The 2007 New York City Pro Am
The IRT is back in full action in Long Island at the great facility known as SPORTIME of Syosset. The famous “fishbowl” court has seen the likes of all the great IRT professionals over the years. One of the few privately owned clubs in the area that supports the racquetball community, SPORTIME is the home to event director Tom Keogh and handles over 300 league players. The events here are run first class and definitely one of the most highly attended events of the IRT season.
The pro qualifying went off on Thursday night with some great matches. Syracuse native Tim Kirch watched intently as his 15-year son Brad, lost his match to Ben Croft and Tim won a five-game battle against Jordan Walters. Event director Tom Keogh gave it his all against Alejandro Herrera losing in three. Joe Palazzo won a barnburner against Japan’s Michimune Kono in five games. Michimune is currently attending college in Stockton and training under the guidance of former IRT professional John Ellis. Canada’s top junior player Ryan Smith took out Boston’s’ Rich Sledzik. Rich has the game to play on the IRT and will hopefully make a few more events this season. At 18, he has a bright future on the IRT, as does Ryan. Local Mitch “Charisma Red” Posner did not have enough red to push Andy Hawthorne as he goes done in three. Japans best Hiroshi Shimizu took out Jose Flores in four games and IRT Board of Director Eric Muller gave Sudsy a run for his money but eventually bowed out in three games. Eric is a former semi-finalist at the US OPEN. Sudsy looked healthy and ready to play.
Stay tuned for all the round of sixteen updates here at www.IRT-TOUR.com
Round of Sixteen
All the seeds advanced into the quarterfinals with a few of the matches being battles. Jason Thoerner squeezed out a tough victory over Andy Hawthorne in four hard fought games, 9,10 (10 9 to move on to meet Jack Huczek. Jason and Andy bring out the best in each other every tome they play and this was no exception. Mitch Williams avenged an earlier loss to Sudsy Monchik in Kentucky this year by winning a five game match 6 9 (6) (4) 9 to move on to face Alvaro Beltran. Mitch had a commanding two game lead only to see Monchik find the needed inspiration from the hometown crowd and come back to win the next two. The tiebreaker was a duel as each player fought for a run. Mitch would eventually finish the match much to the crowd’s dismay. Monchik had been nursing a back injury in Memphis at the US OPEN and missed the Orange County event. Jason Mannino advanced taking out local Joe Palazzo in three games. Ben croft continued his great play taking Shane Vanderson to five games. Vanderson would buckle done the last two games and take the match (9) (8) 11 6 7. Vanderson has been battling a flu bug since the start of the New Year but it did not seem to bother him in this one. Croft had opportunities to close out game three but Shane’s backhand was too much. Rocky Carson advanced after defeating Canada’s junior national champion Ryan Smith in three fairly close games 7 8 8. Ryan has the potential to compete here on the IRT and it remains to be seen if and when this young nineteen year old will mature into a top player. Chris Crowther gave Alejandro Herrera fits on the championship court to take the match in four 0 5 (11) 2. Herrera has yet to win the big match but continues to battle each event. No lack of heart with Alejandro. Hiroshi Shimizu from Japan took on Mexico’s Alvaro Beltran and played well in a three game loss 8 3 9. Credit has to go to Shimizu due to the extensive travel schedule that he endures to come to the states and compete with the best. Number one Jack Huczek put an end to Tim Kirch’s winning streak taking him out in three 1 5 4. Time played well but Jack was just too much
Quarterfinal match ups
5:30 Jason Mannino vs. Shane Vanderson
The first match of the evening was a seesaw battle in the first two games. Mannino controlled the first not missing a shot and then in the second Vanderson turned it up a notch and did not miss. "Vandy" who was battling a virus since the Orange County event gave it his all in the next two but it wasn't enough as Mnanino moved on to the semi-finals taking the match 3 (4) 5 4
6:30 Jack Huczek vs. Jason Thoerner
Jason Thoerner seems to give Jack Huczek fits every time they play but it would be all Huczek this weekend. The tough court here in Long Island was not a factor in this match as Jack made very few unforced errors and Jason never really got going. Huczek moved on the semi-final 1 5 4
7:30 Rocky Carson vs. Chris Crowther
These two southern California players have battled many times in their careers. Crowther has been playing some great ball as of late and taking full advantage of his position in the draw. Chris has learned to control his emotions on the court and it is bringing out some tremendous racquetball from this six foot six power player. Rocky however would have all the answers on Friday night for Crowther's power game and move on to meet Jason Mannino on Saturday winning the match 3 5 2.
8:30 Alvaro Beltran vs. Mitch Williams
The last match of the evening would be the most exciting as Mitch Williams got set to dual Alvaro Beltran. Williams fresh off a five game win against veteran Sudsy Monchik in the round of sixteen looked ready as he dominated Beltran in the first two games delivering a bagel in the second to Beltran after a first tough game. Experience would come to play in this match as Beltran regrouped and stuck with his game plan winning the next three games in typical Beltran fashion - hitting the pinch when he needed it. Beltran would move on to meet Jack Huczek on Saturday advancing in five games (9) (0) 6 3 5. The fans definitely saw the coming of Mitch Williams this weekend as he played his best ball of his young career.
THE SEMI'S
A rematch of the semi's the week before in California between Jason Mannino and Rocky Carson would be the first match on Saturday evening in front of a full house at SPORTIME. Both players looked ready to play but all the games would be very low scoring as Rocky struggled to find his game. Jason did a great job of keeping Carson out of the service box and stuck with his game plan from the start. Although Rocky did win game two Mannino was the dominate player in this one winning the match 3 (4) 5 5 to move on to his third final in a row.
The second match would pit Mexico's best against the USA's best Alvaro Beltran and Jack Huczek. They would not let down the fans here in Long Island, as this was a battle from the start. Beltran has always played well here at SPORTIME and so has Huczek. This was a battle from the start as the first game saw Beltran take an early lead only to have Huczek hang in and take game one 11-9. Beltran would continue his control of center court in the second and hold off any thought of Jack coming back as he did in the first winning 11-6. In the third Jack would dominate the frontcourt and never let Beltran to get on any run offensively to take the third 11-4. The fourth would be battle as both players did not miss and traded serves many times without scoring. Huczek would take the fourth 11-9. The excitement rose to another level, as the fifth game got ready to begin. Huczek has very rarely failed to win a five game match because of his fitness level and Beltran has had very little success in the tough five gamers. The fifth would start off very close with both players hitting some big shots. However some rare unforced errors in the front court would cause Huczek to give Beltran some easy points and Beltran would take full advantage winning game five 11-6 and pulling off the upset of the tournament. Alvaro would go on to meet Jason Mannino in the Sunday final.
THE FINALS
Jason Mannino would take on Alvaro Beltran in this Sunday final as Mannino looked to win his second NYC title and Beltran looking to capture his first IRT title the same way Mike Guidry did a few years ago here at SPORTIME. The large New York crowd took their seats for this match you could see intensity in both players eyes. A win for Mannino would inch him closer to battle Huczek for the year-end number one spot and a win for Beltran would take the monkey off his back. This would turn out to be one of the best finals in recent IRT history - a five game war. Beltran came out smoking the first game but Mannino stayed within himself and battled to an 11-9 game one win. Game two would be the longest game in IRT finals history and saw Beltran come out of these game two points short 16-14. Mannino gave it everything he had in game two knowing that it could well be a turning point in winning the title. Just when the crowd thought Mannino was in control Beltran found a little extra and took game three 11-8 when the crowd and his peers thought he had nothing left he would come out hot as a pistol taking game four 11-3 forcing a game five. Mannino now would have to regroup and find a way to cool down Beltran. Jason would do just that and take a commanding lead in the fifth. Although Beltran did make a late comeback this would be Mannino's day, as he would hold on for his second NYC pro-am title taking the match 11-8.
SIDENOTES
Thanks to Tom Keogh for putting together this event and for his continued support of the IRT. Tom has assembled the largest event of the IRT season and has tremendous respect from the Northeast racquetball community. Also thanks to his great staff that keeps things running like clockwork all weekend. This event had over 250 amateurs and never ran behind. Brian, Rick, Sabeita and Paula thank you.
Once again thank you to all the financial supporters of the event and to Joe Secreti and Cactus Salons for becoming the title sponsor this year
The IRT would also like to extent its thanks to Len Silversmith and Doug Walsh, Rob Cerrito for your continued support of the NYC Pro Am.
The Sportime of Syosset is a great club and thank to the staff and Bonnie, the club director for all your help!!
We look forward to coming back for the 2008 New York City Pro Am next year!!!!