We're back for an interesting week of Tournament play. We will have likely 50 games a day Monday thru Wednesday, then an off-day on Thursday, another 50-game set on Friday, and 40 on Sunday after taking Saturday off to wrap up the round. We begin today's action with...
Ebay Center, Queens: Max v. Mams. The silver cue gets the first look today in a series of 9-ball. Game 1 played out in a very close manner, with both Queens' Max and Viewpoint Sound's Mams often exchanging pairs of shots. At the end, this held true, as Mams missed the 8 on her third shot of a turn, and Max made it and the 9 for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams wasted a four-ball run and a decent chance later in the game with a pair of scratches, allowing the Flames' Max to get more than he should have. Max would make the last two balls after Mams' second scratch, giving Max the win and a 2-0 series lead. Max scratched on the break in game 5, which didn't ultimately impact the game much, as he had a five-ball run on his next turn, only to be perfectly countered by Mams' four-ball run-out in her cleanest game, a win that cut the series to 2-1. Mams set her self apart in game 4 with a three-ball run, which combined with her closing pair at the end to beat two pairs of successful shots from Max as Mams has come back to tie the series at 2 with better play in recent games. Max thought his four-ball run in game 5 would be going to waste, but Mams had a lapse in play as she missed a tap-in on the 7, and Max recovered to make the 7 and then an 8-9 combination at the top right for the win and the 3-2 series win. Max will host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell at this venue in the bracket semifinals. Max got his first kill of the year, as Mams is the 54th player to be eliminated.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Dusty. Two significant players in the Doubles Derby meet for 15-ball with the blue cue before the lunch break. Boston's Gradley didn't have a hot start in game 1, ceding early possession to Golden's Dusty, but Gradley rebounded late and when Dusty's three-ball run ended, Gradley made the last two balls to win, earning a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 allowed for a bit more creativity, which the Swifts' Gradley welcomes greatly. He showed well in the early going, but the Pilots' Dusty stuck with him, and when Gradley couldn't corral the 14 late, Dusty picked up the last two shots to win, tying the series at 1. Gradley had a couple of inexcusable misses in game 3, once on the 7, which proved to be the most difficult ball of the game, and another on the 15, where he missed a point-blank tap-in. Dusty was happy to pick up the scraps both times, taking the cheap win for a 2-1 series lead. Dusty seemed to slip a bit in game 4, although her play quality remained solid until the middle of the game. Tensions continued to rise, and Gradley channeled his frustration with a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series again at 2. Dusty had an excellent game 5 performance, with a five-ball run early on highlighting her offense. She nearly lost it anyway, but Gradley's cut on the 15 wouldn't fall, and Dusty made the tap-in to win, with a 3-2 series win. Dusty will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Puff I. The silver cue is back after the break for another 15-ball series. Modernistic's Puff I didn't have the strongest of outings in game 1, often playing a step behind Todavía's Bells. Things changed at the end, when Bells scratched while trying to get position on the 15, and Puff I made the winning shot from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I improved her share of the offense early in game 2, but she couldn't quite sustain the play. Puff I missed the 10, wasting a chance for a big run, and the Stills' Bells made sure to take advantage with a six-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1 with her sudden burst of great play. Bells offset an ugly first turn in game 3, which saw her miss contact on the 1, with a cluster-busting shot off the 2 that deflected into the 15, bouncing it off the 7 and into the top side for the win after Puff I failed to get anything on her single turn. Bells now leads the series 2-1 with the stunner shot. Bells seemed to have a stranglehold on game 4, as Puff I saw at least five of her turns end in illegal contact. The last of those was by intent from Bells, who played defense with the hopes of igniting a run. She did make a four-ball run, including a two-rail 11-14 bank combination to the top side, but she missed on the 14, and Puff I made the last two shots for the win to retie the series at 2. Bells took over in game 5, going all the way with a ball on the break, a nine-ball run on her second turn, and a five-ball run-out after shocked Puff I couldn't bring in the 11. Bells' perfect finish earned her a 3-2 series win, and she will be hosting another series in the bracket semifinals after this performance. Bells has her first kill of the year, with Puff I becoming the 55th player eliminated this year.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Bianca. Up the coast, the last of a trio of 15-ball series is played with the red cue. Southridge's Bianca couldn't get a grip in game 1, struggling to keep the cue out of pockets. Pacific's Ms. Kitty didn't have much confidence, but she got a late gift when Bianca scratched after making the 14. Ms. Kitty tapped the 15 in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty had a more measured game 2, again keeping her possession slow and steady, while the Defenders' Bianca made a couple of nice shots. At the end, Bianca missed on the 14 to stall a run, and Ms. Kitty made the last two balls for the win, moving to a 2-0 series lead. Bianca had a huge share of possession late in game 3, making six balls over two turns at one stage. Still, she missed the 14 and 15 once each, giving Ms. Kitty a second chance on the 15, which she gladly converted to take a win in a game she got outplayed during for the 3-0 series lead. Bianca picked up the pace on her offense a bit more in game 4, showing pretty well over the middle of the game. This didn't mean a lot near the end, where Ms. Kitty hit a five-ball run and then stuffed Bianca on the 15 to get the win and a 4-0 lead in the series with her heady defensive play and sudden burst. Ms. Kitty again picked up a surge in her offense late, working a five-ball run but just leaving the 15 standing after a wide cut toward the top side. Bianca struck it on a cut to the top right for the win, avoiding the sweep as Ms. Kitty will settle for a 4-1 series win and the right to host her bracket semifinals series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Roxy. We're onto 7-ball now, with the silver cue making its last appearance for the day. Oceanside's Celestia opened up well with a big run from the break, and she followed it up with two more solid turns, sandwiching a pair of misses from Freedom's Roxy. Celestia's hefty share of offense earned her the win when she cut the 7 to the top right for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia consolidated her offense even more in game 2, making a three-ball run from the break and following it with a big four-ball run-out after the Cascades' Roxy missed her only shot of the game. Celestia's dominant play has given her a 2-0 series lead. Celestia continued her strong breaking pattern, making a three-ball run this time before a fight for possession. Roxy emerged with a three-ball run of her own a turn later, but missed on the 7 from short range, and Celestia made the tap-in to clinch the series at 3-0. Celestia scratched on the break in game 4, showing some cracks in her form throughout the game as well. Roxy played better to fill the void, and when Celestia missed on the 7, Roxy made sure to convert on the shot from distance, the face-saving win cutting the series to 3-1. Celestia played a little better in game 5, but her final shot let her down. Roxy had missed the 7 narrowly at the bottom left, and Celestia tried a spinning strike that took the cue into the pocket right behind the 7 for the loss. Celestia still took the series 3-2 over Roxy, and will travel to Archtown's Starbucks Arena to face the Arrows' Ruby in the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Bianca. The red cue is back for this series of 12-ball. Pearl's Boots did well in game 1 against the player brought in to replace her. Boots made one of each suit on the break, but immediately chose stripes, and worked a great game with superb shot selection and defensive positioning, nullifying the wild-card ball advantage for Southridge's Bianca. Boots made a three-ball run-out to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots didn't do as well in game 2, but she waited until the end to give away a wild-card ball to the Defenders' Bianca. Boots did this to remove defense, and Bianca didn't see any benefit, being too out of position to make a shot before boots picked up her final ball for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Boots made three balls on the break, and chose stripes to give up only one wild-card ball to Bianca in game 3. Bianca would give it back at the end of her four-ball run, which tipped the game in her favor. Boots couldn't convert on her well-positioned shots, and Bianca got around Boots' defense late to pick up the win to make it a 2-1 series. Bianca had a good start in game 4 for herself, but a scratch ruined the advantage, and Boots battled even until the end, where Boots got around Bianca's defense and pushed the rookie out of position. Boots nearly had an amazing kick on the 6 to the top side, but Bianca missed on her next turn, and Boots kicked again, converting for the win this time to seal the series at 3-1. Boots went unconventional in game 5, giving up two wild-card balls on the break to take solids over stripes. Bianca seemed positioned to counter quite well, but Boots held her up just enough and made shots when she needed to for the win and a 4-1 series win. Boots heads to Lighton's Pepsi Arena to face the Prestige's Spirit in the bracket semifinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Taylor. The blue cue is back for this series of Accuracy. Tysini's Brownie started out with a nice lead as Eastside's Taylor got jittery on her first shot. Taylor recovered well later in the game, managing to strategically get Brownie to miss twice near the end of the game. Taylor wouldn't see the benefit, as she also missed her last shot, and Brownie made the last ball for a 3-4 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie lost all of her ability to hang on in game 2, falling behind early to the Sharks' Taylor, who kept it close with a couple of early misses. Brownie completely unraveled toward the late-middle of the game, and eventually Taylor had a 2-9 win to tie the series at 1. Taylor and Brownie each had very different experiences in game 3. Taylor didn't have the same confident shot, missing twice early on, while Brownie quickly erased her poor performance from memory to pull off a long stretch of perfect play. Brownie would slip up a couple of times late, but she won 2-5 to regain the series lead at 2-1. Taylor and Brownie had a back-and-forth battle in game 4, with Taylor falling behind at first, then watching Brownie plummet to a deficit. Brownie battled back, but she missed on her last shot, and Taylor made the ball for a 4-5 win to tie the series at 2 with a tough performance. Taylor didn't have to be all that good in game 5 either, as she built an early lead and made it work with Brownie unable to capitalize on any of Taylor's misses. The end was sloppy as Taylor took the 4-7 result to clinch the series at 3-2. Taylor will head home to FedEx Arena in Eastside to host the Diamond Gems' Rosalina in an Eastern Hills battle in the bracket semifinals. Taylor picked up her first kill of the year in this series, as Brownie is the 56th player eliminated despite a solid season.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Puff III. The blue cue is up for some 7-ball in the last series before an afternoon break. Golden's Charlton wasted no time in getting a 1-0 series lead over one of the leading MVP candidates, getting the 7 to fall in the bottom side on the break for the win that kept Everton's Puff III away from the table. The Pilots' Charlton didn't quite get the 7 to fall on the break in game 2, rattling it out of the top left, but the 3 fell to start her offense. She didn't dominate, but she had a strong share of possession, which the Eagles' Puff III disregarded by making the last two balls to win the game and tie the series at 1. Puff III again had a shaky start in game 3, not doing much to help her offense, but when Charlton stalled out later in the game, Puff III was there to make the final two balls herself and get the win for a 2-1 series lead with the timely offense. Game 4 saw Charlton need just a single shot after Puff III couldn't get anything on the break. Charlton ran an option play, dinging the cue off the 1 toward the 6, which wouldn't fall in the bottom right. The other half of the play worked perfectly, a 1-7 combination to the top right for the quick win to retie the series at 2. Charlton didn't get anything on the break, but she went deep with a five-ball run later in the game, only to see Puff III once again win late with a tap-in on the 7 Charlton missed. Puff III took the gutsy series 3-2 despite terrible possession numbers, and she advances to the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Paps. After the break, the red cue comes up for some 9-ball. Diamond's Pedey had a better performance in game 1 than did Eastside's Paps, although both were a bit slow at the start. Pedey picked up the pace late, working a four-ball run after Paps missed on the 6, and that run carried Pedey to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Pedey again was a bit slow on the start, but after the Sharks' Paps missed a 1-4 combination try to the top left, Pedey took off on a five-ball run-out, ending with a well-cut 5-9 combination that glanced off the 6 and into the top right for the win. Pedey holds a 2-0 series lead. Paps had a glaringly bad shot on the 2 in game 3, missing both it and the 4 when either of them could have gone in, and scratching to boot. Pedey answered with a five-ball run from ball-in-hand, but he couldn't jam the 7 anywhere, and Paps made the last two balls to atone for his earlier error. Paps' win made it a 2-1 series. Game 4 saw Paps nearly save his series with a strong push late in the game, which Pedey tried to counter but couldn't completely hold off in the end. Paps got the last shot on the 9, and he made it, but the cue kept going and scratched at the top right to gift Pedey the win and the 3-1 series lead. Pedey had an inconveniently timed scratch late in game 5, as he missed on the 3, which lined up well for a 3-9 combination for Paps from ball-in-hand. Paps converted for the win, but Pedey took the series 3-2 and will host the bracket semifinals series between himself and the Southridge Defenders' Hughbert. Pedey picked up his second kill of the year this time, with Paps the 57th player to be eliminated.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Goatee. The red cue wraps up the day with some 12-ball between veterans in a do-or-die series. Westside's Goatee had an excellent game 1, allowing only one ball on the break from Freedom's Roxy before the visitor took over. Goatee showed excellent shot selection skills on her ending four-ball run, and she executed well to get good position for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Goatee kept going with a four-ball run from the break in game 2. The Cascades' Roxy got one ball back on her first turn, but a miscue on a later turn opened Goatee up for her last two shots from ball-in-hand, which she made for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Roxy played her best game in game 3, getting a fair amount of offense on the board, but it would go to waste with a late scratch. Goatee had kept even to that point, and then made her last two balls with a turn originating across the table in the kitchen. She banked the 4 to the bottom side for the win, clinching the series at 3-0. Goatee nearly made three balls on the break in game 4, all solids, and she had great positioning for late in the game, but she couldn't quite get the right shot. Roxy bumped her last ball out of the way, and would later receive a wild-card ball to help pace her to the win. Goatee still holds a 3-1 series lead. Goatee again pushed toward a finish in game 5, but Roxy did enough through positioning and defensive bumps to rattle Goatee and pick up another win. Goatee did take the series 3-2, and she will visit Sprint Hall in Victoria to face the Spurs' Wario in the bracket semifinals. Goatee earned her first kill of the year as well, as Roxy is the 58th player eliminated this year.
That's all we've got for today. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be more of the same. Cricket should be on the way later tonight.
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