The schedule may be due to shrink from original projections for today, as the official score-keeping computer is preparing to upgrade to Windows 10. With that in mind, we begin the day with...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Fluffina. The first series of the day is 8-ball with the blue cue. Maplewood's Fluffina got the early jump in game 1, and while Nightfur of Royal roared back with a five-ball run, it proved to be too late when Fluffina sank the 8 in the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina took game 2 as well, working a three-ball run-out that included a bold 14-10 combination to the bottom right as well as a bank of the 8 off the top rail to the same location, stunning the Crowns' Nightfur as the visitor Fluffina went up 2-0 in the series. A late scratch in game 3 ended Nightfur's series, as Fluffian finished the game from there to sweep 3-0. Fluffina, ranked #130 for 8-ball, advances to the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Smokey. The blue cue remains for some 12-ball along the southwest coast. Southern's Panda had a good break in game 1, but not much else went his way, as Diamond's Smokey took a 1-0 series lead with a wild card ball and precise execution of a well-organized template of shots. The Monarchs' Panda looked to be in trouble in game 2, but navigated a tough layout very well, running out four balls with very smart shooting to get a game from the Gems' Smokey, tying the series at 1. Panda dominated the later stages of game 3, working three- and two-ball runs to take the win and also clinch a 2-1 series victory. Ranked #82 for 12-ball, Panda next opposes Dreamy of the Blades at Swordpoint's Gillette Center in the bracket semifinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Cubby. The next set is 10-ball, also with the blue cue. Maplewood's Cubby made all the right moves in game 1, sinking the 3 off the 10 to the top side, sinking the 8 in the top side after double-kissing the 4, and deferring a long distance shot at the 10 to Southridge's Debby, who left it short at the bottom right for Cubby to knock in for a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Cubby couldn't do as well, snookering himself by the jaws of the bottom side at the end of game 2, allowing the Defenders' Debby to take the 10 on ball-in-hand to tie the series at 1. Debby took the end of game 3 by storm, running out the final five balls to win the game and the series 2-1. Debby is ranked #103 in 10-ball, and will participate in the bracket semifinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sydney Sierota. The silver cue gets in a series of Accuracy. Harrison's Sydney took a sloppy looking but not actually all that bad game 1, winning 4-7 over Everton's Puff III, with the score inflating due to troubles at the end, and Sydney is up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 played a bit more evenly, with the Specters' Sydney winning on the last ball 4-5 as the Eagles' Puff III missed her attempt to force overtime, giving Sydney a 2-0 series lead. The struggles persisted for these players in game 3, with Puff III battling to take the game 5-6 and make it a 2-1 series win for Sydney. Ranked #131 in Accuracy, Sydney is through to the bracket semifinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Crystal. The red cue gets going with 15-ball. Queens' Crystal stunned the home crowd in a lackadaisical game 1, working a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead over Archtown's Sally, complete with a bank-combination of the 10 coming off the top rail to kick the 15 into the bottom side for the win. The Arrows' Sally got one back with a big game 2, playing even until the end, where the Flames' Crystal missed contact on the 14, allowing Sally to mop up two shots to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Sally looked to have an edge late in the game, but missed on the 15, allowing a tap-in by Crystal to give the visitor a 2-1 series win. The #132 ranked 15-ball player, Crystal will advance to the bracket semifinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Dani. The red cue continues its three-series run with 12-ball in the southwest. Capital City's Dani took game 1 thanks to Infinity's Shelley illegally potting her final ball, giving Dani ball-in-hand for her last shot, which she tapped in for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley had a four-ball run to set herself up for victory, and it worked when the Sharpshooters' Dani also ran four balls to catch up but couldn't apply defense at the end, allowing Shelley to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Shelley overcame giving up a wild card ball to Dani, working around Dani's defense to take the win for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #109 in 12-ball, Shelley is into the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Shadow. We're back to 15-ball with the red cue for this series. Web City's Shadow had a bit of luck in winning game 1, failing on his attempt to carom the 13 into the top right off the 7, but succeeding as the cue ricocheted to take the 15 to the top side, taking a 1-0 lead over Diamond's Pedey on what became a three-ball run-out. The Gems' Pedey got victimized by his inability to corral the 13 late in game 2, allowing Shadow of the Spiders to easily pot it and the 15 for the win and a 2-0 lead. Pedey didn't end the series empty-handed, winning game 3 on a nutty shot. Pedey attempted to carom the cue off the 12 to drive the 15, which did not go on its intended line, but it did cross paths with the fast-flying 12, taking the brunt of the impact and falling in the proper pocket in the bottom right. This made it a 2-1 series win for Shadow, the #127 ranked 15-ball player, who will now host the Queens Flames' Crystal at his home venue, Home Depot Forum in Web City.
Apple Center, Todavía: Leonardo v. Oreo. The blue cue is back for this 12-ball series. Leonardo of Todavía did a good job in waiting out Terrace City's Oreo in game 1, cashing in on his final shots once Oreo removed her defense, and the patient approach earned Leonardo a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Leonardo dabbled in defense in game 2, doing enough to hold off the Knights' Oreo until he could piece together three tap-ins on a run-out for another victory that put him ahead 2-0 in the series. Game 3 featured strategy at its finest in 12-ball, with Leonardo fighting furiously to overcome the two wild card balls he gave to Oreo, finally succeeding by giving her a bad angle shot on her last ball that she failed to convert and left in favorable position for Leonardo to bury his last ball. Leonardo won the game and the series 3-0. Ranked #80 in 12-ball, Leonardo emphatically punched his ticket to the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Sweetheart. The red cue returns to feature in this Rotation battle in the urban core. Game 1 was nothing to write home about, with both players not looking great. Boston's Sweetheart had the best of the play, winning 8-2, but it was not a dominant win as the score line would suggest, as she struggled almost as much as Swordpoint's Stealth in going up 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Stealth looked much more confident in game 2, blowing past the Swifts' Sweetheart for an 8-1 win in the game that tied the series at 1. Stealth completed the comeback both in game 3 and for the series with an 8-4 win in the final stanza, sending Sweetheart packing after she started so well. Stealth, ranked #100 for Rotation, is into the bracket semifinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Kayla. We now have a series of 8-ball with the red cue. Queens' Kayla came out of nowhere with a six-ball run-out in game 1 for a 1-0 series lead over Lighton's Twinkie I, working the side pockets early in the run before blasting the 3 and 4 into the bottom left for a double pot that set up a tap-in on the 8 at the top right. The Prestige's Twinkie I battled back for a game 2 win, although the Flames' Kayla did overcome the initial push from Twinkie I, but the visitor couldn't hold off the final surge, falling into a 1-1 tie in the series. Game 3 stayed mostly even until the very end, where Twinkie I emerged with a three-ball run-out to take the game and claim a 2-1 series win. Twinkie I, ranked #100 in 8-ball, will host Jennifer Livilotti of the Terrace City Knights in the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Leandra. The blue cue is back for Accuracy in this series, the first half of an event-based doubleheader. Tysini's Leandra paced her attack well, overcoming an early deficit to bury Todavía's Easter late in game 1, eventually winning 3-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra doubled down in game 2, playing a nearly untouchable game that saw her eventually close out a 2-6 victory to take a 2-0 lead over the Stills' Easter. Easter looked in good shape in game 3, but faltered late, ending up losing to Leandra on a 2-3 score as Leandra swept the series 3-0. Ranked #111 for Accuracy, Leandra advances to the bracket semifinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Zach v. Dusky. The other Accuracy series has the red cue featured. Viewpoint Sound's Zach had to fight for the win, inducing three misses late in the game for Archtown's Dusky to take the game 2-3 on a last gasp type of play to go up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 made it even closer, but the overtime portion ended quickly, as the Meteors' Zach got poor distribution on the break and the Arrows' Dusky tapped in one ball to secure a 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3, surprisingly, was the loosest game of Accuracy seen so far in competitive play, with Dusky just holding on at the end to take an 8-10 victory, good for a 2-1 series win. Dusky, ranked #122 for Accuracy, will host Debby Ryan of the Southridge Defenders at her home venue, Archtown's Starbucks Arena.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Pounce. The silver cue is back for 10-ball. Southern's Nicole ultimately benefited from seeing her four-ball run end despite clean shots, as Oceanside's Pounce eventually illegally potted the 8. Nicole deferred back to him, and they jockeyed, with Nicole getting the 10 on her second try, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Nicole turned on her strong shooting in the second half of game 2, clinching the series at 2-0 over the Waves' Pounce with a five-ball run-out. Nicole had to battle again early in game 3, but busted out for a three-ball run-out in the end, taking the series in a 3-0 sweep. Nicole is ranked #105 for 10-ball, and will play in the bracket semifinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Sprinkles. The next two series are 7-ball, leading off the night session with the silver cue in hand. Whitewater's Bear took control of the series early on, dominating throughout game 1 to take a 1-0 lead over Capital City's Sprinkles, who did not get many shots in. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles didn't need many shots in game 2, as the Shores' Bear lost his three-ball run by leaving the 7 short at top side, where Sprinkles tapped it in to tie the series at 1. Sprinkles had the better run of play in game 3, but Bear cleaned up at the end, taking the series 2-1 as well. Ranked #95 in 7-ball, Bear is through to the bracket semifinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Snuggle. The other half of the 7-ball doubleheader features the blue cue. Pacific's Starlight needed a little time to get going, but she buried Oceanside's Snuggle with a four-ball run-out in game 1, going up 1-0 in the series with the strong finish. The Volcanoes' Starlight was a little too bold in game 2, scratching on her attempt at a 5-7 combination to the bottom right that allowed the Waves' Snuggle to make just that shot from ball-in-hand to tie the series at 1. Starlight shot back despite an early four-ball run from Snuggle in game 3, holding him off through good placement to take the win and advance on a 2-1 series win. Ranked #95 for 7-ball, Starlight will play in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Goldy. The blue cue remains for this 15-ball series. Commerce's Tigerette battled well with Everton's Goldy, keeping a mostly even game throughout, but Tigerette made sure to bury her second chance at the 15 to go up 1-0 and keep Goldy away from redemption in game 1. The Eagles' Goldy tied the series at 1 with a victory in game 2, coming after the Tradewinds' Tigerette left the 15 in a vulnerable spot and Goldy used a spin-cut to take the 12 to the bottom right that kicked off the right rail to drive the 15 to the bottom left for the winner. Tigerette had a late three-ball run in game 3, but Goldy ended up winning when she converted a 14-15 combination to the bottom left for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #124 in 15-ball, Goldy will participate in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Snowball. The silver cue gets the last two sets of the day, beginning with this 10-ball series. Swordpoint's Snowball ruined her own game 1, incorrectly calling the 10 instead of the 9 to the top left. When given the choice to shoot or defer, Freedom's Roxy took a shot at the 10 and converted for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball answered a three-ball run from the Cascades' Roxy in game 2 with a three-ball run-out of her own, tying the series at 1 with a classic bank finish to the bottom side on the 10. Game 3 went down to the wire and stayed fairly even throughout, but Roxy emerged with the win by potting the 10 on her second chance after a decent defensive play the first time. Roxy took the series 2-1, and her #113 ranked 10-ball bid will travel to Del Sur's Microsoft Center to face Nicole of the Southern Monarchs in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Diddley. We return to the urban core to end the day with 9-ball. Commerce's Tigerette did hold a slight edge in possession over Maplewood's Diddley, and it ended up being enough for her to sink the 9 for a 1-0 series lead when Diddley couldn't finish the game. The Tradewinds' Tigerette ended up getting a good bounce in game 2 when the Lumberjacks' Diddley scratched before the 8, leaving Tigerette two easy shots to score for the win to make it a 2-0 series. Diddley scored a four-ball run-out in game 3, salvaging something out of the lost series to put it at 2-1 for Tigerette in the end. Ranked #111 for 9-ball, Tigerette advances to the bracket semifinals.
That's all for today. I expect SCL action tomorrow before pool, but it should be a fairly normal day all around.
No comments:
Post a Comment