Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Frosty v. B. Chapman. The red cue gets the first series today, playing in 10-ball. Stonebridge's Frosty had a few good shots in game 1, but Victoria's Chapman came out of nowhere at the end to pick up the win. Chapman turned in a three-ball run-out, ending on a decoy shot that sent the 5 toward the top side while potting the 10 in the top right for the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Chapman should have had a ball on the game 2 break, but it wouldn't fall, and this changed the game. The Wolves' Frosty experienced quite a bit of frustration with her off-target and low-power shots, and a late scratch gave Chapman the win on a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. Chapman leads the series 2-0. Game 3 was a bit better from competitive quality, as both players made their shots well. Chapman almost got the sweep, but a miss on the 10 at the top right set Frosty up for the one-shot win at the top left. Chapman won the series 2-1, and will visit Ford Forum in Pronger to oppose the Tridents' Potter in the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Taylor Swift. The silver cue makes its start for the day in 12-ball. Victoria's Yekaterina had a good start with a ball on the break, and she got herself into position well in game 1. Eastside's Taylor stayed close, also finding good positions, but she couldn't convert her chances, and Yekaterina won on a three-ball run-out after a minor setback scratch. Yekaterina has a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Taylor had an excellent start to game 2, sketching out her strategy fairly well. She hit a bump when the 4 proved difficult to get to the top side, and a late missed contact opened the door for the surging Spurs' Yekaterina to make her final two balls from ball-in-hand for the win and 2-0 series lead. Yekaterina made a four-ball run on the break in game 3, answered quickly by Taylor's three-ball run. A turn of positioning ensued, and then Yekaterina banked the 5 to the top side and the 4 to the bottom side for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Yekaterina will host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Nicole in a second round Southwestern battle.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Acorn. These two stars are set to clash in 15-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Sierra got a dream start in game 1, making the 15 on the break for the automatic win. The 15 went to the bottom right, while the 13 also fell in the top left, leaving Lighton's Acorn speechless as Sierra takes the 1-0 series lead with the stunning win. Game 2, while not as quick as the first, featured good shooting on both sides. The Stills' Sierra showed her flair for the dramatic with some interesting kicks and combinations, but she also scratched three times. The Prestige's Acorn preferred a possession game, making a couple of nice runs early on. In the end, Sierra settled down to get the win on a three-ball run-out, and she went ahead 2-0 in the series with the effort. Sierra saw her flair stifled very effectively in game 3 by Acorn, who used defensive positioning and opportunistic shooting to stymie Sierra. Acorn then broke free with a seven-ball run-out at the end, making it a 2-1 series win. Sierra will host Southridge Defenders rookie Bianca in the second round at this venue.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Taylor Swift. After lunch, the red cue gets another series in 10-ball. Game 1 saw a big struggle for clear shots on both sides. Pearl's Watermelon ended up on the wrong end of the fight more often than not, and then Eastside's Taylor broke through with a four-ball run-out for the win at the end. Taylor has a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't go all that well for the Sharks' Taylor, as she couldn't control play early on, then gave up a four-ball run to the Surfers' Watermelon. Taylor almost recovered at the end, but her miss on the 10 set Watermelon up for the win. Watermelon tied the series at 1 with the performance. Watermelon came out blazing with a six-ball run in game 3, making the 2 and 9 on the break and the 4 and 7 on a double-pot for the last successful shot. Taylor could have won with the counterattack, but she missed a long shot on the 8, and Watermelon made the final two balls for the win. Watermelon claimed the series at 2-1, and will host the Midland Predators' Shawn in the second round at this venue.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Valencia. Two veterans with reputations as strong players meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. had to weather a five-ball run by Golden's Valencia, which could have been a lot more had she connected on the 8. In the end, Valencia dropped off after the run, and Sleepy B. picked up a tough win for a 1-0 series lead with the last shot. Game 2 did not go as smoothly on either side, as no long runs were able to develop. Many shots resulted in just making contact or playing defense, leaving both sides frustrated by the end. The Arrows' Sleepy B. put things together a bit quicker, dominating the late game portion to top the Pilots' Valencia and clinch the series on a short run to make it 2-0. Game 3 saw a nice return to form for Sleepy B., who made a four-ball run early and kept the pace of play strong late as she and Valencia exchanged short runs. Valencia missed on the 15, and Sleepy B. tapped it in for the win and a 3-0 series sweep, earning the chance to host Northeastern rival Goldy of the Everton Eagles in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Kirstin. The Pirates captain faces the newest member of her old team in 15-ball with the silver cue. Atlantic's Delila controlled a fairly typical game 1 for the early stages, but started to slip a bit late. Everton's Kirstin brought a lot of pressure with a late five-ball run, but she missed the 15 narrowly, and Delila tapped it in to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila dominated in game 2, with a four-ball run early and a three-ball run late, but her attempt to close the game with a bank of the 15 drifted wide at the top left, and the Eagles' Kirstin converted to get the win. Kirstin tied the series at 1 with the lucky win. Game 3 started off fine, but got to be very chippy by the end, with no runs really developing. Kirstin had momentum going into the final surge, but wasted it on soft shots and couldn't bank the 15 into the top right when she had the chance. Delila made the cut for the win and a 2-1 series win, and she will host the Pronger Tridents rookie Potter in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Lexi. The silver cue remains in action for this Northeastern 10-ball series. Everton's Puff III did nearly everything right in game 1, making a ball on the break and potting five of the last six balls, but she was wide on her try at the 10, and Harrison's Lexi swooped in for a vultured win on a tap-in, putting Lexi ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Specters' Lexi pulled more of her own weight in advancing the game along, but the Eagles' Puff III still had a fair amount of offense for herself. Puff III just came up short on the 9 near the end, and Lexi made it and the 10 on not-so-simple shots to pick up the win and a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Lexi had a dominant effort, with nine of the ten balls going down at her doing. She had an early four-ball run, and then a pair of balls that ended with an illegal potting. Puff III took possession, but missed the 7, and Lexi ended on a three-ball run-out for the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep. Lexi heads to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center to visit the Swifts captain Patches.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Smokey. The red cue gets another shot in 15-ball now. Harrison's Sugar had some troubles early on in game 1, but Diamond's Smokey didn't have any advantage through his play. In the late stages, Sugar made a three-ball run and a pair of balls before Smokey got a shot at the 15, which he missed. Sugar closed it out on her second try at the 15, earning the 1-0 series lead with her determined win. The Specters' Sugar kept the pace high in game 2, and the Gems' Smokey was more than happy to be competitive, nearly matching Sugar shot for shot. Both players had a nice run late in the game, but Smokey ended with a miss on the 15 to halt his three-ball stretch, and Sugar got the win on a tap-in to clinch the series at 2-0. Sugar played well in game 3, picking up the majority of the possession and a few short runs, including the three-ball run-out that helped her defeat Smokey one more time in her 3-0 series sweep. Sugar will host the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Watermelon. The red cue ends its 15-ball for the round in this series. Whitewater's Bear made the 5-10-14-12 bank combination to the bottom right in game 1, a big highlight given the odd angles. Pearl's Watermelon stayed competitive after this until the end, where Bear rallied off a four-ball run-out to get the win and a 1-0 series lead in a game he was better in. The Surfers' Watermelon put in a slightly better effort in game 2, gumming up some of the Shores' Bear's runs in the game. Bear couldn't separate himself at the end, and Watermelon closed up her win with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Watermelon and Bear tangled in a very difficult game 3, where defense and offense were exchanged at even. Neither player really made the game easier on themselves, and it took Watermelon finally getting good position to make the 15 at the end for the win and a 2-1 series win. Watermelon will head to Mercedes-Benz Forum in Harrison to face the Specters captain Twinkie II in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Violetta. The silver cue is back for some 10-ball between a veteran and a rookie. Infinity's Whiskers had a good game 1, starting with an early surge before having to weather a bit of a storm from Queens' Violetta near the end. Violetta couldn't complete her run, missing on the 10, and Whiskers made it for a 1-0 series lead for herself. The Torpedoes' Whiskers made two balls on the break, but also scratched, giving the Flames' Violetta a bit of early traction. The game still dragged on at first, but Violetta made a late three-ball run, only missing on the 9. Whiskers capitalized on this mistake to make the final two shots and secure the series for herself at 2-0. Violetta probably deserved the win in game 3 for the six-ball run she made early on, but Whiskers clogged up the process after the 7. Violetta only made the 8-9 combination, and Whiskers answered to take the 8 and the 10 for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Whiskers will host the Southern Monarchs rookie Hoppy in the second round at this venue.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor Swift v. Citrus. Eastern Hills stars go at it in 15-ball with the blue cue, its first series of the day. Eastside's Taylor pulled off an excellent finish to a fast-paced battle in game 1 with Diamond's Citrus. Taylor ran out the final five balls, ending with a bank on the 15 to the bottom side to earn the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was an even battle for both sides. The early going featured a lot of choppy turns, while the Gems' Citrus made a three-ball run later. The Sharks' Taylor made sure to answer with a three-ball run, but left the 15 short at the bottom left, and Citrus tapped it in to earn the win, tying the series at 1, leaving it up to either player to make a decisive effect in game 3. Citrus ended up with the win, but it was far from pretty. Both she and Taylor were fuming by the end, and it took a hard-hit and lucky shot on the 8 that bumped the 15 off the 10 and into the bottom left for Citrus' win. Citrus took the series 2-1, and will face the Harrison Specters' Sydney at Mercedes-Benz Forum in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Ms. Kitty. The two career Volcanoes meet in the silver cue's 10-ball finale for the round. Starlight looked like the clearly better player in game 1, not quite broaching dominance, but certainly dictating play against Ms. Kitty. Starlight had a highlight four-ball run in the middle of the game, and then made the last couple of shots to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. Starlight did reach dominance in game 2, as Ms. Kitty's struggles to make any shot, legal or otherwise, reflected well on her captain. Starlight made a five-ball run at the start and a three-ball run-out to pick up the win late, clinching the series at 2-0. Starlight appeared to be on track to dominate game 3 as well, with an early four-ball run pacing her attack, but she couldn't hold on against a four-ball run-out from Ms. Kitty. Starlight's 2-1 series win gives her a chance to host Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Jennifer Livilotti. It's a last stand for the Waves captain, as 12-ball comes to an end for this round with the silver cue. Terrace City's Jennifer didn't start hot, but a three-ball run and a set-up shot did wonders for her. Oceanside's Snuggle had to remove his defense in hopes of assembling a full run, but he only had three balls, and Jennifer made her last two on the next turn for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Knights' Jennifer made quick work of the game out of necessity, as she gave away two wild-card balls to the Waves' Snuggle. He couldn't convert on his first shot after the second one, and Jennifer made her last two shots with ease for the 2-0 series lead. Jennifer made things tough on herself in game 3, but Snuggle didn't simplify the game, giving back the wild-card ball he received on the break. Jennifer tried to get position, but Snuggle's scratch slowed her down. Eventually, Jennifer did pick up the win just ahead of Snuggle getting in position, good for a 3-0 series sweep. Jennifer will head to Boston's Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center in the second round to face the Swifts' Puff II. Jennifer also has her first kill of the year, as Snuggle is the eighth player out of the tournament.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Ruby. The final series today is Rotation with the red cue between a rookie and a star. Atlantic's Klaus dominated the first half of game 1, building up a nearly insurmountable lead. Archtown's Ruby accepted the challenge, using a three-ball run and four-ball run to tie the game in two turns, only for Klaus to make the 15 for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus didn't leave things for late, building slower with a three-ball run early. The Arrows' Ruby also didn't let herself fall so far behind, keeping close at first. Klaus eventually pulled away on another run, then won 8-4 when Ruby left the 11 short at the bottom side. Klaus earned the series at 2-0. Klaus pulled off a remarkable game 3, building his lead as he likes to do, then waiting a bit. Ruby couldn't catch him, so Klaus was off to the races with a four-ball run-out for the 8-1 win. Klaus swept Ruby 3-0, and he will host B. Chapman of the Victoria Spurs in the second round.
That's it for today in Tournament play. Some Cricket will be played tonight, although I doubt a post will get up. Follow along live on Twitter
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