I'm almost certain there will be only 40 games today and tomorrow due to personal commitments. We begin with...
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Waluigi v. Bryant. The first series today pits Lumberjacks teammates against each other in Rotation with the blue cue. Bryant made the first impact in game 1, running three balls early on. Waluigi fought back, but Bryant got a four-ball run to pad his lead, and then coasted, holding off Waluigi's three-ball run in the end for an 8-5 win by Bryant, who leads the series 1-0. Bryant showed off a more dominant style in game 2, making a pair of balls on the break as an opening three-ball run. He missed the 2, but left Waluigi with no choice but a jump, which never got off the table. Bryant replied with a five-ball run-out to win 8-0, making it a 2-0 series lead. The start of game 3 was highly contested, as the players exchanged shots evenly throughout the first half. This gave way in the end to a three-ball run-out by Waluigi, who took the win 8-4 to make it a 2-1 series. Waluigi looked to break out again in game 4, but he never got the chance, giving up his lead late to Bryant's three-ball run. Bryant held steady for a bit before making the last two shots for an 8-5 win to secure the series at 3-1. Waluigi had another early burst in game 5, but Bryant saw it out and took a nice lead. Waluigi rallied with a four-ball run to take the late lead, but Bryant managed to come up with the 8-7 win for a 4-1 series win. Bryant will be the true host in this venue for his bracket quarterfinals series.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Lorde. A rookie takes on a sophomore in 10-ball with the blue cue next. Stonebridge's Prism had an interesting game 1, getting tricked into a scratch on the 6 by Commerce's Lorde, who then flubbed her 7-10 combination attempt. Lorde looked to control the late game, but her scratch on the 9 gave Prism ball-in-hand for the 10, which she made to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw an awkward break from the Wolves' Prism, which made things more difficult for the Tradewinds' Lorde early on. Lorde had an alright game, but she called the 8 directly to the bottom right instead of an 8-9 combination, and the illegal shot allow Prism to take possession for the last two balls, which she made to win and take a 2-0 series lead. Prism pulled off a remarkable run in game 3, dominating the late stage of the game with a seven-ball run-out. Lorde could only watch as Prism assembled the run through dynamic shooting and positioning, showing her chops as a pure shooter to clinch the series at 3-0. Lorde had her time to shine in game 4, making a seven-ball run-out with the help of Prism allowing her to continue after an uncalled shot on the 5 went off of two rails and into the top side. Prism probably regrets not getting possession, but Lorde was happy to make it a 3-1 series. In game 4, neither player found a long run like they had before. The shooting was chippy, but Prism prevailed after Lorde couldn't pot the 8. Prism cleaned it up, and then took a tough angle 9-10 combination to the bottom left to end the series ahead 4-1. Prism is into the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Puff I. After lunch, the red cue comes on for 10-ball in its first of five straight series. Diamond's Pedey took some time before he really got his shot going in game 1. Modernistic's Puff I did well at the start, but Pedey negated that with his six-ball run-out in the end, positioning himself well in the win to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I couldn't make a shot in game 2 at all, even missing from ball-in-hand at one point. This left the entire offense to the Gems' Pedey, who followed up an early six-ball run with a three-ball run-out at the end to move into a 2-0 series lead. Pedey didn't play as dominant in game 3, but he still did more than his fair share of shot-making, as Puff I's miss on the 6 left Pedey lined up for a five-ball run-out. Pedey's big run clinched the series at 3-0 in his favor. Puff I found her offense a game too late, winning game 4 with easy on an opening four-ball run and a five-ball run-out in the counterattack after a letdown from Pedey's mid-game shooting. Puff I's win cut the series to 3-1. Game 5 was likely the most balanced game of the series, with Puff I tangling a few shots in to match Pedey early, but Pedey broke away on short runs at the end to win and take the series 4-1. Pedey will host the Terrace City Knights captain, Kiwi, in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Salmo. A well-respected veteran takes on a rookie with the red cue in Accuracy. Lighton's Salmo didn't play as poorly as the game 1 score would suggest, but Royal's Jake was every bit as good in his 0-4 win, playing to perfection throughout the game to get the 1-0 series lead after a dominant performance. The Crowns' Jake emerged with the win in game 2 as well, but it was far from as nice as the first. Both he and the Prestige's Salmo struggled greatly in this game, and it saw Salmo choke up three different leads before finally falling 6-7 to Jake, who leads the series 2-0 after getting wins in near-opposite ways. Game 3 saw a continuation of the shaky play from Jake, who held on for awhile before completely falling apart. Salmo didn't let Jake back into the game this time, winning 3-6 to cut the host's series lead to 2-1. Jake played better in game 4, keeping even with Salmo for much of the game until a late swoon caused him to fall behind for good. Salmo stayed composed to pick up a 2-4 win, pulling the series into a tie at 2 games apiece. Salmo kept in game 5, a tough battle for both sides as the break from Salmo was poor. Jake had the advantage for much of the game, but a senseless double-pot changed things, putting Jake on the overtime break, where his miss and Salmo's make gave Salmo the 4-5 win. Salmo advances to a road series in the bracket quarterfinals with a 3-2 series win.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Spirit. The red cue continues its binge with a series of 7-ball. Capital City's Nicole had to hold on tight in game 1 of this Southwestern series, as Lighton's Spirit looked very good while shooting a four-ball run. Spirit flubbed her shot on the 7, allowing Nicole to tap it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. The Sharpshooters' Nicole left no doubt about the winner in game 2, making the 7 on the break to the bottom right with a thundering shot, giving her a 2-0 series lead over the Prestige's Spirit, who rues her miss on the 7 more and more. Spirit answered with authority under desperation in game 3, as Nicole had a three-ball run in the middle of the game that Spirit countered by making the final two balls. Spirit's bold win cut the series to 2-1, but she has a long way to go still. Nicole needed just one shot in game 4 to get the win after Spirit's break left the play lined up. Nicole made the 1 to the top side, with the proper spin to drive the 7 to the bottom left for the double-pot victory that clinched the series at 3-1. Game 5 went a bit slower than expected, with Nicole driving possession as much as she could. Nicole defeated Spirit once again for a 4-1 series lead, and she will host the winner of the next series at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Shaggy. The next series is also 7-ball, continuing with the red cue once again. Diamond's Citrus didn't let Whitewater's Shaggy get a shot in game 1. Citrus took no time to win, making the 4 to the top right and the 7 to the bottom left on the break for a 1-0 series lead with the impressive shot. The Gems' Citrus shut the Shores' Shaggy out again in game 2, making the 7 to the bottom side this time to go ahead 2-0 in the series with another one-shot winner from the star, who is getting massive applause from her home crowd. Citrus couldn't keep up the epic pace in game 3, missing on the 2. Shaggy showed what she could do given a shot, making the 2 and 3 and then working a three-ball run-out on her next turn for the win to cut the series to 2-1, still very much up for grabs. Shaggy continued to be a dangerous threat to Citrus, making a five-ball run in the middle of game 4 to really intimidate her host. Citrus buried her only chance on the 7 for the win, securing the series at 3-1 despite being badly outmatched this time. Citrus' break in game 5 proved very favorable for Shaggy, who won two shots later with the 1 and then the 2-7 combination going to the top right. Citrus still won the series 3-2 on the strength of her early play, and she will visit Capital City SuperCenter, hosted by the Sharpshooters' Nicole in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Bianca. Two club-mates meet, with the star hosting the rookie, in 15-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Sierra seemed to have the better of the shooting early, but not by much as Southridge's Bianca stayed with her pretty well. Sierra had a three-ball run going late when she missed the 8, and Bianca converted a four-ball run-out ending in the 13-15 combination to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 showed a sloppier side of play from both players, but particularly for the Defenders' Bianca. Her late game shooting was not strong, and when she had ball-in-hand on the 14, she scratched while making it to give the Stills' Sierra ball-in-hand for the 15, which she converted for the win to tie the series at 1. Bianca made a four-ball run early in game 3, putting Sierra on her back foot as she tried to keep up. Sierra later scratched, and Bianca used the obvious combination doctrine as she made the 8-15 to the top right from ball-in-hand to get the win, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Sierra was not deterred, fighting hard in game 4 with a lot of good shots early on. Bianca wasted little time in countering, and the game remained even right up to the end, where Bianca's weak miss on the 14 opened the door for Sierra to make the last two balls for the win, tying the series again at 2. Sierra had all the momentum late in game 5, doubling up a three-ball run and a four-ball run near the end after a decent start, but Sierra missed a tough bank on the 15. Bianca made it to the top side for the win and a 3-2 series win. Bianca will travel to Pacific's Verizon Field Events Center to face the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty in the bracket quarterfinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Dani v. Sprinkles. A former Sharpshooter faces a current one in 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Sprinkles got off to a great start with a four-ball run in game 1, but she stalled at this point. Sprinkles' sudden cessation of skill allowed Web City's Dani to pick up the slack, winning on a 6-9 combination to the top right that gave Dani the 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Dani had a decent start in game 2, but she couldn't sustain her play throughout the game. Lucky for Dani, the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles also struggled, and while she was better late, her scratch on the 8 gave Dani ball-in-hand at the 9, which she made to take a 2-0 series lead. Dani couldn't keep control of the series in game 3, watching her possession crumble as she missed shots early on. Around the middle of the game, Sprinkles took over by making a four-ball run-out for the win, getting herself back into things with the 2-1 series deficit. Sprinkles kept up the good play with a three-ball run in the middle of game 4, but her miss on the 7 proved to be the last mistake she could make, as Dani made the final two balls to clinch the series at 3-1. Sprinkles couldn't be bothered to do much in game 5, seeing as the series was out of reach, which allowed Dani to pace the play pretty well. Dani got the win on the last two balls, taking the series 4-1 as well. Dani will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
That will be all for pool today. We'll be back tomorrow with the intention of playing 40 more games.
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