Quick Work Earns Win for Hernandez

By Bill Rosenberger

Frankie Hernandez ran four racks in a row in the finals to win the Hampton Ridge 9-Ball Tour stop in Parsippnay, NJ, o­n October 17.  Hernandez worked quickly in the final match, taking the last four games in under 15 minutes.

The field of 23 at Comet Billiards found it difficult to oust Hernandez from the o­ne-loss bracket o­nce Carmen Lombardo defeated him 7-4 in their fourth-round match.  Christian Smith had the best chance to do so, as he ran the score in his favor to 6-0.  In the weekend of come-back wins, Hernandez, too, worked the table to get even with Smith o­n the hill.  Smith, who broke in the decisive game, didn't have it in him, and Hernandez ran out the rack for the 7-6 win.

In the winners' bracket, Lombardo was still winning and caught up with Josh Brothers in the hot seat match.  After the two traded games early, Brothers had a chance to take control, but a bad roll off the rail left the advantage to Lombardo, and he ran out for the 7-5 victory. 

Brothers then made his way to the semifinals to face Hernandez, who was aching to earn a rematch with Lombardo in the finals.  But the match between Hernandez and Brothers was not o­ne to be taken lightly.  Tournament director Jose Burgos has seen these two compete before and described it as a rivalry.  "When these two play, it's an intense match."  After trading games back and forth, the two played to a 5-5 score.  Hernandez took control of the match for the 7-5 win.

In the race-to-9 finals, Hernandez and Lombardo played a tight match early o­n.  Lombardo took the first game, but Hernandez took four out of the next five for a 4-2 lead.  Lombardo battled back to tie it at 5-all.  That's when Hernandez made use of his time by running out the final four racks in less than 15 minutes for the 9-5 victory. 

Results:
1st Frankie Hernandez
2nd Carmen Lombardo
3rd Josh Brothers
4th Christian Smith
5th Ken Sielatycki, Matt Krah
7th Mark Dunay, Jim Coan