We're back for a likely standard set of games today. We begin with...
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Puff III. The blue cue gets the first series today, in 7-ball. Everton's Puff III came out on top in a gritty game 1 that featured a lot of poor shooting on both sides. Viewpoint Sound's Mams had an earlier miss on the 7 that allowed Puff III to make it for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 appeared to be on a platter for the Meteors' Mams, but her late miss on the 7 allowed the Eagles' Puff III another late steal to grab the win. Puff III now leads the series 2-0. Puff III actually had a possession advantage in game 3, but her three-ball run stalled with a miss on the 6, and Mams came through to make the final two balls for the win, cutting the series to 2-1 with the late effort. Game 4 returned things to the previous course of play, as Mams got a couple of shots in, but Puff III positioned herself well in a three-ball run-out to earn the win and clinch the series at 3-1. Game 5 also went favorably for Puff III, who just picked up the win with the last two shots despite a solid effort from Mams. Puff III won the series 4-1, and advances to the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Pounce. A tough series of 15-ball lies ahead, as a star player this year meets a veteran with the red cue. Harrison's Sugar was the first to break through in a tough game 1, making a late four-ball run. Southern's Pounce tried to keep pace, but he didn't make many shots, and Sugar closed out the game to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar rallied early with three balls on the break, but the middle of the game proved trying for both sides. The Monarchs' Pounce was on a four-ball run late in the game when he missed the 15, allowing Sugar to clean up the shot and win, taking a 2-0 series lead. Sugar had her most dominant effort in game 3, making nine of the last ten balls with a six-ball run and a three-ball run-out sandwiching a scratch for Pounce. Sugar's strong performance clinched the series for her at 3-0. Sugar had a decent performance in game 4 as well, but she slipped near the end. Pounce picked up the slack, making a couple of shots, including the 15, to get the win in a close game that made it a 3-1 series, still in Sugar's favor. Game 5 started slowly at first, but Sugar broke free with a six-ball run late in the game, just missing on the 15. Pounce tried to tap it in, but his slow start went wide, and Sugar made it to take the series 4-1. Sugar will be hosting Southridge Defenders rookie Stephanie in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Slinks. The silver cue comes on now for 15-ball between veterans on new teams. Westside's Slinks didn't play the better game in game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Hoot missed his only chance at the 15, and Slinks backed up a late four-ball run a turn later with the winning tap-in to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Meteors' Hoot didn't stay down for long in game 2, producing an early three-ball run-out with a wicked cut on the 5 to the bottom left followed by a 6-15 combination to the bottom right. This stunned the Rockers' Slinks and gave Hoot the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 played out pretty evenly, with the two players exchanging their shots throughout the game. Hoot got the better ending, making the last two balls to claim the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 saw Slinks have a chance to shoot the 1-15 combination from ball-in-hand, but she went with a different shot. The good karma rolled back to her in the end, as her 6-8 combination attempt went awry after another missed contact play by Hoot, but she did make the 6-15 combination at the top left accidentally for the win. This tied the series again at 2. In game 5, the play was swift and pacey, with Hoot making a five-ball run early on. Slinks countered with a three-ball run, and then locked the game down with another of those to get the win, taking the series 3-2. Slinks advances to the bracket quarterfinals.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Celestia. The blue cue returns for this series of 9-ball between a sophomore and a rookie. Victoria's Yekaterina dominated in game 1, including a five-ball run in the middle of the game, but she couldn't secure a win, as Oceanside's Celestia stepped in to make the final two shots to put herself ahead 1-0 in the series. The Waves' Celestia didn't have as poor a game 2, as she made more of her own shots and won with a 7-9 combination to the top right after the Spurs' Yekaterina failed to convert on a couple of difficult tries toward the 9. Celestia leads the series 2-0. Game 3 saw a bit of regression from Celestia, who started alright but surrendered a four-ball run to Yekaterina after failing to navigate a cluster. Yekaterina played well, and picked up the 9 a turn after that run to get the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Celestia had a four-ball run in game 4 to pace her attack, but a scratch nearly made the run pointless. Yekaterina converted on the 8, but she couldn't make the 9 on a bank, and Celestia tapped it in, securing the series at 3-1. Celestia had a poor game 5 effort, flailing around the table before a scratch allowed Yekaterina to take the 2-9 combination as the only option for the win at the bottom side. Celestia won the series 3-2 to advance, where she'll travel to UPS Hall in Maplewood to face Lumberjacks captain Fluffina in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Nicole. The silver cue is back for this Accuracy series. Game 1 went better for Southridge's Debby than the final score would indicate, as her lead was never challenged by Capital City's Nicole. Debby did slip a bit near the end, but the game was decided, and she won 3-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Sharpshooters' Nicole had a much more impressive outing, only missing her last shot. It was still a close game, as the Defenders' Debby spent about half the game within a ball before dropping off. Nicole took the 1-3 win, tying the series at 1 with her strong performance. In game 3, Nicole played even better, not missing a single shot to really keep Debby at bay. Debby wasn't bad, but she lost her motivation late in the game, succumbing to the 0-3 loss as Nicole gained the series lead at 2-1. Debby looked to be in good position early in game 4, but a scratch a little after that caused her to fall apart. She spent most of the rest of the game tied with Nicole, but fell behind with two late misses, the margin of victory at 5-7 for Nicole, which clinched the series at 3-1. Game 5 went poorly early on, and the players got flustered near the end. Debby decided not to prolong the game, missing her last shot so that Nicole would get the 3-4 win in regulation to take the series 4-1. Nicole will be on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Nightfur. Two seasoned veterans play 15-ball with the silver cue this time. North Modernistic's Cheddar started out alright, but couldn't simplify her game enough in the late stages to get by Royal's Nightfur, who had the better play at the end of game 1 and walked away with the 1-0 series lead and a win. In game 2, the Nighthawks' Cheddar put in a slightly better performance, including a late four-ball run, but it still wasn't enough to stop the Crowns' Nightfur, who with the final two shots at the end to go ahead 2-0 in the series despite not being that dominant in either game. Cheddar finally put it all together in game 3, battling closely with Nightfur for the first half of the game before breaking free on a five-ball run-out at the end. Cheddar's late surge made it a 2-1 series after her win to avoid the sweep. Cheddar kept her play quality elevated in game 4, just besting Nightfur early on, and then beating her out again at the finish by making the last two balls when Nightfur missed. Cheddar's clutch play earned her the win and tied the series at 2. Cheddar had a tense game 5 battle with Nightfur, playing her pretty evenly until Cheddar's final shot clipped the 9 and hit the 15 to the bottom right while also scratching. Nightfur took the gift win to advance to the bracket quarterfinals on a 3-2 series win.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Celestia. More 15-ball is next, as the silver cue stays at the table for this series. Tysini's Leandra had dominated most of game 1 against Oceanside's Celestia, but it looked like it might go to waste. Celestia tried and made the 10-15 combination at a bad angle to the top left, but she also scratched, saving Leandra, whose gifted win gave her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit slower, and the players had to get through the whole rack as well. Each player had an early scratch. In the end, the Waves' Celestia had a late run, and then tapped in the 15 on her next turn after the Hummingbirds' Leandra missed her only chance at it. Celestia's win tied the series at 1. Celestia provided a strong break in game 3, helping make things go quicker in this appearance. Leandra had her share of shots, but Celestia picked up a seven-ball run, narrowly missing the 15 in the end. A tap-in from Leandra iced the game and gave her a 2-1 series lead. Leandra seemed to get the better of play in game 4, although Celestia had the only deep run in the game. Leandra stayed patient, chipping away at the rack until she could pick up the 15 and get the win, securing the series at 3-1. Celestia did well to end game 5 quickly, making the 3-15 combination sharply to the bottom side for the win. Leandra still took the series 3-2, and she will host the Archtown Arrows' Ruby in a star-filled bracket quarterfinals series in this venue.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. We end with an Accuracy battle with the blue cue between these proud players in a Southwest Divisional. Victoria's Yekaterina had a dominant game going until the end, where she missed four straight shots. Luckily, the game was out of reach, and Infinity's Whiskers could only take solace in it appearing close. Yekaterina won 4-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina remained very effective with her shooting, while the Torpedoes' Whiskers made modest improvements in game 2. Those weren't enough to dethrone Yekaterina, who won this game 1-3 to gain a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw both players fall back in quality again, especially Yekaterina, who trailed for the first time in a game in this series. Whiskers did her best to keep her pinned, but it took a mammoth effort at the end for Whiskers to secure the 4-5 win and get on the board in the now 2-1 series. In game 4, Yekaterina had one of the worst performances of all time in this event, allowing Whiskers to get by despite not playing well herself. Whiskers won the sloppy gamy 4-9, tying the series at 2 and setting up a definitive final game for the day and the series. The final game went very well for Whiskers, who put in a perfect effort to finish off Yekaterina. The game ended 0-4 for Whiskers, who also won the series 3-2 to advance to host a bracket quarterfinals series.
We'll have more games tomorrow, potentially in an extended day. Until then, there will be the end of Cricket week 22 on here tonight.
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