NorCal wins First Cal Cup 13-7

On January 9, 56 of the top California handball players converged on the South End Rowing Club in San Francisco to play for the 1st California Cup competition. Current and former National champions and other top handball players from northern and southern California competed in singles and doubles competition in Open, 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, and 70+ divisions along with two 17 and under singles matches. The South End Rowing Club (located at Fisherman’s Wharf) hosted the event and provided outstanding hospitality all day long.

Competition was intense and after the first 10 of 20 matches, the score was tied at 5 matches each. Southern California went ahead 6-5 when they won both junior singles events. However, Northern California came back strong by winning most of the doubles matches and all three tie-breakers in the afternoon. The final tally had Northern California winning 13-7 matches. One of the many highlights of the day was Emmett Peixoto’s three game victory over Marcos Chavez. The 1st California Cup bragging rights stay with Northern California until 2012 when Southern California will host the event.

by Tom Fitzwater

• Open Singles-NORCAL Emmett Peixoto over Marcos Chavez, 16, (6), 4
• Open Doubles-NORCAL Anton Wilson/Ali Abdulla Jr over Carlos Chavez/Armando Ortiz, 11, 8
• 35+ Singles-NORCAL Norm Dunne over Chris Watkins, 10, 12
• 35+ Doubles-NORCAL Shane Goyt/Ali Abdulla Jr over Greg Ramirez/Chris Watkins, (7), 15 4
• 40+ Singles-NORCAL Mike McDonald over Marcus Hough, 20, (5), 4
• 40+ Doubles-NORCAL Lennart DeLaTorre/Mike McDonald over Paul Rodelo/Manny Resendez, 11, 3
• 45+ Singles-SOCAL Mark Zamora over Tom McGrath, 10, 11
• 45+ Doubles-NORCAL Rich Dunne/Mike Dunne over Mark Zamora/Tom Martinez, 2, 7
• 50+ Singles-NORCAL Gary Stedman over Joe Castro, 7, (17), 5
• 50+ Doubles-NORCAL Mike Linnik/Francis Breining over Tom Martinez/Dan Jones, 14,14
• 55+ Singles-NORCAL Ron Strausbaugh over Greg Sizemore, 19, 18
• 55+ Doubles-SOCAL Jim Vandenbos/Mark Shelgren over Tom Fitzwater/Brian Nelson, 17, 15
• 60+ Singles-NORCAL Roberto Chavez over Mike Stanley, 3, 5
• 60+ Doubles-NORCAL Alan Sherrill/Jay Capell over Rob Nichols/Steve Sand, 15, 5
• 65+ Singles-SOCAL Steve Housman over Vic Aissa, 4, 1
• 65+ Doubles-SOCAL John Nottingham/Noel Olshan over Jim Smith/Dave Miller 11, (13), 7
• 70+ Singles-SOCAL John Nottingham over Kevan DelGrande, 4, 16
• 70+ Doubles-NORCAL Mike Dunne Sr/Felipe Resendo over Billy Doles/Mike Miller, 11, 9
• 17 and Under Singles-(#1) SOCAL Brant Bidegain over Julio Garcia, 18, 4
• 17 and Under Singles-(#2) SOCAL Christian Luna over Loren Collado, 10 19