We're back with another day of games to be played. Let's begin at...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Kiwi. The silver cue will lead off with 15-ball today. Terrace City's Kiwi made a few short runs in game 1, impressing with her ability to pace possession, while Royal's Nightfur picked up scraps where she could. Kiwi later tapped in the 15 to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur shot back in game 2, capitalizing on a less emphatic effort from the Knights' Kiwi, which included a more even game and Nightfur cutting the 15 to the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Nightfur had luck on her side in game 3, winning with a four-ball run-out that saw the 14-15 combination fail as intended but succeed in the top left after the ricochets took it there, giving the host a 2-1 series lead over Kiwi. Nightfur tried to continue her play in game 4, but had a few issues with accuracy. Kiwi mopped these up, and this led to her shot on the 15 for the win that retied the series at 2. In game 5, it all came down to Kiwi scratching on the 5 from ball-in-hand with her follow shot, allowing Nightfur ball-in-hand to pot the 6 and then a 7-15 combination to the bottom right, good for the win and a 3-2 series win. Ranked #49 for 15-ball, Nightfur heads into the third round against an opponent to be determined.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Cowzart. The silver cue remains in action for this series of Rotation. Infinity's Smudge had a decent start to game 1, but Pearl's Cowzart had no trouble in catching up, and rallied for a three-ball run-out in an 8-4 win that gave him a 1-0 series lead with the dominant finish. The Torpedoes' Smudge fought back harder in game 2, having very few struggles as she staked out a lead over the Surfers' Cowzart, and then calmly converted the 9-10 combination to the top side for an 8-3 win to tie the series at 1. Smudge controlled the first half of game 3 as well, but it didn't hold up for her. Cowzart had a three-ball run to pull close, and then chipped a few more shots in to take the game 8-6, scoring six unanswered in the win to take the series lead at 2-1. Cowzart continued to push Smudge around pretty easily in game 4, and while she held on for a bit, two straight fouls led Cowzart to potting the 10-14 combination in the bottom right for an 8-3 win and 3-1 series lead. Smudge made the 2-5-4 combination, with a carom off the 13, in the early parts of game 5. It helped pace her attack in an 8-4 win that saw a slight stumble late in the game that allowed Cowzart to do some damage, but ultimately lose. Cowzart still took the series 3-2, and advances his #27 ranked Rotation campaign into the third round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Paps. The blue cue gets its first series of the day in 8-ball. Pronger's Paps struck first in game 1, but he didn't strike often, as Victoria's Chapman rallied for a four-ball run and three-ball run-out on consecutive turns to take a 1-0 series lead with the sharp shooting. Game 2 saw the Spurs' Chapman serve a terrible break, causing a delay in the Tridents' Paps being able to break out for a five-ball run, which he used late to set the table on the 8. He made it two turns later to tie the series at 1 with the win after Chapman's defense attempt failed. Chapman managed to spend pretty much all of game 3 a step ahead of Paps, even after botching an early shot on the 8. She buried the second chance, regaining the series lead at 2-1. In game 4, Chapman had things under control before Paps pulled off a seven-ball run, but he was just short on the 8. Chapman went for a four-ball run-out with a series of well-executed shots, clinching the series at 3-1 with the win. Chapman began with a flurry, making six balls on five shots from the start, four of them her own. The players engaged in a loose game, ending with Chapman converting the 8 after Paps missed the 14, his last ball. Chapman took the series 4-1, and the #65 ranked 8-ball player moves into the third round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Sierra. The silver cue is back for another series of Rotation. Royal's Nightfur should have used the short shaft at the end of game 1, as she jammed the 15 out of the bottom right, allowing her comeback to tie the game go for nothing when Todavía's Sierra mopped up the shot for an 8-7 win and 1-0 lead in the series. Sierra of the Stills tried a few fancy finishes in game 2, but didn't get results, eventually going traditional to take the 8-4 win over the Crowns' Nightfur, giving Sierra a 2-0 series lead. Sierra pulled out to a large lead in game 3 as well, but Nightfur made no mistakes in rallying back this time, using short runs and defense to eventually win 8-6, making it a 2-1 series in favor of Sierra currently. Sierra dazzled with odd shots and stranger maneuvering to gain good positions, but it worked wonders, as she pieced together a four-ball run-out in a dominant game 4 win, winning by an 8-1 score to secure the series at 3-1 over Nightfur. Sierra didn't budge after losing much of her lead in game 5, eventually banking the 12 to the bottom side to take the game 8-6 and win the series 4-1. Ranked #38 in Rotation, Sierra's dominant effort has her in the third round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Lorde. The first of three straight 10-ball series starts now, with the blue cue getting the nod in the first one. Game 1 only saw three shots, but two were brilliant. Commerce's Lorde tried a 1-10 kick combination to the top right that left the 10 short, where Diamond's Smokey swerved the cue around the 7 to get a 1-10 combination for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lorde had a better game 2, winning on a mistake by the Gems' Smokey as they exchanged shots in a pretty fast-paced battle. The series is tied at 1. Game 3 ended in dramatic fashion, as Lorde sank the 10 in the wrong pocket, and Smokey was in good position to bury it to the top right from the spawn, which he did to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 saw another back-and-forth battle between the players, with Smokey's miss on the 9 being the key to Lorde making the last two balls and claiming the win to tie the series at 2. Lorde is also playing with an arm injury. Lorde made the first two balls, answered immediately by Smokey, and then she made a six-ball run-out to win the game and take the series 3-2. Ranked #79 for 10-ball, Lorde is on the road in the third round, visiting UPS Hall in Maplewood to play against the Lumberjacks' Diddley.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Leandra. The silver cue gets this series of 10-ball. Leandra of Tysini brought game 1 to a stunning end with her shot on the 2 bringing the cue back to do an 8-10 combination to the top right, good for a 1-0 lead over Web City's Shiny, who had a bad break and not much else in the game. The Spiders' Shiny played much better in game 2, and was rewarded for her solid effort early on with a four-ball run-out after Leandra of the Hummingbirds missed the 7. Shiny's win tied the series at 1. Shiny made a mess of a late attempt at a run in game 3, missing the 9 and setting off a series of missed shots on both sides before Leandra buried the last two balls, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Leandra butchered her chance to seal the series in game 4, missing a straight shot on the 10 wide left after another game with a bad break between these players. Shiny cut the 10 to the top side, tying the series at 2 and setting up one decisive game. Leandra looked to be in good shape near the end of game 5, but her four-ball run ended early, and Shiny potted the 10 to take the series 3-2. Ranked #33 in 10-ball, Shiny will host Leandra's Tysini Hummingbirds teammate Princess in the third round from this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Brownie. Completing the trio of 10-ball, the silver cue stays in for this series. Harrison's Brownie had a critical mistake when she missed contact toward the 3 in game 1, allowing Royal's Jake to make a 3-10 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead on the win. The Specters' Brownie weathered a sloppy game 2, finally getting a break with a three-ball run-out at the end after the Crowns' Jake had numerous misses that set things up, with the win tying the series at 1. Brownie was absolutely dominant in game 3, serving up a good break and a seven-ball run, only to be shut down with a miss on the 10 that Jake converted on the next shot, giving Jake the 2-1 series lead despite a distinct lack of control in the game. Jake did a bit better in earning the win in game 4, putting up a four-ball run-out after a middling start to take the win and secure the series at 3-1. Game 5 saw good shooting on both sides, with Brownie opening on a four-ball run answered by Jake's three-ball run. Brownie got unlucky when she scratched after potting the 10, and Jake buries it to win and take the series 4-1. Ranked #8 in 10-ball, Jake hosts Leonette of the Pacific Volcanoes in the third round at this venue. With the loss, Brownie is the fifteenth player eliminated this year, and her Specters career may be over after the lackluster season. Jake has his first kill of the year.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Taylor Swift. The blue cue gets the last series of the afternoon, playing 15-ball. Boston's Sweetheart could have offered a better break, as game 1 played slow until Eastside's Taylor rallied for an eight-ball run-out to win and earn a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 nearly saw the Sharks' Taylor do exactly the same thing as before, but she jammed the 15 to end a seven-ball run. The Swifts' Sweetheart missed on the 15, and Taylor buried it on the second try to gain a 2-0 series lead. Taylor didn't get to break out on a big run in game 3, as Sweetheart didn't give her great positions, but Taylor did make a 9-15 combination to the top left for the win on a three-ball run-out, clinching the series at 3-0. Sweetheart finally got a win with a strong game 4 effort, running six balls and then potting the 15 on a bank to the bottom left when Taylor missed it, making the series 3-1 in Taylor's favor. Game 5 tested the patience of both players, and it was out of this frustration that Sweetheart hammered a two-rail kick that banked the 15 off the top rail to the bottom left for the win. Taylor claimed a 3-2 series win, and she will take a #88 ranked 15-ball bid into the third round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Sally. The blue cue starts the night session with 9-ball. Archtown's Sally came out on top in game 1, winning with a three-ball run-out after a bit of messy play early in the game against Harrison's Twinkie II. Sally has a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II brought game 2 to a quick end, scoring a double-pot of the 5 to the bottom right and the 9 ricocheting cleanly to the top left as part of a four-ball run-out, equalizing the series at 1 with the Arrows' Sally. Twinkie II played very well during game 3, up to the 9, where both she and Sally struggled, but Twinkie II eventually made it on an unintentional bank to the top left, giving her a 2-1 lead in the series with the happy accident. Sally had a three-ball run over the middle of game 4, but she lost control late and Twinkie II made the last two shots to nab the win and seal the series at 3-1. Twinkie II played decently in a meaningless game 5, but Sally was the one to emerge with the win after Twinkie II scratched. The series favored #22 ranked 9-ball player Twinkie II 3-2, and she hosts Zach of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors in the third round at this venue.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Mr. Snowman. The red cue has its only appearance of the day in Accuracy. Commerce's Lionel did his best to hold on, but Viewpoint Sound's Mr. Snowman was just a bit stronger in the end, winning 2-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the series with solid defense on his side. The Tradewinds' Lionel had a dominant game 2, whereas the Meteors' Mr. Snowman couldn't find his shot at all, with Lionel winning 1-8 to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Lionel blew his entire lead on four consecutive misses, allowing Mr. Snowman a chance to force overtime. He missed contact on the shot, and Lionel made it for a 4-5 win to gain a 2-1 series lead. Lionel failed on a late shot in regulation for game 4, allowing Mr. Snowman to force overtime, but Lionel held the advantage throughout the extra time, eventually winning 2-3 over halfway through to secure the series at 3-1. Game 5 was mostly uneventful after a somewhat sloppy start, with Lionel winning 1-2 to claim a 4-1 series win. Ranked #52 in Accuracy, Lionel heads north to Google Hall in Modernistic to face the Union's Puff I in a third round series. With the loss, Mr. Snowman is the sixteenth player eliminated this year, and Lionel earns his first kill.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Snowball. The silver cue is up for 12-ball in its last appearance today. Boston's Gradley pounded out his last two shots when Swordpoint's Snowball missed her last ball, allowing Gradley the win even after giving up a wild card ball, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball proved better suited to deal with the poor layout of the balls in game 2, maneuvering the table a bit better than the Swifts' Gradley as Snowball won, tying the series at 1. Gradley had some troubles breaking free in game 3, but once he did, Snowball was unable to restrain him with defense. She nearly cleared off her own set, but jammed the 9 at the bottom left, and Gradley potted his last ball to retake a 2-1 series lead. Snowball did herself a lot of favors with an early five-ball run in game 4, allowing her to patiently set up her lat shot while Gradley attempted helplessly to defend. Snowball eventually picked up the win and tied the series at 2. Snowball fired back, outpacing Gradley in game 5 in a tight battle to pick up the win and a 3-2 series win. Ranked #52 in 12-ball, Snowball is through to the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. The last series of the day is 9-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 went pretty even between the two players, but Victoria's Yekaterina had the late advantage, potting the last two balls to keep rival Infinity's Shelley away from the table as Yekaterina took a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina made the first two and the last two in game 2 to make it a 2-0 series lead, weathering a five-ball run from the Torpedoes' Shelley in a quick game. Yekaterina made the highlight reel in game 3, potting the 4 by caroming the cue off the 3, and the 3 banked to the top side, where it caromed off the 7 and in for the double-pot. The shooting became choppy in the latter part of the game, and it took a distance strike by Yekaterina on the 9 to settle things, winning when it fell in the top right to clinch the series at 3-0. Shelley finally had the bounces go her way, as Yekaterina missed narrowly on the 9, and Shelley converted it with a three-rail bank to the top side, making the series 3-1. Yekaterina ended up getting lucky when Shelley narrowly missed the 9 near the end of game 5, and Yekaterina tapped it in for an easy win and a 4-1 series win. Ranked #90 for 9-ball, Yekaterina will travel to the BMW RockDome in Westside to face the Rockers' Midnight in a third round series.
That's all for today's games, and we'll have more tomorrow. Cricket should see a post up immediately following this, and should also have one tomorrow. We're trying to get the playoffs going for cricket, but it's a slow process with other responsibilities.
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