This summary will contain a complete table of Dania Winter season results. Actually 5 tables. One for the entire roster, one for front court players, one for back court players, one for early players and one for late players. Each table will include all the data in the final official Dania statistics sheet (see below) but will be ordered by number of wins.
Below that you will find a list of the leading performance winners (those who either shared or had the most wins outright in a performance), ordered from the most to the least. For individual performance winners by performance, see the Dania Weekly Leaders Page below the latest results on the right side of the blog. There will also be a listing of the 10 players who won 4 games in a performance.
Below that you will find a summary of the leading weekly winners, ordered by number of weekly wins, and a list of the players with the most weekly wins.
And below that there is a map of one of the most intense, exciting quiniela games I have ever seen, the final Florida Singles Championship game (Game 10) during the Sunday, April 14(M), a game which played out over 3 1/2 rounds, consumed 92 balls in 26 points, had 6 possible game points, 5 of which were stymied by opponents' winners, and lasted a whopping 19 minutes. What a way to bid farewell.
===========================
FINAL WINTER SEASON DANIA JAI ALAI STATISTICS
Dania Jai Alai completed its Winter Season on April 14, 2019. The Fronton will "go dark" for two weeks and then there will be a short "Spring" season from May 1-June 30, 2019.
The most unfortunate incident of the season was the injury suffered by Tevin (Leon Shepard) (late-front) the weekend of March 9-10. He tore his right quadriceps muscle and will be out for 6 to 8 months. Tevin began his career in 1992 at Milford, Connecticut, later played at Miami for many years, and at Dania the last couple. 27 years in the trenches of Quiniela Jai Alai. I started watching him late in his career, and he has been a joy to watch. Great hustle all the time and a great love for the game. We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in action soon.
The season began on January 2, 2019. The 15 week season consisted of 7 performances a week (105 total) and each performance was made up of 12 games (1,260 games). The breakdown was mostly 8 doubles games and 4 singles games, but for a stretch during the season, due to the high amount of scratches, the balance was 6-6. This lasted from March 1-31. That time period covered 23 performances and 276 games. In that period there were an equal number of singles and doubles games, 138. For the rest of the season there were 656 doubles and 328 singles games played. The totals for the season were 794 doubles games and 466 singles games. 15 weeks under the normal schedule would entail 840 doubles games and 420 singles games. How that, along with the fact that many players were asked to carry heavier loads than their usual 5 per game for many performances (often in parts of the performance that they were not used to), effected player performance, is unknown. But the players played, the games were decided, and the season was completed (survived, some might say). All that due to the great professionalism of this roster and it's manager. There was a lot of grumbling among fans about a lot of issues, but the main thing, especially for one who loves to watch Jai Alai, is that the show went on, in spite of all the obstacles. High Cesta to players and manager. Esterrik Asko, Muchos Gracias, Merci Beaucoup!
ERIK (MENDEZABAL) (late-front) led the roster in almost all statistical categories kept by Dania, and a few that I made up myself.
1. He won the triple crown (most wins, most Championship Singles and Doubles wins for front court players (135-108 over Ladutxe (early-back); 26-20 over Diego (late-front); and 24-14 over Zulaika (late-front) and Diego respectively). He also won the most doubles games with a single partner (Leke) by 16-14 over Medrano-Bailo (earlies). Amigorena won the Championship Doubles back court competition 17-15 over Urbieta (late-back).
2. Some derivative "championships" he won were: most weeks with the most wins on the roster (6-4 over Ladutxe), and won or tied for the most wins in a performance 22 times, two more than Ladutxe. He also won the most times in a week, 13. He won four weeks with 12 wins. Ladutxe won 12 twice. Four other players won weeks with 12 wins (see below). None of them did it more than once. (added Ladutxe 12 wins twice April 16, 2019).
3. Erik's winning percentage was also the highest on the roster at .255, .003 better than Ladutxe, the only other player over .200 on the roster. Erik did this against the best competition Dania has to offer, including at least 4 world class partido players (Diego (Beaskoetxea), (Jon) Zulaika, Ibon (Aldazabal), and (Unai) Leke(rika)). About the only thing Erik didn't win was ITM% (in the money--1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finish). At .526, he was .004 behind Ladutxe. Erik played 529 games. Ithurria (late-front) led the roster with 553. Xabat (early-front) was second with 548. Erik finished 10th on the roster in games played.
4. And if all that weren't enough, Erik had two performance winning streaks (at least one win in a performance) of 15 and 14 respectively. That also led the roster. Consistency within games, performances, and an entire season. Erik had it all.
34 players either had the most or tied for the most wins in a performance. In addition to Erik and Ladutxe 6 other players did this 10 times or more (Diego and Bailo (early-back) 14, Barandika (late-front) 13, Amigorena (late-back) and Zulaika (late-back) 11, and Arrieta (late-front) 10.
10 players won 4 games in a performance (for the list, see below). Two did it twice, Bailo and Amigorena.
Photos of Plaque presentations to:
Erik
Amigorena
(Jai Alai News Facebook) (added April 17, 2019)
Tables 1-5: Player sorts by wins.
Note that due to the number of scratches, performance assignments (early or late) were very much interchangeable for considerable stretches of the season. These distinctions represent tendencies. Any errors with corrections of players positions or performance assignments will be greatly appreciated. Beitia is an example. I have him listed as a late game player in the stats, but as an early game player in the listing of performance wins, meaning he played a lot early as well. As Jan Van Eyck used to say some time ago: "As best I can."
Table 1: All
11 Erik 529 135 86 57 .255 .526 L-F
17 Ladutxe 428 108 67 52 .252 .530 E-B
20 Iturbide 542 93 83 73 .172 .459 E-F
67 Bailo 524 91 69 62 .174 .424 E-B
22 Diego 494 79 74 71 .160 .453 L-F
49 Amigorena 519 77 56 78 .148 .407 L-B
42 Barandika 485 75 85 68 .155 .470 L-F
31 Jairo 497 75 67 69 .151 .425 E-F
34 Medrano 546 73 51 49 .134 .317 E-F
38 Urbieta 533 72 62 74 .135 .390 L-B
59 Leke 521 69 73 73 .132 .413 L-B
46 Arrieta 544 67 60 63 .123 .349 L-F
54 Zulaika 401 66 66 59 .165 .476 L-F
60 Salegi 543 66 79 54 .122 .366 L-B
25 Foronda 540 65 69 84 .120 .404 E-F
98 Elgezabal 410 58 50 41 .141 .363 L-B
50 Elizalde 521 58 58 51 .111 .321 E-B
47 Xabat 548 55 64 63 .100 .332 E-F
56 Zabala 531 54 76 76 .102 .388 E-B
64 Yeche 406 53 41 57 .131 .372 E-B
23 Ithurria 553 53 74 66 .096 .349 L-F
15 Ibon 296 52 49 36 .176 .463 L-B
19 Minte 436 48 70 56 .110 .399 E-B
35 Spinner 536 42 54 55 .078 .282 E-B
13 Ubilla 405 39 43 68 .096 .370 E-B
89 Urtaran 516 37 60 63 .072 .310 L-B
39 Israel 278 36 35 31 .129 .367 L-B
14 Arta 330 36 48 41 .109 .379 E-B
33 Tevin 354 32 39 46 .090 .331 L-F
53 Anndy 449 30 31 62 .067 .274 E-F
12 Beitia 353 29 36 38 .082 .292 L-F
69 Goitia 413 28 34 57 .068 .288 E-F
18 Chasio 448 28 37 46 .063 .248 L-B
30 Larrea 313 26 35 40 .083 .323 E-B
10 Goixerri 339 20 30 29 .059 .233 E-B
16 Goenaga 207 11 25 28 .053 .309 E-B
Jagoba (front) did not play
Table 2: Fronts:
11 Erik 529 135 86 57 .255 .526 L
20 Iturbide 542 93 83 73 .172 .459 E
22 Diego 494 79 74 71 .160 .453 L
42 Barandika 485 75 85 68 .155 .470 L
34 Medrano 546 73 51 49 .134 .317 E
46 Arrieta 544 67 60 63 .123 .349 L
54 Zulaika 401 66 66 59 .165 .476 L
25 Foronda 540 65 69 84 .120 .404 E
47 Xabat 548 55 64 63 .100 .332 E
23 Ithurria 553 53 74 66 .096 .349 L
33 Tevin 354 32 39 46 .090 .331 L
53 Anndy 449 30 31 62 .067 .274 E
12 Beitia 353 29 36 38 .082 .292 L
69 Goitia 413 28 34 57 .068 .288 E
10 Goixerri 339 20 30 29 .059 .233 E
16 Goenaga 207 11 25 28 .053 .309 E
Table 3: Backs
17 Ladutxe 428 108 67 52 .252 .530 E
67 Bailo 524 91 69 62 .174 .424 E
49 Amigorena 519 77 56 78 .148 .407 L
31 Jairo 497 75 67 69 .151 .425 E
38 Urbieta 533 72 62 74 .135 .390 L
59 Leke 521 69 73 73 .132 .413 L
60 Salegi 543 66 79 54 .122 .366 L
98 Elgezabal 410 58 50 41 .141 .363 L50 Elizalde 521 58 58 51 .111 .321 E
56 Zabala 531 54 76 76 .102 .388 E
64 Yeche 406 53 41 57 .131 .372 E
15 Ibon 296 52 49 36 .176 .463 L
19 Minte 436 48 70 56 .110 .399 E
35 Spinner 536 42 54 55 .078 .282 E
13 Ubilla 405 39 43 68 .096 .370 E
89 Urtaran 516 37 60 63 .072 .310 L
39 Israel 278 36 35 31 .129 .367 L
14 Arta 330 36 48 41 .109 .379 E
18 Chasio 448 28 37 46 .063 .248 L
30 Larrea 313 26 35 40 .083 .323 E
Table 4: Early
17 Ladutxe 428 108 67 52 .252 .530 B
20 Iturbide 542 93 83 73 .172 .459 F
67 Bailo 524 91 69 62 .174 .424 B
31 Jairo 497 75 67 69 .151 .425 F
34 Medrano 546 73 51 49 .134 .317 F
25 Foronda 540 65 69 84 .120 .404 F
50 Elizalde 521 58 58 51 .111 .321 B
47 Xabat 548 55 64 63 .100 .332 F
56 Zabala 531 54 76 76 .102 .388 B
64 Yeche 406 53 41 57 .131 .372 B
19 Minte 436 48 70 56 .110 .399 B
35 Spinner 536 42 54 55 .078 .282 B
13 Ubilla 405 39 43 68 .096 .370 B
14 Arta 330 36 48 41 .109 .379 B
53 Anndy 449 30 31 62 .067 .274 F
69 Goitia 413 28 34 57 .068 .288 F
30 Larrea 313 26 35 40 .083 .323 B
10 Goixerri 339 20 30 29 .059 .233 F
16 Goenaga 207 11 25 28 .053 .309 F
11 Erik 529 135 86 57 .255 .526 F
22 Diego 494 79 74 71 .160 .453 F
49 Amigorena 519 77 56 78 .148 .407 B
42 Barandika 485 75 85 68 .155 .470 F
38 Urbieta 533 72 62 74 .135 .390 B
59 Leke 521 69 73 73 .132 .413 B
46 Arrieta 544 67 60 63 .123 .349 F
54 Zulaika 401 66 66 59 .165 .476 F
60 Salegi 543 66 79 54 .122 .366 B
98 Elgezabal 410 58 50 41 .141 .363 B
23 Ithurria 553 53 74 66 .096 .349 F
15 Ibon 296 52 49 36 .176 .463 B
89 Urtaran 516 37 60 63 .072 .310 B
39 Israel 278 36 35 31 .129 .367 B
33 Tevin 354 32 39 46 .090 .331 F
12 Beitia 353 29 36 38 .082 .292 F
18 Chasio 448 28 37 46 .063 .248 B
Table 6: Leading Performance Winners: This is a listing, by number of most performance wins, of the Dania roster during the season. Performance wins were either outright or shared. In all cases performances were "won" with 2 to 4 wins.
23: Erik (late-front)
20: Ladutxe (early-back)
14: Diego (late-front); Bailo (early-back)
13: Barrandika (late-front)
11: Amigorena (late-back); Zulaika (l-f)
10: Arrieta (l-f)
9: Iturbide (early-front); Ibon (l-b)
8: Medrano (e-f)
7: Elizalde (e-b)
6: Elgezabal (l-b); Leke (l-b); Xabat (e-f); Yeche (e-b); Salegi (l-b); Urbieta (l-b); Jairo (e-f); Minte (e-b)
5: Zabala (e-b)
4: Spinner (e-b)
3: Ubilla (e-b); Israel (l-b); Betia (e-f); Arta (e-b); Foronda (e-f); Larrea (e-b)
2: Tevin (l-f); Ithurria (l-f)
1: Anndy (e-f); Chasio (l-b); Goitia (e-f); Goixerri (e-f)
Table 7: Players with the most wins in a performance: The most wins in a performance was 4. Bailo and Barandika did it twice.
Bailo (early-back) 1/10(E); 3/27(E)
Barandika (late-front) 2/27(E); 4/7(M)
Zulaika (late-front) 1/16(M)
Iturbide (early-front) 1/20(M)
Erik (late-front) 1/31(E)
Amigorena (late-back) 2/6(E)
Arrieta (late-front) 3/16(M)
Ibon (late-back) 3/22(E)
Minte (early-back) 3/30(M)
Medrano (early-front) 4/3(M)
Table 8: Leading weekly winners:
All Players who won the most games in a week. Outright or shared:
Erik (late-front) 6
Ladutxe (early-back) 4
Bailo (early-back) 3*
Arta (early-back) 1
Barandika (late-front) 1
Ibon (late-back) 1
Iturbide (early-front) 1
Leke (late-back) 1
Medrano (early-front) 1
Minte (early-back) 1
*Bailo's 3rd weekly winner was for the last week of the season. It is uncomfirmed. If the winner was someone else, it will be corrected.
Table 9: Most wins in a week:
Erik (late-front) 13
Erik 12 (4 times);
Ladutxe (early-back) 12 (twice);
Iturbide (early-front) 12;
Barandika (late-front) 12;
Bailo (early-back) 12;
Medrano: (early-front) 12
NOTABLE:
ERIK (late-front)--15 consecutive performances with at least one win
February 14(Evening)--March 2 (Matinee) (see results for the dates). Use arrows to scroll the months. Note: Erik scratched 2/28(E).
ERIK (late-front) 14 consecutive performances with at least one win:
January 12 (Matinee)-January 25 (Evening) (use arrow to go back to January)
========================
========================
The Florida Singles Championship: Game 10, 4/14(M). The Florida Singles Championship (season Champion: Erik (see above)) is the premier singles game of each performance. It is played by Late-Fronts, usually better than backs because they serve all the time. They are also usually more mobile and have greater shot selection. This game was played by 7 fronts and 1 back (Chasio)--7 lates and 1 early (Beitia, but see above as to his performance assignment). The game usually features the best "kill throwers" on the roster. Points usually don't last long in these FSC games because of the size of the court and the efficiency of the players. I have found that a 10 ball point is almost unheard of and there are lots of 3 ball points (about as efficient as possible, a serve, a somewhat defensive return, and a kill shot. The main kill shots are of the back wall variety (chic-chacs--where the ball bounces low on the back wall and can't be returned, or chulas--where the ball hits the back wall low on the fly and can't be returned) because even if they don't kill the point, they keep the opponent at bay.
But these players are also very efficient with front wall kill shots (2 wall--left-front and into the mesh work that protects the fans from the pelota; cortada: a hard sidearm throw that simply handcuffs the receiver, usually delivered down the left wall; dejada: a little drop shot when the opponent is guessing deep shot--it is very difficult to make up 40 yards; big bounce throws, left wall passes, outside passes, and other arrows that front men have in their quivers).
The games are usually short and sweet, a lot of pretty shot making in between 10 and 15 minutes. Mapping a game (a point by point account) is complex in Quinela Jai Alai because the matchups are constantly changing. Doing this in real time takes a lot of concentration. I practiced on most of the last week's games to see how I could do. I felt pretty confident about this game. I was hardly ready for what happened. Here is how it went:
Players:
1 Deigo (L-F); 2 Barandika (L-F); 3 Ithurria (L-F) 4: Chasio (L-B); 5 Erik (L-F); 6 Arrieta (L-F); 7 Zulaika (L-F); 8 Beitia (E-F)
Key: # Player (points going into the point); # Opponent (ditto); Balls in Play; +=winner -=loser; commentary. Note that this is a "Spectacular 7" game. Points in the first round are worth 1 point, all subsequent rounds are worth 2 points. 7 points win.
Note: for purposes of this exercise any 1 ball point is considered a service ace or fault. There are times when the serve is dropped or thrown into the pad where the ace is really an error on the receiver. I point these out in the comments, but have not yet decided to change scoring. EITB, the Basque Network that televises innumerable pelota matches, considers a service fault a ball in play. I do also. I do not understand their reasoning, but bow to their vast experience.
1. 1(0)-2(0) 3 Diego+: big bounce, left side
2. 1 (1)-3(0) 4 Ithurria+: chula
3. 3 (1)-4(0) 9 Ithurria+: 2 wall winner (left-front) to the outside
4. 3(2)-5(0) 2 Erik+: intercepts the serve and wins with a chula
5. 5(1)-6(0) 3 Erik+: left side pass
6. 5(2)-7(0) 3 Erik+: 2 wall winner (left-front) to the outside
7. 5(3)-8(0) 3 Erik+: high on the wall and big bounce winner
End of first round--------------------------------------
1 Deigo (L-F); 2 Barandika (L-F); 3 Ithurria (L-F) 4: Chasio (L-B); 5 Erik (L-F); 6 Arrieta (L-F); 7 Zulaika (L-F); 8 Beitia (E-F)
8. 5(4)-2(0) 8 Barandika+: beautiful high and soft rebote (rebound off the back wall) 2 wall (left-front) that touches and floats high into the mesh). Shot of the match, in my opinion. This is a shot that is used regularly in Remonte, but I haven't seen it much in Jai Alai. Awesome.
9. 2(2)-1(1) 1 Barandika+: service ace. Perfect serve. Diego has no answer.
10. 2(4)-4(0) 3 Barrandika+: 2 wall (left-front) (At this point I was hoping Barrandika would finish things off with a winner. A quick "perfect" game for him, and also perfect from the standpoint of no errors. Also no need for tiresome playoffs between teams who have lost.) If only :) :)
11: ***Possible game point for a perfect game*** 2(6)-3(2): 10 Ithurria+: terrific struggle, great saves by both, 2 wall (left-front) keeps the game going.
12: 3(4)-6(0) 5: Arrieta -: a clear error, I can't remember whether it was a drop or a bad throw but it was an easy call. First error of the game.
13. ***Possible game point*** 3(6)-7(0) 2 Zulaika+: outside pass. Game continues.
14: 7(2)-8(0) 2 Beitia+: 2 wall (left-front) big bounce pass
End of second round--------------------------------------
1 Deigo (L-F); 2 Barandika (L-F); 3 Ithurria (L-F) 4: Chasio (L-B); 5 Erik (L-F); 6 Arrieta (L-F); 7 Zulaika (L-F); 8 Beitia (E-F)
15. 8(2)-5(4) 3 Beitia+: 2 wall (left-front)
16. 8(4)-1(1) 1 Diego+: service ace: perfect serve
17. 1(3)-4(0) 1 Diego -: under serve
18. *** Possible game point*** 4(2)-2(6) 3: Chasio+: 2 wall (left-front). Game continues.
19. 4(4)-6(0) 2 Arrieta+: chula
20. ***Possible game point*** 6(2)-3(6) 5: Arrieta+ chula. Game continues
21. 6(4)-7(2) 4 Zulaika+ chula
End of third round--------------------------------------
1 Deigo (L-F); 2 Barandika (L-F); 3 Ithurria (L-F) 4: Chasio (L-B); 5 Erik (L-F); 6 Arrieta (L-F); 7 Zulaika (L-F); 8 Beitia (E-F)
22. 7(4)-5(4) 3 Zulaika+: 2 wall (left-front)
23. ***Possible game point*** 7(6)-8(4) 2 Zulaika-: throws too high
24. ***Possible game point*** 8(6)-1(3) 5 Beitia+: chic chac
8 Beitia (the only early on the concha (court) wins).
Playoff for place and show
25. 2(6)-3(6) 2 Ithurria+: left wall
3 Ithurria comes in 2nd
Playoff for show
26: 7(6)-2(6) 2 Zulaika -: throws into pad
2 Barandika comes in 3rd
8(8)-3(8)-2(8)
26 points
92 balls in play
Scoring for the game: +22 (including 2 service aces) -4 (including 1 service fault)
Possible game points: 6
Barandika stopped by Ithurria +
Ithurria stopped by Zulaika +
Barandika stopped by Chasio +
Ithurria stopped by Arrieta +
Zulaika -
Beitia beats Diego with a chic chac to win
Time of game: 19 minutes
Individual scoring (points won and lost: number of winners and errors)
Deigo (2-4) (+2(including 1 ace) -1(including 1 fault))
Barandika (3-4) (+3(including 1 ace) -0)
Ithurria (5-3) (+4 -0)
Chasio (2-3) (+1 -0)
Erik (4-3) (+4 -0)
Arrieta (3-3) (+2 -1)
Zulaika (3-4) (+3 -2)
BEITIA (4-2) (+3 -0)
Summary: What more can be said? This was the last FSC of the season. The champion (Erik) had clinched long ago. If there ever was a game to "mail in," this was surely it. The first possible game point would have been the time. Barandika, who had won this game twice earlier in the week, one via a perfect game at the start, the other taking advantage of an error. What possible motivation did Ithurria have. Ease up on the point, a quick 9 minute game (no playoffs and he finishes in the money to boot), get on with the next game, get done and go home. And yet they played the longest point of the game, there were great saves on both sides, and Ithurria beat Barandika with a 2 wall to keep the game going. And going. And going. It was like the Sorcerer's Apprentice. They couldn't stop playing. I thought they'd play for an hour, because nobody was going to let anybody get the game point. 5 game points stopped by opponents winners. Then Zulaika stopped his own possible game point with a bad throw and the spell was broken. Beitia, the guy who was just hanging around, took advantage of his opportunity and beat one of the greatest partido players in the world with a perfectly placed chic chac. It was an amazing game. A game which meant nothing given it's context. But it meant something to these players. They wanted to beat each other so badly they forgot about the number 8 guy. A great victory for Beitia, a great game for all. High point for me, Barandika's high soft two wall rebote. A shot Uterga or the great Koteto Ezkurra (premier and possible greatest of all time respectively) front men in Remonte, and masters of the high and soft two wall, would have been proud of.
