We're back with today's schedule of games, getting off to a late start due to spider problems in the locker rooms. That distraction aside, we begin with...
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Easter. Two longtime captains get the day going with the red cue for 9-ball. Boston's Patches played a fairly strong game to keep Todavía's Easter under control in game 1, eventually making two in a row at the end to take a 1-0 lead. The Stills' Easter got away with one in game 2, tying the series at 1 after Patches couldn't make legal contact on the 2, instead striking the 4, which caromed the cue for a scratch and took the 9 to the bottom right illegally for the loss. The Swifts' Patches took the series 2-1 with a game 3 win, turning dominant in the second half of the game with a four-ball run and a tap-in on the 9 after Easter missed it. Ranked #116 for 9-ball, Patches will face Web City Spiders superstar Rainmane in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Stealth. The silver cue gets its day started with 12-ball. Swordpoint's Stealth stepped up big after a massive start by Modernistic's Chimpy, chipping away in the later stages and using savvy positioning to come from way back for a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth kept the momentum up in game 2, never really giving the Union's Chimpy a chance to catch up as Stealth took an easy win for a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 was a little less intense, with nothing on the line, and Stealth came out with the sweep after a mid-game scratch helped him get an anchoring shot to set everything else up, taking 3-0 series win over Chimpy. Ranked #128 for 12-ball, Stealth faces Southern Monarchs rookie Kirstin in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Niki. The silver cue stays at the table to finish its 7-ball obligations for the round. Todavía's Sierra waited for Eastside's Niki to make a mistake in game 1, and that moment came on the 6, which she got bad position on and couldn't cut in, allowing a two-ball run-out for Sierra to put her up 1-0. The Stills' Sierra took a more direct approach in game 2, running out the final four balls to clinch the series at 2-0 after the Sharks' Niki looked a bit shaky. In game 3, things were slightly more even, but late mistakes from Niki cost her the game as Sierra wrapped things up on a 3-0 series win. Ranked #105 for 7-ball, Sierra is set to play against Blizzard of the Everton Eagles in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Stinky. The two core players of the Cascades go at it in an intra-team set of 9-ball with the blue cue. Jasmine got the win in game 1 despite a weak effort, surrendering a four-ball run to Stinky that ended with a miss on the 9 that Jasmine cleaned up for her 1-0 lead in the series. Stinky bounced back to capitalize on Jasmine's scratch in game 2, which he used as a catalyst for a double-pot of the 6 and 8 in the bottom right on a follow shot, followed by a sharp cut on the 9 to tie the series at 1. Stinky took the series when Jasmine illegally hit the 6, lining up and converting a 2-9 combination to the bottom right for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #119 in 9-ball, Stinky is set to play Kelly of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Easter. Two decorated veteran square off for 10-ball with the silver cue. Queens' Crystal had control at the start of the game, but lost it late, with Todavía's Easter emerging with a four-ball run-out to take a 1-0 lead in the series after a strong showing late. The Stills' Easter upped her game in game 2, topping the Flames' Crystal again, but with a five-ball run-out this time, beginning with a 5-8 combination to the top right and ending on a tough cut on the 10 to the bottom right for a 2-0 lead. Crystal did not waste time in avoiding a sweep, winning game 3 on a seven-ball run-out, displaying wonderful accuracy and positioning to make it a 2-1 win for Easter. The #125 ranked 10-ball player, Easter will face Jasmine of the Freedom Cascades in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Slinks v. Americus. The game remains 10-ball, but the blue cue is in play. Atlantic's Americus got a second chance at the 10 in game 1 after flubbing the first, only because Harrison's Slinks rattled it out of the bottom left to let Americus tap it in and go up 1-0 in the series. The Specters' Slinks tied it at 1 in the series with a game 2 win on a five-ball run-out, stunning the Pirates' Americus with a classical finish, banking the 10 off the bottom rail to the top side. Americus left no doubt in game 3, winning on a seven-ball run-out fueled by pinpoint accuracy to take the series 2-1. Americus, ranked #124 for 10-ball, will next face Paps of the Pronger Tridents in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Niki. Two inexperienced players make up the last silver cue 12-ball series of the round. Golden's Charlton got a bit of luck in game 1, as Eastside's Niki missed contact on her last ball. Charlton banked the 5 to the top side and ran out a total of three balls to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Pilots' Charlton edged ahead on a late run, capitalizing on better position than what the Sharks' Niki had, and Charlton's win clinched the series for her at 2-0. Charlton struggled early in game 3, letting Niki line up her last shots, but Charlton cued a four-ball run-out to steal the game. The first shot was a cut on the 4 to the bottom left. She followed with a shot on the 1 to the top right, and then a hard angle shot on the 7 that caromed off the 13 to drop in the top left. Finally, she cut from a brutal angle the 2 into the top side for a 3-0 series win. Charlton, ranked #118 in 12-ball, will oppose Shannon of the Southern Monarchs in the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Noelle. The red cue returns to action in 15-ball. Central's Noelle pulled a shocker in game 1, topping Capital City's Chris on a five-ball run-out that saw Noelle use the 10 to pot the 14 and 12 on combinations before pulling off a wicked cut to pot it in the top left. Noelle then banked the 13 to the top side off the bottom rail, in perfect position to sink the 15 to go up 1-0 in a crazy finish. The Sharpshooters' Chris pulled level with the Warriors' Noelle on a fluky shot, as his miss on the 6 sent the cue off the 11 and directly to the 15 at the top left, good enough for a 1-1 equalizer in game 2. Chris surged ahead at the end of game 3, winning with a four-ball run-out that included a tough cut on the 12 to the top right and a double-pot of the 15 and 14 on a follow shot to the bottom right, giving him a 2-1 series win. Chris, ranked #118 in 15-ball, will play Tysini Hummingbirds rookie Charli XCX in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Snowball. The silver cue finishes its first round 10-ball obligations in this series. Pronger's Precious did much of the positive play in game 1, but Swordpoint's Snowball made it easier for Precious to win, lining up a 9-10 combination to the bottom right that the host converted for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball played a little stronger in game 2, and it ended up being enough to top the Tridents' Precious in an even game, making it 1-1 in the series. Snowball took the series 2-1 after a bold finish in game 3, pulling off a difficult cut on the 10 to vanquish Precious. Ranked #130 for 10-ball, Snowball is set to play against Roxy of the Freedom Cascades in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Debby Ryan. The red cue will be done with 12-ball after this series. In game 1, Victoria's Chapman forced Southridge's Debby into removing her defense sooner than she would have liked, and Chapman exposed the vulnerability to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Spurs' Chapman exchange a late wild card ball with the Defenders' Debby, but Chapman came out on top when she ran out her last three balls to clinch the series at 2-0 through good setup work. Debby took game 3, working around the more methodical Brooke to get across the table from right to left to make it a 2-1 series. Ranked #114 for 12-ball, Brooke will shoot against Bright of the Tysini Hummingbirds in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Ms. Kitty. Two of the elder members of the league square off for Rotation with the blue cue in the rural southeast. Golden's Dusty shot a dominant game 1, beginning with a four-ball run and smothering Pacific's Ms. Kitty on defense to take the game 8-1 and pull to a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 had a much more back and forth feel, and the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty got the best of that, taking the 8-6 win over the Pilots' Dusty to tie the series at 1. Dusty broke free in game 6 on a six-ball run-out to claim an 8-3 victory, taking the series 2-1 over Ms. Kitty. Dusty is ranked #101 in Rotation, and will oppose Crystal of the Queens Flames in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Hoot v. Snowball. The Swordpoint captain Snowball looks to vanquish another Trident, this time with the red cue for 9-ball, the last such match in this round. Pronger's Hoot took game 1 on a bank of the 9 from the top rail to the bottom side, such as Swordpoint's Snowball left it, giving Hoot the 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball tied the series at 1 with a game 2 win, scoring a three-ball run-out after the Tridents' Hoot had a very strong start to the game. Game 3 stayed pretty even throughout, and it fell to Hoot to finish it off with a tough cut, which he made to the bottom right for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #115 in 9-ball, Hoot will next oppose Ice Cream of the Commerce Tradewinds in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Boots. The red cue is back for Rotation in this series. Southridge's Boots struck quickly for a four-ball run early in the game, and coasted to an 8-2 win in the end over Everton's Goldy, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process thanks to the hot start. The Eagles' Goldy benefited from a surprisingly stingy call by the referee late in game 2, calling Boots of the Defenders for illegal contact. Goldy made the final shot for an 8-4 win, tying the series at 1 after a blistering six-ball run at the start of the game. Goldy straight up gave away game 3, at one point leading 7-2 before a string of unfortunate shots, misses, and errors allowed Boots to cobble a four-ball run to tie the game and win it on her next turn after missed contact. With the 2-1 series win, Boots advances to the bracket quarterfinals on her #131 ranked bid, matching up with Noelle of the Central Warriors.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. Bryant. The silver cue is up for its last 8-ball series this round. Tysini's Bright ended up taking game 1 very narrowly, answering a five-ball run from Maplewood's Bryant with a four-ball run of his own to keep things even through the middle parts of the game before getting ahead of the visitor and going up 1-0 in the series. The Hummingbirds' Bright took a very hot start in game 2 and turned it into another win, moving to 2-0 in the series by playing much faster than the Lumberjacks' Bryant, who did have a three-ball run cancelled by Bright's three-ball run-out for the win. Game 3 was nothing special, although Bright did manage a three-ball run-out at the end to earn a 3-0 sweep for the series win. Ranked #101 in 8-ball, Bright will oppose Ms. Kitty of the Pacific Volcanoes in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: J. Garcia v. Kavan. The blue cue is up again for Rotation, finishing off its obligations in that event. Southridge's Garcia was down to her last gasp before rattling off a four-ball run-out in game 1, stunning Victoria's Kavan as she won 8-7 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Garcia did it again, watching the Spurs' Kavan score a six-ball run early on, only to tie the game with a four-ball run of her own. The two jockeyed late in the game until Garcia emerged with an 8-7 win again for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Kavan turned the tables on Garcia, running six balls late to snatch an 8-7 win to make it a 2-1 series win for Garcia. The #101 ranked Rotation player, Garcia is set to face Watermelon of the Pearl Surfers for her bracket quarterfinals match.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Spirit. The last team to make an appearance is the Lighton Prestige, with their representative Spirit doing the honors to start their season with the silver cue in Accuracy. Lighton's Spirit took game 1 confidently, defeating Southern's Panda 1-3 in a very accurately shot game for a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 looked like a repeat of game 1, with Spirit of the Prestige again winning 1-3, as Panda of the Monarchs played well but not well enough to hold off a legendary player. Game 3 reached overtime after a rough end of regulation, but Spirit again scored a win by a 3-4 score to sweep the series 3-0. Ranked #132 in Accuracy, Spirit next opposes Ms. Puppy of the Modernistic Union in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: J. Garcia v. Spirit. The last two series winners get the last batch of blue cue 9-ball this round, and they also end the evening. Southridge's Garcia struck late in game 1 to go up 1-0 over Lighton's Spirit, who left the 9 just short at the bottom right, a critical miss. In game 2, it was more of the same for the Prestige's Spirit, who again faltered when it came time for the 9, allowing another easy tap-in for Garcia to move to 2-0 in the series for the Defenders. Garcia did nearly all the work in game 3, winning while dominating possession to take a 3-0 series win. The #98 ranked 9-ball player, Garcia will face Sydney Sierota of the Harrison Specters in the bracket quarterfinals.
That felt nice, playing a heavier load of games today. Tomorrow's goal is to wrap up the round, but there's no guarantee, and it could spill over into Sunday, where it's likely to battle for time with the SCL.
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