We're back in what should be a fairly standard day of games. We begin with...
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Twinkie I. The silver cue will get first dibs today, playing 15-ball between two talented veterans. Game 1 was incredibly close, as both players worked with short runs for most of the game. The finish saw Pearl's Neopolitan fall out after a three-ball run, and Lighton's Twinkie I scooped up the last two shots for the 1-0 series lead on her win. The Prestige's Twinkie I capitalized on a dominant effort in game 2, ending the game early with a deflected shot off the 7 to pot the 15 in the bottom right, giving her a 2-0 series lead over the ineffective Surfer Neopolitan. Game 3 went just as poorly for Neopolitan, who couldn't lock in her shot as Twinkie made eight balls on her last three turns to get the win and a 3-0 series sweep, heading strongly into the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Roxy. The silver cue stays in action for this series of 8-ball. Maplewood's Fluffina had a rough start to the game but appeared to catch up with Freedom's Roxy late until a couple of bad shots allowed Roxy to regain control and take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy had some trouble with precision in game 2, struggling to play at the level necessary to oppose the Lumberjacks' Fluffina, who had a four-ball run and a patient finish to get the win, tying the series at 1. Fluffina thought she had a choppy game 3 under her control as well, working a three-ball run to get onto the 8, but her miss opened the door for Roxy to steal the win, and she did with the last two shots for a 2-1 series win. Roxy heads to the second round as well.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Spirit. The game is 15-ball again, with the red cue getting a shot today. Southridge's Debby seemed to have more confidence early in the game, and while both players lulled in the middle, Lighton's Spirit was unable to break her slump later, allowing Debby to take a 1-0 lead in the series after winning with a six-ball run-out. The Prestige's Spirit came alive in game 2, allowing the Defenders' Debby to do some work early on before Spirit unleashed a four-ball run and backed it up with a five-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 with her big win. Spirit seemed primed to get things moving in game 3, but early struggles and a late miss on the 15 conspired against her, and Debby won the game with a tap-in to seal the series at 2-1. Debby advances to the second round with the win.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Mario. The red cue gets another 15-ball series, with the winner facing last series' winner. Boston's Puff II had a fairly average game, keeping pace with Central's Mario in his career debut. Things changed as Puff II ended game 1 by making the 9 in the top right and getting a perfect deflection that sent the cue careening into the 15 at the top side, giving her a lucky but pretty 1-0 series lead with the highlight finish. The Warriors' Mario had the bulk of possession in game 2, including a strong five-ball run near the end, but a late collapse allowed the Swifts' Puff II to take the last two balls on two turns, giving her the win and a 2-0 series lead. Mario showed promise in game 3, making a seven-ball run that was ultimately rewarded by Puff II chipping her shot on the 15, which Mario tapped in for the win to cut the series to its final of 2-1. Puff II will get the nod to advance into the second round to host Debby of the Southridge Defenders at this venue.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Nightfur. The red cue stays in action for 12-ball in this series, featuring a highly hyped rookie hosting a seasoned veteran. Atlantic's Isabella looked immediately up to the task in this debut, playing with a three-ball run on the break that Royal's Nightfur expertly answered. Isabella did not flinch, instead running out her last three shots to get the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pirates' Isabella took a slower approach in game 2, establishing defense with her last ball. The Crowns' Nightfur answered with a three-ball run, but couldn't counter the defense at all, leaving Isabella open to make her last shot, securing the series at 2-0. Isabella couldn't complete the sweep, unable to form a plan of attack while Nightfur charged through a five-ball run to pace herself to the win. Isabella still took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Smudge. The silver cue returns to action for a series of 7-ball. Infinity's Smudge showed much more interest in attacking in game 1, putting two threatening shots on the 7. Freedom's Stinky made no action to counter, and Smudge used the 3 and 5 as deflecting agents in a tough but successful potting of the 7 in the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky was much more successful in game 2, capitalizing on a scratch by the Torpedoes' Smudge on her break. Stinky had a five-ball run and then made the 7 on his second try after Smudge missed it, getting the win to tie the series at 1. Stinky had the better of play in a tough game 3, but it didn't do any good, as Smudge closed the series for herself at 2-1 with a three-ball run-out. Smudge is through to the second round with the win.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Max. The last series before the mid-afternoon break features the blue cue in 10-ball. Tysini's Leandra had some struggles early in game 1, but Queens' Max didn't offer a stern challenge to her play, and Leandra was able to take the 1-0 series lead, winning on a four-ball run-out with excellent set-up play. The Hummingbirds' Leandra dominated in game 2 as well, piecing together a late five-ball run erased by a scratch on her try at the 10. The Flames' Max proved very grateful, taking the 10 to the bottom right, stealing the win away to tie the series at 1. Max played with fire a lot in game 3, one time illegally potting the 10 to the top left on a kick-combination from the 5 that went uncalled. Leandra was in control late, but her two misses on the 10, one for a scratch, allowed Max the easy victory, and it also gave him a 2-1 series win. Max heads into the second round after a gutsy performance in this series.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Goldy. The Union rookie gets her debut in Accuracy with the silver cue against the Eagles captain. Modernistic's Daisy had a slight edge in game 1, keeping Everton's Goldy at bay for much of the game until finally pinching her out at the end, taking a 3-4 win for a 1-0 series lead for the hosting rookie. The Union's Daisy fell behind quickly in game 2, allowing the Eagles' Goldy to build up a lead that was erased by two scratches. The two battled closely and went deep into overtime, where Goldy's third miss was finally punished by Daisy, who won 6-7 to seal the series at 2-0. Daisy ended up with the sweep, pushing Goldy around early and then coasting to the 4-5 win as she missed her last three shots. The rookie Daisy advances to the second round with the 3-0 series sweep.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Bandit. The game is now 9-ball, and the blue cue will be used in this series. Harrison's Lexi seemed to have the early advantage in game 1, shooting much more reliably than her opponent, but it was Swordpoint's Bandit who won, taking a 1-0 series lead with his four-ball run-out at the end. The Specters' Lexi answered back in game 2, taking a similar approach to her play. The Blades' Bandit was pretty much empty after an opening three-ball run, and Lexi would tie the series at 1 by winning with a four-ball run-out, showing much confidence in her shot. Game 3 took on the style of a sprint race, with both players shaky but firm in their shooting. Lexi would be the first to buckle, scratching on the 8 to gift Bandit a free shot her converted on the 9 to take the series 2-1. The result sends Bandit through to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Chelsea. The blue cue remains at the table for 12-ball in this series between two of the best from last year. Eastside's Chelsea didn't have much going well for her in game 1 until Boston's Patches gave away a wild-card ball. This allowed Chelsea some flexibility, which she exploited to win within two turns, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Swifts' Patches had an easier time in game 2, still giving away a wild-card ball but also using more effective defense and strategy to complicate the table for the Sharks' Chelsea. The visitor Chelsea tried to make a quick run at the start, but got locked up with Patches, who would rally at the end with a fortunate bounce to win and tie the series at 1. Patches received two wild card balls from Chelsea in game 3, making up for her previous generosity all at once. These were both done out of desperation, as Chelsea tried to assert her position but failed, making the Patches victory all the easier. Patches takes a 2-1 series win into the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Tigerette. Two more captains square off in this 10-ball series with the blue cue. Golden's Valencia didn't have the best of times early in game 1, and she eventually lost control to Commerce's Tigerette, who backed up a four-ball run with a three-ball run-out sandwiched around Valencia's scratch as Tigerette went ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Valencia was more aggressive in game 2, using an early six-ball run to shake the Tradewinds' Tigerette a bit. It worked, as Tigerette was imprecise late in the game, giving Valencia the chance to make the last two shots for the win, tying the series at 1. Valencia again asserted herself in game 3, using a four-ball run against Tigerette. Things got tight at the end, but Valencia was able to force Tigerette into missed contact, and she made the last two shots from ball-in-hand for the win and a 2-1 series win. Valencia is into the second round with the effort.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Shawn. The silver cue is back in action for Accuracy with this series. Midland's Shawn was firm in keeping a good game going in game 1, taking only one miss in a 1-3 win over Diamond's Smokey, who couldn't quite match the performance. Shawn leads the series 1-0 early on. The Predators' Shawn appeared to have game 2 in his hands, but things fell apart very quickly with three straight misses, and the Gems' Smokey swooped in with the 3-4 win to make it a 1-1 series with the crafty win. Smokey was again solid in game 3, forcing Shawn to take a number of risky shots just to keep up. Smokey couldn't make the performance last through the end of regulation, but overtime was quick, as Shawn went empty on the break and Smokey buried two balls on his only shot for the 2-3 win to seal a 2-1 series win. Smokey goes on to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Fuchsia. The last series before the break is in 10-ball with the silver cue in a battle of rookies. Midland's Fuchsia did put up a three-ball run early in game 1, but she faded after this, and it looked like two inexperienced players until Spot brought down the 10 for Pronger, tapping it to the bottom right to take a 1-0 series lead with his win. The Tridents' Spot did well in game 2, making an early three-ball run and using a five-ball run-out at the end to block out any chance for the Predators' Fuchsia to rally back. The win secured the series at 2-0 in favor of Spot after a good pair of games. Spot completed the sweep with another bold effort in game 3, fighting off Fuchsia in their closest game of the series to get the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Spot's debut ends with him going to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Wario. Play resumes with the red cue getting a look at 10-ball in this series. Everton's Blizzard looked a bit shaky at times in game 1, missing contact twice during the game. Victoria's Wario capitalized with good shots on these plays, and the latter allowed him to take the win and a 1-0 series lead with the last two balls potted in the game. Wario played well again in game 2, but the Spurs rookie was denied the win by a late scratch after a pair of three-ball runs. The Eagles' Blizzard made the 10 from ball-in-hand to snag the win in this game, giving her the win and tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a much more defensive stance from both players, as they forced each other to take tougher shots. This eventually benefited Wario, who got a good line on the 10 after Blizzard couldn't convert a tough cut. Wario ended the game in a win and a 2-1 series win to go to the second round.
Games should return to a more normal schedule this week. A recent abdominal injury kept me out of action this week as I had to rest quite a bit. Cricket should also return in the coming days.
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