We're back for a full day of games again. First up...
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Shawn. The silver cue will lead off the day in this series of 15-ball. Todavía's Bells started a bit slow in game 1, as Midland's Shawn seemed to drive possession a bit more early in the game. Bells came alive at the end though, working a five-ball run-out with a remarkable bank on the 14 as the highlight shot. Bells leads the series 1-0 after this win. In game 2, the Stills' Bells had a clear edge in shooting quality. She had an early three-ball run and a four-ball run later in the game. The Predators' Shawn answered with a four-ball run late in the game, but Bells made the last two balls for the win, taking a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw even more of a dominant performance from Bells, who had an early six-ball run followed by a four-ball run-out that ended with a double-pot of the 10 to the bottom right and the 15 to the top right on the combination. Bells clinched the series at 3-0. Bells continued her strong play in a quick game 4, which saw both herself and Shawn make good runs. Bells won on a three-ball run-out to match Shawn's final turn, ending on a bank of the 15 to the top right to make it a 4-0 series with the win. Game 5 was the slowest of the series, with Bells struggling to find her shot for much of the game. Shawn struggled as well, but did enough in the end to get the win. Bells still took the series 4-1, and she will host the Modernistic Union's Puff I in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Tigerette. The blue cue gets this Rotation series between longtime friends. Boston's Sweetheart had a mostly dominant game 1 against Commerce's Tigerette, who was wholly ineffective on her shooting. Sweetheart did get somewhat lucky in her six-ball run, but she closed the game in an 8-0 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart started with two balls on the break, but the Tradewinds' Tigerette took over from here. During a four-ball run, Tigerette double-potted the 4-14 combination to the bottom right and 13 to the top right. Sweetheart had a double-pot of her own as she tried to come back, but Tigerette locked down an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 went poorly for both sides, as no runs materialized until the end of the game, when Tigerette made a three-ball run-out to defeat Sweetheart 8-5. The sloppy win put Tigerette ahead 2-1 in the series. Tigerette had an incredible kick in game 4, making the 5 to the bottom side at an impossible angle, but her offense stalled from here. Sweetheart rallied ahead and eventually won the game 8-6, tying the series again at 2. Tigerette and Sweetheart dueled very closely for all of game 5, with Tigerette just getting the edge in the end after a scratch-filled run to the finish. Tigerette won 8-7, taking the series 3-2. Tigerette will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Pedey. The blue cue remains in action as these solid players meet in 15-ball. Game 1 went quite poorly, as Everton's Puff III had a rough break. This led to choppy play, and neither player could make a run. In the end, Diamond's Pedey potted the last two balls to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured another rough start for both sides, particularly for the Eagles' Puff III, who never found her shooting touch. The Gems' Pedey started off poorly, but he made consecutive three-ball runs at the end of the game, the latter of the two earning him the win to push the series to 2-0. Game 3 saw another rise in play quality for Pedey, who had a four-ball run and a three-ball run near the end, but he left the 15 standing at the top right. Puff III, who hadn't shot all that well in the game, tapped it in for the win, staying alive as she cuts the series to 2-1. Game 4 went very similarly, as Pedey developed a nice shot and even had a six-ball run at the end. Pedey twice missed on the 15, once on a bank and the other on a cut, and Puff III stayed alive again with a tap-in, tying the series at 2. Game 5 went along at an unremarkable pace until the very end, where Puff III put her home fans into a roar with an amazing jump over the 15 to pot the 14 at the top right, followed by a quick cut on the 15 to the top left for the win. Puff III came all the way back for a 3-2 series win over Pedey, and she will host the Harrison Specters' Sydney at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Twinkie I. Two talented veterans clash in Accuracy with the silver cue for this series. Diamond's Citrus got an early gift in game 1 when Lighton's Twinkie I took a scatterbrained shot, but she quickly recovered and held a tie through regulation. Citrus produced nothing on her overtime break, and Twinkie I took the game 3-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus got stymied early in game 2, as the Prestige's Twinkie I produced a cruel break. The slow start gave way to a fast game, and Citrus' one miss after the early going caused Twinkie I to hold on defensively for a 1-2 win, taking a 2-0 series lead in the process. Game 3 went much smoother for all players, with Twinkie I producing a good break. Citrus kept up the pace with an early double-pot, and it wasn't until late in the game when the first misses were exchanged. Twinkie I held on at first, but missed the last ball, and Citrus tapped it in to win 1-2, while also cutting Twinkie I's series lead to 2-1. In game 4, Twinkie I had a decent attempt after Citrus' break, but the host was able to hold onto a lead unlike the previous three games. Citrus' newfound resilience helped her to hold on for a 3-4 win, tying the series at 2 to set up the decisive game. Game 5 saw Twinkie I repeat her earlier error from game 1, but the results did not follow. Citrus was stronger this time, holding off Twinkie I at the end for the 1-2 win to clinch the series at 3-2. Citrus will host a series in the bracket quarterfinals.
House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Brownie. More Accuracy is up next, but with the blue cue this time. Tysini's Brownie took the early lead in game 1, and she paced herself well throughout. Eventually, Southern's Hoppy turned the tables, pulling even but falling back soon after, as Brownie got a second wind in time to pick up the 3-5 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw near perfect play on both sides. The Hummingbirds' Brownie made a ball on the break, and until a late miss by the Monarchs' Hoppy, everything went as planned. Hoppy had no time to play defense on Brownie, who would walk away with the 0-1 win and 2-0 series lead after a smart game. Brownie had a much tougher game 3, nearly losing control a number of times. Hoppy was no better, and both players slipped through the early stages. Things tightened late, but it was still a just-in shot that set Brownie apart in a 4-5 win to secure the series at 3-0. Hoppy nearly pulled off an excellent effort in game 4, going perfect until the very end, where a pair of misses threatened her game. Brownie played as much defense as she could, but Hoppy was true on her kick shot to win the game 2-3, cutting the series to 3-1. Brownie had a suffocating start in game 5, as Hoppy scratched on the break and then floundered through the game. Brownie allowed herself to slow at the end, winning 3-6 to take the series 4-1. Brownie will host the Eastside Sharks' Taylor in the bracket quarterfinals at Cisco Arena in Tysini.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Rosalina. Two big-name rookies are set to tangle in 15-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Violetta had very little to be sad about in game 1, as she controlled played for much of the first half of the game. What she didn't expect was the calm finish delivered by Diamond's Rosalina, who converted a five-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw another early surge from the Flames' Violetta, but the Gems' Rosalina countered it more effectively this time. The two players met in a showdown at the 6, which defended the 15. Violetta took the first strike and missed the combination, but Rosalina converted, getting the win for a 2-0 series lead. Rosalina had a chance or two to make the 2-15 combination in game 3, but she missed it once and shot the other way from ball-in-hand the next time. The game plodded along, but Violetta got the win with a three-ball run-out that ended with the 11-15 combination to the top right. This made it a 2-1 series, still in favor of Rosalina. In game 4, Violetta had a decent break, and both she and Rosalina made a fair share of shots. Rosalina came up with a surprising winner, striking the 8-15 combination from distance to the top left to clinch the series at 3-1 with an impressive shot. Violetta pulled in a good performance in game 5, working a four-ball run-out at the end for the win. Rosalina tried her best but couldn't keep up that time. Rosalina did win the series 3-2, and will be on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Hannah v. Twinkie I. The silver cue returns for a series of 10-ball in this meeting between a rookie and veteran. Royal's Hannah produced a win in an even game 1, as both players had three-ball runs during play. Lighton's Twinkie I just left the 9 standing, paving the way for Hannah to make the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Crowns' Hannah put in a bit more of the work than the Prestige's Twinkie I in a still-close game. Hannah pulled herself ahead at the end when Twinkie I left the 8 at the bottom right. Hannah ignited a three-ball run-out from here, taking a 2-0 series lead with her win. Twinkie I played her best in game 3, making a four-ball run and a three-ball run during the game. She made just one brutal mistake, leaving the 10 near a pocket for Hannah to tap in, and she did to steal the win and clinch the series at 3-0. Hannah had a great start in game 4, making a three-ball run before Twinkie I could get a shot in. Hannah kept things close with defensive play toward the end, and Twinkie I nearly won anyway, but she left the 7-10 combination lined up for Hannah to make to the bottom right, giving the host a 4-0 series lead. Hannah did nearly all of the work in game 5, but this time was different for Twinkie I, who stepped in to make the last two balls and get the win. Hannah won the series 4-1, setting her up to host a bracket quarterfinals series. Hannah also recorded her first-ever kill, knocking Twinkie I out of the Tournament as the twelfth player eliminated.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Roxy. Out in the Eastern Hills, the red cue has its only series today in 12-ball. Stonebridge's Prism scratched twice in game 1, a sloppy performance for herself, but Freedom's Roxy bailed Prism out by giving away a wild-card ball. With the added flexibility, Prism took just two more turns to win and gain a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Wolves' Prism try to keep a strong pace, but she flailed on her last ball, scratching once and missing contact two other times, allowing the Cascades' Roxy to pull ahead and win, tying the series at 1 with her patient build-up. Roxy got a bit too generous in game 3, giving away a wild-card ball on the break and another with a cluster-buster shot. This made things very easy for Prism, who took her time in gaining position to make sure she would convert the final shot cleanly. Prism did well with the patient finish, winning to retake the series lead at 2-1. Roxy kept a tough pressure on Prism in game 4, helped by Prism's scratch on the break. Prism still had a good performance, but she choked under pressure near the end, giving away ball-in-hand for Roxy to make her final shot easily, tying the series at 2 and casting doubts about Prism's mental toughness. Prism thought the only way to finish game 5 was with defense, but this strategy failed within two shots, wasting the good effort she put in to keep up with Roxy, who tapped in her last ball for the 3-2 series win. Roxy will host her bracket quarterfinals series at Toyota Arena in Freedom.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Frosty. The silver cue will get a series of Rotation in its last appearance today. Pearl's Wings had a decent start in game 1, but he quickly fell behind to Stonebridge's Frosty. Wings shot right back with a five-ball run, and then made the last two balls to win 8-6 after Frosty rallied to tie briefly. Wings owns a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Surfers' Wings had a good game 2 as well, keeping the Wolves' Frosty at bay early on. Frosty persisted, drawing even for awhile, but Wings broke free with a pair of runs, the latter quite impressive with a kick and a long shot to win 8-2, giving Wings the 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw Wings produce a great effort after a bad break. Frosty held Wings up for awhile, but once Wings took the lead, he didn't look back. In the end, Wings made a three-ball run-out, including a deflected spinning kick off the 12 to drive the 14 to the bottom left for the 8-4 result that clinched the series at 3-0. Wings dominated greatly in game 4, making an early run. Frosty countered with a couple of short runs to tie the game, but Wings pulled away on a four-ball run-out and took the game 8-6, pushing the series to 4-0. Frosty came out determined in game 5, recovering from Wings' double-pot break to rally ahead. Frosty would close the game down at 8-3 to get a win. Wings took the series 4-1, advancing to a bracket quarterfinals series in Toyota Arena in Freedom against a to-be-determined opponent.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Neopolitan. Today's final series is in 7-ball, using the blue cue. Harrison's Sugar put in a great game 1, making the 2-7 combination on just her third shot, two shots after a miss from Pearl's Neopolitan. Sugar's quick victory provided her the chance to take a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar had a less dominant outing in game 2, but the Surfers' Neopolitan had a major error when she wildly swung her stick and hit the 6. Sugar couldn't rally off of this, but Neopolitan didn't close out the game effectively, and Sugar tapped in the 7 to take the win, and a 2-0 series lead. Sugar had a couple of highlight shots, making the 2 and 6 to the right corners on a double-pot followed by a kick on the 3 to the bottom side. This didn't matter much, as Neopolitan made the late shots that mattered most for the win, cutting the series to 2-1 as well. Sugar struggled quite a bit in game 4, barely able to get a shot in against Neopolitan, who has grown into the series nicely. Neopolitan won this one with a three-ball run-out of well-executed shots, tying the series at 2 in the process. Neopolitan left no doubt as to who would take the series in game 5, striking the 7 into the top side while the 1 fell in the top side on the break. Neopolitan took the series 3-2 in a comeback because of this, and advances to host the Web City Spiders captain Shadow at Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all we've got for pool today. No cricket tonight, which will resume tomorrow.
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