raw data for this, as there are fewer data points (only one per event), so it's easier for the proportions to fluctuate.

Season F 3g F 4g F 5g
2011-12 3 2 0
2010-11 8 3 3
2009-10 5 3 1
2008-09 5 6 2
2007-08 6 4 3
2006-07 4 6 3

There were fewer four game finals the past two seasons than in the three seasons before that, which would be a Waselenchuk effect. The number of five game finals has been relatively constant with the exception of the 2009-10 season, when Waselenchuk won all his matches including every final none of which went five games (the one final that did go five games that season was Jason Mannino's victory over Jack Huczek).

There haven't been any five game matches so far this season, but again, we're only halfway through the season, so there's plenty of time to go tie-breaker.

Overall, it seems that competitiveness has been relatively constant in the last few IRT seasons, and that even with Waselenchuk's dominance.

Follow the bouncing ball....

A football analogy for racquetball

2012-01-23T14:43:00.001-06:00

The day after the New York Giants and New England Patriots qualified for the NFL's Super Bowl seems like a good time to make a football analogy in racquetball.

In racquetball, we always want to put the ball where our opponent can't get to it. Generally, that means hitting the ball to the corners via either a pinch shot or a pass shot, which in football would be like the passing game and the running game.

Football people often talk about how the running game makes the passing game better and vice versa. Similarly in racquetball, hitting good passes will make your pinches better and vice versa, because your opponent will be looking for the one when you hit the other.

Passing in racquetball is football's running game: most frequently used, kinda boring, but essential for success. If you can't pass well, you're not going to be very successful on the racquetball court. Pinching in racquetball is like passing in a football game, because while it can produce spectacular results, pinching can go wrong more easily than the passing.

We often see players trying to rely on pinching when a good pass shot would do the job. The pass won't necessarily impress people, but it'll keep you in the service box. And isn't that where you most want to be?

Aside from the Super Bowl perhaps.

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Who's the best in 5gs?

2012-01-19T11:38:00.002-06:00

During the IRT Network's coverage of last weekend's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Cactus Salon NYC Pro-Am, the topic came up of player records in five game matches. Who's got the best record in matches that go five games? This question can be addressed through a perusal of the IRT Historical Archive kept by Todd Boss.

In questions of IRT excellence, we know the players likely to be on top: Kane Waselenchuk, Cliff Swain, Sudsy Monchik. And those names are up there in the five game (5g) stats, but not exactly as you'd think.

Waselenchuk does have a good record in five game matches, although he hasn't played nearly as many as most of the regular IRT players (as defined by the Historical Archive). Waselenchuk's won 28 of the 36 five game matches he's played for a .778 winning percentage, which is quite good. Better than almost any other IRT regular player.

But not every other IRT player.

Polo Gutierrez has the best record in five game matches. He hasn't played many, only 10 in fact. But he's won 9 of those 10 for a .900 winning percentage!

Now, you might think that as Gutierrez is an infrequent IRT player those 9 wins probably came in qualifying against, well, inferior opposition. And you'd be wrong, because over over half of those wins came against these players: Shane Vanderson, Mike Guidry, Jason Mannino, Jose Rojas, and last weekend, Ben Croft.

Quite impressive, really.

After Gutierrez and Waselenchuk, the next best five game winning percentages are Monchik with .692, Andy Roberts .680 and Marty Hogan with .671.

Gutierrez's 5g record is also impressive from the perspective of being higher than his overall winning percentage, which at .637 is also good. The difference between those two percentages (.263) is the most for any IRT player.

Other players who have better records in 5g matches than they do overall are Mitch Williams (.607, 17-11 in 5g versus .525 overall), Andy Hawthorne (.571, 16-12, vs. .505), Ben Croft (.633, 19-11, vs. .586), and Jason Thoerner (.550, 11-9 vs. .503).

The players with the most wins in 5g matches are going to be those with the longest careers, so it should be no surprise that Cliff Swain has the most wins in 5g matches with 65, followed by Ruben Gonzalez with 54, Marty Hogan 53, Andy Roberts 51, and Jason Mannino 46.

However, Swain also has the most 5g losses with 52, followed by Mike Ray with 48, Mannino 43, Gonzalez 38 and Tim Doyle 37.

The player with lowest winning percentages in 5g matches (playing at least 10 5g matches) is Dave Johnson, who won 7 of the 20 5g matches in his career for a .350 winning percentage. Javier Moreno is second worst at 9 for 25 (.360), followed by Dan Fowler (15 for 40, .375), Alejandro Herrera (7 for 18, .389) and Woody Clouse (16 for 41, .390).

One of the surprising things to those of us in The Racquetball Blog office is Jason Mannino's record in 5g matches. Mannino was a 'give it everything, leave it all on the court' type player, and we think those sort of players should do well in 5g matches. Andy Hawthorne and Ben Croft are that sort of player, and they both have better winning percentages in 5g matches than they do overall.

But while Mannino won more 5g matches than he lost, it was only a few more (46 wins, 43 losses), so he 5g winning percentage was much lower than his overall winning percentage (.517 v. .700).

Of course for most of his career, Mannino was one of the top 5 players, so he generally went deep in the draw, playing against other top 5 players. In fact, Mannino played five 5g matches versus Monchik, losing all five, three against Swain (losing two, winning one), and five against Waselenchuk (winning the first, and losing the next four). Take that 2-11 record out of Mannino's 5g record and you get 44-32 (a .579 winning percentage), which is better than his overall 5g record though still much lower than his overall winning percentage.

Who should win?

When you get to a tie-breaking game in a series, such as the fifth game in an IRT match, the series could go either way. If the opponents are of equal ability, then the odds of winning should be 50/50. But one player is always seeded higher than the other, which is supposed to reflect ability (to some extent), or at least past performances. Thus, the higher seeded player should win. It would be interesting to know the records of higher seeded IRT players in 5g matches.

Of course, as Polo Gutierrez can tell you, the higher seeded player doesn't always win. And that's what makes sport interesting.

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO Rankings

2012-01-18T10:49:00.002-06:00

Paola Longoria reaffirmed her position as the #1 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) player, when she won the California Open in Canoga Park earlier this month, and the latest WPRO rankings confirm that. Rhonda Rajsich, who was runner-up to Longoria in Canoga Park, remains the #2 player.

However, Kerri Wachtel has moved up into the #3 position ahead of Samantha Salas, who's now missed two consecutive events due to an arm injury. Cristina Amaya has also dropped in the rankings, falling from 6th to 8th.

Adrienne Fisher remains 5th, followed by Krystal Csuk in 6th, Susy Acosta-Mendoza 7th, Amaya 8th, Jennifer Saunders 9th, and Angela Grisar in 10th.

Where's Cheryl Gudinas, former WPRO #1, you ask? She's dropped to 12th, although she did compete in the California Open, which was her first tournament after knee surgery, she lost to Saunders in the Round of 16. In fact, Gudinas is only 0.30 points ahead of T.J. Baumbaugh, who's 13th. It's Gudinas's lowest ranking for almost 20 years.

The next WPRO event is the Mile High Pro-Am in Denver, Colorado, March 8-11, 2012.

WPRO Rankings (January 9, 2012)
Rank - Name - Nationality - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1494.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1360.40
3 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 503.45
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 484.30
5 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 455.70
6 Krystal Csuk (USA) 377.60
7 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 371.50
8 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 366.65
9 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 337.00
10 Angela Grisar (Chile) 245.00

11 Da'monique Davis (USA) 222.75
12 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 212.80
13 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 212.50
14 Kristen Bellows (USA) 200.90
15 Christie Huczek (Canada) 150.25
16 Linda Scales (USA) 140.00
17 Laura Brandt (USA) 106.50
18 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 106.00
19 Aimee Ruiz (USA) 100.00
20 Sharon Jackson (USA) 87.50

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend round up - Ackermann, Metcalf & Maher win

2012-01-16T11:09:00.001-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) main event was in Syosset, N.Y., but there three other minor IRT events this past weekend.

The most significant event happened in Austin, Texas, where Alex Ackermann won the Longhorn Open by defeating Jansen Allen in the final, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7. Ackermann got to the final by defeating the wily veteran Jimmy Lowe, 8-11, 14-12, 11-4, 11-4 in one semi-final, while in the other semi Allen had a five game war with Erik Leetch, winning 3-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8.

Ackermann was a double winner in Austin, as he and Allen teamed up to take the doubles title by defeating Ryan Rodgers and Shai Manzuri in the final, 15-2, 15-14. Ackermann and Allen beat Allan Crockett and Rusty Powell in the semi-finals, 15-6, 15-9, while Rodgers and Manzuri needed a tie-breaker to get past Leetch and Dustin Webster, 13-15, 15-14, 11-1.

Over in Gainsville, Florida, Aaron Metcalf won the Orange and Blue Shootout with a win over Nick Hand in the final, 11-4, 11-0, 9-11, 11-5. Both Metcalf and Hand needed five games to win their respective semi-final matches. Metcalf, the top seed, beat Vinnie Ganley, 10-12, 11-8, 11-0, 7-11, 11-4, while 3rd seed, Hand, defeated 2nd seed Mike Mondello, 11-3, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8.

Finally, the 2012 Missouri Racquetball Blizzard was won by Ryan Maher in St. Louis, as he defeated Drew Finke in the final, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, in what was a battle of the 3rd and 4th seeds. In the semi-finals, 3rd seed Maher beat 2nd seed Joe Sharamitaro, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, and Finke, the 4th seed, beat top seed Hal Rutherford in the other semi.

Time for rest and recovery

Kane Waselenchuk's withdrawal from yesterday's final of the Cactus Salon NYC Pro-Am as a result of aggravating a injury he picked up the pervious weekend competing at the Coast to Coast California Open highlights the stress that players can be putting themselves under when playing on the IRT.

Rocky Carson spoke to this during his post-match interview, saying "you can't recover in one week" from an injury. This is especially so when it's not really a week of recovery when you are finishing on Sunday and starting again on Friday, and then traveling on top of that.

There's a two week break in the IRT schedule prior to the MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am February 1-4, 2012. But at the end of February the IRT schedule gets especially brutal, as the San Diego Open February 23-26 begins a stretch of seven Tier 1 events in ten weeks, including two stretches of back to back to back tournaments.

Moreover, the two weeks that the IRT has off in late March and early April is when the Pan American Championships will take place in Temuco, Chile, so some of the IRT players are likely going to be there representing their countries, which will be an added burden on their schedules.

It all adds up to a lot of racquetball.

In recent years, one of the big realizations in the realm of training has been how important rest and recovery are. But a schedule of 7 events in 10 weeks doesn't leave much room for that.

We tend to think of high performance athletes as being healthier than the rest of us, and that their fitness affords them some measure of insurance against illness and injury. But the reverse can often be the case. That is, often it seems that high performance athletes are not so much creating a broad base of health as honing their conditioning down to fine point from which it can be easy to fall off.

One thing for sure is that high performance athletes will recover from an injury faster than the rest of us, because they'll take the dedication and discipline from their training and apply it to their recovery and rehabilitation. But because they put themselves in physically stressful situations more often than the rest of us, they are more likely to suffer an injury.

Thus, no one should be surprised when a racquetball player gets injured. Waselenchuk makes everything look effortless, but it's not, and as Carson also pointed out, Waselenchuk plays more than anyone else, as he's been in the finals of almost every tournament for the last three and half seasons.

But we expect he'll do whatever is necessary to prepare for Salt Lake City, where a Waselenchuk winning streak can begin again.

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Carson wins 2012 NYC Pro-Am, as Waselenchuk withdraws

2012-01-15T12:22:00.002-06:00

Rocky Carson said "I don't want to win like that," but win he did as Kane Waselenchuk was forced to retire during the first game of their final at the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. The loss ends the winning streak of the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) #1 player's winning streak. Carson's win over Waselenchuk is his first since 2003 at Pro Nationals in Tempe, Arizona.

As the match began former IRT #1 Sudsy Monchik, doing commentary on the IRT Network webcast, revealed that Waselenchuk had tweaked his back during last weekend's California Open. Though he had played fine on Friday and Saturday, Waselenchuk's back was acting up Sunday morning as he prepared for the final.

Carson won the first five points of the match, and Waselenchuk did not appear to be moving normally. At 5-0 down, Waselenchuk took a time out that turned into 15 min of injury time.

He did come back on the court, and played a few more rallies, winning a couple of points. But at 6-2, Waselenchuk decided to call it a day.

Afterwards Waselenchuk said he "felt [the back injury] in warm up," as he "couldn't hit it with pace." He wanted to play but his body wasn't letting him. Also, Waselenchuk knew "I had to bring my top game" against Carson.

Joking he said "at least I didn't get a donut."

But for Waselenchuk "the main thing is to get healthy. There's a lot of season left," and his goal is to be #1 at the end of it. He also expressed confidence that he'll be ready for Salt Lake City, which is the site of the next IRT Tier 1 event.

Perhaps Waselenchuk would be well advised to pass on the New York City Pro-Am in the future, as this is the fourth time he's defaulted at it. Last year, he came down with flu that forced him to default prior to his semi-final match with Jack Huczek. Waselenchuk also defaulted two Round of 16 matches in the 2004 and 2006 New York City Pro-Am events.

We don't know if Waselenchuk loves New York or not, but if New York's in love with him, it's got a funny way of showing it.

The next IRT event is the MonaVie Salt Lake City Pro/Am February 1-4. Note the final will be Saturday night, so they will be playing the semi-finals and final on the same day. The finalists will need to have strong backs to play four tough matches in two days.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Final

Rocky Carson d. Kane Waselenchuk, 6-2, injury forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - New York City Pro Am Semi-finals

2012-01-14T18:38:00.002-06:00

Once again the top two International Racquetball Tour (IRT) players will meet in an IRT final, as #1 Kane Waselenchuk and #2 Rocky Carson won their respective semi-final matches at the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. on Saturday. But like in Friday's quarter finals Waselenchuk won in three straight games while Carson needed more games - this time a fifth game tie-breaker - to advance.

Waselenchuk beat 4th seed Jose Rojas, 11-4, 11-0, 11-6. After being in control in games one and two, Waselenchuk found himself behind in the middle of game three at 5-4. But he never looked fazed by Rojas's play, winning six straight points to reach match point at 10-5.

However, Rojas didn't roll over, and fought off three match points before succumbing to Waselechuk.

Afterwards when asked about some of the unusual shots he made, Waselenchuk said it's "just something that comes to my mind" and that it's not for the crowd.

Rojas felt he "played pretty well," although his arm was very sore afterwards. Waselenchuk also thought Rojas's game is "maturing" and that the player who's 9 years his junior could be #1 one day, though Waselenchuk will do everything he can to push that day as far into the future as possible.

The other semi-final went the distance before Carson overcame challenger Chris Crowther, including coming back from 2-1 down in games to win 11-3, 5-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6.

In the tie-breaker, Carson was down 4-1 when he skipped a serve, and then in frustration hit the ball out of the court, resulting in a technical penalty and loss of point. Thus, the score when to 4-0.

But it seemed to spur Carson on, as he won the next 10 points before Crowther clawed a couple back, which at that point seemed like it was just delaying the inevitable. And it was, as Carson won the match on his second match point.

The IRT Network will web-cast the finals of NYC Pro-Am on Sunday at noon EST.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Semi-finals - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-4, 11-0, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Chris Crowther, 11-3, 5-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6

Final - Sunday Noon EST

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - New York City Pro Am Quarter finals

2012-01-13T22:12:00.002-06:00

The top two seeds are through to the semi-finals of the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) player, won his quarter final match in three straight games versus Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 11-5, 11-3, and IRT #2 Rocky Carson had a bit more difficult as he dropped the first game against Andy Hawthorne before coming back to win in four games, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8.

Polo Gutierrez, the big winner earlier on Friday, got over-powered by Chris Crowther, who took their match three straight, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4. Crowther will face Carson in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The closest match of the quarter finals was between Jose Rojas and Alvaro Beltran, as Rojas went up 2-0 only to see Beltran come back and tie it 2-2 forcing a fifth and deciding game. But in the end, Rojas won it, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, and he'll play Waselenchuk in the other semi-final on Saturday.

The IRT Network is web-casting the semi-finals of NYC Pro-Am on Saturday.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Quarter finals - Friday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
Jose Rojas d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6

Chris Crowther d. Polo Gutierrez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Rocky Carson d. Andy Hawthorne, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8

Semi-finals - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk v. Jose Rojas - 5 PM EST
Rocky Carson v. Chris Crowther - 4 PM EST

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - New York City Pro Am Round of 16

2012-01-13T14:24:00.004-06:00

Polo Gutierrez has the first big upset of the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. - the 2nd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament of 2012, as he defeated IRT #3 Ben Croft in five games, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10. Gutierrez used a mixture of serves but no killer drive serves, and then hit many pinch shot winners with a nonchalant style. See ball. Hit ball. Roll ball out. Repeat as necessary.

Gutierrez could easily have won in fewer games, as he had a big lead in game one at 7-0 and still at 8-6, but lost. Then in games four, Gutierrez had a match points at 10-6 and then again at 10-8, but Croft fought them both off and forced a fifth game.

It was Croft who had the early lead in the tie-breaker, as he went up 4-1. Croft also led 6-4, and 9-8. However, Gutierrez had another match point at 10-9, only to see Croft tie it at 10. Then Gutierrez got the serve back and won two straight points wining the match on his fourth match point opportunity.

Earlier, the top two seeds advanced to the quarter finals with straight game victories. Top seed Kane Waselenchuk beat Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-2 and 2nd seed Rocky Carson defeated young left-hander Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8.

The IRT Network is web-casting the Round of 16 and the quarter finals of NYC Pro-Am for free all Friday.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Round of 16 - Friday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Shane Vanderson d. Tony Carson, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7

Alvaro Beltran d. Charlie Pratt, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9
Jose Rojas d. Alejandro Landa, 11-0, 12-10, 11-7

Polo Gutierrez d. Ben Croft, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10
Chris Crowther v. Agustin Tristan, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5

Andy Hawthorne d. Anthony Herrera, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Brad Schopieray, 11-2, 11-3, 11-8

Quarter finals - Friday

Kane Waselenchuk v. Shane Vanderson
Jose Rojas v. Alvaro Beltran

Chris Crowther v. Polo Gutierrez
Rocky Carson v. Andy Hawthorne

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 NYC Pro-Am Preliminary results

2012-01-12T20:54:00.003-06:00

They're midway through qualifying at the 2nd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament of 2012 - the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am in Syosset, N.Y. Sudsy Monchik, former IRT #1, who was playing in an IRT tournament for the first time since 2006, lost his first match to Agustin Tristan, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3.

Canadians didn't fare well in the last round of qualifying, as all three of those playing lost. Tristan defeated Vincent Gagnon, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2. Tony Carson came from two games down to beat Mike Green, 1-11, 4-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7. And the legend Ruben Gonzalez beat Lee Connell in four games, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-1.

Gonzalez will now have the first chance to end Kane Waselenchuk's winning streak this weekend, as they will meet in the Round of 16 on Friday.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the last round of NYC Pro-Am qualifying matches.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Round 1

Conrad Cole d. Mike Ziolo, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9

Jorge Trevino d. Jeremy McGlothin, 11-3, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6

Agustin Tristan d. Sudsy Monchik, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3

Mauricio Zelada d. Jack Goldberg, 11-2, 11-1, 11-1

Francisco Troncoso d. Abe Cardenas, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6

Round 2

Lee Connell d. David LaForest, 13-11, 12-10, 11-4

Ruben Gonzalez d. Mitch Posner, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7

Mike Green d. Conrad Cole, 11-4, 11-4, 12-10

Nick Montalbano d. Jorge Trevino, 11-5, 11-3, 12-10

Alejandro Landa d. Sami Harb, 11-6, 11-6, 11-1

Joe Palazzo d. Felipe Munoz, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10 11-9

Eric Muller d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-3, 11-6, 12-10

Polo Gutierrez d. Tom Keogh, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3

Agustin Tristan d. Vincent Gagnon, 11-1, 11-7, 11-2

Mauricio Zelada d. John Scott, 11-5, 11-2, 11-0

Hiroshi Shimizu d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7

Round 3

Q8: Ruben Gonzalez d. Lee Connell, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10, 11-1

Q1: Tony Carson d. Mike Green, 1-11, 4-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7

Q4: Alvaro Beltran d. Nick Montalbano, 11-1, 11-2, 11-8

Q5: Alejandro Landa d. Joe Palazzo, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2

Q6: Polo Gutierrez d. Eric Muller, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6

Q3: Agustin Tristan d. Javier Moreno, 1-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7

Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Mauricio Zelada, 14-12, 11-9, 11-8

Q7: Brad Schopieray d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Ruben Gonzalez

Shane Vanderson v. Tony Carson

Charlie Pratt v. Alvaro Beltran

Jose Rojas v. Alejandro Landa

Ben Croft v. Polo Gutierrez

Chris Crowther v. Agustin Tristan

Andy Hawthorne v. Anthony Herrera

Rocky Carson v. Brad Schopieray

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 NYC Pro-Am Preliminary rounds

2012-01-12T09:41:00.004-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has switched coasts for its second tournament of 2012, as they are on Long Island, New York for the Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am. IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk will try to continue his winning streak coming off a four game victory over IRT #2 Rocky Carson last Sunday in the final of the California Open.

But before that can happen there's three rounds of qualifying to get through on Thursday. The big feature in qualifying is Sudsy Monchik, former IRT #1, who retired in 2006. However, Monchik did play mixed doubles in last year's US Open, so he hasn't been completely inactive.

With no ranking points, Monchik is one of the lowest seeds in the event, which gives him a hard road to Friday's Round of 16. He'll first be up against Agustin Tristan, a good young Mexican player who played collegiately at the University of Alabama. If Monchik wins that, he'll face Vincent Gagnon, the #2 player in Canada and bronze medalist at last year's Pan Am Games. A win over Gagnon, and Monchik will be up against left handed veteran Javier Moreno, who was one of the gold medalists on the Mexican doubles team at the Pan Am Games.

Yes, Monchik has a difficult path to Friday's Round of 16. But welcome back, Sudsy! Good luck to you!

Alvaro Beltran was Moreno's partner on that Pan Am Games gold medal winning team, and Beltran's also in the qualifying draw. If he makes it through qualifying, Beltran will play Charlie Pratt, who defeated Beltran in last year's US Open.

The most interesting potential qualifying match could be Brad Schopieray versus Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimizu, as it would be pit a good young player in Schopieray against a wily veteran in Shimizu. The winner of that bracket plays #2 seed Rocky Carson on Friday.

The IRT Network will be web-casting NYC Pro-Am matches beginning Thursday January 12 at 8 PM EST.

2012 New York City Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.

Round 1

Conrad Cole v. Mike Ziolo

Jeremy McGlothin v. Jorge Trevino

Agustin Tristan v. Sudsy Monchik

Mauricio Zelada v. Jack Goldberg

Francisco Troncoso v. Abe Cardenas

Round 2

Lee Connell v. David LaForest

Ruben Gonzalez v. Mitch Posner

Mike Green v. Conrad Cole or Mike Ziolo

Nick Montalbano v. Jeremy McGlothin or Jorge Trevino

Alejandro Landa v. Sami Harb

Felipe Munoz v. Joe Palazzo

Arthur Schmeiser v. Eric Muller

Polo Gutierrez v. Tom Keogh

Vincent Gagnon v. Agustin Tristan or Sudsy Monchik

John Scott v. Mauricio Zelada or Jack Goldberg

Hiroshi Shimizu v. Francisco Troncoso or Abe Cardenas

Round 3

Q8: Lee Connell or David LaForest v. Ruben Gonzalez v. Mitch Posner

Q1: Tony Carson v. Mike Green or Conrad Cole or Mike Ziolo

Q4: Alvaro Beltran v. Nick Montalbano or Jeremy McGlothin or Jorge Trevino

Q5: Alejandro Landa or Sami Harb v. Felipe Munoz or Joe Palazzo

Q6: Arthur Schmeiser or Eric Muller v. Polo Gutierrez or Tom Keogh

Q3: Javier Moreno v. Vincent Gagnon or Agustin Tristan or Sudsy Monchik

Q2: Anthony Herrera v. John Scott or Mauricio Zelada or Jack Goldberg

Q7: Brad Schopieray v. Hiroshi Shimizu or Francisco Troncoso or Abe Cardenas

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8

Shane Vanderson v. Q1

Charlie Pratt v. Q4

Jose Rojas v. Q5

Ben Croft v. Q6

Chris Crowther v. Q3

Andy Hawthorne v. Q2

Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Longoria wins 2012 California Open

2012-01-08T21:03:00.001-06:00

Paola Longoria won her fourth tournament of the 2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season by taking the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, and further solidifying her position as the #1 WPRO player. Longoria defeated a familiar opponent in the final, WPRO #2 Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7.

Longoria's now won eight of her last nine WPRO matches against Rajsich.

In the first game, it seemed like Rajsich might carry the day, as she held an 8-4 lead. Longoria fought back and took the lead at 9-8, and it looked like that would be it for Rajsich.

However, Rajisch came back and had two game points at 10-9, but she failed to convert them. Rajsich did fight off one game point herself, when Longoria led 11-10, but then Longoria finished the game off.

Both games two and three were close early, at 3-3 and 2-2, respectively, but then Longoria took leads in each game and although Rajsich drew close late in each game, she never tied it, as Longoria went on to take the match in three straight games.

The next WPRO Tier 1 event is the Mile High Pro/Am in Denver, Colorado March 8-11.

2012 Coast to Coast California Open, Canoga Park, California

Final

1 Paola Longoria d. 2 Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Waselenchuk wins 2012 California Open

2012-01-08T20:44:00.001-06:00

Kane Waselenchuk won another tournament on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Sunday, as he defeated Rocky Carson in the final of the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, 7-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-8. Waselenchuk last lost on court in the 2009 California Open.

Carson got off to a good start against the IRT's #1 player by winning the first game. But Waselenchuk responded as he often does by making a statement in game two by allowing Carson only a single point.

In games three and four, Carson took early leads, but then had to play from behind as Waselenchuk won a streak of points. Afterwards, Waselenchuk said he was "very fortunate to win those games," and that Carson's "so tough when he's behind."

Waselenchuk attributed his first game loss to Carson playing well and himself being "a little sloppy" with his footwork. Also, Waselenchuk said he didn't feel as good when he woke up Sunday as he had on Saturday.

Carson spoke of how he can put pressure on Waselenchuk in "different ways," and Waselenchuk acknowledged feeling that pressure.

But as Waselenchuk said "I hit the shots when I needed to. Legs started working when they needed to. And here we are. The streak continues."

Waselenchuk will look to continue his winning streak next weekend at the Cactus Salon New York City Pro/Am on Long Island.

2012 California Open - Canoga Park, California

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 7-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 California Open - Semi-finals

2012-01-08T07:20:00.001-06:00

Top seed Kane Waselenchuk's winning streak continued Saturday, as the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) advanced to the final of the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California with a straight game victory over Alvaro Beltran, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2. It was an anti-climatic outcome for the anticipated re-match between Waselenchuk and Beltran, who is the last person to beat Waselenchuk on court. But that was three years ago.

Rocky Carson, the IRT's #2 player, will meet Waselenchuk in Sunday's final, as he defeated #3 Ben Croft, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2, in the other semi-final.

Despite the loss, Beltran spoke after his match of feeling completely healthy, which he hasn't been for the last two years. That's caused the former top 4 player to drop in the rankings to #14, which means that he needs to play qualifying matches that the top 8 players don't have to play.

However, if Beltran continues to have semi-final results, he'll move up the rankings. But coming into the California Open he was over 1200 points behind 8th seed Charlie Pratt, and that's quite a difference to make up.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the California Open final at noon on Sunday Pacific Standard Time.

2012 California Open - Canoga Park, California

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2

Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2

Final

Kane Waselenchuk v. Rocky Carson - Sunday 3 PM PST

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - California Open - Longoria & Rajsich to meet again

2012-01-08T07:02:00.002-06:00

Results continue to go according to form on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) side of the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, as the two top seeds have advanced to the final. Paola Longoria, the #1 WPRO player, got to the final with straight game victories over 8th seed Jennifer Saunders, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6, in the quarter finals, and 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3, in the semi-finals.

Rhonda Rajsich, the #2 WPRO player, had slightly more difficulty in getting to the final, as she needed four games to beat 7th seeded Susana Acosta in the quarter finals, winning 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, and then had close games versus 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel in the semis, but did win in three straight games, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8.

Thus, Sunday will be another Longoria-Rajsich showdown. Longoria has won seven of their last eight WPRO matches, as well as the gold medal final at last year's Pan American Games. Thus, it's clear who the favorite will be on Sunday.

The WPRO is streaming some of their matches via Ustream.

2012 Coast to Coast California Open, Canoga Park, California

Quarter finals

1 Paola Longoria d. 8 Jen Saunders, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6
4 Adrienne Fisher d. 5 Krystal Csuk, 4-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8

3 Kerri Wachtel d. 6 Cristina Amaya, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 7 Susana Acosta, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8

Semi-finals

1 Paola Longoria d. 4 Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 3 Kerri Wachtel, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8

Final

1 Paola Longoria v. 2 Rhonda Rajsich - 1 PM Sunday

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 Coast to Coast California Open Quarter finals

2012-01-07T01:21:00.002-06:00

Top seed Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), will have a chance to defeat the last man to beat him on court, as he and Alvaro Beltran both advanced to the semi-finals of the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California Friday. Beltran beat Waselenchuk in this tournament three years ago, and Waselenchuk hasn't lost a match on court since then.

Waselenchuk had an easier time of getting to the semis, as won both his matches on Friday in three straight games, defeating Alex Landa in the Round of 16, 11-5, 11-4, 11-0, and Tony Carson in the quarter finals, 11-6, 11-5, 11-1.

Beltran, on the other hand, needed five games to get past 4th seed Chris Crowther, 9-11, 12-10, 11-2, 4-11, 11-2, and four games to beat 5th seed Jose Rojas, 5-11, 13-11, 11-0, 11-4. Those wins are upsets by the tournament seeding but Beltran was a top 4 IRT player before suffering some injuries that have severely limited his playing time the last two seasons.

Things ran to form on the other side of the draw, as 2nd seed Rocky Carson and 3rd seed Ben Croft both won their Round of 16 and quarter final matches to get to the semi-finals.

Carson beat Taylor Knoth in the 16s, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9, and Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 5-11, 11-1, 11-6, in the quarter finals. Croft dispatched Daniel de la Rosa, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, in the 16s despite being down significantly in both the first two games. He also defeated Andy Hawthorne in three straight games, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2, in the quarter finals.

The only upset in the Round of 16 was Tony Carson's victory over Charlie Pratt, but it did take five games as Carson fought back from 2-1 down to win it in the fifth, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the California Open semi-finals at on Saturday and final at noon on Sunday. All times are Pacific Standard Time.

2012 California Open - Canoga Park, California

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-5, 11-1
Alvaro Beltran d. Jose Rojas, 5-11, 13-11, 11-0, 11-4

Ben Croft d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2
Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 5-11, 11-1, 11-6

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Alvaro Beltran - Saturday 4 PM PST
Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft - Saturday 3 PM PST

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Alex Landa, 11-6, 11-4, 11-0
Tony Carson d. Charlie Pratt, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8

Jose Rojas d. Juan Herrera, 11-2, 11-3, 5-11, 11-1
Alvaro Beltran d. Chris Crowther, 9-11, 12-10, 11-2, 4-11, 11-2

Ben Croft d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5
Andy Hawthorne d. Javier Moreno, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7

Shane Vanderson d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9
Rocky Carson d. Taylor Knoth, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - 2012 Coast to Coast California Open - Round of 16

2012-01-07T00:28:00.001-06:00

The top eight seeds have all made the quarter finals of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California. Top seed Paola Longoria advanced to the quarters with a straight game win over Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6. She'll play 8th seed Jennifer Saunders who defeated Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6.

Second seed Rhonda Rajsich had a more difficult time in the Round of 16, as she was down 2 games to 1 versus Aimee Ruiz, but Rajsich was able to win it in the fifth game, 1-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6. Rajsich will play Susana Acosta in the quarter finals, as Acosta beat Da'monique Davis, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1.

Two surprise score lines for us were Krystal Csuk defeating Kristen Bellows in three straight, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5, and Adrienne Fisher needing five games to get past Linda Scales, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-2. Surprising because Fisher is higher seeded than Csuk (4th v. 5th, respectively) and Bellows is a former top 4 player while Scales's current WPRO ranking (17th) is her career highest. Fisher and Csuk will play each other in the quarters on Saturday.

The fourth quarter final will see Kerri Wachtel take on Cristina Amaya. Third seed Wachtel defeated Marci Drexler, a former #2 ranked player on the women's tour, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3, after Drexler had defeated Jocelyn Loredo,10-12, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 in the opening round. Amaya beat T. J. Baumbaugh in four games, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.

The WPRO is streaming some of their California Open matches via Ustream.

2012 Coast to Coast California Open, Canoga Park, California

Round of 16

1 Paola Longoria d. 16 Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6
8 Jen Saunders v. 9 Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6

5 Krystal Csuk d. 12 Kristen Bellows, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5
4 Adrienne Fisher d. 13 Linda Scales, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-2

3 Kerri Wachtel d. 19 Marci Drexler, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3
6 Cristina Amaya d. 11 T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5

7 Susana Acosta d. 10 Da'monique Davis, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1
2 Rhonda Rajsich d. 15 Aimee Ruiz, 1-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6

Quarter finals

1 Paola Longoria v. 8 Jen Saunders - Noon Saturday
4 Adrienne Fisher v. 5 Krystal Csuk - Noon Saturday

3 Kerri Wachtel v. 6 Cristina Amaya - 11 AM Saturday
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 7 Susana Acosta - 11 AM Saturday

Round of 32

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Frédérique Lambert d. 17 Janel Tisinger, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5

9 Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
8 Jen Saunders - BYE

5 Krystal Csuk - BYE
12 Kristen Bellows - BYE

13 Linda Scales - BYE
4 Adrienne Fisher - BYE

3 Kerri Wachtel - BYE
19 Marci Drexler d. 14 Jocelyn Loredo, 10-12, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4

11 T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE

7 Susana Acosta - BYE
10 Da'monique Davis - BYE

15 Aimee Ruiz d. 18 Laura Fenton, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2
2 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 California Open Preliminary Results

2012-01-06T05:03:00.002-06:00

Qualifying is over at the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, although not all results are in. But there haven't been any upsets so far.

In the final qualifying round, Alex Landa defeated Arthur Schmeiser, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2, and Taylor Knoth also had a three game victory over Andreas Herrera, 11-1, 11-9, 11-5. In the Round of 16, Landa will play top seed Kane Waselenchuk and Knoth will face 2nd seed Rocky Carson.

As expected the last round qualifying matches between Anthony Herrera and Jose Diaz, and Tony Carson versus Kris Odegard were closer, with the opponents splitting their first two games. However, neither required a tie-breaking game five, as Herrera defeated Diaz, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8, and Carson beat Odegard, 11-5, 2-11, 11-6, 11-9.

The IRT Network will be web-casting the California Open Round of 16 from 11:30 AM PST on Friday January 6 (free), and then the quarter finals beginning at 5:30 PM PST (subscription required).

2012 California Open - Canoga Park, California

Qualifying Round 3

Q8: Alex Landa d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-2, 11-7, 11-2

Q1: Tony Carson d. Kris Odegard, 11-5, 2-11, 11-6, 11-9

Q4: Juan Herrera d. Jaime Martell, 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11, 11-2

Q5: Alvaro Beltran d. Alex Ackermann, 11-8, 11-3, 4-11, 9-11, 11-3

Q6: Daniel De La Rosa d. Brad Schopieray, 11-0, 11-7, 11-6

Q3: Javier Moreno d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8

Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Jose Diaz, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8

Q7: Taylor Knoth d. Andres Herrera, 11-1, 11-9, 11-5

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Alex Landa

Charlie Pratt v. Tony Carson

Jose Rojas v. Juan Herrera

Chris Crowther v. Alvaro Beltran

Ben Croft v. Daniel De La Rosa

Andy Hawthorne v. Javier Moreno

Shane Vanderson v. Anthony Herrera

Rocky Carson v. Taylor Knoth

Qualifying Round 1

Sadao Funatani d. Josh Tucker, fft

Armondo Bermudez d. Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6

Felipe Munoz d. Majeed Shahin, 11-2, 11-9, 11-7

Kris Odegard d. Alejandro Arango, fft

Jaime Martell d. Ryan Meyer, 11-0, 11-1, 5-11, 11-5

Coby Iwaasa d. Peter Wrigley, 11-7, 11-2, 11-7

Keith Minor d. Yuho Ariga, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2

Alex Ackermann d. Ernesto Ruiz, 11-4, 11-7, 11-0

Jeremy McGlothin d. Yuji Motino, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3

Andrew Gale d. Kevin Kringle, 11-5, 11-4, 11-1

Brian Pineda d. Darrell Bericuatro, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4

Ruben Gonzalez d. John Scott, 11-3, 11-3, 11-9

Hank Minardo d. Amir Shahin, 11-1, 4-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-7

Jose Diaz d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-1, 11-1, 11-3

Jansen Allen d. Thomas Eisner, 11-3, 11-5, 11-1

Matt Majxner d. Grant Stalley, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1

Scott Burr d. Ryoki Kamahara, 11-9, 11-0, 13-11

Qualifying Round 2

Alex Landa d. Sadao Funatani, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6

Arthur Schmeiser v. Armondo Bermudez, 11-9, 11-2, 13-11

Kris Odegard d. Felipe Munoz, 11-7, 1-11, 11-5, 11-2

Jaime Martell d. Coby Iwaasa, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-0

Alvaro Beltran d. Keith Minor, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6

Alex Ackermann d. Jeremy McGlothin, 11-5, 11-1, 11-3

Daniel De La Rosa d. Andrew Gale, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5

Brad Schopieray d. Brian Pineda, 11-4, 11-2, 13-11

Ruben Gonzalez d. Hank Minardo, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2

Jose Diaz or Francisco Troncoso v. Jansen Allen or Thomas Eisner

Taylor Knoth d. Matt Majxner, 11-8, 11-1, 9-11, 11-1

Andres Herrera d. Scott Burr, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - 2012 California Open Preliminary Rounds

2012-01-04T23:54:00.002-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) begins 2012 with the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California. This will mark three years since IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk was defeated on court, as he lost to Alvaro Beltran in four games at the 2009 California Open.

Since then Waselenchuk's won every time he's stepped on the court. Sadly, Beltran had a major mis-step on the court resulting in an injury that led to him missing most of the 2009-10 IRT season.

But Beltran's healthy now, and is one of the 45 players in the qualifying rounds that will happen on Thursday. Beltran looks likely to make it through qualifying and into the Round of 16 on Friday, as does fellow Mexican Javier Moreno, who partnered with Beltran to win gold in October at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

But there could be some good final qualifying matches, as Anthony Herrera will likely face Jose Diaz, Taylor Knoth will be up against Andreas Herrera, and Tony Carson battles Kris Odegard. However, for those matches to happen one or two wins have to be earned first, and woe can come to those who look past early matches in anticipation of what is to come.

The IRT Network will be web-casting California Open matches beginning Thursday January 5 at 9 PM PST.

2012 California Open - Canoga Park, California

Round 1

Josh Tucker v. Sadao Funatani

Armondo Bermudez v. Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Felipe Munoz v. Majeed Shahin

Kris Odegard v. Alejandro Arango

Ryan Meyer v. Jaime Martell

Peter Wrigley v. Coby Iwaasa

Keith Minor v. Yuho Ariga

Alex Ackermann v. Ernesto Ruiz

Jeremy McGlothin v. Yuji Motino

Andrew Gale v. Kevin Kringle

Brian Pineda v. Darrell Bericuatro

Ruben Gonzalez v. John Scott

Hank Minardo v. Amir Shahin

Jose Diaz v. Francisco Troncoso

Jansen Allen v. Thomas Eisner

Grant Stalley v. Matt Majxner

Ryoki Kamahara v. Scott Burr

Round 2

Alex Landa v. Josh Tucker or Sadao Funatani

Arthur Schmeiser v. Armondo Bermudez or Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Felipe Munoz or Majeed Shahin v. Kris Odegard or Alejandro Arango

Ryan Meyer or Jaime Martell v. Peter Wrigley or Coby Iwaasa

Alvaro Beltran v. Keith Minor or Yuho Ariga

Alex Ackermann or Ernesto Ruiz v. Jeremy McGlothin or Yuji Motino

Daniel De La Rosa v. Andrew Gale or Kevin Kringle

Brad Schopieray v. Brian Pineda or Darrell Bericuatro

Ruben Gonzalez or John Scott v. Hank Minardo or Amir Shahin

Jose Diaz or Francisco Troncoso v. Jansen Allen or Thomas Eisner

Taylor Knoth v. Grant Stalley or Matt Majxner

Andres Herrera v. Ryoki Kamahara or Scott Burr

Round 3

Q8: Alex Landa / Josh Tucker / Sadao Funatani v. Arthur Schmeiser / Armondo Bermudez / Alexi David Cocco Hayes

Q1: Tony Carson v. Felipe Munoz / Majeed Shahin / Kris Odegard / Alejandro Arango

Q4: Juan Herrera v. Ryan Meyer / Jaime Martell / Peter Wrigley / Coby Iwaasa

Q5: Alvaro Beltran / Keith Minor / Yuho Ariga v. Alex Ackermann / Ernesto Ruiz / Jeremy McGlothin / Yuji Motino

Q6: Daniel De La Rosa / Andrew Gale / Kevin Kringle v. Brad Schopieray / Brian Pineda / Darrell Bericuatro

Q3: Javier Moreno v. Ruben Gonzalez / John Scott / Hank Minardo / Amir Shahin

Q2: Anthony Herrera v. Jose Diaz / Francisco Troncoso / Jansen Allen / Thomas Eisner

Q7: Taylor Knoth / Grant Stalley / Matt Majxner v. Andres Herrera / Ryoki Kamahara / Scott Burr

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8

Charlie Pratt v. Q1

Jose Rojas v. Q4

Chris Crowther v. Q5

Ben Croft v. Q6

Andy Hawthorne v. Q3

Shane Vanderson v. Q2

Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - California Open Preview

2012-01-04T22:42:00.002-06:00

This weekend is a two for, as the Coast to Coast Califorinia Open in Canoga Park, Califoria is both an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event. We'll go with the women first.

There are 19 players in the WPRO draw, including Cheryl Gudinas, who makes a return to the WPRO after missing two events due to knee surgery. As a result Gudinas is seeded 9th, which must be her lowest seeding in many years. She'll play Canadian Jennifer Saunders first, with the winner to likely face top seed Paola Longoria in the quarter finals.

Another remarkable inclusion in the draw is the last ranked player, because Marci Drexler twice finished as the #2 ranked player on the women's tour. But that was back in 90s. This weekend Drexler will be up against against Mexican Jocelyn Loredo with the winner facing 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel.

Two other initial matches will pit former doubles partners against each other. Krystal Csuk and Kristen Bellows were team-mates back in the day at Baldwin-Wallace College, and they'll face off in Canoga Park. As will Aimee Ruiz and Laura Fenton, who won the 2006 International Racquetball Federation Doubles World Championship together.

The Ruiz-Fenton winner will face #2 seed Rhonda Rajsich, while top seed Longoria's first opponent will be the winner of Frédérique Lambert and Janel Tisinger.

Samantha Salas Solis, #3 on the WPRO rankings, is missing another tournament due to her shoulder injury.

2012 Coast to Coast California Open, Canoga Park, California
Round of 32

1 Paola Longoria - BYE
16 Frédérique Lambert v. 17 Janel Tisinger

9 Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
8 Jen Saunders - BYE

9 Krystal Csuk - BYE
12 Kristen Bellows - BYE

13 Linda Scales - BYE
4 Adrienne Fisher - BYE

3 Kerri Wachtel - BYE
14 Jocelyn Loredo v. 19 Marci Drexler

11 T. J. Baumbaugh - BYE
6 Cristina Amaya - BYE

7 Susana Acosta - BYE
10 Da'monique Davis - BYE

15 Aimee Ruiz v. 18 Laura Fenton
2 Rhonda Rajsich - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

Croft wins Minot Open

2011-12-12T17:18:00.006-06:00

Ben Croft won the Minot Open - a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) - in Minot, North Dakota on the weekend, defeating Shane Vanderson in the final, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3. It was Croft's second victory over Vanderson in as many weekends, as they met in the final of the Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas last weekend.

The Minot Open was an old fashioned racquetball tournament with playing until all hours, nice trophies and great hospitality.

Croft's slow start in the final might have been a bit of a hangover from his Saturday schedule, as he was only able to get to Minot Saturday afternoon due to a flight cancellation on Friday. That meant he had to play three matches in a row.

But by that last match - the semi-finals - Croft was dialed in, as he only gave up three points to veteran Richard Eisemann, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1. Vanderson also won his semi-final match in three straight games, as he defeated Canadian Lee Connell, 11-4, 11-1, 11-4.

In the final, Croft served mainly backhand lob Z to the left side, which was to Vanderson's backhand, although Vanderson's known to be very strong with his backhand. Asked about that strategy afterwards, Croft explained that "Shane has a good forehand too, so if you play too much to his forehand he's going to get in a groove and now you're dealing with two hot sides."

Croft's lob Z was hard to cut off, so it was difficult for Vanderson to hit an aggressive return. Croft often hit it so it wasn't really a Z more like a Y serve, as it's pace didn't bounce off the side wall and back wall, where it might have been easier for Vanderson to return.

"Time out!"

The Racquetball Blog interviewed Croft after the match and we'll bring that to you in coming days.

Minot Open, Minot, North Dakota

December 9-11, 2011

Final

Ben Croft d. Shane Vanderson, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3

3rd place

Richard Eisemann d. Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Richard Eisemann, 11-0, 11-2, 11-1

Shane Vanderson d. Lee Connell, 11-4, 11-1, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Longoria wins Christmas Classic

2011-12-11T21:24:00.002-06:00

Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich for the fourth time in ten weeks, solidifying her position on top of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings on Sunday by winning the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia. But Longoria didn't make it easy on herself as she lost the first two games before staging a comeback to win in five games, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

The turning point of the match was game three, as Longoria was up 7-2, but Rajsich came back to make the match close. But while doing so, Rajsich was hit by Longoria during a rally. The contact was unintentional, but Rajsich needed some injury time prior to continuing.

Despite the injury, Rajich did narrow the gap to 9-8. But that was as close as Rajsich got, as Longoria won it 11-8.

Longoria won the fourth game comfortably, taking a 5-0 lead and winning 11-4. In game five, Longoria again took the early lead at 4-1 and 8-4. But Rajsich, the WPRO #1 at the beginning of the season, again fought back and got within two points at 9-7.

But on her second match point opportunity, Longoria won it, 11-7. The victory is the 18th of Longoria's career, and third WPRO win of the season. Longoria defeated Rajsich in the final of the last two WPRO events, and also beat Rajsich for the gold medal game of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico in October.

The next WPRO tournament will be the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California, January 5-8, 2012.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic Semi-finals

2011-12-11T00:55:00.001-06:00

Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich will meet for the fourth time this season, as they're in the final of the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina, the fourth event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season. Longoria has won the three previous three times.

Longoria advanced to the final with a semi-final victory over Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7, while Rajsich defeated surprise semi-finalist Krystal Csuk, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.

Csuk was an upset winner over Kerri Wachtel in the quarter finals, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6.

The final will be at noon EST Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

Semi finals

Paola Longoria d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-9, 11-3, 11-5

Final

Paola Longoria vs. Rhonda Rajsich

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7

Adrienne Fisher d. Cristina Amaya, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5

Krystal Csuk d. Kerri Wachtel, 8-11, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-6

Rhonda Rajsich d. Susana Acosta, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic 16s

2011-12-10T00:32:00.001-06:00

For perhaps the first time in a long time the top 8 seeds are all through to the quarter finals of a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tournament, specifically the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina. Indeed, none of the matches in the Round of 16 on Friday went more than four games and only three of the eight matches went that far.

The two top seeds won in three games straight, blanking their opponent in one of those games. Top seed Paola Longoria defeated Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3, and second seed Rhonda Rajsich won over Mercedes Arias, 11-1, 11-4, 11-0.

Arias's earlier match with Tracy Hawthorne was the only match of the day to need a tie-breaking fifth game, as Arias - a member of the US Junior National Team - came out on top 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1.

The player outside the top 8 seeds most likely to make the quarters would have been Kristen Bellows, a former top 4 WPRO player. But she lost to 6th seed Krystal Csuk, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6.

Once upon a time - in fact, it was a decade ago in 2001 - Bellows and Csuk were team-mates on the Baldwin-Wallace racquetball team before Bellows (nee Walsh) transferred to University of Utah, in her home state.

The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Round of 16

Paola Longoria d. Grace Hughes, 11-1, 11-0, 11-3

Jennifer Saunders d. Da'monique Davis, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6

Cristina Amaya d. Laura Brandt, 11-0, 11-0, 11-8

Adrienne Fisher d. Kimberly Ferina, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5

Kerri Wachtel d. Anita Maldonado, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3

Krystal Csuk d. Kristen Bellows, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6

Susana Acosta d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-1, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3

Rhonda Rajsich d. Mercedes Arias, 11-1, 11-4, 11-0

Quarter finals

Paola Longoria vs. Jennifer Saunders

Adrienne Fisher vs. Cristina Amaya

Kerri Wachtel vs. Krystal Csuk

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Susana Acosta

Round of 32

Paola Longoria vs. BYE

Grace Hughes d. Ana Paola Nunez, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-4

Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE

Da'monique Davis vs. BYE

Cristina Amaya vs. BYE

Laura Brandt d. Marie Barron, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2

Kimberly Ferina d. Claudia Andrade, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4

Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE

Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE

Anita Maldonado d. Erika Hawley, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7

Kristen Bellows vs. BYE

Krystal Csuk vs. BYE

Susana Acosta vs. BYE

T. J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE

Mercedes Arias d. Tracy Hawthorne, 14-16, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-1

Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Christmas Classic Preview

2011-12-07T18:58:00.002-06:00

The draw for this weekend's Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tournament - the 20th Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virgina - is similar to the previous tournament, although the two top seeds have flipped. Paola Longoria is now the WPRO's #1 player and Rhonda Rajsich is #2.

The similarity between this week's draw and last month's Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, lies is the absence of WPRO #3 Samantha Salas and #10 Cheryl Gudinas, who remain out with injuries. Sources suggest that Salas's right shoulder (she's right handed) is significantly injured so she may be out for some time. Gudinas had knee surgery last month and is aiming at returning to action in January at the Coast to Coast California Open.

Thus, once again Kerri Wachtel is 3rd seed and Adrienne Fisher 4th. Kristen Bellows is again in the draw, and could meet Wachtel in the quarter finals. There were several Wachtel-Bellows (then Walsh) matches when both players were in the top five in the mid-2000s.

Play begins in Arlington on Friday with the Round of 32 and Round of 16. The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

20th Christmas Classic, Arlington, Virginia

December 9-11, 2011

Round of 32

Paola Longoria vs. BYE

Ana Paola Nunez vs. Grace Hughes

Jennifer Saunders vs. BYE

Da'monique Davis vs. BYE

Cristina Amaya vs. BYE

Laura Brandt vs. Marie Barron

Kimberly Ferina vs. Claudia Andrade

Adrienne Fisher vs. BYE

Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE

Anita Maldonado vs. Erika Hawley

Kristen Bellows vs. BYE

Krystal Csuk vs. BYE

Susana Acosta vs. BYE

T. J. Baumbaugh vs. BYE

Tracy Hawthorne vs. Mercedes Arias

Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE

Round of 16

Paola Longoria vs. Ana Paola Nunez or Grace Hughes

Jennifer Saunders vs. Da'monique Davis

Cristina Amaya vs. Laura Brandt or Marie Barron

Adrienne Fisher vs. Kimberly Ferina or Claudia Andrade

Kerri Wachtel vs. Anita Maldonado or Erika Hawley

Krystal Csuk vs. Kristen Bellows

Susana Acosta vs. T. J. Baumbaugh

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Tracy Hawthorne or Mercedes Arias

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Crowther wins Lou Bradley Memorial

2011-12-05T08:48:00.001-06:00

Chris Crowther won the 14th Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin on the weekend. He defeated Andy Hawthorne in the final, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10. The Lou Bradley Memorial is a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).

In the semi-finals, Crowther beat Andy Thompson, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7. Thompson was a surprise semi-finalist after defeating Juan Herrera in the quarter finals, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5.

In the other semi-final, Hawthorne defeated Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11

14th Lou Bradley Memorial Pro-Am, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

December 2-4, 2011

Final

Chris Crowther d. Andy Hawthorne, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10

Semi-finals

Chris Crowther d. Andy Thompson, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7

Andy Hawthorne d. Tony Carson, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11

Quarter finals

Chris Crowther d. Geoff Goldblatt

Andy Thompson d. Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5

Andy Hawthorne d. Tracy Chynoweth

Tony Carson d. Paul Krueger

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT - Croft wins 21st Turkey Shootout

2011-12-04T14:32:00.001-06:00

Ben Croft won the 21st Turkey Shootout in Garden City, Kansas Sunday with a three game victory over Shane Vanderson in the final, 12-10, 11-5, 14-12. The Turkey Shootout is a Tier 3 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).

In the semi-finals, Croft beat Alvaro Beltran, 1-15, 12-10, 13-11, 0-11, 11-2, and Vanderson defeated Javier Moreno, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5.

But in doubles, the Mexicans Beltran and Moreno had the better of Croft and Vanderson, winning the final 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.

21st Turkey Shoot, Garden City, Kansas

December 2-4, 2011

Final

Ben Croft d. Shane Vanderson, 12-10, 11-5, 14-12

Semi-finals

Ben Croft d. Alvaro Beltran, 1-15, 12-10, 13-11, 0-11, 11-2

Shane Vanderson d. Javier Moreno, 5-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Quarter finals

Ben Croft d. Dustin Webster, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6

Alvaro Beltran d. Felipe Camacho, 12-10, 11-8, 12-10

Javier Moreno d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-3, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4

Shane Vanderson d. Jake Bredenbeck, 8-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT Rankings - December 1, 2011

2011-12-01T11:20:00.002-06:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has updated its rankings, although there are no changes in the top three. Kane Waselenchuk is the #1 IRT player, followed by Rocky Carson in #2 and Ben Croft in #3.

But Chris Crowther and Jose Rojas are both on career highs, as Crowther is up to #4, and Rojas is #5. Crowther's made one final and a semi this season, while Rojas has made the semis in 3 of the 4 Tier 1 or Grand Slam IRT events of the season.

Jack Huczek, who retired in May, is still #6, which is a testament to how far ahead he was of the rest of the field that only a few players have moved past him.

Andy Hawthorne #7, Shane Vanderson #8, Charlie Pratt #9, and Tony Carson #10, round out the top 10.

Nine of the top ten players are American, but seven of the next ten are not. Four Mexicans - Javier Moreno, Alvaro Beltran, Daniel De La Rosa, and Alejandro Landa - two Colombians - Juan Herrera and Alejandro Herrera, and a Canadian - James Slamko - join the three Americans - Anthony Herrera, Taylor Knoth and Arthur Schmeiser - to make up the 11-20 IRT ranks.

Ruben Watch

Also of note, Ruben Gonzalez is #31 overall and #24 for this season, so he's got a ways to go to get to his goal of being in the top 10 at the end of the season, when he'll be 60. The Racquetball Blog has three words for Mr. Gonzalez: Work. To. Do.

Gonzalez was to his next chance to climb closer to his goal this month with the Corona Open in Chihuahua, Mexico, December 15-18, but that's been taken off the schedule. Thus, the IRT's next Tier 1 event will be in the new year with the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park.

That will start a heavy tournament schedule for the second half of the season, as there will be 13 tournaments in 21 weeks; they'll be playing roughly two of every three weeks. Not a schedule for old men.

We suggest Gonzalez put in some good training this month and go easy on the egg nog and holiday meals. He's got a lot of work ahead of him.

IRT Rankings 2010-11 Season - December 1, 2011

Rank - Player - Points

1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4974

2 Rocky CARSON, 3894

3 Ben CROFT, 2877

4 Chris CROWTHER, 2414

5 Jose ROJAS, 2372

6 Jack HUCZEK, 2340

7 Andy HAWTHORNE, 2213

8 Shane VANDERSON, 2131

9 Charlie PRATT, 1868

10 Tony CARSON, 1508

11 Anthony HERRERA, 1394

12 Javier MORENO, 1026

13 Juan HERRERA, 876

14 Alvaro BELTRAN, 631

15 Daniel DE LA ROSA, 611

16 Alejandro HERRERA, 575

17 Taylor KNOTH, 554

18 Alejandro LANDA, 484

19 Arthur SCHMEISER, 475

20 Jamie SLAMKO, 465

Follow the bouncing ball....

Top seeds get it done at Racquetball Canada's National Team Selection Event

2011-11-27T21:45:00.001-06:00

Mike Green and Jennifer Saunders, the #1 men's and women's, respectively, players in Canada won their respective divisions at the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event on Sunday in Oakville, Ontario. They each defeated the second seed to do so in what ever rematches of finals from the 2011 Canadian National Championships last May.

Green had the easier time of it, as he defeated Vincent Gagon in two straight games, 15-8, 15-0. Green again used his powerful drive serve to constantly keep Gagnon on the defensive.

Saunders needed a tie-breaker to win her final, as 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert won the first game of their match making several touch shots into the front corners. But Saunders recovered to take game two and force a tie-breaker. She won that with two flat roll out shots, winning 12-15, 15-8, 11-7.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event
Oakville, Ontario

Men's Open

Final: Mike Green d. Vincent Gagnon, 15-8, 15-0

3rd Place: Kris Odegard d. Tim Landeryou, 15-4, 15-6

5th Place: Nathaniel Husulak d. Francis Guillemette, 15-1, 15-8

7th Place: Lee Connell d. James Landeryou, injury forfeit

Women's Open

Final: Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 12-15, 15-8, 11-7

3rd Place: Josée Grand'Maître d. Christine Richardson, 15-0, 16-14

5th Place: Brandi Jacobson Prentice d. Michèle Morissette, 15-4, 15-5

7th Place: Nadia Vérilli d. Valerie Fallu, 16-14, forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball....

One vs. two in men's & women's finals at Racquetball Canada's National Team Selection Event

2011-11-27T00:56:00.002-06:00

The top two seeds on both the men's and women's draws will play each other in the finals of the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event in Oakville, Ontario. This will be a repeat of the finals from the 2011 Canadian National Championships last May.

Mike Green, Canada's #1 player, reached the final with victories over Tim Landeryou, 15-7, 15-3, in the semi-finals, and Francis Guillemette, 15-2, 15-0, in the quarter finals.

He'll face 2nd seed Vincent Gagnon in the final Sunday, as Gagnon won a tie-breaker against 3rd seed Kris Odegard, 16-14, 13-15, 11-2.

Gagnon beat Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-10, in the quarter finals.

On the women's side, first seed Jennifer Saunders defeated Christine Richardson, 15-6, 15-4, in the semi-finals. Richardson, the 5th seed, had upset 4th seed Brandi Jacobson Prentice in the quarter finals, 3-15, 15-5, 11-3.

Saunders will face 2nd seed Frédérique Lambert, who beat Josée Grand'Maître, 15-6, 17-15, in the other semi-final.

Results from this weekend will be combined with results from the National Team Selection Event in February 2012 in Regina and the Canadian National Championships next May in Brossard, Que. to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2012 World Racquetball Championships.

The women's final will be Sunday at noon in Oakville with the men's final to follow at 2 PM at the National Fitness and Racquet Club.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Oakville, Ontario

Men's Open

Semi-finals

Mike Green d. Tim Landeryou, 15-7, 15-3

Vincent Gagnon d. Kris Odegard, 16-14, 13-15, 11-2

Final - Sunday 2 PM EST

Mike Green vs. Vincent Gagnon

3rd Place - Sunday 1 PM EST

Kris Odegard vs. Tim Landeryou

Quarter finals

Mike Green d. Francis Guillemette, 15-2, 15-0

Tim Landeryou d. James Landeryou, 16-18, 15-9, 11-2

Kris Odegard d. Nathaniel Husulak, 15-10, 18-20, 11-6

Vincent Gagnon d. Lee Connell, 15-9, 15-10

Women's Open

Semi-finals

Jennifer Saunders d. Christine Richardson, 15-6, 15-4

Frédérique Lambert d. Josée Grand'Maître, 15-6, 17-15

Final - Sunday 12 PM EST

Jennifer Saunders vs. Frédérique Lambert

3rd Place - Sunday 11 AM EST

Josée Grand'Maître vs. Christine Richardson

Quarter finals

Jennifer Saunders d. Nadia Vérilli, 15-6, 15-4

Christine Richardson d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 3-15, 15-5, 11-3

Josée Grand'Maître d. Valerie Fallu, 15-5, 15-2

Frédérique Lambert d. Michèle Morissette, 15-1, 15-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

Racquetball Canada's National Team Selection Event

2011-11-26T08:27:00.002-06:00

Racquetball Canada is having its first National Team Selection Event of the season this weekend in Oakville, Ontario. So far there have been no big upsets. Mike Green, current Canadian champion and top seed, showed the form that won him that championship last May, as he defeated former Canadian Champion Corey Osborne, 15-1, 15-2.

Men's second seed Vincent Gagnon of Montreal also won easily, as he beat Tommy Murray, 15-9, 15-5. Murray's younger brother didn't fare any better, as Samuel Murray fell to 3rd seed Kris Odegard, 15-3, 15-8.

Fourth seed Tim Landeryou defeated current Canadian U18 Boys Champion Kurtis Cullen in two games, 15-8, 15-4.

A highlight match of the women's first round was Nadia Verilli's win over Brittany Nelson, 15-4, 12-15, 11-9. Verilli was a Canadian Champion in women's doubles in 1990, which was before her young opponent was born.

Play continues through Sunday.

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event

Oakville, Ontario

Men's Open

Round of 16

Mike Green d. Corey Osborne, 15-1, 15-2

Vincent Gagnon d. Tommy Murray, 15-9, 15-5

Kris Odegard d. Samuel Murray, 15-3, 15-8

Nathaniel Husulak d. Barret Husulak, 15-5, 15-10

Lee Connell d. Coby Iwaasa, 15-10, 15-9

Francis Guillemette d. Pedro Castro, 15-10, 15-11

Tim Landeryou d. Kurtis Cullen, 15-8, 15-4

James Landeryou d. Eric Desrochers, 18-16, 15-11

Quarter finals

Mike Green vs. Francis Guillemette

Vincent Gagnon vs. Lee Connell

Kris Odegard vs. Nathaniel Husulak

Tim Landeryou vs. James Landeryou

First Round

Pedro Castro d. Dylan Hunter, 15-7, 15-12

Francis Guillemette d. Dennis Oteyza, 15-3, 15-7

Coby Iwaasa d. Nicolas Bousquet, 15-6, 15-7

Barret Husulak d. Steve Scagnetti, 15-4, 15-9

Eric Desrochers d. Sami Harb, 6-15, 15-4, 11-3

Kurtis Cullen d. Sébastien Juteau, 15-6, 16-14

Samuel Murray d. Conrad Cole, 15-9, 15-10

Tommy Murray d. Colin Mohr, 15-13, 15-12

Corey Osborne d. Francois Viens, 16-14, 15-7

Women's Open

First Round

Valerie Fallu d. Callie Hunter, 15-3, 15-1

Michèle Morissette d. Kira Brereton, 15-5, 15-2

Nadia Vérilli d. Brittany Nelson, 15-4, 12-15, 11-9

Quarter finals

Jennifer Saunders vs. Nadia Vérilli

Brandi Jacobson Prentice vs. Christine Richardson

Josée Grand'Maître vs. Valerie Fallu

Frédérique Lambert vs. Michèle Morissette

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO Rankings - "Ch-ch-ch-changes...."

2011-11-23T10:11:00.003-06:00

Paola Longoria has regained the #1 ranking in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO). Her win in last weekend's Puget Sound tournament moved her past Rhonda Rajsich into the top spot. Longoria has won more tournaments - 16 - than any other player over the last four WPRO seasons.

Samantha Salas and Kerri Wachtel remain 3rd and 4th, respectively, but there's a wholesale shuffling of the rankings after that.

Adrienne Fisher is up to 5th, but Cristina Amaya at 6th and Krystal Csuk at 7th are both on career highs (according to The Racquetball Blog records). Susana Acosta is 8th and Jennifer Saunders 9th.

Veteran and former WPRO #1, Cheryl Gudinas has dropped to 10th, which must be her lowest ranking for almost 20 years. Gudinas has finished in the top 5 every season since 1993-94, when she made her first appearance in the top 10.

Gudinas missed the Puget Sound event due to knee surgery, and if she's not ready for the next WPRO event - the Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia - Gudinas will likely fall out of the top 10 for the first time in her long and tremendous career.

Finally, Kristen Bellows's semi-final result in Olympia has got the former top four player up to 14th.

The next WPRO event is the Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia, December 8-11, 2011.

WPRO Rankings (November 22, 2011)

Rank - Name - Nationality - Points

1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1451.00

2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1403.40

3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 608.30

4 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 459.45

5 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 383.70

6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 354.65

7 Krystal Csuk (USA) 354.60

8 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 352.50

9 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 334.00

10 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 320.00

11 Angela Grisar (Chile) 307.00

12 Da'monique Davis (USA) 222.75

13 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 190.50

14 Kristen Bellows (USA) 158.90

15 Christie Huczek (Canada) 150.25

16 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 148.00

17 Linda Scales (USA) 126.00

18 Laura Brandt (USA) 106.50

19 Keely Franks (USA) 90.00

20 Sharon Jackson (USA) 87.50

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up - Herrera, Saunders & Knoth win

2011-11-21T11:17:00.002-06:00

Juan Herrera won the 20th Annual Turkey Shoot tournament, a Tier 5 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Lombard, Illinois. Top seed Herrera beat 6th seeded Keith Minor in the final, 11-9, 11-1, 11-7.

Herrera defeated Brian Simpson, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, in the semi-finals, while Minor got to the final with two upset victories. He beat Arthur Schmeiser, in three close games in the semi-finals, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, and in the quarter finals defeated Brad Schopieray, 5-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7.

Puget Sound Challenge Open Division Winners

In Olympia, Washington, Jennifer Saunders won the women's open division of the Puget Sound Challenge with a 15-6, 15-6 victory over Susana Acosta in the final.

Saunders beat Krystal Csuk, 15-9, 15-10, in the semi-finals while Acosta defeated T. J. Baumbaugh, 15-3, 15-14. Csuk took the third place match, winning 15-4, 15-8 against Baumbaugh.

In the men's open division in Olympia, Taylor Knoth beat Anthony Herrera, 9-15, 15-5, 11-9. In the semi-finals, Knoth defeated Jansen Allen, 15-11, 5-15, 11-9, while Herrera defeated Jeff Stark, 15-7, 15-10.

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge - Longoria defeats Rajsich

2011-11-20T16:46:00.001-06:00

Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich for the third time in two months to win the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington. Longoria won it in four games, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10. She's won two of the three Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tournaments so far this season. Rajsich won the other.

Going into this weekend's event, Longoria was trailed Rajsich in the standings by a little over 80 points. This win may be enough to push Longoria past Rajsich into the #1 ranking that she held for two seasons after taking the top spot from Rajsich, who took it back last season.

The next WPRO event is the Christmas Classic December 8-11 in Arlington, Virginia.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Finals

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Semi-finals

2011-11-20T07:39:00.002-06:00

It'll be 1 v. 2 again in a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event final, as WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich will face #2 Paola Longoria Sunday in the final of the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington. Longoria has won their last two meetings: last month in the US Open and in the Pan American Games.

Rajsich reached the final by defeating Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6, while Longoria beat fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6.

The final will be at noon Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6

Paola Longoria d. Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6

Finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Paola Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge QFs

2011-11-19T19:00:00.002-06:00

Top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria are through to the semi-finals at the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, but in the semis they'll face two upset winners.

Kristen Bellows, a former top 4 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, won again Saturday as she defeated 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5. Bellows will play Rajsich in the semi-finals later Saturday, as Rajsich beat Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3.

Longoria defeated Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4, in the quarter finals, and she'll play fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, who defeated 3rd seed Kerri Wachtel in five games, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9.

The semi-finals will be played Saturday evening with the final slated for Sunday at noon.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-4, 11-4, 11-3

Kristen Bellows d. Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5

Susana Acosta d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9

Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kristen Bellows

Paola Longoria vs. Susana Acosta

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Round of 16

2011-11-19T00:29:00.001-06:00

Kristen Bellows continues to make an impact in her return to the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour, as she reached the quarter finals at the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, with a win over 5th seed Jennifer Saunders, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8.

The win sets up a re-match with 4th seed Adrienne Fisher, who was a straight games winner over Keely Franks, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2. Bellows defeated Fisher in the US Open last month.

The other top seeds were also winners. Top seed Rhonda Rajsich beat Cheyenne Hayes, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2; second seed Paola Longoria defeated Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-0, 11-6; and third seed Kerri Wachtel needed four games to get by Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9.

The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Cheyenne Hayes, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2

Krystal Csuk d. Da'monique Davis, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7

Kristen Bellows d. Jennifer Saunders, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8

Adrienne Fisher d. Keely Franks, 11-8, 11-2, 11-2

Kerri Wachtel d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9

Susana Acosta d. Linda Scales, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4

Cristina Amaya d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 6-11, 11-8, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8

Paola Longoria d. Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-0, 11-6

Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Krystal Csuk

Adrienne Fisher vs. Kristen Bellows

Kerri Wachtel vs. Susana Acosta

Paola Longoria vs. Cristina Amaya

Round 1

Cheyenne Hayes d. Tammarrian Rogers, 11-9, 11-1, 1-6

Grace Hughes d. Kimberly Ferina, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Preview

2011-11-16T01:04:00.001-06:00

Two of the top Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) players are missing from the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington, as #3 Samantha Salas and #5 Cheryl Gudinas are both out with injuries. Salas's shoulder is causing her problems and Gudinas had knee surgery recently.

This means that Kerri Wachtel is seeded 3rd and Adrienne Fisher 4th. Also of note former top 4 player Kristen Bellows is in the draw and she's up against Jennifer Saunders in the Round of 16 and if she wins will likely face Fisher in the quarter finals.

It's a smaller draw than usual, so there are only two first round matches. Tammarrian Rogers will face Cheyenne Hayes in one match with the winner to play top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the Round of 16.

On the bottom of the draw, Kimberly Ferina plays Grace Hughes in the first round with #2 seed Paola Longoria waiting to face the winner.

Play begins in Olympia on Friday with those first round matches and Round of 16. The quarter finals and semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the final slated for Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Round 1

Cheyenne Hayes vs. Tammarrian Rogers
Kimberly Ferina vs. Grace Hughes

Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Cheyenne Hayes or Tammarrian Rogers
Krystal Csuk vs. Da'monique Davis

Jennifer Saunders vs. Kristen Bellows
Adrienne Fisher vs. Keely Franks

Kerri Wachtel vs. Jocelyn Loredo
Susana Acosta vs. Linda Scales

Cristina Amaya vs. T. J. Baumbaugh
Paola Longoria vs. Kimberly Ferina or Grace Hughes

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT: Ending the Season #1

2011-11-15T12:38:00.003-06:00

When Kane Waselenchuk finishes at #1 at the end of the current International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season, which everyone in The Racquetball Blog office is fully expecting, he alone will have the most year end #1s ever. Currently, he's tied for the most with Cliff Swain at 6.

But Waselenchuk will need to finish #1 this season and the next two seasons to set the record for most consecutive #1s. Mike Yellen was #1 five seasons in a row from 1982-83 to 1986-87. Waselenchuk's #1 run is currently at three.

In fact, only Waselenchuk (with 6), Swain (6), Yellen (5) and Sudsy Monchik (5) have finished ranked #1 more than once. (note: Marty Hogan was 'tour champion' four times but that was based on winning the season ending tournament rather than overall season rankings).

Yet despite that record of domination (22 of 28 seasons won by one of four players), there was a six year period when the #1 player was someone different each year. 1986-87 was Yellen's last title. Ruben Gonzalez was #1 the next year followed by Marty Hogan.

Cliff Swain with his first title in 1989-90, but Mike Ray and Drew Katchtik won in 1990-91 and '91-92, respectively, before Swain won his second in '92-93.

Swain or Monchik was #1 until 2002-03, when Jason Mannino got his year end #1 title.

Since then it's been Waselenchuk, aside from the two year interruption that allowed Jack Huczek and Rocky Carson to get on the year end #1 list.

The big question is who'll be #1 next, although we don't expect answer to that for a few year still.

Take Heart

For those who are looking to take the mantel from Waselenchuk they might be heartened to know that Swain was in the top 10 for five years before he became #1. Similarly, Mannino didn't get to #1 until his 8th season in the top 10.

Only Monchik got to #1 in only his second year in the top 10. It took Waselenchuk three years to do that.

(Note: article written with stats from the IRT Historical Data Archive.)

Follow the bouncing ball....

WPRO Rankings - October 10, 2011

2011-11-09T15:13:00.002-06:00

Rhonda Rajsich remains atop the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings despite her loss to Paola Longoria at last month's US Open. Longoria remains #2, but is less than 90 points behind Rajsich now.

The only change in the rest of the top 10 is Angela Grisar's move ahead of Cristina Amaya into 9th from 10th, where Amaya now sits. But there could be changes coming after this month's Puget Sound WPRO tournament, as we understand Cheryl Gudinas is going to have knee surgery this month, so will likely miss the event in Washington state.

Gudinas is #5 now, but there are only about 70 points between her and #11 Krystal Csuk. Gudinas was a semi-finalist in Puget Sound last year, so missing the event this year will mean she drops significant points. That gives the six players immediately below her an opportunity to move past Gudinas in the rankings.

Gudinas has been in the top 10 at season's end every year since 1994.

A highlight of the next 10 ranks is Kristen Bellows's reappearance in the top 20 for the first time in a couple of years, as the former top 4 player got to the quarter finals of the US Open last month. Bellows is now 18th.

The next WPRO event is the Puget Sound Challenge in Olympia, Washington, November 17-20.

WPRO Rankings (October 10, 2011)
Rank - Name - Nationality - Points

1 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1374.40
2 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 1291.00
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 768.30
4 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 530.45
5 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 384.80
6 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 383.70
7 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 350.00
8 Susy Acosta-Mendoza (Mexico) 332.50
9 Angela Grisar (Chile) 327.00
10 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 324.85

11 Krystal Csuk (USA) 314.50
12 Da'monique Davis (USA) 222.75
13 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 206.50
14 Christie Huczek (Canada) 150.25
15 Nancy Enriquez (Mexico) 148.00
16 Laura Brandt (USA) 106.00
17 Linda Scales (USA) 106.00
18 Kristen Bellows (USA) 96.90
19 Keely Franks (USA) 94.00
20 Aimee Ruiz (USA) 92.80

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Update - Tucker & Tristan win on opposite coasts

2011-11-07T13:04:00.002-06:00

The main International Racquetball Tour (IRT) action was in Seattle, but there were other IRT events going on this past weekend.

In Clarmont, California, Josh Tucker won the Pomona Valley Open (IRT Tier 4) by defeating Luis Felipe Munoz in the final, 9-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8.

In the semi-finals, Tucker beat Brandon Davis, 11-5, 11-1, 6-11, 11-0, and Munoz defeated Greg Solis, 11-13, 11-1, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9.

Across the USA in Syosset, N.Y., Agustin Tristan beat Mauricio Zelada to win the Long Island Open (IRT Tier 4). Tristan got to the final by defeating Sean Klingerman in the semi-final and Zelada beat Jamie Hopkins.

Seattle Pro-Am Open Results

Meanwhile in Seattle, Taylor Knoth won the Men's Open division at the Seattle Pro-Am, as he beat James Slamko in the final, 15-10, 15-1.

Knoth beat Ryan Meyer in the semi-finals, 15-13, 15-3, while Slamko defeated Brad Schopieray, 15-14, 15-11.

Knoth also won the Men's Open Doubles title, as he teamed with Tony Carson to defeat Jeff Stark and Lon Bergstrom, 15-10, 15-7.

In the semi-finals, Knoth and Carson beat Dan Darling and Jeremy White, 15-5, 15-6, and Stark and Bergstrom beat Anthony Herrera and Joshua Hungerford, 15-13, 15-13.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seattle Pro-Am - Waselenchuk defeats Carson

2011-11-06T15:06:00.001-06:00

Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), won again on Sunday, as he defeated the IRT's #2 player, Rocky Carson, in the final of the Seattle Pro-Am, 11-0, 12-10, 11-3. Waselenchuk blanked his opponent in game one of a match for the second consecutive match, as he also blanked Jose Rojas in game one of their semi-final match on Saturday.

In game one, Waselenchuk rolled, using his drive serve on first serve and lobbing on second serve when necessary. Without keeping an exact count, we think Carson served only twice in that game - both drives down the right wall, so to Waselenchuk's backhand.

In game two, Carson briefly led at 2-1, but Waselenchuk ran a string of points to go up 6-2. However, Carson chipped away at the lead, starting with an ace drive serve to the left side for 6-3.

Waselenchuk got to 10 first, leading 10-7, but Carson tied Waselenchuk at 10-10. However, Waselenchuk got the serve back and with two straight points closed out game two.

Carson again got to 2 first in game three as he led 2-0, but like in game two, Waselenchuk responded with a string of points to lead 7-2. Carson got one more point before Waselenchuk finished the game and won the match in three straight games.

The Corona Open is the next Tier 1 IRT event, and it will be held December 15-18 in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Seattle Pro-Am, Seattle, Washington

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-0, 12-10, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seattle Pro-Am - Waselenchuk & Carson in Final

2011-11-05T22:20:00.001-05:00

It'll be #1 versus #2 for the third time this season as Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), will play #2 Rocky Carson in the final of the Seattle Pro-Am. It will be their third meeting of the season, and Waselenchuk's won the previous two.

In the semi-finals, Waselenchuk defeated Jose Rojas, 11-0, 11-5, 11-4, and Carson beat Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-(-1), 11-8.

The IRT Network will webcast the final of the Seattle Pro-Am Sunday at 12:00 PM PDT.

Seattle Pro-Am, Seattle, Washington

Semi finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-0, 11-5, 11-4
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-1, 11-(-1), 11-8

Final

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Rocky Carson

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seattle Pro-Am - Top 4 seeds through to semi-finals

2011-11-04T23:52:00.003-05:00

So far things have mostly gone according to form at the Seattle Pro-Am, the fourth leg of the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2011-12 season, as the top four seeds are all through to the semi-finals.

Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, won both his matches on Friday in straight games, as did the 2nd seed Rocky Carson.

In the Round of 16, Waselenchuk defeated Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3, and Carson beat Ryan Meyer, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6. Then in the quarter finals, Waselenchuk saw off Shane Vanderson, 11-6, 11-1, 11-6, and Carson won against Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2.

Ben Croft, the 3rd seed, had a bit tougher go of it, as he needed five games to beat James Slamko, winning 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-0.

Slamko needed multiple game points in both the games he won. After Slamko finished game four on his second game point, Croft came out blazing in game five, taking a 5-0 lead before Slamko knew what hit him.

Slamko called time out, but all it did was prolong the inevitable, as Croft won 6 more points to get the win.

Croft won his quarter final match against Chris Crowther, but again it wasn't easy, as the first game went to extra points before Croft won it 12-10.

At 6-2 in game three, Croft's game style was on display, as he was on the ground four times to win the rally and make it 7-2.

Credit Crowther though, as he didn't cave in in game three, despite being dow. Crowther fought back to close the gap to 9-8, but couldn't get the final points to force a tie-breaker.

Fourth seed Jose Rojas also advanced after beating Charlie Pratt in the quarter finals, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4. After losing the second game, Rojas really took it to Pratt, who seemed be at sea on the court. Rojas switched from drive serving to half lob serves, and cut the ball when going to the right side - Pratt's forehand. It was just such a serve that gave Rojas his first match point, as he hit it for an ace after Pratt whiffed on the return, making the score 10-0 in the fourth game.

The IRT Network will webcast Saturday's semi-finals beginning at 4 PM PDT.

Seattle Pro-Am, Seattle, Washington

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
Shane Vanderson d. Tony Carson, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7

Charlie Pratt d. Taylor Knoth, 11-5, 13-11, 11-8
Jose Rojas d. Jansen Allen, 2-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-1

Ben Croft d. James Slamko, 11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-0
Chris Crowther d. Juan Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-0

Anthony Herrera d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Ryan Meyer, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Shane Vanderson, 11-6, 11-1, 11-6
Jose Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 11-6, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4

Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8
Rocky Carson d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2

Semi finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Jose Rojas
Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seattle Pro-Am - Preliminary Results, Ruben loses in 5

2011-11-04T00:03:00.002-05:00

There will be an Oregon showdown today in Seattle, as Taylor Knoth made it through qualifying at the Seattle Pro-Am, the fourth leg of the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2011-12 season, and will play Charlie Pratt in the Round of 16 on Friday.

Knoth defeated another young Oregonian left hander Josh Hungerford, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5, in the last round of qualifying to get to the 16s.

Also of note, James Slamko has a rematch with Ben Croft in the 16s. Last week in Davison, Michigan at the Red Swaine Shootout, Slamko took the first game of their match and was three points from going up 2-0 before Croft reversed the tide and came back to take the match from the young Canadian in four games.

Slamko beat fellow Canadian Tanner Mattson, 12-10, 11-2, 11-2, to set up the rematch with Croft.

Sadly for fans of legendary player Ruben Gonzalez, he again lost in the preliminary round. This time Dan Cramer beat Gonzalez in five games, 12-10, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4. Sadly for Cramer, he didn't make the 16s, as he lost to veteran Japanese player Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5.

The IRT Network is webcasting from Seattle throughout the tournament, including the Round of 16 beginning Friday at 11:30 AM PDT.

Seattle Pro-Am, Seattle, Washington

Qualifying Round 3 (32s)

Q8: Hiroshi Shimizu d. Dan Cramer, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5
Q1: Tony Carson d. Grant Stalley, 11-3, 11-2, 11-3

Q4: Taylor Knoth d. Josh Hungerford, 11-2, 11-8, 11-5
Q5: Jansen Allen d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-4, 11-9, 11-4

Q6: James Slamko d. Tanner Mattson, 12-10, 11-2, 11-2
Q3: Juan Herrera d. Rafael Filippini, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5

Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Jose Serrano, 11-0, 11-7, 13-11
Q7: Ryan Meyer d. Brad Schopieray, 9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-7

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Hiroshi Shimizu
Shane Vanderson v. Tony Carson

Charlie Pratt v. Taylor Knoth
Jose Rojas v. Jansen Allen

Ben Croft v. James Slamko
Chris Crowther v. Juan Herrera

Andy Hawthorne v. Anthony Herrera
Rocky Carson v. Ryan Meyer

Qualifying Round 2 (64s)

Dan Cramer d. Ruben Gonzalez, 12-10, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4
Hiroshi Shimizu d. Favian Elmore, 11-1, 11-0, 11-8

Tony Carson BYE
Grant Stalley d. Joe Workman, 11-1, 11-6, 11-6

Taylor Knoth BYE
Josh Hungerford d. Joel Barshaw, injury

Arthur Schmeiser d. Connor Laffey, 11-9, 2-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8
Jansen Allen d. Jeff Stark, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5

James Slamko d. Ryan Charbonneau, 11-4, 11-2, 11-2
Tanner Mattson d. John Scott, WBF

Juan Herrera BYE
Rafael Filippini d. Peter Wrigley, 11-9, 11-7, 11-1

Anthony Herrera BYE
Jose Serrano d. Andrew Gale, 6-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-0

Brad Schopieray d. Rick Charbonneau, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6
Ryan Meyer d. Cody Matteucci, 6-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 13-11

Qualifying Round 1 (128s)

Connor Laffey d. Alex Purcell, WBF

Follow the bouncing ball....

Seattle Pro-Am - Preliminary Rounds

2011-11-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

No rest for the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), as they are back in action this weekend but this time on the west side of the continent at the Seattle Pro/Am. Qualifying involves two rounds plus one match, and that will all go Thursday.

The 5-8 seeds have been reshuffled from last week's Red Swaine Shootout, but Chris Crowther - the surprise finalist from last week - is still on the same side of the draw as Ben Croft and Rocky Carson, both of whom he beat to get to the final last week. Can he do it again?

Another (potential) match that will have some local Northwest interest will be Taylor Knoth, former World Junior Champion, against Charlie Pratt, which will happen in the Round of 16, if Knoth defeats the winner of Joel Barshaw and Josh Hungerford, which is also an all-Northwest battle.

Knoth defeated Hungerford at last year's Seattle Open, and Hungerford won two matches versus Barshaw last year, so you'd expect that Pratt will be facing Knoth in the 16s Friday.

However, you would also have expected Crowther would not have made the finals last week. But that's why they play the games.

The IRT Network begins webcasting from Seattle beginning Thursday at 8 PM PDT, and continuing with the main draw on Friday when the Round of 16 begins at 11:30 AM PDT.

Seattle Pro-Am, Seattle, Washington

Round 1 (128s)

Alex Purcell vs. Connor Laffey

Round 2 (64s)

Ruben Gonzalez vs. Dan Cramer
Hiroshi Shimizu vs. Favian Elmore

Tony Carson BYE
Grant Stalley vs. Joe Workman

Taylor Knoth BYE
Joel Barshaw vs. Josh Hungerford

Arthur Schmeiser vs. Alex Purcell or Connor Laffey
Jansen Allen vs. Jeff Stark

James Slamko vs. Ryan Charbonneau
John Scott vs. Tanner Mattson

Juan Herrera BYE
Peter Wrigley vs. Rafael Filippini

Anthony Herrera BYE
Jose Serrano vs. Andrew Gale

Brad Schopieray vs. Rick Charbonneau
Ryan Meyer vs. Cody Matteucci

Round 2 (32s)

Q8: Ruben Gonzalez or Dan Cramer vs. Hiroshi Shimizu or Favian Elmore
Q1: Tony Carson vs. Grant Stalley or Joe Workman

Q4: Taylor Knoth vs. Joel Barshaw or Josh Hungerford
Q5: Arthur Schmeiser or Alex Purcell or Connor Laffey vs. Jansen Allen or Jeff Stark

Q6: James Slamko or Ryan Charbonneau vs. John Scott or Tanner Mattson
Q3: Juan Herrera vs. Conrad Cole or Mark Brower

Q2: Anthony Herrera vs. Jose Serrano or Andrew Gale
Q7: Brad Schopieray or Rick Charbonneau vs. Ryan Meyer or Cody Matteucci

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Shane Vanderson v. Q1

Charlie Pratt v. Q4
Jose Rojas v. Q5

Ben Croft v. Q6
Chris Crowther v. Q3

Andy Hawthorne v. Q2
Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Tony Carson wins Men's Open

2011-10-31T09:05:00.001-05:00

Tony Carson won the men's open division at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, on the weekend. He defeated Eric Desrochers, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10.

In the semi-finals, Carson defeated Lee Connell, 15-12, 15-14, and Desrochers beat Andrew Price, 15-11, 15-8.

The Davison event was successful by all accounts, but there is one troubling thing about it from our perspective. There were 116 participants, but only 7 women. Having only 6% of the tournament participants female is a shockingly low percentage.

This is something that we've noticed in the time that we've been writing The Racquetball Blog, and the issue of getting more women and girls to play racquetball needs to be addressed.

The IRT will be back in action this weekend, as the Seattle Pro/Am begins Thursday November 3 and runs to Sunday November 6.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Men's Open

Final: Tony Carson d. Eric Desrochers, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10

Semi-finals:
Tony Carson d. Lee Connell, 15-12, 15-14
Eric Desrochers d. Andrew Price, 15-11, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Waselenchuk defeats Crowther

2011-10-30T17:27:00.001-05:00

Kane Waselenchuk continued his winning streak on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) with a straight game victory over Chris Crowther in the final of the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, winning 11-2, 11-2, 11-4. It was their second meeting in a final, and Waselenchuk also won the previous one in September of last year in Cali, Colombia.

Waselenchuk served mostly drive Zs to Crowther's backhand in game one. Crowther fought hard early in that game, but once Waselenchuk got going he was unstoppable, winning 11-2.

Game two was similar, as they were tied 2-2, but Crowther didn't score another point. Waselenchuk began to hit some drive serves to the right side, which gave Crowther another option to think about so Waselenchuk's serves to the left side were even more effective.

Waselenchuk continued to roll in game three, as he took a 10-0 lead before Crowther put some points together and doubled his point total for the match, going down 11-4.

The IRT will be back in action next weekend, as the Seattle Pro/Am begins Thursday November 3 and runs to Sunday November 6.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Final - Sunday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Chris Crowther, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Waselenchuk & Crowther advance to final

2011-10-30T02:36:00.002-05:00

Kane Waselenchuk and Chris Crowther advanced to the final of the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan after winning their respective semi-final matches. They'll face each other in a final for the 2nd time. The first was a little over a year ago in Cali, Colombia, when Waselenchuk won in four games.

Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), was expected to be in the final, and got there with a straight game victory over Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4.

On the other hand, Crowther was up against IRT #3 Ben Croft in the semi-finals, and that after already facing IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the quarter finals. But for Crowther the outcome was the same: victory.

As in his match with Carson, Crowther found himself down a game. But this time he was 2-1 down after winning the first game and losing the next two. But with his back against the wall, Crowther came back, winning a tight game four and carrying the momentum over to the tie breaker to win the match in five games, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6.

The expected outcome for Sunday's final would be another Waselenchuk win, but Crowther's already done the unexpected twice, and some say that whatever happens twice must happen a third time.

The final of the Red Swain Shootout can be seen via the IRT Network at Noon EDT Sunday.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Semi-finals - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4
Chris Crowther d. Ben Croft, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6

Finals - Sunday Noon EDT

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Chris Crowther

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Quarter final matches

2011-10-28T23:21:00.001-05:00

There won't be another Kane Waselenchuk-Rocky Carson showdown Sunday at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, because Carson, the #2 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), was upset by Chris Crowther in the quarter finals, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6.

It's only Crowther's 2nd victory over Carson on tour. After splitting the first two games Crowther was solidly in control of game three. Game four was a see-saw battle, with Crowther ahead 3-1, then Carson ahead 5-3. They were tied at 6-6, then Crowther edged ahead 8-6, and went on to win 11-6, serving an ace on match point.

Waselenchuk did his part to advance, as he beat Andy Hawthorne, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, to advance to the semi-finals on Saturday. Jose Rojas will be Waselenchuk's opponent in the semis. In the quarters, Rojas defeated Shane Vanderson in five games, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4.

Ben Croft also advanced to the semis with a five game victory over Charlie Pratt, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10. Croft will play Crowther in the semis.

The semi-finals of the Red Swain Shootout can be seen via the IRT Network beginning at 4:00 PM EDT Saturday.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4
Jose Rojas d. Shane Vanderson, 11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4

Ben Croft d. Charlie Pratt, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10
Chris Crowther d. Rocky Carson, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6

Semi-finals - Saturday

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Jose Rojas - 5:00 PM EDT
Ben Croft vs. Chris Crowther - 4:00 PM EDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Round of 16

2011-10-28T13:19:00.004-05:00

Ho hum, Kane Waselenchuk won another match. The #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) defeated fellow Canadian Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1, in the Round of 16 at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan.

Next up for Waselenchuk will be Andy Hawthorne who beat Tony Carson, 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3. Hawthorne was strong in games 1 and 4, but had a couple of prolonged lapses of form in games 2 and 3. He was able to recover from it in game 2, but not in game 3. Hawthorne won't be able to afford any lapses later today when he plays Waselenchuk in the quarter finals.

Third seed Ben Croft had a battle with James Slamko, losing the first game but winning the next three to take the match, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10. Slamko was three points from taking a 2-0 lead in games, when he led 8-6 in game two, but Croft turned the momentum around, switching serves from the lob nick he was using to a drive serve.

Croft was comfortably in control of game three, although Slamko did come back to 10-7 before losing 11-7. Game four also started comfortably for Croft, as he led 7-4 and 9-5.

But then Slamko staged a late comeback, tying the game at 9-9, and then taking the lead at 10-9. But he couldn't close it out as Croft fought off the game point and then scored three straight points to take the game, 12-10, and match, 3 games to 1.

In the final Round of 16 match, Jose Rojas defeated Cliff Swain, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10. Rojas led comfortably in games one and two, and had 6-2 and 9-4 leads in game three, but Swain used his great serve to come back and tie it at 9-9 and 10-10. However, Rojas closed the door on the former IRT #1 by winning the last two points to take the game and the match.

Earlier, Rocky Carson had little trouble with young left hander Brad Schopieray, winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-2, although Schopieray did have a 4-1 lead in game 2. Carson's response to that was a 7 point run to lead 8-4, and then win it 11-5. Game 5 was similar as they were tied at 2-2, and Carson won the next 9 points to take the game and match.

The IRT Network's webcast of the Red Swain Shootout continues Friday with the rest of the Round of 16 and quarter finals Friday evening.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Lee Connell, 11-5, 11-2, 11-1
Andy Hawthorne d. Tony Carson, 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 11-3

Shane Vanderson d. Brandon Cortese, 11-5, 11-1, 11-1
Jose Rojas d. Cliff Swain, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10

Ben Croft d. James Slamko, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
Charlie Pratt d. Conrad Cole, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3

Chris Crowther d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-6, 11-2
Rocky Carson d. Brad Schopieray, 11-4, 11-5, 11-2

Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk v. Andy Hawthorne
Jose Rojas v. Shane Vanderson

Ben Croft v. Charlie Pratt
Rocky Carson v. Chris Crowther

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - Swain wins, Gonzalez loses

2011-10-28T01:00:00.002-05:00

There will be a past legend-legend in the making match at the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan, this weekend's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event. But it won't be past IRT #1 Ruben Gonzalez versus current #1 Kane Waselenchuk. Rather it'll be past IRT #1 versus current IRT #4 Jose Rojas.

Cliff Swain, who won the last IRT event held in Davison back in 1993, won two matches - both in three straight games - to qualify for the round of 16 and a match with two time World Junior Champion Jose Rojas.

For his part, Gonzalez was up 2-1 on Lee Connell, but as anyone who's seen Connell play, it's hard to ever count him out, as Connell will give it his all until the very end. Undoubtedly that effort helped him come back and defeat Gonzalez, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3. Thus, Connell will face Waselenchuk in the Round of 16 on Friday.

Other surprise qualifiers for the 16s are Brandon Cortese, who won two matches to get there, and Conrad Cole, who did likewise, but the second one was a default win over Juan Herrera, which is likely a Pan Am Games effect, as Herrera was in Guadalajara, Mexico representing Colombia the past two weeks.

The IRT Network's webcast of the Red Swain Shootout on Friday starts at 11:30 AM EDT with the Round of 16.

Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Round 1 (64s)

Andrew Price d. Sami Harb, 11-6, 11-8, 11-3
Brandon Cortese d. Brian Pineda, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5

Cliff Swain d. Jason Kennedy, 11-1, 11-4, 11-7
Dan Case d. Nathan Tucker, 8-11, 13-11, 11-1, 11-8

Conrad Cole d. Mark Brower, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1
Eric Desrochers d. Jim Bronson, 7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3

Round 2 (32s)

Q8: Lee Connell d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3
Q1: Tony Carson vs. Andrew Price, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

Q4: Brandon Cortese d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 14-12
Q5: Cliff Swain d. Erik Leetch, 11-2, 11-6, 13-11

Q6: James Slamko d. Dan Case, 11-7, 11-7, 13-15, 11-1
Q3: Conrad Cole d. Juan Herrera, WBF

Q2: Anthony Herrera d. Eric Desrochers, 11-6, 12-10, 2-11, 11-5
Q7: Brad Schopieray d. John Scott, 11-9, 11-2, 11-9

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Lee Connell
Andy Hawthorne v. Tony Carson

Shane Vanderson v. Brandon Cortese
Jose Rojas v. Cliff Swain

Ben Croft v. James Slamko
Charlie Pratt v. Conrad Cole

Chris Crowther v. Anthony Herrera
Rocky Carson v. Brad Schopieray

Follow the bouncing ball....

Red Swain Shootout - First Round Draws

2011-10-27T09:19:00.002-05:00

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action today with the Red Swain Shootout in Davison, Michigan. There are two rounds of qualifying on Thursday.

Ruben Gonzalez continues his quest to make the top 10 by year's end, and he'll play Canadian Lee Connell first in the second round of qualifying. If he defeats Connell, then he'll be up against IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk in what would be a battle of a legend from the past and legend from the present, and such battles usually go to the present.

Three of the top 8 IRT players - Rocky Carson, Chris Crowther, Shane Vanderson - spent most of the last two weeks in Guadalajara, Mexico playing on Team USA for the Pan Am Games, so we'll see if there's any Pan Am Games hangover.

The IRT Network is webcasting the Red Swain Shootout beginning Thursday at 8 PM EDT with Gonzalez versus Connell, and continuing with the main draw on Friday when the Round of 16 begins at 11:30 AM EDT.

2011 Red Swain Shootout, Davison, Michigan

Round 1 (64s)

Andrew Price vs. Sami Harb
Brian Pineda vs. Brandon Cortese

Cliff Swain vs. Jason Kennedy
Dan Case vs. Nathan Tucker

Conrad Cole vs. Mark Brower
Eric Desrochers vs. Jim Bronson

Round 2 (32s)

Q8: Ruben Gonzalez vs. Lee Connell
Q1: Tony Carson vs. Andrew Price or Sami Harb

Q4: Arthur Schmeiser vs. Brian Pineda or Brandon Cortese
Q5: Erik Leetch vs. Cliff Swain or Jason Kennedy

Q6: James Slamko vs. Dan Case or Nathan Tucker
Q3: Juan Herrera vs. Conrad Cole or Mark Brower

Q2: Anthony Herrera vs. Eric Desrochers or Jim Bronson
Q7: Brad Shopieray vs. John Scott

Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Andy Hawthorne v. Q4

Shane Vanderson v. Q2
Jose Rojas v. Q3

Ben Croft v. Q6
Charlie Pratt v. Q1

Chris Crowther v. Q5
Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....

IRT Rankings - October 18, 2011

2011-10-26T11:05:00.002-05:00

Kane Waselenchuk, 7 time US Open winner, remains the #1 ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) with Rocky Carson in #2. Ben Croft is up to #3.

Jose Rojas has reached a career high ranking at #5, behind retired Jack Huczek. Chris Crowther is up to #6 and Andy Hawthorne has fallen to #7.

Rounding out the top ten are Shane Vanderson in 8th, Charlie Pratt 9th and Tony Carson in 10th.

Young players Daniel De La Rosa is #16, Taylor Knoth is #18, and Felipe Camacho #19, which we believe are all career highs.

The IRT is back in action this weekend with the Red Swain Memorial tournament in Davison, Michigan.

IRT Rankings 2010-11 Season Ending - October 18, 2011

Rank - Player - Points
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4816
2 Rocky CARSON, 4179
4 Ben CROFT, 2840
3 Jack HUCZEK, 2670
6 Jose ROJAS, 2391
7 Chris CROWTHER, 2309
5 Andy HAWTHORNE, 2296
8 Shane VANDERSON, 2157
9 Charlie PRATT, 1729
12 Tony CARSON, 1396

11 Anthony HERRERA, 1199
13 Javier MORENO, 1172
10 Alvaro BELTRAN, 1081
14 Juan HERRERA, 748
16 Daniel DE LA ROSA, 656
15 Alejandro HERRERA, 587
18 Alejandro LANDA, 484
18 Taylor KNOTH, 457
19 Felipe CAMACHO, 442
20 Andres HERRERA, 430

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Mexico sweeps team gold

2011-10-25T21:40:00.002-05:00

Mexico swept the team competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico Tuesday. The Mexican women needed only two matches to defeat Team USA, but the Mexican men needed to win the doubles to beat the American men.

Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas both won their singles matches for Mexico, so they did not have to team up in doubles to defeat the USA. Longoria beat Rhonda Rajsich, 14-15, 15-6, 11-1, for the second time in a month, as she also bested Rajsich at the US Open in Minneapolis earlier this month.

Salas defeated Cheryl Gudinas, 15-8, 15-2, to win Mexico's first gold medal in a Pan Am Games team competition, and perhaps their first ever in international competition.

On the men's side, Rocky Carson got the USA off on the right foot, winning the opening match of the men's final, 15-8, 15-5, against Gilberto Mejia. But Alvaro Beltran leveled the match at 1-1 with a 15-12, 15-8 victory over Chris Crowther.

Thus it came down to the doubles.

Americans Shane Vanderson and Crowther won the first game of the doubles match, but Mexicans Javier Moreno and Beltran won the next two to take the match, 11-15, 15-9, 11-4, and earn a second team gold for Mexico.

The Racquetball Blog believes this is the first time that the USA has not won a team gold medal at an international racquetball competition. They have lost the men's or the overall title (to Canada in all cases) at the World Championships, but always won the women's title.

The 2015 Pan American Games will be held July 10-26 in Toronto, Canada.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women's Team - Finals

Mexico d. USA, 2-0
- Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 14-15, 15-6, 11-1
- Samantha Salas d. Cheryl Gudinas, 15-8, 15-2

Men's Team - Final

Mexico d. USA, 2-1
- Rocky Carson d. Gilberto Mejia, 15-8, 15-5
- Alvaro Beltran d. Chris Crowther, 15-12, 15-8
- Beltran & Javier Moreno d. Crowther & Shane Vanderson, 11-15, 15-9, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Mexico & USA to meet in final

2011-10-24T20:05:00.001-05:00

Two more Mexico-USA showdowns will close out the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico on Tuesday, as those countries advanced to the team competition finals with wins in the semi-finals.

On the women's side, Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas saw off Ecuador with a win in doubles over Maria Cordova and Maria Paz Munoz, 15-7, 15-3. Then Longoria beat Munoz in singles, 15-13, 15-10.

The American women got the final with a win over Bolivia. Rhonda Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz beat Jenny Daza and Cintia Loma in doubles, 15-6, 15-8, and Rajsich beat Loma, 15-4, 15-13, in singles.

On the men's side, Mexico defeated Colombia with a win in doubles, 15-11, 15-11, by Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno against Francisco Gomez and Jose Torres, and in singles as Gilberto Mejia beat Alejandro Herrera, 15-9, 15-3.

The USA defeated Ecuador in two matches. Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson Jose Alvarez and Fernando Rios, 15-6, 15-1, and Rocky Carson defeated Rios, 15-6, 15-8.

The team competition concludes Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Ecuador, 2-0
USA d. Bolivia, 2-0

Women's Team - Finals

Mexico vs. USA

Men's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Colombia, 2-0
USA d. Ecuador, 2-0

Men's Team - Final

Mexico vs. USA

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Team competition begins

2011-10-23T11:25:00.005-05:00

The team competition of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico began Sunday. In this competition, countries compete against each other in a best of three matches, consisting of two singles matches and a doubles match. The order of the matches varies, so, for example, the doubles match could be the first, second or third match, if necessary.

An aspect of the team competition is that countries can shuffle their line ups from the individual competitions, so the players who competed in singles or doubles or both may not be the same in the team competition as it was in the earlier individual competition.

For example, it seems Chris Crowther is playing singles and doubles for the USA.

The first result goes to the Ecuador men's team, who defeated Dominican Republic 2-0, winning the two singles matches, as Fernando Rios defeated Luis Perez, 15-10, 15-10, and Jose Ugalde beat Ramon De Leon, 15-8, 15-7. Ecuador will now play Canada in the quarter finals.

In other early men's action, Argentina defeated Costa Rica with a doubles win, 15-8, 15-12, after spliting their singles matches with Daniel Maggi (Arg) beating Teobaldo Fumero (CR), 15-3, 15-14, and Felipe Camacho (CR) besting Shai Manzuri (Arg), 7-15, 15-4, 11-1. Argentina will now play Mexico in the quarter finals.

Finally in the first round, Bolivia beat Honduras in two straight matches. Ricardo Monroy beat Selvin Cruz, 15-2, 15-2, and Carlos Keller defeated Raul Banegas, 15-1, 15-12. Bolivia then played the USA in the quarter finals, and lost 2-0.

American Chris Crowther was part of both winning matches against Bolivia, as he beat Carlos Keller, 15-7, 15-10, and teamed with Shane Vanderson to win doubles over Roland Keller and Monroy, 15-7, 15-10.

Mexico also won 2-0 in the men's quarter finals. Alvaro Beltran was part of the two wins for Mexico as they defeated Argentina. Beltran defeated Shai Manzuri, 15-6, 15-4, and teamed with Javier Moreno to win doubles over Manzuri and Daniel Maggi, 15-10, 15-10.

USA will play Ecuador in the semi-finals, as Ecuador defeated Canada 2-1. Jose Alvarez and Fernando Rios (Ecuador) beat Mike Green and Kris Odegard in doubles, 15-7, 11-15, 11-8. Vincent Gagnon leveled the match at 1-1 with a 15-7, 15-9 victory over Jose Ugalde. But in the tie-breaker, Rios defeated Tim Landeryou, 15-13, 15-13.

In women's quarter final action, top seeded Mexico beat Venezuela. Samantha Salas defeated Mariana Tobon, 15-0, 15-6, and then teamed with Paola Longoria to defeat Tobon and Ishey Paredes, 15-3, 15-1.

Ecuador defeated Canada, 2-1, with wins in singles - Maria Paz Munoz defeating Jennifer Saunders, 15-4, 15-11 - and doubles - Munor and Maria Cordova beat Saunders and Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 12-15, 15-10, 11-1. Frédérique Lambert defeated Cordova, 15-7, 8-15, 11-2.

The USA beat the Dominican Republic, 2-0, as Cheryl Gudinas beat Yira Portes, 15-0, 15-1, and Rhonda Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz beat Portes and Claudine Garcia, 15-9, 15-6.

Bolivia were also 2-0 winners, defeating Chile, as Maria Vargas beat Carla Munoz, 15-5, 15-6, and Jenny Daza and Cintia Loma beat Munoz and Angela Grisar, 15-6, 15-7.

In the first round match, Venezuela beat Argentina, 2-1. Mariana Tobon (Ven) beating Dafne Macrino (Arg), 15-2, 15-3, Véronique Guillemette (Arg) defeating Ishey Paredes, 15-6, 15-6, then Tobon and Paredes won the doubles 15-8, 13-15, 11-9, over Guillemette and Macrino.

The team competition runs Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women's Team - Quarter finals

Mexico d. Venezuela, 2-0
Ecuador d. Canada, 2-1

Bolivia d. Chile, 2-0
USA d. Dominican Republic, 2-0

Women's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico d. Ecuador
USA vs. Bolivia

Men's Team - Quarter finals

Mexico d. Argentina, 2-0
Colombia d. Venezuela, 2-1

USA d. Bolivia, 2-0
Ecuador d. Canada, 2-1

Men's Team - Semi-finals

Mexico vs. Colombia
USA vs. Ecuador

Men's Team - First round

Ecuador d. Dominican Republic, 2-0
Bolivia d. Honduras, 2-1
Argentina d. Costa Rica, 2-1

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - 3 Gold for Mexico, 1 for USA

2011-10-22T18:00:00.003-05:00

Tonight Mexican Paola Longoria has two gold medals around her neck as she won women's singles and doubles (with Samantha Salas) at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. American Rhonda Rajsich has two silver medals, as she fell to Longoria in both finals, each of which required a tie-breaker to decide the outcome.

In singles, Longoria beat Rajsich, 12-15, 15-10, 11-9, to win Pan Am Games gold for the first time by a Mexican. In fact, it's the first Pan Am Games medal of any sort for Mexico in women's singles.

Rajsich's silver medal is her first Pan Am Games medal in individual competition.

In women's doubles, the Mexicans took the first game but then needed a third game to overcome Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz, 15-12, 5-15, 11-5.

The men's singles final was a showdown of the 2003 Pan Am Games bronze medalists with American Rocky Carson defeating Mexican Gilberto Mejia in two straight games, 15-1, 15-13. Carson's win continues the streak of American men winning Pan Am Games gold. He joins the list of Pan Am Games gold medalists with John Ellis (1995), Adam Karp (1999), and Jack Huczek (2003).

In men's doubles, Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno of Mexico won gold for the second consecutive Pan Am Games, having done it in 2003 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They defeated Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn of Venezuela, 15-14, 15-4, in the final.

Nevertheless, Castro and Hirsekorn are the first non-North Americans to win silver at the Pan Am Games. Pan Am Games finals have exclusively been between players from Mexico, the USA and Canada prior to today.

Mexico increased its gold medal haul from two in 2003 - men's and women's doubles - to three in 2011 - women's singles, men's and women's doubles. USA's gold medal count decreased as a result of Mexico's increase, as the Americans won only one gold in Guadalajara.

Only Mexico and the USA have ever won gold at the Pan Am Games.

The racquetball competition's individual competition concluded Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Men Singles - Final

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Gilberto Mejia (Mex), 15-1, 15-13

Women Singles - Final

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 12-15, 15-10, 11-9

Men Doubles - Final

Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mex) d. Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela), 15-14, 15-4

Women Singles - Final

Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mex) d. Rhonda Rajsich & Aimee Ruiz (USA), 12-15, 5-15, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Doubles Playoffs Day 2

2011-10-21T18:20:00.004-05:00

Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno will have a chance to defend the men's doubles title they won at the 2003 Pan Am Games, as they reached the final of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico with a tie-breaker win over Americans Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson, 9-15, 15-1, 11-4.

Mexico will face Venezuelans Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn, who didn't score as many points as their Canadian opponents Tim Landeryou and Kris Odegard, but they won more games, taking the semi-final 15-14, 3-15, 11-10 in a match that lasted 94 min. The tie-breaker alone took 37 min.

This is the first time Venezuela has made a final at the Pan Am Games. The Venezuela did earn bronze in men's doubles at the 1995 Pan Am Games. Also, it's the first men's doubles final without the USA or Canada as one of the finalists.

Mexico will also play for gold on the women's side, as Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas beat Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Munoz, 15-5, 15-5.

If successful, it would be the second consecutive Pan Am Games gold for Mexico in women's doubles, as Susana Acosta and Rosa Torres won gold in 2003 beating Americans Jackie Rice and Kim Russell in the final.

Americans Rhonda Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz will have a chance to reverse that 2003 result, as they reached the final with a 15-8, 15-5 victory over Ecuadorians Maria Cordova and Maria Munoz in the other semi-final.

The racquetball competition's individual competition will conclude Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Men's Doubles - Semi finals

Mexico d. USA, 9-15, 15-1, 11-4
Venezuela d. Canada, 15-14, 3-15, 11-10

Men's Doubles - Final

Mexico vs. Venezuela

Women's Doubles - Semi finals

Mexico d. Chile, 15-5, 15-5
USA d. Ecuador, 15-8, 15-5

Women's Doubles - Final

Mexico vs. USA

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Singles Playoffs Day 2

2011-10-21T10:05:00.005-05:00

Mexico and the USA have chances to sweep men's and women's singles gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, as both finals are Mexico-USA showdowns. The women's final will be a repeat of the US Open from two weeks ago, as Paola Longoria will face Rhonda Rajsich, while on the men's side it's Rocky Carson versus Gilberto Mejia.

Longoria got there with a semi-final win over American Cheryl Gudinas - the gold medalist in women's singles at the two most recent Pan Am Games racquetball competitions: 2003 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and 1999 in Winnipeg, Canada. Longoria won 15-7, 15-10.

Rajsich defeated Bolivian Maria Vargas, 15-6, 15-7, in the semi-finals, and will try to carry on the tradition of American Pan Am Games gold medalists in women's singles that began with Michelle Gould in 1995 and continued with Gudinas in 1999 and 2003.

Carson's got a similar tradition to continue, as previous Pan Am Games gold medalists in men's singles have all been American: John Ellis in 1995, Adam Karp in 1999, and Jack Huczek in 2003.

In the semi-finals, Carson beat Alavro Beltran, 15-12, 15-12, and Mejia defeated Canadian Vincent Gagnon, 15-11, 14-15, 11-5.

The racquetball competition's individual competition will conclude Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Men Singles - Semi finals (Friday)

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Alvaro Beltran (Mex), 15-12, 15-12
Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Vincent Gagnon (Can), 15-11, 14-15, 11-5

Men Singles - Finals

Rocky Carson (USA) vs. Gilberto Mejia (Mex)

Women Singles - Semi finals (Friday)

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Cheryl Gudinas (USA), 15-7, 15-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Vargas (Bol), 15-6, 15-7

Women Singles - Finals

Paola Longoria (Mex) vs. Rhonda Rajsich (USA)

Men Singles - Quarter finals

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Fernando Rios (Ecu), 15-10, 15-5
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Carlos Keller (Bol), 15-11, 15-0

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Juan Herrera (Col), 15-10, 15-8
Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Luis Perez (Dom), 15-7, 15-9

Women Singles - Quarter finals

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Samantha Salas (Mex), 15-7, 15-5
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 13-15, 15-4, 11-1

Maria Vargas (Bol) d. Jenny Daza (Bol), 15-6, 15-13
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador), 15-13, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Doubles Playoffs Day 1

2011-10-20T23:13:00.002-05:00

The doubles playoff at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico has mostly gone according to the seedings. One exception is on the women's side, where the Ecuador team of Maria Cordova and Maria Munoz beat Bolivians Jenny Daza and Cinto Loma, 15-10, 2-15, 11-7, to reach semi-finals.

The other women's quarter finals were all decided in two straight games. Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-1, 15-2. Americans Rhonda Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz beat Dominican Republicans Claudine Garcia and Yira Portes, 15-2, 15-6. And Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Munoz beat Veronique Guillemette and Dafne Macrino of Argentina, 15-12, 15-6.

On the men's side, Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno are through to the semi-finals with a 15-4, 15-7 win over Colombians Francisco Gomez and Jose Torres.

Next up for Mexico will be the USA, as Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson beat the Argentina team of Daniel Maggi and Shai Manzuri, 15-9, 15-6.

On the other side of the men's draw, it'll be Canada versus Venezuela in the semi-finals, as Canadians Tim Landeryou and Kris Odegard beat Bolivians Roland Keller and Ricardo Monroy, 3-15, 15-10, 11-8 and Venezuelans Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn won a three game match against 2nd seeds Teobaldo Fumero and Felipe Camacho, 9-15, 15-11, 11-6.

The racquetball competition's individual competition will conclude Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women's Doubles - Quarter finals

Mexico d. Canada, 15-1, 15-2
Chile d. Argentina, 15-12, 15-6

Ecuador d. Bolivia, 15-10, 2-15, 11-7
USA d. Dominican Republic, 15-2, 15-6

Women's Doubles - Semi finals

Mexico vs. Chile
USA vs. Ecuador

Men's Doubles - Quarter finals

Mexico d. Colombia, 15-4, 15-7
USA d. Argentina, 15-9, 15-6

Canada d. Bolivia, 3-15, 15-10, 11-8
Venezuela d. Costa Rica, 9-15, 15-11, 11-6

Men's Doubles - Semi finals

Mexico vs. USA
Canada vs. Venezuela

Women's Doubles - Round of 16

Mexico BYE
Canada d. Venezuela, 15-6, 15-13

Chile BYE
Argentina BYE

Bolivia BYE
Ecuador BYE

Dominican Republic BYE
USA BYE

Men's Doubles - Round of 16

Mexico BYE
Colombia d. Dominican Republic, 10-15, 15-2, 11-6

USA BYE
Argentina BYE

Canada BYE
Bolivia d. Ecuador, 15-14, 15-8

Venezuela d. Honduras, 15-10, 15-7
Costa Rica BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Singles Playoffs Day 1

2011-10-20T10:46:00.006-05:00

Heartbreak for Canada in women's singles as both Jennifer Saunders and Frédérique Lambert lost their first matches in the playoffs at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Veteran Angela Grisar of Chile defeated Saunders, 15-11, 15-7, and Bolivian Maria Vargas beat Lambert, 15-11, 15-8. The losses mean that Canada may miss the podium in women's play for the first time ever at the Pan Am Games. The Canadian team of Josée Grand'Maître and Brandi Jacobson Prentice are still in doubles, but if they win their first match against Venezuela, they will face the top seeded Mexican team of Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas.

Compounding Canada's misery was Mike Green's loss to Mexican Gilberto Mejia, 15-13, 7-15, 11-2, although Mejia was the higher seed. Canadian Vincent Gagnon did win his singles match on Thursday, beating Felipe Camacho of Costa Rica, 15-9, 15-11.

Results from other matches were more expected with the possible exception of Colombian Juan Herrera's victory over Bolivian Ricardo Monroy in two straight games, 15-13, 15-7.

The racquetball competition's individual competition will conclude Saturday October 22 and a team competition will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women Singles - Round of 16

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Ishey Paredes (Ven), 15-4, 15-4
Samantha Salas (Mex) d. Maria Cordova (Ecu), 15-10, 15-1

Angela Grisar (Chile) d. Jennifer Saunders (Can), 15-11, 15-7
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-12, 15-6

Maria Vargas (Bol) d. Frédérique Lambert (Can), 15-11, 15-8
Jenny Daza (Bol) d. Carla Munoz (Chile), 15-1, 15-1

Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Claudine Garcia (Dom), 15-4, 15-10
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Mariana Tobon (Ven), 15-6, 15-5

Men Singles - Round of 16

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-3
Fernando Rios (Ecu) d. Cesar Castro (Ven), 15-0, 15-0, WO

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Alejandro Herrera (Col), 15-11, 15-6
Carlos Keller (Bol) d. Alex Ackermann (USA), 15-7, 15-6

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Michael Green (Can), 15-13, 7-15, 11-2
Juan Herrera (Col) d. Ricardo Monroy (Bol), 15-13, 15-7

Luis Perez (Dom) d. Cesar Castillo (Ven), 12-15, 15-10, 11-6
Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-9, 15-11

Women Singles - Quarter finals (Friday)

Paola Longoria (Mex) vs. Samantha Salas (Mex)
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) vs. Angela Grisar (Chile)

Maria Vargas (Bol) vs. Jenny Daza (Bol)
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) vs. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador)

Men Singles - Quarter finals (Friday)

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) vs. Fernando Rios (Ecu)
Rocky Carson (USA) vs. Carlos Keller (Bol)

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) vs. Juan Herrera (Col)
Vincent Gagnon (Can) vs. Luis Perez (Dom)

Women Singles - Round of 32

Paola Longoria (Mex) BYE
Ishey Paredes (Ven) d. Marie Gomar (Gua), 14-15, 15-7, 11-5

Maria Cordova (Ecu) BYE
Samantha Salas (Mex) BYE

Jennifer Saunders (Can) BYE
Angela Grisar (Chile) BYE

Cristina Amaya (Col) BYE
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) BYE

Frédérique Lambert (Can) BYE
Maria Vargas (Bol) BYE

Carla Munoz (Chile) BYE
Jenny Daza (Bol) BYE

Claudine Garcia (Dom) BYE
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) BYE

Mariana Tobon (Ven) d. Veronique Guillemette (Arg), 15-0, 15-0, WO
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) BYE

Men Singles - Round of 32

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) BYE
Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Jose Ugalde (Ecu), 15-12, 11-15, 11-8

Cesar Castro (Ven) BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecu) BYE

Rocky Carson (USA) BYE
Alejandro Herrera (Col) BYE

Alex Ackermann (USA) d. Raul Banegas (Hon), 15-12, 15-5
Carlos Keller (Bol) BYE

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) BYE
Michael Green (Can) d. Ramon De Leon (Dom), 15-7, 15-3

Juan Herrera (Col) BYE
Ricardo Monroy (Bol) BYE

Cesar Castillo (Ven) BYE
Luis Perez (Dom) BYE

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-8, 15-11
Vincent Gagnon (Can) BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Elimination Round of 32

2011-10-19T17:41:00.004-05:00

The elimination round draws have been made for men's and women's singles at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Mexican Samantha Salas's loss to Frédérique Lambert of Canada on Wednesday means that there cannot be two medals for Mexico in women's singles, as Salas is drawn to meet team-mate Paola Longoria in the quarter finals.

Lambert is drawn into the 3rd seed slot, behind American Rhonda Rajsich (2nd) and ahead of American Cheryl Gudinas (4th). Lambert's team-mate Jennifer Saunders is scheduled to face Angela Grisar of Chile in the Round of 16, but Grisar withdrew from a match earlier in the week and lost by walk over to Rajsich today, which might mean that Grisar is out of singles and Saunders will get a pass into the quarter finals against either Gudinas or Colombian Cristina Amaya.

Grisar did play her doubles match on Tuesday, so she's not completely out of the competition.

Mexico will be happier with the men's draw as the two Mexicans are on opposite sides of the draw: Alvaro Beltran in the top spot and Gilberto Mejia in the 3rd seed spot.

The USA and Canada won't be so happy as their players are on the same side of the draw with the two Americans on the top of the draw and the two Canadians on the bottom. However, it's slightly worse for the USA as Rocky Carson and Alex Ackermann will have to face off in the quarters while Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon will have to meet in the semi-finals - assuming all those players get that far.

Beltran and Carson are both on the top of the draw, so they will meet in the semi finals (if at all), not the final.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women Singles - Elimination Round of 32

Paola Longoria (Mex) BYE
Ishey Paredes (Ven) vs. Marie Gomar (Gua)

Maria Cordova (Ecu) BYE
Samantha Salas (Mex) BYE

Jennifer Saunders (Can) BYE
Angela Grisar (Chile) BYE

Cristina Amaya (Col) BYE
Cheryl Gudinas (USA) BYE

Frédérique Lambert (Can) BYE
Maria Vargas (Bol) BYE

Carla Munoz (Chile) BYE
Jenny Daza (Bol) BYE

Claudine Garcia (Dom) BYE
Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) BYE

Veronique Guillemette (Arg) vs. Mariana Tobon (Ven)
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) BYE

Men Singles - Elimination Round of 32

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) BYE
Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) vs. Jose Ugalde (Ecu)

Cesar Castro (Ven) BYE
Fernando Rios (Ecu) BYE

Rocky Carson (USA) BYE
Alejandro Herrera (Col) BYE

Alex Ackermann (USA) vs. Raul Banegas (Hon)
Carlos Keller (Bol) BYE

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) BYE
Michael Green (Can) vs. Ramon De Leon (Dom)

Juan Herrera (Col) BYE
Ricardo Monroy (Bol) BYE

Cesar Castillo (Ven) BYE
Luis Perez (Dom) BYE

Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) vs. Selvin Cruz (Honduras)
Vincent Gagnon (Can) BYE

Women's Doubles - Round of 16

Mexico BYE
Canada vs. Venezuela

Chile BYE
Argentina BYE

Bolivia BYE
Ecuador BYE

Dominican Republic BYE
USA

Men's Doubles - Round of 16

Mexico BYE
Colombia vs. Dominican Republic

USA BYE
Argentina BYE

Canada BYE
Bolivia vs. Ecuador

Venezuela vs. Honduras
Costa Rica BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Day 3

2011-10-19T10:58:00.006-05:00

A surprise result has come early on day three of racquetball at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, as Canadian Frédérique Lambert has defeated Mexican Samantha Salas, 9-15, 15-11, 11-6. That result might put the Mexican women - Salas and Paola Longoria on the same side of the draw in the elimination round.

No other surprises in women's singles, as Rhonda Rajsich, Paola Longoria, Cheryl Gudinas, and Jennifer Saunders were all winners Wednesday.

In men's singles, both Mexicans won. Alvaro Beltran beat Cesar Castillo, 15-11, 15-11, and Gilberto Mejia defeated American Alex Ackermann, 15-11, 15-6.

The other American in men's singles - Rocky Carson - won his match, defeating Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia, 15-12, 15-7.

Finally, it was not a good day for Canada, as both Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon lost. Green fell to World Junior Champion Carlos Keller of Bolivia, 15-10, 4-15, 11-6, and Gagnon was beaten by Alejandro Herrera of Colombia, 6-15, 15-5, 11-9.

The racquetball competition has two parts. An individual competition, which will run Monday to Saturday (Oct 17-22) and a team competition, which will run Sunday Oct 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women Singles (by group)

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-3

Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 15-0, 15-0 walk over

Frédérique Lambert (Can) d. Samantha Salas (Mex), 9-15, 15-11, 11-6
Cristina Amaya (Col) d. Mariana Tobon (Ven), 9-15, 15-2, 11-9

Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Maria Vargas (Bol), 15-2, 15-13
Claudine Garcia (Dom) d. Marie Gomar (Gua), 15-8, 15-1

Jennifer Saunders (Can) d. Jenny Daza (Bol), 15-13, 15-2
Veronique Guillemette (Arg) d. Ishey Paredes (Ven), 15-9, 15-10

Men Singles (by group)

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Cesar Castillo (Ven), 15-11, 15-11
Juan Herrera (Col) d. Raul Banegas (Hon), 15-12, 15-5

Alejandro Herrera (Col) d. Vincent Gagnon (Can), 6-15, 15-5, 11-9
Cesar Castro (Ven) d. Ramon De Leon (Dom), 15-6, 15-2

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Alex Ackermann (USA), 15-11, 15-6
Fernando Rios (Ecu) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-7, 15-4

Carlos Keller (Bol) d. Michael Green (Can), 15-10, 4-15, 11-6
Luis Perez (Dom) d. Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-11

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Ricardo Monroy (Bol), 15-12, 15-7
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Jose Ugalde (Ecu), 15-8, 15-4

Women's Doubles

Mexico d. Dominican Republic, 15-1, 15-0
USA d. Ecuador, 15-6, 15-3
Bolivia d. Canada, 15-4, 15-4

Men's Doubles

Mexico d. Venezuela, 12-15, 15-5, 1-0, retired
USA d. Colombia, 15-4, 15-9
Costa Rica d. Bolivia, 9-15, 15-12, 11-6
Canada d. Argentina, 15-10, 15-5
Dominican Republic d. Honduras, 11-15, 15-13, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Day 2

2011-10-18T10:01:00.007-05:00

Day two of racquetball has concluded at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, and again the surprising results came in doubles. The USA men's team of Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson lost to Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7.

But that wasn't the only surprising result in men's doubles, as Colombians Juan Torres and Francisco Gomez defeated Bolivians Ricardo Monroy and Roland Keller, 15-7, 6-15, 11-3.

Then in women's doubles, former Canadian Véronique Guillemette, who's now playing for Argentina with Dafne Macrino defeated her former team-mates Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 15-10, 15-10.

Earlier in the day, Chilean Angela Grisar, former top 4 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO), retired midway through the second game of her match with Maria Cordova of Ecuador, losing 14-15, 8-7 - retired. Apparently, Grisar's nursing a knee injury.

But Grisar did play her doubles match, and won that with Carla Munoz, as they defeated the Dominican Republic pair of Claudine Garcia and Yire Portes, 3-15, 15-8, 11-5.

The racquetball competition has two parts. An individual competition, which will run Monday to Saturday (Oct 17-22) and a team competition, which will run Sunday Oct 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico

Women Singles (by group)

Maria Paz Munoz (Ecuador) d. Carla Munoz (Chile), 15-2, 15-4

Maria Cordova (Ecu) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 14-15, 8-7, retired

Samantha Salas (Mex) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-3, 15-11
Frédérique Lambert (Can) d. Mariana Tobon (Ven), 15-1, 15-4

Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Claudine Garcia (Dom), 15-11, 14-15, 11-2
Maria Vargas (Bol) d. Marie Gomar (Gua), 15-3, 15-8

Jennifer Saunders (Can) d. Ishey Paredes (Ven), 15-6, 15-7
Jenny Daza (Bol) d. Veronique Guillemette (Arg), 15-14, 15-10

Men Singles (by group)

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Juan Herrera (Col), 15-3, 15-5
Cesar Castillo (Ven) d. Raul Banegas (Hon), 15-13, 15-2

Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Cesar Castro (Ven), 15-7, 15-7
Alejandro Herrera (Col) d. Ramon De Leon (Dom), 15-7, 15-3

Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Fernando Rios (Ecu), 15-7, 15-8
Alex Ackermann (USA) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-3, 15-6

Michael Green (Can) d. Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-11
Carlos Keller (Bol) d. Luis Perez (Dom), 15-4, 15-6

Ricardo Monroy (Bol) d. Jose Ugalde (Ecu), 15-7, 15-8
Rocky Carson (USA) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-7

Women's Doubles

Chile d. Dominican Republic, 3-15, 15-8, 11-5
Ecuador d. Venezuela, 15-11, 15-7
Argentina d. Canada, 15-10, 15-10

Men's Doubles

Venezuela d. Ecuador, 15-9, 13-15, 11-9
Costa Rica d. USA, 9-15, 15-12, 11-7
Colombia d. Bolivia, 15-7, 6-15, 11-3
Canada d. Dominican Republic, 15-1, 15-8
Argentina d. Honduras, 15-12, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan Am Games - Day 1

2011-10-17T12:18:00.007-05:00

Early results from day one of the 2011 Pan American Games racquetball competition in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the shock result of the day came late, as the Mexican doubles team of Alvaro Beltran and Javier Moreno lost to the Ecuadoran team of Alvarez and Fernando Rios, 8-15, 15-8, 11-7.

The competition has a pool play initially, so the Mexicans are eliminated, but they will get a worse draw in the elimination round later in the week. Or perhaps other teams will get a worse draw, as they'll have to play Mexico earlier in the elimination round than if Mexico had won today.

There were no surprises in women's singles, as the favorites all winning easily. But there were a couple of close matches though, as Jenny Daza of Bolivia defeated Ishey Paredes of Venezuela, 15-12, 15-11 and veteran Claudine Garcia from Dominican Republic beat Bolivian Maria Vargas, 15-10, 15-13.

There were a couple of surprises in men's singles, however, as Canadian champion Mike Green lost to Luis Perez of Dominican Republic, 3-15, 15-10, 11-7. Also, the two Colombian brothers Juan and Alejandro Herrera lost to two Venezuelan Cesars.

Cesar Castillo beat Juan Herrera, 8-15, 15-6, 11-6, and Cesar Castro defeated Alejandro Herrera, 15-5, 15-8.

The racquetball competition has two parts. An individual compeition,, which will run Monday to Saturday (Oct 17-22) and a team competition, which will run Sunday Oct 23 to Tuesday October 25.

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara, Mexico
Women Singles

Paola Longoria (Mex) d. Carla Munoz (Chile), 15-0, 15-4
Samantha Salas (Mex) d. Mariana Tobon (Ven), 15-3, 15-4

Frédérique Lambert (Can) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-6, 15-14
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Maria Cordova (Ecu), 15-6, 15-3

Jenny Daza (Bol) d. Ishey Paredes (Ven), 15-12, 15-11
Jennifer Saunders (Can) d. Veronique Guillemette (Arg), 15-2, 15-8

Cheryl Gudinas (USA) d. Marie Gomar (Gua), 15-3, 15-1
Claudine Garcia (Dom) d. Maria Vargas (Bol), 15-10, 15-13

Men Singles

Alvaro Beltran (Mex) d. Raul Banegas (Hon), 15-4, 15-11
Gilberto Mejia (Mex) d. Selvin Cruz (Hon), 15-3, 15-3

Cesar Castillo (Ven) d. Juan Herrera (Col), 8-15, 15-6, 11-6
Cesar Castro (Ven) d. Alejandro Herrera (Col), 15-5, 15-8

Luis Perez (Dom) d. Michael Green (Can), 3-15, 15-10, 11-7
Ricardo Monroy (Bol) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-8

Carlos Keller (Bol) d. Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-7
Fernando Rios (Ecu) d. Alex Ackermann (USA), 15-4, 15-12

Rocky Carson (USA) d. Jose Ugalde (Ecu), 15-5, 15-2
Vincent Gagnon (Can) d. Ramon De Leon (Dom), 15-3, 15-4

Women's Doubles

Boliva d. Argentina, 15-4, 15-9
Mexico d. Chile, 15-1, 15-4
USA d. Venezuela, 15-7, 15-7

Men's Doubles

Ecuador d. Mexico, 8-15, 15-8, 11-7
USA d. Bolivia, 15-7, 15-13
Canada d. Honduras, 15-7, 15-2
Costa Rica d. Colombia, 15-13, 15-9
Argentina d. Dominican Republic, 15-11, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 Pan American Games - Guadalajara begins today!

2011-10-14T10:21:00.005-05:00

The 2011 Pan American Games begin today in Guadalajara, Mexico. The racquetball competition begins on Monday, and has two parts. An individual compeition, which will run Monday to Saturday (Oct 17-22) and a team competition, which will run Sunday October 23 to Tuesday October 25.

The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event in the world behind only the Summer Olympic Games. These games serve as an Olympic qualifying event for several sports, such as water polo and field hockey, so this is really a big deal.

Of course, racquetball isn't an Olympic sport, so many view the Pan Am Games as racquetball's Olympics, although only countries in the Americas can compete. However, the strongest racquetball nations - the USA, Mexico and Canada - are in the Americas so it is an Olympic level competition in that regard.

The last time racquetball was in the Pan Am Games was in 2003 in the Dominican Republic. The 2007 games were in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Brazil is just about the only country in the Americas that doesn't have an active racquetball community. Thus, the local organizing committee of the 2007 chose to leave racquetball off the program.

There was no question that racquetball, as a non-core Pan Am Games sport, was going to be left off the program in Mexico, as Mexico is a racquetball powerhouse. In fact, racquetball player Paola Longoria was in charge of lighting the first torch for the Pan Am Games as it began its journey from Mexico City to Guadalajara.

Team rosters

Longoria will be one of the Mexican players competing in Guadalajara, and she'll be playing singles and doubles along with Samatha Salas Solis, who's also scheduled to play both events.

Alvaro Beltran will also play both events on the men's side for Mexcio. Javier Moreno will be his doubles partner, and Gilberto Meija will be the other singles player.

The USA roster has had a couple of shake-ups from what might have been expected back in the spring. These have resulted from Jack Huczek's retirement, Ben Croft's job commitments, and Jackie Paraiso's family commitments.

Thus, the American team will be Rhonda Rajsich playing both singles and doubles, with Aimee Ruiz, and Cheryl Gudinas filling the other women's singles spot. On the men's side, Rocky Carson will play singles with Alex Ackermann and the US men's doubles team will be Chris Crowther and Shane Vanderson.

Canada's representatives are going to be Jennifer Saunders and Frédérique T. Lambert in women's singles and Josée Grand'Maître and Brandi Jacobson Prentice in women's doubles. The Canadian men are Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon in singles with Kris Odegard and Tim Landeryou in doubles.

There will certainly be strong players from other countries, such as Angela Grisar of Chile, Cristina Amaya of Colombia and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia.

Follow the bouncing ball....

When less is more (or fewer is greater)

2011-10-11T11:41:00.002-05:00

To win a racquetball game, you have to score more points than your opponent. So over a racquetball match winner will usually score more points than the match loser. But not necessarily, as you can lose games big and win close, which could produce a total score that is not in your favor even though you win more games.

In 14 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events last season, the player who won the match had few points than his opponent 11 times. But this season in 2 IRT events, this has happened 6 times already.

The lowest point difference between players so far this season has been in Javier Moreno's win over Chris Crowther by scores of 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 1-11, 11-4, so Moreno scored 6 fewer points than Crowther, but still carried the day.

That's almost as efficient a win as possible, as Moreno scored only 35 points in winning the match (33 is the minimum necessary to win a match of that's best of five games to eleven points).

The Moreno-Crowther match is also remarkable, because they scored only 76 total points over five games. Last season only two five game matches had fewer than 76 points (and two more had 76 points).

Just more evidence that the expected doesn't always happen in sports.

Follow the bouncing ball....

2011 US Open Bits 'n' Bobs

2011-10-10T12:03:00.001-05:00

WPRO Awards

During the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) final, the US Open scoreboard announced the WPRO award winners for the past season. Rhonda Rajsich was the Player of the Year, and Samantha Salas was named Most Improved Player, as she was last year.

Also, the Janet Myers Sportsmanship Award went to Maiko Sato and Da'monique Davis was named WPRO Rookie of the Year.

Open Division Winners

Canadian Frédérique Lambert defeated Mexican Susana Acosta for the Women's Open title, 14-15, 15-5, 11-8. In the semi-finals, Lambert beat T.J. Baumbaugh, 15-2, 15-10, and Acosta took out Sharon Jackson, 15-8, 15-0.

The Men's Open division has gone to a non-American for the last 9 years, and Mexican Daniel De La Rosa made it ten as he defeated American Taylor Knoth in the final, 15-2, 15-8. Both De La Rosa and Knoth got to the final with 11-10 victories in the semi-finals. De La Rosa beat Jose Diaz, 12-15, 15-1, 11-10, while Knoth took out Alejandro Herrera, 15-8, 14-15, 11-10.

Josh Tucker (in 2002) is the last American to win Men's Open at the US Open.

Polo Gutierrez and Alejandro Landa won Men's Open Doubles by defeating Javier Moreno and Shayne Royster, 13-15, 15-10, 11-8. Cristina Cordova and Maria Paz Munoz took the Women's Open Doubles title with a 15-1, 15-8 win over Claudia Andrade and Claudine Garcia.

Finally, the Open Mixed Doubles title went to Canadians Lambert and Corey Osborne, who defeated Americans Diaz and Aimee Ruiz, 10-15, 15-14, 11-10.

2012 US Open

During the finals on Sunday, Doug Ganim, US Open Tournament Director, announced that next year's US Open would be held in the same week as this year's tournament. The US Open Racquetball Championships Facebook page confirmed this today stating that the dates for 2012 will be October 3-7.

However, last year they announced that the dates for this year would be at the end of October, and it turned out to the beginning of October, so we don't recommend paying for any hotel rooms in advance just yet.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Waselenchuk wins #7

2011-10-09T15:39:00.001-05:00

Kane Waselenchuk won his fourth consecutive US Open Racquetball Championship title and his seventh overall on Sunday, as he defeated Rocky Carson, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7. He is undefeated in US Open finals, and extended his own record of US Open victories to seven.

Early, it looked like seven might not happen, as Carson led all of game one, although Waselenchuk did tie it at 7-7, before Carson won 11-7.

But games two and three, were vintage Waselenchuk as he took big leads of 8-0 and 7-0, respectively in each game, winning both easily.

Game three was a different matter as Carson battled Waselenchuk all the way. They were tied at 3-3. Carson led 5-3, and 7-6, but Waselenchuk came back took a 9-7 lead and then won 11-7 on a push shot into the front right corner.

It was a shot that Waselenchuk used to close out two games against Jose Rojas in their semi-final. Asked about it afterwards, Waselenchuk said he'd hit that shot "100,000s of times. No doubt that I was not going to skip it."

Speaking to the crowd, Waselenchuk thanked himself for working so hard, while wearing a t-shirt with the number 7 on it, signifying the number of US Open titles he's won.

Waselenchuk also acknowledged the efforts of his opponent, saying "Rocky is a gentleman on and off the court, and I really respect him." In fact, Waselenchuk said this was the "hardest I've had to work" to win a US Open.

For his part, Carson said his goal was to "have Kane roll every shot, and he rolled a lot of them." So it was mission accomplished in that respect, but not goal achieved for Carson, who stated he'd be back next year to try and win another US Open title.

Carson won the US Open in 2007.

Prior to the final neither Waselenchuk or Carson had lost a game at this year's US Open.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 7-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins 2nd US Open title

2011-10-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

Paola Longoria won her 2nd US Open title Sunday, as she beat Rhonda Rajsich in three straight games, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, in the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis.

Longoria, the 2nd ranked player in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO), played her third straight US Open final with WPRO #1 Rajsich.

Longoria drove serve throughout the match, and it was an effective strategy against Rajsich, who never seemed to a serve she was comfortable with. Rajsich played very well in the semi-final on Saturday against Kerri Wachtel, so she may have peaked too early.

Game one was close early, as they were tied at 4-4. Then Longoria opened up a lead at 8-4, and 10-5, as she held on to win 11-7.

Game two was also close early. Rajsich led 3-2, when Longoria got the serve back and hit two straight aces to make it 4-3, and she didn't relinquish the lead, as Longoria won 11-5.

In game three, it was close the whole way. In fact, Rajsich led most of that game, including at 5-2. But Longoria tied it at 9-9, and then got the final two points to win her 2nd US Open title.

Longoria first won the US Open in 2008, when she defeated Cheryl Gudinas in the final.

Longoria's three straight game victory is the first US Open women's final to go three straight games since 2006, when Christie Huczek (nee Van Hees) defeated Cheryl Gudinas.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WPRO Final

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball....

Clouse a 3 time US Open Champion

2011-10-09T11:11:00.001-05:00

Woody Clouse won a third straight Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) title at the US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis Sunday, defeating former Canadian champion Corey Osborne in three straight games, 9-3, 9-5, 9-1.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
CPRT Final

Woody Clouse d. Corey Osborne, 9-3, 9-5, 9-1

Follow the bouncing ball....

Clouse & Osborne will playoff for CPRT US Open title

2011-10-08T18:42:00.001-05:00

Woody Clouse will try to win his third straight Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) title at the US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis Sunday, as he beat Travis Aldinger in the semi-finals, 11-2, 11-2, 11-1.

Clouse's opponent in Sunday's final will be former Canadian champion Corey Osborne, who defeated the 2008 CPRT US Open champion Jimmy Lowe in the other semi-final, 9-8, 8-9, 9-5, 9-7.

The semis will be go later on Saturday with the final on Sunday.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
CPRT Semi Finals

Woody Clouse d. Travis Aldinger, 9-2, 9-2, 9-1
Corey Osborne d. Jimmy Lowe, 9-8, 8-9, 9-5, 9-7

CPRT Final

Woody Clouse vs. Corey Osborne - Sunday 10 AM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Waselenchuk & Carson to face off in US Open final

2011-10-08T15:50:00.003-05:00

Three time defending champion Kane Waselenchuk can make it four times on Sunday as he'll be in the final of the US Open Racquetball Championships again after defeating Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3. It was another dominating performance by Waselenchuk, who hasn't lost a US Open match since 2002.

After dropping the first two games, Rojas actually tied Waselenchuk at 3-3 in the third using some high lobs into the back right corner - the backhand side of the leftie Waselenchuk. But the champ closed the door after that by continuing to use a combination of drive serves on first serve and backhand Z lob serves to the right on second serve, and didn't allow his young opponent another point.

Waselenchuk's opponent will be second seed Rocky Carson, who won his semi-final match against Chris Crowther, 11-1, 11-8, 11-5. Carson, the #2 ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), will play in his fourth US Open final on Sunday, and his first since 2008.

Carson won the first game comfortably, but game two was tight, as he and Crowther were tied at 4-4, 7-7, and 8-8. Crowther led at 8-7, but he couldn't close it out.

Crowther led again early in game three at 4-1, but Carson came back to lead 5-4 and didn't look back as he won game three, 11-5, taking the match in three straight games.

Carson hasn't dropped a game in Minneapolis this year, giving up only 3.75 point per game.

Three time defending champion Kane Waselenchuk plays Jose Rojas in the other semi-final later on Saturday.

The final can be viewed via the IRT Network on Sunday.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Semi finals (Saturday)

Kane Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3
Rocky Carson d. Chris Crowther, 11-1, 11-8, 11-5

IRT Finals (Sunday)

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Rocky Carson 1 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Rajsich & Longoria to meet in US Open final

2011-10-08T13:42:00.004-05:00

Two time defending US Open champion Rhonda Rajsich will have a chance to defend her title Sunday, as she defeated Kerri Wachtel, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6, on Saturday in the second semi-final of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) division of the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis.

Rajsich overpowered Wachtel, who didn't score a point until she was down 8-0 in game two. Rajsich used a variety of drive serves to keep Wachtel off balance. Wachtel hit lob serves early in the match, but they weren't effective.

Rajsich's opponent in the final will be Mexican Paola Longoria, the #2 WPRO player. Rajsich and Longoria have met in the last two US Open finals, and Rajsich won both times.

Earlier Saturday, Longoria won an all Mexico semi-final as she defeated Samantha Salas Solis, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8. Longoria got a good start to the match, leading 5-1 in game one. But Salas did come back to 5-4, yet she couldn't get an equalizer as Longoria went on to win it 11-5.

Longoria got a good start to the match, leading 5-1 in game one. But Salas did come back to 5-4, but she couldn't get an equalizer as Longoria went on to win it 11-5.

Game two was a similar story as Longoria led early at 6-1 and 8-3 before winning comfortably at 11-4.

During the first two games, both players hit a variety of drive serves. But in game three Salas switched to lob serves to Longoria's backhand and got an early lead at 3-0.

Longoria came back to level the game at 5-5 and then took a lead at 8-5. It was Salas's turn to come back, and she did tying the match at 8-8. Longoria then served it out with 3/4 speed Z serves to the back left corner - Salas's backhand.

You can watch the final via the IRT Network.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WPRO Semi finals

Paola Longoria d. Samantha Salas Solis, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8
Rhonda Rajsich d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6

WPRO Final

Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria - Sunday 11 AM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Clouse, Lowe, Aldinger & Osborne in CPRT Semis at US Open

2011-10-08T13:39:00.000-05:00

The semi-finals are set in the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) division of the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, and like the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw there are two former US Open champions and two newcomers in the semis.

Two time defending champion, Woody Clouse is there after defeating Richard Eisemann, 9-1, 9-7, 9-4, and he'll play newcomer Travis Aldinger, who was a 9-2, 6-9, 9-5, 9-4, winner over Keith Minor.

On the other side of the draw, 2008 US Open champion Jimmy Lowe will face former Canadian champion Corey Osborne. Lowe beat Doug Ganim in straight games, 9-7, 9-6, 9-7, while Osborne need a full five games to fend off Brad McCunniff, winning 3-9, 9-7, 9-7, 7-9, 9-3.

The semis will be go later on Saturday with the final on Sunday.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
CPRT Quarter Finals

Woody Clouse d. Richard Eisemann, 9-1, 9-7, 9-4
Travis Aldinger d. Keith Minor, 9-2, 6-9, 9-5, 9-4

Jimmy Lowe d. Doug Ganim, 9-7, 9-6, 9-7
Corey Osborne d. Brad McCunniff, 3-9, 9-7, 9-7, 7-9, 9-3

CPRT Semi Finals

Woody Clouse vs. Travis Aldinger
Jimmy Lowe vs. Corey Osborne

Follow the bouncing ball....

Top 4 seeds through to WPRO semis at US Open

2011-10-07T18:58:00.002-05:00

Kerri Wachtel ended Da'monique Davis's run through the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) draw Friday at the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis with a straight game victory, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8.

Wachtel will now face top seed and two time defending champion Rhonda Rajsich, who defeated Jennifer Saunders, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, in an all-American semi-final on Saturday.

The other semi-final will be an all-Mexican battle, as 2nd seed Paola Longoria faces off with 3rd seed Samantha Salas Solis.

In Friday's quarter finals, Longoria beat Krystal Csuk, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6, while Salas Solis ended Kristen Bellows's dream of a US Open title in four games, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-1.

Salas Solis is the only remaining player not to have a US Open title to her name, as Longoria won in 2008, Wachtel in 2001, and Rajsich in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

You can watch the action via the IRT Network all tournament.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WPRO Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Jennifer Saunders, 11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5
Kerri Wachtel d. Da'monique Davis, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8

Samantha Salas Solis d. Kristen Bellows, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 11-1
Paola Longoria d. Krystal Csuk, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6

WPRO Semi finals

Kerri Wachtel vs. Rhonda Rajsich - Saturday 3 PM CDT
Paola Longoria vs. Samantha Salas Solis - Saturday Noon CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Two newbies and two veterans in the IRT semi-finals at US Open

2011-10-07T16:24:00.003-05:00

Kane Waselenchuk remains on track for a fourth consecutive US Open title and seventh overall, as he beat Charlie Pratt, 11-1, 11-4, 11-2, in the quarter finals of US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis. The #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), Waselenchuk drove serve throughout the match and followed that up with his characteristically unconventional shot making. He hasn't lost a US Open match since 2002.

Waselenchuk's opponent in the semi-finals will be Jose Rojas, who won the 4th/5th seed match against Andy Hawthorne. Rojas, seeded 5th, beat Hawthorne, seeded 4th, in four games, 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2. Rojas'll be making his first appearance in a US Open semi-final.

Second seed Rocky Carson will face Chris Crowther in the other semi-final. Carson beat Shane Vanderson in straight games, 11-5, 11-0, 11-6.

Crowther upset 3rd seed Ben Croft, 11-9, 11-(-2), 11-8, to reach the semis for the first time in his career. Crowther won with his characteristic hard hitting game style, drive serving to Croft and hitting drive Z serves on second serve.

Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network throughout the tournament.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Quarter finals (Friday)

Kane Waselenchuk d. Charles Pratt, 11-1, 11-4, 11-2
Jose Rojas d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2

Chris Crowther d. Ben Croft, 11-9, 11-(-2), 11-8
Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 11-5, 11-0, 11-6

IRT Semi finals (Saturday)

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Jose Rojas - 4 PM CDT
Rocky Carson vs. Chris Crowther - 1 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

Live tweeting of US Open

2011-10-07T16:06:00.002-05:00

Reminder to all our readers that we're tweeting from the US Open in Minneapolis. Follow us on Twitter @racquetballblog.

Tweet, tweet - tweet, tweet - YEAH!

Follow the bouncing ball....

US OPEN - WPRO Round of 16

2011-10-07T11:40:00.004-05:00

Da'monique Davis had the best win of her Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) career early Friday, as she knocked off two time US Open champion Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, in the Round of 16 at the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis.

The win put Davis in the quarter finals for the second time in two WPRO events this season. She didn't make it past the Round of 16 in any of the eight WPRO tournaments she played last season.

Davis will play Kerri Wachtel in the quarter finals, as Wachtel fought off Aimee Ruiz in four games, 3-11, 11-9, 11-4, 13-11. Ruiz had leads of 7-1 and 10-4 in game four, so it looked like a tie breaker was going to be needed to determine the winner.

But Wachtel, the 2001 US Open champion, came back with drive Z serves to the right side - Ruiz's backhand side, and also hit great serve returns off of Ruiz's lob serves, including volleying pinch shot winners.

In other action, former top 4 player Kristen Bellows is trying to do a Clijsters: win a Grand Slam event after basically not playing on tour for two seasons. She was a winner over 6th seed Adrienne Fisher, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9.

Also, 9th seed Jennifer Saunders has reached the US Open quarter finals for the first time with a win over Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5. Saunders will play top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the quarters, as Rajsich defeated Sharon Jackson, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3, in the Round of 16.

The WPRO Round of 16 and quarter finals will be played on Friday.

You can watch the action via the IRT Network all tournament.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WPRO Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich d. Sharon Jackson, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3
Jennifer Saunders d. Cristina Amaya, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5

Da'monique Davis d. Cheryl Gudinas, 11-5, 4-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6
Kerri Wachtel d. Aimee Ruiz, 3-11, 11-9, 11-4, 13-11

Samantha Salas Solis d. Sheryl Lotts, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9
Kristen Bellows d. Adrienne Fisher, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9

Krystal Csuk d. Susana Acosta, 11-7, 11-9, 2-11, 17-15
Paola Longoria d. Jessica Parrilla, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6

WPRO Quarter finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Jennifer Saunders
Kerri Wachtel vs. Da'monique Davis

Samantha Salas Solis vs. Kristen Bellows
Paola Longoria vs. Krystal Csuk

Follow the bouncing ball....

US Open - IRT Round of 16

2011-10-06T17:44:00.005-05:00

There won't be a repeat of last year's final in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division at the US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, as one of the finalists lost in the Round of 16 on Friday. Last year's champion, Kane Waselenchuk won in the 16s, but Alvaro Beltran lost.

Waselenchuk defeated Alejandro Landa in the three straight games, 11-0, 11-2, 11-3, while Beltran fell to Charlie Pratt, 5-11, 0-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5.

It's rare to lose a game 11-0 and come back to win, as Pratt did against Beltran, but it's the second time that it happened on Thursday as Andy Hawthorne dropped game two against Kris Odegard in the Round of 32 11-0 yet won the match. And it's the second time Pratt has done it, as he lost the second game against Jose Rojas last season in St Louis but won the match in four games.

Earlier Thursday, the first match of the 16s was a barn burner! Mexican veteran Javier Moreno gave American youngster Jose Rojas all he could handle, but came up just a little short, as Rojas took it in five tough games, 10-12, 11-5, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7.

Rojas actually had a chance to end it in game four, but failed on his first match point, as he skipped a shot after Moreno had hit a pinch into the front left corner. Moreno then finished out game four to force a tie-breaker, but not without Rojas making two consecutive dives to the save the ball off the back wall to keep the rally going on game point.

In the fifth game, Rojas was ahead early at 3-0, but Moreno then took the lead at 7-5. Rojas got to 7-6 on a rally that had each player dive twice with Rojas diving over Moreno to hit a winning down the line shot. From there, Rojas didn't look back as he closed out the match without giving up another point.

Rojas will play Andy Hawthorne in the quarter finals on Friday, as Hawthorne made short work of Taylor Knoth, winning 11-1, 11-3, 11-8.

Also of note, Shane Vanderson went down two games against Gilberto Mejia but came back to win, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3, 12-10 .

All top 8 seeds have made the quarter finals at the US Open. We're checking the records to see when the last time that's happened, if ever.

The IRT's Round of 16 continues Thursday at Life Time Fitness - Target Center in Minneapolis with the quarter final to follow on Friday. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network throughout the tournament.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota

IRT Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk d. Alejandro Landa, 11-0, 11-2, 11-3
Charles Pratt d. Alvaro Beltran, 5-11, 0-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-5

Jose Rojas d. Javier Moreno, 10-12, 11-5, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7
Andy Hawthorne d. Taylor Knoth, 11-1, 11-3, 11-8

Ben Croft d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-4, 11-6, 12-10
Chris Crowther d. Tony Carson, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3

Shane Vanderson d. Gilberto Mejia, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3, 12-10
Rocky Carson d. Daniel De La Rosa, 11-0, 11-1, 11-6

IRT Quarter finals

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Charles Pratt 6 PM CDT
Andy Hawthorne vs. Jose Rojas 1 PM CDT

Ben Croft vs. Chris Crowther 2 PM CDT
Rocky Carson vs. Shane Vanderson 5 PM CDT

Follow the bouncing ball....

US Open - WPRO Round of 32

2011-10-06T13:58:00.007-05:00

Results from the Round of 32 in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) division at the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis have been mostly as expected.

The top seeds have all won comfortably, including 1st seed Rhonda Rajsich, a winner over Ivonne Carpio, 11-4, 11-5, 11-3, 2nd seed Paola Longoria, who beat Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-5, 11-0, 11-1, and 3rd seed Samantha Salas Solis, who defeated Cristina Cordova, 11-2, 11-2, 11-1.

Three minor upsets occurred, as 19th seed Sheryl Lotts beat 14th seed Laura Brandt, 10-12, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, and 18th seed Jessica Parrilla defeated 15th seed Keely Franks, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5.

Kristen Bellows, the 22nd seed was also a winner over 11th seed T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6, which is an upset according to the seeding, but Bellows was a top 4 player a few years ago, but hasn't played much in the last couple of seasons. She'll now play Adrienne Fisher, who was a straight game winner over Laura Fenton, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6.

The WPRO 32s will be completed Thursday with the Round of 16 and quarter finals on Friday.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
WPRO Round of 32

Rhonda Rajsich d. Ivonne Carpio, 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
Sharon Jackson d. Linda Scales, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8

Jennifer Saunders d. Tracy Hawthorne, 11-0, 11-2, 11-3
Cristina Amaya d. Lily Berry, 11-6, 11-4, 11-0

Cheryl Gudinas d. Debbie Beldring, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
Da'monique Davis d. Jocelyn Loredo, 13-11, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9

Aimee Ruiz d. Frederique Lambert, 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 11-3
Kerri Wachtel d. Mercedes Arias, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2

Samantha Salas Solis d. Cristina Cordova, 11-2, 11-2, 11-1
Sheryl Lotts d. Laura Brandt, 10-12, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8

Kristen Bellows d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
Adrienne Fisher d. Laura Fenton, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6

Susana Acosta d. Carla Munoz, 11-2, 11-0, 11-4
Krystal Csuk d. Claudine Garcia, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-2

Jessica Parrilla d. Keely Franks, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5
Paola Longoria d. Maria Paz Muñoz, 11-5, 11-0, 11-1

WPRO Round of 16

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Sharon Jackson
Jennifer Saunders vs. Cristina Amaya

Cheryl Gudinas vs. Da'monique Davis
Kerri Wachtel vs. Aimee Ruiz

Samantha Salas Solis vs. Sheryl Lotts
Adrienne Fisher vs Kristen Bellows

Susana Acosta vs. Krystal Csuk
Paola Longoria vs. Jessica Parrilla

Follow the bouncing ball....

US Open - IRT Round of 32

2011-10-06T11:25:00.007-05:00

The first match of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round of 32 at the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis started as a teeter-totter and then turned into a barn burner, as 4th ranked Andy Hawthorne beat two time Canadian Champion Kris Odegard in five games, 11-1, 0-11, 11-3, 6-11, 14-12.

After the first two games went 11-1 to Hawthorne and 11-0 to Odegard you had a suspicion that it might go five, and it did. Hawthorne was up 8-3 in the fifth, but Odegard fought back and served for the match twice at 10-9 and 11-10. But Odegard couldn't close it out, as Hawthorne came through in the end.

Next up for Hawthorne will be Taylor Knoth who defeated Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8.

The other top seeds have all made it through to the Round of 16. The top three players won in straight games. Three time defending champion and top seed Kane Waselenchuk defeated Mauricio Zelada, 11-3, 11-7, 11-1, 2nd seed Rocky Carson beat Jansen Allen, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7, and 3rd seed Ben Croft ousted Ruben Gonzalez, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10.

The IRT's Round of 32 continues Thursday at Life Time Fitness - Target Center in Minneapolis with the Round of 16 to be played later on Thursday. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network throughout the tournament.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
IRT Round of 32

IRT Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-3, 11-7, 11-1
Alejandro Landa d. Andres Herrera, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7

Alvaro Beltran d. Polo Gutierrez, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4
Charles Pratt d. Juan Martinez III, 8-11, 11-0, 11-4, 11-8

Jose Rojas d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2
Javier Moreno d. Fernado Rios, 11-4, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4

Taylor Knoth d. Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8
Andy Hawthorne d. Kris Odegard, 11-1, 0-11, 11-3, 6-11, 14-12

Ben Croft d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10
Alejandro Herrera d. Tim Landeryou, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 14-12, 11-2

Tony Carson d. Tyler Otto, 11-1, 11-4, 11-3
Chris Crowther d. Doug Ganim, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3

Shane Vanderson d. Nick Montalbano, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
Gilberto Mejia d. Anthony Herrera, 11-1, 12-10, 11-6

Daniel De La Rosa d. Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 6-11, 11-3, 11-8
Rocky Carson d. Jansen Allen, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7

IRT Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Alejandro Landa
Charles Pratt vs. Alvaro Beltran

Jose Rojas vs. Javier Moreno
Andy Hawthorne vs. Taylor Knoth

Ben Croft vs. Alejandro Herrera
Chris Crowther vs. Tony Carson

Shane Vanderson vs. Gilberto Mejia
Rocky Carson vs. Daniel De La Rosa

Follow the bouncing ball....

US Open - IRT 3rd Round Qualifying Results

2011-10-05T23:29:00.004-05:00

The 16 qualifiers for the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Round of 32 at the 16th US Open Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis have been decided, and The Legend Ruben Gonzalez is one of them, as he defeated Costa Rican Andres Acuña in five games, 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-1. Gonzalez will play 3rd seed Ben Croft in the 32s on Thursday.

In some other matches, the 2010 Junior World Champion Taylor Knoth beat former Canadian Champion Corey Osborne in four games, 10-12, 11-7, 11-2, 11-4, and will play Juan Herrera in the 32s. Another former Canadian Champion, Kris Odegard, fared better as he beat Ryan Meyer, 11-1, 11-0, 11-6.

US Junior Champion Nick Montalbano bested American veteran Brian Simpson, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, and Japanese veteran Hiroshi Shimzu defeated American Danny Lavely, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6.

And US Open Tournament Director Doug Ganim made the 32s with a four game victory over Jose Daniel Alvarez, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5.

The IRT's Round of 32 begins at 9:10 AM CDT Thursday. Matches can be viewed via the IRT Network from that time.

2011 US Open Racquetball Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Qualifying Rounds

Round 3

Q1: Andres Herrera vs. Ivan Villegas, 11-4, 13-11, 11-4
Q16: Mauricio Zelada d. Jose Diaz, 11-5, 11-3, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7

Q9: Juan Martinez III d. Rafael Filippini, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5
Q8: Polo Gutierrez d. Geoff Goldblatt, 11-1, 11-6, 11-2

Q5: Fernando Rios d. Armando Bermudez, 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
Q12: Hiroshi Shimizu d. Danny Lavely, 11-1, 11-4, 11-6

Q13: Kris Odegard d. Ryan Meyer, 11-1, 11-0, 11-6
Q4: Taylor Knoth d. Corey Osborne, 10-12, 11-7, 11-2, 11-4

Q3: Tim Landeryou d. Coby Iwaasa, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3
Q14: Ruben Gonzalez d. Andres Acuña, 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-1

Q11: Doug Ganim d. Jose Daniel Alvarez, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5
Q6: Tyler Otto d. Jose Daniel Ugalde, 11-6, 11-1, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4

Q7: Gilberto Mejia d. Cliff Swain, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9
Q10: Nick Montalbano d. Brian Simpson, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4

Q15: Jansen Allen d. Teobaldo Fumero A., 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9
Q2: Felipe Camacho d. Andres Ramirez, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7

IRT Round of 32

Kane Waselenchuk vs. Mauricio Zelada
Alejandro Landa vs. Andres Herrera

Alvaro Beltran vs. Polo Gutierrez
Charles Pratt vs. Juan Martinez III

Jose Rojas vs. Hiroshi Shimizu
Javier Moreno vs Fernando Rios

Juan Herrera vs. Taylor Knoth
Andy Hawthorne vs. Kris Odegard

Ben Croft vs. Ruben Gonzalez
Alejandro Herrera vs. Tim Landeryou

Tony Carson vs. Tyler Otto
Chris Crowther vs. Doug Ganim

Shane Vanderson vs. Nick Montalbano
Anthony Herrera vs. Gilberto Mejia

Daniel De La Rosa vs. Felipe Camacho
Rocky Carson vs. Jansen Allen

Round 2

Q1: Andres Herrera d. Barret Husulak, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2
Ivan Villegas d. Cesar Castillo, 11-8, 4-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6

Q16: Mauricio Zelada d. Alejandro Cardona, 11-6, 18-16, 4-11, 11-6
Jose Diaz d. Brent McDade, 11-3, 11-1, 11-1

Q9: Rafael Filippini d. Brad Schopieray, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
Juan Martinez III d. Brian Watson, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3

Q8: Geoff Goldblatt d. Rodrigo Garay, fft
Polo Gutierrez d. John Goth, 11-3, 5-11, 11-3, 11-3

Q5: Fernando Rios d. Erik Leetch, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Armando Bermudez d. Joel Barshaw, 11-9, 11-5, 1-11, 10-12, 11-6

Q12: Danny Lavely d. Grant Stalley, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7
Hiroshi Shimizu d. Ron Briggs, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0

Q13: Ryan Meyer d. Fabian Mendieta, 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-2
Kris Odegard d. Joshua Hungerford, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8

Q4: Corey Osborne d. Jose Serrano, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5
Taylor Knoth d. Juan Carlos Torres Honoj, 12-10, 4-11, 11-1, 11-0

Q3: Coby Iwaasa d. Arthur Schmeiser, 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
Tim Landeryou d. Francisco Gomez Reyes, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4

Q14: Andres Acuña d. Stacey Young, 11-0, 11-2, 11-2
Ruben Gonzalez d. Bruce Robles, 11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6

Q11: Doug Ganim d. Sebastian Franco, 11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7
Jose Daniel Alvarez d. John Scott, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10

Q6: Tyler Otto d. Wesley Miller, 11-4, 11-7, 11-1
Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Luiz Felipe Munoz Torrontegui, fft

Q7: Gilberto Mejia d. James Slamko, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3
Cliff Swain d. Deli Stinnett, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0

Q10: Brian Simpson d. Francisco Troncoso, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
Nick Montalbano d. Ivan Saenz, 11-2, 11-9, 11-5

Q15: Teobaldo Fumero A. d. Mike Ray, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-2
Jansen Allen d. Esteban Pastora, 11-3, 11-2, 12-10

Q2: Andres Ramirez d. Brian Pineda, 11-7, 4-11, 11-2, 11-8
Felipe Camacho d. James Landeryou, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9

Round 1

Barret Husulak d. Pedro Castro, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-8
Rafael Filippini d. Akio Shimizu, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6
John Goth d. Matthew Barserian, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8

Fernando Rios d. Wade Shadlock, 11-2, 11-1, 11-2
Juan Carlos Torres Honoj d. Ernesto Ruíz, 11-8, 11-0, 11-9
Coby Iwaasa d. Juan Rios, 11-4, 11-9, 11-4

Jose Daniel Ugalde d. Zachary Wertz, 3-11, 11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 11-3
Gilberto Mejia d. Kenny Green Jr., 11-3, 11-2, 11-0
Ivan Saenz d. Mike Isbell, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4
Samuel Murray d. James Landeryou, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

Season	F 3g	F 4g	F 5g
2011-12	3	2	0
2010-11	8	3	3
2009-10	5	3	1
2008-09	5	6	2
2007-08	6	4	3
2006-07	4	6	3

The Racquetball Blog

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