Today should be the last full day of this round, with another sixteen series scheduled to be played. The day begins in...
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Brownie v. Missy. The silver cue gets us going with 7-ball. Harrison's Brownie took game 1 after Capital City's Missy cooled from her hot start, and she left the 7 on a good line for Brownie to score it for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy tied the series at 1 with a win in game 2, a sloppy stanza that saw frequent misses for both herself and the Specters' Brownie that Missy was lucky to walk away with the win in. Brownie laid claim to game 3 with a remarkable and somewhat unintentional 3-7 combination to the top right to win the series 2-1. Brownie, ranked #99 in 7-ball, will play in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli XCX v. Chris. The red cue is up for 15-ball in this series. Tysini's Charli nearly had game 1, but she left the 15 short at the top left, allowing the high-flying Chris of Capital City to tap it in for a 1-0 series lead after he drove the game forward late. In game 2, Charli of the Hummingbirds had a much stronger finish, defeating the Sharpshooters' Chris on a four-ball run-out that featured very solid positioning as she tied the series at 1. Game 3 showed the best of both players, with Chris running five balls around mid-game before Charli executed a four-ball run-out to take the series 2-1. Ranked #110 in 15-ball, Charli is set to travel east to Pronger's Ford Forum for a series with the Tridents' Paps in the bracket semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside: Taylor Swift v. Blizzard. The silver cue returns for Accuracy. Game 1 came to an abrupt end as Eastside's Taylor made a huge effort to force Everton's Blizzard into a tie, only to botch the shot that would have forced overtime, and Blizzard went up 1-0 in the series on a 2-3 win. In game 2, the Eagles' Blizzard succeeded in making overtime a necessity after a sloppy start on both sides, but the Sharks' Taylor made overtime end quickly by leaving Blizzard with no great shot, causing her to lose 4-5 as the series became tied at 1. Blizzard did wonderfully at the end of game 3, decreasing the angle on Taylor's long-distance shot on the last ball, which she ended up scratching on, allowing Blizzard to take the game 3-4 and the series 2-1. Ranked #128 in Accuracy, Blizzard will return home to host Lighton Prestige star Spirit at the Chevrolet Center in Everton in the bracket semifinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Cubby v. Chris. This series leads off a doubleheader of 9-ball with the blue cue. Maplewood's Cubby had the better of possession in game 1, particularly in the second half of the game, as Capital City's Chris lacked a precision aspect, which made it easy for Cubby to go up 1-0 with the win. The Sharpshooters' Chris took advantage of the Lumberjacks' Cubby having some misfortune, as Cubby's odd break left the 9 near the top left after a narrow miss at the bottom side. Chris converted a 3-9 combination to the top left at his earliest convenience to tie the series at 1. Chris dominated early in game 3, but one miss on the 7 allowed Cubby to complete a three-ball run-out for the win and a 2-1 series win. Cubby, ranked #92 for 9-ball, will host Kelly of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. J. Garcia. A former rookie of the year candidate goes with this year's current frontrunner in this second 9-ball series with the blue cue. Sydney of Harrison just continues to find ways to win, struggling early in game 1 before pulling out a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 lead over Southridge's Garcia. The Specters' Sydney got a lucky break in game 2, as the Defenders' Garcia scratched to end her three-ball run late in the game, and Sydney buried the last two shots for a 2-0 series lead. Sydney didn't quite have it in game 3, as Garcia worked a three-ball run-out, ending the game victorious with a 5-9 bank combination off the top rail to the bottom right in a moment of precision that made it 2-1 in the series. Sydney still advances to the bracket semifinals, where her #96 ranked 9-ball bid hosts Pounce of the Oceanside Waves at this venue.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Shaggy v. Shadow. The longtime power couple goes at it for 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Shaggy almost wasted a very good start in game 1, allowing Web City's Shadow to get uncomfortably close before potting the 8 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow bounced back in a very tight, back-and-forth game 2 against the Defenders' Shaggy, eventually cuing a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 after a scratch put his catalyst shot on the table. In game 3, Shaggy proved more resilient, working a five-ball run and finishing the game quickly to put Shadow away 2-1. Ranked #99 in 8-ball, Shaggy will next oppose Niki of the Eastside Sharks in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Twinkie III. The silver cue remains in action for a series of 15-ball. Oceanside's Snuggle seemed to have the better run of play in game 1, and definitely so when it counted the most, making the final two balls to take a 1-0 series lead over Whitewater's Twinkie III. In game 2, Twinkie III stayed mostly in control, as the Shores star hit a six-ball run that saw her pot the 5 and 8 in the top left and bottom right, followed later by a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 against the Waves' Snuggle, who acted as a non-factor in this middle stanza. Twinkie III carried much of that momentum over into game 3, but Snuggle shut it down, making the last six balls on a five-ball run and a tap-in from Twinkie III's narrow bank miss on the 15 to the top right. Snuggle claimed the series 2-1, and his #82 ranked 15-ball bid is through to the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Noelle. The red cue is back in this series for 9-ball. Southern's Panda took care of business in game 1, capitalizing on Central's Noelle ending a dangerous three-ball run with a scratch to run out the last three balls from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead for the host. The Warriors' Noelle didn't look to be in a good position after the Monarchs' Panda sank three on the break, but Noelle mopped up a majority of what was left, winning the game and tying the series at 1. Noelle picked a bad spot in game 3 to scratch, right after sinking the 8, which made it easy for Panda to pot the 9 and take the series 2-1. The #105 ranked 9-ball player, Panda will host Patches of the Boston Swifts in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Jake. The silver cue makes an appearance for Rotation in this series. Terrace City's Kiwi rallied around the middle of game 1, building up a big lead that almost collapsed as Royal's Jake roared back, but Kiwi ended the game by winning 8-5, good for a 1-0 series lead, before Jake could complete the comeback. The Crowns' Jake had an early four-ball run in game 2, mostly luck-based, and the game locked down a bit in the middle before Kiwi of the Knights pulled back a bit. Jake held her off and ended up with an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw the players oscillate wildly, with Kiwi getting the first lead wiped out by Jake's four-ball run, but Kiwi won 8-5 with a three-ball run-out for a 2-1 series win. Kiwi is ranked #106 for Rotation, and she'll play in the bracket semifinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Brownie v. Shelley. Players who have been on both franchises appear in this 8-ball battle with the red cue. Harrison's Brownie nearly messed up the first game, building a big lead derailed slightly by a scratch, but Infinity's Shelley couldn't close in quickly enough, and Brownie came out with a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Brownie clinched the series at 2-0 with a win in game 2, just looking a step ahead of the Torpedoes' Shelley throughout the game, carrying her play forward at all times. Shelley did manage to salvage game 3, coming from behind to topple Brownie and avoid the sweep, instead falling 2-1 in the series. Brownie, ranked #103 for 8-ball, will host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Dani in this venue in the bracket semifinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Alyssa v. Smudge. The game is still 8-ball, but with the blue cue now. Oceanside's Alyssa had the better start in game 1, but she couldn't recover from a scratch, and Infinity's Smudge picked up the pieces, rallying her way to a 1-0 series lead on a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. The Waves' Alyssa did better defensively in game 2, preventing the Torpedoes' Smudge from breaking out on a run while Alyssa methodically took each ball down to tie the series at 1. Alyssa was saved from blowing another game as Smudge scratched on a missed attempt at the 8. Alyssa potted it to the bottom right and won the series 2-1. Ranked #111 for 8-ball, Alyssa will next host Fluffina of the Maplewood Lumberjacks at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Jake. The last afternoon series is 7-ball with the red cue. Golden's Valencia came out with cue ablaze, shooting a five-ball run before getting doused by Royal's Jake, who needed two attempts to knock in the 7 for a 1-0 series lead in a vultured win. The Crowns' Jake couldn't make magic in game 2, wilting early, and the Pilots' Valencia tied the series at 1 with a brilliant two-rail kick of the 2-3-7 to the top left along about three-quarters of the top rail for the equalizing shot. Valencia won the game and the series with a three-ball run-out in game 3, finishing on an odd-angle bank of the 7 to the top side off the bottom rail for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #109 in 7-ball, Valencia will oppose Noelle of the Central Warriors at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Watermelon. The evening session gets going with some 8-ball and the blue cue. Pearl's Watermelon ended up winning the quick game 1 battle, keeping pace with Swordpoint's Snowball until the latter tried to clear Watermelon's last ball and ended up potting it, making it easy for Watermelon to get the 1-0 win. The Surfers' Watermelon again battled hard with the Blades' Snowball, and again came out on top, winning narrowly at the end after finally navigating her last ball to take a 2-0 series lead. Snowball did get a game back, shooting admirably to win game 3 on a four-ball run-out that made it a 2-1 series. Watermelon advances with her #123 ranked 8-ball campaign to face the Arrows' Ruby in Archtown's Starbucks Arena in the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. J. Garcia. Watermelon returns home, bringing the blue cue along for Rotation. Pearl's Watermelon avoided disaster in game 1, after her very large lead started collapsing with the late attack of Southridge's Garcia, who fell just short in an 8-6 loss that made it a 1-0 series for Watermelon. The Surfers' Watermelon didn't get such a good start in game 2, and she paid for it when the Defenders' Garcia ran out the final five balls she needed for an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Watermelon ended up getting the win, squashing another Garcia comeback attempt at 8-4 and taking the series 2-1 as well. Ranked #98 for Rotation, Watermelon will travel to Atlantic's McDonald's Hall to face the Pirates' Dominic in the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Shannon v. A. Charlton. The next nine series will feature the silver cue, but we'll only play two of them tonight, beginning along the southwest coast with 12-ball. Golden's Charlton did best in game 1, working a three-ball run-out to bear Southern's Shannon to the punch in taking a 1-0 series lead with a strong finish. The Monarchs' Shannon almost pulled back enough in game 2, but got stuck on her last ball as the Pilots' Charlton made her final shots with more available space, securing the series at 2-0. Charlton completed the sweep at 3-0 in game 3, even as Shannon played well early on, Charlton played better, getting a little help in the end from a missed contact by Shannon. The #118 ranked Charlton will advance to the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Sprinkles. Expect a tenacious final match, with the silver cue now used in Rotation. Capital City's Sprinkles only had to defend herself once, as her first lead did not hold up against Diamond's Pedey, so a four-ball run-out to win 8-4 and put the series at 1-0 in her favor was her answer. The Gems' Pedey again tried to rally back after falling behind early on, but the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles again shut the door, ending the 8-5 win on an 11-15 combination to the bottom right to go up 2-0 in the series. Sprinkles completed the 3-0 sweep in game 3, winning 8-6 after holding off another Pedey comeback late in the game. Sprinkles, ranked #130 for Rotation, will travel north to Terrace City's Audi Hall, facing Kiwi of the Knights in the bracket semifinals.
We'll have the end of the round tomorrow, followed by a new schedule on the Schedule page.
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