CASERMA EDERLE, Vicenza, Italy -- The Vicenza Racquetball Club and Racquetball Italia played host to the Winter Shootout at the fitness center on Caserma Ederle March 5-6.
U.S Army Garrison Italy Sports, Fitness and Aquatics staff supported the sporting event, one of the few Italian tournaments on the European Racquetball Tour.
Players from Italy, Germany, Bolivia (living in Italy), and the United States competed in three men's and one women's bracket for trophies and, more important, bragging rights until the next tournament, according to J.D. Lattuca, event organizer.
"We had a great turnout with 25 players," said Lattuca. "Not only did we have the top players from Northern Italy, but also some of our players traveled from as far away as Naples, Rome, and Bad Tölz, Germany, to play.
"We couldn't have done this without the support of Ricky Jackson and the rest of the fitness center crew," Lattuca added. "They went above and beyond to ensure this tournament was a success."
Doug Miller of the 414th Contracting Support Brigade here claimed the top prize of the weekend, defeating Carlo Papini of Rome in two games to win the Men's Open title (15-8, 15-11). Papini did not go home empty-handed, though; he defeated Vicenza's Robert Johnson in two highly competitive games to win the Men's B bracket (15-14, 15-11).
"Robert (Johnson), J.D. and I play here all the time so we get used to how each other plays," said Miller. "These tournaments force us to up our level of play and focus on beating top-level players from other clubs."
Piero "Bam Bam" Landa, president of Racquetball Italia, called the weekend's event one of the best on the European Racquetball Tour.
"What a great weekend of play," he said. "Racquetball is already a great cardio workout; tournament racquetball is intense! You better be in shape if you're going to play in a tournament like this."
U.S. Army Africa's Tony Joseph defeated Bergamo, Italy's Fabio Teli in three games to claim the Men's C trophy (5-15, 15-10, 11-9).
On the women's side, Bolivian Adela Cordova came back from a first-game loss to defeat fellow Bolivian, Mabel Vela, in the tiebreaker (9-15, 15-7, 11-7).
Racquetball Italia and the Vicenza Racquetball Club will host its next tournament, the Italian Nationals (Campionato Nazionale Italiano), April 23-24 at the Caserma Ederle Fitness Center.
Tournament results:
Men's Open Final: Doug Miller (USA) def. Carlo Papini (ITA) 15-8, 15-11; Third/Fourth Place: J.D. Lattuca def. Piero Landa (BOL) 15-9, 15-9
Men's B Final: Carlo Papini (ITA) def. Robert Johnson (USA) 15-14, 15-11; Third/Fourth Place: Henry Angulo (BOL) def. Dan Navo (USA) 12-15, 15-13, 11-9
Men's C Final: Tony Joseph (USA) def. Fabio Teli (ITA) 5-15, 15-10, 11-9; Third/Fourth Place: Miguel Angulo (BOL) def. Charles Holt (GER)
Women's Open Final: Adela Cordova (BOL) def. Mabel Vela (BOL) 9-15, 15-7, 11-7; Third/Fourth Place: Alessia Papini (ITA) def. Vianca Torrico (BOL)
(Tournament information provided by Doug Miller)
Social Sharing