We're here on B-level Finals Day, with 48 games to grace the schedule. First up is the Preliminary Round of Finals, with the 2 versus 3 seeded finalist battling for the right to play for gold. This begins with...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Smudge. As the 2-seed, Blizzard picked the silver cue for usage in this 12-ball series. Everton's Blizzard dominated from the start, with an early three-ball run and good positioning helping the cause. She did gave away a wild-card ball to Infinity's Smudge, but she was loose in her shooting and couldn't capitalize on it. Blizzard eventually sealed the win and took a 1-0 series lead with her final shot to the top right. The Torpedoes' Smudge answered with a big win in game 2, countering very effectively against the Eagles' Blizzard's poor shooting with good positioning. Smudge adjusted her final shot away from Blizzard's defense and then made the ball on the next turn for the win, tying the series at 1. In a last minute change, the breaking player determines the cue, allowing the blue cue to administer game 3. Smudge benefited greatly from this league decision, using her more familiar cue to get the win after making a ball on the break and defending against Blizzard, who also surrendered a wild-card ball. Smudge took the series 2-1, and will visit GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge to face Defenders rookie Stephanie in the Final Round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Sierra. The silver cue will again start the series thanks to Brownie, as the players meet in Rotation. Tysini's Brownie went off in game 1, starting a little slow before unleashing a five-ball run-out for the 8-1 win, which Todavía's Sierra couldn't have seen coming when she scratched after a tough shot to make contact. Brownie leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Sierra answered with a number of short bursts in game 2, which the Hummingbirds' Brownie seemed unable to answer. Sierra sealed the game with a three-ball run-out, winning 8-1 to tie the series at 1. Sierra's win brings the blue cue up for game 3. Sierra got out to a nice lead, but Brownie covered that on her next turn, and then surged forward over two more turns to get the 8-4 win over Sierra. Brownie won the series 2-1, heading off to the House of 10 Windows to met the Southern Monarchs' Shannon for the final series.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Twinkie II. The red cue gets its first look of the day as Spot's choice to lead off the 7-ball series. Pronger's Spot helped his cause greatly, making the 7 to the top side on a late-falling break in game 1, which also saw the 4 fall in the bottom side. Harrison's Twinkie II could only watch as Spot took a 1-0 series lead in a single shot. Game 2 was the opposite of game 1 in terms of quality, as neither player could assemble a run. The Tridents' Spot ran into a particular instance of trouble when he scratched after making the 6 to the top side. The Specters' Twinkie II was true in making the 7 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1 and bringing the blue cue to the table. Spot had the better of play in game 3, but the 7 proved to be elusive to him, as he missed it twice. He played smart, preventing a clean look for Twinkie II at either time, and Twinkie II did make it to the top left on the second shot, but she also scratched. Spot took the series 2-1, and will head off to McDonald's Hall in Atlantic to face club-mate and Pirate Klaus.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Puff II. A Southeast Derby in 15-ball gets going with the blue cue first. Golden's Charlton seemed outmatched from the start of game 1, as evidenced by Boston's Puff II attacking toward the 15 early on a 1-15 combination try. This failed, but set Puff II up for a three-ball run-out later, as she converted the 6-15 combination to the bottom side for the win to make it 1-0 in the series. With the red cue, the Swifts' Puff II had the majority share of possession in game 2, including a four-ball run mid-game and a late three-ball run, but she couldn't quite corral the 15, and the Pilots' Charlton made it on her first try for the win, tying the series at 1. The blue cue ran game 3, which saw a lot of scratching early on. Charlton had the first good look at the 15, but she blocked her own deflection at the bottom side, extending the game. Puff II would later miss a combination on the 15, but it didn't matter to her, as Puff II won with a five-ball run-out in the end. She takes the series 2-1, and heads off to Freedom's Toyota Arena to face Cascades captain Jasmine.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Midnight. This Accuracy series gets underway after lunch, with the red cue going first. Victoria's Wario had a great start to game 1 overshadowed by a dreadful finish. Westside's Midnight buckled down late in the game, forcing overtime as Wario flailed, and his overtime break failed, allowing Midnight to take the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead, which brings the blue cue to the table. The Rockers' Midnight made three balls on the break of game 2 with her preferred cue, but the frenetic pace waned late when she missed the 6 at the bottom side to fall back into a tie. This favored the Spurs' Wario, who made his two shots and left Midnight was a bad leave. Wario converted the final ball to win 1-2, tying the series at 1 and returning the red cue to power. Midnight couldn't gain any traction in game 3, missing early and often as Wario went almost unchallenged in his 2-5 win to march his way to a 2-1 series win. Wario will play in Nestle's Warriors Hall against the Central Warriors captain Twilight for the title.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Lexi. The blue cue begins three straight series of leading off with his 8-ball battle. Game 1 saw runs rule the day, as Whitewater's Marsell burst ahead with a five-ball run before each player had an empty turn. Harrison's Lexi then shot back on a seven-ball run, narrowly missing the 8, which Marsell would make to cap a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell managed to clinch the series with a win in game 2, battling the Specters' Lexi as much as himself in a more chippy game. Marsell had short and choppy runs, but also sank two balls for Lexi as collateral damage. Lexi couldn't make a run, and Marsell closed up with the last three balls potted to make it 2-0 in the series. Lexi made a flurry of shots at the start of game 3 once she picked a suit, but went cold after that. Marsell replied with a six-ball run to get back in the game, which Lexi countered with a three-ball run that ended in missed contact on the 8. Marsell made the final two shots from ball-in-hand for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Marsell is off to Toyota Arena in Freedom to face the Cascades' Roxy in a Rivalry series for the title.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Sally. The blue cue again plays first in this 9-ball series in the Preliminary Round. Diamond's Citrus opened game 1 with a three-ball run and followed with a four-ball run on the next turn before missing contact on the 8. Archtown's Sally made the 8, but not the 9, and Citrus saved the game with a tap-in for the 1-0 series lead for her win. The Arrows' Sally played a much more defensive style in game 2, constantly leaving the Gems' Citrus without an obviously clear shot. Citrus poked out of this on the 6, successfully burying it on a glancing kick shot. Sally had her chance at the 9 again, missing it short at the top right, and another tap-in gave Citrus the win and the series at 2-0. Sally played a little less intensely in game 3, allowing Citrus to display her skills a bit more. Citrus won the game with her best shot, a kick to make the 9 in the bottom side for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Citrus heads out to Nestle's Warriors Hall in Central to face the Warriors' Dustin in the final.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Caitlin. The blue gets its last guaranteed games as it will start the 10-ball series that finishes the Preliminary Round. Capital City's Sprinkles got a late jump in game 1, responding much later to a three-ball run by Oceanside's Caitlin with a three-ball run of her own at the end, which sufficed to give Sprinkles the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went very quickly after a poor break by the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles. The Waves' Caitlin tried a 1-10 combination to the top side, but also thought about the 6 at the top right. Neither ball fell, but Sprinkles had a line on the 1-10 combination to the top side and converted to win for a 2-0 series lead. Sprinkles was even more remarkable in bringing game 3 to a similarly quick close. After making the 1, Sprinkles had to split the 2 and 3, and this led to the 2-8 combination at the bottom right, with the 3 deflected to the top right, and the 10 emerging from the mass to fall in the bottom side legally thanks to the called shot on the 3. Sprinkles swept Caitlin out 3-0 in the series, earning herself a visit to Ford Forum in Pronger to oppose the Tridents' Zach.
That's all for this first half of the day. The next post is for the gold and silver contenders as the B-level will formally close.
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