We should be back to normal after the short day yesterday. Beginning the day...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Shawn v. Twilight. The day begins with 10-ball in the southwest. Central's Twilight continued to improve upon her first round-leading record, using a three-ball run-out in game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead with slightly above average positioning being her key to victory. In game 2, Southern's Shawn appeared set for victory, but he got a little too greedy in going for the 10 and failed to connect on the long-distance kick attempt. The ball-in-hand penalty made it a tap-in for the Warriors' Twilight, who took a 2-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shawn got on the board in game 3, benefiting from poor positioning after the 9 by Twilight that allowed a fairly easy shot on the 10 to the top left. The series still favors Twilight 2-1. Shawn tied the series at 2 in game 4 after Twilight failed to run-out the game, ending her run at 4 and leaving the 10 by the bottom left pocket for a tap-in. Game 5 was a series of missed opportunities. Twilight had her chance early to do a 4-10 combination, but erred on the side of safety and missed. Later on, Shawn had a chance to run the last five balls but made only three of them. Twilight didn't fare much better, allowing Shawn the 9, which he made, and the 10, which he tried to short-side bank along the left rail to the bottom left, but it wouldn't go. Twilight took the series 3-2 with a tap-in, and the #115 ranked 10-ball player continues an improbable run. Although with Twilight, rankings haven't meant much this season as she defies her poor qualifying.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Gradley. Central fans get a home series to go with the previous road series in the pre-lunch games, viewing 7-ball in their own facility. Gradley of Boston took game 1, with many misses on both sides leaving chances on the table, none more critical than Gradley's failed carom off the 2 that ended up far from the 7. Still, the Swifts' Gradley leads Central's Noelle 1-0 in the series. Gradley took a 2-0 lead over the Warriors' Noelle by doing all the work in game 2, sinking all seven balls in two three-ball runs and a final shot to the top side on a straight line shot. The highlight came early with Gradley's perfectly read and executed 1-6 combination to keep his first run going. Noelle got on the board with a win in game 3, where she controlled possession and looked firmly in control of her shooting and aim as well, a change in form from game 2. Noelle tied the series at 2 in game 4, using a Gradley scratch as the catalyst for a four-ball run-out to make the final game meaningful. Noelle completed the comeback, winning game 5 with a two-ball run-out and increased shot control to wipe away the first two games. The #4 ranked 7-ball player Noelle is set for a third round appearance.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Ruby. Princess, one of the three players to have eliminated someone in the first round, looks to continue her strong run at home in 8-ball. Princess of Tysini pulled off a shutout in game 1 of the series, but it didn't come easily as it took many turns to achieve the feat and go up 1-0 in the series. The Hummingbirds' Princess also took game 2 with a couple of runs in the middle of the game. Archtown's Ruby tried a defensive shot late when Princess was on the 8, but it didn't stop Princess from taking the game and a 2-0 lead. Princess upped her game even more in game 3, running the table with two on the break and taking only six more shots to secure the series at 3-0. Princess finished with three straight cuts into the top left corner, showing conviction with her shooting in one of the best-played games of the tournament thus far and her second shutout of the series. Princess took game 4 with a come-from-behind effort, using a three ball to set up after the Arrows' Ruby failed to convert on the 8, and cashing in on that play for a 4-0 lead. Ruby avoided a sweep by winning game 5 fairly convincingly, using decent runs of success to clinch the game. Princess still won the series 4-1, and the #8 ranked 8-ball player continues an MVP-worthy campaign after beating a strong candidate for that award.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Pounce v. Sierra. The grandfather-granddaughter duo oppose each other in 12-ball in the southwest. Pounce used a three-ball run at the start and strong pacing to win game for Lighton, holding off a three-ball run and defensive tactic from Todavía's Sierra to illegally pot the 7 in the bottom right behind a snooker. Sierra of the Stills failed to convert from distance on the 15 for the same pocket, and the Prestige's Pounce cut it into the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Sierra tied the series in game 2, being just a little quicker to get set up for the right rail shots than Pounce was, and knocking them in when she needed to. Game 3 was a little more classic 12-ball, with defense reigning supreme. Pounce had a wild card ball early on after Sierra's aggressive break, but she battled back to gain control with accuracy and positioning. After Pounce scratched, it took only two turns for Sierra to seal the game and take a 2-1 lead in the series via more positioning strategy. Pounce took advantage of Sierra's game 4 illegal use of the stick foul with a four-ball run-out from a ball-in-hand situation, tying the series at 2. Game 5 also favored Pounce, who used a three-ball run to pace his pursuit of the 3-2 series win successfully. The #66 ranked 12-ball player takes his bid into the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: V. Braun v. Dani. The 50th series of the round is a Survival series up the coast from the last event. The silver cue subs in for the blue cue in this series. Pearl's Braun started well in game 1, scoring an extra life off the break while Dani of Capital City missed her first shot. As the game went on, the Sharpshooters' Dani only missed once more and scored the 8 for a bonus life, while the Surfers' Braun failed to stay consistent, eventually fading away in rack two, giving Dani the 1-0 lead. Dani's accuracy evaporated in game 2, missing four straight shots to allow Braun an easy one-rack tying game. Dani's game 3 went a little better, as she held on long enough to outpace Braun's collapsed effort in the later parts of rack 1 and regain the series lead at 2-1. In game 4, it appeared to be a battle to the bottom, as both players missed with synchronization until Dani forced a second rack. Braun missed on the first shot of the rack and lost the series because of it. Braun flipped the script in game 5, winning in the same fashion in rack two to make it a 3-2 series win for Dani. The #114 ranked Survival player Dani is set to travel to Queens to face Kayla in the Ebay Center in the third round.
HP Events Center, Eastside: Chelsea v. A. Charlton. The blue cue returns for a series of 12-ball in the southeast region. Eastside's Chelsea took game 1 in the series, posting a strong break and making excellent decisions to navigate the table for a 1-0 lead. The Sharks' Chelsea took a 2-0 series lead after Golden's Charlton made a mistake in game 2, scratching to allow Chelsea to pick a spot to sink the 15 in the bottom side. The Pilots' Charlton got on the board in game 3, taking one turn to check off the side pockets, and then running the game out on her second turn with all four corners accounted for, making it 2-1. Charlton tied the series at 2 in game 4, dominating possession with a three-ball run ended by an illegally potted ball, and followed up on her next turn by a two-ball run-out to secure the game while Chelsea made just one shot. Game 5 ended up a lot closer, but it was Charlton cashing in on a mistake by Chelsea, who misplayed a bank that ended up with an illegally potted ball. Both players missed the first time they took aim at their last ball, but Charlton didn't let Chelsea get a second shot, winning with the 9 in the top right corner for a 3-2 series win. Charlton is ranked very low at #127 in 12-ball, but she will hit the road again for this campaign in round three.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Roxy v. Tori. The short names, the short games out on the coast as 7-ball comes up on the schedule. Victoria's Tori took game 1 with a two-ball run-out in a somewhat poorly shot game, leading the series over Oceanside's Roxy 1-0. The Waves' Roxy shot back with a four-ball run-out in game 2, using decent pure shooting to tie the series at 1. Tori bounced back for the Spurs in game 3, scoring a three-ball run-out to reclaim the series lead at 2-1. Tori secured the series in game 4, using a highlight-reel double-pot carom by sinking the 3 in the bottom side and maneuvering the cue to sink the 5 in the bottom left. Tori also ran out the last two balls to make the series 3-1. Roxy got one back in game 5, using stronger positioning to secure the game. Tori took the series 3-2, and the #103 ranked player in 7-ball has made it into the third round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Leonardo v. Goatee. Back south, the red cue emerges from a long break for 12-ball games. Westside's Goatee got things going with a well-played game 1, taking advantage of the wild card ball she received to navigate a flexible table situation for the simple win. Todavía's Leonardo played much the same way in game 2, using a wild card ball as his key to victory before spreading his suit across the table and managing them one by one to tie the series at 1. The Stills' Leonardo took the lead with a lucky bounce and a poor shot by the Rockers' Goatee. With one ball each on the table, Goatee attempted a game winning cut on the 9 into the top left pocket. The 9 ended up potting the 1 in the same pocket, making it a wild-card that instantly gave Leonardo the win and a 2-1 series advantage in the defensively oriented game 3. Leonardo secured the series in game 4, capitalizing on Goatee's failure to create legal contact. From the ball-in-hand, Leonardo drilled the 15 into the bottom side and got the 9 to follow the 7 into the bottom right pocket, negating the wild card ball because of the conclusion of the game. Leonardo's effort gave him a 3-1 lead. Goatee got one back in a fast-paced game 5, scoring with a wild card ball that allowed her to set up in a corner once she had both sides taken care of. Leonardo made a solid effort to take the game, but couldn't get position on the last ball. Leonardo, ranked #99 in 12-ball, will participate in the third round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Dreamy. We head to the northeast region for another 7-ball series. Maplewood's Fluffina wasted no time taking a 1-0 series lead, winning game 1 with the 7 in the bottom right pocket off the break. Dreamy tied it for Swordpoint at 1 game apiece with her game 2 effort. In one turn, she ran four balls, finishing with a glancing kick off the bottom rail, into the 5, and a carom into the 7, sending it to the bottom right for the win. The Blades' Dreamy capitalized on the Lumberjacks' Fluffina making a serious mistake. Fluffina's scratch was the catalyst for a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand by Dreamy, who took a 2-1 series lead in the process. Dreamy looked ready to finish a three-ball run-out, making the 7 in the bottom left, but the cue ball had other ideas, falling the top left and allowing Fluffina to take game 4 on an unlucky roll, tying the series at 2 in the process. In game 5, Fluffina ran four shots, making four balls to start the game, but it was Dreamy coming out on top with a cut and two perfect bank shots to take the game and the series, 3-2. Ranked #76 in 7-ball, Dreamy's upset performance earned her a spot in the third round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Dreamy. Swordpoint's Dreamy gets no rest, traveling through the hilly outposts of the east to reach Freedom and oppose Freedom's Stinky in 8-ball. The Cascades' Stinky made good usage of strategic scratching, an 8-ball-unique phenomenon, keeping Dreamy away from the shot she wanted long enough to both catch up and overtake her to win game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Dreamy started well in game 2, but allowed Stinky to catch up before running out the last four balls, including a shot from distance, a shot from almost too close, and a terribly thin cut on the 8 to the top left that all sank as intended. Despite Stinky's best effort to make a strategic scratch again, Dreamy rallied for a run-out of four balls, taking the 8 into the bottom right from about mid-distance, and also taking a 2-1 series lead in the process. Both players came out flying in game 4, with Stinky using a six-ball run to establish an early lead, only to watch it melt away as Dreamy ran six of her own before scratching. Stinky ended up being able to finish off two shots and knock the 8 to the top left, which was the only thing preventing Dreamy from taking the game as the 8 defended her shot on the 9. The series stands tied at 2 going into its last game. The series went back and forth, with both players sustaining runs of more than three shots. Dreamy had first dibs on the 8, and with her shot, she did a textbook bank from the right side of the top rails to the bottom left pocket, cleanly, for the win. Dreamy, ranked #125 in 8-ball, took her improbable run one step further into the third round with an impressive display of shooting skills.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Dominic. Staying on the same bracket, the silver cue will spell the red cue for a series of 8-ball from the urban southeast. Game 1 did not go well for either low-ranked player, but it was Web City's Dominic coming out on top with the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Boston's Gradley tied it in game 2, using a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 after accuracy issues persisted. Game 3 was the best to that point in the series, with the Swifts' Gradley staking out a lead on a three-ball run. Dominic wasn't having it, and ran out the final five balls on the table with excellent positioning skills to take a 2-1 series lead for the Spiders. Gradley tied the series at 2 with a game 4 victory, using a three-shot run-out with a final sharp cut on the 8 to the bottom left pocket as the equalizer. In the decisive game 5, Gradley again used a longer run-out, this time four balls, to win it, including back-to-back shots in the bottom side on the 15 and the 8. Gradley took the series 3-2 and takes his #76 ranked 8-ball bid into the third round for the good-on-series but not-good-on-games Swifts.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Lydia v. Mr. Snowman. This is one of the special, unique moments where teammates go head-to-head in a more relaxed environment. Both players represent the Meteors, so the fans will leave happy either way. The silver cue draws in for its last series of the day as well, a five-game set of Rotation. Lydia struck first in the series, taking game 1 with dominant and accurate shooting for an 8-1 game victory and 1-0 series lead. Mr. Snowman appeared destined to face a big hole, but then he ran-out the game with six straight balls sunk to win game 2 8-5 and tie the series at 1. Mr. Snowman took a 2-1 series lead by winning game 3 in much less dramatic fashion but by the same 8-5 score after establishing a lead midway through. In game 4, Mr. Snowman displayed a more brazen side, favoring seamless defense over pure force. It worked, as he took the game 8-2 with a finishing bank to the bottom left corner on the 8 as his deciding shot that also clinched the series. Lydia got a little revenge on her captain in game 5, winning 8-3 with a series of impressive cuts, kicks, and banks to her name, but the series did not favor her, as Mr. Snowman won 3-2. It is the #127 ranked Rotation player who will advance with another upset on his record to the third round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Paige v. Jack. We begin the night schedule with a 7-ball matchup from the urban southeast. Jack of Pacific cashed in on a tap-in left by Queens' Paige in game 1. Paige of the Flames had made an impressive and unlikely bank-carom, aiming the 6 toward the top side and getting it go by glancing off the 7, but she left the 7 at a bad angle and couldn't make it, allowing the Volcanoes' Jack to take it and a 1-0 series lead all at once. In much the same way, minus the highlight, Jack owned game 2 as well. Paige again left the 7, and Jack again mopped it up when she couldn't make it, taking a 2-0 series lead. Paige got on the board in game 3, doing all the work by running six balls on her first turn and then turning the tables on Jack by mopping up his miss on the only shot of her second turn, cutting her series deficit to 2-1. Paige tied the series at 2 in game 4, using a pair of two-ball runs to top Jack's three-ball run in the middle. On one of Paige's efforts, she impressively used accurate aiming to create a 1-6 combination on a bad angle into the top left. Jack took the series 3-2, capitalizing on Paige's inability to finish her shots well. A miss on the 6 led Jack to his final run for victory. The #105 ranked 7-ball player continues a stretch of underdogs winning on the blue side of the bracket, and he will be on the road again for the third round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Pounce. Rotation returns to the forefront in this coastal southwestern series. Pounce of Lighton struck first, using stifling defense and a lot of lure shots to trick Southern's Panda into failure. Panda of the Monarchs tried to rally back with a three-ball run late, but Pounce of the Prestige shut it down at 8-4 in the game for a 1-0 series lead. It looked like Pounce was well on his way to another win, but Panda had different plans, icing the score at 8-6 with a five-ball run to finish the game and tie the series at 1. Panda needed just three turns to win game 3 by an 8-0 score, completing the shutout with the 6 bouncing off the corner of the bottom side pocket, deflecting back into the cue ball, and falling in that same pocket. Neither player was all that impressive save for Panda at the very start of game 4, but Panda managed to grind out an 8-3 win to secure the series at 3-1. Pounce got one back too late, going on a six-ball run with some impressive cutting and combination work (his 6-11 combination to the top left being the highlight), winning the game 8-2. Panda, ranked #7 in Rotation, took the series 3-2 and will host another event in the third round at Microsoft Center.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mr. Snowman v. Snuggle. We've got a series of 12-ball set next, displaying the ability to spread the love. Viewpoint Sound's Mr. Snowman won the race in game 1, setting himself up with good shot selection and knocking in his final ball to the top right before Oceanside's Snuggle could get a shot off at his last ball. The Meteors' Mr. Snowman took a 2-0 series lead, using good setup shots and shot planning to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Waves' Snuggle failing to make contact late. In game 3, Mr. Snowman didn't have to earn the win, as Snuggle gave it to him with a botched defensive play, using his 10 as part of an incidental combination to sink the 7 into the top side. Earlier on, Mr. Snowman appeared set for taking the sides and then the right corners, but he proved adaptive when that plan got interrupted by Snuggle's shot. Mr. Snowman proceeded to take three of the four remaining balls away, and get set up for the last, which Snuggle accommodated for by sinking accidentally. Game 4 hit the highlight reels with Mr. Snowman's 13-bank off the left rail that eventually caromed off the three and into the bottom right pocket, although the 14 subsequently went into the top left, which was already occupied and thus made the shot illegal and resulted in a turnover. Another highlight blooper featured Snuggle potting one of his balls but also giving the 9 away as a wild card to Mr. Snowman when the cue ball came in hot on it and put it in the top right. Mr. Snowman would take the game on a ball-in-hand shot on the 14 into the top side after Snuggle again failed to make contact. Mr. Snowman completed the sweep in game 5, taking full advantage of two wild card balls surrendered by Snuggle on the same shot. The #60 12-ball player absolutely out-thought Snuggle in this match, and takes his talents to the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. K. Griffiths. Next up, a series of Rotation again down in the southwest. Tysini's Princess dominated both offensively and defensively in game of the series, winning 8-1 while smothering Freedom's Griffiths' best chances to shoot back. The Hummingbirds' superstar Princess let game 2 be a little closer, winning 8-2 with a three-ball run to finish it. Earlier in the game, Princess executed a perfect 4-bank-13 combination to the top right pocket to make it 3-2 in her favor in the game. Princess leads the series 2-0. Princess made the highlight reel again in game 3, scoring a double pot to take the lead as part of a four-ball run. She sank the 6 in the top left and the 12 in the top right to achieve the feat. The Cascades' Griffiths ended up rallying back to tie the game at 7, but left the 15 short on the top right pocket, allowing Princess to clinch the series on a tap-in 8-7 victory. Princess found the highlight reel twice more in game 4, hitting a 2-9 bank combination across the length of the table, as well as scoring the 4 on a wicked carom off the 11 into the top side. The superstar Princess advanced to 4-0 in the series with an 8-5 victory. Game 5 was surprisingly devoid of highlights, and in fact, it was Griffiths taking the game 8-7 after a scratch on Princess' final shot. Princess, ranked #37 in Rotation, advanced with a 4-1 series win to the third round, continuing a strengthening MVP bid.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Shadow. The blue cue makes its finale for the night by staying in the southwest and playing 9-ball between a father and daughter. Web City's Shadow took advantage of a poorly-timed scratch by Lighton's Spirit, potting the 9 on a tap-in at the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow ended up in the highlights with his first two balls of a three-ball run. Shadow shot the 5-9-8 combination into the bottom left pocket, and the carom off the 9 sent the 5 to the top left pocket, setting him up for a great cut on the 6 in the bottom right pocket. In the end, Shadow cut the 7 into the top side and worked positioning to put the 9 in the same place from the other side of the pocket, using three rails to take a 2-0 series lead. Shadow secured the series in game 3, winning after setting the 9 by the top side pocket, and finally cashing that opportunity in when the 6 fell in line for a combination. The Prestige's Spirit took game 4 with a little luck, scoring the tap-in winner on the 9 after Shadow failed to complete his run-out attempt. Spirit hit the highlight reel with her 2-8 combination in game 5, but also ended up losing the game when her 2-9 combination, caroming off the 5 ended up backfiring when the cue ball ended up in the bottom side after the 9 dropped in the top left. Shadow won the series 4-1, and the #96 ranked 9-ball player is into the third round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Shaggy. The red cue comes back from another long layoff to play Rotation. Southridge's Shaggy led for much of game 1, making the shots she needed to make. Rainmane of Web City made it tight near the end, tying the game at 6 and 7 before winning 8-7 on a deftly-touched 15 bank to the bottom right for a 1-0 advantage. The Spiders' Rainmane held on through a very sloppy game 2 to win 8-6, taking a 2-0 series lead despite neither player really deserving the game that time around. Shaggy took game 3, another somewhat poorly shot affair, by a score of 8-6 for the Defenders. Rainmane handled game 4 herself, rallying with a three-ball run to finish the game with an 8-6 win, taking the series at 3-1. Shaggy got a game back, winning 8-5 in game 5 with a nice bank shot included among her successful shots. Rainmane, ranked #1 in Rotation, continues her quest for a crown and will bring another event to Web City in the third round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Kayla v. Goatee. Finally, the night ends with a 9-ball series from the southeast. Queens' Kayla got the win in game 1, but it was a sloppy game full of missed chances for both her and Westside's Goatee. The Rockers' Goatee tied the series at 1 with another unspectacular victory in game 2, doing little to differentiate from a normal game. Goatee had a highlight, making the 5 in the bottom side while frozen on the left rail, but it was for naught when Kayla deposited the 8 and 9 to take a 2-1 series lead for the Flames. Kayla clinched the series in game 4, playing a mostly clean game to make it 3-1, and using a three-shot run-out to end it. In game 5, Kayla won using a four-ball run-out as part of her sharpshooting finish. Kayla, ranked #3 for 9-ball, will host a series at Ebay Center in the third round.
That's 95 games today, or 19 series if you'd like to count them that way. Tomorrow should hold a lighter load, but we are officially a quarter of the way through the second round.
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