BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Ms. Puppy. The first series is Accuracy with the blue cue. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy played a strong game 1, keeping steady even as Westside's Goatee got shaky in the early going, and Ms. Puppy rode this success to a 1-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players rally off for multiple successful shots in a row. The Union's Ms. Puppy was the first to fall, and she never got back into the game, as the Rockers' Goatee bossed her around and missed only one shot for a 1-3 win, tying the series at 1 in an exciting opener for the day. Goatee had a good start to game 3, but she couldn't make it last, missing three times later in a 2-5 win for Ms. Puppy, whose excellent shooting gave her a 2-1 series win. Ms. Puppy will be in Royal in the next round, facing the Crowns' Kayla at Kraft Forum.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Rainmane. The silver cue comes on for a series of 10-ball now. Game 1 saw Midland's Rainmane have the better of the early play, but not by much, as Oceanside's Caitlin made it a chippy game late and ended up winning when Rainmane missed on the 10. Caitlin's tap-in gave her the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Caitlin opened game 2 with the 10 and cue going in pockets on the break. The Predators' Rainmane was unable to assert herself early, leading to short runs exchanged between the two players. Caitlin had the last, a three-ball run that left the 10 standing, which Rainmane made for the win to tie the series at 1. Rainmane could have kept going in game 3, but a miss on the 3 left it in line for Caitlin to do the 3-10 combination to the bottom right, and she won the series 2-1 with that shot. Caitlin will host the Pronger Tridents' Spot in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Lexi. It's a venue doubleheader as we return to Accuracy with the blue cue for this series. Oceanside's Snuggle scratched on the break, but Harrison's Lexi missed from ball-in-hand, leaving the game close until the end, where Lexi cracked and fell with a 1-3 loss to Snuggle, whose firm shooting gave him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Waves' Snuggle fall behind, and while the Specters' Lexi was far from perfect in the execution of her shots, she stayed a shot or two ahead of Snuggle the whole time, helping her to a 3-4 win that tied the series at 1 after a decent performance. In game 3, it appeared Lexi had no intentions of missing, which made things difficult once Snuggle fell behind by three shots. Lexi did trip up once, but she held on to win 1-3 and take the series 2-1 with a very smooth finish. Lexi will travel to Westside's BMW RockDome to face the Rockers' Midnight in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Dominic. The blue cue wraps up its obligations in Accuracy for the round in this series. Game 1 saw a shaky start from Viewpoint Sound's Dominic, but he held true to his shot and watched Todavía's Bells crumbles after a late scratch. Dominic took the game 2-4 for a 1-0 series lead in this Purple Derby battle. In game 2, the Meteors' Dominic ended up paying dearly for completing a double-pot, as the Stills' Bells forced him into a miss to tie the game, and then when he got nothing in overtime, Bells made the single shot necessary to take the 2-3 win, tying the series at 1 with her veteran plays. In game 3, mistakes were exchanged evenly at first, but when the cluster buster shots started, Bells was unable to keep up, and Dominic cruised to a 2-5 win to take the series 2-1. Dominic will travel to Del Sur's House of 10 Windows to face the Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Ruby. The last series of Accuracy in the round is with the silver cue between the Gems sophomore and Arrows superstar. Diamond's Pedey fell apart in the middle of the game after staying close with Archtown's Ruby, and his collapse paired with a late fade by Ruby made it a 4-5 win for Ruby, who took the 1-0 series lead despite her poor finish. In game 2, the Arrows' Ruby started off cold and took awhile to get to speed. This lapse allowed the Gems' Pedey to build a commanding lead, which held up to the end as he tied the series at 1 with a solid 2-4 win in the middle frame. Ruby also was late to the party in game 3, falling behind early and never pulling even as she desperately flailed her way to a 3-5 loss, giving Pedey a solid but not confident win and a 2-1 series win. Pedey has a meeting with Stripes of the Terrace City Knights in the second round at this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Hannah v. Marsell. A former Crown returns to face the rookie that replaced him in 8-ball with the blue cue. Whitewater's Marsell had a very tight defensive shell early in game 1, but when it blasted apart, he opened with a three-ball run, missing a bank on the 8. Royal's Hannah did the same, running three balls, but Marsell made the 8 on his second chance for a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Crowns' Hannah carried a lead through most of game 2, slowly chipping through her suit of choice until the Shores' Marsell put a panic in her with his five-ball run. Marsell was slow to close from here, unable to strike as precisely on the 8, but he would get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. In game 3, Hannah had a ball early after Marsell's scratch on the break, but she slowly let it fade, and Marsell built up some steam. Hannah then answered with a six-ball run, just missing on the 8. On her second try, she made the 8, but scratched, giving Marsell the win anyway as he swept the series 3-0. Marsell heads to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center to meet the Swifts star Puff II in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Rainmane. The last series of 8-ball with the blue cue in this round pits these above-average veterans against each other. Both players had a decent game 1, with Midland's Rainmane coming out just a bit better, winning the game on a three-ball run-out after Modernistic's Puff I couldn't thread the needle on a tough shot. Rainmane leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Rainmane had the better game 2 early on, getting as far as pushing the Union's Puff I to the brink with a three-ball run that just missed on the 8. Puff I rallied back, saving her series for now with a five-ball run-out, giving her the win to tie the series at 1. Rainmane blitzed out to an early lead in game 3, then had to make it hold up against a slow-building attack from Puff I. Rainmane had just enough time to dispatch the 8 and get the win, taking the series 2-1 as well. Rainmane will meet the Volcanoes' Leonette in the second round as Pacific's Verizon Field Events Center.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Whiskers. Another venue doubleheader will be completed after the mid-afternoon break features these two players in 8-ball with the red cue. Modernistic's Daisy pulled off quite the run, taking all eight balls she needed for the game 1 win on the first turn after Infinity's Whiskers picked a suit. Daisy's incredible poise earned a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Union's Daisy didn't rattle off any big runs, as it was actually quite the struggle for her and the Torpedoes' Whiskers. Daisy had the advantage late because Whiskers couldn't make a long-range shot at all, allowing Daisy to slowly work her way to the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went very slowly, as both players maintained defenses against each other to create a stalemate. It worked out well for Whiskers, who forced Daisy into a bad shot that sank the 8 illegally, giving Whiskers a win. The series still went to Daisy 2-1, and she will host the Southridge Defenders captain Debby in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Jake. The red cue wraps up its 8-ball for the round in the second-to-last series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman earned his game 1 win, answering a short charge from Royal's Jake with a six-ball run and then countering Jake's later four-ball run with the last two shots to get the win and a 1-0 series lead for the hosting Mr. Snowman. The Crowns' Jake paced his game 2 attack with a four-ball run, and watched the lead erode and even disappear at the end as the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman had the first try at the 8. He missed, allowing Jake to make the final two shots to get the win and tie the series at 1. Jake had to make a mad rally with a four-ball run in game 3, just to keep Mr. Snowman honest at the end, but Mr. Snowman cashed in with the final two shots to snag the win and take the series 2-1. Mr. Snowman is off to face the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the second round at this location.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Shadow. A fitting end to the round, as two elite captains use the silver cue in 10-ball. Game 1 was not as much about anything before the 10 as it was the strategy employed while shooting it. Tysini's Princess twice left Web City's Shadow with difficult shots, while he did it once. Shadow took the win by kicking the 10 to the bottom right the second time, earning a 1-0 series lead with the brilliant play. In game 2, the Spiders' Shadow had complete control in the game, often leaving the Hummingbirds' Princess defensively covered. Shadow lost his control of the game when he missed the 9, and Princess made it and the 10 to win the game, tying the series at 1. In game 3, strategy again ruled, with Shadow dominating possession but Princess keeping herself dangerous at times. It wasn't enough for Princess, as Shadow made a three-ball run-out to get the win and take the series 2-1. Shadow will continue his run in a lesser bracket against Bandit of the Swordpoint Blades at Gillette Center in the second round.
Things I owe the readers: A new schedule, a standings update, and a promise to be back on Wednesday. I will also be doing a venues chart to see which facilities will host the postseason events, and potentially even the host venues for the Heart of the Game Tournaments expected in the summer. Also, look for cricket in the next day or so, and maybe a double dose. For updates, follow
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