2014 Central American & Caribbean Games begin

The 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games began Saturday in Veracruz, Mexico. The racquetball competition has 40 players - 22 men, 18 women - from 9 countries. Mexico has largest team with 8 players, followed by Costa Rica with 6, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Venezuela each have 5 players in Veracruz.

Play begins November 15 and runs to November 24. There's an individual event first (concluding November 21) and then three days for a team event.

Mexicans are the defending champions in all divisions - Alvaro Beltran and Paola Longoria in Men's & Women's Singles, respectively, Javier Moreno & Polo Gutierrez in Men's Doubles and Samantha Salas and Susana Acosta in Women's Doubles.

It would be a surprise if Mexicans don't keep home the gold at home this year also.

2014 Central American & Caribbean Games
Veracruz, Mexico

Women's Singles

Pool A

Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. Maria Renee RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-2
Mariana TOBON (Venezuela) d. Maria J. POSADA (Nicaragua), 15-0, 15-0

Pool B

Cristina AMAYA (Colombia) d. Merynally DELGADO (Dominican Republic), 15-5, 15-4
Lissel PADILLA (Honduras) d. Naomi SASSO (Costa Rica), 11-15, 15-4, 11-9

Pool C

Samantha SALAS (Mexico) d. Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-8
Islhey PAREDES (Venezuela) d. Maria P. POSADA (Nicaragua), 15-7, 15-0

Pool D

Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) d. Maria GOMEZ (Colombia), 15-9, 15-13
Melania SAUMA (Costa Rica) d. Paula PADILLA (Honduras), 15-3, 15-11

Men's – Singles

Pool A

Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) d. Ramon DE LEON (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-6

Pool B

Andres ACUÑA (Costa Rica) d. Francisco GOMEZ (Colombia), 13-15, 15-12, 11-9
Christian WER (Guatemala) d. Ward MYERS (Puerto Rico), 15-9, 1-15, 11-8

Pool C

Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) d. Luis PEREZ (Dominican Republic), 15-12, 10-15, 11-3
Roberto SANTANDER (Venezuela) d. Carlos MEDRANO (Honduras), 15-9, 15-4

Pool D

Felipe CAMACHO (Costa Rica) d. Alejandro HERRERA (Colombia), 12-15, 15-7, 11-10
Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) d. Selvin CRUZ (Honduras), 15-13, 15-10

Women's – Doubles

Pool A

LONGORIA & SALAS (Mexico) d. TOBON & PAREDES (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-1
SAUMA & SASSO (Costa Rica) d. POSADA & POSADA (Nicaragua), 15-3, 15-6

Pool B

AMAYA & GOMEZ (Colombia) v. CESPEDES & DELGADO (Dominican Republic), 15-2, 15-11
MARTINEZ & RODRIGUEZ (Guatemala) d. PADILLA & PADILLA (Honduras), 15-2, 15-13

Men – Doubles

Pool A

BELTRAN & MORENO (Mexico) v. CASTILLO & CASTRO (Venezuela), 15-2, 15-5

Pool B

HERRERA & RAMIREZ (Colombia) v. AVILES & SOLERA (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-5
PEREZ & RODRIGUEZ (Dominican Republic) v. CRUZ & MEDRANO (Honduras), 15-5, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….