We're back for a day of games today in pool, beginning with...
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Shiny. The first series of the day has the red cue up for 9-ball between these veteran players. Midland's Rainmane had control early in the game with a good break, but she lost it late, with Web City's Shiny serving up a four-ball run-out to take the win in an aggressive finish to earn a 1-0 series lead for the visitor. The Spiders' Shiny held control in game 2 for awhile, but when the Predators' Rainmane found a clean shot, she took advantage, reversing the script from the first game as she closed a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1 with another quick game. Shiny looked to have game 3 in the bag, going on another late game run, but her five-ball run ended in a scratch while making the 9, gifting the win and the series, 2-1, to Rainmane. The stunning end sees Rainmane to the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Paige. Two very talented players battle it out in another red-cue administered series of 9-ball. Victoria's Spice managed to survive a couple of tough shots in game 1, allowing Queens' Paige to make progress in the game. Spice would have the closing shots, making a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Paige was able to hold off a mid-game run by the Spurs' Spice, which ended when her 6-9 combination to the bottom right came up a bit short. Paige rallied with a four-ball run-out to claim the win, tying the series at 1. Neither player established much of a grip on game 3, although Spice did work an early four-ball run after some sloppy turns. Paige blew her chance to answer it, and Spice would win with the last two shots to secure the series at 2-1 and send herself into the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Paige v. Charli XCX. The Flames veteran is back in a quick turnaround, playing 8-ball with the silver cue against the Hummingbirds sophomore. Queens' Paige had a great start, working a five-ball run from the break, but it wouldn't last, as a late miss on the 8 coupled with two three-ball runs from Tysini's Charli kept her close, and she made the last two shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli had an early three-ball run and a four-ball run later with collateral given to the Flames' Paige, sandwiching the host's five-ball run to get close. Despite the help from Charli, Paige missed on the 8, and Charli tapped it in to win, giving her the win and clinching the series at 2-0 as well. Paige and Charli combined for an interesting game 3, beginning with Charli's bad break and ending with Paige losing on a stick violation for knocking the balls off position and then illegally potting the 8 on the same shot, giving Charli a 3-0 sweep to move on to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Dani v. Zach. The red cue is back for a series of 10-ball as these players start anew with their new teams. Impatience slowed the game for both players, but it cost Web City's Dani most, as her miss on the 9 allowed Pronger's Zach to finally settle in and make the last two shots for the win, giving him the 1-0 series lead. More poor shooting kept game 2 competitive, as a number of combination players when awry. The Tridents' Zach did have a three-ball run end in a scratch, but the Spiders' Dani was unable to assert herself, and Zach would later win to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 went relatively fast, compared to the rest of the series, and Zach had a pair of three-ball runs, the second ending the game as he made the 8-10 combination at the bottom right, earning him a 3-0 series sweep to take into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Tigerette: The Sharpshooters' newest player takes on the Tradewinds captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Capital City's Nicole prevailed in game 1, with her break causing a defensive battle with Commerce's Tigerette to eventually be settled with a three-ball run-out from Nicole, giving her the 1-0 lead in the series. The Tradewinds' Tigerette mixed things up a bit in game 2, allowing the Sharpshooters' Nicole some early leeway before making the last five balls over two turns to tie the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 came down to an errant massé shot by Nicole, who clipped the 6 as she potted the 3 illegally, allowing Tigerette to bury the 4-9 combination from ball-in-hand for the win and a 2-1 series win. Tigerette advances with the stroke of good fortune.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Bianca. Youth Movement club-mates match up in another 9-ball series, this one with the blue cue. Game 1 appeared to be heading for sloppy status until Southridge's Bianca pulled off a four-ball run-out, capitalizing on one of many misses by Whitewater's Twinkie III as the rookie takes the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca never gave the Shores' Twinkie III a chance in game 2, as Bianca potted the 9 on the break to the top right, the first time that's been done all Tournament year, to clinch the series at 2-0. Bianca backed it up with a game 3 win as well, taking the game on a three-ball run-out in a high-paced battle with Twinkie III. Bianca took the series in a sweep, 3-0, to advance to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Daisy. The red cue is back for 10-ball in this series, pitting a savvy veteran against a shaky rookie. Lighton's Acorn didn't have the easiest time on his hands in game 1, as Modernistic's Daisy provided quite the challenge. Acorn got the win with a tap-in after Daisy missed a kick on the 10, and Acorn took the 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy made a five-ball run in game 2, putting quite a scare into the Prestige's Acorn, but he was eventually given the chance to finish the game and made the last two shots, earning the win for a 2-0 series lead. Acorn maintained a possession edge in game 3, effectively preventing Daisy from building any momentum as Acorn casually took the win to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Acorn is through to the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Midnight. The red cue is up again, playing 8-ball in this series. Game 1 featured Southridge's Debby jumping out to a nice lead, only to see Westside's Midnight proffer quite the challenge with a six-ball run. It became a close game, but Midnight's missed jump on the 8 allowed Debby to close the game with a bank of the 8 to the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was similar to game 1, lacking just a piercing run from the Rockers' Midnight over the middle. The ending still saw Midnight make a mistake, and the Defenders' Debby used this to once again bank the 8, this time to the bottom right, for the win, giving her a 2-0 series lead. Debby opened game 3 with a six-ball run, ending only on a scratch, which was quickly answered by Midnight's six-ball run as well. The game proceeded to a tight finish, with Debby doing an errant jump, only for Midnight to miss on the 8, giving Debby a clear path to the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Debby will play on into the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Chelsea. The silver cue will get the next series of 8-ball, coming after the mid-afternoon break. Eastside's Chelsea took her time in getting into game 1, but she knocked Victoria's Yekaterina back quickly when she did, working a five-ball run to take the lead and winning two turns later for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 displayed some shakiness on both sides, but primarily for the Spurs' Yekaterina, who was barely able to keep up with the Sharks' Chelsea for much of the game, and she never got around the visitor, who won with a tap-in on the 8 after Yekaterina missed it. Chelsea secured the series at 2-0. Chelsea completed the 3-0 sweep in game 3, holding off an early run by Yekaterina and then getting a bit lucky that Yekaterina missed the 8. Chelsea had a three-rail kick on the 14 to the bottom side on the turn before she took the game, which sent her into the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Chris. The silver cue remains at the table for this series of 7-ball. Capital City's Chris emerged with the win in game 1, getting a bit of luck to go his way when Pronger's Potter missed on the 7 and he was able to knock it in to take a 1-0 series lead in an otherwise even game. The Sharpshooters' Chris showed his veteran savvy after the Tridents' Potter missed on the 2. Chris worked a three-ball run-out, ending on a 4-7 combination to the top right to earn the win and make it a 2-0 series lead. Potter had complete control in game 3, taking the win fairly easily with six of the seven potted balls including the winning shot to cut the series to 2-1. Chris still advances to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Stephanie Livilotti. The silver cue gets another 8-ball series, with this winner facing Chelsea. Southridge's Stephanie made game 1 a bit uncomfortable for Terrace City's Kiwi, as she had her behind for much of the game. Kiwi was the one who pulled off the late trick, forcing Stephanie into a bad shot that gave Kiwi two tap-ins to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 came down to a scratch at the end of a five-ball run by the Knights' Kiwi, setting her back and leaving her with a difficult shot that she missed. The Defenders' Stephanie answered with a pair of four-ball runs, the latter finishing the game in her favor to tie the series at 1. Game 3 took on the form of a race, as both players were effective in the game. It came down to Stephanie missing a tough cut on the 7, allowing Kiwi to drill the 8 on her second try to the top left, giving her the win and a 2-1 series win. Kiwi will oppose Chelsea.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Hoot. The blue cue returns to action for a series of 12-ball, with the winner facing Paps. While far from flawless, Viewpoint Sound's Hoot played the better game 1, getting himself in position quicker than Harrison's Sydney. He had a mistake in executing his shots, but Sydney didn't challenge, and Hoot took the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 saw the Meteors' Hoot give away a wild-card ball on the break, making his game much more difficult. The Specters' Sydney took advantage of this, playing a patient and occasionally defensive game until she was able to kick the 11 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 started off alright for Sydney, as she took a commanding lead after the break, but she would give up three wild-card balls in the game, the last one securing the win for Hoot, who had half of his shots made for him. Hoot took the series 2-1, and will face fellow Oriental United member Paps in the second round in Eastside's FedEx Arena.
That's all for today, with more to come tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment