The new day of pool is here. We're adjusting the schedule slightly for timing, so it may be a bit later than usual. We begin with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Shannon. Today's first series is in 8-ball with the silver cue getting the honors. Central's Mario got off to a quick start in game 1, making a six-ball run from the break to pace his play. Mario would go cold at the 8, missing it three times while Southern's Shannon made her comeback, and his final miss left it lined up for her to pot. Shannon won and took a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shannon paced play from the break, using a four-ball run early and a three-ball run late to get onto the 8. The Warriors' Mario couldn't assemble a counterattack at the end, and Shannon made the 8 unchallenged for the win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went better for Mario than the previous ones. Shannon made one of each on the break and chose to go with stripes, giving Mario a fairly nice stretch on solids as he coasted to the win to cut the series to 2-1. Mario nearly played too slow in game 4, watching as Shannon compiled a six-ball run before missing the final striped ball. Mario chipped back slowly into the game, gaining the lead and then making the 8 a turn after that to get the win and tie the series at 2. Game 5 saw Mario take a defensive stance as Shannon charged through the early part of the game with ease. Mario chipped his defense away slowly until he could piece together a six-ball run-out for the win, taking the series 3-2 as well. Mario will be on the road for his bracket quarterfinals series.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Ms. Puppy. A Cascades mainstay takes on the Union captain for 9-ball with the blue cue. Freedom's Stinky had a reasonably good start to game 1, and his second turn yielded a three-ball run, but his miss on the 7 opened Modernistic's Ms. Puppy up to taking a three-ball run-out for the win, giving her the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 had a tense feeling about it, as both players had their good and bad shots. The Union's Ms. Puppy had the worst miss, failing to take the 4-9 combination from an odd angle while leaving it lined up for the Cascades' Stinky, who converted to win the game and tie the series at 1. Game 3 went well for both sides, similar to game 1. Stinky added a bit of flair on his turn, jumping the 5 to pot the 4 smoothly in the bottom side as part of a three-ball run. Ms. Puppy still came out on top with a three-ball run-out to win, going ahead 2-1 in the series. Game 4 saw more of the same, as Stinky made a three-ball run after a contested start, but missed contact on the 7. Ms. Puppy cleaned up the rest from ball-in-hand, using good positioning to make a three-ball run-out and clinch the series at 3-1. Stinky did his best in game 5, working his way to a five-ball run-out after Ms. Puppy couldn't sustain her early offense. Stinky finished by double-potting the 7 to the top right and the 9 on a two-rail bank to the bottom right on the same shot. Ms. Puppy did win the series 3-2, and she will travel to McDonald's Hall in Atlantic to face the Pirates rookie Klaus in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Spice. The silver cue returns for this series, playing 7-ball between the two stars. Victoria's Spice had an excellent start to game 1 with a three-ball run, but things soured for the visitor with a scratch. Archtown's Ruby took over from here, making a straightforward four-ball run-out to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a bit more vulnerability from the Arrows' Ruby, who struggled with her shooting mid-game. The Spurs' Spice took advantage of the weakness, making a five-ball run-out with a long cut on the 7 to win, tying the series at 1. Ruby improved a bit in game 3, making the first two balls and leaving Spice with a tempting but dangerous shot. Spice took it, clipping the 7 into the bottom side illegally as she aimed at the 3. The poor play gave Ruby the win, restoring her series lead at 2-1. Ruby controlled the pace of play in game 4, due to Spice being unable to put up a run. Ruby closed the game with a three-ball run-out in the end, sealing the series at 3-1 with the steady and strong play. In game 5, the play dropped off a bit. Ruby was able to keep Spice at bay for awhile, and held her off once again at the end on a run. Ruby picked up another win to take the series 4-1, advancing to the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Solaris v. Stephanie Livilotti. A battle between two hyped rookies is on in 15-ball with the red cue's only appearance today. Infinity's Solaris had a minor edge in quality of play in game 1, but that didn't save him from leaving the 15 short at the bottom right. Southridge's Stephanie played well enough to win and she did with a tap-in, going ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw both players adopt a more cagey style, with no runs developing at all. The Torpedoes' Solaris struggled more than the Defenders' Stephanie, with the latter eventually emerging to pot the final two balls for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Solaris found much-needed urgency late in game 3 after lacking a finishing product on his shots in the early part of the game. This urgency helped him challenge Stephanie better, and Solaris was able to make a three-ball run-out with a lighter shot to get the win, cutting the series to 2-1 despite the close call. Solaris kept up the stronger play, making a higher percentage of his shots in game 4. It would all go to waste, as Stephanie swarmed around the 15 and eventually converted the 11-15 combination to the top right to win, clinching the series at 3-1. Game 5 saw a bit of a recurring nightmare for Solaris, as his play was solid, but a late leave allowed Stephanie to make the 11-15 combination to the top right again, winning to make it a 4-1 series. Stephanie advances to a road series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Ruby. Two of the best players of different eras meet in 15-ball with the silver cue. Tysini's Princess brought game 1 to a quick end with a 4-15 combination to the bottom right from ball-in-hand after illegal contact by Archtown's Ruby. Princess had taken the better of the early play anyway, and leads the series at 1-0 with her win. Game 2 saw more dominant shooting from the Hummingbirds' Princess, who opened on a four-ball run and had a three-ball run later on. The end of this brought about the rise of the Arrows' Ruby, who made a four-ball run-out to grab the win forcefully, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Ruby do a great job of frustrating Princess early on, as Ruby employed a heavy defensive tactic. Ruby sold out with a four-ball run that ended in her missing the 9-15 combination, and Princess rallied from ball-in-hand for a five-ball run-out to get the win, taking a 2-1 series lead with the strong finish. Game 4 was quite sloppy on both sides. The shooting was poor, and there was no set-up play to speak of. Ruby had a late scratch that allowed Princess to convert a three-ball run, but she missed on the 15, and Ruby stayed alive with a tap-in to tie the series at 2. Game 5 played out in similar fashion, although the shooting improved for both players. Defense was still strong, and Princess looked to have the first good run. Ruby would counter at the end, making the last two balls for the win and a 3-2 series win. Ruby will head out on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Dusty. The blue cue comes on for 10-ball this time, between a rising star and a rebounding star. Whitewater's Marsell had a strong game 1, which didn't lack for creativity. Golden's Dusty tried a couple interesting shots, but her missed contact on the 6 led Marsell to making the 6 and the 10 off a deflection from the 7. Marsell leads the series 1-0 after his crafty finish to win. Game 2 featured more direct play, which looked good for the Shores' Marsell when he was on a five-ball run, but he couldn't keep it going late. The Pilots' Dusty swooped in to make the last two balls, and her win tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw another shift in playing style, as Dusty had an early run but turned to defense later on to frustrate Marsell. The plan worked, and Marsell missed on the 10 narrowly, allowing Dusty to get the win on a tap-in to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Dusty made one critical mistake in game 4, clipping the 4 and 10 as she tried to pick out the 3. Marsell took no chances, hitting the 3-10 combination from ball-in-hand for the win, retying the series at 2. Game 5 was as straightforward as any, with Marsell making an early three-ball run and another one at the end to defeat Dusty, who played well in the middle of the game. Marsell's strong play earned him the 3-2 series win, and the right to host his teammate and the Shores' captain, Bear, in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Gradley. Capping the venue doubleheader, we've got the silver cue in play for 12-ball. Whitewater's Shaggy had a rough break in game 1, allowing Boston's Gradley to get some early possession. Shaggy did well to post defense at the top left, and Gradley gave away a wild-card ball that paved the way for Shaggy to win a couple of turns later. Shaggy's strategy worked well, as more defense led to her win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy had a much better game 2 break, but she had no position on her side pocket shots. She had to scratch to get a ball out of danger, and the Swifts' Gradley took over with a three-ball run-out from here, picking up the win to tie the series at 1. Gradley had a horrendous break in game 3, barely a break at all with how intact the rack stayed. Shaggy took one swing at it to loosen her suit up, and on her next turn, she ran the table for the win, earning a 2-1 series lead with the six-straight successful shots. Shaggy didn't break particularly well in game 4, leaving Gradley to pick up some of the early pieces. Shaggy had defensive position for awhile, but she had to let it go, and she couldn't finish her set fast enough. Gradley answered on a three-ball run-out, glancing the 12 off the of the 3 to the bottom side for the finishing shot. The series stands tied at 2. Game 5 took on the structure of a race after Gradley's great break. Shaggy held defense at first, doing enough to keep Gradley out of position before she made a three-ball run to go on offense. Shaggy was able to get her last ball by Gradley's defense in the end, giving Shaggy the 3-2 series win. Shaggy advances to the bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Mr. Snowman. The final series today also features the silver cue, in 9-ball. Infinity's Mr. Snowman clearly had the better performance in game 1, but it came down to his miss on the 9, ending his three-ball run. Maplewood's Bryant picked up the win with a tap-in on the 9 to earn a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Lumberjacks' Bryant didn't get a bailout tap-in at the end to cover up his poor shooting. Instead, the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman followed up a three-ball run with the last two balls to get the win, tying the series at 1 with the dominant flash late in the game. Game 3 saw more struggles from Bryant, who finds himself running out of time to solve the problems with his shot. Mr. Snowman brought this game to an end with a four-ball run-out after a slow start, putting him ahead 2-1 in the series. Game 4 saw a stumble from Mr. Snowman, who lost control after a miscue aimed toward the 3. Bryant took ball-in-hand from that play, and on his next turn, he made a five-ball run-out for the win, retying the series at 2 with the good effort in a close series. Game 5 turned into a comedy of errors by its end, as each player missed on the 8 and the 9. Mr. Snowman eventually potted the 9 to win the series 3-2. He will host Sweetheart of the Boston Swifts in the bracket quarterfinals at Viewpoint Sound's Volkswagen Stadium Events Center.
That's it for today's games. We'll be back with more tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment