Welcome to my first public coverage of the UPCL Hutton Cup Playoffs. This post should be able to get you up to speed for the league, and hopefully we can begin to build a connection as a creator and audience. In the first of the scheduled games...
The Westside Rockers host the Golden Pilots in the BMW RockDome. Valencia struck 248 to lead off for Golden. Misty again struggled for Westside, hitting just 75 in response. Strut pounded 583 to solidify the lead for the Pilots. Goatee answered with 368 for the Rockers. Dusty shot back with just 138 for Golden, leaving them a little more vulnerable. Kelly managed 162 for Westside, but they remain significantly behind with a player to go. The Pilots ended at 1162 total points after A. Charlton took a 50% penalty and scored 152. Chicky Phil blasted 378 for the Rockers, but it wasn't enough for them to avoid a loss, as they finished with 983. The Pilots now lead the series 3-1.
To the east, the Web City Spiders welcome the Central Warriors to the Home Depot Forum. Central's MVP candidate, Twilight, scuffled again with just 16 points. Shadow, clearly more comfortable at home, scored 328 for the hosting Web City. Gizmo popped 592 for the Warriors to get them back in the game. Rainmane asserted dominance for the Spiders by ripping 834 to reestablish their lead. Noelle managed 152 for Central, but it appears the game has slipped away from the visitors. Sugar kept Web City strong by supplying 608 points. Dustin crushed 1345 for the Warriors, keeping them alive with a final score of 2105. The Spiders still pulled off victory, as Dominic raked in 585 on some impressive bat-work to produce a final score of 2355. Web City has increased their series lead to 3-1, and will get a crack at advancing on the road in Game 5.
Just slightly to the north, the Maplewood Lumberjacks host the Capital City Sharpshooters at UPS Ground in Maplewood. Chris began with 256 for Capital City. Fluffina faltered with a weak 48 for Maplewood, continuing her insufficient postseason effort. Sprinkles tallied 368 to add onto the lead for the Sharpshooters. The Lumberjacks fell further behind as Bryant managed just 20 points in his turn. Missy slipped with 87 points for Capital City, opening the door for a potential comeback. Diddley turned the game on its head, capitalizing for Maplewood with 1036 to give them the lead with a player each to go. The Sharpshooters got 208 from D. Taylor, but closed the game out at 919, taking a loss. The Lumberjacks ended with 1430 after Cubby capped their victory with 326 points. Maplewood will travel leading the series 3-1.
We next head southwest, where the Lighton Prestige bring the Pacific Volcanoes into Pepsi Prestige Park. Starlight again struggled on the road, hitting just 150 to open for Pacific. Acorn responded with 305 for Lighton, finally rounding into his usual form. Ms. Kitty made a huge statement for the Volcanoes by scoring 1100 points. Spirit slapped a quick 373 for the Prestige, which left them with a still-significant deficit in a potential elimination game. Jack faltered with 72 for Pacific, allowing the opponents a bit more breathing room. Twinkie I capitalized for Lighton, blasting 682 to give her team the lead again. Leonette's 351 put the Volcanoes at 1673 total, a healthy final score. Pounce chipped 227 for the Prestige, giving them 1587 and costing them the game. With the win, the Volcanoes are the first team to advance to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 series sweep. The #6 ranked Volcanoes await either the Pilots or the Rockers in the next round.
Northeast again, as the Pronger Tridents host the Eastside Sharks at Tridents Park, sponsored by Ford. Graham scored a modest 189 for Eastside to begin the game. Strawberry put up 288 for Pronger, opting not to go through a voluntary replay after a technical error. Chelsea gave the Sharks a very narrow lead by hitting 102. Hoot did little to separate the Tridents, scoring only 122 in his turn. Taylor Swift hit a critical 722 for Eastside, putting them solidly in the lead. Pronger's Paps hit only 9 in response, melting under the pressure of having to play catch up. Robyn had 108, giving the Sharks a final score of 1121. Precious failed to cover the gap for the Tridents, hitting only 69 and giving them 488 points in the loss. Despite losing the first game of the series, Eastside has stormed back into control with a 3-1 series lead.
Returning to the southwest region, the Todavía Stills welcome the Southridge Defenders into Apple Park for game 4 of the playoffs' most tightly contested series thus far. Southridge's captain, Boots, had an uncharacteristically bad game with just 90 points. Todavía didn't fair any better, as their captain Easter hit only 20 points after Boots redeemed herself with good bowling. The Defenders failed to gain much control with 161 points from J. Garcia. The Stills failed to catch up, as their superstar Sierra was dinged with a 50% penalty that resulted in a score of 42. Southridge suffered an unlucky bounce in Rookie of the Year Debby Ryan's turn, where she scored only 64 points. Sparkles of Todavía hit 395 to bust the game open. The often-inconsistent Shaggy supplied 691 for the Defenders, giving them a final of 1006. She followed that by bowling well against the Stills' Leonardo, who ended with 168 after a mistimed swing, leaving his team short at 625. Southridge's victory tied the series at 2 games apiece.
Up north along the west coast, the Pearl Surfers face elimination when they host the Whitewater Shores at the Honda Driftwood Coliseum. Whitewater's league MVP Bear appears rattled on the road, this time striking just 53 as the leading hitter. Pearl replied with 279 from longtime superstar V. Braun. Twinkie III scored 164 for the Shores after suffering a 50% penalty for the second straight game. Wings again came up big at home, slugging 1109 for the Surfers to extend their lead. Cheddar took just 57 for Whitewater, leaving them in a dangerously weak position for the game. Potential free agent Neopolitan scored a meager 28 for Pearl, doing nothing to secure the game. Jennifer put up 260 for the Shores, leaving them at 534 in a brutal loss and assuring that there will not be a sequel to Game 3's Legend Of Livilotti performance. Watermelon kept it simple with 45 in icing the Surfers' victorious score at 1461. With the win, Pearl retains hope, but the #1 seeded Shores stills lead the series 3-1 and will likely be out for revenge in Game 5.
Finally, to the southeast, we have the Royal Crowns bringing in the Boston Swifts to Kraft Crowns Park. Royal is looking to pull off the upset-sweep in this final Game 4. Patches scored 176 for Boston, but this featured a 50% penalty for the team captain. Frosty continued a blistering postseason effort by slapping 512 for Royal. Puff II shot back with 650 for the Swifts, keeping them firmly in the game as they face elimination. Sydnee sliced 224 for the Crowns, making the game extremely close at the halfway point. A bad bounce left Boston's Gradley at 113. Jake poked only 32 for Royal, squandering a chance to take control. Sweetheart had only 96 for the Swifts, failing to secure the game and leaving the final at a vulnerable 1035. Nightfur didn't quite put enough in her game, hitting 135 to get the Crowns to 903, taking their first lost of the series. Boston survives another day, but the Crowns travel back to Boston with a 3-1 series lead and a 12-game road winning streak dating back well into the regular season.
That's all for today, check back again later for Game 5s!
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