Hardball Singles Update from Tefft Smith January
11, 2016 - Many of you may have read -- with surprise and
disappointment (as did ALL those who have been actively supporting
Hardball Squash Singles) -- that US Squash has declared that the 2016
National Hardball Singles Championships will be the LAST that US Squash
plans to sanction.
The good news is that US Squash (Kevin
Klipstein) has clarified that US Squash will to continue to support and
encourage Hardball Squash Singles play. US Squash will continue
to sanction ALL the longstanding Hardball Singles tournaments that have
been running -- successfully and continuously -- since US Squash
converted itself to softball as its priority. The web page for
Hardball singles will be maintained, along with annual rankings AND, if
we demonstrate sufficient participation in a non-sanctioned US National
Championships, in 2017, US Squash will consider sanctioning future Age
Group Championships.
The further good news
is that US Squash has promised to make this year’s National Hardball
Singles Championships, a special event to honor this GREAT game.
US Squash will be contacting ALL former Open and Age Group Champions,
encouraging them to attend (to be honored at the Saturday Night Dinner)
and to play in their current Age Divisions.
We
will offer a full range of Age Divisions to allow as many people as
possible to have potentially the LAST US Squash National Hardball
Singles Championship in the Open or their Age Division (Men’s Open,
25+, 30+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 70+, 75+, 80+ and 85+ and Women’s
Open and 40+). (Divisions may be consolidated, depending on
actual entries).
SO this is your chance to
show your appreciation for our GREAT game of Hardball Singles AND
potentially to win a final US Squash Hardball Singles Championship!
The
Nationals will be held at the Merion Cricket Club outside Philadelphia
where, this past weekend, we had another outstanding William White
Hardball Singles Tournament. This event was potentially a
FAREWELL to the Merion Hardball Singles courts (there was much
discussion that no final decision/plans have been made). The
Saturday Night Dinner (attended by 400+ Hardball Singles and Doubles
fans) included a discussion of the upcoming National Singles
Championships, with many people expressing plans to play and support.
In
the William White Open Division, two 27 year old amateurs played an
outstanding Finals, with Rich Wade prevailing over Chris Ehlinger 12,
(12), 11, 12, both displaying impressive power, stunningly quick
reactions and agility, with a full range of hardball shot making
(reverse corners, three walls, drops and, of course, rails and cross
courts, even throwing in a few winning double boasts). Both plan
to play in the Nationals.
The 40s saw a
thrilling round robin amongst 4 strong players, won by David
Ford. The 50s saw a battle of classic Merion strokes with Tim
Kent falling to Peter Stokes, after Peter survived a 5 game thriller
with Joe Purrazella of New York City, using touch and reverse corners
to overcome Joe’s power and repeated three wall nicks, off both
wings. In the 60s, Gary Yeager again overpowered Tefft Smith 3-0
in a rematch of the 2015 National Championship. In the 70s, Scott
Ryan, a many time National Age Group Hardball Champion returned to
Singles play, losing to the seemingly unbeatable Jim Zug, 3-0.
Everyone is getting primed for the Nationals!!
To
further prepare for these FINAL Official US Squash Nationals, there are
several upcoming tournaments (for which entry forms are attached).
Next
up -- January 22-24 -- is the EASTERN STATES OPEN which will be played
on the traditional hardball singles courts at the Harvard club.
To enter, please contact Charles Johnson at the Yale Club, the host for
the event at cjohnson@yaleclubnyc.org (212) 201-4232 or Richard Chin at
richard@hcny.com 212 827 1267. You can register on line at US
Squash. http://www.ussquash.com/tournaments/ The on-line
registration -- mistakenly -- suggests that there are only 60+ and 70+
Divisions, but Charles and Richard will make other divisions available.
The
Howard Davis Memorial Hardball Tournament will be held at the Greate
Bay Racquet and Fitness Club in Somers Point, NJ on January 29-31. That
event will again offer prize money for the Open division, won last year
by Gilly Lane. There will be walk-on doubles for those desiring
to play doubles. Entry attached or call Greg Park 609-926-9550,
Bill Sykes 609-823-5183 or e-mail gpark@GreateBayRF.com.
For
the West Coasters and others who want a GREAT tournament and venue,
come to the always beautiful Santa Barbara, California for the -- 60th
-- Cate Invitational at the Cate School on February 5-7. The
tournament director Terry Eagle generates a multi-stage, maximum match
play format which assures plenty of practice. The entry form is
attached or contact Terry at terry_eagle@cate.org or call him
at (805) 684-4127 ext 254, (805)689-8054 (cell).
The last pre-Nationals tournament will be the Woodruff-Nee in DC at the Metropolitan Club on February 12-14.
Hardball
Singles Squash is a GREAT Game!! Support it by coming to AND playing in
the FINAL US Squash National Hardball Singles Championships.
Best to and a HAPPY New Year of Hardball Singles play to ALL!!
