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Weekend Round Up - Wins for Miller, Muñoz & Mendez & Miller & change at Racquetball Canada
Maurice Miller won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) division at the 2019 Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland on the weekend. Miller came back from a game down in the final to defeat Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-4, 11-4.
Warigon got to the final by the narrowest win possible in the semi-finals, as he knocked off the 2nd seed Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-14, 11-10. Miller beat Thomas Gerhardt, 15-1, 15-9, in the other semi.
Miller also got the better of Warigon in the Mixed Open Doubles final, as he and Natalia Mendez defeated Warigon and Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4, in the final. But they did team up to win the Men's Open Doubles title, as they beat David Austin and Dylan Pruitt in the final, 15-9, 15-14.
Carla Muñoz won the Women's Open division in Laurel. She defeated Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11, in the final. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Abril Prado, 15-3, 15-8, and York defeated Amie Brewer, 15-4, 15-6.
Racquetball Canada
Last week, Racquetball Canada announced Kathy Brook will be their new Executive Director. Brook succeeds Donna Harris, and brings a wealth of experience within the Canadian sport system to the position and organization.
Racquetball Canada will begin 2020 with new people at both their staff positions with Brook as Executive Director and Jen Saunders as Administrator of High Performance and Sport Development. Saunders takes over from Geri Powell, who is retiring at the end of the year. It will be interesting to see how the organization moves forward with new people in these positions.
The most significant event of 2020 will be the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships from August 14-22 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The 2020 Worlds will be the qualifying event for the 2021 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.
Prior to that the annual Pan American Championships will be April 4-12 at a site still to be determined. Bolivia was mentioned as a possibility for the Pan Am Championships during the streaming of the World Junior Championships, but that's unconfirmed as now. Yes, we're less than four months away from the event, and we're still not sure where it's going to happen.
On the pro side, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be busier in the second part of the season than the first, as they have 8 events (maybe 9, as one is listed as tentative on the schedule) in 2020 compared with 5 events so far. Two of those events will be in January with the Florida Open January 9-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Sweet Caroline Open January 23-25 in Greenville, South Carolina.
The IRT will be even busier in January, as there are three events on their schedule. It will begin with the Longhorn Open January 17-19 in Austin, Texas with the 42nd Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, January 23-26, and completing the run of three events on back to back to back weekends will be the Lou Bradley Memorial in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, January 30-February 2. That will be quite the run for the players. After that there are just three other IRT events in 2020 with the season ending in Bolivia at the Open Bolivia American Iris May 13-16.
2019 Christmas Classic, December 13-15, 2019
IRT Singles - Final
1) Maurice Miller d. 3) Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-4, 11-4
1) Maurice Miller d. 4) Thomas Gerhardt, 15-1, 15-9
3) Troy Warigon d. 2) Mauricio Zelada, 14-15, 15-14, 11-10
Women's Open - Final
1) Carla Muñoz d. 2) Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11
1) Carla Muñoz d. 4) Abril Prado, 15-3, 15-8
2) Lexi York d. 6) Amie Brewer, 15-4, 15-6
Mixed Open Doubles - Final
1) Natalia Mendez & Maurice Miller d. 2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4
1) Natalia Mendez & Maurice Miller d. 4) Joe Kelley & Hollie Scott, 15-5, 15-9
2) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Troy Warigon d. 3) Samuel Kelley & Masiel Rivera, 15-8, 15-7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Labels: Canada, IRT, LPRT, minor event, mixed, open, women's
Longoria wins two tie-breakers Sunday at 2019 LPRT Christmas Classic
Paola Longoria defeated Maria Jose Vargas, 15-3, 12-15, 11-8, to win the 2019 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland Sunday in what was a great match. Longoria, the LPRT's #1 player, has now beaten Vargas - LPRT #2 - in three of their four matches this season.
Longoria also defeated Vargas in the doubles final, as she and Samantha Salas came back to defeat Vargas and Natalia Mendez, 12-15, 15-11, 11-4. It's rare that Longoria plays a tie-breaker, so to play two on one day is especially rare.
In the singles final, it looked like the outcome was going to go the other way in the breaker, as Vargas carried over the momentum she had from winning game two to go out to a 6-0 lead. Longoria used her second timeout at that point. She used her first when Vargas was up 4-0.
Longoria looked completely undone, which we've never really seen before.
Timeouts can stop an opponent's momentum, and Longoria's TO at 6-0 did so, as she got a sideout. But the tide turned slowly, as there were eight sideouts before someone scored again.
It was Longoria who finally got on the board with her 8th time serve in the game. We're not sure Longoria has ever served seven times without scoring. She got three points, and then Vargas got the serve back at 6-3, and extended her lead to 8-3.
But that was all Vargas would score. Longoria got the serve back and scored couple of points to make the score 8-5, so Vargas called a timeout. She got the serve back with a soft backhand shot, but Longoria took the serve right back with a forehand winner.
Longoria served it out from there. She started it with a great forehand 'boast' shot: hitting it into the right side wall that got it to the left wall and then to the front wall just off the floor for a winner. Vargas tried to get to it, but couldn't reach it before the ball had bounced twice. It was a desperation move by Longoria that worked out perfectly.
Credit to Longoria for turning it around in the breaker, when it looked like she was done. And credit to Vargas for getting it to a breaker, as she was dominated by Longoria in game one. But Vargas dug in and won game two, although she trailed for much of it.
There was an unfortunate incident early in the match. At 1-1 in game one, Longoria hit the ball into the back wall to keep the rally going in what was a quick reaction play. In doing so, she hit Vargas on the follow through. It seemed the contact was to Vargas's face, and she needed to take an injury timeout.
Vargas wasn't in the form that got her to the final in game one, so maybe that early hit to the head effected her. Then again, Longoria played very well, and that could have been enough to cause problems for Vargas. Regardless, it seemed like Longoria was going to win the match in two games.
But Vargas found her form in game two, and won it to force the breaker.
The first two games of the doubles final were very well played with Mendez and Vargas winning the first 15-12, and Longoria and Salas winning the second, 15-11. Often after two close games, the tie-breaker is not close. That proved to be the case today, as Longoria and Salas won the breaker 11-4.
In the breaker, Longoria and Salas went up 7-0 and 10-2. Mendez and Vargas stopped six match points, and scored a couple of their own. But they couldn't hold Longoria and Salas off forever.
Throughout the match, Mendez and Vargas both served to Salas on the right side, and they played most of the balls to Salas during the rallies as well. Clearly, their strategy was to try to isolate Longoria and see if Salas could beat them. In doubles, playing more balls to the player perceived to be the weaker of your opponents can be a effective strategy, but at this level judging one player to be "weaker" is a relative thing, especially when the "weaker" player is #3 on tour.
Sometimes playing all the balls to one opponent can mess up a team, as they have to play on both sides of the court rather than staying on one side or the other. But Mendez and Vargas handled that well and there were few communication errors.
If you missed any of the action from Maryland, check out the LPRT YouTube channel. The Christmas Classic is the final LPRT event of 2019. But they start off 2020 with a bang, as there will two LPRT events in January.
First, the Florida Open LPRT event happens January 9-11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then, the Sweet Caroline Open will be January 23-25 in Greenville, South Carolina. Overall, there are 8 events (maybe 9, as one is listed as tentative on the schedule) after the new year compared with 5 events so far, so 2020 looks to be a busy time for the LPRT.
2019 LPRT Christmas Classic, December 13-15, 2019
Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-3, 12-15, 11-8
Doubles - Final - Sunday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 12-15, 15-11, 11-4
Labels: doubles, LPRT
1 v 2 in both singles & doubles finals at 2019 LPRT Christmas Classic
Number 1 will play number 2 in the final of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland on Sunday, as LPRT #1 Paola Longoria and #2 Maria Jose Vargas both won their respective semi-finals Saturday night. Longoria beat #4 Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-1, in one semi-final with Vargas defeating #6 Natalia Mendez, 15-3, 15-8, in the other.
Longoria was dominant against Herrera, although they were close early in game one. They were tied at 2-2 and only trailed by three at 6-3. They went back and forth a few times at that score before Longoria put together nine points that Herrera had no answer for.
Game two was similar but more so, as Herrera got the first point, and then Longoria got the next 15. Herrera's a good player, but Longoria made sure she didn't play her best by moving her around the court. The end came as Longoria hit a half lob second serve to the right - the backhand side for the left-handed Herrera - that Herrera returned down the line but high, so the ball came off the back wall allowing Longoria to hit a forehand winner back down the line.
In the other semi-final, Vargas was also dominant against Mendez, her Argentina team-mate. But Mendez tried to do what she could to throw Vargas off her rhythm. Vargas likes to play quickly, so took her timeouts and took time between rallies. It was a good strategy, but it wasn't enough.
Five years ago today, Vargas won her 1st LPRT event: the 2014 Christmas Classic. She defeated Rhonda Rajsich in the final that year. Sunday Vargas can give herself an early Christmas present by winning her 6th LPRT event and 2nd Christmas Classic.
Mendez and Vargas held off Herrera and Carla Muñoz to win, 15-13, 9-15, 11-4. They tried to take advantage of Muñoz - the lowest ranked player of the four - by double serving her. That is, all of Mendez's and Vargas's serves went to Muñoz on the right side.
It looked like it might turn out differently, though, as Mendez and Vargas were up 12-6 in game one, and Herrera and Muñoz came back to 14-13 before losing 15-13. That momentum carried over to game two, and Muñoz especially took her game to a higher level, as she and Herrera won it, 15-9.
After two close games, the tie-breaker is often not close, so it proved to be in this match. They were tied 2-2, then Mendez and Vargas took the lead 6-2. Herrera and Muñoz cut it to 6-4, but then a Vargas forehand winner ended that run.
A spot of controversy came at 7-4, when Mendez's shot did reach the front wall, as she's clashed racquets with Vargas. The referee called no hinder, which would have given the serve back to Herrera and Muñoz, but Vargas's swing for the ball was impeded by Muñoz's position. Mendez saw that, which is why she also swung. Their two racquets met, which prevented a good shot from being made.
Mendez and Vargas appealed the call, and the line judges overturned the referee's call of no hinder. Thus, Vargas served again at 7-4. From our vantage point, a hinder was the appropriate call, because Muñoz's position did impede Vargas.
Vargas hit a winner on the next rally to make it 8-4. Then Muñoz got handcuffed at the back, and it was 9-4. She and Herrera called a timeout, but that only delayed the end, as Mendez hit a winner to make it 10-4, and Vargas ended it with a winning forehand pinch shot.
Mendez and Vargas will play Longoria and Samantha Salas in Sunday's doubles final, as Longoria and Salas defeated Nancy Enriquez and Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-7. The big talking point of that match came early in game one, when Enriquez hit a lob serve on the right side to Salas, who took it early and shoulder high to go cross court.
Not a bad play, except the ball slammed into Enriquez's head from a short distance. Ouch.
Understandably, Enriquez needed some injury time to collect herself. When play resumed, a hinder was given, so Enriquez served again at 1-3. Looking at the replay, it seemed Enriquez's position was taking away the cross court shot from Salas, so an avoidable or penalty hinder could have been called. But would have been adding insult to injury, literally.
Enriquez and Parrilla seemed to take some momentum from Enriquez's recovery, as they drew level with Longoria and Salas at 4-4. But that momentum was short lived, as Longoria and Salas again went out into the lead at 9-4. They maintained a comfortable lead to win 15-7.
Longoria and Salas continued to carry the play in the second game, going out to a 10-2 lead. Enriquez and Parrilla did get some points back close to the end, but the outcome was not in doubt, as Longoria and Salas won 15-7.
Watch the finals live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-3, 15-1
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 15-3, 15-8
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Maria Jose Vargas - Noon
Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-7
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz, 15-13, 9-15, 11-4
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - 1 PM
Top seeds through to semi-finals at 2019 LPRT Christmas Classic
Paola Longoria, the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour's (LPRT's) #1 player, is through to the semi-finals at the 2019 Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, as she defeated Cristina Amaya, 15-9, 15-4, in the quarterfinals. She'll play Alexandra Herrera in the semi-finals later today, as Herrera was a winner over Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 15-8.
The other semi-final will be between two Argentina team-mates, as LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas will play #6 Natalia Mendez. Vargas was dominant in her quarterfinal win over Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-4, while Mendez also won in two straight games against Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-9.
The semi-finals go Saturday afternoon and evening. Watch them live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The singles semi-finals will be at 5 and 6 PM with the doubles semi-finals at 7 and 8 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
Quarterfinals - Saturday
1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Cristina Amaya, 15-9, 15-4
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 15-8
6) Natalia Mendez d. 14) Carla Muñoz, 15-12, 15-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 7) Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-4
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Alexandra Herrera - 6 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Natalia Mendez - 5 PM
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - 8 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - 7 PM
Labels: LPRT
Muñoz defeats Salas at 2019 LPRT Christmas Classic
Fourteenth seed Carla Muñoz knocked off 3rd seed Samantha Salas, 15-14, 9-15, 11-1, in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland on Friday. The win was Muñoz's first against Salas in their third meeting on the LPRT, and puts her into the quarterfinals for the first time this season. Muñoz will play 6th seed Natalia Mendez in the quarters Saturday in what will be their 3rd meeting with Mendez winning the first two. That's exactly where Muñoz was heading into her match with Salas.
Mendez reached the quarters by defeating 11th seed Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-5.
Paola Longoria, the LPRT's #1 player, beat Gabriela Martinez by a surprisingly wide margin, 15-2, 15-5. It was a rematch of the 2018 International Racquetball Federation World Championships Women's Singles final, which Martinez won, but she hasn't beaten Longoria in an LPRT match. They were close early in game two, with Longoria only ahead by one at 5-4, but she got the serve back at the point and scored five points on as many rallies to go up 10-4, and effectively put the game - and so the match - out of touch.
Longoria will play 8th seed Cristina Amaya in the quarterfinals, as Amaya defeated 9th seed Masiel Rivera, 15-7, 15-9, on Friday.
In other matches, 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas was a convincing winner over 18th seed Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-1. Vargas was two points from giving Scott a donut in game two, as she led 13-0. But Scott got the serve back, and got a point when Vargas skipped a serve return as Scott drove a serve to the back left corner - Vargas's backhand.
Vargas will play Nancy Enriquez in the quarters, as Enriquez squeaked out a tie-breaker win over Sheryl Lotts, 15-3, 13-15, 11-10.
There were three tie-breakers in doubles, but the higher seeds came through in the end. The 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas dropped the first game against 7th seeds Abril Prado and Masiel Rivera, as Rivera shot the ball very well, but came back to win, 8-15, 15-9, 11-2. Vargas's lob Z serve to Prado on the right side was their way back into the match and helped pave the way to the win, as Prado had trouble making effective returns.
Also, 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Carla Muñoz were pushed to a breaker by the new team of veterans Cristina Amaya and Rhonda Rajsich, who were the sixth seeds, as Herrera and Muñoz won, 15-10, 13-15, 11-1. Finally, 4th seeds Nancy Enriquez and Jessica Parrilla defeated 5th seeds Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts, 15-14, 13-15, 11-4.
Top seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas defeated Hollie Scott and Lexi York, 15-6, 15-5, and they'll play Enriquez and Parrilla in one semi-final with Mendez and Vargas taking on Herrera and Muñoz in the other semi.
Check out Saturday's matches live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The singles quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The doubles semi-finals will be Saturday night at 7 and 8 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Gabriela Martinez, 15-2, 15-5
8) Cristina Amaya d. 9) Masiel Rivera, 15-7, 15-9
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Adrienne Haynes, 15-6, 15-6
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 13) Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-10, 11-5
14) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Samantha Salas, 15-14, 9-15, 11-1
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-5
7) Nancy Enriquez d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 15-3, 13-15, 11-10
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 18) Hollie Scott, 15-6, 15-1
1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Cristina Amaya - Noon
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 5) Rhonda Rajsich - Noon
6) Natalia Mendez v. 14) Carla Muñoz - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 7) Nancy Enriquez - 11 AM
Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 9) Hollie Scott & Lexi York, 15-6, 15-5
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts, 15-14, 13-15, 11-4
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-10, 13-15, 11-1
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 7) Abril Prado & Masiel Rivera, 8-15, 15-9, 11-2
Round of 32 at 2019 LPRT Christmas Classic
Early results from the 2019 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland have 18th seed Hollie Scott upsetting 15th seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, 6-15, 15-12, 11-5. She'll play 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas in the Round of 16 at 5 PM today.
Also, 17th seed Gabriela Martinez defeated 16th seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 13-15, 11-2, and will play LPRT #1 Paola Longoria in the Round of 16 in what will be a rematch of the 2018 International Racquetball Federation World Championships Women's Singles final, which Martinez won. But Longoria has not lost to Martinez on the LPRT. Match time is 6 PM Eastern tonight.
In the 1st round of doubles, the young American team of Scott and Lexi York defeated the young Guatemala team of Martinez and Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-13. Scott and York will next play top seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals tonight at 8 PM.
Look for this weekend's action live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 7 and 8 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 7 and 8 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times eastern.
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Gabriela Martinez d. 16) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 13-15, 11-2
9) Masiel Rivera - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya - BYE
5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
12) Adrienne Haynes - BYE
13) Jessica Parrilla d. 20) Gracie Wargo, 15-1, 15-0
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
3) Samantha Salas - BYE
14) Carla Muñoz d. 19) Lexi York, 15-4, 15-9
11) Cassi Lee - BYE
6) Natalia Mendez - BYE
7) Nancy Enriquez - BYE
10) Sheryl Lotts - BYE
18) Hollie Scott d. 15) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 6-15, 15-12, 11-5
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Gabriela Martinez - 6 PM
8) Cristina Amaya v. 9) Masiel Rivera - 6 PM
5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 12) Adrienne Haynes - 3 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 13) Jessica Parrilla - 3 PM
3) Samantha Salas v. 14) Carla Muñoz - 4 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 11) Cassi Lee - 4 PM
7) Nancy Enriquez v. 10) Sheryl Lotts - 5 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 18) Hollie Scott - 5 PM
Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE
9) Hollie Scott & Lexi York d. 8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-13
5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts d. 12) Jessica Chen & Megan Shelton, 15-0, 15-3
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - BYE
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich v. 11) T. J. Baumbaugh & Kelly Gremley, 15-9, 15-1
7) Abril Prado & Masiel Rivera d. 10) Malia Bailey & Cassi Lee, 8-15, 15-9, 11-7
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 9) Hollie Scott & Lexi York - 8 PM
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts - 8 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera & Carla Muñoz v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich - 7 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 7) Abril Prado & Masiel Rivera - 7 PM
2019 LPRT Christmas Classic - Preview
The 2019 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic - the 28th Annual - goes this weekend in Laurel, Maryland with a field of 20 players in singles and 12 teams in doubles. The top 7 LPRT players are in the field led by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria. She's the top seed in both singles and doubles with partner Samantha Salas, who is the 3rd seed in singles behind 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas.
But also in the draw is Gabriela Martinez, the young Guatemalan who is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women's Singles World Champion, having beaten Longoria in the final last year. She'll also be in doubles with fellow Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, and that could make doubles especially interesting, especially as Alexandra Herrera will be without her usual doubles partner - Montserrat Mejia, with whom she won the US Open this year. However, Herrera is playing doubles, but with Carla Muñoz rather than Mejia.
Martinez and Rodriguez will play the young American team of Holly Scott and Lexi York first with the winner to face Longoria and Salas in the quarterfinals. That will be 8 PM Friday night, so you know what your Friday night plans should be.
Of course, you shouldn't overlook 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, as well as the All-American team of Kelani Bailey Lawrence and Sheryl Lotts (the Double L team?) and a new team of two veterans in Cristina Amaya and Rhonda Rajsich. Rajsich hasn't played much doubles recently, and Amaya usually plays with Adriana Riveros, who isn't playing this weekend. It will be interesting to see how they do.
16) Gabriela Martinez v. 17) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 11 AM
13) Jessica Parrilla v. 20) Gracie Wargo - 11 AM
14) Carla Muñoz v. 19) Lexi York - 10 AM
15) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 18) Hollie Scott - 10 AM
8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 9) Hollie Scott & Lexi York - Noon
5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts v. 12) Jessica Chen & Megan Shelton - Noon
6) Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich v. 11) T. J. Baumbaugh & Kelly Gremley - Noon
7) Abril Prado & Masiel Rivera v. 10) Malia Bailey & Cassi Lee - Noon
Weekend Round Up - Wins by Scott and Acuña & Camacho
Hollie Scott defeated Rhonda Rajsich, 14-15, 15-9, 11-7, to win a Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) exhibition event at the 2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon on the weekend. In the semi-finals, Scott beat Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11, while Rajsich was a winner over Annie Roberts, 15-10, 15-8.
Also in Portland, Costa Ricans Andres Acuña and Felipe Camacho won Men's Open Doubles by defeating Tim Prigo and Dylan Reid, 15-6, 15-6, in the final. In the semi-finals, Acuña and Camacho beat Wayne Antone IV and Tony Carson, 15-3, 15-12, while Prigo and Reid went to a tie-breaker before getting past Ryan Charbonneau and Joshua Hungerfood, 12-15, 15-3, 11-5.
The LPRT Christimas Classic wraps up the 2019 pro racquetball calendar this weekend in Laurel, Maryland. There are 25 players entered into the draw, so it should be another great event. We'll have preview for you later this week. If you can't wait to see some LPRT action until Friday, you can check out the Scott v Rajsich final from Portland on YouTube.
2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions, December 5-8, 2019
LPRT Exhibition Final
2) Hollie Scott d. 1) Rhonda Rajsich, 14-15, 15-9, 11-7
1) Rhonda Rajsich d. 4) Annie Roberts, 15-10, 15-8
2) Hollie Scott d. 3) Lexi York, 15-4, 15-11
4) Annie Roberts d. 5) Jessica Chen, 15-6, 15-12
3) Lexi York d. 6) Hannah Carver, 15-5, 15-2
2) Hollie Scott d. 7) Megan Carver, 15-8, 15-5
Men's Open - Final
5) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho d. 2) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid, 15-6, 15-6
5) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho d. 1) Wayne Antone IV & Tony Carson, 15-3, 15-12
2) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid d. 3) Ryan Charbonneau & Joshua Hungerfood, 12-15, 15-3, 11-5
Labels: doubles, LPRT, men's, open
Waselenchuk wins 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
Kane Waselenchuk won the 2019 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon Saturday by defeating Alejandro Landa in the final, 15-7, 15-8. The win maintains Waselenchuk's undefeated season, and he'll continue to be the #1 player on the IRT. Despite the loss, Landa may move up from #3 to #2 ahead of Rocky Carson, who lost in the quarterfinals in Portland.
Although Waselenchuk took the early lead in game one at 3-1, Landa caught him and then went in the lead himself at 5-3. He got the 5th point with a forehand splat shot, which was perhaps his most consistent shot of the match.
But Waselenchuk took the serve right back by hitting a forehand pinch winner off a lob serve to the left side; Waselenchuk's lefthanded. He leveled the game at 5-5 with two winning drive serves to the left - Landa's backhand. That started a run of ten unanswered points putting Waselenchuk up 13-5.
Landa got a couple of points back, including a drive serve ace to the right side that made it 13-7. But this just delayed the end, which came when Waselenchuk hit a drive serve to the left side that Landa returned with a backhand shot, and then Waselenchuk hit a forehand pinch winner. Classic three shot rally.
In game two, they were again close early with ties at 2-2 and 5-5. Landa was still within one at 8-7, when Waselenchuk called a timeout as he was coming up to serve. He got three points on consecutive rallies, when play resumed, which resulted in Landa calling a timeout.
The game did stall a bit at that point, as six rallies when by with only two points being scored - one by each player making the score 12-8. Waselenchuk ended it with three straight points on as many rallies: two forehand winners and then on match point a skip by Landa who was rushing up to the front of the court to get to the ball, which resulted in a skipped shot.
Waselenchuk won for the 4th time this season, and for the 2nd time beat Landa in the final. Waselenchuk is undefeated this season. Over the six events so far this IRT season, Waselenchuk has been a finalist four times with a 4-0 record, Landa has a 1-2 record in finals, as does Rocky Carson. Conrrado Moscoso and Andree Parrilla have also been in a final this season, but neither won.
The IRT will be on break now until after the new year. The next Tier 1 event will be the Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas, January 17-19, which will be the first of three events on back to back to back weekends. The 42nd Lewis Drug Pro/Am will be January 23-26 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the long standing Lou Bradley Memorial will be a Tier 1 event for the first time this season taking place January 30 to February 2 in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. If you missed any of the action from Portland, you can watch it at your leisure via the IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.
2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions, December 5-8, 2019
Final - Saturday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 3) Alejandro Landa, 15-7, 15-8
Waselenchuk & Landa into final of 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial
Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), defeated IRT #4 Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 15-4, in the semi-finals of the 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon Saturday. He'll play IRT #3 Alejandro Landa in the final Saturday night, as Landa beat Jake Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-7, in the other semi-final.
After jumping out to a 5-0 lead in game one against Parrilla, Waselenchuk then saw his opponent score seven points on consecutive rallies and then add another to lead 8-5. Have there been any times that Waselenchuk has surrendered 8 points unanswered? He rarely surrenders 8 points in a game, sometimes not even in a match.
Waselenchuk did pull even at 8-8, but Parrilla got to 9 first with a drive serve ace to the right side - Waselenchuk's backhand. However, that was Parrilla's last point of the game, as Waselenchuk put up 7 unanswered points to win it, 15-9. The winner coming off a drive serve to the left that stuck in the back corner, so Parrilla could only get his racquet on it, but not return it successfully.
Game two had a similar pattern, as Waselenchuk went up 5-0, but Parrilla only got within three at 6-3 and 7-4, rather than taking a lead. He got the last five points on consecutive rallies with the match winner coming off a great backhand splat shot that Parrilla couldn't reach.
Waselenchuk was complimentary of how Parrilla's game has developed, and said "I like a battle," which is what he had today. Asked about playing Landa in the final, Waselenchuk said Landa "was solid" against Bredenbeck, and has "been on a nice run" both in the tournament and the season.
The other semi-final was a high tempo match with little time taken between points by either Landa or Bredenbeck. After the match, Landa said "I know Jake hits the ball hard, so I sometimes play with the speed, the shots and when I have to do my thing I just do it." Varying that pace of play during the rallies kept Bredenbeck off balance, and when Landa needed to put a ball away, he did so.
Landa had big leads early in both games. He was up 8-1 in game one, and Bredenbeck never got closer than five points, as Landa went on to win 15-5. In game two, Landa led 5-0 and 10-4. He reached match point with a drive serve that stuck in the back left corner for an ace. Landa won it on his first match point when Bredenbeck skipped a desperation backwards shot, as a Landa cross court ball jumped out of the back right corner.
Afterwards Landa was told he might move up to #2 in the IRT rankings, which he'd be "happy with." He's now #3 behind #2 Rocky Carson, but Carson lost in the quarterfinals, so with a final appearance - and possibly a win - Landa will get substantially more points than Carson from this event. Carson is only 117.48 points ahead of Landa currently.
The final will be at 7 PM Pacific time Saturday night, and you can watch it live - or at your leisure - via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page.
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-9, 15-4
3) Alejandro Landa d. 10) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-7
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 3) Alejandro Landa - 7 PM
Bredenbeck into semi-finals for only 2nd time at 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial event
Jake Bredenbeck's good run of play at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon continued Friday night, as he defeated IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the quarterfinals. Bredenbeck dominated the first game, winning 15-6, helped by 6 ace drive serves. Then Carson retired before game two began.
Carson's retirement was shocking, as it's only the 2nd time he's forfeited a match on tour. The last one was in 1998! Bredenbeck was 7 when that happened.
Bredenbeck's win puts him into the semi-finals for just the 2nd time of his career, and it's been awhile since his last semi. In March 2016, he defeated Jansen Allen in the quarterfinals of the Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, where he then lost to Daniel De La Rosa in the semis. Three and a half years later and he's in the semis again.
Alejandro Landa will play Bredenbeck in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Landa defeated De La Rosa in the quarterfinals Friday, 15-10, 15-12. De La Rosa started the match well, and was up 6-2 in game one, when he took a timeout, and seemed to be favouring his right knee.
When play resumed, De La Rosa skipped a backhand shot - an unforced error that gave the serve back to Landa, who proceeded to go on a run of 10 unanswered points to lead 12-6. De La Rosa managed to get a few points back to make it 12-10. He did so by hitting some nice soft shots, including a forehand serve return of a drive Z serve that he just managed to lift away from the back wall and get to the front wall.
But Landa called a timeout at that point, and got a sideout on the ensuing rally with a forehand cross court shot. He closed out game one by winning the next three rallies. Landa got his 13th point with a drive serve ace to the right side that cracked off the side wall. Point 14 resulted from De La Rosa skipping a forehand return of a lob to the right side. Landa won the game with a forehand shot over to the right side.
Landa led all the way in game two, leading 3-0 and 11-4. But De La Rosa came back to get within one point at 11-10. Progress was slow from there, as 17 rallies were needed to get the last 5 points. De La Rosa fought off three match points before Landa was able to end it with a forehand wide angle pass.
Landa said he "felt good serving," and he did it well, hitting six aces in the match. He drove serve, because "I don't want to get into his game."
Asked about playing Bredenbeck, Landa is "expecting a tough one."
IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk had a tough one with 9th seed Rodrigo Montoya, but won in two games, 15-9, 15-11. It looked like Waselenchuk would run away with the match - as he often does - when he led 7-2 in game one. But Montoya dug in, and got within one at 7-6 and then again at 10-9.
Waselenchuk got a sideout at 10-9, and scored four points on as many rallies to reach game point at 14-9. A great forehand pinch shot by Montoya denied Waselenchuk the game, but an equally great backhand pinch shot return from Waselenchuk off a lob Z serve to the right side prevented Montoya from scoring.
Waselenchuk ended game one on his second game point with a forehand winner from right to left.
They were close early in game two with the score tied at 3-3. But Waselenchuk then ran four points to make it 7-3, and he would never trail again. Montoya did make it close at 7-5 and 9-6. But Waselenchuk got to match point at 14-7.
However, Montoya denied Waselenchuk on his first two match points, and went from 14-7 down to 14-11, again making the game close. But the left-handed Waselenchuk got the serve back then with a forehand splat return of a Z serve to the left side.
Waselenchuk won the match on a classic three shot rally: a strong drive serve to the right side that forced Montoya to hit a ceiling ball, and then Waselenchuk killed it down the left side.
If people didn't know how strong a player Montoya is, they should now. Also, if Waselenchuk had to play four opponents this strong in every tournament, then he might not have won as many titles has he has. Maybe a couple fewer.
Waselenchuk will play IRT #4 Andree Parrilla in the semi-finals, as Parrilla defeated Thomas Carter in two straight games, 15-4, 15-11. But he had to come back from a 8-2 deficit in game two to win.
The semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and you can watch them live - or at your leisure - via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The final will be 7 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
Quarterfinals - Friday
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 9) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-9, 15-11
4) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Thomas Carter, 15-4, 15-11
3) Alejandro Landa d. 6) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-10, 15-12
10) Jake Bredenbeck d. 2) Rocky Carson, 15-6, forfeit
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Andree Parrilla - Noon
3) Alejandro Landa v. 10) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM
Carter into quarters at 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
Thomas Carter is into the quarterfinals at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon, which is just his 2nd quarterfinal appearance on the IRT. His first was a walkover win against Kane Waselenchuk back in September 2018 at the Laurel, Maryland event. But Friday, Carter, the 12th seed, fully earned a spot in the quarters with a comeback tie-breaker win over Mexican veteran Alvaro Beltran, 2-15, 15-7, 11-6.
In the quarters, Carter will play IRT #4 Andree Parrilla, who ended Sam Bredenbeck's good run in Portland in two straight games, 15-2, 15-13. But Bredenbeck's older brother Jake was an upset winner in the Round of 16, as he beat the 7th seed, Canadian Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-10. Jake Bredenbeck will play IRT #2 Rocky Carson in the quarters, as Carson defeated Adam Manilla, 15-14, 15-5, in the 16s.
In the 8/9 match, 9th seed Rodrigo Montoya upset 8th seed Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 15-2, to set up a quarterfinal match with IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who comfortably defeated 16th seed Felipe Camacho, 15-2, 15-4.
The other quarterfinal will be between IRT #3 Alejandro Landa and IRT #6 Daniel De La Rosa. In the 16s, Landa defeated 14th seed Andres Acuña, 15-12, 15-8, and De La Rosa beat 11th seed Carlos Keller, 15-6, 15-5.
The quarterfinals begin at 5 PM Friday, and you can watch them live - or at your leisure - via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The semi-finals will be at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and the final at 7 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Felipe Camacho, 15-2, 15-4
9) Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Eduardo Portillo, 15-9, 15-2
12) Thomas Carter d. 5) Alvaro Beltran, 2-15, 15-7, 11-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. Sam Bredenbeck, 15-2, 15-13
3) Alejandro Landa d. 14) Andres Acuña, 15-12, 15-8
6) Daniel De La Rosa d. 11) Carlos Keller, 15-6, 15-5
10) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-10
2) Rocky Carson d. 15) Adam Manilla, 15-14, 15-5
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 9) Rodrigo Montoya - 7 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 12) Thomas Carter - 8 PM
3) Alejandro Landa v. 6) Daniel De La Rosa - 6 PM
2) Rocky Carson v. 10) Jake Bredenbeck - 5 PM
Bredenbecks win on Thursday at 2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions
Sam Bredenbeck was the big winner Thursday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon, as he reached the Round of 16 with wins over Matthew Majxner, 15-10, 14-15, 11-2, and 13th seed Robert Collins, 15-12, 15-10. Bredenbeck will play Andree Parrilla in the 16s on Friday.
Sam's older brother Jake Bredenbeck also advanced to the Round of 16, but he did so by the narrowest of margins pulling out a 11-10 tie-breaker against Dylan Reid, and came back from a game down to do it, winning 9-15, 15-8, 11-10. Jake will play Samuel Murray in the 16s.
But perhaps the saddest result from Thursday is Charlie Pratt's loss to Andre Acuña, 15-7, injury forfeit. Pratt won this event two years ago, so it's a special event for him, especially so as he's also a Portland native. Hopefully, whatever injury he picked up isn't serious, as it's not too long until the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships (61 days according to a counter on the USAR website). 2020 is a International Racquetball Federation World Championships year, and Pratt will want to be part of Team USA.
Look for Friday's action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. The Round of 16 Friday is at 11 AM and noon. The quarterfinals begin at 5 PM Friday with the semi-finals at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and the final at 7 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday
Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Sunji Spencer d. Nicolai Miramontes, 15-14, 15-11
Joel Adler - BYE
Tim Landeryou - BYE
Hiroshi Shimizu - BYE
Preston Tribble - BYE
Matthew Majxner d. Jordan Wright, 15-3, 15-2
Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
Wayne Antone IV d. Ian Frattinger, 15-8, 15-12
Jim Douglas - BYE
Anthony Martin - BYE
Dylan Reid - BYE
Lee Connell - BYE
Tim Prigo d. Tony Jammal, 15-6, 15-8
Scott McClellan - BYE
Q1 - Kadim Carrasco d. Sunji Spencer, 6-15, 15-13, 11-6
Q8 - Tim Landeryou d. Joel Adler, 15-8, 15-11
Q5 - Hiroshi Shimizu d. Preston Tribble, 15-7, 15-1
Q4 - Sam Bredenbeck d. Matthew Majxner, 15-10, 14-15, 11-2
Q3 - Charlie Pratt d. Wayne Antone IV, 15-7, 15-6
Q6 - Anthony Martin d. Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-4
Q7 - Dylan Reid d. Lee Connell, 15-3, 15-1
Q2 - Scott McClellan d. Tim Prigo, 15-14, 15-10
Round of 32 - Thursday
1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
16) Felipe Camacho d. Kadim Carrasco, 15-11, 11-15, 11-7
9) Rodrigo Montoya d. Tim Landeryou, 15-8, 15-6
8) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
5) Alvaro Beltran - BYE
12) Thomas Carter d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 15-7, 15-9
Sam Bredenbeck d. 13) Robert Collins, 15-12, 15-10
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE
3) Alejandro Landa - BYE
14) Andres Acuña d. Charlie Pratt, 15-7, injury forfeit
11) Carlos Keller d. Anthony Martin, 15-10, 15-5
6) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
7) Samuel Murray - BYE
10) Jake Bredenbeck d. Dylan Reid, 9-15, 15-8, 11-10
15) Adam Manilla d. Scott McClellan, 15-4, 15-7
2) Rocky Carson - BYE
1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 16) Felipe Camacho - Noon
8) Eduardo Portillo v. 9) Rodrigo Montoya - Noon
5) Alvaro Beltran v. 12) Thomas Carter - Noon
4) Andree Parrilla v. Sam Bredenbeck - Noon
3) Alejandro Landa v. 14) Andres Acuña - 11 AM
6) Daniel De La Rosa v. 11) Carlos Keller - 11 AM
7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Jake Bredenbeck - 11 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. 15) Adam Manilla - 11 AM
2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions - Preview
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) returns to action Thursday in Portland, Oregon for the 2019 John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions. Thirty six players will be in action, headlined by IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who has won all three of the IRT events he's played this season, including the 2019 UnitedHealthcare US Open. Overall, 10 of the top 12 ranked IRT players will be in Portland.
Joining Waselenchuk in Portland will be IRT #2 Rocky Carson, #3 Alejandro Landa, and #4 Andree Parrilla. Waselenchuk won this event last year, but two years ago Portland native Charlie Pratt took the crown. He's in the draw this year, but he hasn't played many IRT events recently, so Pratt's not highly seeded (currently, he's #32 in the IRT rankings). He'll need to play two matches before the Round of 16, and waiting there will be Landa. Pratt won't have an easy route to a second IRT title.
The most notable match in the early rounds is Dylan Reid versus Lee Connell for the Q7 spot, which means a match against Jake Bredenbeck, the IRT's #12 player, in the Round of 32. The winner will play IRT #8 Samuel Murray in the Round of 16.
The three (likely) Round of 16 matches to look for will be (i) the 8/9 match with 8th seed Eduardo Portillo versus 9th seed Rodrigo Montoya, (ii) IRT #6 Daniel De La Rosa versus 11th seed Carlos Keller, and (iii) IRT #8 Samuel Murray against 10th seed Jake Bredenbeck.
Look for all the action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. There will be three rounds of matches Thursday starting at 1 PM. The Round of 32 begins Thursday night at 6 PM with the Round of 16 Friday at 11 AM and noon. The quarterfinals begin at 5 PM Friday with the semi-finals at 11 AM and noon Saturday, and the final at 7 PM Saturday. All times Pacific.
2019 IRT John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions, December 5-December 8, 2019
Nicolai Miramontes v. Sunji Spencer - 1 PM
Matthew Majxner v. Jordan Wright - 1 PM
Wayne Antone IV v. Ian Frattinger - 2 PM
Tim Prigo v. Tony Jammal - 1 PM
Q1 - Kadim Carrasco v. Nicolai Miramontes or Sunji Spencer - 4 PM
Q8 - Tim Landeryou v. Joel Adler - 3 PM
Q5 - Hiroshi Shimizu v. Preston Tribble - 4 PM
Q4 - Sam Bredenbeck v. Matthew Majxner or Jordan Wright - 4 PM
Q3 - Charlie Pratt v. Wayne Antone IV or Ian Frattinger - 4 PM
Q6 - Anthony Martin v. Jim Douglas - 3 PM
Q7 - Dylan Reid v. Lee Connell - 3 PM
Q2 - Scott McClellan v. Tim Prigo or Tony Jammal - 4 PM
16) Felipe Camacho v. Q1 - 7 PM
9) Rodrigo Montoya v. Q8 - 6 PM
12) Thomas Carter v. Q5 - 6 PM
13) Robert Collins v. Q4 - 7 PM
14) Andres Acuña v. Q3 - 7 PM
11) Carlos Keller v. Q6 - 6 PM
10) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q7 - 6 PM
15) Adam Manilla v. Q2 - 7 PM
Canadian National Team Selection Event
Samuel Murray and Frédérique Lambert won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the first Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event of the season on the weekend in Edmonton, Alberta. In their respective finals, Murray beat Coby Iwaasa, 15-5, 15-8, and Lambert went to a tie-breaker to defeat Christine Richardson, 14-16, 15-12, 11-2. Their victories will help Murray and Lambert qualify for the 2020 World Championships to be held next year in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Murray, the #1 ranked men's player in Canada and currently 8th on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), dominated the final with 2nd seed Iwaasa.
But Lambert's route to victory was more difficult, as Richardson came back from 14-10 down in game one to win 16-14. Then in game two they were tied at 12-12, so Richardson was three points away from pulling off the upset.
However, Lambert was able to get the final three points to win game two, 15-12, and force a tie-breaker. In the breaker - as often happens after two close games - one player ran away with it, and in this case, that was Lambert, who won it going away at 11-2.
This is the first event in the qualification process for the 2020 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships to be held next summer in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The next National Team Selection Event will be February 7-9, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Saunders retires
Jennifer Saunders announced her retirement from competitive racquetball, and the Canadian National Team, on Monday. She retires as the winningest Canadian at the National Championships with 24 combined Canadian National titles: 11 in Women's Singles and 13 in Women's Doubles.
It's a record unlikely to be surpassed, although Lambert at 27 actually has one more Canadian Championship than Saunders did at 27. Lambert has two singles titles and two doubles titles, while Saunders had two in singles and one in doubles at the same age. However, to match Saunders's 24, Lambert would have to win both singles and doubles each year for the next decade. As good as Lambert is, that still seems unlikely.
Saunders also represented Canada on many occasions, winning numerous medals, highlighted by silver in Women's Singles at the IRF World Championships in 2002 and 2012. No other woman has been a finalist in Women's Singles at Worlds ten years apart. Most recently, Saunders was a bronze medalist at the 2019 Pan American Championships with Danielle Drury.
Although Saunders is retiring from playing competitive racquetball, she will remain involved in competitive racquetball, as Racquetball Canada has hired Saunders to be its new Administrator of High Performance and Sport Development. So, Saunders will continue to be involved in Canadian racquetball, only not on court.
2019 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
November 29–December 1, Edmonton, Alberta
Men's Open
1) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 15-5, 15-8
3) Tim Landeryou d. 4) Trevor Webb, 15-9, 4-1, injury forfeit
1) Samuel Murray d. 4) Trevor Webb, 15-8, 15-8
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 3) Tim Landeryou, 15-11, 15-10
1) Samuel Murray d. 9) Mitch Brayley, 15-6, 15-1
4) Trevor Webb d. 5) Lee Connell, 15-11, 15-11
3) Tim Landeryou d. 6) Tanner Prentice, 15-5, 15-10
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Ian Frattinger, 15-3, 15-6
1) Frédérique Lambert d. 2) Christine Richardson, 14-16, 15-12, 11-2
3) Michèle Morissette d. 5) Juliette Parent, 15-7, 9-15, 11-9
5th place
4) Alexis Iwaasa d. 6) Cassie Prentice, 15-7, 9-15, 11-5
Weekend Round Up - Wins for Portillo and Muñoz
The 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois on the weekend was a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, as well as a Tier 1 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event. Eduardo Portillo won the IRT event by defeating Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 15-0, 15-6. In the semi-finals, Portillo beat Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-9, while Bredenbeck went the distance with Thomas Carter, winning 5-15, 15-5, 11-5.
Portillo also got the better of Bredenbeck in Men's Open Doubles, as he and Noe Rivera beat Bredenbeck and Lucas Shoemaker, 15-6, 15-6, in the semi-finals. But in the final, Sam Bredenbeck - Jake's younger brother - and Ulliman managed to eke out a win over Portillo and Rivera, 9-15, 15-9, 11-7. They got to the final by defeating Carter and Jeremy Dixon, 15-8, 15-7, in the other semi-final.
There was also Mixed Open Doubles in Lombard, and most of the IRT guys and some of the LPRT gals played that also. In the Mixed Open final, it was Valeria Centellas and Portillo defeating Sam Bredenbeck and Aimee Ruiz, 15-10, 15-10. Centellas and Portillo reached the final with a win over Jake Bredenbeck and Natalia Mendez, 15-5, 15-11, in one semi-final, while Bredenbeck and Ruiz had a walk over win against Noe Rivera and Maria Jose Vargas in the other semi.
We suspect Jake had seen enough of Portillo by the end of the weekend.
There was a great Women's Open draw in Lombard with Carla Muñoz, who was only seeded 6th, emerging on top, as she beat top seed Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-5, in the final. Mejia was in three finals on Sunday: the Women's Open final, which was played first, followed by the LPRT final, and the LPRT Doubles final. Considering all the racquetball Mejia had to play to get to those finals, it is perhaps not surprising that she went 0-3 on Sunday.
In the semi-finals, Muñoz defeated Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-7, while Mejia went tie-breaker with Kelani Bailey Lawrence, winning 12-15, 15-8, 11-5. In the quarterfinals, Muñoz beat Daniela Rico, 15-10, 15-4, and Mejia defeated veteran Susana Acosta, 15-8, 15-11. Also in the quarters, Amaya beat Maria Renee Rogriguez, 15-5, 15-4, and while Bailey Lawrence needed a tie-breaker to get past Hollie Scott, 15-14, 11-15, 11-2.
The next event on the pro racquetball schedule will be the IRT 2019 SPC John A. Pelham Memorial tournament in Portland, Oregon, December 5-8. The LPRT will next be in action at their traditional Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 13-15.
2019 Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
Women's Open Final
6) Carla Muñoz d. 1) Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-5
1) Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
6) Carla Muñoz d. 2) Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-7
1) Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Susana Acosta, 15-8, 15-11
4) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 5) Hollie Scott, 15-14, 11-15, 11-2
6) Carla Muñoz d. 14) Daniela Rico, 15-10, 15-4
2) Cristina Amaya d. 10) Maria Renee Rogriguez, 15-5, 15-4
IRT Singles Final
1) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-0, 15-6
1) Eduardo Portillo d. 5) Kyle Ulliman, 15-4, 15-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Thomas Carter, 5-15, 15-5, 11-5
1) Eduardo Portillo d. 8) Geoff Goldblatt, 15-10, 15-0
5) Kyle Ulliman d. 4) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-1, 15-1
3) Thomas Carter d. 11) Rom Dresbach, 15-11, 15-8
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Fernando Rivera, 15-7, 15-2
Men's Open Doubles Final
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Kyle Ulliman d. 4) Eduardo Portillo & Noe Rivera, 9-15, 15-9, 11-7
4) Eduardo Portillo & Noe Rivera d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Lucas Shoemaker, 15-6, 15-6
2) Sam Bredenbeck & Kyle Ulliman d. 3) Thomas Carter & Jeremy Dixon, 15-8, 15-7
Mixed Doubles Final
4) Valeria Centellas & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Aimee Ruiz, 15-10, 15-10
4) Valeria Centellas & Eduardo Portillo d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Natalia Mendez, 15-5, 15-11
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Aimee Ruiz d. 2) Noe Rivera & Maria Jose Vargas, forfeit
Labels: doubles, minor event, mixed, open
Longoria wins singles & doubles at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open
Paola Longoria, the #1st player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), won twice Sunday in both the singles and doubles finals of the 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois. She handily defeated Montserrat Mejia in the singles final, 15-2, 15-6, and then teamed up with Samantha Salas to defeat Mejia and Alexandra Herrera, 4-15, 15-10, 11-7, in the doubles final. Longoria remains undefeated in singles this season, and their doubles win is a measure of revenge for Longoria and Salas, who lost to Mejia and Herrera in the US Open final last month.
Mejia was playing in her first LPRT singles final, and got off to a good start by scoring the first two points of the game. However, those were the only points she'd get, as Longoria came back with 15 unanswered points. She went from 3-2 to 12-2 without giving up serve. Strangely, Mejia didn't call timeout at all in game one.
Game two began the same way, as Mejia took the lead at 3-0 and 5-1. Then Longoria took a timeout, because that's what you do when the game is going against you. When play resumed, Longoria got a sideout, and then began scoring points. She got to 6-5, and then took another timeout, and spent that period attending to her left knee. There didn't seem to be an incident that resulted in her injurying it, and after she moved it around and walked on it a bit, Longoria was good to continue the match.
And continue she did, as Longoria pushed on to win game two 15-6. So from that timeout, when she was down 5-1, she outscored Mejia 14-1. That's the kind of dominance Longoria had in the final, and really on the LPRT for the past decade.
Another strange aspect of the match was that Mejia called a timeout - her first TO of the match - when the score was 14-6 in game two. Can you say "too late?" Sure, you can. But notably, Mejia won the rally after the timeout, although she didn't score any points, as Longoria got immediately got a sideout in response.
In the doubles final, Herrera and Mejia were dominant in game one. Longoria and Salas used their timeouts to try to derail the H & M train, but to no avail, as the young team took game one, 15-4. They started game two strongly also, as Herrera and Mejia took a 7-0 lead.
But Longoria and Salas are three time LPRT US Open Doubles Champions and three time International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Women's Doubles Champions for a reason, and they responded to the challenge posed by the young team by coming back to tie game two at 8-8. One thing they did in making that come back was to have Salas serve lobs into the middle - between the lefty-righty team of Herrera and Mejia. Often those serves were taken by Mejia who drove the ball to the right side, but Salas was there to hit a winner, which she did a lot. An alternative return would be to try to drive the ball back up the middle, rather than drive it to one of the sides, which is where the Longoria and Salas were positioned. But Herrera and Mejia never tried that.
Longoria and Salas pushed on to lead 12-8, and they went on to win game two 15-10, forcing a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Herrera and Mejia again took the early lead at 4-1, but again they weren't able to hold it, as Longoria and Salas tied it at 4-4. Longoria then cost her side a point, as she was demonstrably upset by the referee's call, which resulted in a technical, and a loss of point, because Longoria had been warned earlier in the match for not being so upset about referee's calls. In this instance, a hinder was called as Longoria was impeding Herrera getting to a ball that was playable, and a replay seemed like the correct call. But Longoria seemed to think there was no hinder. However, they didn't appeal the hinder call, which could have been done even after the technical was assessed (technicals cannot be appealed).
However, that incident was just a blip on Longoria and Salas's run from 1-4 down to a 9-4 lead. They held Herrera and Mejia off the scoreboard on four side in service opportunities. Herrera and Mejia did put together three straight points on consecutive rallies late in the game to make it 9-7. But a Longoria and Salas timeout at that point stopped that run, as they got a side out when play resumed.
With serve back, Longoria put her team on game point with a flat forehand pinch shot, 10-7. She had an opportunity to end it on the next rally, as Longoria stood in the front court with a seemingly easy forehand shot, but she skipped the ball. But that made it half down, so they had a second match point. Longoria lob served into the middle of her opponents, and the ensuing rally ended when Herrera skipped a forehand shot that gave the game and match to Longoria and Salas.
The LPRT will next be in action at their traditional Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 13-15. If you missed any of the LPRT Turkey Shoot action you can watch it (or watch it again) via the LPRT YouTube channel.
2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot, November 21-24, 2019
1) Paola Longoria d. 10) Montserrat Mejia, 15-2, 15-6
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 4-15, 15-10, 11-7
In her 1st final, Mejia plays Longoria at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open
Montserrat Mejia will play in her 1st Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) final Sunday at the 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois, because she defeated Natalia Mendez in the semi-finals, 15-14, 8-15, 11-4. The final will be Mejia's first, but Paola Longoria's 109th, as the LPRT #1 beat Alexandra Herrera in the other semi-final, 15-8, 15-9.
In game one of their match, Mejia had a 8-0 lead on Mendez, but Mendez fought back to tie it at 12-12. From there, Mendez pushed on and got to game point first, when Mejia skipped a shot to make it 14-12. But Mendez's game point opportunity went by when she skipped a forehand shot as she slipped to the floor.
Mejia took full advantage of the opportunity gifted to her by hitting forehand winners on the next three rallies to close out the game. The first two were down the line, the second being right along the right side wall. The third was a wide angle pass as Mejia was forward on the right side. On the last rally, Mendez had two chances to end it, as the ball came high off the back wall, but she left her shots up, which gave Mejia the opportunity to hit a winner, making it 15-13.
Mendez was undetered as she bounced back to win game two, 15-8, and that set up the tie-breaker.
The breaker was strange, because Mendez scored the first four points, and she thought she had a 5th with a drive serve ace to the right side. However, the referee saw it short, and although Mendez appealed the decision, one of the line judges agreed with the referee's call, so it was second serve. She got her second serve in, but lost the rally. And Mendez didn't score again.
Mejia tied the game at 4-4 with four points on almost as many rallies. They then played 11 rallies at 4-4 before the deadlock broke after Mendez skipped a shot with Mejia serving. With the deadlock over, Mejia scored scored five more points on consecutive rallies to get to match point at 10-4. Mendez called timeouts at 6-4 and 9-4, but that didn't stop Mejia.
But Mendez did stop two game points, but wasn't able to score one herself. Then Mejia converted the third match point with a backhand pinch shot that was the third shot of a rally that began with a Z serve to the left side that Mendez cut off with a backhand return, but only managed to put the ball into the center, where Mejia was able to set up for the winning pinch shot. Mendez relied on that Z serve in the second half of the breaker, and it was only late that Mendez tried to cut them off.
Watch the singles final live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page) at noon Sunday. The doubles final will follow at 1 PM. All times central.
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 8-15, 11-4
1) Paola Longoria v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - Noon
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-12
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-5, 15-4
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 1 PM
Mejia advances to semis with win over Vargas at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open
Montserrat Mejia is through to the semi-finals at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois after she defeated LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 9-15, 11-7, Saturday morning. It's the 3rd time Mejia has been in the semi-finals this season. Vargas had been a finalist in all three previous LPRT events this season, including a win in Virginia Beach, but she won't be a finalist this weekend.
Vargas had a big lead in game one against Mejia at 12-5. But Mejia came all the way back to tie it at 12-12. Vargas served at 13-13, and they played a 9 shot rally in which Vargas dove twice to keep the ball in play. Mejia then won the game with back to back drive serves to the left side that Vargas returned into the floor. One wonders if Vargas should have taken a timeout after losing the long rally at 13-13 to recover from expending the energy on that rally, and she did have a timeout.
Game two had a similar storyline, as Vargas was up 13-3, and when Mejia came back to 14-9, you wondered if game two was going to end the same as game one. However, Vargas was able to close out game two at 15-9.
Thus, they needed a tie-breaker to determine the winner. The breaker was streaky. Mejia scored the first three points, so led 3-0. Vargas got the next six to lead 6-3. Mejia called a timeout, and then was able to put together four points to lead 7-6. Vargas tied it 7-7, but that was the last point she'd score.
There was a bit of controversy when Mejia was up 9-7, as Vargas hit a ball down the right side that was right on the glass. But Mejia couldn't reach the ball because Vargas was between her and the ball. The referee called a hinder, which may have been the right call, although the ball was tight to the wall and Mejia was going to be hard pressed to get it, even without Vargas's presence. Vargas was clearly upset by the hinder call, and as in game one, she skipped the last two serve returns to give Mejia the game and match.
Mejia will play 6th seed Natalia Mendez in the semi-finals later today, as Mendez also needed a tie-breaker to win her quarterfinal match against 19th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-10, 13-15, 11-6.
LPRT #1 Paola Longoria won her quarterfinal match comfortably against 8th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-2, 15-5. Longoria was ahead 14-0 in game one before Amaya got on the board, and needed an ace serve to do so. Longoria will play LPRT #4 Alexandra Herrera in the semis, as Herrera beat Erin Rivera, 15-6, 15-3.
Watch the semi-finals live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page) at 3:00 and 4:30 PM Saturday. The doubles semi-finals are Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 21) Erin Rivera, 15-6, 15-3
6) Natalia Mendez d. 19) Jessica Parrilla, 15-10, 13-15, 11-6
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 15-13, 9-15, 11-7
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Alexandra Herrera - 4:30 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 3 PM
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla - 9:30 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 8:30 PM
Upsets in Round of 16 at 2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open
The upsets continued at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open in Lombard, Illinois, as they played the Round of 16 Friday afternoon. LPRT #3 Samantha Salas was the biggest upset victim, as she lost to 19th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-3, 15-14, but LPRT #5 Rhonda Rajsich also lost. She was beaten by 21st seed Erin Rivera, 15-13, 7-15, 11-8. Finally a less surprising result, as 10th seed Montserrat Mejia defeated 7th seed Nancy Enriquez. 15-5, 15-7.
In the quarterfinals, Parrilla will play Natalia Mendez, who defeated Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14; Rivera will play Alexandra Herrera, who was a straight game winner over Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 15-14; and Mejia faces Maria Jose Vargas.
The top two LPRT players - #1 Paola Longoria and #2 Maria Jose Vargas - were dominant in their matches. Longoria beat Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-1, and Vargas dismissed Sheryl Lotts, 15-0, 15-5. After getting blanked in game one, Lotts started well in game two, and was actually tied with Vargas at 5-5. Sadly for her, she didn't score another point, as Vargas got 10 unanswered points to win the game and match.
In the Parrilla-Salas match, Parrilla was up 8-1 and 10-2 in game two after decisively winning game one, 15-3. But Salas made a hard comeback, and she tied the score at 12-12 with a drive serve ace to the left side (Parrilla's backhand). They traded points from there with Parrilla always getting ahead first.
Salas gifted Parrilla her 1st match point, as she skipped a backhand shot that was a set up off the back wall that made it 14-13. However, Parrilla wasn't able to convert that match point as she seemed to be indecisive as to how to play the ball as it went into the back right corner. Salas tied the game 14-14 on the next rally with a controlled backhand shot as Parrilla's forehand return of serve came into the middle of the court.
It was Parrilla's turn to fend off game point, and she did so with a backhand cross court shot. It looked like Parrilla's second match point would go by just as the first did, as Salas had a backhand set up off the back wall. However, she skipped it to hand the game and match to Parrilla. Salas was clearly upset after that rally, throwing her eye guards to the ground.
Look for this weekend's action live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The quarterfinals are Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Carla Muñoz, 15-4, 15-1
8) Cristina Amaya d. 9) Masiel Rivera, 15-6, 14-15, 11-10
21) Erin Rivera d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-13, 7-15, 11-8
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence, 15-4, 15-14
19) Jessica Parrilla d. 3) Samantha Salas, 15-3, 15-14
6) Natalia Mendez d. 11) Adriana Riveros, 15-8, 15-14
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 7) Nancy Enriquez. 15-5, 15-7
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-0, 15-5
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 21) Erin Rivera - Noon
6) Natalia Mendez v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 11 AM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 11 AM
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz, 15-13, 15-4
4) Nancy Enriquez & Jessica Parrilla d. 5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts, 8-15, 15-8, 11-5
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros, 15-6, 15-2
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York, 15-9, 15-10
2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot - Round of 32
The first round of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) 2019 Turkey Shoot Open is done in Lombard, Illinois with a couple of upsets. One is unsurprising, as 20th seed Kelani Bailey Lawrence - a USA National Team member - defeated 13th seed Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-1, and the other came in a battle of two young Mexican players. Erin Rivera, the 21st seed, got the better of 12th seed Ana Laura Flores, but needed three games to do it, winning 15-7, 8-15, 11-8. In the Round of 16, Lawrence will play 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, while Rivera plays 5th seed Rhonda Rajsich.
In doubles, the young team of Hollie Scott and Lexi York knocked off veteran Aimee Ruiz and Masiel Rivera by a narrow margin, winning 15-14, 5-15, 11-10. Scott and York didn't score more points in the match, but still managed to win two games and move to the quarterfinals tonight against 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas.
Also, Erin Rivera and Flores - after playing singles against each other - teamed up to play doubles, but sadly for them, they lost to Valeria Centellas and Carla Muñoz, 15-9, 5-15, 11-5. Centellas and Muñoz will play top seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals tonight.
Look for this weekend's action live beginning with the Round of 16 via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.
16) Carla Muñoz d. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-6, 15-4
9) Masiel Rivera d. 24) Cheryl Gudinas, 15-5, 15-4
8) Cristina Amaya d. 25) Daniela Rico, 15-5, 15-13
5) Rhonda Rajsich d. 26) Melania Sauma, 15-1, 15-8
21) Erin Rivera d. 12) Ana Laura Flores, 15-7, 8-15, 11-8
20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence d. 13) Cassi Lee, 15-2, 15-1
19) Jessica Parrilla d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 15-7, 15-9
11) Adriana Riveros d. 22) Hollie Scott, 3-15, 15-13, 11-4
6) Natalia Mendez d. 27) Katie Neils, 15-2, 15-3
7) Nancy Enriquez d. 26) Lexi York, 15-10, 15-8
10) Montserrat Mejia d. 23) Valeria Centellas, 15-12, 15-11
15) Sheryl Lotts d. 18) Susana Acosta, 15-10, 15-6
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Carla Muñoz - 6 PM
5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 21) Erin Rivera - 3 PM
4) Alexandra Herrera v. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 3 PM
3) Samantha Salas v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 4 PM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 11) Adriana Riveros - 4 PM
7) Nancy Enriquez v. 10) Montserrat Mejia - 5 PM
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Sheryl Lotts - 5 PM
8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz d. 9) Ana Laura Flores & Erin Rivera, 15-9, 5-15, 11-5
5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts d. 12) Cassi Lee & Katie Neils, 15-12, 15-1
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros d. 11) Susana Acosta & Cheryl Gudinas, 15-10, 15-8
10) Holly Scott & Lexi York d. 7) Aimee Ruiz & Masiel Rivera, 15-14, 5-15, 11-10
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz - 9 PM
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros - 8 PM
2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York - 8 PM
2019 LPRT Turkey Shoot Open - Preview
The 2019 Turkey Shoot Open - the 28th Annual - happens this weekend in Lombard, Illinois, and a field of 28 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) players will be competing in singles and there are 12 teams in doubles. The top 10 LPRT players - and 18 of the top 20 - are in the field led by LPRT #1 Paola Longoria. She's the top seed in both singles and doubles with partner Samantha Salas, who is the 3rd seed in singles behind 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas.
Illinois resident Cheryl Gudinas is in the field playing both singles and doubles with Susana Acosta. Also playing doubles is former US National and World Doubles Champion Aimee Ruiz. She's playing with Masiel Rivera, a player who has impressed us this season, so we're really interested to see how they do.
Ruiz and Rivera are seeded 7th, so they play 10th seeded young American team of Holly Scott and Lexi York. The winner will face 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas in the quarterfinals.
Look for this weekend's action live via the LPRT YouTube channel or the LPRT website (click "LPRT Live" at the top of the page). The Round of 16 begins at 3 PM on Friday, with the quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and the semi-finals at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday night at 8 and 9 PM with the semi-finals Saturday night at 8:30 and 9:30 PM. The singles final will be noon Sunday with the doubles final to follow at 1 PM. All times central.
16) Carla Muñoz v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 11 AM
9) Masiel Rivera v. 24) Cheryl Gudinas - 11 AM
8) Cristina Amaya v. 25) Daniela Rico - 11 AM
5) Rhonda Rajsich v. 26) Melania Sauma - 10 AM
12) Ana Laura Flores v. 21) Erin Rivera - 10 AM
13) Cassi Lee v. 20) Kelani Bailey Lawrence - 10 AM
14) Adrienne Haynes v. 19) Jessica Parrilla - 10 AM
11) Adriana Riveros v. 22) Hollie Scott - 10 AM
6) Natalia Mendez v. 27) Katie Neils - 10 AM
7) Nancy Enriquez v. 26) Lexi York - 11 AM
10) Montserrat Mejia v. 23) Valeria Centellas - 11 AM
15) Sheryl Lotts v. 18) Susana Acosta - 11 AM
8) Valeria Centellas & Carla Muñoz v. 9) Ana Laura Flores & Erin Rivera - 1 PM
5) Kelani Bailey Lawrence & Sheryl Lotts v. 12) Cassi Lee & Katie Neils - 1 PM
6) Cristina Amaya & Adriana Riveros v. 11) Susana Acosta & Cheryl Gudinas - Noon
7) Aimee Ruiz & Masiel Rivera v. 10) Holly Scott & Lexi York - Noon
Bolivia tops team standings at 2019 IRF World Junior Champinoships
Bolivia topped both the Boy's and Girl's Team standings, so the Overall Team standings as well at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships last week in San José, Costa Rica. Mexico was 2nd and the USA 3rd in both Boy's and Girl's and Overall standings.
Costa Rica came 4th overall with their highest point total (1136) since 2014 (1092), and maybe their highest ever, which perhaps proves it helps to play at home. It certainly helped Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez, who won Boy's U18 Doubles, and Maricruz Ortiz, who won Girl's U16 Singles.
Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Gerson Miranda ended their junior years on a high, winning Girl's and Boy's U18 Singles, respectively. Barrios also won Girl's U18 Doubles with Valeria Centellas, who was runner up to Barrios in her first year of 18 singles play.
Hector Barrios of Bolivia was the only boy to win gold in both singles and doubles. He beat Mexican Sebastian Longoria in the Boy's U16 Singles final and with Adrian Jaldin defeated the USA's Nikhill Prasad and Timothy Hansen in the Boy's U16 Doubles final.
Shout out to the Cubans Suniaris Rodriguez and Loraine Felipe, who earned bronze medals in Girl's U16 Doubles. Those are the first medals for Cuba at World Juniors as far as we know.
Also a shout out to Ireland's Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O'Gorman, who were the first Irish players in an IRF World Junior final in over 20 years, when they played for gold in Boy's U14 Doubles. They lost to Mexico's Luis Renteria and Jorge Gutierrez, but it's a big achievement nonetheless.
The IRF streamed several of the matches from San José, so if you want see them, check out their Facebook page). The next international event will be the Pan American Championships April 4-12, 2020, but the site is still to be determined. Bolivia was mentioned as a possibility during one of the matches from San José, but given the domestic unrest there right now, we're not sure if that will be the host nation.
31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019
Boy's Team Standings
1. Bolivia - 1080
2. Mexico - 872
3. USA - 654
4. Costa Rica - 636
5. Ecuador - 492
6. Guatemala - 318
7. Colombia - 270
8. Chile - 254
9. Canada - 242
10. Argentina - 238
11. Ireland - 192
12. Korea - 114
Girl's Team Standings
8. Cuba - 188
9. Argentina - 168
10. Chile - 96
11. Ireland - 88
Overall Team Standings
2. Mexico - 1768
3. USA - 1454
4. Costa Rica - 1136
11. Chile - 270
12. Cuba - 188
U18 Girl's Singles
GOLD: Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
SILVER: Valeria Centellas (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Martina Katz (Argentina) & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador)
GOLD: Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Micaela Meneses (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Annie Roberts (USA) & Ximena Martinez (Mexico)
GOLD: Heather Mahoney (USA)
SILVER: Angela Ortega (Mexico)
BRONZE: Camila Rivero (Bolivia) & Ava Kaiser (USA)
U18 Boy's Singles
GOLD: Gerson Miranda (Bolivia)
SILVER: Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
BRONZE: Diego Garcia (Argentina) & Jose Ramos (Mexico)
GOLD: Hector Barrios (Bolivia)
SILVER: Sebastian Longoria (Mexico)
BRONZE: Timothy Hansen (USA) & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia)
GOLD: Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia)
SILVER: Nikhil Prasad (USA)
BRONZE: Hector Sierra (Guatemala) & Juan Rodriguez (Colombia)
U18 Boy's Doubles
GOLD: Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador)
BRONZE: Diego Garcia & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) and Emir Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico)
GOLD: Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia)
SILVER: Nikhill Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA)
BRONZE: Josue Bermeo & Pablo Vera (Ecuador) and Sebastian Longoria & Erick Trujillo (Mexico)
GOLD: Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico)
SILVER: Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O'Gorman (Ireland)
BRONZE: Juan Rodriguez & Duvan Torres (Colombia) and Jhonatan Flores & Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia)
U18 Girl's Doubles
GOLD: Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia)
SILVER: Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico)
BRONZE: Fabiana Landy & Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador) and Nikita Chauhan & Erin Slutzky (USA)
GOLD: Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia)
SILVER: Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) and Suniaris Rodriguez & Loraine Felipe (Cuba)
GOLD: Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia)
SILVER: Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico)
BRONZE: Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) and Ava Kaiser & Kareena Mathew (USA)
Labels: IRF, juniors, summary, team
Four gold for Bolivia & Costa Rica wins gold at home at 2019 IRF World Junior Championships
Bolivia swept gold in the Girl's Doubles divisions and won one of the Boy's divisions also on Saturday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San José, Costa Rica. Bolivia won every final that they had a team in.
Five of the six finals were won in two straight games. But they saved the best for last, and it was a crowd pleaser too, as the Men's U18 final was between the home country's 9th seeded Costa Rica team of Pablo Freer and Tomas Sanchez and the 6th seeded Esteban De Janon and Juan Flores of Ecuador. That match went to a tie-breaker with Freer and Sanchez coming out on top, 8-15, 15-6, 11-0, to win gold on home soil. Freer cracked out several drive serves in the breaker to help his team to the win.
In Boy's U16, Bolivians Hector Barrios and Adrian Jaldin defeated the USA's Nikhil Prasad and Timothy Hansen, 15-11, 15-10, and Irish luck ran out in the Boy's U14 final, as Mexicans Luis Renteria and Jorge Gutierrez beat Ireland's Daniel Hanrahan and Keelan O'Gorman, 15-4, 15-6.
In girls' action, Bolivians Angelica Barrios and Valeria Centellas completed Bolivia's gold medal sweep by winning Girl's U18 over 3rd seeds Marifer Gutierrez and Anna Rivera of Mexico, 15-6, 15-8. The Bolivians sweep got started in Girl's U14 with 2nd seeds Valeria Miranda and Krystin Salinas of Bolivia defeating Gisele Nieto and Angela Ortega of Mexico, 15-8, 15-11, and it continued when Bolivians Micaela Meneses and Camila Rivero captured gold in U16, as they beat 2nd seeds Guadalupe Griffin and Ximena Martinez of Mexico, 15-5, 15-4.
The IRF streamed some of the finals via its Facebook page), and the matches are archived there, so if you missed some of the action - or want to see it again - check it out on Facebook.
9) Pablo Freer & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 6) Esteban De Janon & Juan Flores (Ecuador), 8-15, 15-6, 11-0
2) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) d. 5) Nikhil Prasad & Timothy Hansen (USA), 15-11, 15-10
3) Luis Renteria & Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 8) Daniel Hanrahan & Keelan O'Gorman (Ireland), 15-4, 15-6
1) Angelica Barrios & Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 3) Marifer Gutierrez & Anna Rivera (Mexico), 15-6, 15-8
1) Micaela Meneses & Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. 2) Guadalupe Griffin & Ximena Martinez (Mexico), 15-5, 15-4
2) Valeria Miranda & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) d. 1) Gisele Nieto & Angela Ortega (Mexico), 15-8, 15-11
Labels: costa rica, doubles, IRF, juniors
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(Host) With war underway against Iraq, one Vermonter is playing a very key role in the U.S. battle plan. Rear Admiral Barry Costello is a Rutland native who now commands nine ships in the Persian Gulf.
(Dillon) Fifty-two year old Barry Costello is responsible for 7,000 people and nine war ships. His command post is the aircraft carrier Constellation, one of three carriers in the Middeast region.
Costello grew up in landlocked Rutland, the youngest of four brothers in a close knit Irish-American family. He's now the lead Navy spokesman on the early phase of the Iraq war.
(Dillon) The admiral's older brother, Brian Costello, teaches English at Rutland High School. He found a quiet corner of the school library to talk about his brother's career.
The Costellos' father was a lawyer. Three of the four boys – including Barry – also went to law school. But Brian Costello says the sea and the Navy pulled his brother away from a life in the legal profession.
(Dillon) Barry Costello went to Holy Cross College as a Navy ROTC student. He's commanded ships and worked desk jobs for the military, including a stint on Capitol Hill for the Senate Armed Services Committee. Eighteen months ago, he was at work at the Pentagon.
(Dillon) As a commander of a Naval battle group in the Persian Gulf, Admiral Costello obviously is once again in harm's way. His family worries, especially about the unpredictability of Saddam Hussein.
(Dillon) Tom Costello, a lawyer in Brattleboro, says his brother probably doesn't have much time now to reflect on the danger.
(Dillon) Tom Costello also served in the military as a combat marine in Vietnam. An uncle, General Leonard Wing, was a decorated World War II hero. Tom Costello says that for his younger brother Barry, being an admiral is the job he's always dreamed of.
(Dillon) Old friends from Vermont now see Admiral Costello on the network news as he briefs reporters about his fleet's role in the war. Chittenden County Senator Jim Leddy remembers Barry Costello as a youngster in summer camp 40 years ago. The Leddy and Costello families were very close.
Leddy says that when he saw his old friend on the news, the Iraq conflict suddenly became more personal. Leddy says he can only imagine the awesome responsibility that Costello must now bear.
(Dillon) Before the war began, Barry Costello conducted an e-mail interview with the Rutland Herald newspaper. He said the men and women under his command are extremely well-trained and, like himself, feel honored to be doing their job.
For Vermont Public Radio, I'm John Dillon, in Rutland.


text:
Research at University College Hospital shows safe cancer surgery is possible during the COVID-19 pandemic
Publish date: 17 June 2020
A UCLH/UCL (University College London) research study, which is awaiting peer-review and formal publication, reports on the first 500 patients who had surgery at the University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, London, during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Westmoreland Street site was set up as a 'COVID-19 free' or 'cold' site, to carry out non-emergency cancer surgeries. There were 500 consecutive successful surgeries on patients during the COVID-19 peak in London, resulting in no coronavirus-related deaths at 30 days, reports the large cohort study.
With more than two million* non-emergency surgeries being cancelled globally every week due to COVID-19, researchers say the findings will have a major impact on how healthcare systems are set up and should reassure 'at risk' cancer patients fearful of attending appointments.
The University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street is one of three local hospitals which treat cancer patients with an urgent clinical need of surgery, through the North Central London and North East London Cancer Hub. This hub is part of an approach to manage cancer surgery involving the Cancer Alliances in London and NHS England.
Between March 5, 2020 and April 22, 2020, at University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, 500 operations were performed, mainly to diagnose or treat cancer.
Of those operations, 44% were performed with robotic or endoscopic assistance, and 61% were classified as major or complex surgery. The study's primary outcome, the '30-day mortality rate', reports that no patient died from COVID-19 at 30-days.
The study's secondary outcome, the number of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 following surgery, was 10 (2%) patients. Of these, four (less than 1%) patients had confirmed laboratory diagnosis, with six deemed likely to have had COVID-19. University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street is the first 'COVID cold site' to report its findings.
Lead author, Dr Veeru Kasivisvanathan, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer at UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science and specialist registrar at UCLH, said: "The study was carried out during the peak of the pandemic in the UK, which now has one of the world's highest numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths.
"By working together with 14 other hospital trusts, as part of a coordinated effort to keep one surgical site free from COVID, we have shown it is safe to continue high volume urgent cancer surgeries. None of our first 500 patients, operated on during the pandemic, died from COVID-19.
"Our model gives other institutions around the world an example of how to reconfigure their services to offer safe surgery."
The North Central and North East London cancer hub is one of three cancer hubs set up in London and has implemented a series of measures designed to minimise the transmission and spread of the virus.
Measures include setting up the Westmoreland Street site, along with independent sector capacity at Wellington Hospital and the Princess Grace Hospitals in London, as dedicated 'COVID-free' surgery facilities. These hospitals divert walk-in or emergency admissions to alternative sites within the network to ensure that stricter infection control measures can be taken such as restricting visitors or telephone screening patients to ensure they are asymptomatic before coming in for their surgery.
Other measures included: increasing deep cleaning, requesting patients isolate before and after their surgery, swab testing patients suspected of having COVID-19, and wearing full PPE in theatre for every case.
In addition to the completed study, UCL/UCLH can now confirm more than 1000 patients have been operated on at the three COVID cold sites coordinated by the North Central London and North East London Cancer Hub.
Professor John Kelly, Professor of Uro-Oncology, at UCL Surgery & Interventional Science, and consultant surgeon at UCLH, said: "This study is important as we are finding that many patients don't want to have their surgery anymore because they are worried about COVID-19.
"The results show that it is safe for them to continue with their surgery providing appropriate service reconfiguration takes place. Delaying surgery can lead to patients' cancers progressing, which could result a worse quality of life. This set up allows the highest risk cancer patients, who would benefit most from surgery to be prioritised."
Supporting the 'COVID-19-free cold site' strategy, at the start of the pandemic The Francis Crick Institute, London, repurposed its laboratories into COVID-19 testing facilities, helping ensure healthcare workers and patients at UCLH could be tested for coronavirus rapidly.
Professor Charles Swanton, Group Leader at the Crick and UCL, Consultant at UCLH and Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said: "Setting up COVID protected cancer hubs will play a vital role in the NHS recovery plan to return to normal cancer activity. The Crick Institute/UCLH COVID-19 Consortium has provided a COVID testing facility for UCLH and London Hospitals with the specific goal of creating COVID-safe clinical environments.
"This is a wonderful example of a COVID protected cancer hub in practice at the peak of the London pandemic demonstrating that safe hospital environments can be generated through service reconfiguration and routine COVID testing to protect patients from post-operative complications. This remarkable achievement will provide the confidence patients and clinicians need to return to normal cancer activities as quickly as possible across the NHS."
This research paper has been submitted to an academic journal and is awaiting peer-review.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A fire that tore through a Bridgeport home early this morning forced three families out on to the street. Firefighters say as many as 15 people could have been inside the three-story multi-family home at the corner of Rosedale and Olive streets when the flames broke out at around 4:00 a.m.Tenant Lucy Ocasio says she and her family were asleep when a neighbor came knocking on their door, warning them about the fire. Flames and smoke consumed part of the house, but firefighters who arrived on the scene were able to put out the fire before the entire building burned. All the residents managed to escape to safety. The cause of the fire is being investigated.


In tribute to the classic - Vico Magistretti's Maralunga, Soft Pack is inspired by the eastern method of fabric packaging which simplifies the manufacturing steps of the sofa. This creates a high armrest as a flexible support for the body, offering different seating positions. The project is built as an one-off piece showcased at Cassina Showroom during Milan Design week 2014.


text:
Tim Moran (August 8, 1918 – April 18, 2014) was an American educator and politician.

Born in Spanish Fork, Utah, Moran served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Moran received his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Brigham Young University. Moran taught school and was an elementary school principal. Moran served on the Spanish Fork City Council and then as Mayor of Spanish Fork. He then served in the Utah House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1984 until 1996. Moran died in Payson, Utah.

Notes

1918 births
2014 deaths
People from Spanish Fork, Utah
United States Army Air Forces soldiers
Brigham Young University alumni
Utah city council members
Mayors of places in Utah
Democratic Party members of the Utah House of Representatives

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


PEABODY, MA—Busy women, rejoice! A collaborative project between Hendrickson Publishers and Today's Christian Woman (formerly Kyria.com) provides women with an engaging way to read God's word and apply twenty-four spiritual practices to their lives, without being just another "to-do" on their list.
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