Another day is on hand, getting started a bit late due to computer maintenance on the main publishing machine for the league. We begin with...
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Ted. A pair of Spiders teammates get things going in Accuracy with the silver cue. Game 1 was a back-and-forth battle, with Shiny holding the high ground late in the game, good enough to force overtime. Ted's overtime break was soft, and Shiny made the 10-9 combination to the top right for the 3-4 win and a 1-0 series lead. Shiny had a great effort in game 2, not missing a single shot as Ted tried and failed to keep up with the incredible pace. Shiny took the win at 0-2, clinching the series at 2-0. Shiny didn't play up to her previous standard in game 3, slipping early and allowing Ted an easy path to the win this time, although he made it interesting with a late miss. Ted won 2-3, but Shiny took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Frosty. Players in new places meet in 12-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a chaotic break, and while he thought he did himself a favor choosing stripes, Stonebridge's Frosty made him regret it. Frosty used a wild-card ball for flexibility and managed to keep Chicky Phil from executing decently placed shots as she slowly built her way to the win and a 1-0 series lead after taking game 1. The Wolves' Frosty had a rough start to game 2, scratching a couple of times, but the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil also scratched, losing his wild-card ball. The messy opening gave way to Frosty making a five-ball run and leaving herself in good position for her last ball, which she made on her next turn for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Chicky Phil took game 3 in a similar fashion, straggling as Frosty made a few shots before he unleashed a six-ball run-out to swipe the game and save some face. Frosty still won the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Peach. A decorated veteran faces a hyped rookie in 7-ball, another silver cue series. Archtown's Ruby made quick work in game 1, making the 3 to the top right and the 7 to the top side for the game 1 win, stunning North Modernistic's Peach en route to a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Ruby had a less confident break in game 2, seemingly just scattering the balls, but a tough shove on the 7 from another ball sent it into the bottom right for another win, as Ruby clinched the series at 2-0 without the Nighthawks' Peach ever getting a shot. Ruby failed to complete the trick in game 3, but she had a pair of three-ball runs in the game. Unfortunately for her, Peach's third shot of the series was successful, as she potted the 7 to the top side for the win. Ruby took a dominant series 2-1, and will host Victoria Spurs captain Spice at this venue in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Celestia. The Arrows star takes on a Waves rookie in the back-half of a doubleheader, this time in 12-ball with the red cue. Archtown's Ruby had a great four-ball run from the break, pacing herself well in game 1, but Oceanside's Celestia didn't back down, making a three-ball run on one of three comeback turns, which saw her end with a medium-range shot on her final ball to the top right. Celestia leads the series 1-0 with the win. Celestia had a decent break in game 2, but it didn't get her far, as she struggled with her command. She gave away a wild-card ball to the Arrows' Ruby, which sparked the host on a five-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Ruby had a decent start to game 3, which saw wild card balls exchanged at various points between the players. Celestia was the late beneficiary of this, as Ruby made her second-to-last ball for her, and left her positioned for an easy win on her last shot. Celestia took the series 2-1, making it to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Crystal. A battle of oft-forgotten captains is ahead in Rotation with the red cue. Whitewater's Bear started game 1 on a three-ball run, giving him the early advantage. He couldn't finish the game after exchanging double-pots with Queens' Crystal, as she roared back to win 8-7 on a four-ball run-out, giving Crystal the 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal showed up a bit slow in game 2, tangling with the Shores' Bear for much of the first half of the game. Bear burst free at the end on a four-ball run-out, pulling away for the 8-4 win to tie the series at 1 in what has been a competitive pair of games. Crystal had a big run in game 3, falling behind to Bear and then unleashing a six-ball rally to put her on the brink of victory. Bear tried to counter, but quickly fell at the 11, where Crystal won 8-3 for the 2-1 series win to get her through to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Goatee. The red cue remains in action for 12-ball in this series between big name players. Web City's Shadow had the upper hand in game 1, holding ball-in-hand late, but he played with respect and missed contact on a kick attempt, allowing Westside's Goatee to win on her final shot from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead, a contentious start to the series between players whose clubs do not get along. The Rockers' Goatee embarrassed the Spiders' Shadow in game 2, as he made only one shot in between good turn from Goatee, who had a three-ball run to pace her attack in the win that clinched the series for her at 2-0. Goatee made the best of a race-style game 3, just holding off Shadow in the end, who did himself in by making Goatee's last ball for her on an illegal contact bank-jump shot. Goatee won the series 3-0, heading to Oceanside's AT&T Hall in the second round to face Waves rookie Celestia.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Fuchsia. The silver cue is back for Accuracy in this series between a captain and a rookie. Midland's Fuchsia had a good debut in the event, not missing a single shot in her first game, an easy 0-4 win over Freedom's talented captain Jasmine. Fuchsia holds a 1-0 series lead for the effort. The Cascades' Jasmine saw game 2 go decidedly favorable for her, as the Predators' Fuchsia showed some inconsistency with her efforts. Fuchsia had a terrible game, letting an early miss spiral, and Jasmine held on for a 2-6 win to tie the series at 1, setting up a decisive game. Jasmine played well in game 3 as well, but needed a late miss from Fuchsia to have a chance. Fuchsia's miss late in the game allowed Jasmine to tap-in for the win, a 1-2 result that gave Jasmine the series at 2-1 as she advances to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Kiwi. Superstar captains collide in a series of Rotation featuring the silver cue. Todavía's Easter pulled off a big three-ball run from the break in game 1, establishing a lead that Terrace City's Kiwi showed no respect for, as she made a seven-ball run to get on the brink of victory. Kiwi slowed but didn't falter, eventually winning 8-5 for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi started off pretty well in game 2, but she couldn't shake the Stills' Easter, who lingered just behind for much of the game before a three-ball run game her a short-lived lead. Kiwi shot back with the final two balls to win 8-7, clinching the series at 2-0 in the hard battle. Kiwi had a hard break in game 3, but Easter took over from there, working a quick effort to win 8-3, salvaging a game out of the lost series. Kiwi heads to the second round with a 2-1 series win.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Leandra. Veterans in the middle of the pack meet in 9-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Leandra had a good effort in game 1, making it seem nearly effortless as she followed up a four-ball run with a three-ball run-out against a seemingly overmatched Dusky of Archtown. Leandra leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a poor performance from both players, especially for the Hummingbirds' Leandra, whose easily-potted shots in game 1 evaporated. The Arrows' Dusky came out on the good end of a bad game, picking off the 9 after Leandra missed it to tie the series at 1, setting up a decisive finale. Game 3 was a hybrid of the first two, as Leandra had a three-ball run early, and then the players exchanged sloppy shooting until Dusky buried the 9 in the bottom left for the win, giving her a 2-1 series win. Dusky will host the Todavía Stills' Sparkles in the second round at this venue.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Neopolitan. Veterans clash in Accuracy with the red cue for this series. Pearl's Neopolitan fell behind first in game 1, but Whitewater's Shaggy couldn't quite make it hold up long term, taking a late miss that Neopolitan played off with defensive positioning. Shaggy didn't slip again, but Neopolitan took the 1-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy pulled off a tough win against the Surfers' Neopolitan in game 2, as Neopolitan stayed competitive up to the end but managed to falter late, allowing Shaggy to claim the 3-5 win and tie the series at 1. Game 3 went without a miss for most of the play, but Neopolitan crashed hard near the end, and Shaggy slipped up once, but she held on for a 1-3 win, taking the series 2-1 in the process. Shaggy is through to the second round with the performance.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Leandra. The silver cue is back for more Rotation, with the winner set to face Kiwi at a to-be-determined venue. Neither player proved able to develop a run in game 1, as sloppy and choppy play ruled the day. In the end, the rapid exchanges of the lead left Tysini's Leandra with an 8-7 win over Everton's Kirstin, setting Leandra ahead 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Kirstin took her time with scoring in game 2, which worked at first, but quickly became a detriment once the Hummingbirds' Leandra started making her shots. Leandra held a big lead by the time Kirstin made her first ball, and Leandra would close with an 8-2 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Leandra burst forward in game 3 to earn the early lead, only to see a four-ball run from Kirstin threaten the lead late in the game. Kirstin missed on her kick for the 15, allowing Leandra to ice the game at 8-7, for a 3-0 series sweep. Leandra will be in Terrace City's Audi Hall for the second round against the Knights' Kiwi.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Mr. Snowman. The blue cue gets its first and last series in today's finale, in Accuracy. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had an impenetrable defensive effort in game 1, refusing to miss any shots and even working out of defense applied by Eastside's Chelsea. Mr. Snowman's smart playing abilities gave him the 0-2 win and a 1-0 series lead. Mr. Snowman had a decent game for the Torpedoes in game 2, but he would take the loss when he tried to create defensive positioning and ended up missing his shot instead. The Sharks' Chelsea pounced on this opportunity, earning the 2-3 win to tie the series at 1 in a strong performance. Chelsea had a pretty good game, but was holding a tie late in the game, eventually able to force Mr. Snowman into a couple of misses as she pulled away to the 2-4 win and 2-1 series win. Chelsea heads into the second round.
That's all for today's games, and we'll be back tomorrow pending any more technological disasters.
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