We're back with more pool action. A reminder: no cricket until Sunday at the earliest, and no promises then either.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Shannon v. Nightfur. The silver cue leads things off with Accuracy today. Southern's Shannon left no doubt in a near-perfect game 1, and Royal's Nightfur just couldn't keep up, falling 1-3 after fading around the middle of the game. The Monarchs' Shannon played well at first in game 2, building up an insurmountable lead on the Crowns' Nightfur, and this helped cushion the blow of a bad finish, as she won 4-7 to get to a 2-0 series lead. Nightfur finally found a way to control her slumps, and it worked well in game 3, forcing Shannon into a tie that required overtime to break. In overtime, Shannon's break went without a potted ball, and Nightfur scored to take a 2-3 win to make it a 2-1 series. Nightfur had a good start to game 4, but a bold move didn't pay off, and Shannon rallied back with good defense to get Nightfur to miss three shots, losing 2-3. Shannon secured the series at 3-1 in the process. Shannon and Nightfur needed overtime to decide a sloppy game 5 ending, and they each missed twice in overtime before Shannon answered a Nightfur miss with a make of the 14 to win 5-6 and take the series 4-1. Ranked #84 for Accuracy, Shannon will travel for her third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Leandra. Staying in the same place, we have a 15-ball series for the red cue. Tysini's Leandra overcame a six-ball run early in game 1 by Southern's Panda, working her way to a hard fought victory after the balls stopped going in easily, and she owns a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda used a four-ball run-out capped by a hard carom off the 9 to pot the 15 in the bottom side as the proper recipe for victory in game 2, tying the series at 1 against a stunned Leandra of the Hummingbirds. Leandra had a six-ball run early in game 3, setting off an exchange of runs in the streaky game that saw Panda just miss on the 15, allowing a Leandra tap-in to give her a 2-1 series lead. Panda capitalized on a good opportunity in game 4, using an option shot that became a 5-15 combination as the latter ball fell in the top left, while the 5 rested close to the top side as the other option on the play. The series is tied at 2. Leandra applied a lot of pressure late in game 5, and it eventually broke Panda, allowing Leandra to take the game with a tap-in at the bottom left. Ranked #81 for 15-ball, Leandra visits Toyota Arena in Freedom to face the Cascades rookie Nikolai in the third round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: J. Garcia v. Easter. The game is still 15-ball, but the cue is blue as the afternoon gets going. Southridge's Garcia eventually took the game 1 win, but between herself and Todavía's Easter, they played one of the worst games of the week. Garcia leads 1-0 in the series. Game 2 played out a little better, but not by much, as it was a sloppy shot on the 15 from the Stills' Easter that ended with both it and cue pocketed, giving Garcia the win and a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Garcia prevailed again, despite the shooting quality remaining very low, and she owns a 3-0 series lead, securing her advancement to the next round. Easter had some good shooting in game 4, which was much improved across the board. Easter used a 7-11 combination to the bottom side, and nearly got the 15, but retained the 7-15 combination in a good line to pot it to the bottom right, earning a win to make it a 3-1 series in favor of Garcia. Easter brought game 5 to an early end as well, working a 6-15 combination to the bottom right to make it a final score of 3-2. Ranked #51 for 15-ball, Garcia will host Pacific Volcanoes captain Starlight in the third round at this venue.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Goatee. The silver cue comes back around for some 12-ball. Archtown's Ruby did alright until she surrendered a wild card ball, and she couldn't quite work from there. Westside's Goatee had to work to set herself up, but she succeeded and gained a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw some serious time spent on getting set up and playing reasonable defense, only for the Rockers' Goatee to fall apart with bad angles, allowing the Arrows' Ruby to carve out a win and tie the series at 1. Ruby held her own in game 3, and Goatee was called for an illegally potted ball, but she recovered when Ruby missed contact, and Goatee knocked in her last ball to retake the series lead at 2-1. Ruby couldn't break down Goatee's defenses in game 4, as the visitor stood strong and used a strategic scratch on one turn to produce a three-ball run-out on the next, sealing the series at 3-1. Goatee and Ruby played a very apprehensive game, neither trying to make too many moves, and it saw Ruby eventually win after Goatee missed a close shot at the end. Goatee, ranked #98 for 12-ball, won the series 3-2, and will be on the road again for the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Neopolitan. This is the first of two straight series with the silver cue playing 10-ball. Tysini's Princess struggled a bit at first, which created a bit of false hope for Pearl's Neopolitan, since Princess closed with a sharp five-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess showed off her brainy side in game 2, letting a three-ball run end with a miss on the 7. The Surfers' Neopolitan later missed on the 9, and Princess won the game, earning a 2-0 series lead. Princess made no mistakes in game 3, doing exactly as planned to dominate possession and bend Neopolitan early, and then rattle off a five-ball run-out to clinch the series a 3-0 as a closing move. Neopolitan got on the board with her game 4 win, but both players had their swings at a vulnerable 10 near the top right before Neopolitan glanced the cue off the 8 and took the 10 to make it a 3-1 series. Neopolitan made a huge rally to win game 5, working excellent positioning in a 7-ball run, and icing it with a 9-10 bank combination to the top side for a 3-2 series final. Ranked #50 for 10-ball, Princess moves into the third round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Citrus. The second 10-ball silver cue series is from across the highway. Diamond's Citrus made a mistake when she had illegal contact on her first turn, as Queens' Max shot right back by potting the 1 and working a cut combination to pot the 2-10 in the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Max left no doubts, again capitalizing on a game 2 scratch by the Gems' Citrus to ignite a five-ball run-out and take the win for a 2-0 series lead. Citrus played a much stronger game 3, almost avoiding big errors, but she left the 10 short at the top right, and Max tapped it in to clinch the series at 3-0. Max couldn't quite seal up another win in game 4, working a decent game but missing on the 10. Citrus cleaned it up with the tap-in to take the win, making it a 3-1 series now. Max redeemed himself with a strong finish in game 5, answering a three-ball run from Citrus with a three-ball run-out capped by a kick off the top rail to take the 10 in the bottom right for a 4-1 series win. Ranked #6 in 10-ball, Max is set to host a third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Nicole v. Noelle. The red cue gets back to the table now for some Accuracy. Southern's Nicole got a bit greedy late in a tied game, and missed her shot, allowing Central's Noelle to wrap things up nicely in a 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. No one had time to be greedy in game 2, as the shooting was very poor on both sides. The Warriors' Noelle proved especially bad, losing a two-ball lead and eventually falling 6-8 to the Monarchs' Nicole, whose win tied the series at 1. Noelle had a late game collapse again in game 3, especially aided by Nicole's bad leaves, but Nicole couldn't force overtime, and Noelle buried the last ball to take a 4-5 win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 was one of the better games played today, as it went into overtime tied at 1. There, Noelle missed the rack completely due to Nicole's snooker at a pocket. Nicole took the rack from ball-in-hand, but failed to find a sweet spot. A few shots later, a Noelle miss opened the door again for Nicole, and she walked through to a 2-3 win and a 2-2 tied series. Nicole battled hard with Noelle in game 5, falling into a tie with her at midgame but cashing in on her greed to win 1-2 when she tried to create a bad leave. Nicole took the series 3-2, and her #7 ranked Accuracy bid will play host to the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Bryant in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Fluffina. The red cue stays up for this series of Rotation. Terrace City's Oreo came out blazing with a four-ball run from the break, and then shot two more pairs to take the game 8-2 over a less-than-sharp Fluffina of Maplewood, giving the host the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina awoke just as the Knights' Oreo fell away, bursting to a four-ball run-out for the 8-5 win that tied the series at 1 when Oreo lost her shot. Oreo was the one to emerge with a game 3 rally, coming from behind quite easily against Fluffina, and then letting her back in before shutting the door on an 8-6 win for a 2-1 series lead. Fluffina tried a rally in game 4, nearly tying Oreo before she got away again. Fluffina later scratched, and Oreo used that as the catalyst for a three-ball run-out in the 8-4 win that secured the series for her at 3-1. Oreo dazzled in her final four shots of game 5, making the 6 and 7 with help from the 5, and then completing a five-ball run-out with a pair of good cuts for an 8-2 win and 4-1 series win. Ranked #15 in Rotation, Oreo will host her third round series.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Smokey. A top player comes into town with the blue cue, and Accuracy is the game to play. Both players felt agony in game 1, as Lighton's Twinkie I left the 10 painfully close at the top left, only for Diamond's Smokey to flub his shot and cause overtime. Smokey got a ball on the break in overtime, and Twinkie I went without, losing 2-3 as Smokey pulls a 1-0 series lead in. The Gems' Smokey played even better in game 2, playing a perfect performance with no margin for error as Twinkie I of the Prestige slipped up only once in her 0-1 loss. This gave Smokey a 2-0 lead in the series. Smokey fell apart in game 3, losing 2-6 as he missed numerous shots in a row, allowing Twinkie I to make it a 2-1 series. Twinkie I started and ended game 4 with a scratch, which gave her very little to work with, and her shooting during the game was poor as well, with Smokey cruising to a 2-8 victory and clinching the series at 3-1. Twinkie I played pretty well in game 5, while Smokey faded late in the game, creating a 1-5 win for Twinkie I. Smokey took the series 3-2, and advances his #70 ranked Accuracy campaign to the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Alyssa v. Dustin. The blue cue gets another series, playing 7-ball. Game 1 went from sweet to bitter very quickly for Oceanside's Alyssa, as the 7 fell in the top left, but the cue found the top side, handing Central's Dustin a shot-free win for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Alyssa got cut down in game 2 a little later in play but in the same way, scratching to set the Warriors' Dustin up for a three-ball run-out to take a win and a 2-0 series lead. Alyssa seemed to make progress in game 3, but her three-ball run ended with the 7 left short for Dustin to tap in at the bottom right, and he sealed the series at 3-0. In game 4, Dustin was the one to see a run come up short, ending his four-ball run with the 7 near the bottom side. Alyssa mopped it up, making it a 3-1 series while avoiding the sweep. Dustin took the series 4-1 with a three-ball run-out to win game 5, leaving Alyssa pretty bad off. Ranked #55 in 7-ball, Dustin heads to the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Juno v. Chimpy. The blue cue leads off the night with 10-ball in an All-Union match. Chimpy struck first with a big win in game 1, battling evenly at first and then working a five-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead over his teammate Juno. Chimpy did a bit more work in game 2, ending it early with an 8-10 combination to the top right after a Juno miss on the 7 left everything lined up pretty easily for Chimpy to gain a 2-0 series lead. Juno got game 3, ending it early with a three-ball run-out that finished with a carom off the 8 to take the 10 in the bottom right, staving off Chimpy's decent play to make it a 2-1 series. Juno bossed possession late in game 4, using defensive tactics to get her way pretty efficiently, and it worked when she picked up the 10 to win the game and tie the series at 2. Being enigmatic as usual, no one knew what to expect of Chimpy in game 5. Even Juno thought she had the game until Chimpy did a three-ball run-out and took the series 3-2 with a surprise win. Ranked #48 for 10-ball, Chimpy will host Alyssa of the Oceanside Waves at this venue in the third round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Spice. The silver cue gets the final three series of the day, with this Accuracy set coming first. Golden's Strut had already won game 1 by the time he had his first missed shot, going on to beat Victoria's Spice 1-5 for the 1-0 series lead in a dominant showing. The Spurs' Spice did pretty well in holding on for game 2, and she got the Pilots' Strut to miss a few early, allowing her to gamble on defense more. It paid off, as she won 2-4, tying the series at 1. Spice and Strut made game 3 great, shooting at their best throughout. The game came down to the final shots, where Strut's double bank of the 6 failed to land at the bottom side, and Spice tapped it in for the 1-2 win, taking a 2-1 series lead at the same time. Spice had to be sharp in game 4, as she was unable to pull away from Strut, but she did what she needed to in the end, claiming a 2-3 win for a 3-1 series lead. Spice had another gritty win in game 5, taking it 2-3 as she induced a miss by Strut with a bad leave after her double-pot of the 6 to the bottom side and the 5 to the bottom right. Spice took the series 4-1, and her #89 ranked Accuracy bid is into the third round with a strong showing here.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Puff I. The silver cue ends on a 9-ball doubleheader. Boston's Sweetheart had a good start in game 1, and had a four-ball run over the middle, but Modernistic's Puff I closed the door with a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I put on a show in game 2, smashing four on the break and running the table in five more shots, including a 4-7 combination to the bottom right and a distance strike to get the 9 and make it a 2-0 series lead over the Swifts' Sweetheart. In game 3, Sweetheart appeared to make headway in a streaky meeting, but she got too aggressive with the 8, scratching across the table from her make, and Puff I shot the 9 from ball-in-hand to secure the series at 3-0. Puff I is starting to get booed by the Boston faithful after she won game 4 really early, using the 2 as a carom point to drive the 9 to the bottom right, earning a 4-0 lead in the series. Sweetheart saved some face, mopping up a miss on the 9 by Puff I, who still won the series 4-1. Ranked #48 for 9-ball, Puff I will travel to Google Hall in Modernistic to face the Union's Ms. Puppy in the third round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Strut. With her sister advancing, Twinkie I wants to do the same on the same bracket as before, as we bring this day of games to a close. Golden's Strut allowed Lighton's Twinkie I to do all the work in game 1, including a five-ball run from the break, before plucking up the 9 to give the visitor a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Twinkie I got rewarded for all her offense in game 2, allowing her four-ball run to pace a strong offense that ended with the win when the Pilots' Strut missed the 9 and she tapped it in to tie the series at 1. Strut had the better of play in game 3, but was on the receiving end of bad luck this time, with Twinkie I mopping up the last two balls to get the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 played out pretty close on both sides, but a scratch by Strut after he potted the 8 left Twinkie I with the 9 and ball-in-hand, which was easy for her to make and secure the series at 3-1. Game 5 was a little chaotic, but Twinkie I made a huge kick on the 8 to the top left, and then buried the 9, taking the series 4-1. Ranked #58 in 9-ball, Twinkie I will travel to Ebay Center in Queens to face the Flames' Max in the third round. With the loss, Strut is the eleventh player (and third from the Pilots, shockingly) to be eliminated this year, and Twinkie I has her first kill of the season in a do-or-die series.
We'll have one more full day of games for sure, tomorrow, and I'm not sure about Saturday's programming yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment