LYNN ADAMS vs. KARIN WALTON: Christmas Classic 1981 (Part 2) Pleasanton, CA

LYNN ADAMS CLAY is a retired American racquetball player. A native of southern California, Adams was one of the dominant players in the 1980s, as she was ranked #1 or #2 every pro season between 1980 and 1991.

Adams was attending Orange Coast College, and a middle distance track athlete, when she first tried racquetball at age 19. Shortly after beginning to play, she met Jim Carson, who became her coach and stayed with her throughout her career.

In the first half of the 1980s, Adams had a fierce rivalry with Heather McKay, former undefeated squash pro, that helped to establish the women’s pro racquetball tour.

Adams was the dominant women’s professional racquetball player after McKay moved back to her native Australia in 1985, and was undefeated in the 1985-86 season. She finished as the #1 player on the women’s pro tour at the end of six seasons during the 1980s. She was Player of the Year eight times (1982–88, 1990) and won the women’s pro Nationals six times (1982, 1983, 1985–88).

Adams had serious health concerns beginning in December 1987, which was when she began having symptoms of multiple sclerosis that eventually led to her retirement in 1991.

After retiring, Adams was on the staff of America’s Most Wanted Racquetball Camps, and co-authored an instructional racquetball book with Erwin Goldbloom.

Adams was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1997. She was later inducted into the World Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2017 for her dominance in outdoor sports. She is also in the Orange Coast College Alumni Hall of Fame.

KARIN WALTON, also grew up in southern California, playing sports and enjoying the sun and beach. She picked up racquetball while away at college in Utah. Not long after, she won her first tournament at the famous Mel Gorham’s Sports Center in Pacific Beach, California, which caught the eye of her future sponsor, Charlie Drake of Leach Industries.

Walton was named racquetball’s Female Athlete of the Year in 1978. The next year, she turned pro and won the 1979 National Racquetball Championships, beating top-ranked Shannon Wright in the semis, and #2 ranked Janell Marriott in the finals in Tempe, Arizona.

Although Walton’s career in racquetball was shorter than Adams’, she has excelled in various sports throughout her life, including volleyball, field hockey, tennis, pickleball and golf. She and husband Tom Pennick won many medals in the U.S. Senior Olympics. She is now retired and widowed, living in Oceanside, California.

Schoeber’s Christmas Classic in December 1981 was held at the Pleasanton, CA club, just 3 weeks after the club opened. Bill Dunn, brother of pro Steve Dunn, was tournament director and co-commentator.

The men’s finals saw doubles partners and rivals Ed Andrews and Mark Martino, both California players, competing for the trophy and prize money. In 1981 the only official men’s pro racquetball tour was an invitational. So young and upcoming players like Andrews and Martino could only play in local tournaments such as Schoeber’s. With its exhibition glass court, approximately 300 spectators could enjoy these exciting matches.

The women racquetball pros had struck off on their own in 1980 with the Women’s Professional Racquetball Association (WPRA) in hopes of receiving more attention and prize money. The tour was run by International Management Group, and did well in the early 1980s in part due to the great rivalry between Lynn Adams and Heather McKay. The WPRA lasted until 1994, when the Women’s International Racquetball Tour (WIRT) was created.

Andrews vs. Martino (part 1): https://youtu.be/ECnfTyvNtB4
Andrews vs. Martino (part 2): https://youtu.be/E2ng0BE2c68?si=Sn21Ouc1U9t3PX2s

#racquetball #proracquetball #christmasclassic #LynnAdams #KarinWalton #EdAndrews #MarkMartino #schoebers

hello again everybody Bob Murphy along with Bill Dunn we are at shers in Pleasanton California we are watching Rocket ball the women’s finals Karen Walton Trent a 1512 winner over Lynn Adams in the first game it takes two to win this could be the deciding game Karen serving to Lyn well this would be a great win for Karen since winning the the women’s Pro Nationals in 79 she really hasn’t had a couple of good years and over L would be really good for self-confidence Karen gets the first point 1 Z service short see if Lynn comes out and does anything different to change the tempo although she was really in control last game until she let that call upset her oh another good bounce boy ball just wedged itself into the corner two serving nothing two love in tennis terminology z Oh ly already missing some shots here she can’t fall behind early this may be what happened to her last year close first game and then she got blown out the second game T that ball there now she knows that she needs to get some points on the board in a hurry and get back into this match down the line M point there 3-1 one serving three one serves three does the ball play the same off the glass as it would the normal wall it wouldn’t normally if that were normal glass where it smooth them on the inside the ball would tend to slide a little bit more on it but this white glass has got a pattern of dots little white dots on the inside of the wall and it plays very much like a solid wall skip point that wasn’t that tough a shot three all L Adams come back oh here we are again in the old Thai syndrome huh well caught her napping I think she thought she had a winner and it stayed up longer than she anticipated she’s got the points rolling now she reeled off four quick points to not only get back into the match but to take the lead that’s right second game may see an early timeout this match oh look at it Lynn she is agile isn’t she get out of the way and keep that ball alive it’s a big point for Karen off the back wall pretty good setup right there is the point pretty much automatic when you give her that one three she loves that backand yeah she was in complete control that R oh she’s really got Caren flustered now she’s SE shot she normally wouldn’t try yes boy she has reeled off six in a row is six I’m surprised that Karen hasn’t call time as we say that as we say that Karen does call timeout and she will do a little walking and a little thinking Karen Walton Trent from Costa Mesa or rather uh San Diego Lynn Adams is from Costa Mesa Karen used to live up here she was lived in wut Creek for 14 years moving to Southern California she’s really a big area gal both of them athletes in other sports like to do other things score is kar’s a sow three likes the body surf may have been why she went to Southern California yeah I think that’s got to do with it well Lyn’s attacking the ball now she’s not messing around missed an easy shot side out but not before L Adams reels off six straight points now there was really a nice nice call by Lynn she actually hit a winner but three she knew there was a hinder there and if she’d skipped it in she would have wanted to hinder so very very Sports likee point now 4 six 4 six short short sir L might jump on this one yes she did yeah set her up five six no hinder there no it’s low percentage coming in on shots like that you’ve got to hit a really tough shot do anything with it both players pausing now there should be a winner oh she lift it up oh great get yeah too tough to took it right into the back [Applause] corner good crosscourt low didn’t quite re just barely reach the back wall six or six it is tied at six all yeah she’s reeled off three here no side out side out at 66 game was tied at three game is now tied at six Sixers six yeah back to that slow serve back into the forehand corner so effective in the first game point oh the timing for that backhand off the back wall seven sir six that takes a while to master that one yes it does there’s not much time to get set up and hit that shot well Caren made a weak shot there and she knows it Adam suddenly has turned into a tiger out there eight Ser six yeah she’s out scored eight to three [Music] oh there’s a another error players are kind of resting right here up to this point point that’s skipped 96 that’s what you hope for when you go up to the ceiling like that you hope the other player makes a weak shot and that’s what happened it’s a safe shot oh good spot point as the new vernacular says she’s got it on a roll she does that’s a good one for rall isn’t it she wins this point out I would think that Karen would have gone for another timeout it is six serving 10 service 10 L play that ball off that wall that’s amazing a good sharp angle it jammed her in the middle and she wasn’t able to get set up for it get a good back swing tan seres six tough ceiling ball he got an air see there was a safe shot that turned out to be a tough shot nope I thought it was two she didn’t capitalize on it either Karen didn’t think so I upal don’t think so well okay that was a point six 11 sir six another error she missed the Easy Shot she knows it Lyn upset at herself there six she had so much momentum going Sixers it can evaporate so quickly so quickly in this game turn right around again she use her body as a screen on that shot Point good crosscourt forehand kill but she hid the ball real well in that serve Lyn didn’t get a chance to react to it early 7-Eleven as they say good save keeping her back right there that ball got into the corner you knew it was going to be trouble 118 Adams over Trent right now Trent serving 811 yeah she read the wrong bounce thought I was going to hit the sidewall first and come out to her and it didn’t eight sir’s 11 it’s interesting the both these gals have gone away from their Drive serve and they’ve gone to the slow type serve there’s another round the wall ball should have been screen screen yeah me call it play it again she was screened good call she could see it Lynn didn’t think so no but Karen was behind Lyn Lynn really didn’t have a any idea where Karen was hey 81 I think Karen realizes right now that if she can’t reel off a couple of points right here that this game is going to slip away very quickly the way Adams is playing now yeah and she’s going for it too good save very strong forehand yeah it sure was if that’s her weaker shot then her backhand is going to be Dynamite 11 n and Adams if you noticed ran all the way behind anticipating the return still couldn’t do anything about [Music] it set up there yep set out could have gone either way that time decided to go with the forehand pinched it into the corner side out 11 serving nine serves nine L’s got to try and get her momentum back there’s a tough serve oh yes back that corner pretty good touch to deliver that ball all the way back there that way 129 you’ve got to make an early decision you can’t wait for it to get back in that corner because then you’re stuck you’re at the mercy of the ball pry well set up there wasn’t it yep two good shots 139 and Adam with a hot hand here after losing the first game 1512 ly Adams comes back immediately falls behind 3 nothing and then reel six straight points off Bill to get not only back in the game but take control of it at 63 and now she leads 139 yeah the momentum has really changed here she gone to that slow serve back into the corner we see just a moment ago we see Karen Walton Trent mopping and toweling and Lynn Adams in the meantime has so much penup energy as we’re watching this replay Lynn Adams is out pounding balls into the glass you bet she’s trying to keep her Touch look at her she just has so much energy going now no more walking she wants to play let’s go let’s go let’s go anticipation time in 13 s nine Lyn knows she’s two points away yeah this is a big Point here there’s Karen waiting for that balling I think I’d jump up there and cut it off skip skipped in there side oh she got a break on that one yes she did see what she can do with it 13 if Karen can’t reel off a point or two right here she can kiss the second game goodbye she’s going to give it right there where where Lynn can do not much with it not much that’s about the only shot they’ve got cat and mouse how much longer do you want to play this game ladies not much longer I guess SK in she had the shot she was looking for just couldn’t convert it I think Karen was trying to outlast Lynn that time and she just the Temptation got too great 139 so Lyn’s in great shape she she she can go forever back wall great shot Point very nice ly finish sitting down but nonetheless won the point and got it to game point that’s goer broke she misses that when she’s out of it s’s nine oh too good that is just outstanding there so 1512 for Karen Walton Trent 159 for Lynn Adams and we will have the 11-point tiebreaker and now there you see some of the people those are the people sitting alongside they’re sitting really at Courtside we are sitting at the end of the court and there are a lot of people here and the crowd has not really diminished you can see just barely through the glass at the other end you can see all the people sitting where we are this is Lynn Adams serving to Karen Walton Trent Adams a 15-9 winner in the second game after losing the first game 12:15 they’re playing for all the marbles right now in an 11-point tiebreaker not a good start for Karen she had a fairly easy shot Z look like a little tentative on it Adam’s had some momentum rolling through that second game and I think she’s going to try and stay right with it she’s giving herself a little pep talk out there did you see that yeah she’s hitting the same serve too that soft serve back in the corner and Karen’s just waiting too long to make up her mind what to do with it awful tough that’s an awful good serve look at her talking to herself yeah a game to 11 a three nothing lead is pretty tough I think what she’s doing she’s picking a spot out on the glass and trying to hit it yeah and boy I’ll tell you she’s doing a prettyy good job is Karen that time cut it off which is what I think she should be doing anyway if you wait for it to get to the glass it’s often too late isn’t it yep that’s a tough shot that was a setup four Karen is now so pensive in the back court yeah she’s y making up her mind Lyn’s playing like she’s got a bus to catch skip that skipped in there side out boy that was a break for Karen because that was another shot for Lynn zero four she’s got to get some points now make herself feel like she’s in the match again back in good save stays on top of it he’s got that little high on the glass there’s a tough shot might have a chance to put this one away I thought it skipped skipped it in yeah good rally one four good serve yeah Karen’s going back to her drive sir that’s running one of her strengths yeah that’s to good that’s pretty solid right there is too good side out 4-1 4-1 save Human Sacrifice play a couple of them boy oh boy spectacular 5-1 that’s got to be dis got to be discouraging for Karen because she was on top of that whole rally and end to lose it in the last shot one that may have been turning point in the match there’s that slow serve again if she earned that point good choice couldn’t get that one up though F shot by Karen five I think Lynn was looking for it down the backhand line and went crosscourt instead One S five what are these players playing for Bill uh the winner is $1,200 in second place is 600 oh this is a good rally oh what a rally yeah best rally we saw rally best rally we saw all day and Karen with a deep bow to Lynn Adams that time as if to say you’re the queen you won that one time out Adam one left Adam’s on a [Music] timeout she’s definitely in control of this tiebreaker let’s take another look at that 61 Karen wants to go back and play and now Lynn suddenly has changed her tactics you remember she was ping yeah now she’s sitting and meditating if you will that’s what she’s doing contemplating talking to herself see her lips moving just a little she’s reviewing her game her game plan for this last few points this was a side out rather not a point it’ll be uh time in 51 I believe we got that right this is the second long five Ser one five serving five one this the second long rally now that Karen’s lost that’s got to take it out of you oh yes Chas her all the way around side out 51 one serves five she’s got to get some points good serve pretty tough right there if you give her that ball up there around that line and get it up a little bit she’s going to put it away 80% of the time 51 maybe better than that huh bill yeah that’s a shot she’s working for too that’s what she’s it’s all about skip yeah she changed her mind the last minute she’s going to hit a seum ball and decided to take it off the back wall indecision Coster it’s five one s five rip oh boy shot that ball hit about 2 in up on the glass that is just couldn’t be better impossible 51 51 oh what a serve there that was tough talk about momentum 61 went the other way little bit short back to Y no it’s going to go back to her backand this time oh boy she used the whole court for that one didn’t she yeah she picked her spot Karen wasn’t looking for it she’s anticipating something else 71 seven hold up a player can raise a racket like that and they’ve got 10 seconds in order to get ready to to receive the serve another tough boy the serves and the mixup in the serves you have uh both timeouts 81 where couldn’t ask for a better time to started hit serve you have one left Lynn will Pace now yeah she’s she didn’t like that she’s ready she will Pace she’s not going to meditate she’s not going to contemplate she’s going to Pace like a tiger in a cage Karen will rest ly take another look at this yeah such a good serve let’s get a picture of this Jim Caren is just on about her fourth lap in the court now bouncing that ball or rather Lynn is there she is around and around and around that’s I’ve seen the polar bears at the zoo do this she’s got her next three points all figured out all she got to do now is execute 81 eight S one short serve short no but she goes back to the corner she picks her spot out there it is ceiling ball awful good no short hit the ceiling Point 9-1 Lyn Adams two points away well she can taste it she really wants it 91 that’s going to be a short serve yes very good appeal I thought it was up stands nice reach yes good shot extended on that trailing 1 n now and Karen Walton Trent looking at Mission Impossible but that’s what makes this game so much fun you never know when you’re out you never know when you can keep it alive all you can do is just keep trying your very best yeah she got one there couple more like that she might have a few different ideas about thisch n you know Lynn’s not going to sit back there and take that she didn’t either I guess not out one time maybe that just a little bit vicious down there our thanks and appreciation to the good people at Olympia Brewing Company and Wilson Sporting Goods for their sponsorship today they make it possible for you to sit home and enjoy this kind of competition and I just know we’ve got a lot of Rocket ball players out there watching today bill yeah they don’t get a chance to see caliber like this very often either s is nine it’s been excellent two serving [Music] nine off the back wall yeah lindson control the rally again though all she has to do is execute that’s what you did side out two points away from a championship here Lyn Adams a little lady from Costa Mesa California going no she thought she going to take it off the back wall and she decided not to you know Karen said that’s enough I’m going for it and she’s out oh boy now Match Point rally match point game point 10 two Match Point Serv two hold it hold it hinder I’ll play that again yeah she needed to kill that ball and she didn’t do it that was a real opportunity for her to get the serve back Match Point serves two great serve that’s match that’s it couldn’t be better so Lyn Adams after losing the first game 12:15 come back comes back to win the second 159 and wins the tiebreaker 112 and we will take a look at the last Point Lynn Adams avenging her her defeat in this same tournament a year ago not at this site but nonetheless the same tournament when she lost 164 15 nothing and the two players congratulating one another and they have done that many many times recently as they’ve played one another many times there you see Lynn Adams the happy winner and that smile just pretty well tells the whole story we’re going to go down and talk with Lynn right after this so stay with us and we’ll see what the winner has to say [Music]