We're back for a standard set of games today. The first of eight series is...
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Pedey. The blue cue will have its only series of the day in 8-ball to lead things off. Maplewood's Diddley started pretty well in game 1 with a four-ball run, but it ended in a scratch. Diamond's Pedey countered with a four-ball run and then had to be patient before making a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead many turns later. The Lumberjacks' Diddley turned for dominance in game 2, making a five-ball run and following that with a three-ball run that ended in disaster. Diddley's shot on the 8 worked at the top right, but he scratched in the bottom right to gift the win to Gems' Pedey, who now leads the series 2-0 despite not making a shot in the game. Diddley started game 3 on a hot note again, with a four-ball run, but Pedey did better this time to keep up. Diddley still made a late three-ball run, but just missed his cut on the 8 to the top right. Pedey answered with a three-ball run-out, claiming the game on simple cuts to secure the series at 3-0. Diddley finally put everything together in game 4, starting strong and then pulling in a five-ball run to get onto the 8. Pedey sent a furious counterattack with a five-ball run and defense, but Diddley made the long kick on the 8 to the bottom left for the win, cutting the series to 3-1. Diddley kept going in game 5, knowing the series was out of reach. He and Pedey battled hard, with Pedey peaking on a four-ball run but scratching on his next turn. Diddley made a three-ball run-out from the kitchen to win the game. Pedey took the series 3-2, and will be on the road in his bracket quarterfinals series.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Charli XCX. A rebounding star opposes the reigning rookie of the year in Accuracy with the red cue. Golden's Dusty held on for awhile in game 1, but Tysini's Charli mixed luck, accurate shooting, and a bit of defense to keep Dusty at bay until the host crumbled. Charli took the win 1-5, leading the series 1-0. Game 2 saw the Pilots' Dusty hold on a bit better, even gaining the lead for much of the game until a pair of late misses. The Hummingbirds' Charli stayed on track with her shooting, drawing level and forcing overtime, where Dusty had an empty break and Charli made a ball to win 3-4. Dusty held the lead even longer in game 3, battling with Charli early on and again later before Charli slipped off the pace. The last ball was tricky, inflating Dusty's winning score to 4-5 as she cut the series down to 2-1. In game 4, both players had their best starts of the series. They each missed around the middle of the game, but Charli broke down faster, and Dusty didn't let up in her 1-4 win to tie the series at 1. Dusty had a messy start and finish to game 5, but the in between was good enough to get the win, as Charli didn't provide as much of a challenge as she needed to in the 4-6 game. Dusty rallied all the way back to win the series 3-2, advancing to the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Marsell. The Pirates captain treads uncharted waters against the Shores' rising star in 9-ball with the silver cue. Atlantic's Delila got the better of Whitewater's Marsell in a sloppy game 1, as both players neglected shooting form to attack toward the 9. Delila eventually converted it with a deflection off the 3, potting the 9 in the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell made big strides toward improving in game 2, dominating possession as Delila couldn't get many clear looks or execute any good shots. Marsell took advantage, eventually deflecting the cue off the 8 to pot the 9 at the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Marsell kept a strong effort going after an early sputter in game 3. Delila couldn't produce any offense, so Marsell took a six-ball run-out, ending on a 5-9 bank combination to the bottom right to give him the 2-1 series lead. Game 4 saw a flurry of activity for both players, as short runs ruled this time. Marsell had a couple of short runs, but Delila struck at the end with a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series again at 2. Delila had a four-ball run to start game 5, but it wouldn't be enough, as a contested finish saw Marsell make the 9 on a cut to the top right for the win. Marsell took the series 3-2, and advances to another road series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Midnight. The league's top villain hosts a veteran in 12-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Midnight needed a bit of time to get a grip in game 1, but Harrison's Lexi was more than willing to provide it when she missed her last shot. Midnight made a three-ball run-out from here, taking the game and a 1-0 series lead with her win. The Rockers' Midnight had a solid three-ball run at the start of game 2, but she faltered from here. The Specters' Lexi replied effectively, doing enough defense and chipping in on offense to make it a close game. The defense held until Lexi made her last two balls for the win, tying the series at 1. Midnight rattled off a great four-ball run early in game 3, but Lexi shot back immediately with a five-ball run to keep up the pace. Things stalled, and each player had a scratch, Midnight's being far worse as she would have won the game without it. Lexi instead converted from distance for the win, taking a 2-1 series lead. Lexi continued to fight in this series, even after Midnight made the most of the early going in game 4. Lexi didn't look to have much of a chance, but Midnight's inefficiency in potting her final ball gave Lexi enough time to make her last two for the win, clinching the series at 3-1. With nothing to play for, Lexi was fine with giving away a wild-card ball on the break to Midnight. The game was slow to develop, until Midnight broke through to get her win, making it a 3-2 series win for Lexi, who will host her series in the bracket quarterfinals as well. This marked Lexi's first kill of the year, and Midnight is the thirteenth player eliminated so far.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Sugar. A Northeastern Divisional in Accuracy with the silver cue leads off the host's home doubleheader. Harrison's Sugar nearly pulled off a perfect game 1, and while Archtown's Dusky was good, she had a bit too much good luck to last. Sugar's only miss was her last shot, but she did win 1-2 for a 1-0 series lead despite the one flaw. Game 2 saw a lot of things happen, as the Arrows' Dusky had an early lead, lost it, gained it back when the Specters' Sugar missed a late shot, then Dusky missed to force overtime, where she would win 3-4 when Sugar missed her only chance. Dusky's ability to make a ball on the overtime break led her to tie the series at 1. Game 3 featured a return to the crazy pace of game 1, as Dusky had an excellent break to keep things moving smoothly. Dusky's only mistake was an early miss, which Sugar grabbed hold of and wouldn't let go, playing a perfect game herself to win 0-1 and retake the series lead at 2-1. Game 4 also went to overtime, following the twisty theme of game 2, where Sugar had two chances to lock down the game and missed both times before a scratch in overtime doomed her to the 4-5 loss. Dusky picked up the result to retie the series at 2, forcing a meaningful finale. In game 5, Dusky played perfectly after a great break, and while Sugar kept it close for awhile, she felt apart at the end, succumbing to an 0-5 win by Dusky, who took the series 3-2. In the bracket quarterfinals, Dusky will host the Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi at this venue.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Sparkles. The second doubleheader series is in 9-ball with the red cue. Archtown's Dusky didn't show any ill effects in game 1 from playing under a heavier workload. She made a five-ball run at one point, but her miss on the 9 allowed Todavía's Sparkles to make it on a tap-in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky fired back in game 2, weathering a four-ball run from an inspired Sparkles of the Stills before the game stagnated. Dusky broke free at the end, making the 8 to get position on and sink the 9 for the win to tie the series at 1. Dusky dominated in game 3, hardly letting Sparkles get a shot in. Dusky started with a strong three-ball run, and then followed it up on her next turn with the 4-9 combination to the bottom right from a tough angle to pull ahead of Sparkles by a 2-1 margin in the series. Dusky played another strong game in game 4, pushing the 9 to the bottom left but not quite making it on an early run. She had to give up possession with the 3 heavily defended at the top right, but Sparkles couldn't clear the table, and Dusky had a three-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Dusky tried to keep her play rolling on, swarming the 9 in a good position at the bottom right after her decent break. Sparkles made things difficult with defense, and when Dusky did get a play going, she scratched. Sparkles won with the 6-9 combination from ball-in-hand, a parting shot to give Dusky just a 3-2 series win. Dusky is set to host Wings of the Pearl Sufers in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Lorde. The silver cue returns for its last series today in 7-ball. Commerce's Lorde pulled off a strong run early in game 1, making three balls in a row, but her shot on the 4 betrayed her. Infinity's Whiskers immediately launched a counterattack, winning on a four-ball run-out to give herself the 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Whiskers was hoping for more of the same in game 2, but she stumbled at the start, and the Tradewinds' Lorde pounced early and often. Lorde got through the first part of the game slowly, but then made a four-ball run-out to win, tying the series at 1. Lorde didn't get anything on the game 3 break, giving Whiskers a glimmer of hope that quickly faded on Lorde's second turn. The sophomore potted a seven-ball run-out, as Lorde couldn't miss to get this win, taking a 2-1 series lead with the dominant stretch. Lorde couldn't put up a run in game 4, facing too much resistance from a desperate Whiskers, who had a three-ball run late in the game but missed on the 7. Lorde tapped it in at the top left, enough to seal the series at 3-1 in her favor. Lorde left no doubt as to the rightful series winner, bringing game 5 to an instant close with her 7 on the break to the top side to down Whiskers 4-1 in the series. Lorde returns home to host Tradewinds teammate Lionel at the Nike Field Events Center in Commerce.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Goatee. Today's final series is in 12-ball with the red cue between a rookie and a veteran. Oceanside's Celestia couldn't make much of game 1, and it looked like it could be a slog until Westside's Goatee got going. Goatee made the 10 on a double-kiss to the bottom side, and ended that turn with a five-ball run-out for the win, giving her a stunning 1-0 series lead. In game 2, there was no saving run to make the game quick. The Rockers' Goatee did get close to a win, moving the Waves' Celestia's defense out of the way, but she missed the shot, and Celestia made her last two balls for the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Celestia had a strong break, but she quickly lost track of her shot. She struggled for much of the game trying to get aligned, and her defense didn't hold off Goatee for long, as the visitor made a three-ball run-out around Celestia's defense for the win. Goatee leads the series again at 2-1. Celestia showed a bit more inexperience in game 4, failing to be patient with her set-up shots. This allowed Goatee a bit more time to get through the rack, calmly setting herself up better to get the win and clinch the series at 3-1 over Celestia. Goatee didn't play at her hardest in game 5, but it wouldn't have mattered much, as Celestia showed poise to get a quick win, making it a 3-2 series win to Goatee, who travels to Toyota Arena for a bracket quarterfinals series against the Freedom Cascades' Roxy.
That's it for today. Another standard day is expected tomorrow as we begin the second half of this round.
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