Pool: Round Three Day 2

Another full day of pool today, beginning with a series I just didn't have the energy for last night from...

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Marsell. The first series of the day is Survival. Boston's Patches did not waver in the first two racks of game 1, and this came in very handy against the determined Marsell of Tysini, who nearly made it through the third rack before falling as Patches of the Swifts started to fade fast, just holding on for a 1-0 lead. In game 2, the Hummingbirds' Marsell had a strong start, but Patches lay in wait until late in the first rack, striking for the extra life as the shots got tough, which ended up as enough to go up 2-0 in the series when Marsell missed the next shot. Marsell struck back with a game 3 win, getting an extra life when he needed it and then playing patiently until Patches fell off with a missed shot to move to 2-1 in the series. Patches clinched the series in game 4, getting to a slow start but gaining traction mid-game as Marsell got too comfortable. For the final move, Patches pinned the cue in the corner, sealing Marsell's fate with no target in plain sight. Patches held on just long enough in the casually-conducted game 5 to win again, taking the series 4-1. Ranked #58, Patches will continue her Survival campaign into the fourth round.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Jake. To the west now, there's a series of 10-ball on the schedule. Royal's Jake struck first in game 1, weathering a strong start by Lighton's Acorn with a four-ball run-out to get to 1-0 early in the road series. The Prestige's Acorn tied it at 1 in the series with a slower-paced win in game 2, ending with a not-very-clean 8-10 combination that did somehow fall but did not go fully as planned. Game 3 was completely sloppy, an absolute disaster in shooting for both players, especially as they chased the 10 around. Acorn, a usually calm-tempered player, erupted for the second time in the last week, eventually stowing the 10 to take a 2-1 lead over the Crowns' Jake, but it was not pretty. Acorn also took a sloppy game 4, clinching the series at 3-1. Jake stole away a game in game 5, another sloppy affair filled with tirades by both players again. Acorn won the series 3-2, and will take his #37 ranked 10-ball bid to the fourth round, but both Acorn and Jake will be facing discipline for their roles in the fracas that did not give the league a good look.

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Oreo v. Graham. In the same region, we have a series of Rotation. Swordpoint's Oreo took full control of game 1 even though Eastside's Graham scored the first two balls, as the Blades' Oreo bounced back and made the next eight balls in a handful of turns for an 8-2 victory to go up 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Oreo remained strong in game 2, using a three-ball run-out to win the game 8-3 and go up 2-0 in the series. Graham ran out the final six balls he needed in game 3, getting on the board with an 8-2 win capped by a bottom rail kick to pot the 8 in the top left. Graham tied the series with another convincing effort, roaring to a big lead with strong defense, and eventually corralling the final balls to win 8-2 again. Despite all the blowouts in the first four games, game 5 played a lot closer for the players, with Oreo coming out ahead on a very even-keeled 8-6 win. Oreo, ranked #44 for Rotation, will play in the fourth round.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Leonette. Up north a tad, we've got 8-ball on tap. Whitewater's Twinkie III tried to play defense as long as she could after a cold start in game 1, but Pacific's Leonette eventually broke through for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Twinkie III retied the series at 1 with a slightly less impressive game 2, but more beneficial as she was able to work around with patient shooting to get the win. Twinkie III used a three-ball run-out in game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead with another frustrating win. The flared tempers caused the UPCL to issue a suspension of play for the remainder of the afternoon session, with game 4 resuming in the evening. Coming back from the suspension of play, Twinkie III didn't even give the Volcanoes' Leonette a chance at the series, potting the 8 on a bouncing break to the top left for a win and 3-1 series lead. Twinkie III secured the series at 4-1, coming from behind through scratches to top Leonette, who couldn't control a kick to knock the 8 at the jaws of the bottom side, allowing Twinkie III to set up for it herself. Twinkie III, ranked #10 in 8-ball, will participate in the fourth round.

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. J. Garcia. Moving along, two Defenders teammates go against each other for Rotation. Garcia managed to win a messy game 1, rallying back after Debby had gained the lead around midway through the game. Garcia won the game 8-7 in comeback fashion. Debby answered with a slightly cleaner game 2 triumph, winning 8-6 with a little more accuracy and confidence shown in the shooting technique. Garcia pulled back to go up 2-1 in the series, using a three-ball run-out in game 3 to win 8-7 again for the series lead. Debby made a thrilling finish, using a five-ball run-out to tie the series again in game 4. Garcia did have a double-pot to go up by three balls, but Debby matched it with a nearly identical one (both had balls to the top left and top side pockets) to start her run-out and eventually take the game. Debby had a four-ball run-out in game 5, making the score 8-5 out of the blue to take the series 3-2. Debby, ranked #9 in Rotation, proved to be the better Defender in a calm series, and will play in the fourth round as she continues her bid for Rookie of the Year.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Twinkie II. The red cue returns to action after being the root cause of the earlier dust-ups in the day, with 12-ball the style of choice. Harrison's Twinkie II dominated in game 1, using her wild card ball as a big advantage, and getting a little lucky with her choice to bank the 11 off the bottom rail to the top side on a shot that crossed the angular line of expected trajectory, or more simply, was at a bad angle. Golden's Strut had no success beyond the break in game 1. The Pilots' Strut was doing fine in game 2 until it came time for the right pockets, which were troublesome. The Specters' Twinkie II only needed one of them, and after strategic play on both sides, she got the inside angle on the top right, eventually causing Strut to pot the 6, her final ball, for her, taking a 2-0 lead. Strut continued to have problems in game 3, this time failing with positioning on his final ball, which caused him to lose after he had no choice but to remove defense, allowing Twinkie II to calmly take the game and clinch the series at 3-0. Twinkie II made the most of bad positioning late in game 4, using a three-ball run-out to overcome giving up a wild card ball on the break, and she moved to 4-0 with the win. Strut again couldn't quite get position in game 5, leaving his 9 short and missing contact to give up another win to Twinkie II, who buried the 1 on her third attempt from the ball-in-hand. Twinkie II won the series 5-0, and takes her #78 ranked 12-ball campaign into the fourth round.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Stealth v. Princess. Ending the day that was cut short by dangerously ineffective shooting, we have 10-ball in the northeast. Tysini's Princess needed just two shots in game 1 to go up 1-0, using the 1 as her set-up for the 2-10 combination to the top left that won her the first game. During a six-ball run in game 2, Harrison's Stealth rattled off a 4-9 double-pot to the bottom left, and a 5-6 combination. The Specters' Stealth drove possession later as well, but left the 10 short for the Hummingbirds' Princess to tap in and go up 2-0 in the series on. Princess played casual in the first part of game 3, but took over with unearthly positioning to create a five-ball run-out and seal the series at 3-0 in the second half, stunning Stealth with the show of power. Stealth got on the board with a game 4 winning, coming after both players chased the 10 until Princess scratched, allowing Stealth the easy shot for a win to make it 3-1. Princess finished the series at 4-1, with a three-ball run-out sealing the final game of the night. Princess advances to the fourth round with her #83 ranked 10-ball bid, and continues to lead the way for the MVP Player's Cup award as well as the Ringer award for comeback player of the year.

As expected, the UPCL assessed penalties to Acorn and Jake following the fracas they each had a part in today. Acorn will be barred from participating for the Lighton Prestige should they qualify for the postseason (eligibility for the Solid Core club is still intact). Jake, with a lesser role in the situation, will have a penalty assessed to his team, the Royal Crowns, as their compensatory pick will be moved to the second round. This is not a huge penalty, as the results of the draft are entirely random and could end up being beneficial in the long run. Jake is eligible for postseason play. If the Crowns cut Jake, the penalty does not transfer to a new team. As for programming, I expect 35-50 games tomorrow to make up for the partially lost day today. I will have to figure out what's wrong with my shot, but it may just be the usual four-week plateau I get every summer.