Pool: Round Two, Day 3

We're back with Tuesday pool action. We start with...

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Lionel. The first games of the day will be Survival. Citrus controlled the game strongly with accurate shooting into the second rack, using a defensive shot to give Diamond a win at home, making it 1-0. Lionel shot back for Commerce, overcoming the Gems' Citrus having a strong break to win a close game in the second rack and tie the series at 1. The Tradewinds' Lionel took a 2-1 series lead with a dominating one-rack effort in game 3, including a narrow but successful cross table bank shot to pot the 6 and hold at an even score for the game at that point. Citrus retied the series in game 4 with a hard fought battle as Lionel spent about two-thirds of a rack hanging on with one life before the longtime Gem could topple him. In game 5, both players had flashes of brilliance and a few struggles, leaving it evenly matched when Lionel flubbed his attempt on the 15 toward the bottom side, losing the series by a close 3-2 margin. Citrus, ranked #32 in Survival, advances to the third round.

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Oreo v. Mams. The schedule is wrong for this Rotation series, incorrectly listing the venue as Kraft Forum in Royal, which is where Oreo played last year. Oreo of Swordpoint rolled to an 8-2 game 1 win with a four-ball run in the middle of the game, giving herself separation over Viewpoint Sound's Mams. In game 2, the Meteors' Mams put up a highlight with a 5-10 combination, with the 10 caroming off the 13 and squeezing past the 8 into the top left pocket. Oreo survived Mams' run, and the Blades player won 8-5 to take a 2-0 series lead. Mams got one back in game 3, using clever defense and capitalizing on Oreo's failures in an 8-3 victory to cut her deficit to 2-1. In game 4, Oreo made a difficult 3-9 bank combination, taking the 3 off the top rail with enough spin to cut the 9 in. She also made a couple of other highlights with her bank and kick shot skills on full display, and ended up holding on late in a tight game for an 8-6 win to secure the series. Mams took game 5 8-4, using a three-ball run full of caroms and combinations to propel her to victory. In the series, the #44 ranked Rotation player, Oreo, will compete in the third round with a 3-2 series win.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Sugar v. Spice. This battle between the sisterly dynamic duo from Club Reality takes place in 9-ball form. Sugar took a defensive-oriented game 1 for Web City with a three-ball run capped by a 7-9 combination to make it 1-0 for the Spiders player. She couldn't duplicate the effort in a more streamlined game 2, allowing the Victoria Spurs captain Spice to clean up the 9 at the end and win the game to tie the series at 1. Spice overcame Sugar's three-ball run in game 3, capitalizing on the errors Sugar made after the run to take a 2-1 series lead. Spice leached the series-clinching game, allowing Sugar to make six of the balls only to mop up the last two with brilliant positioning work. Sugar took game 5 after Spice's illegal contact allowed her to use the 4 for positioning, and then a perfect 6-9 carom into the bottom right sealed it. Spice still won the series 3-2, and the Spurs' #53 ranked 9-ball player will appear in the third round.

HP Events Center, Eastside: Taylor Swift v. Shelley. We get a celebrity appearance as we head south for 7-ball. Eastside's Taylor held on after Infinity City's Shelley rallied on a four-ball run ended by scratch after the break. Taylor cleaned up in two turns to give the Sharks a 1-0 series lead. Shelley tied it for the Torpedoes in a sloppily-conducted game 2, making the series 1-1. Shelley needed only three turns to clean off the table, taking a 2-1 series lead while doing all the work in game 3. Shelley clinched the series with a game 4 characterized by near misses for both players. Taylor got one back in game 5, tapping in the 7 after Shelley scratched. The #111 ranked 7-ball player, the Torpedoes' Shelley, advances into the third round on a 3-2 series win.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Americus v. Princess. As we head northwest, we will see some 10-ball played. Tysini's Princess took game 1 with a decent cut shot in a very back-and-forth game built on two-shot runs. Americus evened the series in game for Oceanside, using strong decision-making skills when choosing to defer or shoot after Princess' many fouls for the Hummingbirds. The Waves' Americus took a 2-1 series lead with another back-and-forth game, finishing off with a two-ball run. game 4 went much the same way, except that it was Princess with the win to tie the series at 2. Princess took advantage of the opportunity in game 5 when Americus scratched to end a four-ball run, allowing Princess to take the series 3-2 with a two-ball run-out for the series. The #83 ranked 10-ball player Princess will take her campaign to the third round for the Hummingbirds.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Brownie v. Debby Ryan. In the hilly east, we get another 10-ball series but with the blue cue this time. Debby struck first for Southridge, running the game out on a four-ball sequence, including a 9-10 finishing combination to the top left corner to give the Defenders a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Debby finished on a three-shot run-out, giving herself a 2-0 lead in the series. Atlantic's Brownie got on the board when Debby couldn't complete another run to end the game, and Brownie mopped up the 10 to make the series 2-1. Debby answered back in game 4, despite missing a carom at point-blank range. Debby held her own and polished off the game when the Pirates' Brownie missed on a tough cut shot, winning the series at 3-1. Debby took the series by a final of 4-1, using a five-ball run and a classic 10-ball bank to seal the game in the bottom side pocket. The #89 10-ball player will have her next opponent determined in the next series, a paragraph below this one.

Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Cassandra. We come back into town a bit for another 10-ball series, this time with the silver cue subbing for the blue cue. Game 1 ended quickly, after some back-and-forth, with Max of Queens getting positioned for a 4-5-10 combination that he made with a masterful touch. The Flames player took a 1-0 series lead with that shot. Max also took game 2, in a much sloppier affair riddled with many missed shots. Max clinched the series in game 3 by mopping up after Cassandra of Diamond scratched with just the 10 standings. Max continued to dominate, using a four-ball run and a poor defensive shot from the Gems' Cassandra to win his fourth straight game. In game 5, Max used a three-ball run and then followed with a carom off the 5 that potted both it and the 10 into the top side and top right pockets, respectively, to earn a 5-0 series win. Max, the #4 ranked 10-ball player, will host Debby Ryan at Ebay Center in the third round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Sierra. This battle of former award-winning players is in 9-ball, with the blue cue returning to action. Archtown's Ruby had a four-ball run in game 1, but it took Todavía's Sierra getting denied on a cross table bank to give the Arrows superstar Ruby a 1-0 series lead. Sierra evened the series for the Stills in a mistake-filled game 2, using Ruby's scratch to win the game on a tap-in. Ruby retook the series lead, using a three-shot run before employing the hard carom off the 7 and into the 9, placing the latter in the top left pocket for a 2-1 series lead. Ruby needed only eight shots to clinch the series in game 4, running the table on Sierra. Sierra got some redemption, holding her own enough to take game 5, but Ruby won the series 3-2 with her dominant effort in game 4. The #29 ranked player in 9-ball and perennial MVP threat advances to the third round with her gritty victory.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Allison v. Robyn. A much less prolific match occurs in the southwest, in the form of 8-ball. The silver cue will spell the red cue for this meeting. Game 1 started well for both players, but inexperience shone through later, with Tysini's Allison needing multiple attempts to top Eastside's Robyn to gain a 1-0 series lead. Robyn tied it for the Sharks, coming from behind with a four-ball run highlighted by above-average positioning. In game 3, the players exchanged runs of three balls each, but it was the timing of Robyn's that set her apart. Robyn again came from behind, taking a 2-1 series lead with a shot on the 8 into the top right at a nearly unmatchable distance. The Hummingbirds' Allison tied it at 2 for the series in game 4, surviving Robyn's 10-13 double-pot with a carom early in the game. In game 5, both players had issues with accuracy, but it was Allison who came out slightly ahead in the end, winning the series 3-2. The #93 ranked 8-ball player will continue into the third round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Olivia v. Pounce. We return to Diamond for a red cue Survival series now. Diamond's Olivia played well in the first game, holding mostly steady until strategy took over at the end, but hanging on to win with three lives in the second rack, taking a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Lighton's Pounce thought he had just bought himself more time in the second rack by sinking the bonus life ball, but a subsequent scratch gave the Gems' Olivia a 2-0 series lead. The Prestige's Pounce got one back in game 3, outlasting Olivia in a game full of defense and misplayed shots. Pounce still trailed 2-1 in the series. Pounce tied the series in game 4, building up a big lead with a double-pot and bonus life ball, only to watch it wither slowly enough to hold on for a close win. Olivia pulled away from Pounce in game 5, outlasting him by three lives for a 3-2 series win. The #37 ranked Survival player gives the Gems their second representative in the event for the third round.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Princess. We move along to the night games with 12-ball first to be played. Princess took game 1 confidently for Tysini, using a four-ball run and a little help from Boston's Gradley to establish a 1-0 series lead. Princess controlled game 2 as well for the Hummingbirds, working her way around the table with little trouble after a strong break for a 2-0 series lead. Princess overcame two scratches late in the game to secure the series on a 3-0 lead after game 3. She got stuck with a bad angle on a side pocket shot that took a little time to work with. Princess continued the dominating upset bid, working around the table with the same type of pace in game 4 before finishing on a spectacular 5 carom off the 13 into the top side from a tough angle for a 4-0 series lead. In game 5, Princess completed her sweep of the Swifts' Gradley with more strong positioning to secure the win 5-0. Princess is ranked #71 in 12-ball, and she's quickly ascending into the Players' Cup discussion with an impressive second round that should parlay into many third round appearances.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. B. Chapman. The game is once again 10-ball as we head into the rural part of the southeast region. Dusty of Golden took game 1 after B. Chapman of Victoria controlled much of the possession. Dusty's opportunity came when Chapman did not call the 6 in the bottom side, and Dusty elected to shoot rather than defer, executing a close-range carom off the 5 and into 10 in the top side for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went about even until the end, where Dusty separated herself and won the game for the Pilots with a three-ball run-out, taking a 2-0 series lead over the Spurs' Chapman. Chapman got on the board in game 3 with an impressive double-pot, cutting the 2 into the bottom right from distance, followed by the one-rail rebound caroming the 10 into the top left for the finish, making the series 2-1 Dusty. Chapman wasted little time leveling the series in game 4, knocking in the 1 with positioning to score a 2-10 combination into the top left pocket, making it a 2-2 series. Dusty missed an early chance at a combination on the 10, but her patience cashed in at the end, as she mopped up Chapman's missed 10 shot for a 3-2 series win. The legendary Dusty, ranked #6 in 10-ball, advances to the third round.

Ebay Center, Queens: Kayla v. Goatee. Returning to the urban reaches of the southeast, we have a survival game. Game 1 was very well-played, with both players holding on late in rack 1 before Kayla of Queens got a bonus life and positioned Goatee of Westside for failure. The Flames' Kayla eventually won in rack 2, breaking even, for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 wasn't as clean, but the result worked out the same for Kayla, as she used clever maneuvering to snooker the Rockers' Goatee frequently. Kayla clinched the series in game 3, using her shooting ability to keep Goatee away from her long enough to secure the game after Goatee committed enough errors. Goatee did force a second rack in game 4, but couldn't sink a ball on the mid-game break and allowed Kayla to take a 4-0 series lead. Kayla used the outlast method in game 5, building up a big lead and slowly crumbling, but it worked for the 5-0 sweep as Goatee crumbled faster. Kayla, ranked #19 in Survival, moves along to the third round, and the big game helps Queens dramatically in the standings.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Whiskers. In this series, 15-ball makes its round debut while Infinity City's Whiskers visits Archtown, where she played in the first season of the UPCL. Archtown's Sleepy B. established a 1-0 series lead early, using a carom shot off the 6 to sink the 15 in the bottom left corner. In game 2, the theme was errors. The Torpedoes' Whiskers made quite a few of them, surrendering ball-in-hand four times, while the Arrows' Sleepy B. was willing to take advantage of the mistakes, eventually earning a 2-0 series lead. Sleepy B. secured the series in game 3, going ahead 3-0 with a 5-11-15 combination that sank both the 11 and 15, all of which came after a Whiskers illegal contact situation. The highlight of game 4 was Sleepy B. scoring a 4-kick-11-10-13 shot around the middle of the game. Whiskers took the game and avoided being swept with an impressive six-ball run. Sleepy B. won the series 4-1 with a defensively-minded game 5 victory. The #15 ranked 15-ball player puts the Arrows with a representative in that event for the third round.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Bryant. We dip southwest to Commerce for a series of Rotation. The silver cue comes on for the blue cue in this set. Lionel of Commerce used a three-ball run and strong positioning as his keys to winning game 1 by an 8-2 score for the Tradewinds. Game 2 was much closer, but Lionel cashed in for five balls on two scratches by Maplewood's Bryant, taking a 2-0 series lead. Bryant got the Lumberjacks on the board in game 3, winning 8-6 in a back-and-forth affair with little space to shoot clean shots. Lionel responded in game 4, winning 8-7 in come-from-behind fashion with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series. Bryant got one back, mostly out of luck, in game 5. He won 8-6, but the game was one of the worst in the young second round thus far. Lionel, ranked #8 for Rotation, advances into the third round.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Allison. Finally, the silver cue gets another set for 15-ball, this time spelling the red cue. Allison of Tysini received a gift of a win for game 1, watching as A. Charlton of Golden scratched simultaneously with the 15 going down, creating a 1-0 series lead for the Hummingbirds' Allison. Allison earned the game 2 win, going up 2-0 in the series by creating the perfect clinching shot. Allison made a decent cut on the 5 to set up for a 6-15 combination, and the cue ball nestled through the traffic around the 6 almost too easily, making the final shot a tap in along the left rail. A. Charlton blew the series away in game 3, putting just a little too much into her mop-up shot on the 15, scratching, and giving Allison a 3-0 series lead. A. Charlton got on the board for the Pilots with a game 4 win, coming after a two-ball run-out following a rare mistake by Allison. Akaisha mopped up a failed combination by Allison in game 5, winning with a 2-15 shot. The series favored Allison 3-2 in the end, and she advances another bid to the third round for Tysini.

That's all for today's 80 games. We'll see if I play as many tomorrow, as I'm getting a bit sore working back into game shape.