Today should fill the schedule a bit better. We are currently holding our pace to finish the first round before the league takes another break for pool. The status of the second round starting before that break is questionable, what with administrative days for schedule creation and standings updates. For today, the games begin in...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Bells v. Precious. The blue cue gets the first nod today for 15-ball. Oceanside's Bells took a shaky game 1 by potting the 15, but both she and Pronger's Precious left opportunities for extended runs on the table. Bells leads the series 1-0 with this win. Bells had a five-ball run late in game 2, but she missed a cut on the 12, setting the Tridents' Precious up for a three-ball run-out on some good cut shots of her own, tying the series at 1 in a spectacular end. Bells had a full-on attack in game 3, with runs of four and three balls late, but a bank of the 15 off the left rail to the bottom right sealed the 2-1 series win for Precious. Ranked #91 for 15-ball, Precious heads to Pearl's Honda Driftwood Coliseum, where she'll visit the Surfers' Wings in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Brownie. The red cue steps in for a series of 12-ball. Golden's Dusty surrendered a wild card ball early on in game 1, but got one back at the best time, as Harrison's Brownie ended her four-ball run with an accidental potting of Dusty's last ball, giving Dusty the 1-0 series lead on a weird ending. The Specters' Brownie received a wild card ball and ball-in-hand from the Pilots' Dusty having a wild break, and she used those two advantages to work a five-ball run-out on her only turn in the game for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw both players work quickly to their last ball, but then stall, even with each holding a wild card ball. Brownie, after a series of errors, picked up the win at the bottom right, taking the series 2-1. Ranked #85 for 12-ball, Brownie is in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Strut. The red cue stays active for 10-ball. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy had a good share of the possession in game 1, and Golden's Strut missed his best chance at the 10 short at the top left, allowing Ms. Puppy to tap in for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut had two moments of agony in game 2, as he double-potted the 3 to the top side and 10 to the top right, only to see the cue go into the top left, and then a scratched after making the 8 that led Ms. Puppy of the Union to the last two balls and a win for the 2-0 series lead. Ms. Puppy dominated with a pair of four-ball runs in game 3, although her make of the 10 stood alone as she won for the 3-0 series sweep. Ranked #31 for 10-ball, Ms. Puppy advances to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Amber v. Kavan. The red cue continues its streak with 15-ball. Atlantic's Amber dominated early in the game, but Victoria's Kavan stepped up on a late four-ball run and then a 13-15 combination on his next turn to win the game at the top right pocket for a 1-0 series lead. Kavan of the Spurs had another win in game 2, but it wasn't pretty. The Pirates' Amber virtually gave the game away, faltering multiple times in the last five balls to allow Kavan the win for him to clinch the series at 2-0. Kavan almost won game 3 accidentally, with a bank combination of the 7-15 toward the bottom right not falling. Amber had a more conventional 7-15 combination to the same spot to get a win, making it a 2-1 series win for Kavan. Ranked #80 in 15-ball, Kavan will travel to UPS Hall in Maplewood to face the Lumberjacks' Diddley in the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Kayla v. Roxy. The blue cue is back in action for this series of Accuracy. Both players were perfect until the cluster had to be busted. Queens' Kayla missed three in a row, but enough for Freedom's Roxy to hold on despite two late misses, winning 2-3 for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw even better play from both sides, as they each missed once and forced overtime. In overtime, the Cascades' Roxy made a ball on the break, but the Flames' Kayla over-cut her shot, falling 1-2 and going down 2-0 in the series. Roxy fell apart around the middle of game 3, eventually losing 2-5, but taking the series 2-1. Ranked #62 for Accuracy, Roxy travels to Samsung Arena in Whitewater to face the Shores' Cheddar.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Goatee. The silver cue makes its first appearance of the day for its last set of 12-ball in this round. Tysini's Princess fell behind early after Westside's Goatee had a three-ball run, but she rallied back on a short run of her own, and eventually won with good positioning, going up 1-0 in the series. The Rockers' Goatee just outlasted the Hummingbirds' Princess, burying her well-set shots at the end on the left corners to tie the series at 1 with her game 2 win. In game 3, Goatee stunned with a five-ball run-out, a series of well-executed shots capped with a tough bank on the 2 to the top left to claim the series 2-1. Ranked #98 for 12-ball, Goatee is set to travel to Archtown's Starbucks Arena to play against the Arrows' Ruby in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Pedey. The blue cue returns for some 8-ball. Diamond's Pedey picked up the first game with a three-ball run-out, using his set-up shots effectively as Lighton's Spirit couldn't sneak the 8 behind the 9, and Pedey's win gave him a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit had another hot start in game 2 come up short, as the Gems' Pedey worked another three-ball run-out with excellent positioning skills to take the series at 2-0. Spirit had a blitz attack in game 3, running four balls early on and never relenting to salvage a win, making it a 2-1 series win for the rookie Pedey. Ranked #80 in 8-ball, Pedey heads to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Strawberry v. Bryant. Out in the east, the red cue is up for Accuracy. Pronger's Strawberry sank the 14, 5, and 9 in the bottom side on the break, the only time in recent history of a player sinking three balls in one pocket in a full-rack break. Still, game 1 went to Maplewood's Bryant, who made seven shots to win 0-1 and take a 1-0 series lead in a perfect appearance. Game 2 also started well for the Lumberjacks' Bryant, but he finally cracked and missed a couple of shots. Late excellence by the Tridents' Strawberry forced overtime, where it took two turns for Strawberry to seal a 2-3 win and tie the series at 1. Bryant had pinpoint accuracy again in game 3, going perfect for the second time in three games to win 0-1 and seal the 2-1 series victory. Ranked #74 for Accuracy, Bryant could be a favorite on this bracket going forward into the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Mams. The silver cue is back for this series of 15-ball. Bear of Whitewater had a three-ball run late in game 1, but it ended up being a bit short of what he needed, as his miss on the 15 gave Viewpoint Sound's Mams a tap-in for the 1-0 series lead after a messy game. Save for one solid run of play by the Shores' Bear, game 2 mostly belonged to the Meteors' Mams, although she was far from dominant either way. With the win, Mams secured the series at 2-0. Bear's scratch in game 3 ended up working for him, as Mams failed her 3-15 combination attempt, lining up an easier on for Bear at the top left, which gave him a win. Mams took the series 2-1, and her #52 ranked 15-ball campaign travels to Tysini's Cisco Arena for a match with the Hummingbirds' Bright.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Kavan v. Kayla. The red cue steps up for some 12-ball in this series. Victoria's Kavan took advantage of the wild card ball Queens' Kayla gave him, winning game 1 on a three-ball run-out that exploited having an extra pocket open to succeed, giving the host the 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Kayla had a false sense of security in game 2, thinking her four-ball run would be enough to hold off the Spurs' Kavan. Instead, Kavan replied with a well-executed four-ball run-out with precise positioning to take the game and a 2-0 series lead. Kavan botched his chance to win in game 3, removing his defense but missing his last shot, allowing Kayla to snag a game and make it a 2-1 series. Ranked #41 for 12-ball, Kavan will host the Harrison Specters' Brownie in the second round at this venue.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Whiskers. The afternoon closes with a series of 15-ball and the blue cue. Southern's Nicole had a decent start but faded fast, and Infinity's Whiskers was there to pick up the pieces, working a four-ball run-out to close out a win and take a 1-0 series lead after game 1. In game 2, the Monarchs' Nicole let the Torpedoes' Whiskers do most of the early work, and then burst out with a sharply shot five-ball run-out to close the game, tying the series at 1 with the burst of excellence. Nicole and Whiskers battled with erratic shooting in the decisive game 3, until Nicole caromed the cue off the 11 and took the 15 in the top right to seal a 2-1 series win. Ranked #22 for 15-ball, Nicole hosts the Pacific Volcanoes' Starlight at this venue in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Sugar v. Slinks. The evening will start with 12-ball and the blue cue. Web City's Sugar gave away a wild card ball on the break, but she still managed to get the win for a 1-0 series lead, out-shooting Harrison's Slinks and ending on a three-ball run-out to close a quick game 1. The Specters' Slinks saw her well-built lead buckle but not break in game 2, as the Spiders' Sugar used a four-ball run to make it close in the end. Slinks left Sugar with no shot on her last ball, and Sugar failed to return that favor, giving Slinks a clean shot to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Slinks surrendered a wild card ball on the break, and that proved vital to Sugar, who won with her last two shots from ball-in-hand with pocket flexibility after Slinks missed contact on her final ball on a kick attempt. Sugar took the series 2-1, and her #5 ranked 12-ball will host Nightfur of the Royal Crowns in the second round at this venue.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Smokey. The blue cue remains in play for 7-ball. Diamond's Smokey came up big when he needed to, scoring the 7 at the top left to win game 1 and take a 1-0 series lead despite Lighton's Acorn having the better game in terms of shooting ability and success. The Prestige's Acorn had a similar game 2, running five balls but missing twice on the 7, which was cleaned up to the bottom right by the Gems' Smokey, as he secured the series at 2-0. Acorn salvaged a win in game 3, making quick work of a 1-7 combination to the top left from a tough cut angle, making it a 2-1 series win for Smokey. Ranked #87 for 7-ball, Smokey heads to Atlantic's McDonald's Hall to face the Pirates' Americus in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Ms. Puppy. The game is still 7-ball, but the red cue makes an appearance here. Ms. Puppy of Modernistic had a wonderful game 1, doing everything but winning with a hair-raising six-ball run that ended with the 7 lined up for Stinky of Freedom to pot at the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy had a bit less of the offense but a bit more of the success in game 2, cutting the 7 in for the win after the Cascades' Stinky potted a few balls but had a short run end. The series is tied at 1. In game 3, Ms. Puppy seemed to again have the edge, but her bank of the 7 came up short at the bottom left, and Stinky tapped it in, taking the series 2-1. Ranked #22 for 7-ball, Stinky will host former teammate Kavan, now of the Victoria Spurs, in the second round at this venue.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Lydia v. Shannon. The silver cue appears in the Southwest for this series of Accuracy. Lighton's Lydia thought she was safe when she induced two misses by Southern's Shannon, but the visitor forced three misses on the host, winning 2-4 to take a 1-0 series lead with the savvy play. The Monarchs' Shannon tried to get tricky again in game 2, leaving a poor shot for the Prestige's Lydia on the 12, but she got stuck with a bad angle herself, and ended up losing 2-3 when Lydia made it the second time, good to tie the series at 1. Shannon started game 3 badly, but Lydia couldn't finish it, and the game went to overtime tied at 3. In overtime, Lydia missed her second shot and Shannon got a good line to pot hers for the 3-4 win and a 2-1 series win. Shannon takes her #84 ranked Accuracy campaign to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Kiwi. The Pepsi Arena gets its third event in four league series, as 15-ball is played with the silver cue now. Terrace City's Kiwi dominated late in game 1, working a four-ball run before a bit of possession from Lighton's Spirit, and then a four-ball run-out to win the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi kept her foot on the gas in game 2, using a six-ball run to pressure the Prestige's Spirit late. Kiwi's plans fell apart when her miss on the 12 left the 15 short at the bottom left after a few rail caroms, and Spirit used the 12-15 combination to win the game and tie the series at 1. Game 3 played pretty evenly between the two players, but it came down to the 15, and Kiwi was able to pot it, taking the series 2-1 with the final victory. Kiwi takes her #62 ranked 15-ball bid on the road again in the second round, playing Nightfur of the Crowns in Royal's Kraft Forum.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Juno v. Midnight. The blue cue is back for Rotation as representatives of Urban Core North rivals meet. Westside's Midnight made a huge five-ball run to take the lead, but missed the 11 short at the bottom left. Modernistic's Juno then worked the last four shots, capitalizing on the 15 also being left short to win 8-7 for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Juno got a bit gutsy in game 2, holding steady with the Rockers' Midnight for most of the game and then winning with sharp cuts on a three-ball run for an 8-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Midnight looked really good in the meaningless game 3, working an 8-0 shutout with a six-ball run-out included to bring it to a quick end. Ranked #10 for Rotation, Juno will host Modernistic Union teammate Chimpy in the second round at this venue.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Zach v. Leandra. The night ends with 15-ball and the red cue. Viewpoint Sound's Zach did a strong job in dominating possession in game 1, but his mistake was leaving the 14 and 15 close to pockets, which allowed Tysini's Leandra an easy finish to all his previous hard work, and her win gave her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 can only be described as an embarrassment to the game of pool, with both players at their absolute worst. In the end, the Meteors' Zach made the same mistake as last time, and the Hummingbirds' Leandra cashed in to take a 2-0 series lead with another easy finish in the win. Game 3 saw improvements, but Zach inexcusably missed a short straight-in shot on the 15, giving Leandra the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Ranked #81 for 15-ball, Leandra will visit Del Sur's Microsoft Center to oppose the Southern Monarchs captain, Panda, in the second round.
Tomorrow's a busy day. I do not know how much pool will be played, but there will be at least some.
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