We're back for the middle day of pool this week, beginning with...
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Shadow. The blue cue gets another look in 7-ball, the busiest bracket of the round. Whitewater's Twinkie III had the better of play in game 1, but she couldn't convert on a 4-7 combination toward the bottom right, and Web City's Shadow used the 4 to deflect the cue into the 7, scoring it for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow continued his good play in game 2, nearly making the 7 on the break at the bottom left. The Shores' Twinkie III never got a good look at it, and Shadow won on a three-ball run-out capped by a solid 6-7 combination, giving him a 2-0 series lead. Twinkie III had a five-ball run after Shadow scratched on the break in game 3, and then she made the last two balls on the next turn, salvaging a win from the series. Shadow advances on a 2-1 series win, and will face the Tradewinds' Tigerette at Commerce's Nike Field Events Center in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Valencia. A pair of Pilots meet in 8-ball with the silver cue in a celebration of the team. Game 1 saw each player execute a five-ball run, with Charlton's coming earlier in the game than Valencia's. This was critical, as Valencia's ended with a miss on the 8, and Charlton cleaned it up to win, taking a 1-0 series lead. Charlton showed strength in game 2 as well, pushing Valencia around the table and keeping the captain from many good shooting positions. Charlton closed the game out with a well-played three-ball run-out, clinching the series at 2-0. Charlton put up a great run from the break in game 3, making seven of her own balls and one for Valencia before missing on the 8. Valencia, undeterred by the run against her, won with a seven-ball run-out to make it a 2-1 series. Charlton advances to the second round in a solid series.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Mario. The red cue gets its daily debut in 7-ball between a veteran and a rookie. Royal's Nightfur ended up with the game 1 win despite a more dynamic performance from Central's Mario, who made two pairs of shots with significant movement on the ball. Nightfur, however, holds the 1-0 series lead. This win proved critical for the Crowns' Nightfur, who blasted the game 2 break and took the 2 and 7 in the top left for another win, stunning the Warriors' Mario by keeping him from the table as Nightfur clinched the series at 2-0. Nightfur again dominated play in game 3, making a pair of balls early on and a four-ball run-out at the end to make it a 3-0 series sweep over the disheartened Mario. Nightfur advances to the second round with the strong finish.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Gradley. The blue cue returns to lead off the afternoon session, with Accuracy in this series. Boston's Gradley had a slow start in game 1, but everything flipped around when Todavía's Sparkles scratched, the first of many misses. Gradley faltered late but held on for the 3-4 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley just didn't have his shot in game 2, while the Stills' Sparkles showed great improvement in winning 2-6, avoiding any scratches that would have derailed her. Sparkles' growth helped her equalize the series at 1 game apiece. Sparkles had another scratch in game 3, allowing Gradley to dictate much of the game. Sparkles came close but couldn't catch up, as Gradley held on to win 3-4 again, taking the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Paps. The red cue is back for more 7-ball in this series. Queens' Crystal came out strong with a four-ball run from the break in game 1, but she scratched while making the 3, and Eastside's Paps took over from here. Paps converted a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to win, taking a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players miss shots to cut their runs short, making for a choppier game. The Sharks' Paps had the worst of it with a late scratch, allowing the Flames' Crystal to even the series at 1 with her last two shots, including a bank on the 7 to the bottom side. Game 3 was even worse for shot quality, and it proved lethal to Crystal, whose miss on the 7 left Paps lined up on the tap-in for the win and a 2-1 series win. Crystal's sudden collapse allowed Paps to advance to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sparkles v. Nightfur. The red cue stays in action for 9-ball as the host makes a quick return to play. Todavía's Sparkles couldn't get anything on the break, allowing Royal's Nightfur to make a four-ball run before she got hit will illegal use of the stick. Sparkles took a three-ball run, but Nightfur had good positions, only to miss the 9, allowing Sparkles to pick up the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sparkles led off a slow-starting game 2 with a three-ball run, only to be matched by the Crowns' Nightfur. Sparkles shot back with a three-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series at 2-0 with the tough and fast game. Sparkles had a close battle again in game 3, but she defended against Nightfur pretty well, and eventually broke free with the last two shots to get the win, sweeping the series 3-0. Sparkles advances to the second round after a strong series.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Gizmo v. Sprinkles. The blue cue is back now, playing 15-ball between these veterans. Game 1 was fairly normal, as both players made their mistakes early on and had a few misses late. The 15 fell to Capital City's Sprinkles after Central's Gizmo missed on it, and Sprinkles converted for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Gizmo fell quickly in game 2, making illegal contact as he shot at the 2. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles used ball-in-hand for a cluster-buster shot, but the leave allowed her to convert the 2-15 combination easily to the top right, securing the series at 2-0 with the quick result. Gizmo stepped up with a dominant game 3, working an early five-ball run and making the last five balls over two turns as he stomped Sprinkles for the win. Sprinkles ended up taking the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Citrus. The red cue is back as we play 10-ball this time. Diamond's Citrus seemed to make a handful more shots in game 1 than did Boston's Puff II, but it was all for naught when Citrus scratched on her failed attempt at the 10. Puff II made it from ball-in-hand to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus dominated in the early stages of game 2, but she missed on the 7, and the Swifts' Puff II answered Citrus' five-ball run with a three-ball run-out. Puff II clinched the series with the clutch finishing run. Puff II didn't have the same command on her shots in game 3, allowing Citrus a bit more room to dictate play, and Citrus did so to the point of getting the win. Puff II took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Patches. We're back to 7-ball again, and the red cue is in line for the series. Boston's Patches had a decent effort in game 1, but a slight lack of control opened the door for Web City's Shiny to produce a three-ball run-out, using good positioning to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shiny didn't get much of a chance to support herself in game 2, as the Swifts' Patches needed only one turn to get the win. Patches constructed a four-ball run-out, ending on a long-distance and tough-angle 4-7 bank combination to the top left for the win, which tied the series at 1. Shiny just about had game 3 under control, but she missed on the 7, ending a four-ball run and allowing Patches to tap in the 7 for the win. Patches took the series 2-1 on this shot.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Nightfur. A busy day for the Crowns captain continues as she faces the Blades captain in 8-ball with the blue cue. Royal's Nightfur didn't have the best game 1, as she watched Swordpoint's Snowball post a five-ball run early on. Snowball struggled a bit, but nearly won, as she made the 8 between the 9 and 11, but also scratched to gift Nightfur the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball shot right back with a five-ball run in game 2, which the Crowns' Nightfur immediately matched. In the race to the finish. Nightfur just missed on the 8, and Snowball made the last two shots to win, tying the series at 1 with the determined effort. Nightfur made a huge burst forward in game 3, pushing Snowball into a defensive posture. Snowball needed two turns to pull level, but missed on the 8, ending a three-ball run and allowing Nightfur a simple cut on the 8 for the win on her third try. Nightfur also took the series 2-1 with the win.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Stephanie Livilotti. The silver cue is finally back to play 9-ball, between a troubled captain and fresh rookie. Atlantic's Delila didn't start all that well, allowing Southridge's Stephanie the space to make a three-ball run. Delila clamped down at the end, rattling off a four-ball run-out to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Stephanie had runs of three and four balls in game 2, but she missed on the 9 late in the game, leaving it short at the top right. While not playing all that well, the Pirates' Delila made the tap-in to secure the series at 2-0. Delila had a three-ball run going when she missed contact on the 5 in game 3, and Stephanie stepped up to win in two shots, making the 5 from ball-in-hand and then an easy 6-9 combination to the bottom right. Delila still took the series 2-1, punching her ticket to the uncharted lands of the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Frosty v. B. Chapman. Two of the league's perfect qualifiers meet in Accuracy with the red cue. Stonebridge's Frosty had a strong game 1, but Victoria's Chapman stayed touch-tight until the end, where each player had a late mistake. Frosty scratched on the last ball, giving the overtime break to Chapman, who couldn't make anything of it. Frosty took the win 2-3 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Chapman had a decent game 2, with a break from the Wolves' Frosty that provided a bit more trouble than game 1. Chapman had to stave off Frosty late, earning the 3-4 win to tie the series at 1, setting up a pivotal final game of the day. Game 3 saw a great finish after a shaky start, going into overtime tied. Frosty made a ball on the overtime break, but couldn't make anything on her second shot, and Chapman won 2-3 to take the series 2-1. Chapman is into the second round.
That's all for the Tournament today. We will be back tomorrow.
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