We're back for another standard day, which might be running a bit slow today. We begin in...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Dewey. The first series of the day is in 9-ball with the blue cue between a veteran and a rookie. Oceanside's Dewey had the better of play in game 1, as Royal's Kayla showed some struggles early on and never really seemed comfortable with her shot. Dewey took the win and a 1-0 series lead with a three-ball run-out. The Crowns' Kayla answered back in game 2, using an early scratch by the Waves' Dewey as a catalyst for her strong play. Kayla used the ball-in-hand to spark a three-ball run-out, ending with a 5-9 combination to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Dewey played well in game 3, but nearly saw Kayla get in position to win. Instead, a scratch doomed Kayla and sent Dewey to the win and a 2-1 series win with his three-ball run-out. Dewey advances to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Salmo. Two rookies meet in Rotation, another series with the blue cue. Pronger's Potter had a tough time scoring in game 1, only getting in a couple of shots later. Lighton's Salmo performed much better with an early four-ball run and strong enough play late to earn the 8-3 win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter played much better in game 2, building up a good lead at one point. The Prestige's Salmo had other plans for him, making a four-ball run to cut into the deficit, and then winning 8-5 with a four-ball run-out on his next turn. Salmo's relentless playing style earned him the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw both players struggle to break free early on, and then Salmo went big at the end, winning 8-5 again with another four-ball run-out. Salmo's strong attacks earned him a trip to Golden in the second round, facing the Pilots' Dusty at Amazon Field Exhibition Hall.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Violetta. The red cue gets its first series of the day in 12-ball. Lighton's Twinkie I had a decent game 1 performance, with a three-ball run, but it wasn't enough, as Queens' Violetta needed only two turns to win. She made a four-ball run at first, and then took advantage of the extra space to make her last two shots for a 1-0 series lead on her second turn. The Flames' Violetta had an early advantage in game 2, but it didn't hold up very well. She needed more time to do her positioning, while the Prestige's Twinkie I charged forward and made it close. Each player missed their last ball once, but Twinkie I won when she made it on her second try, tying the series at 1. Violetta nearly took game 1 in a single turn, but her hopes of a long run were dashed after three straight shots. Twinkie I tried to counter, but two turns later, Violetta sealed the game with a three-ball run-out, winning the series 2-1. Violetta heads home as the visiting player, facing Flames captain Crystal in Ebay Center in Queens in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Jennifer Livilotti. The blue cue is back for this 15-ball series between sturdy foes. Everton's Puff III came out with her shot on fire, making a number of difficult and lucky plays. Terrace City's Jennifer replied by making seven balls over two turns late, but she couldn't get the 14 to fall, and Puff III made the last two shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The start of game 2 had a fairly even spread, and then the Eagles' Puff III picked up the pace for a bit. When she fell off, the Knights' Jennifer stepped into a four-ball run, but she left the 15 standing, and Puff III tapped it in for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Jennifer had a few good looks in game 3, including one on the 15 that just wouldn't fall, but Puff III stayed in the game and won with a five-ball run-out to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Puff III's next opponent is the Diamond Gems' Pedey in the second round at this venue.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Mario. We stay in the Northeast for 10-ball with the silver cue. Harrison's Twinkie II didn't have a good game 1, but it was even worse for Central rookie Mario, whose late missed contact allowed Twinkie II to take the 10 from ball-in-hand for the sloppy win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much better for both players, although neither managed to create any long runs this time either. The Warriors' Mario capitalized on the Specters' Twinkie II missing the 7, as he then made it and cut the 10 to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1 despite nearly scratching on that final shot. Mario recovered late in game 3, after Twinkie II had mostly paced the play in the game. Twinkie II missed contact on the 9, and Mario used ball-in-hand to make the last two shots for the win, taking the series 2-1. Mario advances to the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Wario. Down in the Southwest, rivals meet in 8-ball with the red cue. Victoria's Wario had a rough game 1, but Swordpoint's Stealth lacked the authority in his shooting to do anything about it. Stealth had a number of errors, including a late scratch that allowed Wario to secure the win for an uninspiring 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Wario went from messy to brilliant in game 2, stunning the Blades' Stealth with an out-of-nowhere seven-ball run-out, including a finishing kick to send the 8 to the bottom right with ease. Wario's sudden change in skill secured the series for him at 2-0. Wario tried to keep up with a much-improved Stealth in game 3 with a pair of three-ball runs, but Stealth was a bit sharper, leaving the 8 to block Wario's final shot and then to tap-in for the win. Wario won the series 2-1, and will play in Harrison in the second round, at Mercedes-Benz Forum against the Specters' Sydney.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Hughbert v. Jake. The Southeast Division takes a turn in this 10-ball series with the blue cue. Southridge's Hughbert can count himself lucky to win game 1 after Royal's Jake paced much of the game's play but couldn't pot the 10. Hughbert cleaned it up on a tap-in for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. Game 2 saw the Crowns' Jake break out again for a strong start. Things changed when Jake scratched, and the Defenders' Hughbert needed a three-ball run-out to win, ending with a deflected shot off the 4 to hit the cue into the 10, which fell as called in the top right for the win. Hughbert secured the series at 2-0 with the remarkable shot. Jake played better at the end of game 3 instead of at the start, allowing Hughbert to put in his fair share of shots. Jake then made a four-ball run-out to take the win, giving Hughbert a 2-1 series win. Hughbert is through to the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Bells. The blue cue gets another series of 10-ball between another rookie and veteran pair. Stonebridge's Cobalt showed promise with a pair of four-ball runs in game 1, but his miss on the 9 and then missed contact on the next turn allowed Todavía's Bells too many chances, and she converted the last two shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt had a bit more pace in game 2, but the Stills' Bells also improved her game until a late miss on the 10. Bells left it lined up for Cobalt to pot at the top left, and he made no mistake, winning the close game to tie the series at 1. Bells had a decent game 3 early on, but then broke free with a six-ball run, pushing Cobalt aside easily. Bells missed on the 10, but Cobalt received a harsh lesson when he missed a tap-in, and Bells took the win anyway for a 2-1 series win. Bells goes on to the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Nicole. The silver cue is back for a series of 15-ball between steady veterans. Maplewood's Bryant had a slight edge in game 1, looking a bit more decisive on his shots than did Capital City's Nicole. This served him well late, as Nicole's misses gave Bryant a chance to win, and he took it, going ahead 1-0 in the series with the effort. Little was revealed early in game 2 about the course of events, but the Lumberjacks' Bryant put his stamp on the game with a jump on the 8 followed closely by a near double-pot of the 9, which fell, and the 15, which rattled out of the bottom side. Bryant had a five-ball run, and then kept the Sharpshooters' Nicole at bay to complete the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Nicole had her best game in game 3, quietly dominating possession and taking great swaths of shots that Bryant struggled with. Bryant did have a late chance, but he defended his own shot, and Nicole made the 15 for the win. Bryant wins the series 2-1, and will host the Modernistic Union's Puff I in the second at this venue.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Fuchsia. The silver cue will be up for 7-ball after a break to rest and relax. Tysini's Brownie had the better of play in game 1, although neither her nor Midland's Fuchsia was all that decisive in their shooting. Brownie did make a three-ball run in the middle, and capitalized when Fuchsia left the 7 short, tapping it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie still lacked authority on her shots in game 2, but the Predators' Fuchsia was even less receptive to picking up the slack this time. Brownie ended up making a pair of shots at the end to take the win and a 2-0 series lead. Brownie had a four-ball run in game 3, the best stretch of the series, but she missed the 7 twice, the latter on a scratch, and Fuchsia tapped it in for a win. Brownie won the series 2-1, and will host the Oceanside Waves rookie Celestia in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Juno. Two fierce competitors go at it in 9-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Leonette started out alright in game 1, but she couldn't keep her shot locked in at all. Stonebridge's Juno cashed in for a bit, but the 7 gave both players trouble until Juno made it, and she followed with a deflection off the 8 to pot the 9 in the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 did not go any smoother for either player, and frustrations rose, particularly for the Volcanoes' Leonette, who had a couple of good shots surrounded by poor misses. The Wolves' Juno added a bit of aggression to her shots, and it seemed to work, as she picked up the win and took the series at 2-0. Juno had a wonderful start in game 3, piecing together a seven-ball run before missing on the 8, which was a mistake that cost her the game. Leonette made the last two balls to earn the win. Juno still took the series 2-1, and will head to AT&T Hall in Oceanside to face the Waves' Dewey in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Sugar. The last series today is 8-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Sugar managed to set the tone with an early four-ball run in game 1, keeping North Modernistic's Peach at bay early on. Peach made a later three-ball run, but couldn't finish her suit, and Sugar potted the 8 for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Nighthawks' Peach had a decent start to game 2, but had to take a defensive stance and let the Specters' Sugar in. Peach removed her defense when it was all that she had left, and Sugar promptly used a four-ball run to get onto the 8 as well. They tangled a bit until Peach cut the 8 to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a more cagey defensive match between the players, with Sugar showing a bit more on offense. Peach turned to heavy defense late in the game, but she couldn't stop Sugar despite a few good shots. Sugar won the game and the 2-1 series to advance to the second round, where she'll face the Meteors' Nibbles at Viewpoint Sound's Volkswagen Stadium Events Center.
That's it for today. I'm not sure how much will get played tomorrow. I think I need a day to reset, but I'm not sure I'll take one.
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