Laguna Hills’ Hawkes Advances to Semifinals

Brian Hawkes of Laguna Hills advanced to today’s semifinals of the men’s open singles division at the National Outdoor Racquetball Championships at Golden West College.

Hawkes, who was the national outdoor men’s champion for all but one year between 1981-95, defeated Rick Sandello of Orange in Saturday’s quarterfinals. In an earlier round, Hawkes beat Huntington Beach’s Gary Martin.

Hawkes will meet Stockton’s John Ellis in one semifinal. Ellis, like Hawkes, is unseeded but advanced by upsetting second-seeded Dave Genavay of Fountain Valley.

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Tony Jelso of Goleta, who defeated Huntington Beach’s Kevin Booth, will meet another Huntington Beach resident, Greg Freeze, who beat Orange’s Greg Solis.

The semifinals begin at 10:15 a.m. and the finals follow.