If you had asked me in August if this Tournament would ever happen, I would have had no certainty in any answer I could give. Now, six months after the UPCL data loss and the Reconstruction of documents, the league is prepared to embark on its seventh Tournament. Much like last year, the games will be played in two tiers. In this first tier, the B-level, all series are three games, with sixteen players per bracket. At the end, the three cue finalists will meet in a ladder finale to determine the final medal results. New this year are two things. The first is game-related, as the Finals in each event will be played with the hosting player's cue, instead of split-cue. This is for efficiency. Also, the UPCL is proud to launch its own Twitter feed, @UnitedPCL. This will feature series by series Tweets, and provide a daily link to game content. In the future, player profile trends may appear at random. Without any further delay, the Tournament kicks off with...
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Sparkles. The first series of the day is with the red cue for 15-ball. Strawberry of Modernistic had a good first impression for the team in competitive play, controlling possession with 11 of 15 balls potted, mostly on a seven-ball run through the middle of the game that shut down Todavía's Sparkles quite effectively for a 1-0 series lead for the host. The Stills' Sparkles stayed alive in game 2, a much grittier battle that saw the Union's Strawberry struggle to keep control. Sparkles ended the game early, playing the cue off the 5 to pot the 15 in the bottom right, tying the series at 1. Sparkles completed the comeback for a 2-1 series win, using an iffy break and Strawberry's own inconsistent shot against her to get the first series win. Sparkles closed with the last two shots after Strawberry missed the 14-15 combination toward the bottom right. Sparkles plays on into the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Dreamy. The next series is in 9-ball with the silver cue as we head to the Northeast. Game 1 was not much to brag about for either side, as Central's Dustin started very slowly and Swordpoint's Dreamy failed to capitalize on any of his mistakes, allowing Dustin to take game 1 and a 1-0 series lead without having to earn it. Dustin was much better for the Warriors in game 2, dictating the pace of play, so it was a bit unlucky for him to lose the game, but his lack of finish on the 9 allowed the Blades' Dreamy to take it. The stolen win tied the series at 1. Dustin highlighted game 3 with a four-ball run in the middle, but it was a slow finish that saw Dreamy miss the 9 twice on bank attempts to the bottom side before Dustin closed the 2-1 series win on his third try. Dustin advances to the second round as he tries to shake off the rust a bit.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Caitlin. The game remains 9-ball for today's third series, but the blue cue will make its debut for the year this time. Smudge had this first game under control from the start, making two balls on the break for Infinity. Oceanside's Caitlin provided a late challenge, but her scratch after the making the 8 sealed Smudge's win for a 1-0 lead, as she took the 9 from ball-in-hand. The Waves' Caitlin made just enough improvement in game 2 to tie the series at 1. While she did rattle a couple of shots out early on, she settled in to make the 9 late, and Smudge couldn't do anything about after a second-half collapse for the Torpedoes captain. Caitlin put a scare into Smudge late in game 3, making the 9 but scratching to gift Smudge the win. Smudge set up the play with a miss on the 7 to end her seven-ball run after a slow start, but it all came back around for Smudge to win 2-1 in the series.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Stripes. The first games with an expansion team are on here, as the silver cue is in for Accuracy in the spacious Urban pool hall. Terrace City's Stripes didn't let the North Modernistic rookie off easily, forcing her into a long shot late in the game. Peach missed, and Stripes was able to bank the 14 to the bottom right to win the game 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Stripes ended regulation of game 2 with a pair of misses, but the Nighthawks' Peach couldn't dispatch her at the start of overtime, and then lost in the sudden death portion with her miss for a 4-5 win to give Stripes the series at 2-0. Stripes couldn't complete the first sweep of the year, faltering with a scratch to lose 1-3 against Peach in the finale. Stripes still claimed the series at 2-1 to punch her ticket into the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Smudge. The Torpedoes captain is already in her second series, as the blue cue comes on for 12-ball. Infinity's Smudge gave away a wild-card ball very early in the game, but she also blocked a pocket Golden's Charlton wanted to use. Eventually, Charlton returned the favor, allowing Smudge to bank her last shot to the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge had a very quick game 2, making a five-ball run from the break even as she gave up a wild card ball. Charlton tried to challenge her, but her defense was out of position, and Smudge secured the series with a lone ball on her second turn, taking the series 2-0. Charlton wouldn't go out without a fight, and she managed to take a win, keeping Smudge to mostly perimeter shots in this third game. Her win made it a 2-1 series win for Smudge, who is into the second round a second time.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Patches. The Generations Derby gets an early appearance, with a battle between two of the biggest stars and captains in the league. Twilight ended game 1 in a highlight after a lackluster battle. The Central captain took a 7-15 bank combination that just edged the 15 to the top right, and it became a double-pot as the 8 was bumped to the top side later, giving her a 1-0 lead over Boston's Patches. The Swifts' Patches quickly answered in game 2, using her second turn to pot the 9-15 combination after glancing the cue off the 2 for a legal shot, tying her series against the Warriors' Twilight at one as they've exchanged stunning closers. Twilight wouldn't be fooled again, taking her punches in game 3 before rattling a kick-combination, sending the 4-15 off the 5 and into the bottom side to clinch the thrilling series at 2-1. Twilight fought hard to get this one into the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Easter. The Predators finally get to put their stamp on the old home of the Sharks, with this 12-ball series with the blue cue. Todavía's Easter had no trouble once she got going, as her slow start against Midland's Rainmane was quickly erased by a six-ball run-out, and she even surrendered a wild-card ball Rainmane never got to enjoy. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter had a wild start to game 2 as well, giving the Predators' Rainmane an early wild-card ball. She gave it back later on a scratch, and while Rainmane looked to be in good shape near the end, running with momentum, her missed contact on her last ball with a defensive stroke cost her. Easter took her last ball from a free shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Easter thought that game 3 would be just as easy after an impressive break, but Rainmane's last-ditch defense saved the game for the host, as she would eventually take it on a three-ball run-out after Easter failed to get set up. Easter took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Zach. The Hummingbirds' revolutionary captain opposes a sophomore for the new-look Pronger Tridents in Rotation with the silver cue. Princess had a good start and a good finishing in game 1, as the Tysini captain made a ball on the break and used a three-ball run-out to win 8-4 over Pronger's Zach, who had a short stretch of success in the middle. The Hummingbirds' Princess faced even less resistance in game 2, making two balls from the break and closing effectively for an 8-3 win to take the series at 2-0, while the Tridents Zach gave very little fight to stay in the series. Zach went mostly unchallenged in game 3, only facing a little bit of a challenge from Princess late in the game before he took the win 8-3. The series favored Princess 2-1, sending the star into the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Stinky. The red cue is back for a series of Accuracy. Stinky couldn't control the ball very well, scattering a number of misses as the Freedom veteran found himself unable to keep up with the Pronger rookie Potter, whose sharp shot helped him to win the game 2-4. Potter also claimed a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Cascades' Stinky saved his defense for late in game 2, but it worked out in the end, as he got the Tridents' Potter to miss on consecutive shots in the end for a 1-2 win, tying the series at 1 with a single game to decide who will go on. Potter's shot absolutely fell apart in game 3, as the rookie went from competitive to easily defeated against Stinky's relentless positioning battle in a 1-6 win for Stinky. He takes the series 2-1 after dropping the first game, advancing to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Nibbles. Stinky stays busy, returning on a short trip home to play 15-ball with the red cue against another rookie opponent. Game 1 was a bit of a mess for both players, but Nibbles came through, as the Viewpoint Sound rookie used the 12 to direct the cue into the 15, which fell in the bottom right, and was quickly followed by the 13 for a double-pot to take a 1-0 series lead over an ineffective Stinky of Freedom. Stinky couldn't recover any better in the second game, as the Cascades veteran succumbed to many errors as Nibbles secured the series win for the Meteors by making the last four balls over two turns for a 2-0 lead. Stinky saved some face with the win in game 3, leaving the league in search of its first sweep of the season. Stinky shut down a late effort from Nibbles with his own four-ball run-out, making it a 2-1 series win for Nibbles to take with him into the second round.
That's it for a short day of games. Play was a bit mediocre, likely damaged from the length of time between qualifiers and the start of the Tournament proper. If you like, follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter for real-time updates on league activities.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
UPCL Cricket - Week 7 Part 3
We're back to finish up the seventh week of the season, and we get this one going with...
Henry Ford Memorial Field, Pronger: The Tridents begin a three-game home stand against the Spiders, who make a one-off trip east for the game. Shadow's crashing road scores continued here, with just 57 to start Web City off on a poor note. Precious did worse, somehow, as she had a ball bounce off the bat's handle and this ended her turn at 49 when it went out of bounds, leaving Pronger frustrated. Ted got the offense going in earnest with 547 for the Spiders, giving them a nice lead for now. Zach had 328 in response for the Tridents, keeping them somewhat in range but behind nonetheless at the halfway mark. Shiny went off for Web City, posting a strong 792 to extend their lead quite nicely with her outburst. Spot stepped up with 1024 for Pronger, giving them the lead with a player each to go. Dani earned an optional replay due to technical error during the game, but she would lose a good portion of her score, ending with 81 as the Spiders are vulnerable at 1477 total. Potted had a shaky start but quite the confident finish as he scored 674 to ice the Tridents win at 2075. Pronger improves to 6-4, while dumping Web City to 4-10 with another slipped-away loss.
The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems debut their new blackout look against the Waves, who are in the second game of four straight on the road. Snuggle wasted no time in setting the tone for Oceanside, ripping 792 to lead off the game. Smokey got just a little less than half back for Diamond, poking a quick 378 for the hosts to begin their comeback attempt. Caitlin countered with 385 for the Waves, restoring the lead to its former margin. Citrus got caught mid-swing on a tough bounce to play, and she sent the ball sky-high to end on 319 for the Gems, allowing the deficit to grow a bit. Celestia crushed 1496 for Oceanside on her, leaving no doubt as to which team plans on taking this result. Pedey's home slump continued to a fourth game, as the sophomore got only 199 back for Diamond. Dewey tacked on 451 more for the Waves, icing their presumptive win at 3124. Rosalina tapped 201 for the Gems to end their loss at 1097, a brutal result for the hosts. Oceanside has pulled even again at 8-8 for the year, while Diamond drops to 5-9 after this, and their week isn't over yet either.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have their last home game for awhile, facing a Lumberjacks team that has almost kept up with them in terms of games played. Fluffina popped 579 for Maplewood right at the start, getting things going very well for the visitors. Easter answered with 590 for Todavía, putting them just ahead despite the abrupt end to her turn. Diddley saw a hesitant swing cause an unfortunate deflection to end his turn at 169 for the Lumberjacks. Sierra capitalized on the opportunity for the Stills, slicing her way to 665 to add nicely to their lead halfway through the game. Bryant chipped 198 for Maplewood, unable to make much of a difference in this game as their deficit solidifies. Sparkles tacked on another 616 for Todavía, likely securing the win a bit early. Waluigi gathered 345 for the Lumberjacks, unable to overcome the steep deficit as they lost with a score of 1291. Bells maintained a crazy pace to score 1794 individually in this game, putting an exclamation point on the Stills win at 3665. Todavía improves to 11-11 with the win, while Maplewood still struggles on the road at 11-9 overall but with a five-game road losing streak.
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: Two of the league's better teams meet here, with the Predators beginning a two-game road trip, while the Torpedoes finish their three-game home stand. Shawn carved out 408 for Midland to open the scoring in this game, a solid performance from the veteran. Smudge tried to make an argument for a false start but lost, an ill-guided argument that resulted in the Infinity captain scoring just 33. Rainmane had a lackluster turn for the Predators, picking up just 168 as their lead is a bit vulnerable now. Solaris pulled up his swing when a technical error was called, and accepted his score of 735 for the Torpedoes, gaining a lead for the hosts. Leonardo covered the deficit with 306 for Midland, not inspiring a lot of confidence for the red-clad visitors. Whiskers added 426 for Infinity, strengthening the lead a bit more before the final players come to bat. Fuchsia picked up 440 for the Predators, forcing a response from the hosts as they close with 1322. Mr. Snowman didn't last long, but his 224 gave the Torpedoes 1418, good enough to win. Infinity jumps to 9-4, while Midland is down to 10-8 after another tough road game.
Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights are back home for a pair of games, while the Rockers look to end their five-game road trip in good form against their Urban Division/Suburban Derby rivals. Misty clubbed her way to 615 for Westside, getting her team off to a great start. Kiwi couldn't match it for Terrace City, producing 319 as they'll start from behind once again. Goatee couldn't quite coax a spinning ball down fast enough, as it touched out of bounds and ended her effort at 248 for the Rockers. Jennifer made a dent in the deficit with 400 for the Knights, but they still have work to do in the second half. Midnight misplayed one of her swings, taking only 204 for Westside as their lead weakened again. Oreo got Terrace City a bit closer again with 243 on her turn, ending only due to a deflection. Slinks was held to 136 for the Rockers despite a solid-looking swing, and this left their total at a very exposed 1203. Stripes did well enough with 383 for the Knights to claim the win at 1345 total. Terrace City has their first division win, going to 8-5 on the year, while Westside is at 10-3, two games ahead after a tight loss to their bitterest rival.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are back home for a Southeast Divisional against their partners in the Second City Derby, the Defenders, who embark on a six-game road trip wearing their Greek uniforms this time. Bianca did well with 527 for Southridge to open the rivalry game. Patches answered with 767 for Boston, giving them a moderate lead early on. Debby kept things interesting for the Defenders, lining 706 on her turn to give them a stronger second effort. Puff II fumbled the lead away, taking only 221 for the Swifts as she played a very slow pace for a short time. Stephanie reopened the door, getting beat on a sinking offering that downed her at 96 for Southridge. Gradley failed to capitalize for Boston, grabbing just 160 for a slight cut into the deficit. Hughbert was solid with 337 for the Defenders, putting them at 1666 overall, which could be caught. Sweetheart went on a rally with 466 for the Swifts, but they took a narrow loss with 1614 total. Southridge survived the late scare to jump to 10-8, while Boston is 6-8 after the loss.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Eagles look to bounce back from their first loss in this one-off trip to the west, while the Meteors end a three-game home stand in their new grays. Goldy managed to make something of a very slow start, reeling in 589 for Everton despite her struggles with finding a reliable swing. Mams put up quite the fight with 543 for Viewpoint Sound in response, keeping the game close early on. Puff III flipped 639 for the Eagles to keep their lead strong as the game approaches halfway. Hoot had a fairly successful turn himself with 575 for the Meteors, but they slipped a bit farther behind. Kirstin slapped another 502 for Everton, keeping their pace up in a competitive game. Nibbles fell at 135 for Viewpoint Sound, unable to navigate the cluttered pitch as the hosts drop off the pace. The Eagles ended at 1977 after Blizzard had just 247, taking a bad swing to end a bit earlier than she meant to. Dominic tried to do a rally for the Meteors, but 304 was not enough for them, producing their losing final of 1557. Everton is 9-1, overcoming their loss nicely, while Viewpoint Sound falls to 5-10 for the season.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors debut their softer font and trimmed logo against the Gems, who will go back-to-back against Northeastern opponents on a short road trip. Smokey churned out 580 right from the start for Diamond, a good start for the burly captain. Twilight answered with 448 for Central in this appearance, putting them slightly behind in their fourth of an eight-game home stand. Citrus fell out of a solid rhythm rather quickly for the Gems, crashing at 171 in a poor outing. Dustin racked up 467 for the Warriors, covering the deficit with his solid performance. Pedey hammered 650 for Diamond before a rolling ball disrupted his turn and knocked him down. Mario had a very veteran-looking backhand flick to corral an odd bounce, and he cut into the deficit with 416, but Central will be behind as the final players take their swings. Rosalina left the Gems vulnerable with 120 individually for 1521 total. Gizmo served up 475 for the Warriors, sealing their comeback victory at 1806 in a very balanced team effort. Central moves to 8-2, just a game back of the league lead, while Diamond travels on at 5-10.
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: A bit to the south, the Gems finish the doubleheader against a much weaker Specters team in its second of a four-game home stand. Smokey was very strong with 629 for Diamond in this game, staking out a nice lead. Sydney was too aggressive for Harrison in this game, costing them as she faltered at 168, which will put them behind from the start. Citrus had another iffy outing, allowing a ball to get away from her backhand, ending her turn at 213 when it rolled out of bounds behind the wicket, which leaves the Gems less confident. Twinkie II couldn't capitalize for the Specters, poking 101 with an errant early swing ending her turn. Pedey just missed the mark on his swing for Diamond, ending at 82 as the bold strike didn't hit. Lexi brought Harrison back to a respectable level, levying 560 on her turn to set up a tight finish in a low-scoring game. Rosalina set a fairly high bar with 567 for the Gems, putting the team at 1491 overall. Sugar lost control early on and bailed at 111 for the Specters, giving them a loss with 940. Diamond is up to 6-10 on the year, while Harrison falls to 3-10 with the loss.
Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs are home for a pair of games, facing a Torpedoes side embarking on a four-game road trip. Smudge had a great pace but not enough longevity for Infinity, ending at 265 with a greedy swing. Panda had a very similar turn, but his more gradual decline allowed him to put Southern ahead with 352 on the initial attack. Solaris helped the Torpedoes cause with 543 on his turn, giving them a stronger second effort. Hoppy was unable to react in time as a ball made its way under her bat, tanking her turn at 155 for the Monarchs. Whiskers collected a very solid 401 for Infinity, extending their lead at an opportune moment with her turn. Pounce made a big dent in the deficit, bashing 608 for Southern against his first former team. Mr. Snowman fell apart with a measly 80 for the Torpedoes, leaving them vulnerable at 1289 at the end. Shannon swooped in with 180 for the Monarchs, doing just enough to give them the win at 1295. Southern's surprise upset carries them to 5-9, while Infinity is 9-5.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Both teams try out third jerseys in this battle between Southwest Division powerhouses. Acorn had an acceptable game going until he chipped a ball up too high, ending at 239 for Lighton in a poorer than expected performance. Snowball countered with 722 for Swordpoint, staking out a sizable lead for the hosts in a strong opener. Spirit pulled in 248 for the Prestige, unable to cover the deficit facing the visitors. Dreamy pounded another 706 for the Blades on her turn, padding the lead very well at the halfway mark. Twinkie I had a modest 192 for Lighton, decreasing their chances of coming back in this game by a large portion. Bandit didn't put up much for Swordpoint, falling at 128 as it seems they have the game thoroughly under control. Salmo tried to rally, but his fierce swings left him at 207 and gave the Prestige only 886 as their final, a deep-cutting loss. Stealth tapped 96 for the Blades to bring the game to a quick end as the hosts closed with 1652 in another home win. Swordpoint is now 11-6 for the year, while Lighton drops to 5-7.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows continue their home stand in the third of its five games, while the Shores make this one-off trip to the Northeast to end the week. Bear has struggled on the road so far, and that continued as he scored only 135 for Whitewater this time. Sally answered with an even 400 for Archtown, giving them the initial lead. Twinkie III was able to cover the deficit on her turn for the Shores, picking up 320 to add to the effort. Sleepy B. replied with 304 for the Arrows, restoring their lead to nearly its former margin at the halfway point of this game. Marsell put in another challenge for Whitewater, batting 407 to cover the deficit once again. Ruby retook the lead for Archtown, but it was much weaker as she scored just 215 on her turn, setting up a close finish. Shaggy showed off some quick hands for the Shores, keeping her turn alive to score 738 as the visitors finish at 1600 even. Dusky couldn't recover it for the Arrows, collapsing with 124 as they lose with 1043. Whitewater is now 6-4 for the year with the comeback win, while Archtown slides to 6-13.
I've been happy to get so much cricket played this week, and probably even more to come over this weekend and into the next week. Standings will be updated after this posts.
Henry Ford Memorial Field, Pronger: The Tridents begin a three-game home stand against the Spiders, who make a one-off trip east for the game. Shadow's crashing road scores continued here, with just 57 to start Web City off on a poor note. Precious did worse, somehow, as she had a ball bounce off the bat's handle and this ended her turn at 49 when it went out of bounds, leaving Pronger frustrated. Ted got the offense going in earnest with 547 for the Spiders, giving them a nice lead for now. Zach had 328 in response for the Tridents, keeping them somewhat in range but behind nonetheless at the halfway mark. Shiny went off for Web City, posting a strong 792 to extend their lead quite nicely with her outburst. Spot stepped up with 1024 for Pronger, giving them the lead with a player each to go. Dani earned an optional replay due to technical error during the game, but she would lose a good portion of her score, ending with 81 as the Spiders are vulnerable at 1477 total. Potted had a shaky start but quite the confident finish as he scored 674 to ice the Tridents win at 2075. Pronger improves to 6-4, while dumping Web City to 4-10 with another slipped-away loss.
The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems debut their new blackout look against the Waves, who are in the second game of four straight on the road. Snuggle wasted no time in setting the tone for Oceanside, ripping 792 to lead off the game. Smokey got just a little less than half back for Diamond, poking a quick 378 for the hosts to begin their comeback attempt. Caitlin countered with 385 for the Waves, restoring the lead to its former margin. Citrus got caught mid-swing on a tough bounce to play, and she sent the ball sky-high to end on 319 for the Gems, allowing the deficit to grow a bit. Celestia crushed 1496 for Oceanside on her, leaving no doubt as to which team plans on taking this result. Pedey's home slump continued to a fourth game, as the sophomore got only 199 back for Diamond. Dewey tacked on 451 more for the Waves, icing their presumptive win at 3124. Rosalina tapped 201 for the Gems to end their loss at 1097, a brutal result for the hosts. Oceanside has pulled even again at 8-8 for the year, while Diamond drops to 5-9 after this, and their week isn't over yet either.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have their last home game for awhile, facing a Lumberjacks team that has almost kept up with them in terms of games played. Fluffina popped 579 for Maplewood right at the start, getting things going very well for the visitors. Easter answered with 590 for Todavía, putting them just ahead despite the abrupt end to her turn. Diddley saw a hesitant swing cause an unfortunate deflection to end his turn at 169 for the Lumberjacks. Sierra capitalized on the opportunity for the Stills, slicing her way to 665 to add nicely to their lead halfway through the game. Bryant chipped 198 for Maplewood, unable to make much of a difference in this game as their deficit solidifies. Sparkles tacked on another 616 for Todavía, likely securing the win a bit early. Waluigi gathered 345 for the Lumberjacks, unable to overcome the steep deficit as they lost with a score of 1291. Bells maintained a crazy pace to score 1794 individually in this game, putting an exclamation point on the Stills win at 3665. Todavía improves to 11-11 with the win, while Maplewood still struggles on the road at 11-9 overall but with a five-game road losing streak.
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: Two of the league's better teams meet here, with the Predators beginning a two-game road trip, while the Torpedoes finish their three-game home stand. Shawn carved out 408 for Midland to open the scoring in this game, a solid performance from the veteran. Smudge tried to make an argument for a false start but lost, an ill-guided argument that resulted in the Infinity captain scoring just 33. Rainmane had a lackluster turn for the Predators, picking up just 168 as their lead is a bit vulnerable now. Solaris pulled up his swing when a technical error was called, and accepted his score of 735 for the Torpedoes, gaining a lead for the hosts. Leonardo covered the deficit with 306 for Midland, not inspiring a lot of confidence for the red-clad visitors. Whiskers added 426 for Infinity, strengthening the lead a bit more before the final players come to bat. Fuchsia picked up 440 for the Predators, forcing a response from the hosts as they close with 1322. Mr. Snowman didn't last long, but his 224 gave the Torpedoes 1418, good enough to win. Infinity jumps to 9-4, while Midland is down to 10-8 after another tough road game.
Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights are back home for a pair of games, while the Rockers look to end their five-game road trip in good form against their Urban Division/Suburban Derby rivals. Misty clubbed her way to 615 for Westside, getting her team off to a great start. Kiwi couldn't match it for Terrace City, producing 319 as they'll start from behind once again. Goatee couldn't quite coax a spinning ball down fast enough, as it touched out of bounds and ended her effort at 248 for the Rockers. Jennifer made a dent in the deficit with 400 for the Knights, but they still have work to do in the second half. Midnight misplayed one of her swings, taking only 204 for Westside as their lead weakened again. Oreo got Terrace City a bit closer again with 243 on her turn, ending only due to a deflection. Slinks was held to 136 for the Rockers despite a solid-looking swing, and this left their total at a very exposed 1203. Stripes did well enough with 383 for the Knights to claim the win at 1345 total. Terrace City has their first division win, going to 8-5 on the year, while Westside is at 10-3, two games ahead after a tight loss to their bitterest rival.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are back home for a Southeast Divisional against their partners in the Second City Derby, the Defenders, who embark on a six-game road trip wearing their Greek uniforms this time. Bianca did well with 527 for Southridge to open the rivalry game. Patches answered with 767 for Boston, giving them a moderate lead early on. Debby kept things interesting for the Defenders, lining 706 on her turn to give them a stronger second effort. Puff II fumbled the lead away, taking only 221 for the Swifts as she played a very slow pace for a short time. Stephanie reopened the door, getting beat on a sinking offering that downed her at 96 for Southridge. Gradley failed to capitalize for Boston, grabbing just 160 for a slight cut into the deficit. Hughbert was solid with 337 for the Defenders, putting them at 1666 overall, which could be caught. Sweetheart went on a rally with 466 for the Swifts, but they took a narrow loss with 1614 total. Southridge survived the late scare to jump to 10-8, while Boston is 6-8 after the loss.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Eagles look to bounce back from their first loss in this one-off trip to the west, while the Meteors end a three-game home stand in their new grays. Goldy managed to make something of a very slow start, reeling in 589 for Everton despite her struggles with finding a reliable swing. Mams put up quite the fight with 543 for Viewpoint Sound in response, keeping the game close early on. Puff III flipped 639 for the Eagles to keep their lead strong as the game approaches halfway. Hoot had a fairly successful turn himself with 575 for the Meteors, but they slipped a bit farther behind. Kirstin slapped another 502 for Everton, keeping their pace up in a competitive game. Nibbles fell at 135 for Viewpoint Sound, unable to navigate the cluttered pitch as the hosts drop off the pace. The Eagles ended at 1977 after Blizzard had just 247, taking a bad swing to end a bit earlier than she meant to. Dominic tried to do a rally for the Meteors, but 304 was not enough for them, producing their losing final of 1557. Everton is 9-1, overcoming their loss nicely, while Viewpoint Sound falls to 5-10 for the season.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors debut their softer font and trimmed logo against the Gems, who will go back-to-back against Northeastern opponents on a short road trip. Smokey churned out 580 right from the start for Diamond, a good start for the burly captain. Twilight answered with 448 for Central in this appearance, putting them slightly behind in their fourth of an eight-game home stand. Citrus fell out of a solid rhythm rather quickly for the Gems, crashing at 171 in a poor outing. Dustin racked up 467 for the Warriors, covering the deficit with his solid performance. Pedey hammered 650 for Diamond before a rolling ball disrupted his turn and knocked him down. Mario had a very veteran-looking backhand flick to corral an odd bounce, and he cut into the deficit with 416, but Central will be behind as the final players take their swings. Rosalina left the Gems vulnerable with 120 individually for 1521 total. Gizmo served up 475 for the Warriors, sealing their comeback victory at 1806 in a very balanced team effort. Central moves to 8-2, just a game back of the league lead, while Diamond travels on at 5-10.
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: A bit to the south, the Gems finish the doubleheader against a much weaker Specters team in its second of a four-game home stand. Smokey was very strong with 629 for Diamond in this game, staking out a nice lead. Sydney was too aggressive for Harrison in this game, costing them as she faltered at 168, which will put them behind from the start. Citrus had another iffy outing, allowing a ball to get away from her backhand, ending her turn at 213 when it rolled out of bounds behind the wicket, which leaves the Gems less confident. Twinkie II couldn't capitalize for the Specters, poking 101 with an errant early swing ending her turn. Pedey just missed the mark on his swing for Diamond, ending at 82 as the bold strike didn't hit. Lexi brought Harrison back to a respectable level, levying 560 on her turn to set up a tight finish in a low-scoring game. Rosalina set a fairly high bar with 567 for the Gems, putting the team at 1491 overall. Sugar lost control early on and bailed at 111 for the Specters, giving them a loss with 940. Diamond is up to 6-10 on the year, while Harrison falls to 3-10 with the loss.
Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs are home for a pair of games, facing a Torpedoes side embarking on a four-game road trip. Smudge had a great pace but not enough longevity for Infinity, ending at 265 with a greedy swing. Panda had a very similar turn, but his more gradual decline allowed him to put Southern ahead with 352 on the initial attack. Solaris helped the Torpedoes cause with 543 on his turn, giving them a stronger second effort. Hoppy was unable to react in time as a ball made its way under her bat, tanking her turn at 155 for the Monarchs. Whiskers collected a very solid 401 for Infinity, extending their lead at an opportune moment with her turn. Pounce made a big dent in the deficit, bashing 608 for Southern against his first former team. Mr. Snowman fell apart with a measly 80 for the Torpedoes, leaving them vulnerable at 1289 at the end. Shannon swooped in with 180 for the Monarchs, doing just enough to give them the win at 1295. Southern's surprise upset carries them to 5-9, while Infinity is 9-5.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Both teams try out third jerseys in this battle between Southwest Division powerhouses. Acorn had an acceptable game going until he chipped a ball up too high, ending at 239 for Lighton in a poorer than expected performance. Snowball countered with 722 for Swordpoint, staking out a sizable lead for the hosts in a strong opener. Spirit pulled in 248 for the Prestige, unable to cover the deficit facing the visitors. Dreamy pounded another 706 for the Blades on her turn, padding the lead very well at the halfway mark. Twinkie I had a modest 192 for Lighton, decreasing their chances of coming back in this game by a large portion. Bandit didn't put up much for Swordpoint, falling at 128 as it seems they have the game thoroughly under control. Salmo tried to rally, but his fierce swings left him at 207 and gave the Prestige only 886 as their final, a deep-cutting loss. Stealth tapped 96 for the Blades to bring the game to a quick end as the hosts closed with 1652 in another home win. Swordpoint is now 11-6 for the year, while Lighton drops to 5-7.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows continue their home stand in the third of its five games, while the Shores make this one-off trip to the Northeast to end the week. Bear has struggled on the road so far, and that continued as he scored only 135 for Whitewater this time. Sally answered with an even 400 for Archtown, giving them the initial lead. Twinkie III was able to cover the deficit on her turn for the Shores, picking up 320 to add to the effort. Sleepy B. replied with 304 for the Arrows, restoring their lead to nearly its former margin at the halfway point of this game. Marsell put in another challenge for Whitewater, batting 407 to cover the deficit once again. Ruby retook the lead for Archtown, but it was much weaker as she scored just 215 on her turn, setting up a close finish. Shaggy showed off some quick hands for the Shores, keeping her turn alive to score 738 as the visitors finish at 1600 even. Dusky couldn't recover it for the Arrows, collapsing with 124 as they lose with 1043. Whitewater is now 6-4 for the year with the comeback win, while Archtown slides to 6-13.
I've been happy to get so much cricket played this week, and probably even more to come over this weekend and into the next week. Standings will be updated after this posts.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
UPCL Cricket - Week 7 Part 2
We're back for the middle portion of the week, as more teams will have a chance to debut their new third jerseys. First up...
Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes show off their new sky blues to lead off a doubleheader, with the Spurs going standard road for this one-game journey. Spice started with a fairly standard 304 for Victoria, a solid opener for the captain. Starlight had a much better performance, finding a very productive groove for her swing that ended with a deflection, giving Pacific 719 and a strong lead to start the game. Yekaterina didn't really match pace for the Spurs, but she a fairly long turn, working her way to 499 to cover the deficit this time. Ms. Kitty fought off a tough challenge with clutter on her pitch forcing her to use light backhand touches to keep going. She ended on 493 for the Volcanoes. B. Chapman came up with 441 for Victoria to cover the deficit once again, but that margin has shrunk each turn. Leonette stumbled with 152 for Pacific, leaving them a bit vulnerable late in the game. Wario matched it with 153 for the Spurs, forcing a response from the hosts as they close with 1397 overall. Chicky Phil tapped 208 for the Volcanoes, icing their win at 1572. Pacific is now 8-7, while Victoria drops to 5-8 with the frustrating loss.
Verizon Field, Pacific: In the second game of the doubleheader, another Southwestern team arrives. The Prestige will wear their Black Magic uniforms, while the Volcanoes are in their standard homes. Acorn began well for Lighton with 471 on his turn, practicing patience to achieve a workable score. Starlight played a bit better for Pacific, leading off their attack with 649 as she picked up momentum later in the appearance. Spirit stumbled with 32 for the Prestige, putting them in severe trouble at this stage. Ms. Kitty lacked much on her turn, ending with 231 for the Volcanoes as they take a reasonable lead into the halfway point. Twinkie I tried to be a bit too aggressive this time, taking just 76 for Lighton as they remain far behind. Leonette flipped 269 for Pacific on her turn, maintaining their lead before the final players come to bat. Salmo had only 235 for the Prestige, leaving them at a loss with 814. Chicky Phil had an uninspiring 238 for the Volcanoes, icing their win at 1387 total. Pacific has swept the doubleheader to go to 9-7, while Lighton is down to 5-6 after this loss.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers are back home for a game, ready to tangle in a high-offense battle with the highly-ranked Blades. Snowball batted a solid 431 for Swordpoint to begin this game. Watermelon kept it very close for Pearl, gathering 429 on her turn. Dreamy shot back with 575 for the Blades, giving them a second chance to hold onto a sizable lead. Neopolitan drilled 742 for the Surfers in response, taking the lead as the game reaches half-completion. Bandit covered the deficit for Swordpoint, but he didn't take a lot beyond that with his 336, a solid turn from the rookie. Boots had an unlucky turn, with a dead ball on the pitch and multiple deflections that stalled her at just 28 for Pearl, putting them behind late in the game. Stealth fell with 81 for the Blades as his cautious play was not enough, and this left them at 1423 overall, far from a safe mark. Wings fired his way to 490 for the Surfers, securing their win at 1689 total in a very competitive game. Pearl is now at 8-7, just two games back of the 10-5 Swordpoint team that has started to cool from their hot start to the year.
Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs come home feeling pretty good for once, facing a struggling Swifts team making a one-off trip to the coast. Patches had another bad game on the road, her third in a row, taking a pathetic 81 for Boston as they're off to a slow start. Panda answered with 358 for Southern in a decent performance that sees the hosts take the lead. Puff II got only 223 back for the Swifts, keeping them trailing as the game slips away from them a bit. Hoppy pounded 903 for the Monarchs, leaving no doubt as to which team is in charge in this game. Gradley fought back with 817 for Boston, refusing to let the game get completely out of hand for the visitors. Pounce folded for Southern very quickly, taking a measly 16 points as it's once again anyone's game. Sweetheart produced 458 for the Swifts, forcing a response from the hosts as they finish their game at 1579. Shannon got into a tough position with her bat, and ended with 241, costing the Monarchs the game as the close with 1518 in a loss. Boston might take this as a way to get out of their slump, going to 6-7 while bumping Southern down to 4-8.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Yellow Derby gets its second edition, as the Spurs look to sweep the Gems in this game. Smokey hammered 886 for Diamond at the start of the game, getting them off to a fabulous start. Spice just barely one-upped her opposition, taking 887 for Victoria to keep the game basically where it started at. Citrus got beat by an odd bounce that took the ball over her bat, ending her effort at 128 for the Gems. Yekaterina crushed 919 for the Spurs in response, solidifying their lead quite well at the halfway mark. Pedey got some back with 400 for Diamond, but they remain quite far behind. B. Chapman kept the Victoria lead fairly steady with 336 on her turn, and they are set to finish the game strong. Rosalina kept the Gems alive with 869 on her turn, giving them a final of 2283. Wario survived the blitz attack, taking 192 for the Spurs to sneak away with the win on 2334 total. Victoria gets the sweep they were looking for, improving to 6-8 while sending the Gems to 5-8 on the loss.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Nighthawks are in the ninth of ten straight road games to open their inaugural campaign, while the Meteors begin a three-game home stand in this Expansion Derby. Peach showed a lot of poise while at bat, hitting her way to 620 for North Modernistic to begin in good form. Mams answered with 679 for Viewpoint Sound, giving the hosts a small lead early on. Luigi broke a personal slump with 599 for the Nighthawks this time around, giving them another lead. Hoot couldn't keep up the pace for the Meteors, taking only 129 as they've fallen behind. Cheddar chopped another 415 for North Modernistic on her turn, padding their lead a bit. Nibbles cut into the deficit a bit with 592 on his turn, bringing Viewpoint Sound closer with a player each to go. Bright got caught in a tricky position for the Nighthawks, but he responded well, batting 784 to give them 2418 total in what should be a win. Dominic was solid with 386 for the Meteors, but they took the loss with 1786 total. North Modernistic jumps to 5-4 with the win, while Viewpoint Sound drops to 5-9 with the loss despite being fairly competitive.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters debut their new gold jerseys in the second game of a three-game home stand, while the Tradewinds embark on a four-game road trip in this C-Line Derby. Tigerette lost her pace a bit before ending her turn with 305 for Commerce, a solid but easy to overtake score. Chris was strong once again, as the home-friendly Capital City captain smashed 742 to establish a lead for the hosts. Ice Cream fired back with 663 for the Tradewinds, covering the deficit with her performance. Missy had 297 to restore a minor lead for the Sharpshooters, but the game is close at the halfway mark. Lionel went deep for Commerce, knocking 720 to give them a strong lead that will challenge the hosts. Sprinkles got 399 back for Capital City, but they are now behind with a player each to go. Lorde managed just 28 for the Tradewinds, continuing a deep sophomore slump as her team closes with 1716. Nicole made a rally with 671 for the Sharpshooters, taking the win on 2109. Capital City survived a scare to go to 10-5, while Commerce's troubles grow deeper at 3-7.
Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns debut their new deep red thirds in a quick stop at home, facing the Nighthawks as they close their ten-game road trip. Peach didn't have the best opener here, taking 287 for North Modernistic as they'll have to weather an attack. Nightfur was unable to best that, taking a weak 201 for Royal as the game starts a bit low-scoring. Luigi picked up another 319 for the Nighthawks, maintaining their tenuous lead as best he could in a tight game. Jake flubbed his turn, knocking a ball backward into his stumps to end with a paltry 84 for the struggling Crowns. Cheddar flipped 608 for North Modernistic, extending their lead again in a game that's shaping up quite well for them. Kayla shot back with 352 for Royal, but the hosts are losing ground rapidly without much time to make it back. Bright spiked another 469 for the Nighthawks to close their offensive efforts at 1683. Hannah was solid with 415 for the Crowns, but it wasn't enough, as they lost with 1052. North Modernistic finishes one of the hardest road trips ever at 6-4, while Royal is 6-7 with the loss.
IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: Finally, the Nighthawks have their home opener in a yet-to-be-finished stadium that still featured an opening ceremony filled with grandeur. The Stills, in a one-off trip to the north, wear their blues for the first time. Easter, still guiding a highly fatigued Todavía team, carved out 586 for the visitors up front. Peach answered with 456 for North Modernistic, keeping them close despite not matching the first attack. Sierra had only 248 for the Stills, weakening their lead a bit. Luigi answered with 362 for the Nighthawks, not quite covering the deficit but making it a close game. Sparkles did her part to keep Todavía in control of the game, swatting 611 to restore a strong lead for the team. Cheddar fought back with a massive rally, showing her controlled chaos to contribute 783 for North Modernistic, giving them the lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Bells put a damper on it with 800 for the Stills, giving them 2245, which is a reachable but high mark for the hosts to aim at. Bright put up a fight, but his 535 would not be enough for the Nighthawks, as they fell with 2136, an inspiring effort despite the loss. Todavía is up to 10-11, playing the role of party crashers, while North Modernistic slips to 6-5.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots begin a four-game home stand with their new goldenrod jerseys, while the Monarchs are in town in their regal purples. Panda flicked a simple 215 for Southern, a lackluster start for the visitors. Valencia picked up 319 for Golden on her turn, giving them a modest initial lead. Hoppy covered the deficit with 304 for the Monarchs, but they are staggering a bit at this point. Dusty slugged 1240 for the Pilots on her turn, continuing a career resurgence with her second straight four-figure effort at home. Pounce shot back with 611, failing to cover the deficit despite the strong output for Southern. Strut covered most of that damage with 529 for Golden, keeping their lead strong and steady as the final players come up to bat. Shannon played well with 511 for the Monarchs, but they ended up with a loss on 1641 total, running into a buzz-saw offense at the wrong time. A. Charlton had a pair of false starts and ended on 48 for the Pilots, giving them 2136 for the win, making the final score seem closer than it was. Golden goes to 7-5, while Southern slides to 4-9 despite having their best team in three years.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: One of last year's best battles is tamed this year, as the Blades kick off a four-game home stand against the Tradewinds, who are in the second of four straight games on the road. Tigerette belted 1042 for Commerce to lead things off, giving her team hope. Snowball got pinned making a backhand save, ending at 192 for Swordpoint as they'll play from way behind. Ice Cream racked up another 512 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead quite nicely with the effort. Dreamy matched it with 512 herself for the Blades, keeping the deficit steady for now. Lionel stumbled with 120 for Commerce, potentially creating a small vulnerability in their lead. Bandit churned out 730 for Swordpoint, cutting into the deficit to make it more manageable late in the game. Lorde made a huge effort to break her slump this time, demolishing any offering as she worked her way to 866, giving the Tradewinds 2540 overall. Stealth tried a rally, but a deflection cut him down at 534, handing the Blades their first loss at home with 1968 overall. Commerce jumps to 4-7, while Swordpoint falls to 10-6, clearly shaken in some way as a team.
GE Stadium, Southridge: It's a battle between two highly inexperienced teams here, with the Tridents making the trip west to face the Defenders, who have played twice as many games before this home stopover. Precious showed well in this game with 582, staking out a nice initial lead for Pronger. Bianca fired back with 559 for Southridge, keeping the game close early on. Zach collected 368 for the Tridents, maintaining a slightly weaker lead than they originally had. Debby did fine until a cluttered pitch ruined her swing, and quickly took her out at 858, but the Defenders claimed the lead halfway through the game. Spot had a weak 132 for Pronger, failing to make much of an impact on the deficit in any way. Stephanie had a meager 36 for Southridge, as the game has taken a drastic turn to the low-scoring side with a player each to go. Potter failed to force a response, as he scored 241 to give the Tridents a losing score of 1323. Hughbert brought the game to a quick end with 28 on a deflection for the Defenders, who won with 1481. Southridge is up to 9-8, breaking .500 for the first time all year, while sending Pronger to 5-4 as their hot start fades.
That's it for this segment. If my pace holds, the week will end tomorrow, but it may seep into Thursday due to personal commitments.
Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes show off their new sky blues to lead off a doubleheader, with the Spurs going standard road for this one-game journey. Spice started with a fairly standard 304 for Victoria, a solid opener for the captain. Starlight had a much better performance, finding a very productive groove for her swing that ended with a deflection, giving Pacific 719 and a strong lead to start the game. Yekaterina didn't really match pace for the Spurs, but she a fairly long turn, working her way to 499 to cover the deficit this time. Ms. Kitty fought off a tough challenge with clutter on her pitch forcing her to use light backhand touches to keep going. She ended on 493 for the Volcanoes. B. Chapman came up with 441 for Victoria to cover the deficit once again, but that margin has shrunk each turn. Leonette stumbled with 152 for Pacific, leaving them a bit vulnerable late in the game. Wario matched it with 153 for the Spurs, forcing a response from the hosts as they close with 1397 overall. Chicky Phil tapped 208 for the Volcanoes, icing their win at 1572. Pacific is now 8-7, while Victoria drops to 5-8 with the frustrating loss.
Verizon Field, Pacific: In the second game of the doubleheader, another Southwestern team arrives. The Prestige will wear their Black Magic uniforms, while the Volcanoes are in their standard homes. Acorn began well for Lighton with 471 on his turn, practicing patience to achieve a workable score. Starlight played a bit better for Pacific, leading off their attack with 649 as she picked up momentum later in the appearance. Spirit stumbled with 32 for the Prestige, putting them in severe trouble at this stage. Ms. Kitty lacked much on her turn, ending with 231 for the Volcanoes as they take a reasonable lead into the halfway point. Twinkie I tried to be a bit too aggressive this time, taking just 76 for Lighton as they remain far behind. Leonette flipped 269 for Pacific on her turn, maintaining their lead before the final players come to bat. Salmo had only 235 for the Prestige, leaving them at a loss with 814. Chicky Phil had an uninspiring 238 for the Volcanoes, icing their win at 1387 total. Pacific has swept the doubleheader to go to 9-7, while Lighton is down to 5-6 after this loss.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers are back home for a game, ready to tangle in a high-offense battle with the highly-ranked Blades. Snowball batted a solid 431 for Swordpoint to begin this game. Watermelon kept it very close for Pearl, gathering 429 on her turn. Dreamy shot back with 575 for the Blades, giving them a second chance to hold onto a sizable lead. Neopolitan drilled 742 for the Surfers in response, taking the lead as the game reaches half-completion. Bandit covered the deficit for Swordpoint, but he didn't take a lot beyond that with his 336, a solid turn from the rookie. Boots had an unlucky turn, with a dead ball on the pitch and multiple deflections that stalled her at just 28 for Pearl, putting them behind late in the game. Stealth fell with 81 for the Blades as his cautious play was not enough, and this left them at 1423 overall, far from a safe mark. Wings fired his way to 490 for the Surfers, securing their win at 1689 total in a very competitive game. Pearl is now at 8-7, just two games back of the 10-5 Swordpoint team that has started to cool from their hot start to the year.
Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs come home feeling pretty good for once, facing a struggling Swifts team making a one-off trip to the coast. Patches had another bad game on the road, her third in a row, taking a pathetic 81 for Boston as they're off to a slow start. Panda answered with 358 for Southern in a decent performance that sees the hosts take the lead. Puff II got only 223 back for the Swifts, keeping them trailing as the game slips away from them a bit. Hoppy pounded 903 for the Monarchs, leaving no doubt as to which team is in charge in this game. Gradley fought back with 817 for Boston, refusing to let the game get completely out of hand for the visitors. Pounce folded for Southern very quickly, taking a measly 16 points as it's once again anyone's game. Sweetheart produced 458 for the Swifts, forcing a response from the hosts as they finish their game at 1579. Shannon got into a tough position with her bat, and ended with 241, costing the Monarchs the game as the close with 1518 in a loss. Boston might take this as a way to get out of their slump, going to 6-7 while bumping Southern down to 4-8.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Yellow Derby gets its second edition, as the Spurs look to sweep the Gems in this game. Smokey hammered 886 for Diamond at the start of the game, getting them off to a fabulous start. Spice just barely one-upped her opposition, taking 887 for Victoria to keep the game basically where it started at. Citrus got beat by an odd bounce that took the ball over her bat, ending her effort at 128 for the Gems. Yekaterina crushed 919 for the Spurs in response, solidifying their lead quite well at the halfway mark. Pedey got some back with 400 for Diamond, but they remain quite far behind. B. Chapman kept the Victoria lead fairly steady with 336 on her turn, and they are set to finish the game strong. Rosalina kept the Gems alive with 869 on her turn, giving them a final of 2283. Wario survived the blitz attack, taking 192 for the Spurs to sneak away with the win on 2334 total. Victoria gets the sweep they were looking for, improving to 6-8 while sending the Gems to 5-8 on the loss.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Nighthawks are in the ninth of ten straight road games to open their inaugural campaign, while the Meteors begin a three-game home stand in this Expansion Derby. Peach showed a lot of poise while at bat, hitting her way to 620 for North Modernistic to begin in good form. Mams answered with 679 for Viewpoint Sound, giving the hosts a small lead early on. Luigi broke a personal slump with 599 for the Nighthawks this time around, giving them another lead. Hoot couldn't keep up the pace for the Meteors, taking only 129 as they've fallen behind. Cheddar chopped another 415 for North Modernistic on her turn, padding their lead a bit. Nibbles cut into the deficit a bit with 592 on his turn, bringing Viewpoint Sound closer with a player each to go. Bright got caught in a tricky position for the Nighthawks, but he responded well, batting 784 to give them 2418 total in what should be a win. Dominic was solid with 386 for the Meteors, but they took the loss with 1786 total. North Modernistic jumps to 5-4 with the win, while Viewpoint Sound drops to 5-9 with the loss despite being fairly competitive.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters debut their new gold jerseys in the second game of a three-game home stand, while the Tradewinds embark on a four-game road trip in this C-Line Derby. Tigerette lost her pace a bit before ending her turn with 305 for Commerce, a solid but easy to overtake score. Chris was strong once again, as the home-friendly Capital City captain smashed 742 to establish a lead for the hosts. Ice Cream fired back with 663 for the Tradewinds, covering the deficit with her performance. Missy had 297 to restore a minor lead for the Sharpshooters, but the game is close at the halfway mark. Lionel went deep for Commerce, knocking 720 to give them a strong lead that will challenge the hosts. Sprinkles got 399 back for Capital City, but they are now behind with a player each to go. Lorde managed just 28 for the Tradewinds, continuing a deep sophomore slump as her team closes with 1716. Nicole made a rally with 671 for the Sharpshooters, taking the win on 2109. Capital City survived a scare to go to 10-5, while Commerce's troubles grow deeper at 3-7.
Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns debut their new deep red thirds in a quick stop at home, facing the Nighthawks as they close their ten-game road trip. Peach didn't have the best opener here, taking 287 for North Modernistic as they'll have to weather an attack. Nightfur was unable to best that, taking a weak 201 for Royal as the game starts a bit low-scoring. Luigi picked up another 319 for the Nighthawks, maintaining their tenuous lead as best he could in a tight game. Jake flubbed his turn, knocking a ball backward into his stumps to end with a paltry 84 for the struggling Crowns. Cheddar flipped 608 for North Modernistic, extending their lead again in a game that's shaping up quite well for them. Kayla shot back with 352 for Royal, but the hosts are losing ground rapidly without much time to make it back. Bright spiked another 469 for the Nighthawks to close their offensive efforts at 1683. Hannah was solid with 415 for the Crowns, but it wasn't enough, as they lost with 1052. North Modernistic finishes one of the hardest road trips ever at 6-4, while Royal is 6-7 with the loss.
IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: Finally, the Nighthawks have their home opener in a yet-to-be-finished stadium that still featured an opening ceremony filled with grandeur. The Stills, in a one-off trip to the north, wear their blues for the first time. Easter, still guiding a highly fatigued Todavía team, carved out 586 for the visitors up front. Peach answered with 456 for North Modernistic, keeping them close despite not matching the first attack. Sierra had only 248 for the Stills, weakening their lead a bit. Luigi answered with 362 for the Nighthawks, not quite covering the deficit but making it a close game. Sparkles did her part to keep Todavía in control of the game, swatting 611 to restore a strong lead for the team. Cheddar fought back with a massive rally, showing her controlled chaos to contribute 783 for North Modernistic, giving them the lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Bells put a damper on it with 800 for the Stills, giving them 2245, which is a reachable but high mark for the hosts to aim at. Bright put up a fight, but his 535 would not be enough for the Nighthawks, as they fell with 2136, an inspiring effort despite the loss. Todavía is up to 10-11, playing the role of party crashers, while North Modernistic slips to 6-5.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots begin a four-game home stand with their new goldenrod jerseys, while the Monarchs are in town in their regal purples. Panda flicked a simple 215 for Southern, a lackluster start for the visitors. Valencia picked up 319 for Golden on her turn, giving them a modest initial lead. Hoppy covered the deficit with 304 for the Monarchs, but they are staggering a bit at this point. Dusty slugged 1240 for the Pilots on her turn, continuing a career resurgence with her second straight four-figure effort at home. Pounce shot back with 611, failing to cover the deficit despite the strong output for Southern. Strut covered most of that damage with 529 for Golden, keeping their lead strong and steady as the final players come up to bat. Shannon played well with 511 for the Monarchs, but they ended up with a loss on 1641 total, running into a buzz-saw offense at the wrong time. A. Charlton had a pair of false starts and ended on 48 for the Pilots, giving them 2136 for the win, making the final score seem closer than it was. Golden goes to 7-5, while Southern slides to 4-9 despite having their best team in three years.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: One of last year's best battles is tamed this year, as the Blades kick off a four-game home stand against the Tradewinds, who are in the second of four straight games on the road. Tigerette belted 1042 for Commerce to lead things off, giving her team hope. Snowball got pinned making a backhand save, ending at 192 for Swordpoint as they'll play from way behind. Ice Cream racked up another 512 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead quite nicely with the effort. Dreamy matched it with 512 herself for the Blades, keeping the deficit steady for now. Lionel stumbled with 120 for Commerce, potentially creating a small vulnerability in their lead. Bandit churned out 730 for Swordpoint, cutting into the deficit to make it more manageable late in the game. Lorde made a huge effort to break her slump this time, demolishing any offering as she worked her way to 866, giving the Tradewinds 2540 overall. Stealth tried a rally, but a deflection cut him down at 534, handing the Blades their first loss at home with 1968 overall. Commerce jumps to 4-7, while Swordpoint falls to 10-6, clearly shaken in some way as a team.
GE Stadium, Southridge: It's a battle between two highly inexperienced teams here, with the Tridents making the trip west to face the Defenders, who have played twice as many games before this home stopover. Precious showed well in this game with 582, staking out a nice initial lead for Pronger. Bianca fired back with 559 for Southridge, keeping the game close early on. Zach collected 368 for the Tridents, maintaining a slightly weaker lead than they originally had. Debby did fine until a cluttered pitch ruined her swing, and quickly took her out at 858, but the Defenders claimed the lead halfway through the game. Spot had a weak 132 for Pronger, failing to make much of an impact on the deficit in any way. Stephanie had a meager 36 for Southridge, as the game has taken a drastic turn to the low-scoring side with a player each to go. Potter failed to force a response, as he scored 241 to give the Tridents a losing score of 1323. Hughbert brought the game to a quick end with 28 on a deflection for the Defenders, who won with 1481. Southridge is up to 9-8, breaking .500 for the first time all year, while sending Pronger to 5-4 as their hot start fades.
That's it for this segment. If my pace holds, the week will end tomorrow, but it may seep into Thursday due to personal commitments.
Monday, January 23, 2017
UPCL Cricket - Week 7 Part 1
We're debuting a new week of games, beginning with...
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The league-leading Eagles oppose the Crowns, who are wrapping up a four-game road trip. Nightfur had some mild struggles at the start with getting herself going, and this cost her points later on, as she ended with 378. Goldy answered with 535 for Everton on her turn, giving them a small lead early on. Jake took a technical error to end his turn, and he chose not to replay, accepting a score of 566 for the Crowns. Puff III took only 290 for the Eagles, as they've fallen slightly behind at the midway mark. Kayla got a bit greedy playing for generous bounces, and a spinning ball took her out at 264 for Royal. Kirstin recovered some of the damage with 359 for Everton, bringing the game to a close level with a player each to go. Hannah faltered at 192 for the Crowns, giving them a final of 1400 even. Blizzard couldn't cover it, taking just 51 as the Eagles have fallen for the first time with 1235. Royal's win takes them to 6-6, while Everton is 8-1 after the hot start to the year.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders are proud to host a third-jerseys game, breaking out their web-adorned blacks against the regal purple of the Monarchs. Panda avoided taking a technical error replay, instead accepting 412 for Southern as he pulled up on his swing. Shadow answered with 519 for Web City to produce a minor lead. Hoppy fired back with 495 for the Monarchs, keeping the offense steady as the lead exchanges hands again. Ted couldn't cover the deficit on his turn, taking a tough deflection that stalled him at 219 as the Spiders trail halfway through the game. Pounce failed to make much of a difference in the game, with only 120 as Southern's lead has destabilized. Shiny gave Web City a healthy lead with 597 on her turn, as they'll take the advantage into the final players' turns. Shannon left the Monarchs short with 263 on her turn, giving them 1290 in the loss. Dani tapped 283 for the Spiders to seal their win at 1618. Web City improves to 4-9 with the win, while Southern is down to 4-6 in a mixed season.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts hope a week off will help their cause, as they bring in the Spurs for their third and final game of a road trip. Spice's swing got crunched too compact for her liking, and she corrected it at the wrong time, ending with only 179 for Victoria. Patches appeared to be on track until a deflection knocked her down at 108 for Boston, who will start from behind this game. Yekaterina had an early deflection go in her favor to the back 4s, but she couldn't pick a corner at the end, falling on 385 for the Spurs as their lead is a bit stronger now. Puff II mistimed a swing at one point in her game, forcing her to make a reaching desperation save to continue her turn, which ended on 539 to give the Swifts the lead at the halfway mark. B. Chapman covered the deficit on a fairly standard turn of 432 for Victoria. Gradley got beat by a rolling offering to end his turn on 281 for Boston, giving them a small deficit to face. Wario crushed 1434 for the Spurs at the end, giving them 2430 overall in what should be a stunning win. Sweetheart fell out at 207 for the Swifts, giving them a loss with 1135 total. Victoria's surprise blitz ending gets them to 5-6, passing the now 5-7 Boston team.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Meteors begin a three-game home stand with their new gray shirts, facing the bright red-clad Specters in their new thirds. Sydney struggled in this game, taking just 45 for Harrison, a bad first impression for the new jerseys. Mams finally brought some road confidence home with her, scoring 464 for Viewpoint Sound to lead things off with a home team lead. Twinkie II had a ball get stuck on her backhand for the Specters, ending her turn early at 237. Hoot had a solid 357 for the Meteors, adding a little more to their lead halfway through the game. Lexi managed just 102 for Harrison against her former team, unrecognizable as it may be from when she played there. Nibbles belted 936 in response for Viewpoint Sound, likely making their untouchable at this late stage in the game. Sugar went all-in with her furious rally, but even 1030 wasn't enough, leaving the Specters at 1414 in the loss. Dominic iced the Meteors win with 239 individually for a score of 1996 overall. Viewpoint Sound jumped to 5-8, while Harrison drops to 2-8 for the year.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs come home to try-out their new black jerseys, while the Flames take the Fireball jerseys on the road for a pair of games. Crystal carved out a pretty good game for herself in this one, hitting her way to 610 for Queens to start them off well. Spice tried to swing a bit too big for her ability in this one, ending with just 80 for Victoria as they start from behind. Paige shot back with a crisp 903 for the Flames, padding their lead very nicely with her offensive outburst. Yekaterina had a very ill-advised swing in her game, accidentally striking two balls backward while the false start was still set to be in effect. This action gave her only 7 points as the Spurs are likely already defeated. Violetta supplied an extra 257 for Queens, keeping their lead fairly steady in what's shaping up to be a blowout. B. Chapman gave Victoria a respectable effort with 560 on her turn, but they remain far behind with a player each to go. Max struggled to get a swing, ending on just 90 for the Flames to produce the final score of 1860. Wario tried to make a rally for the Spurs, but he came up with 378, leaving them short at 1025 overall. Queens is up to .500, joining a throng of teams at the mark as they are 8-8, while Victoria is 5-7 for the season.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows continue a five-game home stand, which might help fight their fatigue, playing against a well-rested Tridents team ending a three-game road trip. Precious ripped 852 for Pronger right at the start, showing no rust from the long layoff for the visitors. Sally initiated the new Archtown jerseys with 272 on her turn, putting them far back in the deep red shirts. Zach slapped another 527 for the Tridents, as they're cruising through this game with little resistance to their offense. Sleepy B. lifted a solid 264 for the Arrows, but they continue to lose ground at the halfway point. Spot struggled in this one, taking just 104 as the Pronger lead weakens slightly. Ruby made no progress for Archtown with a measly 21 on her turn, likely sealing their fate in this game. Potter played a solid game for the Tridents, giving them 417 to put their final score at 1900 even. Dusky outscored the rest of her team, but her 564 left the Arrows at 1121, a deep loss. Pronger continues to surprise at 5-2 for the year, while Archtown's heavy schedule is weighing them down at 6-12.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Spanish Derby takes over here, with the Monarchs ending a short trip just as the Stills return home for a pair. Panda led off with a modest 208 for Southern to get this game going. Easter answered with 432 for Todavía, giving them a slight lead in the early stages of this rivalry battle. Hoppy answered with 831 for the Monarchs, bashing her way to give the visitors a lead. Sierra matched her swing-for-swing, slicing 876 for the Stills as she restored their lead to its original strength. Pounce scooped his way to 400 for Southern, covering the deficit again as it has been a tight game so far. Sparkles extended the lead Todavía lead a bit with this performance, tallying 584 with a very confident turn. Shannon drilled 996 for the Monarchs, giving them a final of 2435, forcing a rather large response from the hosts. Bells met the challenge, churning out 784 to give the Stills a win with 2676 total. Todavía fought hard for this win, but it got them to 9-10 overall, with a 3-1 division record, while bumping Southern to 4-7 with a 2-1 division mark.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: These two teams meet twice this week, with the return at the end of this post. For this game, the Surfers try out their speckled silver jerseys against the brand-new Specters reds. Sydney took a high-octane pace to the game, ending at 434 as a ball ducked behind her bat, but the result is positive for Harrison. Watermelon took a much lighter pace, and almost matched the result, but her 348 has Pearl slightly behind early on. Twinkie II stumbled at 188 for the Specters, leaving their lead a bit vulnerable. Neopolitan cut into the deficit on her turn, but failed to reach it, as her 264 kept the Surfers marginally behind halfway through. Lexi produced 419 for Harrison to stave off the threat of a counterattack temporarily. Boots overcame a heavily cluttered pitch for much of her turn to hit 548 and give Pearl the lead heading into the final players' turns. Sugar swung for 567 for the Specters on her turn, bringing them to 1608 overall, which will force a response from the hosts. Wings couldn't break his slump this time, taking only 161 and leaving the Surfers at 1321 in the loss. Harrison's surprise win takes them to 3-8, while Pearl falls to 6-7.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores are at home for a one-off game wearing their new sand-colored uniforms, while the Union finish a four-game road trip in this Urban Divisional. Ms. Puppy had a perfect backward spike to the back 4s, but she failed to play on, ending with 13 points when the next ball wiped out her wicket, leaving Modernistic in an early hole. Bear pummeled 858 in response for Whitewater, giving them quite the healthy lead. Daisy seemed to be on track until a bad swing ended her turn at 177 for the Union, putting them in even more trouble. Twinkie III poked 407 for the Shores, boosting their lead at the halfway mark. Puff I dug in for 694 for Modernistic, weakening their opponents' lead with the confident performance. Marsell offset some of that damage with 324 for Whitewater, keeping them firmly in control late in the game. Strawberry was taken out by a deflection on her turn, ending at 112 and sending the Union to a loss with 996 in the process. Shaggy tapped 233 for the Shores, giving them 1822 overall in the win. Whitewater's division win takes them to 5-4 on the year, while Modernistic drops to 2-9.
Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents are back home for a game against the Pilots, who make a jaunt northeast for this one game. Valencia opened well with 641 for Golden, trying to avoid their struggles from turning into a skid. Precious had a difficult turn, having to fight off some tough offerings early before having her rhythm interrupted and bailing at 257 for Pronger. Dusty rode a very fruitful groove for most of her turn, which saw her score 606 on a very productive turn for the Pilots. After some deliberation, Zach earned a false start replay on his turn, and he benefited greatly by scoring 701 for the Tridents to cut into the deficit a bit. Strut fought off the hosts' attacks with 375 for Golden, keeping their lead strong as the game looks very competitive. Spot cut further into the deficit with his massive 611 for Pronger, setting up a very tight finish to the game. A. Charlton had 364 for the Pilots, icing their efforts at 1986, which is not safe. Potter bested his opposite number, but his 368 left the Tridents short at 1937 in a very good game. Golden is 6-5 now, while Pronger drops to 5-3 after the narrow defeat.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills get another game, their last this week, facing the Knights in their brand-new orange jerseys. Kiwi struck 731 to open the game quite favorable for Terrace City as they look to break a run of poor road performance. Easter didn't do so well for Todavía, taken out by a bad swing that ended her turn at 178, leaving the hosts to play from behind. Jennifer swatted her way to 998 for the Knights, providing quite the boost to the visitors' lead. Sierra fell with a meager 80 for the Stills, and it looks like they'll be playing a hopeless game this time. Oreo crushed another 1015 for Terrace City, likely bringing their lead to an unreachable height. Sparkles flicked 319 for Todavía to give a respectable effort to the otherwise lost game. Stripes kept it simple with 224 for the Knights, giving them 2968 as their final score in what should be a thorough victory. Bells put up quite the rally with 769 for the Stills, but they still got doubled on, as they closed with 1346 in the humbling loss for a fatigued team. Terrace City looked very good in this win, taking them to 7-5, while Todavía drops to 9-11 with the loss.
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: It's standard uniforms for this rematch, in which the Specters look for a season sweep to start a four-game home stand against an inconsistent Surfers team. Watermelon lifted 697 for Pearl this time, a drastic improvement from these teams' previous meeting. Sydney couldn't keep up in this game, taking 288 for Harrison as they'll start at a deficit. Neopolitan fired back with 856 for the Surfers, extending their lead quite nicely with the strong appearance. Twinkie II collected 506 for the Specters to keep them in a scoring mindset for the game. Boots seemed to have a good pace going before she bottomed out at 449 for Pearl, still enough to keep their lead intact. Lexi made a dent in the deficit with 850 for Harrison, a somewhat surprising effort from the team newcomer. Wings tacked on 456 for the Surfers to put them at a final of 2458 in what they're hoping will hold for a win. Sugar made a bit rally with 745 for the Specters, but they came up short at 2389. Pearl is back to even at 7-7, while Harrison drops to 3-9 with the loss.
We'll have more in upcoming days. An update on pool: I'm taking my time with doing the brackets, so it'll probably be another week or two before I get into the Tournament action, which greatly benefits cricket fans anyway.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The league-leading Eagles oppose the Crowns, who are wrapping up a four-game road trip. Nightfur had some mild struggles at the start with getting herself going, and this cost her points later on, as she ended with 378. Goldy answered with 535 for Everton on her turn, giving them a small lead early on. Jake took a technical error to end his turn, and he chose not to replay, accepting a score of 566 for the Crowns. Puff III took only 290 for the Eagles, as they've fallen slightly behind at the midway mark. Kayla got a bit greedy playing for generous bounces, and a spinning ball took her out at 264 for Royal. Kirstin recovered some of the damage with 359 for Everton, bringing the game to a close level with a player each to go. Hannah faltered at 192 for the Crowns, giving them a final of 1400 even. Blizzard couldn't cover it, taking just 51 as the Eagles have fallen for the first time with 1235. Royal's win takes them to 6-6, while Everton is 8-1 after the hot start to the year.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders are proud to host a third-jerseys game, breaking out their web-adorned blacks against the regal purple of the Monarchs. Panda avoided taking a technical error replay, instead accepting 412 for Southern as he pulled up on his swing. Shadow answered with 519 for Web City to produce a minor lead. Hoppy fired back with 495 for the Monarchs, keeping the offense steady as the lead exchanges hands again. Ted couldn't cover the deficit on his turn, taking a tough deflection that stalled him at 219 as the Spiders trail halfway through the game. Pounce failed to make much of a difference in the game, with only 120 as Southern's lead has destabilized. Shiny gave Web City a healthy lead with 597 on her turn, as they'll take the advantage into the final players' turns. Shannon left the Monarchs short with 263 on her turn, giving them 1290 in the loss. Dani tapped 283 for the Spiders to seal their win at 1618. Web City improves to 4-9 with the win, while Southern is down to 4-6 in a mixed season.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts hope a week off will help their cause, as they bring in the Spurs for their third and final game of a road trip. Spice's swing got crunched too compact for her liking, and she corrected it at the wrong time, ending with only 179 for Victoria. Patches appeared to be on track until a deflection knocked her down at 108 for Boston, who will start from behind this game. Yekaterina had an early deflection go in her favor to the back 4s, but she couldn't pick a corner at the end, falling on 385 for the Spurs as their lead is a bit stronger now. Puff II mistimed a swing at one point in her game, forcing her to make a reaching desperation save to continue her turn, which ended on 539 to give the Swifts the lead at the halfway mark. B. Chapman covered the deficit on a fairly standard turn of 432 for Victoria. Gradley got beat by a rolling offering to end his turn on 281 for Boston, giving them a small deficit to face. Wario crushed 1434 for the Spurs at the end, giving them 2430 overall in what should be a stunning win. Sweetheart fell out at 207 for the Swifts, giving them a loss with 1135 total. Victoria's surprise blitz ending gets them to 5-6, passing the now 5-7 Boston team.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Meteors begin a three-game home stand with their new gray shirts, facing the bright red-clad Specters in their new thirds. Sydney struggled in this game, taking just 45 for Harrison, a bad first impression for the new jerseys. Mams finally brought some road confidence home with her, scoring 464 for Viewpoint Sound to lead things off with a home team lead. Twinkie II had a ball get stuck on her backhand for the Specters, ending her turn early at 237. Hoot had a solid 357 for the Meteors, adding a little more to their lead halfway through the game. Lexi managed just 102 for Harrison against her former team, unrecognizable as it may be from when she played there. Nibbles belted 936 in response for Viewpoint Sound, likely making their untouchable at this late stage in the game. Sugar went all-in with her furious rally, but even 1030 wasn't enough, leaving the Specters at 1414 in the loss. Dominic iced the Meteors win with 239 individually for a score of 1996 overall. Viewpoint Sound jumped to 5-8, while Harrison drops to 2-8 for the year.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs come home to try-out their new black jerseys, while the Flames take the Fireball jerseys on the road for a pair of games. Crystal carved out a pretty good game for herself in this one, hitting her way to 610 for Queens to start them off well. Spice tried to swing a bit too big for her ability in this one, ending with just 80 for Victoria as they start from behind. Paige shot back with a crisp 903 for the Flames, padding their lead very nicely with her offensive outburst. Yekaterina had a very ill-advised swing in her game, accidentally striking two balls backward while the false start was still set to be in effect. This action gave her only 7 points as the Spurs are likely already defeated. Violetta supplied an extra 257 for Queens, keeping their lead fairly steady in what's shaping up to be a blowout. B. Chapman gave Victoria a respectable effort with 560 on her turn, but they remain far behind with a player each to go. Max struggled to get a swing, ending on just 90 for the Flames to produce the final score of 1860. Wario tried to make a rally for the Spurs, but he came up with 378, leaving them short at 1025 overall. Queens is up to .500, joining a throng of teams at the mark as they are 8-8, while Victoria is 5-7 for the season.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows continue a five-game home stand, which might help fight their fatigue, playing against a well-rested Tridents team ending a three-game road trip. Precious ripped 852 for Pronger right at the start, showing no rust from the long layoff for the visitors. Sally initiated the new Archtown jerseys with 272 on her turn, putting them far back in the deep red shirts. Zach slapped another 527 for the Tridents, as they're cruising through this game with little resistance to their offense. Sleepy B. lifted a solid 264 for the Arrows, but they continue to lose ground at the halfway point. Spot struggled in this one, taking just 104 as the Pronger lead weakens slightly. Ruby made no progress for Archtown with a measly 21 on her turn, likely sealing their fate in this game. Potter played a solid game for the Tridents, giving them 417 to put their final score at 1900 even. Dusky outscored the rest of her team, but her 564 left the Arrows at 1121, a deep loss. Pronger continues to surprise at 5-2 for the year, while Archtown's heavy schedule is weighing them down at 6-12.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Spanish Derby takes over here, with the Monarchs ending a short trip just as the Stills return home for a pair. Panda led off with a modest 208 for Southern to get this game going. Easter answered with 432 for Todavía, giving them a slight lead in the early stages of this rivalry battle. Hoppy answered with 831 for the Monarchs, bashing her way to give the visitors a lead. Sierra matched her swing-for-swing, slicing 876 for the Stills as she restored their lead to its original strength. Pounce scooped his way to 400 for Southern, covering the deficit again as it has been a tight game so far. Sparkles extended the lead Todavía lead a bit with this performance, tallying 584 with a very confident turn. Shannon drilled 996 for the Monarchs, giving them a final of 2435, forcing a rather large response from the hosts. Bells met the challenge, churning out 784 to give the Stills a win with 2676 total. Todavía fought hard for this win, but it got them to 9-10 overall, with a 3-1 division record, while bumping Southern to 4-7 with a 2-1 division mark.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: These two teams meet twice this week, with the return at the end of this post. For this game, the Surfers try out their speckled silver jerseys against the brand-new Specters reds. Sydney took a high-octane pace to the game, ending at 434 as a ball ducked behind her bat, but the result is positive for Harrison. Watermelon took a much lighter pace, and almost matched the result, but her 348 has Pearl slightly behind early on. Twinkie II stumbled at 188 for the Specters, leaving their lead a bit vulnerable. Neopolitan cut into the deficit on her turn, but failed to reach it, as her 264 kept the Surfers marginally behind halfway through. Lexi produced 419 for Harrison to stave off the threat of a counterattack temporarily. Boots overcame a heavily cluttered pitch for much of her turn to hit 548 and give Pearl the lead heading into the final players' turns. Sugar swung for 567 for the Specters on her turn, bringing them to 1608 overall, which will force a response from the hosts. Wings couldn't break his slump this time, taking only 161 and leaving the Surfers at 1321 in the loss. Harrison's surprise win takes them to 3-8, while Pearl falls to 6-7.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores are at home for a one-off game wearing their new sand-colored uniforms, while the Union finish a four-game road trip in this Urban Divisional. Ms. Puppy had a perfect backward spike to the back 4s, but she failed to play on, ending with 13 points when the next ball wiped out her wicket, leaving Modernistic in an early hole. Bear pummeled 858 in response for Whitewater, giving them quite the healthy lead. Daisy seemed to be on track until a bad swing ended her turn at 177 for the Union, putting them in even more trouble. Twinkie III poked 407 for the Shores, boosting their lead at the halfway mark. Puff I dug in for 694 for Modernistic, weakening their opponents' lead with the confident performance. Marsell offset some of that damage with 324 for Whitewater, keeping them firmly in control late in the game. Strawberry was taken out by a deflection on her turn, ending at 112 and sending the Union to a loss with 996 in the process. Shaggy tapped 233 for the Shores, giving them 1822 overall in the win. Whitewater's division win takes them to 5-4 on the year, while Modernistic drops to 2-9.
Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents are back home for a game against the Pilots, who make a jaunt northeast for this one game. Valencia opened well with 641 for Golden, trying to avoid their struggles from turning into a skid. Precious had a difficult turn, having to fight off some tough offerings early before having her rhythm interrupted and bailing at 257 for Pronger. Dusty rode a very fruitful groove for most of her turn, which saw her score 606 on a very productive turn for the Pilots. After some deliberation, Zach earned a false start replay on his turn, and he benefited greatly by scoring 701 for the Tridents to cut into the deficit a bit. Strut fought off the hosts' attacks with 375 for Golden, keeping their lead strong as the game looks very competitive. Spot cut further into the deficit with his massive 611 for Pronger, setting up a very tight finish to the game. A. Charlton had 364 for the Pilots, icing their efforts at 1986, which is not safe. Potter bested his opposite number, but his 368 left the Tridents short at 1937 in a very good game. Golden is 6-5 now, while Pronger drops to 5-3 after the narrow defeat.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills get another game, their last this week, facing the Knights in their brand-new orange jerseys. Kiwi struck 731 to open the game quite favorable for Terrace City as they look to break a run of poor road performance. Easter didn't do so well for Todavía, taken out by a bad swing that ended her turn at 178, leaving the hosts to play from behind. Jennifer swatted her way to 998 for the Knights, providing quite the boost to the visitors' lead. Sierra fell with a meager 80 for the Stills, and it looks like they'll be playing a hopeless game this time. Oreo crushed another 1015 for Terrace City, likely bringing their lead to an unreachable height. Sparkles flicked 319 for Todavía to give a respectable effort to the otherwise lost game. Stripes kept it simple with 224 for the Knights, giving them 2968 as their final score in what should be a thorough victory. Bells put up quite the rally with 769 for the Stills, but they still got doubled on, as they closed with 1346 in the humbling loss for a fatigued team. Terrace City looked very good in this win, taking them to 7-5, while Todavía drops to 9-11 with the loss.
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: It's standard uniforms for this rematch, in which the Specters look for a season sweep to start a four-game home stand against an inconsistent Surfers team. Watermelon lifted 697 for Pearl this time, a drastic improvement from these teams' previous meeting. Sydney couldn't keep up in this game, taking 288 for Harrison as they'll start at a deficit. Neopolitan fired back with 856 for the Surfers, extending their lead quite nicely with the strong appearance. Twinkie II collected 506 for the Specters to keep them in a scoring mindset for the game. Boots seemed to have a good pace going before she bottomed out at 449 for Pearl, still enough to keep their lead intact. Lexi made a dent in the deficit with 850 for Harrison, a somewhat surprising effort from the team newcomer. Wings tacked on 456 for the Surfers to put them at a final of 2458 in what they're hoping will hold for a win. Sugar made a bit rally with 745 for the Specters, but they came up short at 2389. Pearl is back to even at 7-7, while Harrison drops to 3-9 with the loss.
We'll have more in upcoming days. An update on pool: I'm taking my time with doing the brackets, so it'll probably be another week or two before I get into the Tournament action, which greatly benefits cricket fans anyway.
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