After an injury maintenance day yesterday, the games are back. We're looking to do 16 series today, and if we fall short, we will spread the round into a fourth post on Wednesday. We begin with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Stephanie Livilotti. The first series of the day is in 12-ball with the red cue. Southridge's Stephanie showed a great resilience in game 1, not bending under the pressure of a four-ball run form Central's Mario. Instead, Stephanie rallied back to even the game, and defended against Mario until she got a clear shot to win, taking the 1-0 series lead as well. The Warriors' Mario played well again in game 2, aided greatly by the Defenders' Stephanie having to take more time to gain proper positioning on her shots. Mario was able to overcome Stephanie's defense at the top left and make his final shot for the win, tying the series at 1. Stephanie overcame a four-ball run by Mario early in game 3, nearly winning once before a scratch set her back, and then taking the game on the next turn to win the series 2-1. Stephanie will host the Eastside Sharks' Niki at GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge to contest the bracket final.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Lexi. The last series before lunch is in 15-ball with the silver cue. Freedom's Jasmine had a slightly better time developing short runs in a very competitive game 1, which saw Harrison's Lexi in the fight until a pinched bank on the 15 left it short at the bottom right. Jasmine tapped it in and took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Jasmine made game 2 a much quicker affair, potting the 15 after a deflected shot off the 15. It was considered a secondary option that proved successful, leaving the Specters' Lexi with no recourse in the loss that made it a 2-0 series for Jasmine. Game 3 was the most challenging for either player, as it was a choppy battle for both. Lexi had less of a grip on the game, and Jasmine was able to rally off a three-ball run-out once again for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Jasmine will host the Lighton Prestige's Twinkie I in the bracket final at this venue.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Bianca. Getting the afternoon going, a pair of club-mates face off in 9-ball with the blue cue. Southridge's Bianca capitalized on sloppy play from Diamond's Citrus in game 1. Citrus was called for illegal use of the stick, and Bianca turned it into a four-ball run-out, ending with a deflected shot from the 5 that created and 8-9 combination to the bottom right for the win, and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca was a bit more error-prone in game 2, and this would prove costly when she scratched while shooting the 5. The Gems' Citrus replied with a pair of shots, making the 5 and then a 6-9 combination to the top right to get the win, tying the series at 1. Citrus stepped up in a challenging game 3, taking control of the game late on a three-ball run-out that saw the last two shots on impressive cuts to get the win and a 2-1 series win over Bianca. Citrus will host another member of her club, the Commerce Tradewinds' Ice Cream, in the bracket final at this venue.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Blizzard. The blue cue remains in action, playing 15-ball between these two veterans. Todavía's Easter had an impressively quick end to game 1, albeit slightly unintentional. She made the 3 to the top left, and the ricochet took the cue to the 15, which sank in the bottom right, stunning Everton's Blizzard as Easter took a 1-0 series lead on the surprise win. The Stills' Easter had a bit more intent in her game 2 play, as she got the 2 and 15 close to each other and did everything in her power to keep the Eagles' Blizzard away from it. Blizzard couldn't break the defense, and Easter eventually took the 1 cleanly to the bottom side before converting a 2-15 combination to the bottom right to clinch the series at 2-0 in the win. Easter never even let Blizzard get to the table in game 3, taking a four-ball run-out from the break that ended in a kick-combination, 3-4-15, to the bottom right for the win. Easter swept the series 3-0 with quick wins to punch her ticket to a road series for the bracket final.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Stinky. Two solid veterans are set to play in 10-ball, also with the blue cue. Freedom's Stinky made a late surge in game 1, working a four-ball run, but he twice missed the 10, allowing Pacific's Chicky Phil to make it on his second try for the win and a 1-0 series lead despite slacking in the course of play. The Cascades' Stinky again had the better of play in game 2, and he appeared to have adjusted to the style of the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil as well. Stinky went on a late three-ball run, but missed the 9, and Chicky Phil made that one but not the 10, leaving Stinky lined up to win at the top side. Stinky made the shot, tying the series at 1 with a firm shot. Game 3 saw only two turns at the table, as Stinky rallied with a six-ball run from the break but had no chance at the 7, which was the catalyst for Chicky Phil's four-ball run-out to get the win and a 2-1 series win on strong cut shots. Chicky Phil heads to Capital City SuperCenter to face the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles in the bracket final.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Max. One of last year's best faces a solid player from every year in 8-ball with the silver cue. Queens' Max had a strong four-ball run on his first turn, and this proved enough to keep Eastside's Chelsea behind all game. Her last shot was a desperate scratch attempt that allowed Max to tap the 8 into the top right from the kitchen for a 1-0 series lead on his win. The Flames' Max made things very difficult for the Sharks' Chelsea in game 2, putting her under pressure with his five-ball run. Chelsea responded well in the end, making a five-ball run but over-cutting the 8 toward the top right. The soft shot left things lined up for Max, who made the 8 and clinched the series at 2-0 with his win. Max had some trouble in game 3, as Chelsea left one ball to defend many of Max's near the top right. Max eventually broke the stalemate, which freed Chelsea up for a four-ball run-out two turns later, giving her a win. Max still won the series 2-1, and will head to Toyota Arena in Freedom for the bracket final against the Cascades' Roxy.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Kayla. The red cue is up for 7-ball between a rookie and a veteran in a new home. Royal's Kayla had ball-in-hand midway through game 1 after Pronger's Spot scratched, but Kayla missed the 5 two shots later. Spot took advantage, making a three-ball run-out to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit more sloppy, as the Crowns' Kayla gave away possession to the Tridents' Spot twice and received it back once. Kayla ended up taking an off-line shot at the 4-7 combination, and made it work well for her, taking the shot to the top left for the win, which tied the series at 1. Spot had the better of play in game 3, including a ridiculous highlight of a four-rail kick to make the 3 in the bottom right after missing his one-rail kick contact play. Kayla never recovered from that shot, and Spot cruised to the finish, winning the series 2-1. Spot will host the Todavía Stills' Bells in the bracket final at this venue.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Twilight. A big match between captains is next as the silver cue administers a series of Accuracy. Diamond's Smokey came out very flat in game 1, and while he recovered from his pair of early misses, Central's Twilight got him to miss late in the game as well, securing a 2-4 win for herself as well as the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight was even better in game 2, refusing to yield from her course toward perfection even as the Gems' Smokey flailed and scrambled to stay close. He missed twice early on again, and twice late, and Twilight wouldn't budge, taking the 0-4 win to claim the series at 2-0. Twilight had a much sloppier start to game 3, forcing her to pull out all the stops to hold on late. The plays worked, as Smokey missed his last three shots in regulation for force overtime, and then went empty on the overtime break, allowing Twilight to make a shot and win 5-6. Twilight's 3-0 series sweep carries her to another road series for the bracket final.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Spirit. The mid-round series we've all waited for pits close sisters against each other in Rotation with the blue cue. Lighton's Spirit struck first, but she did not strike the hardest, as Todavía's Sierra answered with a six-ball run to put Spirit in a deep hole. On her next turn, Sierra made the last two balls she needed for an 8-1 win and 1-0 series lead to get things going. The Stills' Sierra had another good appearance in game 2, helped along by a scratch from the Prestige's Spirit at a pivotal point in the game. Sierra used the ball-in-hand to spark a four-ball run that put her on the brink of winning, and Spirit missed the next shot, allowing Sierra a tap-in to get the win at 8-1, and the 2-0 series lead. Spirit turned things around in game 3, winning 8-1 herself over Sierra. Spirit also had a couple of highlighted combinations, including the 6-9-14 to the top right and the 7-12 to the bottom left as she made the approach to winning. Sierra still took the series 2-1 and will play in the bracket final.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Princess. The Rotations undercard is next, with the silver cue this time as the last series before the daily break. Harrison's Lexi put in a good start to game 1, making things difficult for Tysini's Princess. Things changed when Princess got within a ball in one turn, and then made a five-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to take a stunning 1-0 series lead with the rapid turn of fortune. The Specters' Lexi again burst out to a lead in game 2, and again the Hummingbirds' Princess caught up with her. The middle of game was a bit tougher, but Lexi emerged with a four-ball run, and Princess could only provide a partial counterattack before Lexi sealed an 8-6 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a very tight battle that saw Princess take the early lead, only for a four-ball run by Lexi to flip everything around. Princess ended up with the 8-7 win, coming from behind to make the last two balls after Lexi scratched. Princess won the series 2-1, and it took quite a bit to earn it.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Sparkles. The special session this evening begins in 15-ball with the red cue, the first in a venue doubleheader. Boston's Puff II had a bit of an advantage in game 1, outplaying Todavía's Sparkles for much of the game. Puff II capped the game with a three-ball run-out, including an 11-15 combination to the bottom right for the winning shot and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II had a four-ball run as part of her dominant game 2, but when it came time to shoot the 15, she missed contact on a swipe attempt. This gave the Stills' Sparkles ball-in-hand for the final shot, which she made to tie the series at 1 in the gifted result. Game 3 was a drop in quality for both players, and it showed in the finish. Puff II looked doomed with a late scratch, but she ended up winning when Sparkles twice missed the 15. Puff II took the series 2-1, and will host the bracket final at this venue.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Chris. The other half of the doubleheader is a 12-ball series with the blue cue between these two captains. Capital City's Chris saw Boston's Patches start with a three-ball run, knowing the task ahead in game 1 would be tough. Chris fired back, and while he had setbacks, he eventually won with a well-played four-ball run-out a turn after scratching, with the win putting him ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Sharpshooters' Chris worked from left to right across the table, helping him quite a bit to stake out the early lead. The Swifts' Patches reserved herself to defending the top side, but she took too long to position herself for the final burst, and missed a tough cut. Chris took his final shot at the cleared top side to win, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 took awhile for the players to untangle, but they eventually were each left with the bottom left corner. Patches asserted herself defensively there, but Chris pulled off a highlight-reel kick on the 4 to sneak past Patches' 10 in defense, and he made the shot to secure a 3-0 series sweep. Chris goes in style to the bracket final, which will be in nearby Infinity at Nissan Hall against the Torpedoes' Smudge.
We'll cut this one short and extend the round to Wednesday.
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