WPH Press, Riverside, CA, 7/28/24
Two-time Race 4 Eight champion Mando Ortiz teamed with Bryan Trejo to win the 2024 Bill Doles Baby Doll Doubles Tournament at the Tournament House in Riverside, CA. The twelve teams in the Bill Doles were reduced to two when Ortiz and Trejo knocked Brian Medina and Mark Zamora, Jr. in the upper bracket semifinal and Ryan Watkins and Dylan Hernandez overcame John Wayne Cortez and Chava Cordova in the bottom bracket semifinal.
Ortiz took control in the final, blasting kill shots from all corners of the court to overwhelm Watkins and Hernandez.
“Vintage Mando in full effect (in the final),” stated Watkins. “Mando came out blistering in the first game, killing the ball from every angle on the court. Dylan and I played a very patient and defensive game, but it wasn’t enough to tame Mando’s precision. He took his chances and made them. Bryan Trejo played a really good right side, allowing Mando to get into his groove.”
“Mando was strong,” exclaimed Icebreaker champion Brian Medina. “He has great powerful back wall shots.”
“Winning something again feels really good,” Mando would later say.
Final: Ortiz/Trejo def Watkins/Hernandez 21-4, 16-21, 11-6
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer