The second round of the lower tier for this tournament begins today with a full slate of games expected. Please recall that all B-level series are three game sets throughout the tier. First up, we have...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Jasmine. The round kicks off with 15-ball and the blue cue. Freedom's Jasmine took a very competitive game 1 over Swordpoint's Snowball, having momentum favor her later in the game as she executed a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. Snowball of the Blades answered with a bit of trickery in game 2, missing a bank attempt on the 11 with a defensive leave, helping the Cascades' Jasmine again strike illegal contact, which was a recurring problem for her. Snowball took the 11-15 combination to the top side to tie the series at 1 from ball-in-hand. Jasmine lost game 3 in a heartbreaking fashion, shooting wide on the 15 to end a four-ball run, and Snowball tapped the 15 in to take the series 2-1. Ranked #104 in 15-ball, Snowball is through to the bracket semifinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Sally. The red cue gets going with an Accuracy series. Everton's Goldy played smart despite falling behind early, forcing some poor shots from Archtown's Sally through defensive positioning that eventually led to Goldy picking up a 3-4 victory in game 1 for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Eagles' Goldy played a little more crafty with her defense in game 2, subduing the Arrows' Sally very early on to cruise to a 1-4 victory and a 2-0 series lead. Sally had a much better game 3, even as Goldy knocked three in on the break (which is mostly inconsequential in this event), and Sally managed a 1-3 victory to cut Goldy's series win to 2-1. Ranked #105 in Accuracy, Goldy will participate in the bracket semifinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: J. Garcia v. Jennifer Livilotti. The red cue remains at the table for 8-ball. Southridge's Garcia managed to stay a step ahead of Terrace City's Jennifer from the break to the 8, which is an effective way of winning game 1 in the series to take a 1-0 lead. The Knights' Jennifer answered in game 2, falling behind early again, but recovering with a five-ball run to make it an even finish that she got the better of the Defenders' Garcia during, tying the series at 1 with the bold comeback. Jennifer dominated in game 3, scoring a shutout to take the series 2-1, and she only needed two turns to do it, with a five-ball run at the start and a three-ball run-out through traffic at the end. Jennifer is through to the bracket semifinals on her #131 ranked 8-ball campaign.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Debby Ryan. Another Accuracy series kicks off with the red cue next. My apologies for the original (since edited) version of the schedule, which named Zach as the visitor, not Debby. Southridge's Debby dominated game 1, as Harrison's Twinkie II lost all sorts of precision around mid-game, eventually ending at 1-5, with Debby up 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Debby excelled again with a more erratic game on both sides in game 2, as Twinkie II lost her chance at the series by losing 2-7 to give Debby the game, as she went to 2-0. Twinkie II got some redemption in game 3, winning 1-4 as Debby let off the throttle a bit, and she still won the series 2-1. The #129 ranked Accuracy shooter, Debby is good to go for the bracket semifinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Boots v. Puff II. We return to the urban southeast for 15-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Boots had all sorts of possession late in game 1, but it meant nothing in the end when she missed on the 15, allowing Boston's Puff II to kick it from the top rail to the bottom right for a 1-0 lead. The Defenders' Boots came up short again in game 2, ending a six-ball run at the 14, which allowed the Swifts' Puff II to make the last two shots and clinch a 2-0 series victory. Puff II earned the win a little more in game 3, running out three balls including a bank of the 15 off the right rail to the top left to sweep the series 3-0. The #90 ranked 15-ball player, Puff II, will play in the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Blizzard. The red cue continues its busy day with a 10-ball series. Everton's Blizzard dazzled in game 1, ending it early on a kick-combination that took the top and right rails to bump the 6-10 combination to the bottom side, stunning Pearl's Wings as Blizzard went up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Blizzard took a little more of possession and played creatively, eventually getting ball-in-hand for the last two shots to go up 2-0 over the Surfers' Wings. Wings ended up getting swept by Blizzard, who went 3-0 after Wings chipped the 9, allowing two easy shots for the game 3 victory. Ranked #102 in 10-ball, Blizzard will participate in the bracket semifinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Frosty. The blue cue is back to the table for Rotation. Shelley of Infinity had a good start in game 1, and book-ended that with a good finish, winning 8-4 over Royal's Frosty with a four-ball run-out at the end keying her 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Frosty played big in game 2, winning 8-2 with a three-ball run early and strong and smart play in the middle, making it very difficult on the Torpedoes' Shelley as the series went to a 1-1 tie. Both players were messy in game 3, which made the game go the distance, as Shelley eventually took the game 8-7 and the series 2-1. Shelley is ranked #89 for Rotation, and is through to the bracket semifinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Paps v. Frosty. Royal's Frosty gets to play a doubleheader, next heading to the Eastern Hills for 15-ball with the red cue. Frosty had a five-ball run late, with the last make in the run an 11-14-13 combination to the bottom left. Despite the good form, Pronger's Paps got the 15 to the top right late in game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Crowns' Frosty couldn't get anything going, especially as the Tridents' Paps chipped away slowly at the end, building momentum before a three-ball run-out for a 2-0 series lead. Paps executed another three-ball run-out to take game 3, again burying Frosty in total production as Paps took the series in a 3-0 sweep. Paps takes his #108 ranked 15-ball bid to the bracket semifinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Snuggle. The red cue has a doubleheader of 10-ball beginning with this series. Everton's Cleo had a lot of poise and confidence in game 1, going heads-up with Oceanside's Snuggle and coming out on top with smart and accurate shooting late for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Waves' Snuggle did better in game 2, capitalizing on the Eagles' Cleo peaking a bit too early to wrap up an easy finish and tie the series at 1. Snuggle dominated possession in the second half of the third game, wrapping up a 2-1 series win off ball-in-hand from a scratch by Cleo. Snuggle is ranked #127 for 10-ball as he heads to the bracket semifinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Midnight. The second half of the red cue's 10-ball doubleheader comes from the southwest. Lighton's Spirit stepped up at the right time in game 1, weathering a four-ball run from Midnight of Westside to end the game on a three-ball run-out with a nice cut to pot the 10 in the top right for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Prestige's Spirit took a much sloppier game 2 with the same finish, a three-ball run-out, that left the Rockers' Midnight behind 2-0 in the series. Game 3 had an unruly ending, but getting there was a mostly clean and even battle. Spirit did come out on top with a tap-in on the 10 to the bottom left for a 3-0 sweep in the series. Spirit, ranked #95 in 10-ball, will host Blizzard of the Everton Eagles at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Nikolai. The silver cue returns to the table for some Rotation. Commerce's Tigerette won game 8-4 over Freedom rookie Nikolai, working to hold him off in the middle of the game before scoring the three-ball run-out that put her ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 followed almost exactly the same script, with the Tradewinds' Tigerette building up a big lead, the Cascades' Nikolai rallying back to almost tie it, and then Tigerette closing with a three-ball run-out to win 8-4 and take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 ended a lot closer, as Nikolai had a better start, but Tigerette still took the game 8-6 for a 3-0 sweep. Ranked #107, Tigerette will play in the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Graham. The evening session sees 12-ball played with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Dreamy dominated in game 1, taking very little time to line up and finish her shots while Eastside's Graham was still feeling out the table, and Dreamy took advantage to go up on a 1-0 lead. The Blades' Dreamy played another strong game in game 2, again outmaneuvering the Sharks' Graham easily to take a crisp and clean win and a 2-0 series lead. Dreamy made a huge mistake in game 3, chasing a pocket she forgot she already had under control, which allowed Graham to steal a game after much jockeying, finishing the series at 2-1. Dreamy, ranked #80 in 12-ball, will play in the bracket semifinals, hopefully without the mental mistakes.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Spirit. The silver cue is on for Accuracy in the urban core. Lighton's Spirit held on better at the end, pushing Modernistic Ms. Puppy into trouble, as the latter lost 2-5 with a run of bad form in her later shots, allowing the former to take a 1-0 series lead with a convincing game 1 effort. The Union's Ms. Puppy fought back much more readily in game 2, burying the Prestige's Spirit early due to her own good play, and Ms. Puppy emerged with a 1-3 victory to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Spirit answered the bell in game 3, battling well with Ms. Puppy for the first half-plus of the game before pulling to a 1-3 victory through savvy shooting to take the series 2-1. Spirit is ranked #132 for Accuracy and will play in the bracket semifinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Bryant. Wrapping up the evening portion and the venue's doubleheader is a set of 7-ball with the red cue. Modernistic's Puff I straight dominated in game 1, never letting Maplewood's Bryant get to the table as she ran the table from the break to the finish, a seven-ball stretch to take a 1-0 series lead in dominant form. The Union's Puff I regressed a bit in game 2, but still went up 2-0 on the Lumberjacks' Bryant after converting a four-ball run-out for the win. Puff I started off well in game 3, but Bryant stole the show late, dazzling during a very precise four-ball run-out, including a 4-6 bank combination to the bottom side that was especially sharp. Still, Puff I took the series 2-1 and will play with her #113 ranked 7-ball bid in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. B. Chapman. The red cue gets to lead off the night with 12-ball. Victoria's Chapman shot very well early in the game, establishing position for many of her shots. Tysini's Bright pulled back in the game, but cleared too much defense away, allowing Chapman to finish her suit and take a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Bright got game 2 to tie the series at 1, battling more effectively for position with Chapman of the Spurs and muscling her out of the way at the side pockets in the end. Bright did a better job of executing than Chapman did at the end of game 3, which gave Bright a 2-1 series win after polishing off the final game. Ranked #109 for 12-ball, Bright continues on to the bracket semifinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Niki. The silver cue gets a series of 8-ball in. Niki of Eastside took game 1 with a bit of luck, working her way to a three-ball run-out to take the game out of the hands of Westside's Goatee at the last minute, as the host had done a lot of the work in a very even game only to see the visitor lead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Niki maintained her edge in game 2, staying ahead of the Rockers' Goatee even when the latter sharply kicked the 14 to the bottom side to cue a five-ball run ending in a scratch that allowed Niki a three-ball run-out to win the game and move to 2-0 up in the series. Niki again came out of nowhere in game 3, working a four-ball run-out at the end to stun Goatee again, ending on a great bank of the 8 off the bottom rail to the top side. Ranked #114 for 8-ball, Niki's 3-0 series win puts her through to the bracket semifinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Kelly v. Stinky. The blue cue is up for 9-ball in this series. Viewpoint Sound's Kelly got very lucky in game 1, lacking clutch plays until the end where Freedom's Stinky left the 9 short for Kelly to tap in and take a 1-0 lead in the series on. The Meteors' Kelly left nothing to luck in game 2, dominating with a five-ball run to open and a three-ball run-out at the end, as the Cascades' Stinky had no chance to avoid falling to a 2-0 deficit. Game 3 was easily the closest of the three, and it went in Stinky's direction, as he got a second chance at the 9 when Kelly left it short at the top left. Kelly still took the series 2-1, and her #93 ranked 9-ball bid will go to the bracket semifinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Patches. Two relentless stars get 9-ball with the red cue to end the day. Boston's Patches had to earn game 1 due to a hot start from Web City's Rainmane, but Patches stepped up well later in the game to make critical shots and take a 1-0 series lead on a four-ball run-out. The Spiders' Rainmane countered in game 2, battling hard with the Swifts' Patches all game. In the end, Rainmane tied the series at 1 with a bold snipe from distance to take the 9 in the bottom left. Rainmane dazzled in game 3, running five balls over three shots. On the break, she sent the 3 and 4 to the top right and the 6 to the bottom right, followed by a 1-8 combination to the top right that saw the 1 carom for a double-pot into the top side. Patches only sank two balls in the rack, but she got the one that mattered when Rainmane left the 9 short at the top left, allowing Patches to take the series 2-1. Ranked #116 for 9-ball, Patches is through to the bracket semifinals.
Tomorrow should be a somewhat similar day in terms of workload for the league. The games totals should drop during the middle of the week, and I expect the round will end Friday. Stay tuned for more.
No comments:
Post a Comment