Race Stop #4: Fresno
Day 3: The Semifinals and Finals
Race Stop #4’s Super Saturday in Fresno featured the top four seeds battling for the coveted Race title, Race points, WPH Power Ranking Points, and team points. The #1 WPH Power Ranking was also at stake on Super Saturday. All matches featured Rally Scoring, meaning that every rally resulted in a point. The action was fast and intense throughout as every rally affected the score.
Sean Lenning and David Chapman renewed their rivalry in the first semifinal. Seattle WAC and World #1 Sean Lenning was unable to distance himself from Chapman early as he had in their previous encounter in Race Stop #3. Chapman made a concerted effort to shorten rallies because of his troublesome left knee, and his offense enabled him to stay close to “The Freak”. Lenning eventually built a comfortable lead late in game one, and appeared to be on his way to capturing game one with a 24-18 lead. Chapman rallied furiously with precise backwall kills and paddle rekills, cutting a 24-18 deficit to 22-24. Lenning earned the final point with a blistering pass shot and carried the momentum to a second game blowout, advancing 25-22, 25-6.
The second semifinal was the continuation of a heated and often contentious rivalry between World #2 Naty Alvarado and Race Leader Luis Moreno. Moreno defeated Alvarado for the first time in the Finals of The Plummer Bash Race Stop #1 and Naty was looking for revenge. Alvarado was poised and confident throughout, frustrating his junior foe of 16 years with aces, flat kills, and steady handball. Moreno unraveled in game two, and Alvarado earned his revenge with a resounding statement win, 25-16, 25-12.
World #1 Sean Lenning and World #2 Naty Alvarado were playing for their first Race title and the #1 Ranking in the primetime final. Alvarado simply said, “The number one ranking would mean a lot to me at this stage in my career.” Lenning had no plans on relinquishing his number one spot as he completely dominated Alvarado in an eight-minute game one blowout. Alvarado would later say that Lenning’s game one serves, power, offense, and speed “was like nothing I have ever seen.” Naty battled back to thrill the packed gallery in game two. Both great players exchanged aces and the lead throughout the second game. Alvarado trailed 22-24 late in the second game when he executed his patented sliding on his knee flat kill. With Naty serving to tie the score at 24 to send the game to overtime, Lenning blasted an 86 mile per hour backwall rocket at Naty’s feet to end to match, earning his first Race title, and maintaining his #1 Ranking with a 25-8, 25-23 win.
David Fink won the 5th place playoff with wins over Armando Ortiz and Chip Morales, and Charly Shanks captured the 9th place playoff with wins over Carlos Chavez and Anton Wilson.
The Men’s Pro Big Ball Doubles electrified the crowds with fast-paced action and spectacular athleticism. Shorty Ruiz and Josh Tellez upset #1 seeds Samzon Hernandez and Ricky Ruiz in the semifinals, and dismantled Sal “The Wizard” Duenas and Elite Eight 4-Wall star Armando Ortiz in the finals to capture the first ever Fresno Pro Big Ball Doubles Championship.
Thanks to Jason Coronado and his entire family for organizing an incredible weekend of handball with non-stop hospitality and unbridled enthusiasm. Thank you to the WPH for another incredible webcast and Pro Tour event, and thank you to all of the players and fans who supported the event.
Catch Race Stop #5 in Atlanta in three weeks live on raceforeight.com, and watch your favorite player battle for Race points and the Race title.
David Fink
