This will actually probably cover two days to get a more full post out. This weekend's game-day begins with...
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Rainmane v. Fluffina. The red cue is up for 12-ball to lead off the festivities. Maplewood's Fluffina took game 1, using a bit of defense and positioning to beat Web City's Rainmane, capped off with two accurate shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina played smart in game 2, using a ball for defense until she got things set up, and the Spiders' Rainmane could not gather good positioning, falling again as Fluffina gained a 2-0 series lead. Rainmane managed to take the win in game 3 despite giving away a wild card ball early on, leveraging her early four-ball run to pace the win. Fluffina, ranked #77 for 12-ball, will play in the second round due to a 2-1 series win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Shawn. The game is still 12-ball, but the silver cue will get a look now. Swordpoint's Shawn couldn't sustain his hot start to game 1, allowing Pearl's Neopolitan to get even and then win with a bank of the 6 to the bottom left setting up the 4 in the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan pinned the Blades' Shawn with defense in game 2, and his attempt to strategically scratch via a jump shot failed, illegally contacting and potting Neopolitan's final ball to give her the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Neopolitan gave away a wild card ball on the break in game 3, and Shawn used it to get a win, banking the 13 to the top left before tapping the 11 into the bottom left to make it a 2-1 series. Neopolitan, ranked #21 for 12-ball, advances to host Jake of the Royal Crowns at this venue in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Shadow. This is an intra-team game, with two Spiders opponents battling in Rotation with the red cue, although there is still the Rivalry aspect. Shadow couldn't get a jump in the game, allowing two three-ball runs from Shiny, the latter to finish an 8-3 win on ball-in-hand to take a 1-0 series lead. Shadow had a couple of highlights, sinking the 4 on a double-kiss that sent it to the bottom right, followed by a 5-9-7 kick combination the bottom side, tying the game at 3 in game 2. Shadow ran away on a four-ball run later on, and won with a glancing kick on the 13 to the top left for an 8-5 victory, tying the series at 1. In game 3, Shiny and Shadow exchanged remarkable shots and caroms throughout, entertaining their fans together. Shiny emerged on a well-played two-ball run-out for an 8-7 win. The #29 ranked Rotation player, Shiny will go to the second round for the Spiders.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Sleepy B. The red cue stays up for 10-ball this time around. Modernistic's Puff I did very well with positioning in game 1, working a five-ball run-out after Archtown's Sleepy B. couldn't keep going on her run after an illegally potted ball, with Puff I claiming a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 wasn't as sharp on either side, but the Arrows' Sleepy B. tied it on a tough angle shot on the 10 to the bottom side, making it 1-1 against the Union's Puff I. In game 3, Sleepy B. finished exceptionally well after a defensive struggle early on, using a six-ball run-out highlighted by her bank of the 9 to the top left to seal the win for a 2-1 series win. Sleepy B., ranked #56 for 10-ball, goes to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Cubby. The blue cue is in action for a series of 12-ball. Maplewood's Cubby weathered a storm and took advantage of the wild card ball that Capital City's Sprinkles gave away, using defense to lock down his win for a 1-0 lead in comeback fashion. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles had to catch up in game 2, but did so remarkably after a scratch by the Lumberjacks' Cubby. Sprinkles kicked off the top rail from the kitchen to pot the 14 at the bottom right, then banked the 9 off the right rail to the top side, and used a two-rail kick off the top and left to push the 15 to the bottom left, which she tapped in on her next turn for a win to tie the series at 1. Sprinkles had a three-ball run in game 3, which ended up pacing her quick attack, and her solid set-up work did the rest as she won the game for a 2-1 series win. Ranked #15 for 12-ball, Sprinkles heads to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside: Graham v. Shannon. The silver cue returns for 8-ball. Game 1 started with both players being cautious until Eastside's Graham ripped a six-ball run. Southern's Shannon couldn't answer it, and Graham potted the last two balls to take a 1-0 series lead on his next turn. The Monarchs' Shannon was the one with the long run in game 2, getting herself set for the 8 with a five-ball run that Graham came up short in answering, allowing Shannon to tap in the 8 to tie the series at 1. Graham managed to be just a bit faster than Shannon in game 2, as the Sharks captain put away the 8 for a 2-1 series win with the well-played game. Ranked #23 for 8-ball, Graham advances to the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Princess. The silver cue stays up for a series of Rotation. Ms. Puppy of Modernistic had a wonderful start to the game, including a kick-carom off the 5 that sank the 12 and a 5-7 combination to the top side, but Tysini's Princess won 8-7 on a four-ball run-out, taking a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Ms. Puppy of the Union tied a back-and-forth game at 5, but scratched on the next shot. Princess of the Hummingbirds had a three-ball run-out to take the game 8-5 and secure the series at 2-0. Princess completed the 3-0 sweep with an amazing five-ball run-out for another comeback win in game 3, winning 8-6 to advance her #63 ranked Rotation bid to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Strut. The blue cue heads to the Northeast for a series of 7-ball. Archtown's Sally emerged with a win in game 1, cutting the 5 to the bottom left and getting the 7 in the top right the next turn, meaning Strut of Golden's double-pot of the 4 and 6 to the right corners was a wasted highlight, as Sally went up 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Strut answered back with a three-ball run-out to top the Arrows' Sally in game 2. Strut used a carom of the 4 off the 7, which then banked to the top side, and then good positioning on the 5 and 7 to take his win and tie the series at 1. Strut had a four-ball run from the break in game 3, but Sally used a good bank of the 4 to the top left from near the bottom right, and then shot the 7 directly to the top left to seal the win and a 2-1 series win. Ranked #13 for 7-ball, Sally is through to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Shelley. The silver cue returns to action, playing 15-ball. Game 1 was a bit sloppy, with both players missing on the edges of pockets, but Queens' Max missed one too many times, and Infinity's Shelley ran out the last three balls to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Max had another choppy appearance in game 2, and the Torpedoes' Shelley struggled along with him until a clever three-ball run-out with a double-kiss bank of the 13 to the top left followed by a slight masse to get the 15 in the top right, securing the series at 2-0. Shelley ended game 3 just like the other two, working a three-ball run-out after a grinding meeting, and Shelley took the series 3-0 in a sweep. Shelley takes her #48 ranked 15-ball bid to the second round with the series win.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Paps v. Shannon. More 7-ball is up next, with the blue cue handling this series. Southern's Shannon and Pronger's Paps both had opportunities for 4-7 combinations, but both missed. Shannon then did a four-ball run-out to take game 1 with solid execution of her shots. The Monarchs' Shannon did all of the work in game 2, scoring a five-ball run early and getting the other two after a scratch by the Tridents' Paps, sealing the series with the win to go up 2-0. Game 3 did not play very cleanly, as both players struggled. Shannon's late miss on the 7 opened the door for Paps to tap it in and get a win, but Shannon still won the series 2-1. Shannon is ranked #59 for 7-ball and headed to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Kayla v. Jennifer Livilotti. The blue cue remains at the table for some 9-ball. Terrace City's Jennifer was undeterred by a jump-make of the 2 to the top right by Queens' Kayla, answering with a 5-9 combination to give Jennifer the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw some good shooting on both sides, featuring a three-ball run by the Flames' Kayla, but two two-packs from the Knights' Jennifer sealed the win for her, propelling her to a 2-0 lead in the series. Kayla appeared to have an edge in game 3, but she couldn't corral the 9, and Jennifer scored it to the bottom side to take the series in a 3-0 sweep. Jennifer's #53 ranked 9-ball bid is into the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Ice Cream v. Gabe. The red cue is back after a long break, with 15-ball being the event. Infinity's Gabe had a chaotic six-ball run on five shots in game 1, working in two double-pots and a lot of pinball action. Commerce's Ice Cream challenged later on, but the Torpedoes' Gabe went up 1-0 in the series with a three-ball run-out made up of minor cuts. Gabe also took the win in a much tamer game 2, as the Tradewinds' Ice Cream squandered many opportunities late in the game, allowing Gabe easy access to a 2-0 series lead. Gabe impressed at the end of game 3 as well, scoring the 11 in the bottom side on a masse shot, and then winning with a 12-15 combination to the top left, earning a 3-0 series sweep. Gabe takes his #60 ranked 15-ball bid to the second round in impressive form.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Princess. Two legendary players meet for a series of 8-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Princess struck first in a competitive game 1, scoring the 8 after Golden's Dusty jumped it to pot the 4 but missed the following cut shot. The Hummingbirds' Princess had a good run in game 2, and the Pilots' Dusty had no answer for it, eventually surrendering as Princess buried the last two balls to seal the series with a 2-0 lead. Dusty finally got a game, winning game 3 with a six-ball run to pace her attack and a two-ball run-out, while Princess claimed a 2-1 series win. Ranked #66 for 8-ball, Princess will play in the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Stealth. The red cue remains for another 15-ball series. Chapman of Victoria held her ground a strong Stealth of Swordpoint in game 1, and eventually she was rewarded with a four-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth countered with a game 2 win, tying the series as 1 when he made the last two balls after the Spurs' Chapman botched a relatively straight shot on the 14. Chapman dominated most of game 3, keeping Stealth to perimeter or obstructed shots until the end of the game, where her ill-advised attempt to put the 15 in the bottom side ended her four-ball run, and Stealth buried it to the bottom left to win the game and take the series 2-1. Ranked #61 in 15-ball, Stealth sneaks through to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Cleo. We stay on the same bracket, playing 15-ball with the red cue again in the Eastern Hills this time. Game 1 was a sloppy affair for both players, but doubly so for Diamond's Citrus, as she watched Everton's Cleo break free for a four-ball run-out at the end of the game, giving the latter a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus somewhat set up the Eagles' Cleo in a quick game 2, jamming the 2 out of the bottom right. Cleo converted from there with a bank of the 2 off the bottom rail, glancing off the right rail and striking the 15 to the top right for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Citrus had a fighting chance in game 3, but rattled the 15 off the edges of both side pockets, lining up a straight shot at medium distance for Cleo, who buried it to complete the 3-0 sweep. The #63 ranked 15-ball player, Cleo heads to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Cheddar. It's a doubleheader for the Gems hotshot, now playing 7-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Citrus went up 1-0 in the series by burying the 7 on the break to the bottom right, never letting Whitewater's Cheddar see the table. Game 2 went through the full rack, and it was a much tougher game, as the Gems' Citrus had to wait for the Shores' Cheddar to leave the 6 short at the top left before getting lined up for her win, going to a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 featured a defensive-oriented Citrus, who worked the back half of the game at keeping Cheddar from a clear shot, which succeeded with Citrus making the last four balls on two turns to take the series in a 3-0 sweep. Citrus is ranked #34 in 7-ball, and she'll play in the second round.
That's all for the weekend games. We'll get up to speed eventually.
No comments:
Post a Comment