We're back for a new day of games. This should be split into an afternoon and evening session, due to some cricket activity this morning and hopefully tonight. We begin with...
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Celestia. The blue cue leads off the day in Accuracy. Game 1 started out perfectly fine on both sides, but the last ball began to give Oceanside's Celestia trouble. Boston's Puff II couldn't do anything about it until she forced overtime, where her soft break got her in trouble. Celestia eventually walked away with a 5-6 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia didn't exude confidence early in game 2, as the Swifts' Puff II had her on the ropes for much of the early part of the game. She recovered at the end, forcing Puff II into two late misses, giving Celestia the 3-4 win and the series at 2-0. Celestia dominated in game 3, taking the appearance in an 0-5 shutout as Puff II struggled right from the start this time. Celestia took the series in a 3-0 sweep to get to the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Hughbert v. Puff I. The silver cue comes out to play in 15-ball. Southridge's Hughbert did a fair job of scoring on offense in game 1, but his defense lacked. Modernistic's Puff I had a chance on the 5-15 combination that didn't fall, but she would convert the 8-15 combination to the bottom right for the early win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went at a crazy finishing pace, as the Union's Puff I looked to be fine even when her five-ball run over the middle of the game ended. The Defenders' Hughbert had other plans, trickling his way to a five-ball run-out for the win to tie the series and set up a crucial finale. Puff I had a pretty good appearance in game 3, staying a bit more consistent than Hughbert, who was all over the place. He had good short runs, but couldn't reliably convert on them. Puff I's steady pace earned her the win when Hughbert tripped up at the end, and Puff I advanced with a 2-1 series win to get to the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Dani. Two good friends meet in a series of 7-ball with the silver cue that will see them try to best each other. Web City's Dani was the first to find her shot in game 1, as Victoria's Chapman had a short run cut short by a miss on the 5. Dani countered with a three-ball run-out to get the win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Dani had control of game 2 in its late stages as well, as the shooting was better for both players. Dani took her chance at the 7, cutting it toward the top right, but it hung onto the lip of the pocket. The Spurs' Chapman quickly played a light shot to tap it in, winning the game to tie the series at 1 after Dani's narrow miss. Dani brought a surprising and quick end to game 3, pulling off an odd-angle kick combination on the 3-7 to the top side for the win. The shocker shot sends Dani to a 2-1 series win and a second round date with the Swifts' Gradley on the road in Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Gradley. The silver cue gets another look, playing 8-ball this time. Boston's Gradley had a five-ball run early in game 1 after an awkward break from Oceanside's Caitlin, who would later recover with a couple of short runs and impressive defense to hold Gradley off late. A missed shot from Gradley allowed Caitlin to finish the comeback victorious for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Caitlin had a much better break in game 2, and paced play with a four-ball run. The Swifts' Gradley made some progress, but blocked his own shot late in the game, and Caitlin emerged with the win to secure the series at 2-0. Caitlin had a good start to game 3 as well, working a four-ball run, but Gradley stayed strong in a defensive position. He had Caitlin down and out as he removed his defense, but he missed on the 8, and Caitlin stormed back to win the game, taking the series in a 3-0 sweep. Caitlin hosts Coastal Division rival Mams, the Viewpoint Sound Meteors captain, in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Strawberry. The red cue debuts in Rotation for the day in an all-Union series between the veteran and the newcomer. Puff I got started with a ball on the break, but Strawberry eventually pulled ahead. Puff I briefly tied it again, but Strawberry charged forward on a four-ball run-out to win 8-4 and take a 1-0 series lead over her senior teammate. In game 2, the start was much slower, as Puff I held a lead while Strawberry nipped away at her heels for much of the early going. Puff I eventually broke free with a four-ball run-out in the end, winning 8-3 to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Puff I burst free with a three-ball run from the start of game 1 as well, and while Strawberry got a couple of shots in, Puff I controlled the game. Things slowed down near the end, but a scratch from Strawberry assured Puff I of an 8-3 win and 2-1 series win to advance to the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Oreo. The Spurs veteran gets another series today, hosting the Knights veteran in 8-ball with the red cue. The Spurs' Chapman did her best to put the Knights' Oreo behind early, and it looked like it could work until her shooting faltered. Oreo capitalized on late mistakes, eventually putting up a three-ball run-out to swipe the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo had a strong game 2, but it didn't start that way, as the Spurs' Chapman made the first ball of the game and had quite the run early on. Oreo needed a four-ball run to get back into the battle, and then won on her next turn with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Oreo had more trouble from the break in game 3, but righted herself well and with plenty of time. She nearly gave up a late run to Chapman, who had a four-ball run going when she missed the last ball in her suit, setting Oreo for a long bank on the 8 to the top left for the win. Oreo converted, making it a 3-0 series sweep in her favor to move into the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Charli XCX. Solid players meet in 10-ball with the blue cue in this series. Tysini's Charli had a rough start in game 1, taking an intentional scratch on her first turn. Todavía's Sparkles made the 1 from ball-in-hand, but missed the 2, setting Charli up on it. Charli then worked magic, calling the 9 to the top right off a deflection from the target 3, which would bank-combination the 10 to the bottom left. The shot succeeded with the 10 glancing off the 5 and home for the win, giving Charli a stunning 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sparkles started slow in game 2 as well, but the Hummingbirds' Charli didn't seem to have much urgency in her shooting, and Sparkles slowly grew stronger, making the final five balls on two turns to get the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was especially cagey early on, as it became a war to get contact on the 2. Charli eventually sank it, sparking a six-ball run, and she followed it up with another pair on her last turn before a scratch. Sparkles, while vastly outplayed in the game, won with the 10 from ball-in-hand to take the series 2-1. Sparkles advances to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Niki. The blue cue remains in action as 9-ball is played this time. Capital City's Chris made a quick impression during his opening four-ball run in game 1, making a tough cut on the 1 to the bottom side, which sent the cue flying into the 5, which also fell in the bottom side for the double-pot. Eastside's Niki came close to a win, but missed on the 9, and Chris got a well-earned win to take a 1-0 series lead with the tap-in. The Sharpshooters' Chris didn't do much of note in a rough game 2, but the Sharks' Niki similarly struggled throughout the game, just going through the motions of playing the game. Chris brought a stunning finish to things with a 7-9 kick-combination to the bottom right, getting the win for a 2-0 series lead. Chris had a great opening to game 3, playing a loose five-ball run that nearly was more when he kicked the 4 toward the bottom side. Alas, the miss meant Niki could go on a four-ball run-out in her only turn of the game for a win. Chris still took the series 2-1.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Sparkles. The red cue is back for more 8-ball, with the winner playing Oreo, who won earlier. Atlantic's Isabella couldn't make anything on the break, but Todavía's Sparkles came up empty on her first shot. Isabella won the game two turns later on her second consecutive four-ball run, going ahead 1-0 in the series with the good play. The Pirates' Isabella pieced together a crazy four-ball run to open game 2 as well, and while the Stills' Sparkles had plenty of chances to influence the game, she missed a lot of shots and ended up with the loss when Isabella cut the 8 to the top left to win, clinching the series at 2-0. Isabella had game 3 under control quickly as well, making a six-ball run from the break and getting a bit of help from Sparkles later when she potted the last solid accidentally. Isabella then banked the 8 to the bottom side to complete her 3-0 series sweep. Isabella will host the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the second round at this venue.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Smudge. It's a captains' battle in Rotation with the blue cue for this series. Victoria's Spice had the early lead in game 1, and while Infinity's Smudge tied the game on three separate occasions, she never held a lead, and Spice locked things down at the end with a three-ball run-out, including a winning kick on the 13 to the top side to take the game 8-5 and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice had a great game 2, but it was one shot in particular that threw off the Torpedoes' Smudge for the rest of the game. Through traffic, Spice was able to pick out the 4 with just enough speed and placement to bank it to the bottom right, a world-class shot that laid the early foundation for her 8-3 win to secure the series at 2-0. Spice had another good effort in game 3, as Smudge put in very little to make progress. Spice ended the game with a well-hit double-pot of the 8 to the top left and the 15 to the top side, winning 8-2 for the 3-0 series sweep to get into the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Smudge. The Torpedoes captain brings the blue cue with her for 15-ball against the Gems sophomore. Diamond's Pedey seemed to hold the advantage early in game 1, but things fell apart for him later, and Infinity's Smudge found a bit of a grip. Smudge cashed in on her better play, winning on a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Gems' Pedey returned to a position of strength in game 2, as the Torpedoes' Smudge had trouble sustaining offense. Pedey made a three-ball run from ball-in-hand after a scratch by Smudge, and then ended the game on a five-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1 with his good sequence. Pedey and Smudge kept a fairly even pace in game 3, neither one pulling too much of the possession. Pedey flipped it all around with an awkward stabbing shot at the 7, which sent the 11 into the 15 off a bank, and the 15 fell in the bottom right for the win. Pedey took the series 2-1, and it looks like the first kill of the year as well, knocking Smudge from the Tournament.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Frosty. The final series today is also 15-ball with the blue cue. Commerce's Tigerette had the better of play in game 1, including a five-ball run that just ended in a scratch. Stonebridge's Frosty didn't get a chance at the 15 though, and Tigerette still got the win with a 12-15 combination to the bottom right, putting her ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 proved mostly uneventful in the early stages, but things got fascinating as the Tradewinds' Tigerette played a more high-risk game later on. The Wolves' Frosty couldn't get much of a counterattack, but Tigerette missed on the 15 the first time. Frosty tried a glancing kick and missed, and Tigerette made it on the second try, clinching the series at 2-0. Tigerette had to grow into game 3 a bit, struggling at first but eventually putting Frosty away one more time with a four-ball run-out. Tigerette swept the series 3-0 to get to the second round.
That's all for the pool playing today. We're about halfway through the round by my calculations, with the expectation to end in roughly three weeks.
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