The games continue today, beginning in...
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Leonette. The blue cue will lead things off with this series of 9-ball form the Southwest. Pacific's Leonette had game 1 with a three-ball run that brought the game to a quick pace, and Victoria's Spice left the 9 short at the end, so Leonette tapped it in for the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice took control in game 2, keeping the Volcanoes' Leonette in check with her five-ball run-out that featured great cuts and set-up shots to tie the series at 1. Leonette worked a four-ball run in game 3, but her miss on the 7 allowed Spice to earn a three-ball run-out that ended in a bank of the 9 to the top left for the win, making it a 2-1 series in favor of the host. Spice wasted no time in clinching the series in game 4, dominating possession early and late, with the five-ball run-out giving her a win and the 3-1 series lead. Spice had a shocking ending to game 5, scoring a ball on the break and then sinking the 9 at the top right after caroms from the 1 and 6. Spice took the series 4-1, and will take her #50 ranked 9-ball campaign to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center to face the Swifts' Puff II in the third round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shelley. The Southwest Derby renews their rivalry in this 15-ball series with the silver cue. Infinity's Shelley dazzled with her double-pot of the 10 and 12, using the 10 as a carom device to sink the 12 in the bottom right before spinning to the top left, all part of a seven-ball run-out to gain a 1-0 series lead over Victoria's Yekaterina. In game 2, the Spurs' Yekaterina had a weak contact on the 3, and the Torpedoes' Shelley exploited the leave with a 3-15 combination to the top right for a quick win to make it a 2-0 lead in the series. Shelley didn't receive any obvious benefits in a fairly average game 3, but Yekaterina did leave the 15 short at the top left for Shelley to tap in, securing the series at 3-0. Both players missed attempts to win with 10-15 combinations in game 4, but Shelley got a second chance with a 12-15 combination that she made at the top right, extending her series lead to 4-0 over Yekaterina. Shelley let game 5 get away from her with sloppy play late in the game, as Yekaterina scored the 15 from ball-in-hand to get a win. Ranked #48, Shelley took the series 4-1 and advances to the third round in the process.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Dani v. Midnight. The blue cue is back for more 9-ball with this Center Division battle. Westside's Midnight couldn't make a shot, allowing Capital City's Dani to make all 9 balls on four turns, ending with a three-ball run-out to earn a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played out much closer, with the Sharpshooters' Dani fading late while the Rockers' Midnight posted a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 also proved to be pretty close, with each player taking a chance at the 9, but both missed from long-distance. Dani ended up kicking it to the top left off the bottom rail to get the win and take a 2-1 series lead. Dani played better in game 4, but got nothing to show for it, as her miss on the 9 lined Midnight up to strike it in for the win, tying the series again at 2. Dani worked a six-ball run in game 5, but failed again on the 9, and Midnight buried it to the top left to take the series 3-2. Midnight advances her #18 ranked 9-ball bid to the third round with a strong performance in a tough series.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Ice Cream. The silver cue comes back for 7-ball in the Eastern Hills. Commerce's Ice Cream had a four-ball run in game 1, beginning with a crazy double-pot of the 1 to the bottom left and the 6 on the kick to the top side, and she later outlasted Pronger's Precious in a difficult finish to take the 7 and win the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious kept an even keel heading into game 2, and rallied with a seven-ball run-out on the first turn after the break from the Tradewinds' Ice Cream. This tied the series at 1. Precious failed to retain control in game 3, allowing Ice Cream enough shots to get comfortable and eventually win, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Precious lost it in game 4, sending the 7 narrowly wide to allow Ice Cream a tap-in for the win, which gave her a 3-1 series lead in the process. Precious capitalized on Ice Cream missing the 7 in game 5, which made it a 3-2 series in the end. Ice Cream is ranked #79 for 7-ball, but she takes a Cinderella bid to the third round with this win.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Starlight. The blue cue is back again on the coast for a series of 15-ball. Southern's Nicole undercooked a shot late in game 1 after a five-ball run from Pacific's Starlight. The miss allowed Starlight to make the last two balls and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Nicole benefited from shaky play by the Volcanoes' Starlight in game 2, and while not totally confident herself, Nicole was able to get the win and tie the series at 1. Starlight was a bit sloppy again in game 3, but Nicole missed an opportunity late, releasing a four-ball run-out for Starlight to take the win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Starlight stayed calm, even as Nicole had most of the momentum over the middle of game 4. Starlight was able to grab the last two shots and get a winning, securing the series at 3-1. Starlight began game 5 with a five-ball run, but Nicole answered with a seven-ball run-out to end it, giving her the win. Starlight took the series 3-2, and advances her #79 ranked 15-ball bid to the third round as well.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Sleepy B. The action heads east again with a series of 10-ball featuring the red cue. Freedom's Nikolai got away with a shaky game 1 as Archtown's Sleepy B. left the 10 in range and Nikolai buried it to take the early 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. had a stronger finish for game 2, working a three-ball run-out with strong accuracy to topple the Cascades' Nikolai, tying the series at 1. Nikolai responded with another decent effort, winning game 3 on a three-ball run-out to take the series lead at 2-1. In game 4, Sleepy B. unraveled when she couldn't handle the 8 at the bottom right, eventually scratching, which led to Nikolai making the last two balls and clinching the series at 3-1 with the win. Sleepy B. countered with a decent finish to game 5, making the last five balls on two turns with a bit of defense to limit Nikolai. Ranked #11 for 10-ball, Nikolai claimed the series 3-2 and heads into the third round.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside: Chelsea v. B. Chapman. The red cue stays in action for the first of three consecutive 9-ball series. Victoria's Chapman ended up getting the game 1 win in a back-and-forth meeting with Eastside's Chelsea, and this gives the visitor a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Chelsea pulled a bit of trickery in game 2, leaving a shot that the Spurs' Chapman thought she could see, but actually caused illegal contact. Chelsea took the ball-in-hand on a 2-9 combination and tied the series at 1 with the savvy win. The games remained quick with game 3 going in favor of Chapman as she potted the 1 and then did a cut combination on the 3-9 to the bottom right to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Chapman ran five balls from the break in game 4, but it failed her as Chelsea played better in the end. Chelsea had a highlight by jumping the 9 to pot the 7 at the bottom right, and she'd put the 9 there too when Chapman left it short, allowing the series to be tied at 2. Game 5 played out as expected, a tight game that saw Chapman just rattle the 9 out and Chelsea bury it on the next shot to take the series 3-2. Ranked #29 for 9-ball, Chelsea will host Smokey of the Diamond Gems at this venue in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Shiny. This 9-ball series is with the silver cue, and is also an installment of the new Black and Orange Derby, so named for each team's color palette. Terrace City's Kiwi made just one mistake, a failed jump, but Web City's Shiny was ineffective in answering that, and took the loss as Kiwi holds a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shiny recovered with a decent game 2, controlling possession and scoring the 9 after the Knights' Kiwi missed it to tie the series at 1. Shiny put the pressure on high after making the 9 and the 2 to the right corners on the break of game 3, and she now leads Kiwi by a 2-1 score in the series. Kiwi got lucky to stay alive in game 4, missing the 9 on her first attempt but watching Shiny chip it into the rail and leave it by the top right for Kiwi to tap in on the second try, making it a 2-2 series. Kiwi got lucky again in game 5, as her late run was stalled by bad position, but revived when Shiny scratched. Kiwi potted the 9 from ball-in-hand to take the series 3-2, and her #68 ranked 9-ball bid is into the third round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Valencia. The night begins with 9-ball and the red cue. Pronger's Precious got away with game 1, as Golden's Valencia left the 9 just short at the bottom left on her bank attempt, and Precious' tap-in gave her the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia didn't get discouraged, rallying for a seven-ball run-out in game 2 that stunned the Tridents' Precious with the effortless precision that sufficed to tie the series at 1. Precious had to weather another deep run by Valencia in game 3, as she took four straight but missed on the 8, leaving an easy two shots for Precious to pot for the 2-1 series lead on the win. The end of game 4 played out pretty close, with bad angle misses conceded by each player before Valencia buried her second chance on the 9 in the top side from another unfavorable angle, retying the series at 2. Valencia put Precious in trouble late in game 5, but her four-ball run ended in a scratch, and Precious made the 9 from ball-in-hand to win the series 3-2. Ranked #38 for 9-ball, Precious will be on the road in the third round. With the loss, Valencia is the eighth player eliminated from the tournament, and Precious earns her first kill of the year.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Ruby. The silver cue is back for some 7-ball as Pedey plays the first game of a home doubleheader. Diamond's Pedey survived a late scare by Archtown's Ruby after he had a three-ball run and she answered with the next two. She left the 7 short, and Pedey tapped it in to take a 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Arrows' Ruby answered by completing a three-ball run-out in game 2, keeping the Gems' Pedey from any last-shot heroics as the series goes to a 1-1 tie. Game 3 played out pretty tightly, with a handful of misses keeping it competitive. Pedey got the last laugh, grabbing the win with a medium-distance shot on the 7 to retake the series lead at 2-1. Ruby did all she could in game 4, piecing together a five-ball run to look dominant, but she left the 7 short at the top right, and Pedey tapped it in, clinching the series at 3-1. Pedey closed up with a win in game 5 despite surrendering a four-ball run to Ruby, and he won the series 4-1. Ranked #51 for 7-ball, Pedey will host a third round series at this venue.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Chelsea. The rookie gets a second series with the blue cue and 12-ball on the slate. Diamond's Pedey appeared to be in full control in game 1, but Eastside's Chelsea went on a four-ball run and managed to get position on her last ball first, scoring it to take a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Pedey had game 2 in his hands, and then he gave up a wild card ball to the Sharks' Chelsea, who then muscled her way into the good position to take the win, which she eventually did for a 2-0 series lead. Pedey again let early success go to waste in game 3, allowing his early four-ball run to be wiped out by a four-ball run-out with excellent positioning from Chelsea as she secured the series at 3-0. In game 4, Chelsea had a lot of work to do after a four-ball run by Pedey, but she established defense and he was reluctant to confront it, leading to her meticulously clearing the table and ending with a glancing bottom right kick on her final ball to steal the win and make it 4-0 in the series. Pedey had his best effort in game 5, but he still proved a bit scattered, and a composed Chelsea rallied from behind with a resilient performance, banking the 2 to the top left to win the game and sweep the series 5-0. Ranked #27 for 12-ball, Chelsea defeated the top seed on the bracket and plays on into the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Strawberry. The actions shifts west for a series of 10-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Leonette seemed to be doing well throughout game 1, but collapsed at the end of the a three-ball run where she missed the 10, allowing Pronger's Strawberry to cash in with the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette got one back with the game 2 win, capitalizing on the Tridents' Strawberry missing just wide on the classic finish attempt toward the top left. The win by Leonette tied the series at 1. Leonette kept the strong play going in game 3, battling closely with Strawberry. It boiled down to Strawberry missing the 8 at the bottom right, which Leonette tapped in and set herself up for the 10, converting it to take a 2-1 series lead. In game 4, Leonette took the win with a three-ball run-out, and Strawberry didn't have much in response as Leonette secured the series at 3-1. Strawberry thought she could get a game to save face, but her three-ball run ended early, and Leonette turned in a three-ball run-out, sealing the series at 4-1 in her favor. Ranked #23 for 10-ball, Leonette will play in the third round. With the loss, Strawberry is the ninth player eliminated from the tournament, and Leonette had earned her first kill of the year.
HP Field Events Center, Eastside: Niki v. Gizmo. The red cue gets the final two series of the night, first playing this set of Accuracy. Central's Gizmo played just a tad better than Eastside's Niki in game 1, keeping her off balance as he took the game 2-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Niki fired back with a 3-4 overtime win in game 2, forcing the Warriors' Gizmo into a narrow miss and then getting him to miss again in overtime to produce the win and tie the series at 1. Gizmo grabbed game 3 with a series of misses from an imprecise Niki, causing the final to be 1-5 as Gizmo stayed nearly spotless in making it a 2-1 series lead for himself. In game 4, it was Niki who played a nearly perfect game, winning 1-3 over a strong but inconsistent Gizmo to tie the series again at 2. Game 5 was a display of talent all around, with Niki holding on early, but Gizmo getting the last push and Niki failing twice to lose 1-2, giving Gizmo the 3-2 series win. Gizmo is ranked #90 for Accuracy and plays on into the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Tigerette. Long-time friends and rivals battle with the red cue in 8-ball to close up the busy day of games. Commerce's Tigerette faded from her initial domination of game 1, and Boston's Sweetheart lulled her in just enough to induce a bad shot on the 8 that ended in a scratch from Tigerette, giving Sweetheart the win as the 8 sank for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette would not be denied in game 2, working a four-ball run-out after the Swifts' Sweetheart had a pair of misses on the 8, and the win by Tigerette tied the series at 1. Tigerette proved resilient, going down by multiple shots early in game 3, only to pick up a six-ball run-out with wonderful execution at first and positioning at the end, defeated Sweetheart to make it a 2-1 series lead. Tigerette clinched the series with an abrasive offensive output in game 4, alternating between excellence and dangerous shooting, but Sweetheart couldn't find the right pace, and Tigerette leads 3-1 with the win. Tigerette didn't have much in game 5, and Sweetheart used a four-ball run and a wicked cut to score the win, making it a 3-2 series. Ranked #89 for 8-ball, Tigerette advances to the third round.
That's 70 games today, and we'll be back tomorrow with more action. There is still some doubt as to whether cricket will be played this week or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment