I have hope to complete a full day of games today, but fatigue may get in the way. Nonetheless, we begin with...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Gizmo. The silver cue gets us going in Rotation today, with the chance of a kill on the horizon. Freedom's Jasmine had a bouncing break in game 1, but that was the extent of her positive shooting. Central's Gizmo slowly chipped his way to an 8-2 win, facing little resistance from Jasmine as Gizmo takes the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't go as well for the Warriors' Gizmo, as he didn't shoot as well and the Cascades' Jasmine stole his role of making a handful of shots scattered over her turns. Gizmo was really doomed when he was hit with an illegal use of the stick foul, paving Jasmine's route to an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. Jasmine had a slow first turn in game 3, but Gizmo couldn't score, and Jasmine burst forward with a five-ball run to get the big lead. Jasmine eventually shut the game down at 8-3, winning for a 2-1 series win. Jasmine will host her Cascades teammate Roxy in the second round. Jasmine also recorded her first kill of the year, while Gizmo is the fifth player eliminated.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Bright. The silver cue remains in action for 8-ball between these fiery veterans. Lighton's Acorn had a rough start to game 1, allowing North Modernistic's Bright to make an early impact. Acorn answered with a four-ball run later, and followed that with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead, leaving Bright in the early hole. The Prestige's Acorn had to play from behind for much of game 2, as the Nighthawks' Bright lined up a five-ball run early on and paced himself from there. Acorn made it close with a four-ball run, but Bright took care of the game to get a win and tie the series at 1 before Acorn could make a supporting run. Bright started game 3 with an early four-ball run, which proved to be no match for a late five-ball run that got Acorn back in the game. Acorn held on in the end, making the last two shots for the win and a 2-1 series win. Acorn will host the Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno in the second round at this venue.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Ice Cream v. Chelsea. These two veterans are set to play 10-ball with the red cue. Eastside's Chelsea came out on the right side of a quick and competitive game, as each player made a couple of short runs. Commerce's Ice Cream just happened to leave the 10 in a vulnerable spot, and Chelsea made it with a deflection of the cue off the 8, putting her ahead 1-0 in the series with the win. The Tradewinds' Ice Cream took advantage of shaky shooting in game 2 from the Sharks' Chelsea. Ice Cream had a fair amount of possession, and used it to kick the 8-10 combination to the bottom right, ending another game early as she tied the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 had a defensive start, as neither player wanted to make a mistake but both made multiple misfires. In the end, the chippy runs returned, giving Chelsea the win as Ice Cream missed on the 10. Chelsea's 2-1 series win takes her into the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Kayla. The silver cue is back in action for Rotation between a rookie and a veteran. Royal's Kayla couldn't made a four-ball run at the start of game 1 hold up against a fast counterattack from Oceanside's Dewey, but Kayla did outdo him in the end, making the last two balls to win 8-7 after falling behind. Kayla leads 1-0 in the series. The Waves' Dewey proved a bit more formidable, losing the early game 2 lead to the Crowns' Kayla, but recovering and using short runs and defense to build up his win. Dewey eventually made it official at 8-4 after a failed late counterattack from Kayla. Dewey's win tied the series at 1. Dewey played pretty well in a tough game 3, battling with Kayla throughout the middle of the game before he was able to execute at the end for another 8-4 win. Dewey won the series 2-1, and will host the Diamond Gems captain Smokey in the second round.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Precious. The blue cue gets a look now in Accuracy between a rookie and a captain. Southern's Hoppy played better than the game 1 score indicated, and significantly better than Pronger's Precious, whose late challenge would go to waste. Hoppy won the game 3-5, taking a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Monarchs' Hoppy had some struggles in game 2 as well, but the Tridents' Precious played far worse. Precious had significant trouble getting her shot aligned for most of the game, resulting in Hoppy clinching the series at 2-0 with a 2-7 win. Game 3 started much better than the others, but by the end, Precious had fallen into her familiar pattern of sloppy shooting, while Hoppy locked things down for a 1-4 win to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Hoppy will host Tysini Hummingbirds veteran Brownie in the second round at this venue.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Hughbert v. Lionel. The silver cue gets another look, in 7-ball this time. Southridge's Hughbert dominated game 1 after Commerce's Lionel missed contact with the 1. Hughbert had a six-ball run, just missing the 7 to the top right. Lionel did make the shot on the 7, but scratched, giving Hughbert a well-earned win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lionel had a three-ball run early in game 2 before reaching a point of stagnation with the Defenders' Hughbert. Lionel opened things up when he made the 5-7 combination to the bottom right, and he just avoided a scratch this time to tie the series at 1 with his win. Lionel wasted little time in game 3, earning the win with a seven-ball run-out, never allowed Hughbert to get to the table in the game. Lionel took the series 2-1, earning a trip to face the Diamond Gems captain Smokey at the Intel Center in the second round, a series that has become a nearly annual tradition.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Caitlin. The silver cue stays in play for Accuracy between these big-name opponents. Terrace City's Jennifer managed to force overtime in game 1, after a tight battle between her and Oceanside's Caitlin. On the overtime break, Caitlin came up empty, and Jennifer made a shot to win 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Knights' Jennifer fell behind for much of the game, but managed to trap the Waves' Caitlin into a late miss, forcing overtime again. Jennifer had this overtime break, and she made a ball, which Caitlin answered once but couldn't do twice, dropping another 2-3 result as Jennifer secures the series at 2-0. Caitlin had a much better game 3, although it was too late to help her in the series. Caitlin secured a 1-2 win when Jennifer had a late miss. Jennifer still advances to the second round, where she hosts another personal rival, the Freedom Cascades' Jasmine.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Paps v. Charli XCX. The red cue gets a crack at Accuracy in this series. Tysini's Charli couldn't quite stay perfect in a dominant game 1, but her lucky bounce at the end kept it looking pretty good as she defeated Eastside's Paps 1-3 after the latter had a scratch on the break and never recovered. Charli leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Charli had to fight a bit harder in game 2, as she was actually briefly behind. The Sharks' Paps couldn't hold this lead, and collapsed from here, once again losing 1-3. Charli's win was enough to secure the series for herself at 2-0. Charli kept herself in a very tight game 3, allowing Paps to fall behind when he missed a couple of late shots. Charli again was denied perfection for the game, but she earned the 1-2 win to sweep the series 3-0. Charli will travel to Golden's Amazon Field Exhibition Hall to face the Pilots star Dusty in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Lexi. The red cue remains in action as these inexperienced players meet in 7-ball. Harrison's Lexi had an interesting game 1, chirping at Diamond's Pedey after he tried and missed a 4-7 combination after her scratch. Pedey then scratched on the 6, and Lexi made the final two balls from ball-in-hand to get the win and a 1-0 series lead, with a bit of tension between the players. The Specters' Lexi got more significantly outplayed early in game 2, as the Gems' Pedey made a four-ball run at one point. Pedey couldn't corral the 6, and his second miss on it included illegal contact with the 7. Lexi won with the last two shots to clinch the series at 2-0. Lexi dominated in game 3, including a double-pot of the 1 to the bottom side on a two-rail bank, with the 3 also falling in the bottom left after a deflection. Lexi also made the last two balls after Pedey missed contact on the 6. Lexi swept the series 3-0, and will face the Sharks' Paps at FedEx Arena in Eastside in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Bear. A steady veteran and a captain meet in Accuracy with the silver cue. Swordpoint's Stealth sputtered at times in game 1, giving Whitewater's Bear a chance to keep things close. Bear couldn't hold a lead, which cost him in the end, as his miss on the final ball allowed Stealth to take the 3-4 win and a 1-0 series lead despite his early-game struggles. The Shores' Bear greatly cleaned up his shooting for game 2. The Blades' Stealth had an early miss and that was enough to keep him down until Bear's only miss on the final ball. Bear took the win 1-4, tying the series at 1 with a great outing. Game 3 was far from the stunner in this series, as both players played poorly enough to lose. Stealth was unfortunate to fade earlier, and he couldn't force play against Bear very well, leading Bear to a 4-7 win and 2-1 series win. Bear heads to Web City's Home Depot Forum for a second round series with the Spiders' Shiny.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Ice Cream v. Salmo. Accuracy remains popular today, with the red cue taking another series of it. Commerce's Ice Cream had a strong game 1 appearance, but she couldn't quite match her opponent, as Lighton's Salmo decided to put up a perfect game in his 0-1 win. Salmo leads the series 1-0 with the remarkable effort. The Prestige's Salmo wasn't perfect in game 2, but he did force overtime when the Tradewinds' Ice Cream had a late miss that pulled them even with each other. In overtime, Salmo tried a soft-spin break, which didn't pot anything. He didn't count on Ice Cream making her shot from range for the 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 would also require overtime after a late miss by Ice Cream left the game tied. Ice Cream had the break this time, and she blasted the rack apart to no avail, allowing Salmo to take his pick for the winning shot. He succeeded, winning 3-4 to take the series 2-1. Salmo will travel to Kraft Forum in Royal to take on the Crowns' Jake in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Charli XCX. The final series in 7-ball with the silver cue this round concludes this day of games. Tysini's Charli had the best stretch of play in game 1 with a three-ball run, but she also caused her own loss by missing contact on a kick try at the 7 toward the top side. Westside's Slinks won by making the 7 from ball-in-hand, going ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 also featured the Hummingbirds' Charli breaking out with a run early on, only to go cold for the rest of the game. The Rockers' Slinks eventually carried the game forward, making the final two balls for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Slinks didn't do as well in game 3, but Charli wasn't having a game to brag about until her frustration peaked and saw her make the 2-7 combination to the top right. Charli got a lucky win, but Slinks took the series 2-1, and she will host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the second round.
That's all for today's action. We should be back tomorrow. Do not expect Tournament action over the weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment