We're back on a Wednesday with a full schedule likely to be played. The morning series has...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Lydia v. Cowzart. The first set of the day is 10-ball with the blue cue. Pearl's Cowzart had the pace of play in game 1, working a four-ball run at one point and capitalizing on Lighton's Lydia missing the 10 to finish on a classic bank to the top left from the right rail for the 1-0 series lead for the visitor. The Prestige's Lydia went with a stunner of a double-pot to win game 2, making the highlight reel as she drove the 1 to the bottom right with the carom taking the 10 at the top right, leaving the Surfers' Cowzart in shock as the series moves to a 1-1 tie. Lydia absolutely dominated in game 3, working a nine-ball run on her second turn, but she missed the one that matters, and Cowzart tapped the 10 she left short at the bottom left in for the win, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Lydia fired back with another possession-based effort for game 4, leaving Cowzart with few viable shots and closing the door this time with a three-ball run-out, tying the series at 2. Lydia took game 5 in confident form, closing with a well-positioned three-ball run-out to earn a 3-2 series win. Lydia is ranked #14 for 10-ball and advances to the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Lorde. The silver cue's debut for the day is in Accuracy. Boston's Puff II played better in game 1, never feeling threatened as she picked up a 2-5 win over Commerce's Lorde, good for a 1-0 series lead early on. The Tradewinds' Lorde made huge strides for improvement in game 2, playing a nearly perfect game with a lot of pressure from the Swifts' Puff II. Lorde won 1-3, and tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw Lorde take control early and lose it late, eventually falling 4-5 in overtime after a too-close break that Puff II scored a ball from on the next shot to get the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 followed a similar pattern, except Puff II recovered from losing the lead by winning 3-4 in overtime after Lorde scratched on the break. Puff II clinched the series at 3-1 with this win. Lorde got some redemption, winning game 5 by a 2-4 score to make it a 3-2 series win for Puff II. Ranked #82 for Accuracy, Puff II is into the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Juno v. Stinky. The highly-hyped rookie hosts a solid veteran in 15-ball with the silver cue. Freedom's Stinky successfully hit the highlight reel with a 7-14-11-13-9 combination to the bottom right in game 1. Modernistic's Juno made the highlight worthless when she converted a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky managed to weather a five-ball run from the Union's Juno in game 2, and capitalized on her scratch to take the 15 from ball-in-hand, tying the series at 1 with the win. Stinky did well in game 3 to get the 15 to the bottom right, and Juno spent a lot of time keeping balls away from it. Stinky got around the defense by kicking the cue into the 3 and getting a carom to pot the 15, taking a 2-1 series lead. Stinky appeared to control the pace of play in game 4, but he still lost as a final three-ball run came up short. Juno tapped the 15 in and took the win, tying the series again at 2. Stinky set the tone early again in game 5 with a five-ball run, but he finished the job this time, getting a win in a close finish to take the series 3-2. Ranked #76 for 15-ball, Stinky will play in the third round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Hoot v. A. Charlton. The red cue comes on for the first time today with a 7-ball series. Pronger's Hoot played very in game 1, limiting Golden's Charlton to two shots as Hoot made all seven balls, finishing with a nearly-butchered four-ball run-out with the final strike from distance to take the 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Hoot played nearly as well in game 2, with the Pilots' Charlton again having a low shot total at the expense of Hoot's six-ball run-out to win and earn a 2-0 series lead. Hoot didn't have as great a game in game 3, but he did win again with a four-ball run-out, including a sharp kick of the 7 to the bottom right to clinch the series at 3-0. Hoot kept up the strong play, making a four-ball run and also the last two shots to grab another win over a hapless Charlton, making it 4-0 in the series. Hoot made it a 5-0 sweep with a big finish, using the leave of the 4 that Charlton produced to double-pot it and the 7 to the bottom and top right corners as the final shot. Ranked #19 in 7-ball, Hoot takes a dominant effort as momentum into the third round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Patches. The blue cue gets a series of Rotation in this Doubles Derby match. Boston's Patches saw a six-ball lead evaporate in game 1 as Golden's Strut made a huge run, but he faltered on the 15, and Patches scored it for an 8-7 win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Swifts' Patches again burst out to a nice lead, but the Pilots' Strut made a choppy rally to catch up, and Patches couldn't hold him off this time, falling 8-6 as he tied the series at 1. Game 3 played out pretty back-and-forth until the latter stages, where Patches pulled away to an 8-4 win, giving herself a 2-1 series lead with the strong finish. Patches looked to be getting away with another game when she made illegal contact with the 13 in game 4. Strut turned the ball-in-hand into a six-ball run-out, winning 8-5 and tying the series at 2. Patches and Strut battled tightly at the start of game 5, but Patches emerged with a well-shot five-ball run-out to win 8-3 and take the series 3-2. The #60 ranked Rotation player, Patches is going to be on the road for a third round series.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Sierra. The silver cue returns to action with this 10-ball series. Game 1 favored Archtown's Dusky just slightly in the course of play, as Todavía's Sierra couldn't overcome her host, and Dusky made the last two shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky again controlled the play in game 2, as the Stills' Sierra had a number of bad errors, and this cost her most when she missed the 8, allowing Dusky to take a 2-0 series lead from ball-in-hand with two easy shots. In game 3, it was a subtle flub by Dusky that allowed Sierra to storm in with the last two shots, giving her a win and keeping her alive as the series is 2-1 for Dusky now. Sierra had her chance to make a long run in game 4, but she failed on the 7. Dusky turned in a four-ball run-out, securing the series at 3-1 with precision shooting. Dusky slipped a bit in game 5, allowing Sierra to take the game with a strong finish, making it a 3-2 series. Dusky is ranked #1 in 10-ball, and will host her third round series.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Juno. In this Suburban Derby series, the red cue is up for 9-ball. Modernistic's Juno held on even as Terrace City's Oreo played well in game 1, and then turned in a three-ball run-out with a carom off the 7 driving the 9 to the bottom right for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Juno had an impressive start to game 2 with a five-ball run, but Oreo of the Knights went undeterred, rattling off a four-ball run-out, including a much more difficult bank of the 9 to the bottom side than originally anticipated, which was good to tie the series at 1. Juno's attempt at a 4-8-7-9 combination failed, but her next turn produced a six-ball run-out with some savvy shooting, including a bank of the 9 to the top right to end the game and take a 2-1 series lead. Oreo snagged the win in game 4 using an unconventional shot, banking the 8 to the top left despite a reasonable shot at the top right, but the play worked to set the 9 at the bottom right for an easy tap-in, tying the series at 2. Oreo looked to carry momentum in game 5, but her four-ball run came up short with missed contact toward the 9, allowing Juno to take it from ball-in-hand for a 3-2 series win. Ranked #79 for 9-ball, Juno will play on the road in the third round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Amber v. Whiskers. The silver cue is back for some 12-ball this time. Infinity's Whiskers made a three-ball run to speed up game 1, but couldn't avoid surrendering a wild card ball to Atlantic's Amber, who didn't end up needing it when she made her last two shots to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Whiskers again tried to work around defense, but the Pirates' Amber held firm and steady, only taking out the defense en route to victory and a 2-0 series lead. Whiskers played a rightfully cautious game 3, trying to avoid ceding a wild card ball, but the patience resulted in her being unable to free her last ball from the defense, and she potted Amber's final ball to hand over the game and series, as Amber now leads 3-0. Amber made only one mistake in game 4, but it proved costly, as the wild card ball she gave Whiskers allowed her the flexibility to get the win when Amber couldn't strike the 1 in from distance, producing a 3-1 series score. Whiskers danced circles around Amber in game 5, getting a pretty simple win with decent planning and execution. Amber, ranked #26 for 12-ball, still took the series 3-2, and will play on into the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Gabe v. Midnight. The red cue is up for 15-ball now. Westside's Midnight played a very strong game 1 after some early struggles, and while Infinity's Gabe struggled at first as well, he never shook them, allowing Midnight to make six shots on her last two turns to take a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Gabe did a lot better in game 2, but a late three-ball run ended in a scratch just three shots after a close-in jump over the 15 to pot the 9 in the bottom right, and the Rockers' Midnight worked from ball-in-hand to score the 15 and take a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went very quickly, relative to most, as three-ball runs were the order of the day early on. Things plateaued a bit at the end, as Midnight needed two tries to pot the 15, but she did after Gabe left it short at the top side, clinching the series for her at 3-0. Gabe needed only one shot in game 4, sending the cue into the mixer and producing a 1-7-15 combination to the top right, while the 9 also got bumped to the same pocket to create a double-pot as it becomes a 3-1 series. Gabe brought game 5 to an early end as well, leaving the 15 close to the bottom right at one point and then glancing the 6 off the right rail to take a 6-15 combination a few turns later, making it a 3-2 final for the series. Midnight, ranked #95 in 15-ball, will advance to the third round despite her poor closing of the series.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Zach. The blue cue ends the afternoon segment with 9-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Zach showed off a long-distance shooting ability in game 1, bringing Web City's Shadow down with two such shots to end the game and gain a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow struggled with keeping his shots under control, and the Meteors' Zach capitalized, pounding the last two balls from distance again to make it a 2-0 lead in the series. Shadow did a better job of keeping up in game 3, avoiding defeat in a balanced game against Zach that saw Shadow get the last two balls, and his win makes it 2-1. Shadow thought Zach had given him a gift with where he left the 3 in game 4, but it was a trick. Shadow's shot, with spin, caused the cue to bump the 9 to the top right, but also follow it, and Zach took the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Zach showed off his long-distance shooting one more time, using it to pace game 5 pretty well, and it gave him the win when he sunk the 9, taking the series 4-1. Ranked #85 for 9-ball, Zach heads into the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Twinkie III. The night session goes with 7-ball and the silver cue. Tysini's Princess made it very easy for herself in game 1, drilling the break shot to cause the 7 to go to the top left, giving her a 1-0 series lead over Whitewater's Twinkie III before the latter even takes a shot. The Hummingbirds' Princess had to work a lot harder in game 2, but after the Shores' Twinkie III had a four-ball run end, Princess made the last two shots to win and take a 2-0 series lead. Princess looked pretty sharp with her shooting in game 3, but Twinkie III made the last ball and got the win, making it a 2-1 series lead after a competitive game. Princess fired back in game 4 after Twinkie III scratched on her attempt at the 6-7 combination, and Princess scored them separately to secure the series at 3-1. Twinkie III saved face in game 5, outdueling Princess in the end to get the win. Princess, ranked #39 for 7-ball, still took the series 3-2, and will host Ice Cream of the Commerce Tradewinds in the third round at this venue.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Wings. The red cue gets the next five series (could span into tomorrow), beginning with this set of 7-ball between Surfers teammates. Watermelon did a slight bit better than Wings in game 1, especially with the last few shots that earned her the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played out as a more sloppy and perimeter-oriented game that doesn't favor either player's skill set, with long, bad-angle cuts going missed all over the place. Wings eventually picked up the win, tying the series at 1. Watermelon countered with a strong game 3, working from ball-in-hand after an ill-fated jump attempt at the 4 by Wings, and Watermelon worked a four-ball run-out to regain the series lead at 2-1. Game 4 was another challenging affair, with the players exchanging a number of misses. Wings came up with the win in this one, proving to be reliable when the play is less than stellar, as he tied the series at 2. Watermelon had a five-ball run in game 5 go for nothing when she missed the 7, and Wings tapped it in to take the game and the series 3-2. Wings, ranked #85 in 7-ball, will be on the road again for his third round series.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Lorde. The red cue shifts its focus to 9-ball for this series. Swordpoint's Stealth didn't execute as well as he could have, but it worked out for him as he made a three-ball run-out after Commerce's Lorde missed the 7, and Stealth owns a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth struggled a bit more in game 2, and while the Tradewinds' Lorde wasn't perfect, she did get a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Lorde played very well in game 3, and while her three-ball run wasn't enough, she benefited from Stealth botching a straight shot on the 9 and leaving it lined up for her to pot, giving her a 2-1 series lead. In game 4, it was Lorde botching a shot that led to Stealth's victory, as Lorde illegally contacted the 9, and Stealth turned in a three-ball run-out to retie the series at 2. Stealth began game 5 with a four-ball run, setting a quick offensive tone, but Lorde fired right back with a five-ball run on her turn, giving her the 3-2 series win with the victory. Ranked #32 in 9-ball, Lorde will host the Pronger Tridents' Precious in the third round at this venue.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Chicky Phil v. Starlight. The red cue's tour continues with a series of 8-ball up north. Pacific's Starlight had to come back from a five-ball run from Westside's Chicky Phil, but she answered on a seven-ball run-out, dominating side pocket shots from bad angles en route to the win and a big 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Starlight did well to use defense as a deterrent at certain pockets in game 2, keeping the Rockers' Chicky Phil from good shots, and eventually defeating him with a simple shot to take a 2-0 series lead. Starlight faced a stiffer challenge in game 3, as Chicky Phil was down to a single ball in his suit before Starlight ripped off a four-ball run-out she had worked very hard to set up, and this win allowed her to clinch the series at 3-0. Starlight belted out game 4 with no issues at all, even with a bit of a challenge from Chicky Phil. Starlight had a four-ball run-out to take the game, gaining a 4-0 series lead. Starlight led off game 5 with a five-ball run, and while Chicky Phil pulled back on a three-ball run, his straight shot on the 9 was short, and Starlight buried the 8 to take the series in a 5-0 sweep. Starlight is the #71 ranked 8-ball player, and her campaign is into the third round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Precious. The next series is Rotation with the red cue in the Northeast. Archtown's Dusky got the better of game 1, even as she went back-and-forth with Pronger's Precious in a tight battle that saw Dusky pull away for an 8-5 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious came out on top in game 2, an equally competitive game that saw the Arrows' Dusky just not have that same dynamic output to stop Precious from winning 8-6 and tying the series at 1. Precious had two bursts in game 3, scoring three early, and then falling behind. She tied it with a four-ball run, but left the 15 short at the top right, where Dusky tapped it in for an 8-7 win to gain a 2-1 series lead in another close game. Precious melted down in game 4, holding a lead and then completely collapsing to a rush from Dusky, with the latter winning 8-5 to secure the series at 3-1 when it was all said and done. Dusky ripped Precious apart in game 5, winning 8-0, with the last balls potted with the 6 in the bottom right and the 11 coming out of a cluster to the top right. Dusky took the series 4-1, and her #22 ranked Rotation bid heads to Del Sur's Microsoft Center to face the Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Bells v. Ms. Kitty. The last series of the night is 7-ball with the red cue. Oceanside's Bells ran out the final four balls in a fairly uneventful game 1, taking a 1-0 series lead over a calm Ms. Kitty of Pacific. In game 2, the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty was first to break out of a small slump, scoring the last two balls to take the win and tie the series at 1 against the Waves' Bells, who could have tried a little harder this time. Ms. Kitty was lacking the necessary extra angle for game 3, missing a couple of doable shots because of poor angles, while Bells served up some decent shots, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Ms. Kitty had game 4 in her hands, working a three-ball run, but she left the 7 short at the top right on a failed lefty shot, and Bells tapped it in to clinch the series at 3-1. Bells ran four balls in game 5 before a bad shot at the 4, but Ms. Kitty missed the 5 on her try. Bells then put herself in the highlight reel with a jump over the 7 to knock the 5 to the top right, leaving a good line on the 7 to the bottom side, which she made to take the series 4-1. Ranked #11 in 7-ball, Bells hosts a rival from the Pearl Surfers, Wings, at this venue in the third round. With the loss, Ms. Kitty is the tenth player eliminated from the tournament, and Bells has her first kill of the year.
That's 80 games for today. This is probably the peak for the league. I doubt cricket will be played this week, anytime before Sunday being unlikely.
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