Today could be a bigger than normal day. We will definitely do eight series, but we may extend to ten if time and energy permit. We begin with...
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Twilight. Two big-name cats meet in 7-ball with the blue cue in the first series of the day. Central's Twilight had a great response to a three-ball run by Southridge's Bianca in game 1, pulling in a four-ball run-out that gave Twilight the 1-0 series lead with her impressive win. Game 2 took a slower pace on both sides, although the Defenders' Bianca did make a three-ball run at one point. The Warriors' Twilight tried to counter it shot for shot, but missed a kick on the 7, and Bianca tapped it in to win, tying the series at 1. Twilight shot back with a perfect game 3, executing a seven-ball run-out to run the table after Bianca's break came up narrowly empty. Twilight's stretch of shooting regained the series lead for her at 2-1. Twilight sealed the series at 3-1 with a fortunate win in game 4. Bianca had a couple of turns interrupted by errors, and the second time, Twilight made a three-ball run-out to get the clinching win. In game 5, fortune again favored Twilight, as a scratch from Bianca set Twilight up on a four-ball run-out for another win. Twilight advances to the bracket quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win, and she will be hosting that series.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Chris. Two tough and experienced captains clash in this series of 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Chris had a great game 1, making a six-ball run after Maplewood's Fluffina scratched. Chris' game soured on the 7, which eventually Fluffina sank en route to stealing the win on the 9 for a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. In game 2, the Sharpshooters' Chris didn't manufacture a big run like before, but he still seemed to have the pace of play. Nonetheless, the Lumberjacks' Fluffina did enough to make the 9 on her second try for the win to give her a 2-0 series lead. Fluffina dominated in game 3, making a three-ball run from the break and a four-ball run-out in the end to put Chris away for good. Fluffina leads the series at 3-0. Fluffina kept up the dominant play in game 4, making a pair of three-ball runs before Chris interjected to make the 7. Fluffina then made the 8 and 9 when Chris got called for illegal contact on his attempt toward the 8. Chris did enough in game 5 to take the win, making a 2-9 combination to the top side after Fluffina missed on the 1. This made it a 4-1 series win for Fluffina, who is set to host her bracket quarterfinals series.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Valencia. Two feistier opponents meet in Accuracy using the silver cue. Capital City's Missy maintained a good effort for much of game 1, only slipping up a little after halfway. Golden's Valencia was poised to take the game, but two misses gave it away to Missy, whose 1-2 win puts her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Valencia couldn't regain her form in game 2, flailing about for much of the game. This made it a very easy path to victory for the Sharpshooters' Missy, who took the 2-6 win to make it a 2-0 series. Valencia again fell behind in game 3, allowing the deficit to grow a bit too much. Missy had a pair of scratches at one point, but Valencia couldn't do enough to force Missy into one more miss, instead missing herself to drop the game 2-4 as Missy clinched the series at 3-0. Missy and Valencia each saw a drop in the quality of their play in game 4, with Missy just prevailing in the back and forth game by a 5-6 score to make it a 4-0 series lead for herself despite the poor play. Missy made a wonderful effort in game 5, rebounding to get a nice 1-4 win to close out her series sweep at 5-0. Valencia just didn't have her shot together throughout the series, and Missy took advantage. Missy will host a bracket quarterfinals series in the next round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Violetta. The Flames captain plays host to her rookie teammate in this 12-ball series, the red cue's only appearance of the day. Violetta played well under pressure, as she got through her suit faster than Crystal, who had to apply defense late. Violetta gave away a wild-card ball to remove the defense, and won a turn later when Crystal couldn't finish the game. Violetta leads the series 1-0. Violetta was much quicker in game 2, running four balls from the break. Crystal had a couple of empty turns as she tried to counter, but Violetta's third turn saw her last two balls go in, and she won for a 2-0 series lead. Violetta played a bit more recklessly in game 3, pushing herself into a good position on her last ball, but doing so by giving Crystal two wild-card balls. Crystal used the immense flexibility to eventually gain a defensive position on Violetta, and then make her last ball for a much narrower than necessary win to make it a 2-1 series. Game 4 was easily the series' most competitive, with Crystal getting onto her final ball amid Violetta's defensive posture in the middle of the table. Crystal twice missed contact on a set-up shot for her last ball, and Violetta rallied to a five-ball run-out after that from ball-in-hand, securing the series at 3-1. Violetta didn't have the most favorable break in game 5, but she made it work, pulling even with Crystal late in the game. Crystal took on a defensive shape again, but she couldn't hold position, and Violetta made her last two shots to win for a 4-1 series win. Violetta will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Sugar. Sisters who don't typically command the spotlight meet in this Rotation series with the blue cue. Victoria's Spice had an awful break in game 1, but still controlled the early part of the game. This all changed when Harrison's Sugar broke out for a five-ball run. Spice scratched on her next turn, and Sugar ended with an 8-4 to take a surprising 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar took over at the start of game 2, continuing her late dominance, but she slipped near the end of the game. The Spurs' Spice picked up a lot of ground, tying the game, and winning 8-7 when Sugar missed the 15 on a tap-in. Spice made it on her second try to tie the series at 1. Spice kept up the good work with two balls on the break in game 3. Sugar stayed competitive for awhile, but another double-pot of the 5 deflected off the 8 to the top right and the 8 banking to the top side helped Spice get a bigger lead. Sugar stormed back, but Spice won 8-4 on a three-ball run-out, putting her ahead 2-1 in the series. Spice got by with lucky bounces on the break, two double-pots, and a couple of standard shots to win game 4 by an 8-0 score with the run from the break. Sugar never got to shoot, with Spice drilling the 5 to the top right and the 12 to the bottom right for the winning shot, giving Spice a 3-1 series lead. Spice thought game 5 would be easy as well, but Sugar made a respectable four-ball run to tie the game, and then the last two shots for an 8-7 win to make it a 3-2 series. Spice advances to host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Hughbert. A veteran meets a rookie this time in 12-ball, with the blue cue continuing along. Archtown's Sally had good positioning in game 1 despite getting the less-preferred suit on the break. Southridge's Hughbert didn't much care, making a four-ball run and earning position on his last ball before Sally missed contact to gift him the win on a tap-in. Hughbert leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Hughbert started game 2 by giving the Arrows' Sally a wild-card ball to work a run. The game was choppy in the middle until Sally returned the wild-card ball favor. With each player getting flexibility, Sally surrendered her wild-card ball to play positional defense, a strategy that flustered Hughbert long enough for Sally to make her two shots and win, tying the series at 1. Hughbert had a good game 3, but it took awhile to develop. Sally dominated the early going, and after a four-ball run, she was down to her last ball. Sally's mistake was to give away a wild-card ball, which Hughbert used to avoid her defense when he completed a three-ball run-out for the win, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Hughbert had an excellent break in game 4, making two on the break, and then positioning his remaining shots near the pockets he needed. Sally tried to follow suit, but she lost the race when Hughbert made his last four balls in two later turns, clinching the series at 3-1 with his win. Sally charged back after Hughbert got a bad distribution from his break, even spotting him a wild-card ball before making her last two shots to get the win. Hughbert took the series 3-2, advancing to host a bracket quarterfinals series.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Blizzard. The silver cue gets another look in 8-ball for this series. Game 1 played out very evenly, with Midland's Fuchsia and Everton's Blizzard exchanging their shots closely. Blizzard blew open after stalling a bit, making a four-ball run to put Fuchsia on guard, and Blizzard made the 8 on her next shot for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Blizzard showed a more dominant edge in game 2, making a three-ball run on the break. The Predators' Fuchsia pulled back into the game, but her effort didn't sustain, and Blizzard would make a five-ball run-out two turns later for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Blizzard needed only three turns to make magic in game 3, highlighted by the middle five-ball run turn. Fuchsia was able to counter on a three-ball run, but Blizzard had great positioning skill to get onto the 8 and get the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Fuchsia had an excellent start to game 4 with a six-ball run after Blizzard went empty on the break. Blizzard stayed in the game though, as Fuchsia had trouble wrapping it up, and Blizzard struck with a well-played four-ball run-out to nab the win and a 4-0 series lead. Fuchsia didn't let Blizzard catch up in game 5, executing the previous game plan with a bit more urgency as the rookie avoided getting swept in the 4-1 series. Blizzard will be on the road for the bracket quarterfinals after advancing here.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Taylor Swift. The blue cue is back for Accuracy in this series, which might be followed by a break. Eastside's Taylor had a good game 1, dominating to a point until Oceanside's Celestia was on the edge. Taylor let off a bit, but not too much, clamping down for the 2-5 win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharks' Taylor was extremely close to making the middle ball on the break, but that would be the highlight of her game, as she lost her grip on the series through a bad performance. The Waves' Celestia held even until the end, when she pushed Taylor around to win 3-5, tying the series at 1. Celestia used the same strategy to the same result in game 3, keeping pace despite falling behind initially. Taylor couldn't maintain the tie when the game got late, and Celestia made her shots to win 3-5 again, earning a 2-1 series lead with the performance. Celestia couldn't get any traction in game 4 after scratching on the break for the second consecutive game. Taylor was much better, playing perfectly in the 0-4 win to retie the series at 2 and setting up a decisive game. Taylor nearly went back-to-back on the perfect games, but a late miss ruined that dream. Still, Taylor defeated Celestia 1-3 for the 3-2 series win, which probably could have been more favorable to Taylor had she not had that swoon. Taylor will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Hughbert. The blue cue will remain in play after a break, playing 10-ball. Pacific's Leonette had the better of play in game 1, going empty on the break but making a three-ball run-out to support her four-ball run mid-game. Southridge's Hughbert had a couple of good looks, but not enough to prevent Leonette's win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a much improved effort from the Defenders' Hughbert, who had an early four-ball run. The Volcanoes' Leonette replied later with a three-ball run, but it was Hughbert who cost himself the game by missing wide on the 10. Leonette tapped it in for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Leonette clinched the series at 3-0 with a much grittier game 3 win. Neither player was able to develop much of a run in the game, and the 10 required a chase, as Leonette and Hughbert each missed it a few times before Leonette finally corralled it for the win. Leonette had the better of play in game 4 again, but a late three-ball run saw her end on a scratch while making the 9, and this gave Hughbert a gift of a win, as he made the 10 from ball-in-hand to cut the series to 3-1. Leonette had a couple of nice runs again in game 5, including an early four-ball run, but she left the 10 to Hughbert. He tried a bank but left it short at the bottom left, and Leonette tapped it in for the 4-1 series win. Leonette advances to the bracket quarterfinals with a decisive series win.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue gets the last series in this expanded day, playing 10-ball. Freedom's Nikolai had a bad break in game 1, and he never really got his shot calibrated either. Infinity's Mr. Snowman also struggled at the start, but he pulled in a four-ball run-out at the end to pick up the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman decided to abandon the angled break in game 2, shooting head-on with great results. The scatter was nice, and when the Cascades' Nikolai missed the 1, Mr. Snowman got a line on the 1-10 combination to the top right, which he made for the win and the 2-0 series lead. Mr. Snowman put in a dominant effort from start to finish in game 3, making two balls on the break and ending on a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-0 against a frustrated and stubborn Nikolai. Game 4 went much better for Nikolai, as Mr. Snowman couldn't produce much offense after his break. Nikolai filled the void with a pair of three-ball runs, the latter winning the game to cut the series to 3-1. Nikolai continued his surge into game 5 as well, doing well on the break and ending the game on a five-ball run-out to top Mr. Snowman again. The series ended 3-2 for Mr. Snowman, who is into the bracket quarterfinals with the effort.
That's it for this set of games. We'll be back with more tomorrow in a standard 40-game set.
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