US Hardball Championships

The 2007 Hardball National Singles Championships at The Merion Cricket Club witnessed not only a very high quality of play, but also a spirited meeting discussing the future of the Hardball game. Tefft Smith described the Hardball Restricted Fund, which was recently set up through the efforts of himself, Henry Steinglass and Charlie Baker under the umbrella of US Squash. The fund will be used exclusively to promote Hardball squash. No conclusions were reached, but topics discussed included Hardball play on wide courts and use of a different ball to make it a better game. Use of the fund to promote Hardball play with a purse was kicked around. Also included was healthy dissension. Whatever the outcome, the future of Hardball, with a motivated committee and promotional funds, looks extremely promising.

In the play there were many surprises. Tom Harrity, the many year champion, was playing under a handicap since he had ruptured his Achilles tendon only five months previously. He lost to Merion Cricket’s Director of Squash, Scott Devoy. But it was Iago Cornes, a relative newcomer to the game, who took the Open title over Devoy in five close games.

In the 35+/45+ David Page, last year’s 50+ winner, decided to play down. His disciplined game and pace were too much for Doug Rice of Baltimore and Page won 3-1 in the finals.

Comebacks were the story in the 50+ and 60+. Peter Stokes, who broke his neck in a biking accident two years ago recoverd well enough to beat Paul Chan of Atlantic City, 3-0 in the 50+ final. In the 60+, John Frazier got payback for last year’s loss in the finals to Walt Smedley by beating him 3-0 this year. And that was in spite of nearly withdrawing because of feeling sick.

Jim Zug has long been a dominant force in his age bracket and 2007 proved no exception. Lucky Young looked unbeatable against Ted Marmor in the 65+ but when he ran into Zug he met his match. Zug won decisively 3-0.

In the 70+ it was Phil Clapp who ran the table without dropping a game, including his finals win over Tony LaSala of New Jersey. But it was a different story in the 75+ where Radonor, Pennsylvania’s, Bill Wilson beat his perennial adversary, Tom Dolan of New Jersey, in a tight five game final.

Finally, Charlie Butt took the 80+ title in a hard-fought three game final over defending champion and Tournament Chair, Charlie Baker.

Those interested in Hardball news are encouraged to tune in to the new Hardball page of the US Squash website.