UPCL Cricket - Week 24 Part 3

The finale for Week 24 is here. We begin with...

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders and Swifts meet in the opener for this segment, a Second City Derby and a Southeast Divisional that sees both teams wear their third jerseys. Patches had a decent outing going before a mandatory replay came up, which netted just 245 for the Boston captain. Bianca charged back with 1072 for Southridge to lead off the hosts in great form, giving them a big lead. Puff II made a large dent in the deficit with 802 for the Swifts, keeping them competitive for now. Debby replied with 681 for the Defenders, playing strongly to maintain a large lead for the hosts. Gradley had to battle a cluttered pitch for Boston, and he ended at 330 as they couldn't catch up this time. Stephanie chipped another 445 for Southridge, giving their lead a little more strength late in the game. Sweetheart smashed 1262 for the Swifts in a last-ditch effort to save the game, and they forced a response with their final at 2639. Hughbert came up short at 313 for the Defenders, sending them to a loss with 2511. Boston nabbed the win to get to 34-17, while Southridge plummets to 19-30.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs are set to host the Stills for one of the greatest rivalries in the league, the Spanish Derby, a part of the Coastal Divisionals. Easter lined 639 for Todavía at the start of this game, giving the visitors a very solid performance to build upon. Panda answered with 135 for Southern in a poor turn that sees the hosts fall behind quickly. Sierra couldn't get her swing aligned, and she complained about pitch conditions while walking away with a measly 42 for the Stills. Hoppy rallied to cover the deficit for the Monarchs, churning out 624 as her side takes the midgame lead. Sparkles grabbed 244 for Todavía in response, but the visitors are still reeling on the road. Pounce crushed 1341 for Southern, showing no struggles with the environment as the hosts have a likely unstoppable offense for this game. Bells hardly got anywhere with 240, leaving the Stills to take the loss with 1165. Shannon chipped 122 to produce a Monarchs final at 2222 in the rivalry win. Southern rises to 18-23, while Todavía drops to 24-22 with the disappointing road loss.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows play their third of six straight at home in need of a win against a surging Surfers side in the third of a six-game road trip. Watermelon had a bit of a shaky start for Pearl, contributing only 241 on the opening turn. Sally answered with a stronger effort for Archtown, swatting 471 to give the hosts a noticeable lead. Neopolitan did enough to comfortably cover the deficit with 448 for the Surfers, keeping the game close. Sleepy B. replied by nearly doubling the Arrows offense with a sturdy 470 to retain the lead at the midway mark. Boots just barely managed to cover the deficit for Pearl, her 269 leaving them in a vulnerable spot going forward. Ruby did not bend for Archtown, gathering 456 to extend their lead a bit more before the final players take their turns. Wings managed only 280 for the Surfers at the end, sealing their loss at 1238 total. Dusky kept things balanced at the back for the Arrows with her 423, icing their winning total at 1820. Archtown's firm attack leads them back over .500 at 27-26, while Pearl retreats a bit to 22-24.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Waves return from a bye week for the second of their six-game home stand, hosting a struggling Defenders side feeling the fatigue of the season. Bianca lined 687 at the start for Southridge, giving them a sizable lead early in the game. Snuggle got a bit more than half of it back with 384 for Oceanside, but they trail initially in this one. Debby provided a fabulous second attack, blasting 1350 for the Defenders to pad their lead significantly. Caitlin tried to counter for the Waves, but she couldn't do much even while hitting 629 in a strong outing. Stephanie got distracted and fell at 209 for Southridge, but their lead remains firm at this stage of the game. Celestia squandered the chance to make much progress, falling out at 288 for Oceanside as they remain far behind. Hughbert tacked on 375 to give the Defenders a final of 2621, which they expect will hold up for the win. Dewey put in a decent effort with 488 for the Waves, but they still took the loss on a total of 1789. Southridge's fortunate win gets them to 20-30 on the year, while Oceanside drops to 24-27.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders complete their doubleheader at home, meeting the first-place Blades in the fourth of their six-game road trip. Snowball took an early stumble for Swordpoint, exiting the game with only 112 after an errant hit brought her turn to an early end. Bianca didn't break out very well for Southridge, playing a bit patiently while score 343 on the opening turn. Dreamy answered with 482 for the Blades, covering the deficit with a strong, yet simple, counterattack. Debby topped that with 521 for the Defenders, regaining a slightly stronger lead for the hosts. Bandit hurt the Swordpoint comeback attempt when he got knocked out at just a meager 82, a poor turn from the rookie at a bad time. Stephanie went big in response for Southridge, belting 1170 to extend their lead to likely untouchable heights. Stealth tried to rally for the Blades, but he stopped at 486 and the visitors took a brutal loss with 1162. Hughbert gathered in 603 for the Defenders, closing their win at 2637. Southridge is embracing a role as a spoiler, going to 21-30 now, while Swordpoint sinks to 38-19 in a three-way tie for first place.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds get another chance to move up the standings, facing a Crowns side all but officially eliminated from contention. Nightfur got off to a pretty good start for Royal, dropping 602 to give the visitors a statement performance. Tigerette failed to cover the deficit for Commerce, starting slowly and ending up at a middling 246 by the end of her turn. Jake had a shaky start, with slow reaction times and a desperate backhand paving the way to a smooth finish at 670, padding the Crowns lead nicely. Ice Cream almost finished off the initial deficit with her 355, but the Tradewinds are falling farther behind. Kayla left the door open a bit by hitting only 128 for Royal, destabilizing their previously strong lead. Lionel made a deep cut into the deficit with his 560, getting Commerce close with a player each to go. Hannah didn't get much better for the Crowns with 185, leaving them at 1585 total, a slightly vulnerable mark. Lorde couldn't complete the comeback for the Tradewinds, and they lost with 1290 after she hit 129. Royal continues to hold onto 35th place, going to 14-31, while Commerce drops down to 21-29 with the loss.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators have quite the challenge on their hands when the Volcanoes begin a two-game tour against expansion sides as they aim for first place overall. Starlight had a noticeable struggle to raise her pace, scattering 288 for Pacific in a bit of a disappointing opening turn. Shawn drilled 611 for Midland with authority, giving the hosts a decent initial lead. Ms. Kitty shot back with 735 for the Volcanoes, covering the deficit with her good performance. Rainmane mitigated the damage as well as she could with 637 for the Predators, restoring a slightly smaller lead this time. Leonette couldn't keep her swing down for Pacific, wasting the chance to pull her team ahead as she hit a measly 49. Leonardo hauled in another 466 for Midland on his turn, extending their lead once more in a positive game so far. Chicky Phil had only 117 for the Volcanoes at the end of the game, sealing their loss at 1189 as their road troubles persist. Fuchsia went for the quick finish, grabbing 112 to give the Predators 1826 in the win. Midland is showing their strength in getting to 31-20, while Pacific drops out of the tie for first and down to 32-17 in third place.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves try to snap a four-game home losing streak when they host a Warriors side beginning to fade a bit in their road games. Twilight seemed to break her road slump in a big way, crashing her way to 562 with a good pace to set Central up well early on. Juno couldn't quite catch up, but she posted 431 for Stonebridge to make it close at first. Dustin showed his skill and composure amid a nervy start for the Warriors, using backhands and double-hits to score 503. Frosty also started slow, but the Wolves veteran never recovered in pace, falling at 231 as the deficit grows. Mario hit another 421 for Central on his turn, padding their lead a bit more as they try to pull farther ahead. Cobalt hit 404 for Stonebridge in a reasonably good effort, but they remain far behind with a player each to go. Gizmo hit 311 for the Warriors at the end, giving them a final of 1797 that should hold up. Prism tried to rally with 495 for the Wolves, but she came up short as the hosts finished their loss at 1561. Central rises to 31-16, returning to third place, while Stonebridge drops down to 18-28.

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents put a five-game home winning streak on the line against the Blades, who play their fifth in a six-game road trip that has mistreated them so far. Snowball showed a bit more weariness for Swordpoint, taking only 208 in a poor first turn. Precious took an optional replay after a technical error, and turned it into 305 for Pronger, good for a modest lead. Dreamy ignited the Blades offense with a huge 1844, slugging them into a massive lead. Zach tried to make a counterattack for the Tridents, but lost control at 682, barely denting the big deficit. Bandit tacked on another 529 for Swordpoint with his strong turn, padding their lead nicely. Spot couldn't even keep pace with that damage, exiting the game with 432 as Pronger continues to struggle in this one. Stealth had only 45 for the Blades, but with their strong lead, it should work, as the visitors close with 2626. Potter got blitzed right near the start of his turn, causing him to bow out with only 53 for the Tridents, who lost with a total of 1472. Swordpoint reclaims first place for another week at 39-19, while Pronger is 25-20 on the year.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs may have trouble extending their recent home success, as the Pirates look to close their four-game road trip in good form. Atlantic started off furious, as their captain Delila was ruled out in a controversial decision that ended her turn at 36. Panda didn't mean to keep it close, but the Southern captain let a ball go over his bat, ending his turn at just 44. Isabella put up a more respectable 368 for the Pirates on the second attack to give them a lead. Hoppy put the Monarchs way ahead by ripping 1029 on her turn, giving them a large lead at the halfway mark. Americus tried to pull Atlantic back into the game, but her 503 didn't cover the deficit. Pounce supplemented the Southern offense quite well with 694 on his turn, securing their lead a bit more. Klaus lined 582 for the Pirates, but it wasn't enough to avoid taking the loss at 1489 overall for the visitors. Shannon iced the Monarchs win with another 538, giving them a final of 2305. Southern worked hard and got rewarded, going to 19-23, while Atlantic falls back to 31-23 with the unexpected loss.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters come out of a bye week with the hopes of better luck as they host the Defenders in their first of a three-game road trip. Bianca put in a solid shift for Southridge, leading off with 400 points on the first turn of the game. Harrison couldn't keep up initially, as Sydney hit only 128 at the start, putting them behind after the first turn. Debby added on pretty well with 527 for the Defenders, padding their lead quite a bit. Twinkie II mixed things up a bit, striking 784 to get the Specters within striking distance at the midway mark of the game. Stephanie tried to get crafty with a backhand for Southridge, but the play backfired and she had 455 to boost their lead a bit. Lexi put Harrison ahead, slapping 550 for the hosts to give them the late advantage. Hughbert didn't get much on his turn with 135 for the Defenders, leaving them vulnerable at 1517 overall. Sugar did enough with 256 for the Specters, carrying them to a win with 1718 total. Harrison's win gets them up to 19-30, closing the gap on the now 21-31 Southridge side.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns hope they can keep up their good efforts, while the Tridents are looking to bounce back from a loss as they open a three-game road trip. Precious went at a very crisp pace for Pronger, batting 697 to get them in an advantageous position. Nightfur had a similar burst of scoring for Royal, riding a fruitful groove to 587 to keep things close early on. Zach answered back for the Tridents with another firm outing, hitting 496 to keep their lead steady. Jake was the first player in the game to truly stumble, leaving at 240 as the Crowns are now distinctly behind. Spot didn't have the greatest pace for Pronger, but he lasted a fairly long time, enough to score 579 to pad the lead for the visitors. Kayla tried to keep Royal in the fight, gaining a bit of ground with her 659 to set up a somewhat close finish. Spot tacked on 449 at the end for the Tridents, bringing their final score to 2221. Hannah had only 124 for the Crowns at the end, giving them 1610 in the loss. Pronger's big win takes them to 26-20, while Royal slips back to 14-32.

That's all for cricket from week 24. We may begin Week 25 live on Twitter @UnitedPCL tonight, but if not, Sunday would be the earliest day for the new week to begin. Pool returns on Monday.

UPCL Cricket - Week 24 Part 2

We're right back in action for the middle segment of week 24. We begin in...

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The expansion Wolves are set to host last year's expansion team, the Knights, in the start of this segment. Kiwi allowed a ball to skip over the handle of her bat, and it took out her wicket while she had only 198 for Terrace City in a slow start. Juno had a high pace early on, but faltered near the end before finishing with 324 for Stonebridge. Jennifer never let her pace waver for the Knights, closing at 476 to give them a more respectable second attack. Frosty replied with 440 for the Wolves, doing well to maintain most of their leading margin. Oreo overcome a bit of a slow start for Terrace City to pick up 511 and cover the deficit. Cobalt couldn't correct his recent home struggles, actually seeing them worsen as he hit just 130 for Stonebridge, putting them behind. Stripes didn't lock the game down by any means with 176 for the Knights, leaving them at 1361, a vulnerable mark. Prism put in a good rally with 439 for the Wolves, but they came up short at 1333. Terrace City is lucky to escape with the win, going to 30-21, while Stonebridge drops to 18-27.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors come in reeling at home, but the Blades haven't been so hot on the road as these two titans clash. Snowball blasted her way to 1139 for Swordpoint, going with an incredible pace throughout her turn to set the tone for the game. Twilight kept the game close, firing back with 1051 for Central in a remarkable response. Dreamy couldn't fully break her road slump for the Blades, crashing out at 240 in a middling turn. Dustin punished the moment of weakness by striking 542 for the Warriors to put them ahead at the halfway mark. Bandit further cratered for Swordpoint, hitting a meek 112, which was not enough to cover the deficit this time. Mario didn't allow Central to pull away freely, putting up a poor 144 as each team's offense has slowed. Stealth tried a backhand play in desperation for the Blades, but it failed him at 399, and he put the team at a total of 1890. Gizmo swatted 560 for the Warriors at the end, giving them the win with 2297. Central rises again to 30-15, while Swordpoint is down to 37-18 with the fatigue-fueled loss.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills wrap up their four-game home stand by hosting the Torpedoes, who close a two-game swing along the coast. Smudge was quickly forced onto her backhand for Infinity, but it went out of play and she scored a meager 46. Easter could have gotten more than 539 for Todavía, but she just tipped a ball behind her that ended her turn earlier than expected. Solaris had a short turn for the Torpedoes, ending with 295 after a misplaced swing. Sierra earned a bit more for the Stills, breaking her recent home slump by hitting 439 to pad the lead. Whiskers tried to keep Infinity in the battle, ripping 554 to shrink the deficit. Sparkles tried to hold it off for Todavía with 285, but their lead has shrunk as the final players prepare to take their turns. Mr. Snowman went huge for the Torpedoes with 941, giving them a chance at winning as they close with 1836 overall. Bells faded out at 194 for the Stills in the end, sealing their loss at 1457. Infinity's big comeback gets them to 26-19, while Todavía is in a class of their own at 24-20.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames have a tough task ahead, facing a Rockers team that wants to get back in the mix for the top tier. Misty attacked with pace for Westside at first, but she couldn't sustain her play and fell with 305 before too much time had passed. Crystal fired back with 918 for Queens in a massive performance to give the hosts a very strong lead initially. Goatee couldn't maintain the appropriate swinging posture for the Rockers, bailing at a weak 159 as they remain behind. Paige didn't do much better for the Flames, hitting 200 to maintain their lead at the midway point. Midnight couldn't conjure up a rally for Westside either, ending with only 178 in a halfhearted turn. Violetta shored up the Queens lead quite well, drilling 655 to give them a more confident lead late in the game. Slinks could only watch as a deflection got behind her and went out of bounds, cutting her off at 388 as the Rockers lose with 1030 total. Max didn't put too much effort in at the end for the Flames, closing at 102 to give them 1875 total. Queens' big win takes them to 26-19, while Westside drops to 33-19 with another tough loss.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks try to break a 15-game losing streak at home in the fifth of a six-game stay, while the Gems play the second of a three-game road trip. Smokey put Diamond well ahead with 587 right at the start, keeping the pressure on the hosts at first. Fluffina bobbled a few swings before ending at a mediocre 253 for Maplewood on the first turn. Citrus clobbered another 684 for the Gems on her turn, padding their lead by a significant margin with the performance. Diddley had to deal with a deflection, but his recovery swing hit a ball into his wicket, ending his effort at 218 for the Lumberjacks. Pedey hauled in 648 for the Diamond in another spectacular turn for the visitors in this game. Bryant hit 409 for Maplewood in a reasonably good appearance, but they remain in a deep deficit. Rosalina posted 587 more for the Gems at the end, icing their furious offense at 2506 in what should be a big win. Her friend, Waluigi, had only 9 for the Lumberjacks in a brutal loss that sees them end at 889. Diamond avoids falling any farther by going to 18-37, while Maplewood is 14-34 on the year with a 16th home loss in a row.

Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: The Torpedoes begin a three-game home stand against the Warriors, who hope their four-game road trip will begin with them taking first place. Twilight couldn't shake her recent road struggles, falling with 186 for Central in a poor outing. Smudge didn't let up at all for Infinity, cranking out 777 to give them a good lead initially. Dustin couldn't cover the deficit for the Warriors, gathering 351 in a decent performance. Solaris faltered with a deflection early in his turn for the Torpedoes, giving them just 64 as their lead weakens at the midway mark. Mario capitalized with 759 for Central on his turn, covering the deficit and then some with the stunning burst. Whiskers shot back with pace for Infinity, scrabbling her way to 787 to restore the hosts' lead late in the game. Gizmo couldn't get his game together, ending on a poor 69 as the Warriors lost with 1365. Mr. Snowman tapped 295 to give the Torpedoes their winning total of 1923. Infinity cruises their way to a 27-19 record, while Central drops off at 30-16.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores come off a bye week to host the Blades, who would put the league lead up for grabs if they lose this game, their third of a six-game road trip. Snowball led off with a firm 815 for Swordpoint, a great performance from the visiting captain. Bear couldn't keep his swing under control for Whitewater, falling quickly at 199. Dreamy returned to positive form for the Blades, slicing 743 in a triumphant outing. Twinkie III charged forward well for the Shores, picking up 617 to get them a bit closer at the halfway mark of the game. Bandit supplied Swordpoint with another 458, keeping their lead fairly steady with his good appearance. Marsell cancelled that out with 487 for Whitewater, but they remain far behind with a player each to go. Stealth played a solid backhand on one swing, but the next ball hopped over his bat and set him down with 250, giving the Blades 2266 total. Shaggy couldn't pick up the slack for the Shores, ending at 274 to give them a losing total of 1577. Swordpoint rises to 38-18, while Whitewater falls back to 21-15.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades begin a six-game home stand with bleak hopes for their season, while the Hummingbirds begin a doubleheader here. Princess can't figure out her scoring problems on the road for Tysini, exiting this game with a poor score of 66. Jasmine bashed 874 in response for Freedom, giving them a huge lead after the first turn. Leandra worked on assembling a decent turn, but she got stalled at 324 when a ball deflected off her bat handle and out of play, hurting the Hummingbirds comeback. Stinky did well to extend the Cascades lead, carving out 666 on his turn. Charli tried to start a rally for Tysini, and she made good progress by scoring 577, but they remain far behind. Roxy patched up the offense for Freedom with 378, keeping them in control of the game before the final players take their turns. Brownie hauled in 650 for the Hummingbirds, but this wasn't enough, and they took the loss at 1617. Nikolai avoided complacency, attacking with 562 for the Cascades to give them 2480 overall. Freedom's big win gets them to 14-28, while Tysini slides back to 17-24.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds end their doubleheader at home, where the Arrows await them to start their own tripleheader. Sally wasted no time in establishing the Archtown attack with her 624, giving them a solid lead at the start of the game. Princess' slump has now reached her home stadium, as she scored only 39 in a pitiful start for Tysini this time. Sleepy B. didn't do that well for the Arrows either, producing a meager 82 in an abbreviated turn that frustrated the veteran. Leandra had some initial struggles with pace for the Hummingbirds, but she chopped 567 to get them close at the halfway mark. Ruby hit 383 for Archtown in response, maintaining a smaller lead for her team this time. Charli slipped a bit at 256 for Tysini, suffering a slight distraction that caused the hosts to fall farther behind. Dusky got beat by a deflection on her turn, ending at 204 for the Arrows to produce their final score of 1293. Brownie rallied the Hummingbirds to the win with 520, giving them 1382 in the comeback against her sister's team. Tysini splits the season series to get to 18-24, while Archtown slides to 25-25 with the tough road loss.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The middle game of the Arrows tripleheader begins a six-game home stand for them, while the Knights wrap up a three-game road trip here. Kiwi's turn was worse than it seemed for Terrace City, as her low pace contributed to a score of 307 at the start. Sally crashed out at 98 for Archtown, one of her worst performances of the season. Jennifer found a productive groove at first, but she faltered near the end of her turn before ending with 384 to lightly pad the Knights lead. Sleepy B. badly misplayed a bounce for the Arrows, which cut her off at a measly 60 in a terrible turn. Oreo provided a much more confident effort for Terrace City, lining 648 to extend their lead significantly. Ruby fired back with 365 for Archtown, a respectable effort, but not enough to cover the deep deficit facing her side. Stripes might have left the door open for the Knights, her 196 leaving them with 1535, although the lead is still strong. Dusky had only 55 for the Arrows, a pathetic effort that left the hosts at 578 in a loss. Terrace City gets the jump to 31-21 on their sixth straight road win, while Archtown is down to 25-26 as a slump has set in a bit.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows try to bounce back against a much weaker opponent to end the tripleheader, while the Gems come in for the end of a three-game road trip. Smokey imposed quite the attack for Diamond, pummeling 879 to give them a remarkable start to the game. Sally made a decent counterattack for Archtown, corralling 544 to shrink the deficit a bit. Citrus nearly pulled off a crisp backhand, but a deflection on the next offering ended her turn just ahead of the play at 222 for the Gems. Sleepy B. cashed in on the mistake, rallying with 809 to give the Arrows the lead at the midway mark. Pedey barely covered the deficit going the other way, contributing 271 for Diamond in a middling performance. Ruby fired back with another nice burst for Archtown, clubbing 679 to pad their lead before the final players come to bat. Rosalina dipped back into poor play, hitting a measly 69 to give the Gems a losing final score of 1441. Dusky tacked on 337 for the Arrows at the end, putting them at 2369 in the win. Archtown gets back to even at 26-26, while Diamond is 18-38 on the year.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights return home to end this segment, while the Stills begin a quick pair of road games as they meet their T-Line Derby rivals. Easter refused to relent for Todavía in a stunning start, smashing 1138 on the opening turn to establish the visitors in a big lead. Kiwi couldn't match her mark's tenacity, chipping 376 for Terrace City in a reasonable outing. Sierra countered with 416 for the Stills, adding modestly to their lead with the effort. Jennifer went on a furious rally for the Knights, clobbering 1301 to take the lead halfway through the game. Sparkles didn't inspire a lot of confidence for Todavía when she added 336 to their score, enough to cover the current deficit. Oreo bashed another 1041 for Terrace City, doing well to set them firmly ahead with the great appearance. Bells melted at 224 for the Stills, leaving them to take the loss at 2114 when it was all over. Stripes tacked on 509 for the Knights at the end to ice their winning score at 3227. Terrace City's big surge gets them to 32-21, while Todavía drops to 24-21 on the year.

That's all for this segment. With personal commitments today and tomorrow, I wouldn't expect the finale of Week 24 until Friday. Week 25 may get underway on Friday, or as late as Monday, when the Tournament returns to action after a two-week break.

UPCL Cricket - Week 24 Part 1

We return to action for what should be a quick Week 24 of cricket as we navigate an unplanned break from pool. I hope to do this week in two calendar days. We begin with...

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills lead off this week at home with the third of four straight in this stand, facing the Spurs, who are desperate to win. Spice couldn't produce as much as she would have liked, ending on 302 for Victoria in an acceptable start to the game. Easter had two false starts before accruing 349 for Todavía, giving them the narrow lead initially. Yekaterina couldn't handle as many deflections on her turn, falling quickly at 256 when one caught her mid-swing, leaving the Spurs in a tough spot. Sierra continues her maddening descent into a slump, hitting a pathetic 12 for the Stills. B. Chapman couldn't do much better, falling with a pitiful 37 for Victoria after a deflection cut her turn short. Sparkles regained a small lead with 322 for Todavía, giving them the edge in this terribly low-scoring battle. Wario finally broke the scoring curse for the Spurs, unleashing 774 to give them 1369 total. Bells broke out as well for the Stills, cranking out 1039 to give them 1722 in the win. Todavía's gritty effort carries them to 24-19, while Victoria drops to 23-28 with their sixth straight road loss.

HP Field, Midland: The current expansion side Predators begin a true home-and-home with the Cascades, with the teams clashing again in five league games. Jasmine drilled 868 for Freedom to start this game favorably for the visiting side. Shawn picked up 344 for Midland in response, putting a minor dent into the deficit. Stinky flipped another 503 for the Cascades on his turn, extending their lead quite well with his performance. Rainmane met that challenge successfully for the Predators, gaining a small amount with her 572 to make the game slightly closer at the halfway mark. Roxy left the door open for Freedom, hitting only 20 as a deflection brought her turn to a rather sudden close. Leonardo pounced on the chance to put Midland ahead, slapping 609 to give them a small lead with a player each to go. Nikolai technically forced a response with 287 for the Cascades, but they finish at 1678, which shouldn't be tough to reach. Fuchsia made it for the Predators with 352, giving them a win on 1877 overall. Midland comes up clutch to get to 29-20, while Freedom falls to 13-26 in a fifth straight road loss.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union and Defenders will wear their thirds in the Metropolis Derby that awaits. Bianca pummeled 580 for Southridge at the start, going at a great pace to help the visitors to a pacey start of the game. Ms. Puppy provided just a bit more for Modernistic, putting them ahead with her 696 in a fierce response. Debby countered with 397 for the Defenders, covering the deficit with a weaker second attack. Daisy made a mess of her turn with only 33 for the Union, keeping them behind at the midway mark after the disappointing effort. Stephanie did not keep the offense high for Southridge, faltering with 235 in a mediocre turn from the rookie. Puff I elected to stay at 392 for Modernistic instead of taking an optional replay, and this made it a closer game with the final players left to bat. Hughbert rallied for 544 for the Defenders before a distraction cut his turn short, leaving the team with 1756 overall. Strawberry couldn't complete the comeback for the Union, ending on 379 as they lose with 1500 total. Southridge steals a game here to get to 19-29, while Modernistic drops off to 20-23.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters need to snap a home-losing streak in the second of a five-game stand, while the Pirates are in the third of four straight on the road. Delila showed excellent pace for Atlantic in the opening attack, rallying for 600 for a great start. Chris fired back with an even 400 for Capital City, keeping them in range but distinctly behind. Isabella chopped back with 647 for the Pirates, giving them an even stronger lead after the second attack. Missy slipped at 312 for the Sharpshooters, putting them at a steeper deficit halfway through the game. Americus provided a steady offensive pressure for Atlantic, batting another 528 to pad the lead. Sprinkles replied with 380 for Capital City, causing them to lose a bit more ground as the game turns into a lost cause. Klaus flirted with danger for much of his turn before bowing out at a pacey 434 for the Pirates, sealing their score at 2209. Nicole had only 37 for the Sharpshooters, leaving them at 1129 in the loss. Atlantic moves up to 31-22, while Capital City's sixth straight home loss has them at 25-26.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union meet the Meteors for a pivotal game in each of their seasons, particularly as the Meteors open a five-game road trip. Mams had a few too many touches when she went to her backhand, eventually flicking that ball up and out to end her turn at 245 for Viewpoint Sound. Ms. Puppy hammered out 915 for Modernistic in response, giving the hosts a massive first lead. Hoot made almost no impact on getting the Meteors getting back into the game, his middling 225 keeping them behind. Daisy kept things steady with her 215 for the Union, maintaining their lead well. Nibbles countered with 335 for Viewpoint Sound, trying to help the visitors turn the game around with the moderate effort. Puff I fought back hard with 821 for Modernistic, adding a substantial amount to their already-strong lead. Dominic managed 328 for the Meteors, but they fell with a total of 1133. Strawberry had a messy game with 143 for the Union, but it iced their win at 2094. Modernistic rebounds to 21-23, while Viewpoint Sound slips to 17-21.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders put their four-game home winning streak on the line in the second of a four-game home stand, while the Warriors have eight-game winning streaks in the division and on the road to gamble in this surprisingly big game. Twilight's turn ended early at 257 for Central after a deflected ball dipped too quickly. Shadow fired back with 548 for Web City, the captain giving the hosts an initial lead. Dustin provided another good coverage performance for the Warriors, pulling them ahead for now with his 595. Ted got a good amount of it back with 450 for the Spiders, but their lead did weaken. Mario tried a backhand flick on his turn, but he couldn't get enough of the ball to save it, and he fell with 361 for Central, who remain in a dangerous spot. Shiny answered with 463 for Web City on her turn, giving them a bit more breathing room with a player each to go. Gizmo got frozen on a deflection that ended his turn at 250 for the Warriors, producing their final of 1463 in a likely loss. Dani confirmed the upset win with 344 for the Spiders, icing their offense at 1805. Web City's fifth straight home win has them at 20-24, while Web City's first division loss drops them to 29-15 overall.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades look for revenge as they return home to face the Predators, who want the season sweep to keep their road form strong. Shawn did well to establish the Midland attack with his 645, giving them a sturdy foundation for this game. Jasmine tried to provide an answer for Freedom, but she only picked up 340 on the opening turn for the hosts. Rainmane countered back with 551 for the Predators, extending their lead quite nicely with the effort. Stinky managed to gain ground anyway for the Cascades, slashing 747 to get them close at the midway mark. Leonardo slipped up with only 169 for Midland, putting their lead in danger with the poor outing. Roxy couldn't attack the mistake, doing even worse herself with just 64 points for Freedom as they fall back again. Fuchsia fell off at 161 for the Predators, giving them a final of 1526 as their offense cratered late. Nikolai did no better with 160 for the Cascades, leaving them at a loss with 1311. Midland sneaks away with the win to go to 30-20, while Freedom is now down to 13-27 after suffering the sweep.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts play the second of a four-game home stand against the Cascades, who are in a one-off road game to end their doubleheader. Jasmine scored 416 for Freedom at the start, giving them a decent lead at the start. Patches crushed 1009 for Boston to answer that attack, giving the hosts a large lead instead. Stinky ripped 611 for the Cascades, doing enough for them to cover the deficit even if by only a marginal amount. Puff II remained even better, smashing 674 on her turn to pad the Swifts lead a bit more halfway through the high-scoring game. Roxy got nearly every point back with 673 for Freedom, once again covering the deficit by a thin margin. Boston reclaimed the lead on Gradley's 209, but their advantage is much smaller before the final players take their turns. Nikolai made a charge with 217 for the Cascades, giving them 1917 and forcing a small response from the hosts. Sweetheart churned out 759 for the Swifts at the end, icing their win at 2651. Boston rises to second place alone at 33-16, while Freedom's sixth straight road loss sinks them to 13-28 in a frustrating week so far.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks open a three-game home stand against the Hummingbirds in the first game of their road doubleheader. Princess unintentionally pulled out of a backhand play, falling at 129 for Tysini as the offering took her wicket promptly. Peach looked to have the pace for North Modernistic, but a sky-high hit ended her turn short at 115 in a poor outing. Leandra had a far more respectable 624 for the Hummingbirds on the second attack that will pace their game. Luigi saw his swing split between forehand and backhand, and he fell on a meager 96 as the Nighthawks now trail significantly. Charli blasted another 766 for Tysini to pad their lead quite nicely in what's becoming a blowout. Cheddar tried to provide a pacey attack for North Modernistic, but she fell early at 416, allowing the deficit to grow again. Brownie picked up another 436 for the Hummingbirds, bringing their total to 1955 for the final. Bright made a little progress against his former team, but his 466 left the Nighthawks in a loss with 1093. Tysini's surprising win carries them to 17-22, while North Modernistic is 26-25.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows look to get around the Hummingbirds' most recent opponent if they can beat their visitors, who complete a doubleheader here. Tysini's Princess put up another dud effort with a measly 72 to lead off in this game. Sally countered with 447 for Archtown in a stronger turn that sets the hosts ahead. Leandra couldn't provide a bailout for the Hummingbirds this time, falling with only 39 as they lose a lot of ground. Sleepy B. chipped another 217 for the Arrows, maintaining their lead with the middling performance. Charli looked prepared to make a move for Tysini, but a deflection stalled her turn at 207, and they're just holding onto their comeback hopes. Ruby couldn't find her swing after getting hit with a mandatory replay, melting at 28 as the Archtown lead weakens. Brownie at least forced a response from the hosts with her 388 for the Hummingbirds, icing their score at 706. Dusky capped the ugly Arrows win with 237, putting their final score at 929. Archtown rises to 25-24 on the year, while Tysini drops back to 17-23 with the frustrating loss.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters try to end a long home losing streak, while the Surfers play their second of a six-game road trip. Pearl's Watermelon imposed her will quickly in this game with 665, setting a fierce tone. Chris was too slow to adjust to his backhand for Capital City, knocking a ball behind his bat and into his wicket to end at 189. Neopolitan countered with 599 for the Surfers, padding their lead significantly on her strong turn. Missy had quite the turn going for the Sharpshooters, using excellent pace before an awkward hit felled her at 336. Boots pounded 743 for Pearl, giving their lead another extension after the halfway mark. Sprinkles rattled off 950 for Capital City in an appreciable attempt to keep them in the game with a player each to go. Wings didn't go as deep as his teammates, settling for 288 to give the Surfers a final of 2295. Nicole made a hard charge with 566 for the Sharpshooters, but she came up short when they lost with 2041, their seventh straight home loss. Pearl keeps their playoff hopes alive at 22-23, passing the 25-27 Capital City side they just dispatched.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts look to gain on first place as they close a four-game home stand against the Gems, who open a three-game road trip after two weeks off. Smokey played fairly aggressively for Diamond, but a deflection stopped him with only 173 to start the game. Patches belted 1048 for Boston this time around, giving them another dream start to a home game. Citrus fired back at a ridiculous pace for the Gems, accumulating 945, which was enough to cover the deficit. Puff II fought it off with 560 for the Swifts, restoring a smaller lead the second time around. Pedey couldn't cover the deficit for Diamond, doing well by hitting 402 but not well enough. Gradley launched his own counterattack with 529 for Boston, giving them some more room to work with late in the game. Rosalina came out of nowhere with 782 for the Gems, forcing a response from the hosts as the visiting side closes with 2302. Sweetheart couldn't avoid a bad swing early in her turn, ending at 131 to give the Swifts a losing mark of 2268. Diamond's surprise win gets them to 17-37, while Boston falls back to 33-17 with the tight loss.

That's all for this segment. More action tonight on Twitter @UnitedPCL live as we begin the next segment immediately.