Today should have the most games of any day in this round, as we aim to play more than the usual pace has dictated. We begin in...
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Bryant. The silver cue gets the first look today for 9-ball. Commerce's Tigerette got lucky in game 1, slightly outplaying Maplewood's Bryant early on but needing him to miss twice on the 9 before she buried it for a 1-0 series lead in a sloppy ending. The middle of game 2 ended up being the toughest part in the middle stanza, as both players exchanged a series of mistakes. Tigerette of the Tradewinds eventually emerged with a 2-0 series lead on a four-ball run-out after illegal contact by the Lumberjacks' Bryant. In game 3, Bryant ended up escaping with a win despite a four-ball run by Tigerette at the start, as the host left the 9 short at the bottom right for Bryant to tap in. The series ended 2-1, and Tigerette takes her #111 ranked 9-ball campaign to the bracket final.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Debby Ryan. The next two series are in Accuracy, this one with the red cue. Archtown's Dusky stayed fairly even with Southridge's Debby through middle of the game, before finally breaking away with savvy shooting to bury the visitor 3-6 in a win that put Dusky up 1-0 in the series. The Arrows' Dusky stayed with it despite falling behind early in game 2, and the patience paid off in the end, as the Defenders' Debby struggled on the last ball, missing it and taking a 2-3 loss as Dusky roared to a 2-0 series lead. Despite ending the game on a scratch, Debby did better in game 3, keeping Dusky at bay to grab a 4-5 win that made it a 2-1 final for Dusky in the series. Ranked #122 in Accuracy, Dusky will play in the bracket final.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Spirit. On the other half of the Accuracy doubleheader, the silver cue is back in action. Game 1 featured an extremely sloppy start and regulation, but the players buckled down for overtime. Lighton's Spirit took a 4-5 win for a 1-0 series lead due to Everton's Blizzard scratching a few turns in. In game 2, the Prestige's Spirit almost came up big in her attempt to overcome a three shot deficit, but the Eagles' Blizzard finally stabilized and walked away with a 3-6 win to tie the series at 1. Spirit again fell behind early in game 3, and again tried to rally, but once again, she was denied by Blizzard late, who took the series 2-1 on the 3-4 win in the final game. Blizzard is ranked #128 for Accuracy and continues to the bracket final.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Niki. The red cue is back again for a series of Rotation now. Swordpoint's Stealth took control of the game early, but stagnated before the job was done, allowing Eastside's Niki to use a three-ball run to tie the game and Stealth's scratch gave her ball-in-hand to make it 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Niki of the Sharks burst out to a big lead, while the Blades' Stealth struggled to catch up but eventually made a solid effort before Niki banked the 12 to the bottom left for an 8-4 win to take a 2-0 series lead. Stealth salvaged a win in game 3, winning 8-4 on a similar bank of the 12, but to the top left to top a weaker performance from Niki. Ranked #110 in Rotation, Niki took the series 2-1 and travels to Everton's Chevrolet Center for a bracket final showdown with the Eagles' Blizzard.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Marsell v. Snuggle. Another doubleheader comes next, beginning with this 10-ball series with the red cue. Royal's Marsell did a lot of heavy lifting in game 1, but his missed contact on the 6 after converting a 5-8 combination and sinking the 5 led Oceanside's Snuggle to use ball-in-hand to win the game on a 6-10 combination to the top right for a 1-0 lead. The Crowns' Marsell made another royal flub in game 2, twice missing the 10, the second on missed contact that allowed Snuggle of the Waves to clinch the series at 2-0 from ball-in-hand again. Marsell made a nifty shot to get a game back, winning game 3 on a double-pot of the 7 and 10, with the carom off the 7 and a rail knocking the 10 to the bottom left to make it a 2-1 series. Snuggle will advance to the bracket final with his #127 ranked 10-ball campaign.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Bright v. Kelly. The other half of the 10-ball doubleheader features the blue cue. Game 1 did not take all that long, as Viewpoint Sound's Kelly pulled out a seven-ball run-out filled with smart and accurate shooting to defeat Tysini's Bright for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Kelly again dominated possession in game 2, eventually using ball-in-hand from a scratch by the Hummingbirds' Bright to work a three-ball run-out to grab a 2-0 series lead. Kelly earned a series sweep when Bright became his own worst enemy again, scratching after sinking the 9 to give Kelly ball-in-hand for the 10, which she easily potted. Ranked #114 in 10-ball, Kelly will oppose Debby of the Southridge Defenders in Southridge's GE Stadium Events Center in the bracket final.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Hoot v. Gabe. The red cue is back again for a 9-ball series in the Eastern Hills region. Pronger's Hoot took a large share of the possession in game 1, including a four-ball run from the break and scoring the final two balls when Infinity's Gabe couldn't connect the 8 to a pocket, giving Hoot a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Hoot clinched the series in somewhat spectacular fashion, working a three-ball run-out that ended with a 4-9 combination to the top right, with the highlight reel shot giving him a 2-0 series lead to eliminate the Torpedoes' Gabe. Hoot again dazzled in game 3, scoring two three-ball runs, the latter of the two sealing a 3-0 series win. Hoot is ranked #115 in 9-ball, and will host Patches of the Boston Swifts at this venue in the bracket final.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Panda. Another edition of a burgeoning rivalry comes in this 12-ball series with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Dreamy took game 1 with a show of strength, running four balls early on that helped her weather a three-ball run by Southern's Panda before she pulled away to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda played a more successful style in game 2, staying a step ahead of the Blades' Dreamy throughout the game before finishing on a long strike to tie the series at 1 after meticulous set-up work. Game 3 took on a more arms race-style of play, with Panda striking first and Dreamy making it close in the end. Panda still walked away with a 2-1 series win after Dreamy missed the second shot in a prospective three-ball run that would have won her the game, allowing Panda to make his final two shots to win. Ranked #82, Panda is through to the 12-ball blue bracket final.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Roxy. We've got another 10-ball doubleheader, with the silver cue featured first. Southern's Nicole left the 10 vulnerable in game 1, after her kick on the 3 dislodged the 10 from a cluster, and Freedom's Roxy converted a 3-10 combination to the bottom right on the next shot for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played out as unpredictable and sloppy, so Nicole of the Monarchs had a bit of luck to string together a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 with the Cascades' Roxy, who had a rough game as well. Nicole got revenge for game 1 in game 3, as Roxy attempted an 8-10 combination and failed, allowing Nicole to glance the cue off the 8 to take the 10 to the top right for the series-clinching win. Taking the series 2-1, Nicole's #105 ranked 10-ball bid is through to the bracket final.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Blizzard. These two players meet again, but with the red cue for 10-ball after Blizzard took the Accuracy series. The venue has also shifted to Spirit's southwestern home. Everton's Blizzard had many errors in game 1, none worse than botching her perfect bank of the 10 to the top side with a scratch, allowing Lighton's Spirit to bury the 10 from its reset point to the bottom right for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Eagles' Blizzard caused herself more problems in game 2, producing the scratch that led to the Prestige's Spirit using a sequence that saw her pot the 5 and convert a 6-10 combination to the bottom right for a 2-0 lead. In game 3, Spirit left no doubt as to her desire to win, running out the final seven balls, with increasing difficulty through the middle few shots, to take the series in a 3-0 sweep. The #95 ranked 10-ball player, Spirit will host Snuggle of the Oceanside Waves at this venue in the bracket final.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Kavan v. Sydney. The silver cue gets another series in for Accuracy. Harrison's Sydney took game 1, looking very comfortable early before nearly destroying all her hard work, settling for a 5-6 victory that gave her a 1-0 series lead over Victoria's Kavan. In game 2, the ending inflated the score a bit, but it couldn't erase the fact that the Spurs' Kavan tied the series at 1 with a strong opening that turned into a 4-6 win over the Specters' Sydney, who struggled throughout the game. In game 3, Sydney had the better of play, burying Kavan in the middle of the game before fading to a 3-5 victory that gave her a 2-1 series win. Ranked #131 in Accuracy, Sydney will travel to Everton's Chevrolet Center to face the Eagles' Blizzard in the bracket final.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Brownie v. Smudge. The silver cue remains on hand for this series of 7-ball. Infinity's Smudge looked very confident in game 1, eventually breaking free to execute a four-ball run-out against Harrison's Brownie, ending on a kick off the bottom rail to pot the 7 in the top left for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 ended almost the same way for the Torpedoes' Smudge, as the only thing lacking in the win that put her up 2-0 in the series was the highlight-reel shot to finish her four-ball run-out, completely shutting down the Specters' Brownie. Smudge dominated in game 3, using a three-ball run-out from a miscued shot by Brownie to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Smudge, ranked #100 for 7-ball, will travel to Whitewater's Samsung Arena to face Bear of the Shores in the bracket final.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Frosty. The silver cue turns is back in 12-ball. Royal's Frosty did a wonderful job of converting the shots that appeared, and even some that she shouldn't have as collateral damage, but her illegally potted balls did not help Golden's Charlton, who couldn't get set up and took the loss as the series went to 1-0 Frosty. In game 2, it was Frosty who continued to struggle with the same few shots, as the Crowns captain watched the Pilots' Charlton work very easily around the table, including an impressive distance shot to pot the 7 and set up the 6 for the eventual equalizing shot that made it a 1-1 series. Charlton thought game 3 would be a good time to use the rare suit-switch tactic after making a stripe on the break but opting to switch to solids. The plan backfired, as Frosty benefited from the wild card ball before working a three-ball run-out to take the game and win the series 2-1. Ranked #123 in 12-ball, Frosty will participate in the bracket final.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Dusty. The blue cue finally gets back to the table for a series of Rotation. Golden's Dusty got off to a strong start in game 1, building up an initial lead that Infinity's Shelley never reached, as she only clawed halfway back in the 8-4 win that put Dusty up 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Shelley took much more control in game 2, tying the series at 1 with an 8-4 win of her own, dominating the early stages of the game to keep the Pilots' Dusty at bay, which Dusty helped with through her own mistakes. Shelley had a good start to game 3, but Dusty had other things in mind, running five balls to answer that and winning the game 8-2 two turns later, which gave the visitor a 2-1 series win. Dusty, ranked #101 in Rotation, will play in the bracket final, with the opponent likely determined tonight.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Jennifer Livilotti. The red cue returns to action with this 8-ball series. Terrace City's Jennifer brought a hush over the crowd in game 1, shocking them with a five-ball run after Lighton's Twinkie I got nothing on the break, and then completing the shutout on a three-ball run-out on her next turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Twinkie I went all in with a five-ball run late in game 2, but she couldn't extend it, and the Knights' Jennifer pulled off a four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 went to Twinkie I, as she learned her lessons from before and picked up the pace to keep Jennifer from her signature long runs. The series still favored #131 ranked Jennifer, who will play in the bracket final on a 2-1 series win here.
Ebay Center, Queens: Paige v. Leandra. The blue cue gets this series of Accuracy, the first of an event-based doubleheader. In game 1, the only thing separating the players was a pair of early misses from Tysini's Leandra, as Queens' Paige made all of her shots in an 0-2 win to take a 1-0 series lead in perfect form against a competitive opponent. Paige played well again in game 2, as the Flames' star scratched on the break but recovered through defensive positioning to take a 2-5 win over the Hummingbirds' Leandra, moving to a 2-0 series lead. Paige continued to play excellently in game 3, winning by the same 2-5 score again, with a late scratch the only blemish in another brilliant showing. Ranked #97 in Accuracy, Paige is through to the bracket final.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Goldy. The other half of the Accuracy doubleheader involves the red cue. In game 1, the players went toe-to-toe with one another, missing in unison until Whitewater's Twinkie III had a scratch, which led to Goldy of Everton taking the game over late, holding on for the 2-3 win to put her up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Goldy didn't quite maintain the same level of poise in game 2, falling behind with a shockingly high number of scratches that paved the way for Twinkie III of the Shores to take the game 2-5 and tie the series at 1. In game 3, Goldy absolutely fell apart, allowing Twinkie III to push her around for a 1-6 victory that put the host up 2-1 in the series for the win. Twinkie III, ranked #102 in Accuracy, will host Dusky of the Archtown Arrows at this venue in the bracket final.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Dominic v. Watermelon. The short night session kicks off with Rotation and the blue cue. In game 1, Pearl's Watermelon took an early lead only to see Atlantic's Dominic wipe it all out, tying the game at 5 before Watermelon emerged with an 8-5 win after a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon had to come from behind to get game 2, as the Pirates' Dominic did very well early on but couldn't piece anything together later, eventually losing 8-6 as Watermelon made it 2-0 in the series. Watermelon continued to play well ahead of Dominic, cruising to an 8-4 victory in game 3 to sweep the series 3-0. Ranked #98 in Rotation, Watermelon will host Dusty of the Golden Pilots at her home venue of the Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl in the bracket final.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Brownie v. Dani. The red cue gets its last appearance of the day in 8-ball in the northeast. Capital City's Dani did the opposite of what Jennifer did earlier today. Dani was cruising in game 1 and chose to try to carom the 8, but the shot went awry and the 8 went in the wrong pocket. Harrison's Brownie, who did not make a shot all game, went up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 went much differently, with the Specters' Brownie shooting much better and the Sharpshooters' Dani pushed to play harder. Dani ultimately came out on top, cutting the 8 to the top right, and narrowly avoiding a scratch to tie the series at 1 in another wild finish. Game 3 played a lot tighter than the first two, with the deciding shots being Brownie's wide miss on the 9 and Dani using the position from that to score the 8 for a 2-1 series win. Dani, ranked #104, will bring Jennifer Livilotti of the Terrace City Knights into the Capital City SuperCenter for the bracket final.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Missy. The final series in what became a 60-game day will have the silver cue for an encore performance in 9-ball. Capital City's Missy looked ready to take game 1, but her three-ball run came to an abrupt end when she missed the 9 completely, allowing Everton's Goldy to pot it from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy clamped down in game 2, running three balls from the break and then scoring a five-ball run-out at the end for a 2-0 series lead, barely allowing the Sharpshooters' Missy to see the table. In game 3, Missy did all of the work, with a four-ball run early on cut short by a scratch and a five-ball run-out after Goldy flubbed the ball-in-hand shot. Goldy took the series 2-1, and her #109 ranked 9-ball bid will host Tigerette of the Commerce Tradewinds in the bracket final at this venue.
The Bracket Semifinals will be done tomorrow, and there may be some of the SCL final tomorrow as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment