The pool action is back, with a full schedule or more on the slate today. The first series is...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Mams. The silver cue gets the first set today, playing Accuracy. Both players dazzled with excellent shooting game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Mams cracked first, and it cost her as she lost to Swordpoint's Stealth 1-2, giving the latter a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Meteors' Mams fell behind early on, but used good defensive positioning to force the Blades' Stealth into a tie at 3. The tie needed overtime, where the break and a 15-9-7 combination from Mams finally topped Stealth, winning 3-4 to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Stealth returned to his early form, holding tight through a competitive game and then winning 1-3 after a miss ended Mams' threat to counter, giving Stealth a 2-1 series win. Ranked #48 in Accuracy, Stealth goes to the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Puff III. The silver cue remains at the table for a series of 10-ball. Everton's Puff III stole game 1, as Maplewood's Fluffina worked a four-ball run both early and late in the game, but couldn't stretch either one, and Puff III potted the 10 to the top left for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Eagles' Puff III scratched on a successful 4-10 combination to the top right, nullifying the result, and a four-ball run from Puff III later allowed the Lumberjacks' Fluffina a crack at the 10. She missed it, and Puff III buried her second chance for the win, going up 2-0 in the series. Game 3 featured a bit more sloppy play in mostly tight spaces, but Puff III took the last two balls and won the series 3-0. Ranked #70 for 10-ball, Puff III heads to the second round with the strong sweep over Fluffina.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Precious. The red cue gets an appearance in 12-ball now. Pronger's Precious came out with the win in an error-filled game 1, featuring multiple scratches and missed shots by herself and Everton's Cleo, but Precious was able to bury her last ball when she got a favorable angle on it. The Eagles' Cleo burst her way to a game 2 victory, keeping even with the Tridents' Precious until she had set up an ideal three-ball run-out, which she easily converted to tie the series at 1. Game 3 remained tight, with Precious working an early three-ball run to give herself a lead, and this worked out in the end, as Cleo only caught up, but failed to make the 10 on a two-rail bank toward the bottom side, leaving Precious aligned for the 2 in the top side for the win. Precious, ranked #84 for 12-ball, advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Marsell v. Strawberry. The blue cue is up now for a series of Rotation. Royal's Marsell kept a level head despite a controversial illegal contact call and solid defense from Pronger's Strawberry, turning all of it around on his four-ball run-out to win game 1 by an 8-5 score for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Marsell didn't stop his rampage in game 2, using defense very early on the Tridents' Strawberry, and backing it up with incremental progress until he could hit a three-ball run-out to win 8-2 and clinch the series at 2-0. Marsell's plans backfired in game 3, as Strawberry used the tight spaces to induce illegal contact from Marsell, eventually earning herself an 8-2 victory. Marsell took the series 2-1, and his #14 ranked Rotation bid will host Easter of the Todavía Stills at this venue in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Shawn. The silver cue returns to action for Accuracy. Things did not start well on either side, but Pronger's Precious had the worst of the misses. When things settled down, Swordpoint's Shawn had a lead that he held onto throughout, winning 2-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Shawn stayed perfect through most of game 2, but had a late scare from the Tridents' Precious after consecutive misses. Shawn sealed the 2-3 win with a bank of the 14 to the bottom left from the top rail, securing the series at 2-0. Precious ended up besting Shawn narrowly by a 1-2 score in a well-played game 3, but Shawn claimed the series 2-1. Ranked #76 for Accuracy, Shawn heads to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Chris. The blue cue returns for a series of 7-ball. Freedom's Nikolai got two on the break but scratched, but Capital City's Chris ended his three-ball run poorly and scratched on the 7, allowing Nikolai to tap it in for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai did all the work in game 2, scoring a four-ball run on his second turn and a three-ball run-out on his fourth turn, shutting out the Sharpshooters' Chris to clinch the series at 2-0. Chris made quick work of game 3, using a five-ball run-out highlight by his bank of the 4 to the top side to get a win over Nikolai. Ranked #7 for 7-ball, Nikolai will be hosting the Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the second round at this venue thanks to his 2-1 series win here.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Pounce v. Strut. The blue cue gets another set, now playing 12-ball. Golden's Strut thought he would use a wild card ball to get the win in game 1 after a wild break from Oceanside's Pounce, but the host lined up a four-ball run-out to stun Strut, taking the 1-0 series lead with a well-executed series of shots. The Waves' Pounce didn't have as good a break in game 2, and the Pilots' Strut did well to get his last shot set up, but Pounce swooped in again with a sharp bank of the 4 to the bottom side and then a cut to send the 6 to the bottom left for the win and a 2-0 series lead, enraging Strut for losing two games in such close fashion. Strut would not be denied in game 3 after Pounce gave up a wild card ball on the break and got caught with an illegally potted ball, giving Strut the ball-in-hand for his big finish. Pounce still won the series 2-1, and will his #13 ranked 12-ball bid is through to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Starlight. The red cue gets a look in this 8-ball series. Tysini's Leandra did most of the work in game 1, even making some balls for Pacific's Starlight, but she got stalled on the 8, and Starlight roared back to take the game with the last two shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Starlight had a highlight shot in game 2, rocketing the 14 to the top right and the 13 to the bottom right on a fast-paced double-pot. Leandra had a four-ball run and a three-ball run to catch up to Starlight, but the Hummingbirds' star got stymied by Starlight's defense on the 8, which then turned into Starlight potting the 9 at the bottom side and the 8 at the top left to win and clinch the series at 2-0. Leandra had a highlight in game 3, plucking the 2 off of the 8 and dropping it from the right rail to the bottom side on a second contact deflection with the cue. After some jostling late in the game, Starlight was able to pot the 8 in the top right for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Starlight, ranked #71 in 8-ball, will play in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Cassandra v. Puff II. We're back to 12-ball with the blue cue now. Diamond's Cassandra did well in beating former Gem Puff II, who couldn't gather a win for Boston. Cassandra avoided the errors that Boston's Puff II made, and that led the former to a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Cassandra held on longer in game 2, and used better set-up shots than did the Swifts' Puff II, who volleyed around the top side without ever getting aligned, giving Cassandra enough time to make her final shots and win the game, going up 2-0 in the series. In game 3, Cassandra gave away two wild card balls to Puff II, usually a death sentence. She overcame this with a thin cut on the 13 to the top left despite thorough defense, and took the series in a 3-0 sweep. Cassandra, ranked #12 for 12-ball, heads to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Starlight. The blue cue is up for 15-ball in the next series. A botched jump and a four-ball run by Todavía's Sparkles were not enough to keep Pacific's Starlight down, as she buried the 15 that Sparkles left short at the top right, taking a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a lot more choppy and back-and-forth, with each player making a ball or two and then turning over possession. In the end, the Volcanoes Starlight got the last turn, running out three balls after the Stills' Sparkles couldn't make anything of her ball-in-hand opportunity. Starlight owns a 2-0 series lead. Starlight again slacked in game 3, but Sparkles wasted her late four-ball run, turning it into a free-for-all ending that Starlight came up with the win in, sweeping the series 3-0. Ranked #79 for 15-ball, Starlight moves into the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Marsell v. Chicky Phil. The red cue returns in the southeast for a 7-ball series. Westside's Chicky Phil handled the more powerful shooting from Royal's Marsell, who rocked in a few shots that he might have gotten lucky on. Chicky Phil cut the 7 to the top side at the end, winning for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Marsell answered with a five-ball run-out in game 2, highlighted by his stunning second shot that saw the 4 and 5 bump twice before the 5 hit the 6 into the top side to extend his turn. With the win, Marsell tied up the series at 1 with the Rockers' Chicky Phil. Marsell played a calm and collected game 3, running out the final four balls to complete the come from behind win in the game, as well as a 2-1 series win. Marsell, ranked #35 for 7-ball, is in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Jasmine. The blue cue playing Accuracy is how the afternoon session will end. Freedom's Jasmine wasted a lead by missing three straight in game 1, allowing Maplewood's Fluffina to earn a shot at overtime. Fluffina won 4-5 in overtime on the second turn, going up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 stayed more competitive, with both players burying shots perfectly. They exchanged misses a bit late, and then Fluffina of the Lumberjacks missed the 12 to the bottom right, allowing the Cascades' Jasmine to walk away with a 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 started terribly, but the players bounced back from there. Fluffina held the tie for awhile, and then finally forced Jasmine into a miss, turning the tables on the situation from game 2 to end up with a 2-3 win to claim the series 2-1. Fluffina, ranked #24 in Accuracy, goes to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Leonette. The evening gets going with 12-ball and the red cue. Pacfic's Leonette gambled that a strategic scratch would work out in game 1, but Archtown's Sleepy B. set herself up well and Leonette had no response, allowing Sleepy B. to take the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had another close call in game 2, but won the game as the Arrows' Sleepy B. couldn't get organized even with a wild card ball in her hand, allowing Leonette to tie the series at 1 through patient play. In game 3, a comedy of errors saw Sleepy B. have and lose a wild card ball, followed by Leonette getting herself out of position, and then Sleepy B. finished the game and took the series 2-1 with her simple shots. Ranked #49 for 12-ball, Sleepy B. is in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Citrus. The red cue stays up for a series of Accuracy. Oceanside's Snuggle had a better go of things in game 1, holding even with Diamond's Citrus early on and then beating her 2-4 as she faded in the late part of the game, good for Snuggle to take a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus struggled both early and late in game 2, and the Waves' Snuggle did enough to keep ahead of her, eventually winning on a 3-5 result for a 2-0 series lead to clinch advancement. Game 3 was the best of the series, with both players playing well, but a late miss from Citrus sealed her fate with another loss, giving Snuggle the 3-0 series sweep. Ranked #34 for Accuracy, Snuggle will play in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Shannon v. Rainmane. The red cue continues its tour with Rotation along the southwest coast. Game 1 saw a bit of everything, most noticeably a large collapse from Web City's Rainmane after she pulled in a three-ball run, but she couldn't finish the game. Southern's Shannon chipped away at the deficit and finished it up after a missed bank of the 14 to the bottom side, winning 8-7 for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was also a close one, with the Monarchs' Shannon nearly squandering her three-ball run for a lead, but the Spiders' Rainmane faltered at the end, allowing Shannon to win 8-6 and clinch the series at 2-0. Shannon went with no nonsense in game 3, dominating throughout for an 8-2 win that sealed up her 3-0 sweep. Shannon takes her #24 ranked Rotation bid to the second round, where she'll host another Spider, Shiny, at this venue.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Charli XCX. The blue cue returns to play with Accuracy. Westside's Goatee scratched on the break, and Tysini's Charli capitalized by leaving her in bad spots for a few more shots, cruising to an easy 1-4 win for the visitor Charli to take a 1-0 series lead. The players stayed much more compact in game 2, hardly ceding an inch until late in the game when the Hummingbirds' Charli had a miss, and the Rockers' Goatee cashed in, taking the advantage and winning 1-2 to tie the series 1-1. Game 3 started off pretty sloppy, but the players zoned in and stayed tied at 3-3, forcing an overtime. In overtime, both players exchanged makes, but Goatee missed and lost 3-4 about halfway through the rack. Charli takes the series 2-1, and advances with her #57 ranked Accuracy bid to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Chicky Phil v. Twinkie II. The venue gets a doubleheader, now hosting 8-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Twinkie II took advantage of her four-ball run, leading her to a win over Westside's Chicky Phil that put her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Rockers' Chicky Phil did a good job of delaying the progress of the Specters' Twinkie II in game 2, as she played flustered on her early shots. She did rattle off a four-ball run, but it ended in scratch, and that gave Chicky Phil what he needed to take the game and tie the series at 1. Twinkie II rushed out to a decent lead in game 3, but it didn't hold under a four-ball run from Chicky Phil, and on his next turn, he iced the game and took the series 2-1. Ranked #25 for 8-ball, Chicky Phil will host the Pacific Volcanoes captain Starlight in the second round at this venue.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Paige. The final series of the night is 10-ball with the silver cue. Boston's Patches had the more consistent play in game 1, but Queens' Paige came up with the win when the accuracy faded for both players late in the game, allowing Paige to take the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went very poorly, with both players slopping their way around the table, scratching and failing to make contact on many occasions. The game ended on a modest two-ball run-out by the Swifts' Patches, tying the series with the Flames' Paige at 1. Paige made a very solid effort in game 3, and was rewarded with her a four-ball run-out to take the game and a 2-1 series win. Ranked #72 for 10-ball, Paige will travel to Everton's Chevrolet Center for a second round series with the Eagles' Puff III.
Biggest day of the break so far. Expect similar tomorrow.
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