This is the day of games split between Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope to get 6-8 series done on Tuesday, with the rest on the next day. We begin with...
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Precious. The red cue administers a 12-ball series to open the day. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had a four-ball run from the break in game 1, a strong performance coupled with good positioning for his last two shots. Pronger's Precious was a little shaky, and Mr. Snowman won two turns later for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman had a three-ball run from the break in game 2, trying to assert himself well again, but he had a less favorable spread on his remaining shots. The Tridents' Precious blew past him with three pairs of shots to earn the win quickly, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw neither player storm away with the win, as they had to battle for shared pockets in the middle. Precious got a gift when Mr. Snowman's missed final shot banked her ball into position, and she made her last two shots for the win. Precious took the series 2-1, and will travel to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to face the Surfers' Boots.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Lorde. The blue cue is up now for some 9-ball between a veteran and a sophomore. Swordpoint's Stealth made the first four balls and the last two in two turns, sandwiched around a three-ball run from Commerce's Lorde. Stealth's strong play was enough for a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth had a fairly lucky shot for the game 2 win, taking ball-in-hand after a scratch from the Tradewinds' Lorde. Stealth made the 2-6 combination to the bottom right, and then hit the 2 to the same pocket, while double-potting the 9 on a tight angle to the bottom side. This three-ball run-out clinched the series at 2-0 for Stealth. Game 3 was the slowest to form for either side, but Lorde still lacked command at the end when Stealth rattled off a three-ball run-out for the win, sweeping the series 3-0. Stealth will host the Pronger Tridents' Precious in the second round at this venue.
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Kirstin. The blue cue returns for some Accuracy with a veteran and a sophomore again. Game 1 saw a rough start for both sides, and then Everton's Kirstin lacked the ability to maintain a lead. Queens' Max forced overtime in the end, and won 3-4 when Kirstin's break went empty, giving Max a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much the same way in regulation, except it was the Eagles' Kirstin forcing overtime after the Flames' Max squandered a late advantage stemming from three straight misses by Kirstin. Max tried a soft break, which stymied Kirstin, but he lost 4-5 two turns later with another miss. Kirstin's win tied the series at 1. Max had a total collapse in game 3, holding close for awhile before missing three shots in a row to drop a 2-6 game to Kirstin, who won the series 2-1 by staving off Max in the end. Kirstin advances to a road series in Viewpoint Sound's Volkswagen Stadium Events Center against the Meteors captain Mams.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Diddley. A Northeastern series of Accuracy is up next with the red cue. Everton's Puff III had game 1 easily wrapped up before the end thanks to plenty of misses from Maplewood's Diddley, but she missed the last ball, and settled for a 1-4 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III had a decent game 2, but she was a bit weaker than in the series opener. The Lumberjacks' Diddley made a small improvement, but Puff III still prevailed 2-3, narrowly beating Diddley due to her mid-game swoon. Puff III clinched the series at 2-0 with the close win. With the pressure off, Puff III put in her best effort of the series with a perfect game, defeating Diddley by an 0-2 score to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Puff III will be hosting the Whitewater Shores' breakout star Marsell in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Kiwi. The red cue stays in action for some 7-ball between these elite captains. Game 1 was going a bit slowly until Terrace City's Kiwi changed her grip and posture, stunning with a three-ball run-out using high-speed shots. Kiwi's win left Pronger's Precious a bit discouraged as Kiwi takes a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi had a great start in game 2 with a five-ball run from the break, but she scratched on her shot at the 6, with no real angle available to her. The Tridents' Precious made the final two shots from ball-in-hand for the win, tying the series at 1 with the fortunate shooting opportunity. Precious didn't have a great game 3, scratching on the break and scuffling in the battle with Kiwi after the latter's three-ball run early on. Precious did make a highlight though, kicking the 7 into the top right for the win, which also gave her the 2-1 series win. Precious hosts the Golden Pilots' Dusty in the second round at this venue.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Watermelon. This Rotation series with the silver cue concludes the Tuesday half of this post. Golden's Charlton got off to a decent start, but she couldn't build upon making a ball on the break in game 1. Pearl's Watermelon stuck with her for awhile, and then made a three-ball run-out to win 8-5 at the end, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Surfers' Watermelon thought the process would be very similar after a close start. What she didn't count on was her scratch allowing the Pilots' Charlton to assemble a six-ball run-out, including a double-pot of the 5 to the bottom side and 13 to the bottom left, to earn an 8-2 win. Charlton's blitz tied the series at 1, setting up a decisive game. In game 3, Charlton built up a large lead without Watermelon keeping up, and while Watermelon made a bit of a rebound, Charlton shut the door on an 8-2 win to take the series 2-1. Charlton will host Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Rosalina. The blue cue is set to finish its Rotation series for the round in this battle to lead off the Wednesday half of the post. Web City's Shadow lacked command on his shots, but Diamond's Rosalina couldn't build on the few instances she had with a lead. Shadow was able to dictate the pace in his 8-5 win, earning a 1-0 series lead with patience. The Spiders' Shadow fell behind early in game 2 to a three-ball run by the Gems' Rosalina, who added more later in the game. Shadow replied with a run to get close, and then pulled ahead on his next turn, only for Rosalina to shut the door with an 8-7 win to tie the series with the last two shots of the game. Game 3 seemed to favor Shadow greatly in the early going, but an odd situation that reset the game after each player illegally potted a ball without the other noticing allowed Rosalina to rip through the finish for the 8-7 win on a three-ball run-out. Rosalina won the series 2-1, and travels to Todavía's Apple Center for her second round series against the Stills' Bells.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Gizmo v. Paps. The silver cue gets a look at 8-ball between these veterans. Central's Gizmo had the edge in a chaotic start to game 1, as neither player showed much respect for their chosen suits. Eastside's Paps eventually broke out on a four-ball run, but Gizmo made the last two shots after Paps missed the 8, giving Gizmo the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Gizmo showed a bit more pace in game 2, but the Sharks' Paps was even better, making sure to complete the game on a four-ball run-out instead of leaving the 8 standing. Paps' more confident finish tied the series at 1. Paps destroyed the rack in game 3, making four balls on the break: the 1 to the bottom left, the 13 to the bottom side, the 15 to the bottom right, and the 8, most importantly, to the top right after a bounce off the 9. Paps' big break was an instant winner, giving him the series at 2-1. Paps will visit the Pilots' A. Charlton in the second round at Golden's Amazon Field Exhibition Hall.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Princess. The red cue is next, playing Accuracy between a good qualifier and a good player. Maplewood's Bryant had a great game 1, exchanging early misses with Tysini's Princess before locking down the game and forcing her to miss the last ball. Bryant tapped the 4 to the bottom side for the 1-2 win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, things seemed to go pretty similarly in regulation until the Lumberjacks' Bryant missed his second shot at the end. The Hummingbirds' Princess forced overtime, but missed on both shots as Bryant took the 3-4 win and the series at 2-0. In game 3, Princess played her strongest game, getting Bryant to squander his early lead and eventually fall 1-3 in the game after a late scratch. Bryant still won the series 2-1, earning the right to host the Victoria Spurs' B. Chapman in the second round at this venue.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Sprinkles. The Rockers captain hosts her youngest daughter in 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Sprinkles pulled off quite the highlight shot in game 1, a 4-5-6 bank combination to the bottom right that sparked a three-ball run. Westside's Misty threatened late, but missed on the 9, and Sprinkles tapped it in for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles didn't look as dominant in game 2, but the Rockers' Misty made little effort to fill the quality void with her shooting. This led to Sprinkles making a three-ball run-out, ending on a bank of the 9 to the bottom side as the best shot of the game and the series clincher. Sprinkles leads 2-0. Misty had a scratch early in game 3, and Sprinkles capitalized on this, bringing the game to a quick end with her six-ball run-out. Sprinkles swept the series 3-0, and will play in the second round at Web City's Home Depot Forum against the Spiders' Dani.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Dustin. The red cue is back now for some 7-ball between these veterans. Central's Dustin had a decent game 1, playing a close battle with Modernistic's Strawberry that wasn't conducive to developing a run. In the end, Dustin made the final two balls with good positioning to earn the 1-0 series lead on his win. The Warriors' Dustin thought he'd have control in game 2, but when he answered a scratch by the Union's Strawberry with one of his own after making the 6, Strawberry was able to take the 7 from ball-in-hand to tie the series on her win. In game 3, the battle was close once again, and it came down to Strawberry missing a tough cut on the 7 toward the bottom side that ended in a scratch. Dustin took the game from ball-in-hand to win the series 2-1. Dustin heads to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center to face the Swifts' captain Patches in a star-filled second round series.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Hoppy. The last series of the split-day is Rotation with the silver cue between a pair of rookies. Stonebridge's Cobalt had a strong start in game 1, making a ball on the break, and he burst out to a nice lead as well. Southern's Hoppy had no answer for it, and Cobalt won with a three-ball run-out to take the game 8-1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt followed the same recipe for success in game 2, blasting a three-ball run off the break to take a nice lead. The Monarchs' Hoppy just didn't have any good shooting chances, save for a pair she made late in the game, and Cobalt closed the door to win 8-2. Cobalt clinched the series at 2-0. Hoppy had a strong performance in game 3, outmaneuvering Cobalt for much of the game to earn the 8-4 win. This made it a 2-1 series, with Cobalt advancing to take on the Pearl Surfers' Boots at this venue in the second round.
We'll be back for a regular and full day tomorrow.
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