We're back for another day of games. Early reports indicate some stubborn pockets today, so we'll see if this is published on Wednesday or Thursday if the play gets too rough. We begin with...
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Juno. The Tridents rookie and Wolves captain meet in 12-ball with the red cue to start the day. Pronger's Spot had a close battle in game 1 with Stonebridge's Juno, who had the clearer lines. Spot recovered after Juno's illegally potted ball, getting himself set on his final two shots, which he made on separate turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Juno countered with a remarkable three-ball run near the start of game 2, and while the Tridents' Spot gave chase, he never caught up. Juno ended up needing the same pockets as Spot late in the game, and played defense until she had clear shots, making both to tie the series at 1. Game 3 kept the tight theme of the series, with Juno seemingly in better shape for much of the game until a three-ball run by Spot put him ahead. Juno countered a bit, but positioning failed her, and Spot won just in time to take the series 2-1 as he advances to the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: B. Chapman v. Shaggy. The red cue stays up in today's second series, Rotation with the red cue. Victoria's Chapman had a slow start in game 1 against Whitewater's Shaggy, but the visitors developed a bit of a scratching problem. Shaggy's loose play allowed Chapman to gain a lead, and she clamped down for an 8-6 win at the end to get the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Spurs' Chapman break out for a big lead with a four-ball run at the start. The Shores' Shaggy gradually chipped away at this, gaining a lead that wouldn't hold under a three-ball run by Chapman. Shaggy had a chance to finish with a win, but rattled the 14 at the top left, and Chapman tapped it in for an 8-6 win and 2-0 series lead. Chapman had her most confident win in game 3, working an early four-ball run and a three-ball run-out amid a messy series of turns from Shaggy. Chapman won 8-3, and advanced to the second round with a 3-0 series sweep.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Paps v. Pedey. The red cue continues its reign, with a series of 10-ball up next. Eastside's Paps did amazing work in game 1, after Diamond's Pedey failed to make the 3 after a tough kick on the 2. Paps called a bank on the 3 from a bad angle to the bottom side, igniting a seven-ball run-out as the host went on a run for the ages to take a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Sharks' Paps lacked the same command in game 2, getting a couple of chances from ball-in-hand but doing nothing with them. The Gems' Pedey ended up with the win after Paps missed on the 6-10 combination to the top right. Pedey used the 6 to deflect into the 10 for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 would be a hybrid of the two before it, as Paps unleashed a long run late, tallying six in a row before missing on the 10 at the top side. Pedey came in to poach the win, sinking the 10 in the top left for the 2-1 series win that sees him through to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Fuchsia. The red cue continues after lunch with a series of 15-ball. Everton's Goldy had the better of play in game 1, using late defense and a four-ball run to keep Midland's Fuchsia on edge. Goldy closed it out with a couple of nice shots after Fuchsia couldn't get around Goldy's defense, and Goldy took a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Predators' Fuchsia struggled in game 2, fanning on a few shots and flailing on a few more. The Eagles' Goldy wasn't a lot better, but she kept her shots under more control. Goldy just had to wait for Fuchsia to make a mistake, which she did when she potted the 10 to the bottom left, then bumped the 15 to the bottom right while scratching. Goldy took the free win to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 went terribly, as aggression rose and both players sent balls off the table in frustration with their shots. The long, horrible game came to a close with a four-ball run-out by Goldy, securing her a 3-0 series sweep to take into the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Roxy: The silver cue administers a Rotation series between Eastern Hills Division rivals. Freedoms' Roxy picked up the early lead in game 1 after some struggles for Pronger's Precious, but the host recovered and briefly held a lead. Roxy took it from here with a three-ball run-out, winning 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy had a much tougher time in game 2, as the Tridents' Precious held a late lead, but she couldn't make it stand. Roxy made a three-ball run-out to clear the table in her 8-7 win, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Precious choked away game 3 as well, another poorly shot game that went to Roxy by an 8-7 score, making it a 3-0 series sweep for Roxy as she heads to the second round. Play is suspended for quality of play concerns.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Caitlin. The blue cue is up for 7-ball as play resumes on Thursday after a stormy finish to Wednesday. Commerce's Tigerette didn't get anything on the game 1 break, allowing Oceanside's Caitlin to make a three-ball run. That ended in illegal contact, and Tigerette won with a four-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went in a very similar pattern for the Tradewinds' Tigerette, as she countered a three-ball run from the Waves' Caitlin with a four-ball run-out of her own. Tigerette's win sealed the series at 2-0. Tigerette played a less dominant game in game 3, which allowed Caitlin to scratch twice early on and still emerge with the win. Tigerette took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round with some good play.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Diddley. An exciting rookie takes on a seasoned veteran in 12-ball with the red cue. Maplewood's Diddley showed his quality in game 1, weathering a three-ball run from Midland's Fuchsia and then getting his positioning faster, winning as Fuchsia couldn't make her last shot at the top side in time. Diddley leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Diddley overcame a scratch on the break of game 2, as he left the Predators' Fuchsia with very few clear shots in the game. She was unable to get set on her shots, and Diddley stormed by with positive positioning to get the win and make it a 2-0 series. Diddley put Fuchsia in an impossible position in game 3, as she had to remove her defense to have a chance to win after his three-ball run. Diddley made the last two balls on the next turn after Fuchsia missed, and he won for a 3-0 series sweep to take into the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Salmo. A hotshot sophomore and middling rookie tangle in 8-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Sydney had the better spread from the break, but she had trouble stringing shots together. Lighton's Salmo wasn't great in game 1 either, but he figured it out with a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney was much improved in game 2, making a four-ball run and a three-ball run before the Prestige's Salmo tried to salvage the game with a three-ball run. They both flailed at the side pockets briefly, and then Sydney won on her second shot at the 8, tying the series at 1. Sydney backed it up with a big game 3, mashing a seven-ball run that ended in a scratch. Salmo tried to respond but couldn't do much, and Sydney made the last two shots on her next turn, winning the game and the series 2-1. Sydney heads along into the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Nibbles. The blue cue will play 7-ball again after lunch, hopefully for the first of eight more series. Golden's Charlton made the first ball on the break, but also scratched. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles answered with a five-ball run, but missed on the 7, and Charlton tapped it in to win for a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. The Pilots' Charlton needed only two shots in game 2 to get the win, making the 3 on the break to the bottom side, and then converting a 1-7 bank combination to the top left to stun the Meteors' Nibbles. Charlton's win secured the series at 2-0 for her. Charlton won game 3 even quicker, making the 7 on the break to the bottom right to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Charlton is through to the second round with the stunning result.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Oreo. The blue cue continues with another 7-ball series between Solid Core members. Pacific's Leonette needed some help in game 1 after a scratch, and she got it when Terrace City's Oreo couldn't make the 3. Leonette cued up a four-ball run-out from there, taking the win and a 1-0 series lead with confident shooting. The Volcanoes' Leonette made two balls on the break, but also scratched, allowing the Knights' Oreo to make a couple of shots as well. Oreo couldn't bank the 4 into the bottom side, and it stayed in position for Leonette to make a 4-7 combination at the top side, a remnant of the break that gave Leonette an easy win to clinch the series at 2-0. Leonette had a four-ball run from the break in game 3, but Oreo ended up with the win when Leonette missed on the 5 at the bottom left. Oreo made the last two shots for the win, while Leonette settled for a 2-1 series to advance to the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Max. The busiest bracket gets another series, as the blue cue plays 7-ball once again. Game 1 had scratching for a theme, as Central's Twilight did it on the break, and Queens' Max scratched twice, once to end a three-ball run and again to lose as he potted the 7. Twilight came out with the win somehow, earning a 1-0 series lead thanks to Max's unlucky shot. The Warriors' Twilight showed a bit less confidence in game 2, while the Flames' Max played very similarly. In the end, Max had a chance at a late run after Twilight missed a bank, but Max couldn't make the 6, and Twilight made the final two shots for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Twilight did well in game 3, nearly making a 1-7 bank combination to the top left. Max tried to answer that, but ended up missing a 6-7 combination attempt, and Twilight converted on her next turn for the win and a 3-0 series sweep.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Citrus. A rookie and a star veteran clash in 12-ball, another series for the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus got lucky when Modernistic's Daisy had an unbalanced spread on her break. Daisy then committed a rookie error, doubling up on the bottom side, which ignited a five-ball run-out for Citrus as she stormed to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus provided a bit of entertainment in game 2, overcoming a poor spread on the break as the Union's Daisy couldn't assert herself. Citrus successfully defended the top side, and then made the 14 to the bottom left while the 13 fell at the top side without contact (a table-assisted double-pot), allowing Citrus to bank the 12 to the bottom side for the win. Citrus sealed the series at 2-0. Citrus gave away a wild-card ball in game 3, helping Daisy quite a bit at the end, where she set up at the bottom right. Citrus tried to play defensively, but Daisy converted to get the win anyway, and Citrus settled for advancing with a 2-1 series win.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Bianca. The Volcanoes veteran is back at it, playing 15-ball against a Defenders rookie with the red cue. Pacific's Leonette had a grand majority of the possession in game 1, dominating early and late, but Southridge's Bianca carved out a good middle and the last ball to get the win against the run of play, earning herself a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette made the best of a tough game after the Defenders' Bianca had a lousy break shot. Leonette came on strong near the end with a six-ball run, and it was all wasted when she left the 15 short at the bottom right, which Bianca tapped in to secure a 2-0 series. Bianca had a better break for game 3, but she couldn't get her shot calibrated, and Leonette ground out the early part before a dominant finish that included a four-ball run and her successful second chance on the 15. Bianca still won the series 2-1, with the rookie heading to the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Cobalt. The Wolves captain and her rookie teammate meet in 8-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 saw why Juno is the captain for the Wolves, as she made two separate four-ball runs, on just her second and third turns of the game, leaving Cobalt no time to retaliate as Juno charged forward for a 1-0 series lead with her win. Cobalt held his own much better in game 2, even making a little rally late in the game. This ended when he rattled the 8 out of the top side, and Juno managed to convert a three-ball run-out for the win, giving her a 2-0 series lead after Cobalt's energetic mistake. Cobalt showed growth in game 3, as Juno held the early rally and was very close to finishing, but Cobalt came back and won with a three-ball run-out of well-executed shots. Cobalt is not sad to be out to his teammate, as Juno takes the 2-1 series win to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Sleepy B. The Flames veteran returns home to face an Arrows stalwart in 9-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 went poorly for Queens' Max, as he struggled early on, and saw Archtown's Sleepy B. dominate play. When he had a chance on the 9, Max made it, but fate robbed him with a scratch, and Sleepy B. won to take a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Max was better in game 2, coupled with the Arrows' Sleepy B. taking a step back. Sleepy B. had a late scratch, and this set up Max for a three-ball run-out, which he just narrowly completed without scratching. Max played with fire for the win, tying the series at 1 to make game 3 matter in an exciting series. Game 3 went much in the same way for Max, as he held play early on while Sleepy B. struggled, and Max converted a nervy three-ball run-out with a near scratch on the 8 and a near miss on the 9, just eking out a win for the 2-1 series win.
BMW RockDome, Slinks v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue is back for 15-ball in this series, potentially the last of the day. Westside's Slinks pulled off quite the win in game 1, taking an absolute beating in possession. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had a four-ball run followed by a six-ball run, but Slinks made the last two shots to win and earn a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much less prolific in the run of play, as neither player really developed much. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman had the worst of it, running into a stretch of scratches. In the end, the Rockers' Slinks prevailed with the final two shots for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman finally caught a break in the sloppy game 3 finish, emerging from a mass of missed shots to put up a five-ball run-out against Slinks, who still ended up taking the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Roxy. Two veterans meet in 7-ball with the silver cue. Golden's Strut ended up on the right side of game 1, which didn't go all that well for either player. Freedom's Roxy had the worst of it, missing on the 7 at the end, and Strut converted for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy pulled off a win in game 2 despite the hot finish from the Pilots' Strut, who made a three-ball run before a scratch gave Roxy ball-in-hand. Roxy converted the 7 from this position, taking the game to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw an interesting finish, as Strut decided to cut the 7 toward the top left, and scratched predictably based on the lie of the ball. Roxy ended up with the win because of it, giving her the series 2-1.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Brownie. We close the day out with 12-ball and the blue cue in this series. Tysini's Brownie proved a bit faster to establish herself in game 1 after a chaotic break from Todavía's Sparkles, whose late run was a bit too late. Brownie made her final ball after Sparkles' rally ended, and Brownie holds a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie ended up squeezing out a win after the Stills' Sparkles proved unable to make a cut on the 6. Brownie made her final shots after that, grabbing the win to clinch the series at 2-0. In game 3, Brownie had the early edge over Sparkles, but she didn't have the positioning, which greatly favored Sparkles. Brownie's illegal double-pot didn't help her cause at all, and Sparkles eventually got lined up for a four-ball run-out for the win. Brownie still took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
That's all for the pool today. We should have some cricket later tonight. Follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter live updates.
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