We're back for a new day of games. We intend to play 40 games, but there's a chance it could become 50 if time and quality permit. First up...
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Puff I. The silver cue is in line for the first, and maybe its only series today in 15-ball. Maplewood's Bryant was happy with his break, and he shot well early in the game, but he did fade toward the end. Modernistic's Puff I struggled early, then surged at the end for the win, playing even to Bryant but taking the 1-0 series lead over him. Game 2 mirrored the first, with the Union's Puff I breaking out at a dominant pace to start the game. Closer to the end, she started to falter, and the Lumberjacks' Bryant took advantage with a three-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Bryant executed a surprising trick shot in game 3, holding even in play until he deflected the 4 into the 15, which banked to the top left diagonally, stunning Puff I. Bryant's quick and tricky win gives him a 2-1 series lead. Bryant and Puff I had a crazy start in game 4, with Puff I running five balls only to be answered on a four-ball run from Bryant. They settled down after this, exchanging single shots until Puff I made the last two balls to win and tie the series again at 2. Puff I pulled in an excellent effort in game 5, allowing Bryant to work well at the start before Puff I shut the game down late for the win and a 3-2 series win. Puff I will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Lionel: A rookie and a veteran will meet in 9-ball with the blue cue for this series. Commerce's Lionel had a slight edge in game 1, which proved to be a challenge as both players struggled with possession. Atlantic's Klaus did make a nice kick on the 7 to the top side, but Lionel potted the 9 for a gritty win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lionel dominated in game 2, making five balls over two turns before committing a critical mistake. His attempt at the 7-9 combination to the top left was errant, and allowed the Pirates' Klaus to tap the 7 in before making the 8-9 combination to the top side. Klaus' win tied the series at 1. Lionel didn't seem to want the win in game 3, making an early three-ball run but proving unable to produce after that. Klaus had his share of struggles throughout the game, but he made the last two balls after Lionel scratched on the 8, giving Klaus the 2-1 lead in the series. Lionel dominated possession in game 4 as well, making an early three-ball run and a four-ball run late in the game that ended with the 9 on the edge of the bottom right. Klaus made the tap-in for the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Klaus had a better game in shooting terms in game 5, making a four-ball run, which was quickly answered by Lionel's three-ball run-out for the win. Klaus takes the series at 3-2, and he will host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Goldy. Two talented veterans tangle in a Northeastern battle in 15-ball with the red cue. Everton's Goldy did not make game 1 easy on herself, giving up a lot of possession in the middle of the game. Archtown's Sleepy B. eventually made a three-ball run, but Goldy still had a chance to win that went to waste. Sleepy B. tapped the 15 in for the win and a 1-0 series lead in the messy game. Game 2 went much better for the Eagles' Goldy, as another slow start gave way to a five-ball run. Still, when it came time to strike the 15, she left it wide of the bottom right, and the Arrows' Sleepy B. survived being outplayed with a tap-in for the win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw a more balanced attack for each side, matching each others' shots fairly evenly. In the end, Sleepy B. had a four-ball run that ended with a kick on the 13 that didn't fall. Goldy replied on a three-ball run-out for the win, making it a 2-1 series. Game 4 had a very ugly start to things, with the struggles beginning around the 2. Things cleared up later in the game, thanks to Sleepy B. assembling a couple of runs, including her three-ball run-out that ended with a bank of the 15 to the bottom side. This gave her the win and a 3-1 series lead to clinch advancement over Goldy. Game 5 saw a better effort for both players, but Goldy still lacked her usual command. Sleepy B. continued to take advantage of Goldy's weakness, making a three-ball run-out to cap the successful game and 4-1 series. Sleepy B. will be hosting a bracket quarterfinals series.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Ted. An experienced veteran takes on a rookie in more 15-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had very few problems in game 1, easily working around Web City's Ted. Ms. Kitty had a five-ball run followed by a three-ball run late, but she missed the 15 multiple times, and Ted eventually stole the win away for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted continued to bleed possession to the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty early in game 2, as the host scored a five-ball run early on. Ted countered late with a five-ball run, and then the last two balls on the next turn when Ms. Kitty stumbled. Ted did his part in earning this win, going ahead 2-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty, desperate to save her series in game 3, pulled off a remarkable 4-15 combination through traffic to get the early win, stunning Ted. Ms. Kitty's wonder shot cut the series to 2-1 in the short game. Ms. Kitty kept game 4 short as well, controlling possession for the early portion until she converted the 2-15 bank combination to the top right for the win. With two stunners in a row, Ms. Kitty has tied the series at 2, once again putting Ted under pressure. Game 5 showed the tension between the two players. Each ended a three-ball run with a scratch, but the decisive moment was Ted's miss on the 14 on a kick. Ms. Kitty tapped it in and sank the 15 as well, winning the series 3-2 in a stunning comeback. Ms. Kitty moves on to the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Starlight. The rookie faces his own captain's sister in Accuracy with the red cue. Pacific's Starlight had a good first game early on, holding off Central's Mario when he made a couple of mistakes. Starlight began to slip late the in the game, but Mario couldn't hold on either, and Starlight took the 3-4 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mario showed a ton of improvement in game 2, and it helped quite a bit that the Volcanoes' Starlight made a mess of the game, missing shots from all ranges. Mario took the 2-6 win without much challenge, tying the series at 1. Starlight played game 3 to near-perfection, while Mario was doomed from the start when his shatter-break resulted in a scratch. Mario would scratch again later, en route to Starlight winning 1-4, with her only miss a light shot at the end of the game that came up short. Starlight retakes the series lead at 2-1. Starlight had an atrocious game, but the start didn't suggest she would be on the losing end, as Mario trailed for the first half of the game. Starlight fell apart in the second half, and Mario had enough shots to win 4-7, tying the series again at 2. Game 5 lived up to the legacy of the series itself, a close affair that saw Starlight waste a late lead to push the game into overtime. Mario had the overtime break and missed, but well enough to block Starlight. About halfway through the extra rack, Mario tripped up and Starlight won 4-5 to take the series 3-2. Starlight will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Bright. The two old brothers meet again for 9-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Wings had a strong game 1, making a pair of balls on the break to set a fast tone for the game. North Modernistic's Bright made a couple of shots, but couldn't do anything about a tough 6-9 combination that Wings converted to the bottom side to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings had a less dominant edge in game 2, but still did well enough to keep the Nighthawks' Bright at bay. Wings scattered his shots early, but Bright couldn't pick up the slack, and Wings cut the 9 to the top side for the win in the end, making it a 2-0 series. Wings was pretty close to dominant in game 3, but one mistake would cost him the game. Wings was on a three-ball run late, but he left the 9 short at the bottom right, allowing Bright to nab the win on a tap-in to cut the series to 2-1. Bright blossomed a bit in game 4, making a four-ball run that ended as he expected it would, with a scratch after a risky shot on the 8. Wings, who hadn't had a great game, made the 9 from ball-in-hand to seal the series at 3-1 with his win. Wings controlled the early part of game 5, but allowed a three-ball run near the end to Bright, who once again left the 9 standing. Wings made his tap-in for the win, taking the series 4-1, and Wings will travel for his bracket quarterfinals series.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Nikolai. The red cue remains in action for this 9-ball series between stars of varying skill levels. Web City's Shadow made two balls on the break and added a three-ball run later, but he still needed Freedom's Nikolai to miss the 9 wide at the top side to get the win. Shadow tapped in the leftovers for a 1-0 series lead in a dominant outing. The Spiders' Shadow showed a resilient side in a tougher game 2. The Cascades' Nikolai faced similar circumstances, but missed a couple of cuts and had a scratch, allowing Shadow to pad his possession numbers before long strikes on the 7 and 9 for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Shadow didn't even give Nikolai a chance to use game 3 as the catalyst for a comeback. Shadow instead bashed the break that sent the 9 to the bottom right for the instant win and a clincher as the series moves to 3-0 Shadow. Game 4 went very fast for a full-rack effort, as Shadow made a three-ball run from the break, which Nikolai countered with a four-ball run. They each made a ball late, but it was Nikolai who took the 9 for a consolation win to cut the series to 3-1. Shadow battled hard in game 5, keeping Nikolai honest despite the visitor striking a three-ball run in the middle of the game. Shadow got a look at the 9 after Nikolai missed, and Shadow converted to win, making it a 4-1 series win. Shadow advances to the bracket quarterfinals after an impressive series.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Sierra. The blue cue plays its last series today in 8-ball between veterans. Tysini's Brownie had a highly unconventional break in game 1, just clipping the lead ball. Todavía's Sierra rallied off of this with a four-ball run, putting Brownie under pressure. Brownie responded well, chipping away while Sierra floundered, and then Brownie won with a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, taking a 1-0 series lead thanks to Sierra's missed contact. Game 2 saw the Hummingbirds' Brownie employ a more standard break, to the detriment of both players. The game moved much slower, and it took a minor breakthrough at the end for the Stills' Sierra to get the 8 for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Sierra scratch on the break and on her first turn after it, making it a fairly easy path to the lead for Brownie. Disaster nearly struck Brownie when the 8 came dangerously close to falling after illegal contact, but it stayed up until she tapped it in legally after Sierra cleared her defense. Brownie leads the series 2-1 now. Sierra kept her series alive with a big comeback in game 4, working a five-ball run-out after Brownie missed both of her chances at the 8. Brownie's misses left the 8 at tap-in range for Sierra, whose win ties the series at 2. Game 5 saw Sierra break out for a big lead early on. Brownie did pull herself back into the game, but Sierra's lead was too strong, and the visitor got the win and a 3-2 series win. Sierra will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Lionel. The red cue returns to action for this 10-ball series between above-average players. Commerce's Lionel had more of the possession in game 1, but it all went to waste with his errant shot on the 8 at the end. Terrace City's Kiwi took over from there with a three-ball run-out to earn the 1-0 series lead with her win. The Knights' Kiwi had a similar finish in game 2, winning once more with a three-ball run-out, but this time she got to that point with a lot more possession against the Tradewinds' Lionel, who seems a bit disheartened by his effort so far. Kiwi didn't have a finishing run in game 3, but she still got the win, owning her largest possession share in the game with a well-supporting five-ball run. Lionel had a chance for the win, but couldn't line up the 10 properly, and Kiwi made the shot that was left to clinch the series at 3-0. Game 4 saw Kiwi make an impressive double-rail kick on the 6 to the top side that led to her second of two three-ball runs in the game, but it wouldn't last, as Lionel popped up to make the final two balls in the win, cutting the series to 3-1 in the process. With nothing to play for in game 5, both players took it slow and tried some creative shots. Kiwi wound up getting the win after Lionel tried to bank the 10 to the bottom left, and Kiwi mopped it up on a straight shot. Kiwi took the series 4-1 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Dani. The final series of the day is in 7-ball with the silver cue. Boston's Gradley wasted little time battling with Web City's Dani in game 1, as he made the 1 and then converted the 2-5 combination to the bottom right and the 2-7 kick combination to the top right for a stunning win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley had a strong game 2, driving possession for the game until an odd sequence on the 6. Gradley missed it from distance, and the Spiders' Dani went too lightly to try to pin it into the bottom left. Gradley overcompensated, giving Dani ball-in-hand on the 7 after scratching, and Dani converted to tie the series at 1. Gradley continued to fade from the dominant series opener, battling even with Dani in game 3 until he missed a 4-7 combination and Dani used the 4 to deflect the cue into the 7 to the bottom right for the win. Dani leads the series 2-1 after her savvy shooting. Gradley just barely held on long enough in game 4, as Dani charged with a four-ball run but couldn't quite corral the 6. Gradley made the last two balls to get the win, retying the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. Gradley had a great start with a four-ball run in game 5, but that would be all he got. The game stagnated for a couple of turns until Dani's wonder-shot on the 5 led to two deflections that sent the 6 perfectly to the bottom left, and lined up her 5-7 combination to the bottom right. Dani's win gave her the 3-2 series win, and she will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's it for today's games, and we'll be back with the standard 40-50 games tomorrow.
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