Maumee, OH, WPH Press –
Men’s Pro Singles
Shorty Ruiz captured his first USHA National Three-Wall Singles title on Sunday, overcoming Jab Bike in the final. Ruiz met Bike for the third time in six weeks in 3-Wall on Sunday, with Bike winning their first encounter at the LaGrange Icebreaker in mid-July, and Ruiz defeating Jab at the mid-August Ice Bowl and again in Maumee today.
Ruiz survived a close first game against Bike in the final, winning his fifth consecutive game decided by two points or less dating back to the Ice Bowl. Ruiz faced game point against Danos Cordova in the first game of their quarterfinal matchup, match point against Lucho Cordova in the second game of the semifinals, and held Bike at 19 in the first game of the final.
“It was a tough one,” Bike would later say. “I had my chances but ultimately couldn’t hit the right shots when I needed to. Shorty was the better player today.”
Round of 16
Lenning def D. Schmitt 21-6, 21-6
Ruiz def T. Schmitt 21-5, 21-4
Lucho def Doyle 21-14, 21-5
Ure def Brule 21-4, 21-4
Bike def Job 21-4, 21-15
Esser def Mehilos 21-6, 21-9
Danos def Montijo 14-21, 21-10, 11-3
Tyree def Burgos 21-16, 21-8
Quarterfinals
Lenning def Tyree 21-9, 21-14
Bike def Ure 21-13, 16-21, 11-7
Lucho def Esser 13-21, 21-13, 11-8
Ruiz def Danos 21-20, 21-7
Semifinals
Bike def Lenning 21-18, 21-3
Ruiz def Lucho 8-21, 21-15, 11-3
Final: Ruiz def Bike 21-19, 21-12
Women’s Pro Singles
Mikaila Esser repeated in the Women’s Singles, defeating frequent 3-Wall rival Ashley Ruiz in the final and putting an exclamation point on her 3-Wall dominance. Esser has now won three consecutive 3-Wall events and two consecutive Three Wall National titles.
Quarterfinals
Esser def Keeling 21-5, 21-10
Dorneker def Kirk 21-6, 21-6
Ruiz def Pecaut 21-3, 21-4
Davis def Hughes 21-5, 21-9
Semifinals
Esser def Davis 21-9, 21-3
Ruiz def Dorneker 21-16, 21-8
Final: Esser def Ruiz 21-13, 21-7
Follow all of the brackets from the 74th USHA National Three-Wall Championships HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer