We should hit or get close to halfway through this third round today. There will be 8 to 10 series, beginning in the morning with...
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Hughbert v. Twinkie III. The blue cue leads off the day with this 12-ball series. Southridge's Hughbert struck first in game 1, and he backed it up well, getting through the game faster than Whitewater's Twinkie III. Hughbert had better positioning, and Twinkie III made a lot of mistakes late to help Hughbert to the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Hughbert had a decent break in game 2, but it took a long time for him to get the remainder of his shots aligned. Lucky for him, the Shores' Twinkie III couldn't remove her defense after it became cumbersome, and Hughbert was able to get the last two shots he needed for the win and the 2-0 series lead. Hughbert had a huge break, potting two stripes to the top right and a solid in the bottom side. Hughbert took stripes, and he managed to get a lead against Twinkie III, whose struggles with positioning persisted. Hughbert didn't have much of a shot on his last ball, but he pulled off a through-traffic two-rail bank to sink the 10 at the bottom side for the win to clinch the series at 3-0, a highlight worthy of accolades. In game 4, Hughbert again gave away a wild-card ball on the break, and again played well enough for it not to matter, grabbing a late lead and then making it count as he got his last ball behind Twinkie III's defense and into the bottom left to go ahead 4-0 in the series. Hughbert had a solid break in a fast game 5, but he couldn't quite beat Twinkie III this time. The visitor managed to counter his four-ball run pretty well, mucking up the finish until she blasted her last two shots in for the win. Hughbert advances to the bracket semifinals on a 4-1 series win.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Rainmane. Two of Brute Force's top veterans meet in Rotation with the silver cue after lunch. Diamond's Smokey had a strong start in game 1 with a four-ball run early on. Smokey continued to build until he had Midland's Rainmane on the brink, but she pulled back by making the last seven balls over a few turns for the 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane stepped up in a big way in game 2, working a run from the break before a slowdown. The Gems' Smokey couldn't make a shot in Rainmane's cold stretch, and she pulled out of it with a four-ball run-out of tap-ins for the 8-0 win and 2-0 series lead. Rainmane got off to a good start again in game 3, but Smokey was there to respond this time, tying the game on a three-ball run at the middle. Rainmane answered with a three-ball run, which Smokey partially countered again, but he couldn't stop Rainmane from clinching the series with an 8-6 win to make it 3-0. Rainmane built up a decent lead again in game 4, but Smokey played a stronger game this time. He kept close at first, then pulled closer and struck with a three-ball run-out for the 8-6 win to cut the series to 3-1. Smokey tried to keep the momentum going, but Rainmane made sure to make game 5 a back-and-forth affair. Rainmane eventually had the upper hand and held Smokey off for the 8-6 win to take the series 4-1. Rainmane will travel to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to face the Surfers' Wings in the bracket semifinals. Rainmane's self-preservation earned her a kill, her first of the year, as Smokey is the 49th player to be eliminated so far.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Rosalina. A crafty captain hosts a rookie as the blue cue returns for Rotation. Victoria's Spice had a bit of trouble at the start of game 1, allowing Diamond's Rosalina to spend the better part of the game in the lead. Spice erased this late with a three-ball run, and eventually made a ball near the end for an 8-6 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice didn't sputter at the beginning of game 2, building up a nice lead very quickly. The Gems' Rosalina cut into a bit, but Spice pulled away again, staving off one more counterattack by Rosalina before closing out an 8-4 win for a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw Rosalina break through the opening doldrums faster this time, and she built up a significant lead before Spice had a potted ball. Spice made a pair on her only successful turn, missing contact on the third shot to give Rosalina ball-in-hand, which she used for a three-ball run-out and an 8-2 win. Rosalina's win gives Spice just a 2-1 series lead now. Game 4 featured another nice early run from Rosalina, a three-ball run that paced her attack for the game. Spice was very slow to get into the fray, and barely scratched the surface with her shooting. In the end, Rosalina made a pair of shots for another 8-2 win to tie the series at 2 with the strong pair of games. Rosalina pulled off a stunner in game 5, dropping behind briefly to Spice before going on a rally with a shot on the 5, and then a five-ball run-out on the next turn to get another 8-2 win for the 3-2 series win. Rosalina will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals, at Maplewood's UPS Hall to face the Lumberjacks' Bryant. Spice is the 50th player eliminated this year, with the surging rookie Rosalina claiming her first kill.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Solaris v. Violetta. The blue cue stays in action as two of the better rookies meet in 8-ball. Infinity's Solaris had a good break in game 1, but couldn't get as much offense from the run of play. Queens' Violetta quickly pulled even to him, got close to a win with a three-ball run, and then broke his defense on a kick of the 8 to the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta had a decent break in game 2, but both players stayed close in the early going. Around the middle of the game, the Torpedoes' Solaris had pulled ahead, but Violetta regained control on a four-ball run, and she'd win a few turns later after Solaris scratched. Violetta has a 2-0 series lead. Violetta didn't change much in game 3, but Solaris upped his intensity to get back into the series. Solaris made the bulk of the early shots, but Violetta had a five-ball run after Solaris had a three-ball run with some collateral damage. Solaris buckled down just in time to pick up the win, as Violetta couldn't quite corral her last ball, and Solaris made the 8. The series is now 2-1 in Violetta's favor. Solaris had a great start in game 3, putting up a strong offense, but when he got onto his last ball, Violetta took a defensive stance. Solaris couldn't get a clear shot, and Violetta slowly removed her defense. Solaris lacked the patience to play on, his kick attempt ending up illegally potting the 8 to gift the win and the series at 3-1 to Violetta. Game 5 saw a blistering break from Violetta lead to a six-ball run with collateral damage from Solaris. Violetta got back into the game on a four-ball run, but Solaris had a chance on the 8. Once again, Solaris erred, scratching as he made the 8 to give Violetta another win and the 4-1 series. Violetta travels to Ford Forum in Pronger to visit the Tridents' Spot in the bracket semifinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Sweetheart. The red cue gets its first series today in 15-ball. Neither player grabbed game 1 immediately, playing an even and methodical pace for much of the early part. Near the end, Archtown's Sleepy B. did a four-ball run to pressure Boston's Sweetheart, who would miss her only chance on the 15. Sleepy B. made it on her second try for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Arrows' Sleepy B. had a loose grip on game 2 by the end, after a long battle with the Swifts' Sweetheart as neither player could get a run going. Sleepy B. should have had the win, but her frustrations boiled over, and she scratched while making the 15, allowing Sweetheart to tie the series at 1. Sleepy B. again had the better of play in game 3, but a mistake in the middle of the game allowed Sweetheart to gain some confidence, and Sleepy B. again missed the 15 after a four-ball run at the end. Sweetheart, the more composed of the players now, poked it to the top right for the win and the 2-1 series lead. Sleepy B. didn't start out well in game 4, but Sweetheart couldn't sustain her early offense, and Sleepy B. made nine of the last eleven shots. A six-ball run helped the cause, but she scratched on her cut attempt at the 15, and the host who fired up the restless home crowd went quietly as Sweetheart tapped the 15 in for the win and the series at 3-1. Sleepy B. continued to press on a possession front, and it worked this time, as Sweetheart calmly lost possession late and gave up a four-ball run-out, including a double-pot of the 14 to the top left and the 15 to the top side. Sleepy B.'s win made it 3-2 for Sweetheart, who will visit GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge for a bracket semifinals series against the Defenders' Stephanie. Sleepy B. is the 51st player to be eliminated, and Sweetheart's first kill of the year. Sleepy B. will not receive supplemental discipline for her behavior during the series.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Kiwi. The Gems' sophomore gets a big test against the Knights' captain in 10-ball with the red cue. Diamond's Pedey had a decent break in game 1, but he didn't hold up very well against the offense of Terrace City's Kiwi. She had an early run and challenged on almost every ball, eventually earning the win with a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi nearly made three balls on the break, settling for one instead, and then taking a six-ball run on her next turn. This burst of offense didn't work out in the end, as the Gems' Pedey made the last two balls to get the win and tie the series at 1. Pedey had a strong break in game 3, and it led to a highly competitive game as well. Both players had a couple of short, choppy runs, but the layout of the rack didn't allow for more than two or three shots in a row. Pedey stepped up in the end to make the last two after Kiwi was stopped with a pair of her own. Pedey's clutch performance earned him a series lead at 2-1. Game 4 saw Pedey make two pairs of balls, one from the break and one in the middle of the game. Kiwi showed a stronger set of shots for herself, with a three-ball run to answer each of Pedey's pairs. Kiwi's last run showed great skill in positioning to get the win, tying the series at 2. Kiwi had a decent break in game 5, but none of the first nine balls mattered when it got to the 10. Both players missed on the 10 twice, until Pedey cut it to the top right on his third try for the win and the 3-2 series win. Pedey earns the trip to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to face Kiwi's sister, the Surfers' Watermelon, in the bracket semifinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Sierra. After a fiery series earlier, two of the league's biggest stars collide in 8-ball with the blue cue. Todavía's Sierra had the better of the offense in game 1 despite a solid break from Archtown's Ruby. Near the end, Ruby almost blew by Sierra, but she missed her last ball, and Sierra tapped in the 8 for the narrow win and a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra had a bit of confusion on her early shots, failing to strike in a couple of easy shots. This allowed the Arrows' Ruby to start with momentum, and Ruby finished the same way on a three-ball run-out to hold off Sierra late. Ruby's win tied the series at 1. Ruby seemed to have a bit more urgency in her offense in game 3, with a five-ball run to pace the attack early on. Sierra later responded with a four-ball run to make it close, and she had a three-ball run-out in the end as Ruby's last ball proved especially evasive. Sierra retook the series lead at 2-1. Sierra had the bulk of the early offense in game 4, but once again, it was the second player whose surge would carry them. Ruby took over with a six-ball run to get onto the 8, and after Sierra scratched, Ruby made the 8 from the kitchen to the bottom right for the win, retying the series at 2. Ruby dominated on offense in game 5, making a big run early on. Sierra pulled back into the game briefly on a four-ball run, but Ruby made the last two shots on her next turn for the win and the 3-2 series win. Ruby will host the Diamond Gems' Pedey in the bracket semifinals. Sierra finds herself as the 52nd player eliminated from the Tournament, and Ruby has her second kill in this clash of titans.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Mario. The last series before a break has the silver cue in 8-ball. Central's Mario enjoyed a burst of possession early in game 1 with a five-ball run, putting pressure on Viewpoint Sound's Mams. Later, Mams had a four-ball run, but she missed on the 8 near the end, and Mario finally tapped it in to win for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mario fell behind a bit in game 2 to the Meteors' Mams, who had the first few shots go in. Mams couldn't make it hold up, and Mario actually got onto the 8 first, but he floundered a bit until Mams cleared her suit and missed once on the 8. Mario drove it to the top right for the win, pulling ahead 2-0 in the series. Game 3 saw an unusually close start, as both Mario and Mams had an early three-ball run. They diverged after the equal play, with Mams pushing forward and later scratching, while Mario went to set some shots up. Mams' strategy failed, as she couldn't get clear shots, and Mario rallied with a five-ball run-out to win the game and secure the series at 3-0. Mams ended up with the win in game 4, although it was her worst performance of the series. Mario dominated the offense, although not at a high speed, but his cluster-busting shot sank the 8 prematurely in the top side, making the series 3-1 after his critical error. Mario returned to dominant form in game 5, holding a lead for much of the early part of the game. Mams tried to fight back after a slow start, but she couldn't catch up, and Mario took the win for a 4-1 series win. Mario will host a Northeastern rival in the bracket semifinals, bringing the Everton Eagles' Blizzard to Nestle's Warriors Hall in Central.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Rosalina. The blue cue wraps up its day after the break with some Accuracy. Infinity's Whiskers put in a great effort in game 1, keeping Diamond's Rosalina pinned until she finally missed a shot. Rosalina would miss two more, while Whiskers had a late miss to produce the 1-3 score she won by for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Gems' Rosalina found herself behind early at first, and faced a two-shot deficit near the end, but she induced two misses on the Torpedoes' Whiskers to force overtime. Whiskers made a ball on the overtime break, leading to a flurry of shots until Rosalina missed the 13-1 combination to the top right. Whiskers took the win 4-5 for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Rosalina grabbed the early lead away from Whiskers, although it was a shaky grip that she held it with. Rosalina had a lead over the middle of the game before missing late to fall into a tie, but Whiskers would miss twice more, and Rosalina was able to steady herself for the 3-5 win to pull back a game in the now 2-1 series favoring Whiskers. In game 4, Whiskers found herself behind late in the game, but she managed to get Rosalina to drop into a tie, and this left Rosalina to take the overtime break. Rosalina didn't get anything, but Whiskers couldn't put her away, cutting too far on her first shot. Rosalina converted on the next one, and Whiskers missed again to lose 3-4 and allow Rosalina to tie the series at 2. In game 5, Whiskers never seemed to get off the starting line, missing early and often while Rosalina dominated with a shutout going until just at the end, when she missed for the first time to take the win 1-5. Rosalina's 3-2 series win gets her to the bracket semifinals, where she'll be on the road again.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. B. Chapman. Today's final series ends the red cue's obligations in 10-ball for the round. Web City's Ted seemed to have a slight edge in game 1, as Victoria's Chapman didn't connect very well on her shots. Her game ran into danger with illegal contact on the 10, and Ted used ball-in-hand to make the 5 and then the 6-10 combination to the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted didn't have the same control in game 2, erring twice during the early part of the game. The second time allowed the Spurs' Chapman to end the game with a 4-10 combination to the bottom right, drawing the ire of the partial home crowd as she tied the series at 1 with the merciless win. Chapman nearly got the win on her first shot as she tried a 1-10 combination to the top right. It wouldn't fall, and Ted held a strong share of possession from there, including a late three-ball run. Chapman would counter with a pair and took another chance on the 10, but she missed again, and Ted tapped it in to secure the series at 3-1. Ted had a decent game 5 as well, but after a strong break, but Chapman had a nice five-ball run during the game, and she closed things out with a long strike on the 10. Ted still won the series 3-2, and he will host the Westside Rockers' Slinks in the bracket semifinals. Ted also has his second kill of the year, knocking Chapman out as the 53rd player eliminated.
We will be back on Monday with more Tournament action. Likely no cricket tonight, although that isn't yet certain, and there probably won't be any until Sunday at the earliest, but that too is unlikely.
No comments:
Post a Comment