We return to action today with a hopefully full slate of games, beginning in...
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Cleo. The first series of the day features the silver cue in 9-ball. Sparkles of Todavía paced her attack with a four-ball run, but Cleo of Everton scored a three-ball run to make things interesting before missing the 9, allowing Sparkles to take game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sparkles had a three-ball run from the break in game 2, and allowed Cleo of the Eagles to do the rest, illegally striking the 5-9 combination to the bottom right for an automatic loss compounded by a scratch, allowing Sparkles to take the series at 2-0. Sparkles swept the series with a three-ball run-out in game 3 for a 3-0 series win. Ranked #120 for 9-ball, Sparkles will face fellow Oriental United club member and Cleo's Eagles teammate Goldy in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Cheddar v. Sydney Sierota. The silver cue gets another appearance, playing 8-ball for this series. Harrison's Sydney took game 1 on a three-ball run-out after Whitewater's Cheddar helped by potting her defensive ball while trying and failing to use a follow shot, giving Sydney the 1-0 lead in the series. Sydney also took game 2 for the Specters, working a strong attack with reasonable defense in the middle and late parts of the game, which worked to hold off the Shores' Cheddar as Sydney moved to 2-0 in the series. Sydney had to come from behind to complete the sweep, using a four-ball run-out in game 3 to stun Cheddar as she cruised to a 3-0 series win. Ranked #113 for 8-ball, Sydney faces fellow rookie Nikolai of the Freedom Cascades in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Jasmine. The silver cue continues with a battle between captains of historically poor teams in 12-ball. Freedom's Jasmine outplayed Commerce's Tigerette with a brilliant defensive posture that ultimately caused Tigerette to give the game away late, as she illegally potted a ball that set Jasmine up to tap her last shot in for a 1-0 series lead. Tigerette answered back for the Tradewinds in game 2, winning after the Cascades' Jasmine gave up two wild card balls to Tigerette, who then ran out her last four balls to make it a 1-1 series. Jasmine took game 3, but it was far from comfortable as Tigerette pressed her to the end before Jasmine finally broke through on a three-ball run-out for the win to make it a 2-1 series. Ranked #127 for 12-ball, Jasmine will oppose Blizzard of the Everton Eagles in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Stinky. The red cue comes on for Rotation in this series. Freedom's Stinky took game 1 by an 8-7 score of Queens' Max, using a three-ball run-out keyed by Max missing the 13 on a long bank attempt to go up 1-0 in the series for the visitor. The Cascades' Stinky got all the bounces in game 2, winning 8-0 to shut out the Flames' Max with a few lucky shots that went for him and did not for his host. Stinky clinched the series at 2-0 with the win. Max made it a 2-1 series win for Stinky by taking game 3 by a score of 8-2, dominating thoroughly and making game 1 look all the more pivotal. Ranked #128 for Rotation, Stinky will face Everton Eagle Blizzard in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Strawberry v. Missy. The silver cue is back for this 7-ball series. Game 1 made very clear why both players are in the B-level part of the bracket. Capital City's Missy eventually potted the 7 to take a 1-0 series lead over Pronger's Strawberry, but the two combined to sink balls to only two pockets. Game 2 went much better, as Missy of the Sharpshooters scored a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0 over the Tridents' Strawberry in a cleaner game. Strawberry had an error late in game 3, which made things all the easier for Missy, who buried her chances as they appeared and won 3-0 in the series. The #127 ranked 7-ball player, Missy will face Brownie of the Harrison Specters in the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Easter. This edition of the Spanish Derby features the red cue in 8-ball. Todavía's Easter forced Southern's Nicole into a bad error late in game 1, working some defense as her offense dried up that led to Nicole illegally potting the 8, putting Easter ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 involved less trickery by the Stills' Easter, as she simply out-muscled the Monarchs' Nicole to take the win and a 2-0 series lead. Easter again dominated in game 3, leaving Nicole with no chance after a late four-ball run halted by just the edge of the pocket, which turned into a tap-in on the 8 on her next turn as she claimed a 3-0 sweep for the series. Ranked #128 for 8-ball, Easter is set to match up against Dani of the Capital City Sharpshooters in the Bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Gabe v. Nightfur. The red cue gets another set for 9-ball this time. Infinity's Gabe took a 1-0 series lead, using a pair of three-ball runs to dominate possession against Royal's Nightfur in game 1. The Crowns' Nightfur answered the call in game 2, working against a much less accurate Gabe of the Torpedoes to strike down the last two balls and tie the series at 1 in a strong rebound effort. In game 3, the players exchanged mid-game misses, and this extended to a critical miss by Nightfur at the end that allowed Gabe to bury the 9 for a 2-1 series win. The #123 ranked 9-ball player, Gabe will face Nightfur's Crowns teammate Frosty in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Charli. An experienced captain faces a rookie in 12-ball with the red cue. Oceanside's Snuggle started hot, but when he ran out of shots, Tysini's rookie Charli wasted little time in executing a five-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead in confident form. The Hummingbirds' Charli played a bit brash in game 2, surrendering three wild card balls (one was returned later) and still nearly overcoming it until a late missed contact set the Waves' Snuggle up to score a straight in shot for the win that tied the series at 1. Charli left no doubt in game 3, giving Snuggle no good shot as she shut him out for a 2-1 series lead. Ranked #129 in 12-ball, Charli will face Twinkie I of the Lighton Prestige in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Cubby. Two very muscular opponents duke it out in Rotation with the silver cue in the eastern hills. Maplewood's Cubby took game 1 in convincing form, winning 8-4 with a double-pot of the 14-15 from a combination off the 8, burying Nikolai of Freedom late in the game. The Cascades' Nikolai tied it in a very poor looking game 2, winning 8-3 only after frustrations between the giants boiled over and shot velocity took a steep increase, all due to the Lumberjacks' Cubby scratching while potting the 4. The series stands at 1-1. Frustrations remained in game 3, as Nikolai squandered a big lead early, but rebounded on a three-ball run-out to take the game 8-5 and the series 2-1. The #119 ranked Rotation player, Nikolai gets a set against Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Fluffina. The blue cue gets its first look of the day in 8-ball. Maplewood's Fluffina dominated in game 1, working an early 6-ball run and patiently waiting for Archtown's Sleepy B. to give her a good look to take of the remaining balls in the process of taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The Arrows' Sleepy B. fared no better in game 2, making more critical mistakes to ease the game along for the Lumberjacks' Fluffina, who won by a comfortable margin. Fluffina took the sweep in game 3 as Sleepy B. illegally potted the 8 for the loss to make it 3-0 in the series. Fluffina, ranked #130 for 8-ball, opposes Nightfur of the Royal Crowns in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Shawn. The night session sees 10-ball with the red cue find its first round finale. Everton's Blizzard struck with a three-ball run-out in game 1 to top an error-prone Shawn of Swordpoint for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Shawn took game 2 with a three-ball run-out himself, ending early on an 8-10 combination to the bottom right to tie the series at 1 with the Eagles' Blizzard. In game 3, Blizzard bounced back to get the win and take the series 2-1. Ranked #102 for 10-ball, Blizzard is set to play against Wings of the Pearl Surfers in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Niki. The Eastside Sharks rookie travels to the big city for her debut against a determined veteran in 8-ball with the silver cue. Eastside's Niki won her first ever game, using a six-ball run around mid-game to pace the attack against Royal's Jake, eventually leading to simple shots at the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake bounced back in game 2, working around the Sharks' Niki, who helped Jake out with two of his balls being potted on her shots, as the series moved to a 1-1 tie. Niki ended up with a 2-1 series win, running five balls early and sinking the 8 with a two-rail bank to the bottom left to avoid Jake's strong defenses for the game 3 win. Ranked #114 in 8-ball, Niki will oppose Goatee of the Westside Rockers in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Noelle. The red cue returns for this 9-ball series. Central's Noelle took game 1 after Everton's Puff III left the 9 short at the top right, easy pickings for the seasoned veteran of last year's elite northeastern squad. Game 2 was a tad shaky for both sides, with the Eagles' Puff III stabilizing slightly quicker, in time to pull out a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 with the Warriors' Noelle. In game 3, each player got two attempts at the 9 in an embarrassing finish to the game, with Noelle finally converting to the bottom side to take the game and a 2-1 series win. Noelle, ranked #129 for 9-ball, will face Panda of the Southern Monarchs in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Smokey. The last 8-ball set with the blue cue for this round comes from the northeast as well. Diamond's Smokey made an impact in game 1 by having just enough defense to prevent a strong finish from Archtown's Ruby, before mopping up the rest of his own work to take a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey knocked in four balls on the break, two of each, which set the tone for a fast-paced game that saw the Arrows' Ruby score a four-ball run-out at the end after defending Smokey's last ball. Ruby's excellent shot selection and execution keyed her victory, tying the series at 1. Ruby continued to shoot well, scoring a seven-ball run early in game 3, but she had to wait for Smokey to clear shooting lanes before taking the 8 and the series by a 2-1 score. Ranked #117 in 8-ball, Ruby will face Web City Spiders newcomer Shiny in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Jennifer Livilotti. The final series of the day ends the red cue's obligations for 8-ball in the first round. Terrace City's Jennifer came out on top in game 1, pulling ahead on a four-ball run and taking advantage of a missed shot on the 8 by Modernistic's Chimpy to take a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer scored a game 2 win with a four-ball run-out, overpowering repeated attempts from the Union's Chimpy to defend against her ability to prolong runs. Jennifer just straight outplayed Chimpy in game 3, grabbing the game by the horns early until she had a 3-0 series win in her hands. Ranked #131 in 8-ball, Jennifer faces J. Garcia of the Southridge Defenders in the bracket quarterfinals.
Clearly, I'm not game fit anymore, so these small game totals are likely to continue for awhile. We may not finish all B-level games before departure day, so, there could be some overlap later in the year. More SCL quarterfinals tomorrow.
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