2016 Qualifiers - Day 9

We're back for another standard slate of qualifying games, beginning with...

Rainmane of the Web City Spiders shooting 8-ball with the silver cue. Rainmane scored 19 with no errors in a wonderful start to the day and a beautiful second appearance. Up next is Valencia of the Golden Pilots, keeping the silver cue at the table for Rotation. Valencia ended up at 29 with four errors in an average performance. Moving along, there's Nightfur of the Royal Crowns, using the blue cue in 12-ball to score 19 with one error, an admirable showing. The fourth player drawn today is another Crown, Jake, using the silver cue for 10-ball. Jake turned a bad break into a good game, scoring 6 with a double-pot that saw the 3 go to its called pocket of the bottom right while the carom drove the 10 to the top right, for an error-free masterpiece. Jake did well to avoid multiple difficulties before his stunner to close out the game. Ending the first group is Pearl Surfer Wings for 12-ball with the blue cue. Wings took 20 shots with no errors in a sparkling showing.

Leading off the second batch, Diamond Gems captain Smokey plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Smokey had his best appearance yet, shooting 14 despite three errors in a crafty showing. Continuing along, we have Blizzard of the Everton Eagles shooting Rotation with the red cue to the tune of 32 shots with four errors, as her troublesome qualifying continues, with the Eagles appearing wary. Next up is longtime Freedom Cascade, Stinky, shooting 8-ball with the red cue. Stinky continues to keep a nice pace, scoring 17 in his second appearance of the season with no errors. The ninth player drawn for today is Chicky Phil of the Westside Rockers, using the red cue for 12-ball. Chicky Phil ended up shooting 22 with no errors, fighting for position on the last ball for an extensive amount of time. Wrapping up the group, Southridge Defender Shaggy plays 7-ball with the silver cue. Shaggy took just 10 shots with no errors in a good season debut.

The third segment begins with Paige of the Queens Flames using the blue cue for 9-ball. Paige stunned in her third appearance of the season, committing no errors over 10 spectacular shots, about half of which were banks, combinations, or caroms in legal fashion. Following that is Nikolai of the Freedom Cascades, shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Nikolai really didn't get many clear shots after a bad break, but he ended the game at 9 shots and one error with a carom off the 3 to take the 10 to the top right. Going thirteenth today is Gizmo of the Central Warriors, with more 10-ball with the red cue. Gizmo needed only 16 shots with one error in a solid performance. The racks for 10-ball have been sticking a lot today, a challenge other players will likely face later. Up next, there's Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge playing Rotation with the silver cue. While it doesn't mean much in Rotation, Smudge sank the 15 (the middle ball in the rack) on the break, which is always noteworthy. This all sparked a 24 shot score with just one error in a very impressive showing. Rounding out the group, we have Panda of the Southern Monarchs shooting Rotation with the red cue. Panda stunned, making three on the break, and despite trouble with the 15, he ended at 20 shots and just two errors in a virtuoso performance.

Group four starts with Sleepy B. of the Archtown Arrows making her final appearance, shooting Accuracy with the silver cue to finish her qualifying session first. Sleepy B. ended up shooting 21 with no errors, ending at 175 shots total for the eight sessions, slightly beyond the expected league average. Going next is Pacific Volcanoes superstar Starlight, shooting 9-ball with the blue cue. Starlight took 15 shots with one error in a solid effort. Continuing along, we have Taylor Swift of the Eastside Sharks using the blue cue to shoot 26 with no errors in a brilliant performance. The nineteenth player drawn is Mams of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors, using the blue cue for 9-ball. Mams ended up at 15 shots with one error in an average performance. The fourth group ends with Gabe of the Infinity Torpedoes using the red cue for 12-ball, shooting 26 with one error in an acceptable showing.

The fifth batch sees Neopolitan of the Pearl Surfers get called for 12-ball with the silver cue. Neopolitan shot 18 with no errors in a sparkling display of skill and shot selection. Going 22nd today, there's Whitewater Shore Wild Thing shooting 15-ball with the blue cue. Wild Thing only needed 8 shots with no errors, setting up a 3-15 combination buried to the bottom right for a league-leading score in the event. Continuing along, Jake appears again for the Crowns shooting 12-ball with the silver cue. Jake took 21 shots with no errors in a pretty good effort, although the late-game positioning sucked up a lot of time. Next up is Whitewater Shores captain Bear, shooting 15-ball with the blue cue to the tune of 18 shots with three errors, ending early on a 5-15 combination to the bottom right after hovering around the 15 for most of the game. The group ends with Bright of the Tysini Hummingbirds shooting 8-ball with the silver cue. Bright ended up with one error and 24 shots for an average showing.

Group six opens with Gabe appearing for a second game today, shooting Rotation with the silver cue for a score of 26 with four errors, a mixed bag of a result. Moving along, we have Atlantic Pirates captain Delila shooting 12-ball with the silver cue. Delila struggled her way to 29 shots and two errors in a very difficult rack marred by inaccuracy. Going 28th today is Stinky again, playing 9-ball with the blue cue this time for the Cascades. Stinky needed 20 shots with two errors to clear the table, showing signs of fatigue as well. The next player drawn is Citrus, playing 10-ball with the silver cue for the Diamond Gems. Citrus shot well, ending with a score of 18 and one error in a positive appearance. The group closes with Max of the Queens Flames keeping the silver cue at the table for 9-ball. Max stayed error-free in a strong performance, scoring 11 in dominant fashion.

The seventh segment leads off with Southridge Defenders captain Boots making her season debut in 7-ball with the blue cue. Boots wasted no time in the appearance, taking the 7 on the break to the odd location of the top right (generally goes to a side pocket), with no errors. Following that is Kavan of the Victoria Spurs, keeping the blue cue at the table for Rotation. Kavan couldn't find a groove for his shooting, ending up at 37 with only two errors and no explanation for how the game got so out of hand. Kudos to him for keeping a level head about it all. Up next, we have Harrison Specters rookie Sydney Sierota playing Rotation with the red cue. Sydney did alright in this appearance, scoring 31, but with four errors. The errors could really come back to hurt her in the regular season. The 34th player drawn today is Valencia, bringing the blue cue to the table to shoot 15-ball. Valencia finished at 29 with two errors in her second appearance of the day. The segment ends as Jasmine of the Freedom Cascades comes in to play Rotation with the blue cue. Jasmine didn't have the best luck, ending up with five errors on 30 shots, but if the league regresses properly, it will likely work.

The eighth batch begins with Precious of the Pronger Tridents shooting 8-ball with the blue cue. Precious scored 19 with one error in a strong second appearance of the season. Going 37th today is Chelsea of the Eastside Sharks, playing 9-ball with the red cue. Chelsea shot well, ending at 11 shots with one error, with a carom off the 4 to take the 9 to the bottom right ending her third appearance early. Continuing along, there's Cheddar of the Whitewater Shores shooting 10-ball with the silver cue. Cheddar shot 19 with only one error in a fairly average showing this time around. The next player drawn is Nicole of the Southern Monarchs, playing 12-ball with the red cue. Nicole ended up at 24 with two errors in a solid appearance. The group ends with Dominic of the Atlantic Pirates stepping up for 9-ball with the red cue. Dominic scored 14 with no errors in a bold performance.

The ninth batch sees Sprinkles of the Capital City Sharpshooters play 10-ball with the blue cue. Sprinkles shot 19 with three errors in a shaky but effective performance. Ending the afternoon session mid-group is Valencia, and the Pilots captain is also the second player to finish up this season with her Accuracy qualifier being played with the red cue. Valencia finished with 19 shots and one error, with her grand total at a just-better-than average 171. The short evening begins with Cubby of the Maplewood Lumberjacks playing Rotation with the silver cue. Cubby ended up at 37 shots with six errors after chasing the 14 around late in the game with no success. Next up is Marsell of the Royal Crowns, shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Marsell ended up with a pathetic 22 with four errors in an embarrassing turn. The group concludes with Graham of the Eastside Sharks playing 9-ball with the red cue. Graham shot a crisp 12 with one error in a dominant showing, with a hint of agitation that earlier players lacked.

The last group gets going with Cleo of the Everton Eagles using the blue cue to shoot 26 with two errors, the last one being a scratch while potting the 8 that derailed a decent game. Following that is Leonardo of the Todavía Stills playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Leonardo ended the game early with a 6-8-10 combination to the bottom right, helping to offset the two errors he had over the course of his 10-shot qualifier. Going 48th today is Everton Eagles captain Goldy, playing Rotation with the red cue to the tune of 34 shots with three errors in a poor showing. Next up, there's Bear, appearing for the last time in the qualifying season with his Accuracy game, using the red cue as the third player to finish. Bear needed only 18 shots with no errors in a very good performance, ending with a 164 score overall, earning above-average marks. Ms. Kitty is the last to play today, shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Ms. Kitty shot 19 with only one error in an average effort.

That was quite the rocky end to the day, but we'll be back tomorrow with the usual slate.