We're back with new games of pool to be played. First up today...
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Twinkie II. The blue cue plays 7-ball to begin the day in easy form. Todavía's Sparkles absolutely dominated game 1, working a five-ball run from the break and using a scratch from Harrison's Twinkie II to make the last two balls from ball-in-hand for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II stayed more competitive in game 2, and a couple of tough misses by the Stills' Sparkles opened up the game, which Twinkie II took on the last two shots to tie the series at 1. Sparkles' errors in game 2 would also cost her game 3, as Twinkie II made the 6 and 7 on the break, the latter to the top left on a spectacular first and only shot to swipe the series away 2-1. Twinkie II will advance to the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Hughbert v. Snowball. A Defenders rookie debuts against the Blades captain in Rotation with the silver cue. Southridge's Hughbert did well in his first game, winning game 1 by an 8-5 score over Swordpoint's Snowball. The highlight came on his two-rail kick to sink the 6 in the top left as part of a four-ball run. Snowball answered with her own four-ball run halted by a scratch that allowed Hughbert to grab the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball made a highlight in game 2 with a 5-12-9 kick combination to the bottom side as the fourth of a five-ball run to answer the Defenders' Hughbert making two balls on the break. Snowball would get to the edge of winning before Hughbert rattled off a six-ball run-out, stealing the 8-7 win and a 2-0 series lead in a thrilling battle of players on opposite ends of the experience spectrum. Snowball found another highlight on a 1-4 combination that deflected off the 6 and into the bottom side in game 3 from a terrible angle. Snowball would later deny Hughbert of the sweep after he rallied to tie on a four-ball run. The game ended 8-6 for Snowball, but Hughbert won the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Stinky. The games continue with 10-ball and the blue between these veterans. Boston's Sweetheart took the early edge in game 1, getting the win over Freedom's Stinky in a very competitive match that saw Sweetheart bury the 10 Stinky left near the bottom left corner for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was nearly as close as the first, but the Cascades' Stinky won this time, using a four-ball run-out to get the win in response to a five-ball run by the Swifts' Sweetheart. Stinky's win tied the series at 1, setting up what should be a close finish. Game 3 started a bit sluggish, but once it got going, Stinky was in full control, making a seven-ball run-out to take the win and secure the series at 2-1 with his strong play. Stinky will happily glide into the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Nikolai. The blue cue stays up for this series of Rotation between inexperienced players. Peach started by making two balls on the break, and she didn't looked concerned at any point in game 1, even as Freedom's Nikolai nearly tied it in the middle of the game. Peach replied with a three-ball run-out to win 8-3, a calm effort from the rookie-captain. The Nighthawks' Peach seemed to not even show in game 2, poorly breaking and then allowing the Cascades' Nikolai to work his way to an 8-1 win without much resistance, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a tale of two halves, as Nikolai collected a large lead with a four-ball run putting him on the brink of a win. Peach rallied back, using a five-ball run to get close before tying the game, but she missed the final shot, and Nikolai made it to win 8-7 and advance to the second round in a 2-1 series win.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Paps v. Dominic. The newest Shark gets to open up their brand-new pool venue against a new Meteor, as 15-ball is played with the silver cue. Eastside's Paps brought the crowd to their feet in the new building, winning game 1 early with a glancing hit off the 5 to sink the 15 at the top left, taking a 1-0 series lead over Viewpoint Sound's Dominic, who had little impact. The Sharks' Paps wasn't quite as in control in game 2, but he made a four-ball run-out at the end, sitting the Meteors' Dominic down 2-0 in the series after an impressive closer from the host to secure advancement. Game 3 saw a defensive approach from both sides after Paps had a poor break. Dominic's inability to stop scratching ultimately cost him, as Paps made the 11-15 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand to win and make it a 3-0 series sweep. Paps will ride that success to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Twilight. Two of Reality's best members square off in 8-ball with the blue cue. Boston's Puff II made a ball on the break, and that provided her an edge in the early going, where Central's Twilight took a defensive stance. Puff II stayed on the offensive and would charge to the end to win the game, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight felt very good about her game 2 chances, making a five-ball run on her first turn, but it proved to be all she had, as the Swifts' Puff II came from behind to win on an eight-ball run-out, securing the series at 2-0 with the remarkable effort. Game 3 was much more of a grind for both players, with Twilight overcoming a pair of scratches to take the win after a scratch from Puff II, who would go on to win the series 2-1 anyway, moving into the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Lexi. We're playing more 8-ball now, as the red cue gets a turn. Game 1 saw Celestia burst out to an early lead, but the Oceanside rookie struggled in the middle, allowing Harrison's Lexi to get back in the game. It wouldn't matter, as Celestia closed her win on a three-ball run-out to go up 1-0 in the series. The Specters' Lexi came back in game 2, keeping the Waves' Celestia at bay long enough to methodically sink her suit and the 8, earning what appeared to be a slow-forming blowout win to tie the series at 1. The players exchanged gifts in game 3, but this proved to be less valuable to Celestia, who was already behind after Lexi's opening four-ball run. Lexi needed only two turns after getting the gift to end the game, giving her the 2-1 series win over Celestia.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Paps. The focus shifts to 12-ball with the blue cue in this series. Paps needed only two turns in this game, as the Eastside newcomer worked a four-ball run-out with favorable positioning to defeat Commerce's Tigerette in game 1, earning the visitor a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Paps had a bit more of a challenge in game 2 with getting into position after making two balls from the break, but the Tradewinds' Tigerette helped out with a wild-card ball. He quickly returned it, and while Tigerette had a chance to rally, she couldn't complete the effort. Paps used a three-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series at 2-0 as well. In game 3, Paps got nothing from the break, and he had to hold off Tigerette for a bit, but his set-up work was superb, allowing a three-ball run-out of tap-ins to stand for the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep again for Paps.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Oreo. The last series before a break has the red cue in action for Rotation between these two strong veterans. Terrace City's Oreo established a lead fairly quickly in game 1, and Lighton's Twinkie I was not precise enough to challenge Oreo, who would eventually cruise to an 8-3 win through short runs, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo was on the brink of victory in game after a stunning second option sinking of the 10 to the bottom side (missed at top right). The Prestige's Twinkie I refused to fall that easily, going on a four-ball run-out to counter the prior three-ball run, giving her an 8-7 win to tie the series at 1 with. Game 3 started very tight, but Oreo slipped off at the end, losing thanks to defense from Twinkie I that set her up for the last two shots of an 8-3 win. Twinkie I took the series 2-1, and seemed pretty chuffed about it.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Hannah v. Lexi. After the break, the silver cue is back for 15-ball between two inexperienced players. Royal's Hannah had game 1 under control in the early going, but a late miss allowed Harrison's Lexi back into the game. She took advantage of it, with Lexi winning on a five-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi set up the Crowns' Hannah for failure in game 2, giving her an impossible shot and then using the ball-in-hand to take a cheap win on a 1-15 combination to the top right, securing Lexi the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit more of the same as game 1, with a tight start giving way to another five-ball run-out from Lexi as she stormed her way to a 3-0 series sweep to advance into the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Leonardo. These two Solid Core teammates will face off in 15-ball with the silver, with the winner to oppose Lexi. Midland's Leonardo came up with the game 1 win, but it was not pretty, as both he and Whitewater's Shaggy struggled after the latter's poor break. Leonardo leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy stayed in the series with a slightly more smooth game 2 win, ending with a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. The Predators' Leonardo did little of note in game 2, beyond making a few standard shots. Shaggy made her move in game 3, dominating with two balls on the break, a seven-ball run in the middle, and then the final two shots for the win, clinching the series for herself at 2-1 while bumping out her son-in-law. Shaggy will oppose Lexi in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Luigi v. Ice Cream. The last series of the day features Urban division rivals in 9-ball with the blue cue. North Modernistic's Luigi saw a high share of possession in game 1, boosted by a four-ball run, but it was Commerce's Ice Cream winning on the last two shots of the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Ice Cream didn't have the best of luck in game 2, but two critical misses by the Nighthawks' Luigi proved far more costly. His first miss was a 4-9 combination to the bottom right at short range, and his second was a miss on the 9 to the top left. Ice Cream cleaned up the latter with ease to secure the series at 2-0. Ice Cream needed a bit of good fortune in game 3, and she got it, as the players exchanged three-ball runs over the middle of the game, but Luigi missed the 9, and Ice Cream tapped it in to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Ice Cream plays on into the second round.
We'll be back tomorrow with a similar slate of games. We'll try to settle into the 30-45 games per day range as I progress back into regular health and stamina.
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