After a day off for maintenance and rest, pool returns to action for hopefully a full slate of games. First up...
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Easter. The first ever Wolves home series has a rookie facing the Stills captain 15-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 started very slowly and nearly saw tensions rise from the first shot, but things got calmer as Stonebridge's Cobalt made a five-ball run. Todavía's Easter answered with a four-ball run, and while each player had a try at the 15, Easter banked it diagonally to the bottom right to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was more of a slow finish than a slow start, as the Wolves' Cobalt kept things moving with a number of lucky combinations and bank shots. He would go unrewarded, as the Stills' Easter took the win on her second try at 15 to clinch the series at 2-0. Easter proved to be a resilient finisher, hitting the highlight reel twice in game 3. Her first was an early jump shot on the 3, and the latter won the game, as her hit off the 8 deflected to take the 15 at the bottom right, earning her the series sweep 3-0 over Cobalt. Easter advances to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Bianca. The silver cue gets its first of the day in this Rotation series. Harrison's Lexi had only a little resistance in game 1, as her opening run was countered by Southridge's Bianca triple-potting the 4 and 15 to the bottom right with the 2 in the top side. Lexi finished the game in an 8-4 win with a three-ball run-out to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi had a bit more of a fight on her hands in game 2, as the Defenders' Bianca stayed competitive longer this time around. The results were the same, with Lexi ending with short runs for an 8-4 win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Bianca hold her own a bit better, keeping pace with Lexi in the cleanest-shooting game of the series. Bianca would take this win 8-6, but Lexi plays on into the second round after the 2-1 series win.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Strut. The silver cue remains in action as these two veterans battle in 12-ball. Diamond's Smokey saw a break for game 1 that produced a good spread but bad placement, making things exceedingly difficult for him. Golden's Strut faced less issues, but his aggressive play did not make things easy, although he would emerge with the gutsy win and a 1-0 series lead at the end. In game 2, the Pilots' Strut had too many of his balls clustered together, unable to break them apart in set-up shots. The Gems' Smokey faced an easier distribution, and with the help of some misses from Strut, Smokey iced the game quickly for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 came down to the final shots, as Smokey's four-ball run put him in good position, but Strut had set himself up well. In the end, Strut missed his last ball, and Smokey's speed advantage paid off, giving him the win and a 2-1 series win with his shot on the 11 to the top side. Smokey heads to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Midnight. The red cue gets a start in 9-ball for these Urban Division rivals. Westside's Midnight dominated in game 1, barely letting Terrace City's Jennifer take any shots. When she did, Jennifer had shaky results, including a scratch that led to Midnight converting a 5-9 combination to win and take a 1-0 lead in the series. A tight start to game 2 that saw the Rockers' Midnight seem to hold control gave way when Midnight scratched on the 8, allowing the Knights' Jennifer to play from ball-in-hand for the last two shots. She converted both, including the long strike on the 9 to the top right, tying the series at 1 with her win. Jennifer started well in game 3 but came under pressure from Midnight and couldn't hold on. Her last ditch effort was a defensive play on the 8, which worked, but Jennifer missed the 9, and Midnight buried it to win the game and take the series 2-1. Midnight will travel to Harrison's Mercedes-Benz Forum to face the Specters' Twinkie II in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Paige. Prior to the start of the 10-ball series with the blue cue, the Flames' Paige announced this would be her last Tournament in UPCL. Right after her announcement, Queens' Paige made life difficult in game 1 for Todavía's Easter. Things got close near the end of the game, but Easter's miss on the 10 allowed Paige to make it for the win and 1-0 series lead. The defensive starts continued in game 2, as the Flames' Paige continued to keep the Stills' Easter in tough positions. Easter finally broke out at the end, answering a three-ball run from Paige with tap-ins on the last two shots to take the win and tie the series at 1 despite being vastly outplayed so far. Game 3 saw a slow start, with the only excitement being Paige illegally potting the 10 to the top left. This would prove critical, as Easter ended up with the win on a five-ball run-out through good positioning and a bit of luck on Paige's scratch. Easter took the series 2-1, earning her the right to host the Freedom Cascades' Stinky in the second round at this venue.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Dusky. A Northeastern battle awaits in this series of 7-ball with the silver cue. Controversy was abound in an abrupt game 1, as Diddley's bad break netted a ball, and his next shot was deemed inconclusive to its legality. The result was Diddley winning for a 1-0 series lead, as, officially, his shot deflected off the 1 to pot the 7 in the top right despite a very close call. Things got even more tense in game 2, as the Lumberjacks' Diddley left the Arrows' Dusky trapped defensively, and then appeared to commit a stick foul that went uncalled in his four-ball run-out. Diddley's win secured him the series at 2-0, but the few Arrows fans in attendance were very displeased, and tensions between his Delila Enterprises club and her Empyre club have reached unfavorable levels. Dusky got a bit of a consolation prize, dominating game 3 for a clean and easy win to cut the series to 2-1, despite calls that she should have had the sweep. Diddley will advance to the second round, and it's possible he could meet another Arrow there.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Dustin. Two very talented players are prepared to meet in Accuracy with the silver cue. Central's Dustin never had a chance in game 1, as Swordpoint's Snowball not only didn't miss, but she found ways to play very creative defense, leading to her taking the win 0-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball returned to earth a bit more in game 2, not quite shooting perfect, but the Warriors' Dustin had troubles coping with Snowball's bad break, and this ran up an early deficit he wouldn't come back from. Snowball won again, 2-3 this time, and clinched the series at 2-0. In game 3, Dustin gained the upper-hand early on, and while the game was tied with a ball left, he put Snowball in a bad position and she missed, giving away the game 2-3 to Dustin. Snowball still took the series 2-1 to advance, hosting Dani of the Web City Spiders in the second round at this venue.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Salmo. After the mid-afternoon break, the silver cue will continue its run in 15-ball. Maplewood's Fluffina played the better game 1, leaving Lighton's Salmo frustrated throughout the game with her defensive stance. She would occasionally rattle off a run, the best being a four-ball stretch in the middle, and Fluffina also came up with the win after a slow finish for the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina made game 2 count as well, fighting off some decent shots from the Prestige's Salmo, who was very bitter about Fluffina's absolutely atrocious break shot. Fluffina ended the game with a three-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a lot of experimentation and a lot of frustration, as the players seemed to be shooting hard. No big runs developed, and Fluffina was lucky Salmo rattled the 15 out at the end, so she could tap it in for the win and a 3-0 series sweep.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Ted. Two rookies meet with the red cue in hand for 7-ball. Game 1 took a familiar pattern for the league, as Swordpoint's Bandit made the first two balls and the last two balls, sandwiched around a three-ball run by Web City's Ted. Bandit's two-pair gave him the win and 1-0 series lead. This win proved critical, as it allowed the diminutive Blades rookie Bandit to crack the 7 off the break to the bottom left, giving him another win over a helpless Ted of the Spiders as Bandit secured the series at 2-0. Game 3 was not the cleanest game in the world, as both players missed shots they should have made. Bandit came up on the right end of the result, going for a three-ball run-out after Ted flubbed a play from ball-in-hand. Bandit's win sent him through to the second round on a 3-0 series win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Puff III. Two exciting players meet up in the last series of the afternoon, 9-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Puff III put on a bit of a clinic in game 1, shutting out Pearl's Neopolitan after the host made the first two balls. Puff III backed up a four-ball run with a three-ball run-out to take the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Eagles' Puff III held a massive possession advantage in game 2, making three balls on the break as part of a five-ball run, but a late miss on the 8 gave the Surfers' Neopolitan a clear line to the win, which she took to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Puff III once again looked like the better player early in game 3, but her luck ran out on the 7. She made the shot with a near impossible cut, but the cue rebounded to scratch, and Neopolitan swooped in to win another game and the series, 2-1. Neopolitan will host the Southern Monarchs' Hoppy at this venue in the next round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Violetta. The silver cue stays up for the lead-off series of the night, which is Rotation. Capital City's Nicole tried to make a narrow lead stand up for too long, and Queens' Violetta blew right past her when she got the chance. The game's end was a bit sloppy, but Violetta managed to hold her lead for an 8-6 win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta was far more dominant in game 2, keeping the Sharpshooters' Nicole away from any truly clear shots en route to a rare 9-1 win, accomplished by double-potting the 9 to the top side and 14 to the bottom left on the final shot of the game, the series clincher as she stands ahead 2-0 in the series. Violetta completed the 3-0 sweep with a game 3 win, bursting out to a nice lead before Nicole reined her in a bit. Violetta then broke free again at the end to take the 8-6 result. Violetta will travel to Harrison's Mercedes-Benz Forum to meet the Specters' Lexi in the next round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Sleepy B. The winner of this 7-ball series with the silver cue will face Diddley of the Maplewood Lumberjacks in what promises to be a controversial series. Atlantic's Klaus had game 1 done in two shots, making the 3 on the break and double-potting the 1-7 combination to the top side for the win, with the 1 going to the top left for fun as Archtown's Sleepy B. never saw the table. Klaus leads the series 1-0 with the spectacular performance. The Pirates' Klaus played a far more standard game 2, missing a couple of simple shots but taking advantage of the Arrows' Sleepy B. illegally contacting the 6 late in the game. He made the last two balls to get the win and secure the series at 2-0. Sleepy B. stole a win in game 3, working through a three-ball run only to see Klaus get the first crack at 7. He missed, and she converted to make it a 2-1 series that will put Klaus through.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Precious. The blue cue is back for 8-ball in this series between solid veterans. Capital City's Missy held Pronger's Precious off the board for a long time in game 1, but it wasn't long enough, as Missy plateaued and Precious was able to rattle off a three-ball run-out to take the win a few turns later, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious stayed hot in game 2, starting with a three-ball run and following with a four-ball run while leaving the 8 in good position. The Sharpshooters' Missy tried a three-ball run after that, but Precious took the 8 to clinch the series at 2-0. Missy took the early advantage in game 3, and while Precious did work her way back into the game late, Missy made the 8 to get the win. Precious will take solace in a 2-1 series win to see her through into the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Starlight. Big name captains collide in 15-ball, using the red cue for this star-laden series. Game 1 saw a tight series with a lot of defense on both sides, but it was Stonebridge's Juno making the critical mistake, a late scratch. Pacific's Starlight cashed in from ball-in-hand, bouncing the cue off the 13 to pot the 15 in the top right on a deflection for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a dichotomy develop, as the Wolves' Juno played bitter defense when she had control of the game. Over the middle, she lost control to the Volcanoes' Starlight, who ripped a seven-ball run with ease. This paced her attack and set her up for a finish by making the last two balls to win, sealing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw more balance between the players, with short choppy runs and a few lucky shots factoring in. Starlight ended up sweeping Juno out 3-0 with a three-ball run-out in the end, and Starlight will head to Central to face the Warriors' Twilight, her sister, at Nestle's Warriors Hall.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Kiwi. The silver cue is back now, with a series of 9-ball between a rookie and a superstar. Game 1 saw Diamond's Rosalina start strong but face a tough attack from Terrace City's Kiwi. The visitor couldn't maintain her play, and Rosalina swooped in to get the win with the last two shots, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Gems' Rosalina showed a dominance akin to vintage Kiwi, but the Knights' captain was unable to match the tenacity, and Rosalina would take the win in just three turns, securing the series at 2-0 with the lion's share of the possession as well. Rosalina had a tough start to game 3, frequently getting blocked defensively by Kiwi, but she came out with the win again when Kiwi scratched on the 8 after trying to get position. Rosalina's 3-0 series sweep gives her the chance to host Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Wario. The final series of the day is in 7-ball with the blue cue, with a sophomore hosting a rookie. Victoria's Wario wasted his first chance to win, missing the 2-7 combination at the top right. This bought Everton's Kirstin some time, but her game 1 would end in sadness, as Wario rallied with a four-ball run-out to win, giving him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players seemingly abandon form for a good part of the game. Things straightened out after illegal contact from the Spurs' Wario led the Eagles' Kirstin to a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1 with the sudden burst of good shooting. Kirstin kept the hot streak going in game 3, running the table on Wario, with the key play being her fifth shot and sixth potted ball, the 6, falling on a triple-kiss deflection to the bottom right while leaving her in position on the 7. Kirstin's eleven straight balls potted led her to the 2-1 series win.
That's all for today's action, ending on an insane high note. We'll be back for a weekend-cumulative post on Sunday night, with the chance of cricket in between.
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