We're back for another week of pool action, beginning with...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Leonardo. Today's first series features the silver cue in 9-ball between a pair of familiar foes. Golden's Valencia had the better of play in game 1, although she was far from strong. Midland's Leonardo gave the game away by missing contact on the 8, allowing Valencia to make the last two balls from ball-in-hand for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo had no answer in game 2 either, as the Pilots' Valencia played slow and steady at first before making a six-ball run-out, including a long kick on the 5 to the bottom left, for the win and 2-0 series lead. Leonardo won game 3 in two turns, making two pairs of balls after Valencia struggled. Leonardo's finishing move was a deflection 6-9 combination, with the cue bouncing off the 4 to create the shot at the bottom right. Valencia did win the series 2-1, and will host Harrison Specters sophomore Sydney in the second round at this venue.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Americus v. Stephanie Livilotti. The silver cue remains in play for 10-ball between a veteran and a rookie. Game 1 was a tight battle, as neither player could make three in a row, but only Southridge's Stephanie had an empty turn. Atlantic's Americus seemed to control play late, but bad position on the 10 led to her failed bank shot, and Stephanie tapped it in for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 went at a much more methodical pace, with less short runs and more snookered shots. This ended up favoring the Pirates' Americus, who was able to break free in the end to make the last two shots, winning the game and tying the series at 1 with the Defenders' Stephanie. Game 3 saw Americus have a chance to get the win, but let it slip by choosing the more respectful shot. Stephanie soon answered with a four-ball run, but this gave Americus another direct shot at the 10, which she again missed. Stephanie made it to the top left to earn the win and a 2-1 series win. Stephanie advances to the second round with the play.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Blizzard. The silver cue continues its run in 8-ball. Everton's Blizzard got off to a good start in game 1, shooting well in the early stages. Pearl's Watermelon, while empty on the break, was determined to get back into the game. Blizzard's late struggles allowed Watermelon to surge past her on a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon had a great bank in game 2, leaving the Eagles' Blizzard to make a quick decision. Each player left a run on the table early on, instead choosing short runs. Blizzard nearly plunged into crisis when she missed contact on a kick and then made two balls for Watermelon, but Watermelon gave possession back on her turn with illegal contact. Blizzard iced the game on a three-ball run-out, banking the 8 to the top side for the win to tie the series at 1. Blizzard showed a more ruthless efficiency in game 3, getting a ball on the break and then sparring with Watermelon for a couple of turns before back-to-back three-ball runs to gain the win and a 2-1 series lead. Blizzard will travel to HP Field Events Center in Midland to face the Predators' Fuchsia in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Shaggy. The Knights veteran faces a member of her old team in 10-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Terrace City's Jennifer had a good first half of game 1, but Whitewater's Shaggy charged back with a four-ball run late, only missing on a bank of the 10. Jennifer converted it to the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy had a highlight-laden five-ball run in game 2, double-potting the 1 to the top side and the 7-5 combination to the top right on a deflection, followed by the 6 in the top side and the 9 in the bottom right two shots later. Unfortunately for her, the Knights' Jennifer took over from here with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0 with the sharp counterattack. Jennifer dominated possession in game 3, but to no avail, as her early runs went to waste in a contested finish that saw Shaggy make the 10. Jennifer's 2-1 series is enough for her to host the Eastside Sharks captain Chelsea in the second round at this venue.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Cheddar. The silver cue is back for this series of 12-ball with a rookie and a veteran. North Modernistic's Cheddar needed only a few turns to win game 1, as Oceanside's Dewey had a light offensive effort and made a critical mistake in doubling up at a pocket. Cheddar had a four-ball run early, and then used ball-in-hand after Dewey's mistake for the last two shots to give Cheddar a 1-0 series lead with her win. In game 2, the Waves' Dewey tried a different approach to the game, but he couldn't prolong his runs enough in the early stages. The Nighthawks' Cheddar stayed on pace with him, and had easier shots in the end, getting set up and finishing faster as she won the game and clinched the series at 2-0. Dewey had another good strategy laid out in game 3, but he illegally touched his stick to one of Cheddar's object balls. Cheddar, already having worked on a nice run, made her last three shots over two turns to pick up another win as Dewey stalled. Cheddar heads to GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge to face the Defenders captain Debby in the second round after a 3-0 sweep this time.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Frosty. We've got more silver cue games, as these two veterans square off in 8-ball. Everton's Puff III had a grip on game 1 right from the break, making a five-ball run. Stonebridge's Frosty made it easier by being off-target, and Puff III completed the win with a three-ball run-out two turns later, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Puff III had a good game 2 as well, but it was under significantly more pressure from the Wolves' Frosty, who started the scoring and nearly won as well. Puff III had effective counters, with a five-ball run and a pair of balls before a scratch by Frosty opened the door for Puff III to win and secure the series at 2-0. Puff III found herself even farther behind in game 3 before she flipped the script with a five-ball run followed by a tough three-ball run-out, which nearly ended in a scratch except for the cue rattling out of the bottom side. Puff III swept Frosty 3-0, advancing to host the Lighton Prestige's Twinkie I in the second round at this venue.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Pounce v. Nicole. A new Monarch hosts a former one in this Accuracy series with the silver cue. Capital City's Nicole trailed for most of game 1, but then a miss from Southern's Pounce tied the game. It went to overtime, where Pounce scratched and missed on two turns, taking the 2-3 loss as Nicole converted after his scratch. Nicole leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Nicole tried to play well early on, but fell behind again, only to see the Monarchs' Pounce miss later to tie the game. Things got close in the end, but Nicole was unable to poke the 10 in with defense from the 15, and Pounce took the win 1-2 to tie the series at 1. Nicole had a similar result in game 3, as Pounce fell behind early and then Nicole had a miss to tie it with the shots well lined up. Pounce missed on the second to last ball, and Nicole made a shot to seal her win at 1-2, giving her the 2-1 series win. Nicole travels to GE Stadium Events Center to oppose the Defenders captain Debby in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Dustin. A steady veteran and reigning MVP clash in 12-ball with the blue cue. Commerce's Lionel had a decent start to game 1, but he was unprepared for Central's Dustin picking off the sides so quickly. Lionel worked in the corners, but he didn't have time to get set up when Dustin finished the game, giving Dustin the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Tradewinds' Lionel gave away a wild-card ball to the Warriors' Dustin, but it was Lionel who paced the play until the very end. Lionel lost his grip in set-up work, and Dustin took over with a three-ball run-out, narrowly escaping with the win again to secure the series at 2-0. Lionel dominated in game 3, although he did need quite a bit of time to get in position on his last two shots after a hot start. Dustin was stuck getting defended as Lionel paced the play to his only win of the series. Dustin advances on a 2-1 series win, moving on to Diamond's Intel Center to face the Gems' Citrus in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Kayla. Old faces in new places make up this series of 8-ball with the blue cue. Royal's Kayla had the good start in game 1, making a few shots over two turns before everything fell apart for her. Todavía's Bells charged back with an eight-ball run-out, wiping her suit right off the table to get the win in a big way for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla was well on her way to winning game 2, undaunted from the previous comeback, when the Stills' Bells got going a bit. Kayla showed a bit of worry, but then Bells made the 8 illegally when she tried a combination shot, and Kayla took the win with ease to tie the series at 1. Kayla surged forward with a couple of good runs in game 3 as well, but nearly lost it all when Bells had a three-ball run followed by a four-ball run that saw her leave the 8 at the top right. Kayla tapped in the final shot for the win, taking the series 2-1. Kayla will head to her former home, Ebay Center, to face the Queens Flames' Violetta in the second round in a Castle Derby.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Stripes v. Sugar. The silver cue returns to action in this 10-ball series between veterans. Game 1 saw a lack of distribution of shots, and a lot of back-and-forth play. This was evident at the end, where Terrace City's Stripes potted the 9 but couldn't make the 10, and Harrison's Sugar mopped it up for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar easily dominated in game 2, making two balls on the break, a four-ball run in the middle, and the final two balls after a weak counterattack from the Knights' Stripes. Sugar's dominant play earned her another win and the series at 2-0. Sugar lacked the same authority in her shooting in game 3, but Stripes wasn't all that sharp either, especially when she choked at the end, leaving the 10 standing from short range to give Sugar another win for the 3-0 sweep. Sugar is through to the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Kirstin. We're back with 12-ball and the silver cue again. Pearl's Wings had quite the battle in game 1, but he managed just to hold off Everton's Kirstin in a quick finish, making his final two shots after Kirstin missed contact. Wings leads the series 1-0 with this win. The Eagles' Kirstin had a decent effort in game 2, aided greatly by the wild-card ball the Surfers' Wings surrendered on the break. Wings made an effort to get close, but Kirstin's defense held up long enough for her to pick up the win instead, as Wings never had a clear shot for his final ball. Kirstin's win ties the series at 1. Kirstin made quick work of game 3, making a five-ball run on the break that put Wings into a panic. He didn't shoot his most obvious shot, and Kirstin made the final ball to the top left on her second turn, getting the easy win. Kirstin took the series 2-1, and will visit Volkswagen Stadium Events Center in Viewpoint Sound in the second round to face the Meteors rookie Nibbles.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Pounce v. Easter. A Spanish Derby is next in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southern's Pounce provided the most sustained offense in game 1, with a four-ball run answered by Todavía's Easter with a three-ball run. Pounce then countered with his own three-ball run before making a ball for Easter, who couldn't make another deep run. Pounce won with a strong shot on the 8 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce didn't have an inspiring start to game 2, even letting the Stills' make quite a bit of progress early on. Then, out of nowhere, Pounce made a seven-ball run-out, getting excellent positioning and two good bank shots in to get the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Pounce had a good distribution in game 3, but he almost had too many good options, as he couldn't pick a route to make a run. This opened up the game for Easter, who navigated the sparse defense with a four-ball run-out to nab the win. Pounce still took the series 2-1, and will host his mother, the Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette, in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Dani v. Shannon. The final silver cue 8-ball series of the round is now between these acquaintances. Southern's Shannon had a slow start, and was on the verge of losing when Web City's Dani plateaued late in game 1. Shannon kept a steady shot, and pulled herself level before grabbing the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Dani did excellently in game 2, undeterred by the disappointment of the previous game. The Monarchs' Shannon did well at the start, but she couldn't hold Dani back, as Dani rallied on a five-ball run-out to pick up the win. Dani's win tied the series at 1, setting up a decisive final game. In game 3, things went very similarly to game 1. Dani got off to a hot start, and nearly made the 8 at the bottom left at one point, but she would take the loss as Shannon rallied furiously with a five-ball run-out to earn the win. Shannon took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round, where she heads to Central's Nestle's Warriors Hall to meet the Warriors rookie Mario.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Peach. A veteran and a rookie meet in 12-ball with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Peach showed great appreciation for Boston's Sweetheart giving away a wild-card ball on the break, using two hots turns to get the win. The first made a pair of balls, and when Sweetheart started to get close again, Peach rallied with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 took a bit of effort on both sides to get through, mostly because of the Nighthawks' Peach scratching on the break. The Swifts' Sweetheart got through the game the best, but it was even at the end with each player needing a side pocket. Peach tried a sharp cut and missed, and two turns later, Sweetheart had the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a gritty battle, as both players struggled with positioning and defense. Peach just barely outlasted Sweetheart at the end, making her final two shots to gain the win. Peach won the series 2-1, and will travel to Subway Arena in Stonebridge to face the Wolves' Frosty in the second round.
That will be all for today. We will continue tomorrow, potentially with bonus series again if timing lines up right.
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