Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Sleepy B. The first series of the day pits the undefeated sophomore against a decent veteran in Rotation with the blue cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. fell behind to Freedom's Nikolai early in game 1, but Nikolai had a scratch that set off a five-ball run-out by Sleepy B., good enough for her to win 8-5 and take a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Arrows' Sleepy B. was strong from the start, beginning as she ended with three-ball runs on both ends of the game. The Cascades' Nikolai tried to stay competitive, but Sleepy B. was too far ahead and won 8-3 in the end, clinching the series at 2-0 to end Nikolai's undefeated run. Nikolai got on the board in game 3 with a highlight 1-9-15-13-11 combination, or as it is known, a lottery shot. This wouldn't be his only instance of good luck, as Sleepy B. rattled out the final ball late in a tied game, allowing Nikolai to get a game with an 8-7 win. Sleepy B. took the series 2-1, and will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Valencia. The blue cue stays in action for 10-ball between two of Youth Movement's finest. Golden's Valencia didn't set herself apart much until the end of game 1, when Capital City's Sprinkles scratched and Valencia used that for a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to earn the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 got flipped around on the Pilots' Valencia, who inadvertently had an illegally potted ball, and the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles chose to retain possession. Four shots later, Sprinkles made the 7-10 combination to the top right after a stretch of brilliant positioning, and her win tied the series at 1. In game 3, Valencia seemed to have the better of the possession, using a four-ball run at one point to make things interesting. The ending slowed down, and this allowed Sprinkles back in, and she made the last two shots to take the win and the 2-1 series win in one fell swoop. Sprinkles is off to a road series in Swordpoint, facing the Blades captain Snowball at Gillette Center in the bracket semifinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Puff II. The Pirates captain looks to get multiple series wins in a year for the first time since 2014 when she hosts the Swifts star in Rotation with the blue cue, facing the winner of today's first series. Atlantic's Delila had a great start to game 1, but everything froze up on the 7, allowing Boston's Puff II to eventually rattle off a four-ball run to tie the game. Puff II could have won, but a lazy miss on the 13 allowed Delila to claim an 8-7 win with the last two shots to go ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Pirates' Delila showed no capability to get her game on track, fouling from bad positions frequently as Puff II marched to confident 8-1 win to tie the series at 1. Delila interchanged a stretch of sloppy play in game 3 with a five-ball run-out at the end, beating Puff II 8-2 for the 2-1 series win in a series that was not up to the visitor's standard of play. Delila will host Sleepy B. of the Archtown Arrows at this venue in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli XCX V. Panda. The reigning Rookie of the Year meets a beleaguered captain in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southern's Panda had a great time picking apart a terrible break from Tysini's Charli, as Panda would pick his suit and end the game with a side-pocket heavy five-ball run-out to claim the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much better for both sides, as the Monarchs' Panda had a good break, but the Hummingbirds' Charli finished even better. Charli made a three-ball run-out with excellent positioning and execution to keep Panda away from a late game turn. Charli's win tied the series at 1, setting up a decisive game. Charli was dominant in game 2, helped a bit by Panda's frequent scratching preventing him from mounting a challenging run. Charli even sent Panda's defense to the wrong pocket, and then made the 8 at the bottom left to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Charli will head to Toyota Arena in Freedom to face Roxy of the Cascades in the bracket semifinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Blizzard. The silver cue plays its last series of the day, a set of 12-ball between the rookie and the veteran. Atlantic's Klaus got off to a fine start in game 1, but he couldn't hold up under the methodical shooting of Everton's Blizzard, who picked apart her shots well and won when Klaus couldn't pot the 7 at the top left. Blizzard took a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Eagles' Blizzard faced a stiffer challenge in game 2, with less friendly positioning and her surrender of a wild-card ball to the Pirates' Klaus. Just as Klaus seemed to be taking the upper-hand, he illegally potted a ball and gave Blizzard a clean line on her final shot, which she made to secure the series at 2-0. Klaus won game 3, as Blizzard struggled to gain position while Klaus made an early three-ball run and had no trouble getting on top of the other shots. Blizzard still won the series 2-1, and will head to Toyota Arena in Freedom to face the Cascades' Nikolai in the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Smudge. Two players not known for getting along tangle in a 9-ball match, the first of five straight blue cue series. Game 1 was sloppy on both sides, and Infinity's Smudge never figured out how to fix it, dropping the result as Diamond's Citrus hung on by a hair to make a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the shooting was a little bit better on both sides, but this didn't benefit the Gems' Citrus, who crashed out with a string of missed shots late in the game, allowing the Torpedoes' Smudge to step in with a three-ball run-out, equalizing the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 started off well enough, but both players were on the verge of rage at the end. Citrus closed the game with a hard, bouncing bank of the 9 from the top rail to the bottom side to make it a 2-1 series win for herself. Citrus will face Smudge's daughter, Bianca of the Southridge Defenders, in the bracket semifinals at this venue.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Chris. It's a battle of captains in this 12-ball series, with both having their strengths this Tournament so far. Capital City's Chris showed off decent skills in game 1, making a four-ball run after Todavía's Easter scratched on the break to pace his attack. Chris made each of his last two balls individually, while Easter didn't resist, and the win put Chris ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharpshooters' Chris lived up to that team name, blasting a four-ball run from the break and then making the last two balls on his next turn, while the Stills' Easter could barely manage to make one shot on her only turn of a brutal loss. Chris clinched the series at 2-0 with another big win. Chris slipped up a bit in game 3, giving Easter a wild card ball without establishing his own position, and Easter rode this out to grab a win, saving some face in a series that did not go her way. Chris won the series 2-1, heading to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center to meet the Swifts captain Patches in the bracket semifinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Rainmane. The middle series of the blue cue stretch is 8-ball, and will be the last before today's mid-afternoon break. Midland's Rainmane broke out for a nice five-ball run after Pacific's Leonette scratched on the break. Leonette answered with a four-ball run, but Rainmane made the last two shots to preserve the win and a 1-0 series lead for herself. All the Predators' Rainmane got in game 2 was the break, which was solid but didn't produce anything. The Volcanoes' Leonette responded in the best way possible, going on a remarkably executed eight-ball run-out, dodging traffic to get the equalizing win that tied the series at 1. Leonette got off to a four-ball run in game 3, putting pressure on Rainmane to respond. Rainmane did just that, and just in the nick of time, with a five-ball run-out to take the win and a 2-1 series win. Rainmane heads to Toyota Arena in Freedom to meet the Cascades' Nikolai in the bracket semifinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Chris. An underrated star and a similarly underrated captain get things going again in Rotation with the blue cue's fourth of five straight series. Lighton's Spirit needed only two turns in game 1, as she made a three-ball run from the break and a five-ball run-out, with Capital City's Chris scratching in the middle to help Spirit out along the way to her 8-0 win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit didn't get off so easy in game 2, as the Sharpshooters' Chris actually held the early lead. He couldn't make it last, with too many errors midgame, and Spirit answered with a four-ball run-out for an 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-0, ending on a tough cut of the 11 to the top right. Spirit completed the dominant 3-0 series sweep with an 8-1 win in game 3, as Chris never cared to make enough plays to get back into the game once Spirit asserted herself. The sweep carries Spirit to Todavía, where a headlining match with her sister, the Stills' Sierra, at Apple Center awaits.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Stinky: The blue cue ends its reign with 10-ball in this series between veterans. Freedom's Stinky played well in game 1, but Todavía's Easter did not slouch, making it a tight game. Near the end, deflection plays became popular, with Easter failing on hers, and Stinky winning as he bounced the cue off the 6 to pot the 10 at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky stayed very competitive with the Stills' Easter in a fast game 2, which saw Stinky's three-ball run answered by a three-ball run from Easter that ended in a scratch on the 10. Stinky made the play from ball-in-hand to nab the win and secure the series at 2-0. Stinky made every ball in game 3, with one on the break, a four-ball run highlighted by numerous talented kick shots, and a well-positioned five-ball run-out for the win to make it a 3-0 series sweep over Easter. Stinky will play on into the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Spice. The red cue makes its first appearance of the day in 9-ball. Pearl's Watermelon seemed unable to get comfortable in game 1, missing quite a few shots as she allowed Victoria's Spice much more latitude in shooting. Spice capitalized on this with a three-ball run-out, her second extended run of the game, which gave her a 1-0 series lead in the win. The Spurs' Spice had her turn to look uncomfortable at the start of game 2, watching the Surfers' Watermelon convert shots with ease. Spice put a stop to that with a five-ball run-out, the aggressive stretch of shots paying off to earn her another win that sealed the series at 2-0. Game 3 was the worst of the series in quality terms, especially for Spice, who flubbed shot after shot, allowing Watermelon to slowly pick through the game and eventually win on a tap-in after Spice's miss. Spice still took the series 2-1, and will head home to Sprint Hall in Victoria to host the Archtown Arrows' Sally in the bracket semifinals.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Panda v. Dominic. The blue cue returns for a series of Accuracy between two struggling players. Things went well in game 1 until Viewpoint Sound's Dominic intentionally left Southern's Panda without an easy shot. Panda converted, but also scratched, and the collapse was on. Dominic would win 2-4, taking a 1-0 series lead thanks to one move. Game 2 was even tighter at the end, as both the Meteors' Dominic and the Monarchs' Panda failed to play defensive positioning, and when Panda did, Dominic converted a bank shot on the last ball to the bottom left to force overtime. Panda went empty on the overtime break, and Dominic made his shot to win the game 1-2, clinching the series at 2-0. Dominic had game 3 in the palm of his hand, and then he missed contact on the second-to-last ball. Panda punished the mistake, and Dominic would miss three in a row to lose 4-5 in overtime. Dominic will settle for 2-1 series win as he heads to Nike Field Events Center in Commerce to visit the Tradewinds' Tigerette in the bracket semifinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Hoot. The new Meteor meets his other former teammate, while the Union newcomer is new to reunions in this 8-ball series with the red cue. Modernistic's Strawberry ran the table in game 1, performing a technical nine-ball run-out from the break as she made two solids and a stripe on the break. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot can only take solace in not getting shut out, but Strawberry's dominant display gave her a win and 1-0 series lead in only seven shots. The Union's Strawberry did all the work in game 2 as well, but this went far worse for her. Six balls fell, including two on the final shot, as she accidentally potted the 8 as well as the intended 4 on a deflection play, gifting the Meteors' Hoot with the equalizing win to tie the series at 1 despite the fact that he has taken zero shots in the series, a stat that will change with the next break. Hoot's poor break in game 3 ensured he would take multiple shots, and while he did, he wasn't effective. Strawberry helped him as much as he helped himself, and Strawberry finished with a three-ball run-out in a slower paced game, which gave her the win and 2-1 series win. Strawberry will stay here to host the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the bracket semifinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Bright. The Lumberjacks captain has a doubleheader at home, first facing a Nighthawk in Rotation with the red cue. Game 1 was nothing but a battle, as North Modernistic's Bright tried to retain a lead but couldn't shake a relentless rally from Maplewood's Fluffina, who came back multiple times to win 8-7 and take a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Bright showed a bit more skill in holding a late lead in game 2, making a crazy bank on the 11 and then a glancing kick on the 12 to establish the lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina got one back, but couldn't sustain a rally, and Bright won 8-6 with the 14 falling in the bottom side, tying the series at 1 as well. Fluffina had some trouble breaking through in a tough game 3, but her lead once she did was short-lived, as Bright converted a double-pot of the 10 and 13 to the right corners as part of his five-ball run-out to win the game 8-5 for a 2-1 series win. Bright will head to Nike Field Events Center in Commerce to face the Tradewinds' Lionel in the bracket semifinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Chris. Completing the doubleheader, the Lumberjacks captain welcomes her opposite from the Sharpshooters for Accuracy with the red cue. Maplewood's Fluffina thought she had game 1 under control, but a miss on the last ball of regulation and the first shot of overtime sent her to a 2-3 loss when Capital City's Chris converted after both misses to take the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris fell behind early in game 2, and while her was briefly in a tie with the Lumberjacks' Fluffina, he missed a shot and couldn't force her into another miss. Fluffina confidently took the win 1-2 and tied the series at 1 in a strong outing that showed her finishing ability. Game 3 saw each player stressing significantly, filled with worry over each miss. Fluffina had the most to worry about, as she twice failed to corral the last ball, forcing the game into a tie after Chris made it. Fluffina elected for the soft draw-back break in overtime, but it left Chris with an open shot to win the game 3-4 and the series 2-1. Chris' overtime heroics pace him to Victoria's Sprint Hall, where the Spurs rookie Wario awaits in the bracket semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Goatee. The final series of the day has the blue cue up for 15-ball. Westside's Goatee seemed to gain the momentum early in game 1, making a lot more of the shots than Midland's Rainmane. Goatee peaked too soon with a four-ball run, and a few turns later, Rainmane countered on a three-ball run-out to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a much stronger effort from the Predators' Rainmane, who rallied with a five-ball run early on, and then answered a late three-ball run from the Rockers' Goatee with a three-ball run-out, which carried Rainmane to another win and a 2-0 series lead. Goatee finally got her win in game 3, fighting an even battle with Rainmane to prevent a sweep. Rainmane won the series 2-1, and she will host A. Charlton of the Golden Pilots at this venue in the bracket semifinals, as the Southlands Derby comes to Tournament action.
That's all for tonight. The current plan would be to finish the round tomorrow and take care of all associated administrative tasks tomorrow night. Further updates will be in tomorrow's post and on
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