It's the second day of the new round, with another 50 games coming up. We begin in the morning with...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Charli XCX. A star and a sophomore meet in 9-ball with the silver cue to start the day. Tysini's Charli took game 1 in a bit of a flustered appearance for both sides. Golden's Valencia didn't have much on her turns, and Charli turned a bad hit on the 5 into a two-rail bank that sent the 9 into the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia brought a decisive shot in game 2, challenging the Hummingbirds' Charli immediately. When Charli missed contact on the 3 due to a miscue, Valencia took the ball-in-hand for the 3-9 combination to the bottom right, which she made to tie the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 saw Charli struggle a bit in the early stages of the game, but she recovered well at the end after Valencia couldn't capitalize. Charli closed the game on a five-ball run-out for the win, claiming a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 went pretty quickly once the shots started falling, as Charli picked up a six-ball run but couldn't make contact on the 7, and Valencia came in with ball-in-hand for the last three shots on cuts, giving her the win and retying the series at 2. Charli seemed to have a grip on game 5 at the end, making a couple of nice shots throughout. Valencia had missed on the 8, leaving two simple shots for Charli, but the visitor missed the 9 to the bottom side, and Valencia got off easy when she tapped it in to win the series 3-2. Valencia is lucky to advance and host a bracket semifinals series at this venue. Charli is the 39th player to be eliminated this year after Valencia won the do-or-die series for her first kill.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Kayla. The blue cue's only series of the day is this one, playing 15-ball between veterans. Maplewood's Diddley started pretty hot in game 1, making a lot of the balls in the first half of the game. Royal's Kayla fired back with five of the last seven, but she twice missed on the 15, and Diddley picked that up for the win, a well-earned effort to take a 1-0 series lead on. The Lumberjacks' Diddley made a pair of balls on the break in game 2, but snookered himself. The Crowns' Kayla would get the 1 from ball-in-hand, but her leave on the 2 allowed Diddley to make the 2-15 bank combination to the top side for a stunning win that gave the host a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Diddley had a bad break, which forced Kayla to bust the cluster early on. The quality of play lulled along until Kayla's fiery four-ball run-out. This saw her use the 6 in combination, making the 6-15-10 to the top right, the 6-9 to the bottom side, the 6-11 to the top left, and then a kick off the 6 to ding the 15 to the top right for the win to make it a 2-1 series in one of the best shooting sequences of the year. Kayla kept her good play going at the start of game 4 with a four-ball run, but as the game wore on, she couldn't sustain her offense. At the end, her miss on the 15, coupled with growing momentum from Diddley, allowed the host to make the late tap-in on the 15 for the win and the series at 3-1. Diddley had a weaker game 5 break, and the two players battled hard over the course of the game until Kayla picked up the last piece, a three-ball run-out, for the win. Diddley advances on a 3-2 series win, and he win play a Northeastern rival in the bracket semifinals. Kayla finds herself as the 40th player eliminated this year, while Diddley has his first kill of the year.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Dusty. After lunch, the red cue opens its day in Accuracy. Golden's Dusty held a lead for most of game 1, but a lull in the middle left her tied with Harrison's Sydney. The tie went into overtime, where Sydney made a ball on the break but scratched on her second turn. Dusty made a ball from ball-in-hand to win 3-4 and take a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty had a much easier time in game 2, as the Specters' Sydney had more missed shots than makes, taking a brutal 2-8 loss to Dusty as she couldn't get herself organized. The easy win paces Dusty's series lead to 2-0. Game 3 went quite well for Sydney until the end, as she got Dusty to fall behind late in the game. The final ball inflated the score a bit, but Sydney took the 3-5 win to cut the series to 2-1. Sydney took a turn for perfection in game 4, keeping herself in great form throughout while inducing a miss here and there on Dusty. The result ended up at 0-3 in favor of Sydney's, whose perfect win helped her to tie the series at 2. Game 5 saw Sydney play fairly strong at first, but Dusty managed to force her back into a tie by the end of the game. In overtime, Dusty missed on the break, and Sydney made the first shot she had to win 3-4 and take the series 3-2. Sydney will host her bracket semifinals series in this venue.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Lionel. Tradewinds teammates meet in 7-ball with the silver cue. In game 1, it appeared that the hosting player Lorde would have an advantage after a solid break. While she didn't put a big run, Lionel didn't offer much of a challenge, and Lorde eventually would win with a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. Lorde struggled a bit in game 2, lacking the dominant shot that propelled her in the earlier game, but Lionel was an outright mess with his many misses. Lionel gave the game away when he scratched while potting the 6, giving Lorde a free shot at the 7, which she converted to take a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, it was a bit more of the same, as Lorde had the better of play but not a dominant appearance. Lionel again scratched while making a ball, the 5 this time, but it worked out late, as Lorde couldn't pick up the 7 after making the 6. Lionel tapped the 7 to the top right for the sloppy win that cut the series to 2-1. Lorde had luck on her side in game 4, as Lionel's miss on the 1 left the 7 in a reasonably good position. Lorde just tipped the 1, which sent the cue off of two rails and into the 7, which glanced off the 3 and into the top left for the unexpected series-clinching win, at 3-1. Game 5 went quickly with nothing to play for, as Lionel made a pair of shots on his only turn, answered by Lorde's five-ball run-out for the win and a 4-1 series win. Lorde will advance to the bracket semifinals after the knockout on her teammate. Lionel is the 41st player eliminated this year, and Lorde has her first kill in a bout of friendly fire.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Jennifer Livilotti. The silver cue remains in action for this feisty Accuracy series. Capital City's Missy had a nervy start in game 1 before she settled in just behind Terrace City's Jennifer. The visitor wouldn't budge, forcing Missy into one more miss before Jennifer's late mistake produced the 2-3 final in her favor. Jennifer leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Jennifer held the lead in game 2 for quite awhile after the Sharpshooters' Missy stumbled after the break. Jennifer couldn't quite make it hold up throughout, missing twice late to allow Missy to swoop in for a 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Missy didn't have to rely on Jennifer to falter in game 3, as Missy took the early lead and held onto it for the whole game. Jennifer made it a bit challenging at the end, but Missy stayed true and won 1-4, taking the series lead for herself at 2-1. Jennifer refused to go down in game 4, as both players were perfect deep into the game until Missy scratched. Things got ugly from here, especially late, when misses were frequent. Jennifer twice fell into a late tie, but Missy couldn't hit the 4 at the end, and Jennifer won 3-4 to retie the series at 2. Both players maintained perfection well into game 5 as well, but the results were even more sloppy at the end, as Missy slipped behind and never had a chance to get back into it as she dropped the result 3-7 and the series 3-2 to Jennifer. The Knights' Jennifer heads out to Diamond's Intel Center for a big bracket semifinals series against the Gems' Citrus.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Wings. The silver cue continues its run in Rotation in the Eastern Hills. Pearl's Wings got off to a strong start in game 1, making a couple of early shots, but Freedom's Jasmine tangled him up late and used a four-ball run to stake out a lead. Jasmine made it stand with the last two shots, both tap-ins, for an 8-3 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Jasmine made the best of a tough break, staking out a small lead before she had a four-ball run to extend it. The Surfers' Wings had to bring his game all the way back, and he did, chipping around Jasmine's late-game misses to get the 8-6 win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Wings go big on his second turn, converting a massive six-ball run that almost made things a shutout if he had connected on the 6-11 combination well. Jasmine fired back with pace, taking a four-ball run before scratching. This stalled her offense, and Wings made two balls on the next two turns for the 8-4 win and a 2-1 series lead. Wings took the lead in a slow-starting game 4 effort, while Jasmine had to battle just to get a clean shot. Wings had a three-ball run to extend his lead well. Jasmine pulled into a tie late in the game, but Wings had a three-ball run-out, ending by double-potting the 14 to the top right and the 15 to the bottom side for the 9-6 win to secure the series at 3-1. Jasmine pulled out to a big lead in game 5 with a six-ball run after a slow start. Wings never managed to recover from this one, and Jasmine iced the game with the 7-11 combination from ball-in-hand to the top right for an 8-1 win. Wings still took the series 3-2 to advance to the bracket semifinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Ms. Kitty. Two grizzled veterans meet in 7-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty did very well in game 1 after a slow start, overcoming the difficult offensive pressures enforced by Golden's Dusty to pick up the win on a three-ball run-out that ended with a 5-7 combination to the top right. Ms. Kitty holds a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty seemed to have slightly more command in game 2, and it worked out pretty well for her. The Pilots' Dusty had a chance to end it on the 7, but left it short, and Ms. Kitty made the tap in to move to a 2-0 lead in the series. Dusty had an improved offense in game 3, making a three-ball run over the middle, but Ms. Kitty once again passed her by at the end. Dusty missed the 7 twice, leaving it in good position for Ms. Kitty's tap-in the second time for the win to seal the series at 3-0. Ms. Kitty struggled to get any offense going in game 4, ceding ground to short runs for Dusty, who had a couple of pairs made before finally converting on the 7 to the top left for the win to make it a 3-1 series. Ms. Kitty pulled up in game 5 after a slow start to take a three-ball run-out, shutting down Dusty's hopes of another late win. Ms. Kitty claimed a 4-1 series win to earn a trip to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to face the Surfers' Boots in the bracket semifinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. A. Charlton. Two of this year's best plays meet head-to-head in 8-ball with the silver cue. Golden's Charlton had a hot start in game 1, getting onto the 8 before Everton's Puff III took over. Puff III had a great defensive alignment to slow Charlton down, and then a few turns later, Puff III won with a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III showed a more dominant effort in game 2, getting nothing on the break but turning in a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out sandwiched around a four-ball run from the Pilots' Charlton. Puff III's quick win put her ahead 2-0 in the series. Puff III wasted no time in game 3, making a three-ball run with some collateral damage on the break. Charlton and Puff III exchanged short runs for the rest of the game, with Puff III prevailing three turns later to clinch the series at 3-0 with her strong performance against a worthy foe. Charlton sputtered at the start of game 4, allowing Puff III to stake out a large lead very quickly. Puff III found herself struggling at the end under the pressure of a run from Charlton, but it didn't hold up, and Puff III poked the 8 in for the win to make it a 4-0 series. Charlton finally had a breakthrough in game 5, outlasting Puff III in a tough battle to get the win with her mid-game four-ball run helping her pace. Puff III still won the series 4-1, cementing her credentials as an MVP candidate as she earns the right to host a bracket semifinals series.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Blizzard. Another Eagle is in action on the road with more silver cue 8-ball. Everton's Blizzard needed just two turns in game 1, making a five-ball run on the first with a dominant flair. Stonebridge's Juno answered by using the 4 to send the 3 to the bottom side and the 2 to the bottom left in a double-pot, but Blizzard countered on a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Blizzard had to take a defensive stance in game 2 after an early run from the Wolves' Juno, who had gotten onto the 8 but had quite the fight to make it. Blizzard defended well for a long time before Juno could score the 8 to get the win and tie the series at 1. Blizzard had some trouble with scratching early in game 3, a problem that transferred over to Juno later in the game. The slow pace made it difficult for either player to control the game, but Juno had to pick most of her shots away from the 8. This acted as defense for awhile, but Blizzard got the 8 in the open and eventually kicked it to the top side for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Blizzard tried to make an impact in game 4, but her shot betrayed her throughout the game. Juno had a bit more luck with putting balls in pockets, although a scratch after her opening four-ball run slowed her down. Juno eventually chipped the 8 to the bottom right for the win to retie the series at 2. Juno and Blizzard battled in their most even game of the series in game 5, with each player getting onto the 8. Juno's attempt at it knocked in Blizzard's last stripe, but the 8 stood up, and Blizzard sank it in the top right for the win and a 3-2 series win. Blizzard will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Wario. Today's final series is with the red cue in 12-ball. Game 1 proved to be a painful and pathetic battle on both sides. After multiple fruitless turns, Victoria's Wario surrendered to just hammering the cue ball, and Maplewood's Diddley soon found a three-ball run-out to end the misery as he takes a 1-0 series lead with the unappealing win. The Lumberjacks' Diddley picked up the pace in game 2, while the Spurs' Wario mailed it in with more bad shooting. Diddley had two balls on a lively break, and took three more turns, aided by a wild-card ball along the way from Wario's chaotic tantrum. Diddley's firm win made it a 2-0 series in his favor. Wario had a much improved attitude and effort in game 3, not getting frustrated by the early success that went to Diddley on a three-ball run. Wario instead fired back, holding a lead for much of the game. Wario finally laid down some defense in the end, forcing Diddley into missed contact on his last ball, and Wario made his last two shots from ball-in-hand to win, making it a 2-1 series. Diddley had the early jump in game 4, pulling himself out to a lead, but the game took on a race style, and Wario pulled all the way back, completing his win when Diddley missed on his last ball on a kick attempt. Wario potted his last two balls in the left corners to win, tying the series at 2. In game 5, Wario pulled off the great comeback, starting with a four-ball run from the break. Diddley had enough time to counter once, but Wario made his last two balls a couple of turns later and Diddley could only watch as he took the loss. Wario won the series 3-2, earning a ticket to the bracket semifinals.
That's all for today's games. We'll likely play 50 more tomorrow before scaling it down at the back end of the week.
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