We're back for an Independence Day version of UPCL Tournament play. We should hit 50 games today, leading off with...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Mario. A Northeastern battle gets us going in 10-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Kirstin had a bit of luck early in game 1, working a four-ball run from the break despite not having a good break. She would make two more balls before a miss allowed Central's Mario to put up a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a slower pace from both players, as the Warriors' Mario couldn't get a run going early or late. The Eagles' Kirstin pressed hard, but still needed Mario's miss on the 10 to make it on her second try. Kirstin's aggressive finish helped her tie the series at 1 with her win. Kirstin had a calm game 3, keeping her pace fairly steady throughout. Mario did well to match this pace, and the pair exchanged shots pretty evenly, until Mario's miss on the 10 allowed Kirstin a tap-in for the win and a 2-1 series lead in her favor. Kirstin seemed to pace play a bit better in game 4, continuing her upward swing for the series, but a late four-ball run went to waste when she missed the 10 twice, and Mario made it on his second try for the win. This retied the series at 2. Kirstin needed just two shots to get the win in game 5, picking up the 1 on an easy cut and the 2-10 combination to the top right through traffic. Kirstin took the series 3-2, advancing to host the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Marsell. The red cue plays the back-half of a venue doubleheader, with a series of Rotation on the way. Whitewater's Marsell burst ahead early in game 1, gaining a lead that Everton's Puff III threatened late but could not match. Marsell picked up his last shot against the run of play to win 8-6, taking a 1-0 series lead as well. Game 2 went a bit better for the Eagles' Puff III, who weaponized the 1 at the start of the game on a three-ball run. Marsell double-potted the 2 and 9 to the left corners to tie the game on a three-ball run of his own, but his later lead wouldn't hold up long enough. Puff III roared back into the game on a four-ball run-out, winning 8-6 to tie the series at 1. Marsell charged back with a fierce four-ball run at the start of game 3, setting the tone quite well. Puff III nearly tied it, but her spinning double-pot of the 7 and 12 ended in a scratch, negating both balls. Marsell took over from here, keeping a scratch-prone Puff III at bay as he won 8-3. Marsell reclaimed the series lead at 2-1. Marsell took another large lead in game 4, but Puff III didn't crumble this time, pulling ahead a little over halfway through the game. Puff III finished the game off with a three-ball run-out for the 8-5 win, tying the series again at 2 to set up a decisive game. Marsell thought he'd have an early lead in game 5, but he couldn't make it stand against an early run by Puff III. The finish of the game proved tense, as Marsell chipped his way back into the game before Puff III closed the door at 8-6, giving herself the 3-2 series win. Puff III is set to host the Queens Flames captain Crystal at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Precious. The red cue remains at the table after lunch, administering a series of 12-ball. Pearl's Boots had a bit too much on the break, making one of each suit, which gave Pronger's Precious a wild-card ball early. Precious struggled with positioning, and Boots got a three-ball run to make it close. Precious then scratched, and Boots made her last two shots from the kitchen for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots had a strong game 2 break as well, but things were tough in the early going. It got better for the Tridents' Precious later on, as she broke things open with a three-ball run. Boots tried to counter, but Precious had a better position and got the win, tying the series at 1. Boots held the advantage for much of game 3, but she thought she had more time than Precious would allow. Precious made a couple of tough cuts to the side pockets to wrap up the game while Boots was still setting up her final shot, with the late surge putting Precious up 2-1 in the series. Boots made things interesting in a slow start to game 4. Boots worked her way onto the side pocket shots, and had a fairly easy spread from there, forcing Precious to take riskier shots to keep up. Precious couldn't hang on this time, and Boots picked up the win to tie the series again at 2. Boots pulled herself into a good position again in game 5, defending the mutually-needed top left to keep Precious from winning before Boots made her last shot. Boots' win gave her the series at 3-2, and she advances to host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Sally. The red cue continues a short spurt of series with this 7-ball battle. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy had a slow start in game 1, which also saw Archtown's Sally struggle with pace initially. Ms. Puppy found herself faster, rallying on a six-ball run-out to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead in a sudden turn of form. The Union's Ms. Puppy had a bit better of a start in game 2, making a three-ball run on her second turn, but the Arrows' Sally made a quick response on her next turn, taking a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1 with her own surge. Game 3 went pretty well for Sally at the start, as she made three balls on her first two turns. Things got chippy later in the game, and it allowed Ms. Puppy to clean up a shot on the 7 that Sally couldn't make. Ms. Puppy's gritty win earned her a 2-1 series lead. Ms. Puppy needed some time to grow into game 4, which Sally reluctantly allowed to happen again. Sally couldn't string any shots together, which left her defenseless against another six-ball run-out from Ms. Puppy, this one enough to clinch the series at 3-1. Ms. Puppy kept up the pace in game 5, making a three-ball run early with two on the break, and then closing with a three-ball run-out to end the series in a 4-1 win over sally. Ms. Puppy advances to visit the Surfers' Boots at the Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl in the bracket quarterfinals. The win marked the eighteenth elimination this year, as Sally's exit from the Tournament is Ms. Puppy's first kill.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. B. Chapman. The red cue is still in play with a series of Rotation between a rookie and a veteran. Atlantic's Klaus started a bit slowly in game 1, and Victoria's Chapman pounced on the opportunity, building up a nice lead. Klaus tried to rally back late in the game, but a scratch ended the comeback when Chapman scored to make it 8-6, enough for her to take a 1-0 series lead on the win. The Pirates' Klaus couldn't be happy with his 8-6 win in game 2, as the battle with the Spurs' Chapman was filled with scratches, missed contact, and poor shooting. Chapman had the lead for most of the early going, but Klaus recovered just enough to win, tying the series at 1. Chapman again pulled out to a nice lead in game 3, and she did so this time with more flair and poise on her shots. Klaus struggled at first, but rallied to tie the game late, and then made the last two balls he needed for an 8-7 win and 2-1 series lead in another tough game. Chapman left no doubt as to who would win game 4, dominating with a four-ball run early on after a nice scattering on Klaus' break. She lulled a bit from here, allowing Klaus back into the game before Chapman finished with a three-ball run-out for the 8-3 win, tying the series at 2. Klaus pieced together a good game despite not shooting that well. Chapman had nothing left in the tank to counter Klaus, who slowly worked his way to an 8-1 win that gave him the series at 3-2. Klaus will host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Dewey. The blue cue is up now, with the game returning to 7-ball. Golden's Charlton was the first to find her shot in game 1, working an excellent effort with a four-ball run-out at the end, making Oceanside's Dewey a little frustrated that he couldn't adjust in time. Charlton has the series lead at 1-0. The Waves' Dewey tried to get too creative on the 2 in game 2, and this proved quite costly in the end. As he missed it, the Pilots' Charlton began what would end the game as a six-ball run-out, enough for the host to earn a 2-0 series lead with the nice stretch of play. Dewey finally put it all together in game 3, making a four-ball run and coming within an inch of getting a win on the turn after that run. Instead, his cut on the 7 left it short at the bottom right, and the hard work went to waste as Charlton poached the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Charlton dominated both ends of game 4, making a three-ball run off the break, and then potting the last two balls after a brutal scratch went against Dewey. Charlton's strong effort pushed her lead in the series to 4-0. Dewey refused to suffer a sweep in this series, needing just one turn to make all seven balls in game 5, enough to earn a win for himself. Charlton still took the series 4-1, and she will host the Everton Eagles' Puff III at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Mams. The silver cue is back for its last series today, playing 8-ball in this Coastal Divisional. Oceanside's Caitlin had a front-loaded performance in game 1, assembling a nice run on the break but no others in the game. Viewpoint Sound's Mams took advantage with a balanced attack, ending on a three-ball run-out to give her a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams seemed to have game 2 under control after a good start, but the Waves' Caitlin put quite the scare in Mams late. Caitlin made a six-ball run and nearly converted the 8 at the bottom left before falling off, allowing Mams to tap the 8 in for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Caitlin refused to go down quietly, storming her way through the start of game 3 with a seven-ball run. Mams managed to get one ball back, but couldn't prevent Caitlin making the 8 on a bank to the top side for the win, pulling her back into the 2-1 series in which she's behind. Mams managed to push Caitlin right to the brink in game 4, but Mams' scratch and Caitlin's defense caused the game to shift. Caitlin pulled all the way back with a five-ball run-out at the end, winning the game to tie the series at 2 with the mammoth effort. Caitlin had a lot of pressure on Mams early in game 5, but she succumbed to Mams' defense rather quickly as well, and Mams put together a six-ball run-out to complete the comeback and get the 3-2 series win. Mams is set to host Central Warriors rookie Mario in the bracket quarterfinals at Volkswagen Stadium Events Center in Viewpoint Sound.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Bianca. A wily veteran takes on a crafty rookie in this 12-ball series with the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty clearly had a better start in game 1, but despite having her last three shots lined up, she couldn't convert. Southridge's Bianca played good positional defense, and patiently waited until she could make her last shot, even giving up a wild-card ball to clear her path. Bianca's win gave her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a good start from the Defenders' Bianca go to waste, as she sputtered through most of the rest of the game. A late three-ball run wasn't enough, as it removed the defense to make it possible for the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty to make her last two shots for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a decent start for Ms. Kitty come to an abrupt end when she ran out of lined-up shots. Bianca had to work a bit, but a well-played three-ball run helped her get position for her last two shots, which she made on the next turn to win and regain the series lead at 2-1. Bianca had a thundering break in game 4, blasting in three stripes to two pockets. The unintentional error allowed her turn to continue, as she kicked the 11 to the bottom left. She and Ms. Kitty exchanged shots for a bit, until Bianca took both of her side pockets and got set at the top left for her final shot, which she made on the next turn to win for a 3-1 series lead. Bianca continued her surge with a good performance in game 5, making a four-ball run early on and holding off Ms. Kitty right up to the end, when Bianca buried her final two shots for the win. Bianca took the series 4-1, earning a trip to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to visit the Surfers' Boots in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Dreamy. Stars clash in 10-ball with the red cue after a short break. Swordpoint's Dreamy brought a quick end to game 1 after Boston's Puff II couldn't shake her own slow start. Dreamy needed only two shots on her second turn to make the 2-10 combination to the bottom right for the win, good for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Swifts' Puff II continued to struggled throughout game 2 with her poor shooting becoming quite frustrating. The Blades' Dreamy was unable to attack the vulnerability as well this time, and Puff II picked up the 10 as a scrap to get the win, tying the series at 1 despite being outplayed. Puff II continued to improve, holding about even possession shares with Dreamy in game 3. The end brought a bit more frustration to Dreamy, who couldn't pot the 9 at the bottom left, allowing Puff II to supplement her three-ball run with the last two balls for the win. Puff II leads the series 2-1 now. Dreamy's trouble with closing out games came to a head at the end of game 4, where her late four-ball run left the 10 standing at the end. Puff II, who had bled possession away for much of the game, stepped up with a long cut on the 10 to the top left for the clinching win to make it a 3-1 series. Puff II picked up some slack in game 5 as well, with a disheartened Dreamy just playing through her shots. Dreamy did have a late three-ball run act as a glimmer of hope before a scratch gave Puff II an easy pair of shots for the win. Puff II advances to the bracket quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Leonette. The blue cue will close out today's games with a series of 12-ball. Pacific's Leonette was behind early in game 1, but Westside's Misty had trouble gaining position on her shots. The result was a close game that saw each player get onto their final ball, and Leonette won from ball-in-hand when Misty missed contact on a kick attempt. Leonette has a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty had a similar effort in game 2, unable to really break free for much of the game despite holding the advantage. The Volcanoes' Leonette saw things change quickly when she followed gifting Misty a wild-card ball with illegal contact. Misty made her last ball from ball-in-hand for the win, tying the series at 1. Misty had a lead again in game 3, getting onto her last ball and even getting very close to potting it, but a strategic scratch by Leonette saved the game for the visitor, who would execute a four-ball run-out with a tough bank to close up a comeback win for the 2-1 series lead. Leonette pulled off a four-ball run on her second turn in game 4, putting Misty on edge with the sudden burst. Misty tried to play defense, but it was too late, as Leonette got her final ball behind the defense for the win, securing the series at 3-1. Misty got her back in game 5, working around Leonette last-ditch effort at defense to pick up the win as a ball fell just before Leonette's shot. Leonette did take the series 3-2, and will visit Gillette Center in Swordpoint to oppose the Blades' Bandit in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's it for pool today, after a healthy 50 games. We may play upwards of 60 tomorrow if timing holds true, but 40 is the bare minimum.
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