We're back for another day of games, upwards of 60 on the schedule should things go just right. We begin this morning with...
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Jennifer Livilotti. The silver cue makes the first appearance today, in 12-ball. Boston's Puff II pulled off a quick three-ball run at the start of game 1, and then saw a pair of scratches from Terrace City's Jennifer. Puff II capitalized with a three-ball run-out from the kitchen to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II didn't have the same dominant runs in game 2, but she did find success in the same way late. The Knights' Jennifer had a scratch that allowed Puff II to set up her final run well, and a turn later, Puff II converted a four-ball run-out to take the 2-0 series lead. Jennifer had a much better effort in game 3, even briefly leading near the end of the game before she gave Puff II a wild-card ball while committing illegal contact. Puff II struck her last ball from ball-in-hand to pick up the clinching win, securing the series at 3-0. Jennifer had her best game in game 4, a gritty defensive battle after Puff II's break created a frustrating distribution. Puff II couldn't get her last three shots lined up, and Jennifer got around the halfhearted defense to make her last two shots for the win, cutting the series to 3-1. Jennifer had a good break in game 5, but she also gave away a wild-card ball, which led to a defensive finish. Puff II nearly got in position, only for Jennifer to push her aside, and when Puff II tried to recover, she potted Jennifer's final ball for her, giving the visitor another win. Puff II took the series 3-2, and she will travel to Harrison's Mercedes-Benz Forum for a bracket quarterfinals series with the Specters' Lexi.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Ms. Kitty. Two experienced veterans go head-to-head with the red cue in hand for some 7-ball. Royal's Nightfur had an excellent break in game 1, but found herself unlucky to leave the 7 at the bottom right. Pacific's Ms. Kitty double-potted the 1-7 combination to that pocket for the win and an easy 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty had a clearly better game 2, making a four-ball run from the break to set the tone. The Crowns' Nightfur made a late push, but her run ended with a miss on the 7, and Ms. Kitty cut it to the top right for the win to pull ahead to a 2-0 series lead. Nightfur controlled possession for much of game 3, making a four-ball run after Ms. Kitty scratched on the break. Nightfur had a chance at the 7 late in the game, but sent it wide of the top right, and Ms. Kitty cleaned it up, clinching the series at 3-0 with the play. Nightfur finally had her breakthrough in game 4, as the pace slowed enough to give her a chance for a late run. Nightfur converted a three-ball run-out after some sloppy shooting from Ms. Kitty, making it a 3-1 series with her win. Ms. Kitty couldn't get a grip on game 5 either, as Nightfur nearly won on the break and did eventually pick up the victory at the end after Ms. Kitty missed too many shots. Ms. Kitty did take the series 3-2, and will be on the road for the bracket quarterfinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Hoot. We'll stick with 7-ball for the next series, but the blue cue is in this one, which may wrap around a break. Westside's Misty couldn't make anything from the break in game 1, and Viewpoint Sound's Hoot needed only two turns, with a three-ball run and a 5-7 combination to the top left earning him the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty turned possession around in game 2, doing most of the work against the Meteors' Hoot, who had trouble stringing his shots together. Misty came through at the end to make the last two balls, winning the game to tie the series at 1. Misty didn't directly give away game 3, but her failed jump attempt on the 3 that resulted in a scratch allowed Hoot to put up a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. Hoot ended on a 6-7 combination to the bottom right for the win that gave him a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 took a very back-and-forth tilt, with Hoot having a clean break that potted a ball. Neither player had much for runs, and Hoot's late scratch after making the 6 allowed Misty ball-in-hand on the 7 for the win, tying the series again at 2. Misty held her own early in game 5, but it wouldn't last, as Hoot picked up a four-ball run-out at the end for the win, taking the series with him at 3-2. Hoot will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Hannah. The red cue is back for Accuracy between a pair of young players. Harrison's Sydney played an excellent game 1, getting some help from a shaky start by Royal's Hannah, who missed two shots early and never recovered. Sydney clamped down after her only miss, earning the win at 1-4 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Sydney did make a ball on the break in game 2, but with less scatter, her shots were much more difficult. The Crowns' Hannah stayed composed when she fell into a tie around the middle of the game, and Sydney faded at the end, allowing Hannah to win 1-4 to tie the series at 1. Hannah couldn't keep up her precise shooting in game 3, quickly falling behind. Sydney wasn't sharp at first, but she righted her course before Hannah, and maintained a lead through most of the game for the 3-5 win to take the series lead back at 2-1. Game 4 saw Sydney turn toward perfection, while Hannah tried to hold on early but faltered by the end. Sydney never let Hannah get a grip, as Sydney took the win 0-4 to clinch the series at 3-1. Sydney sputtered a little bit at the start of game 5, but she quickly regained her shot, and Hannah had no answer for it, a late-game missing spree helping Sydney to a 2-5 win. Sydney took the series 4-1, and will host Golden Pilots star Dusty at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Juno. A rookie takes on a sophomore captain in 9-ball with the blue cue in this series. Oceanside's Dewey nearly made the 9 on the break of game 1, making for an interesting start. Stonebridge's Juno couldn't align a shot on the 9, but Dewey did when he made the 3-9 combination to the bottom right on his second turn, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Dewey seemed to rest on his laurels a bit in game 2, not attacking the ball very well. A missed contact on the 4 changed the game for him, as the Wolves' Juno would make a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, double-potting the 7 to the top right and 9 to the bottom right off two rails for the win to tie the series at 1. Juno needed only three turns in game 3 to make magic, highlighted by a four-ball run on her second turn and a three-ball run-out on the next to get the win and the 2-1 lead in the series, while Dewey continues to shoot listlessly. Dewey showed a bit more urgency in game 4, not allowing Juno to dominate play at will. Dewey did his part on offense in the early going, and then sealed the win with a three-ball run-out in the end to retie the series at 2. Juno made a lot out of a bad position in game 5, as Dewey left the 2 and 9 in close proximity and Juno made a tough-angle combination to the bottom right for the series win at 3-2. Juno's tricky shot advances her to the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Bright v. Kayla. The blue cue continues a mini-tour with this 15-ball series between veterans in new places. Game 1 went at a fast pace, with each player making a fair share of their shots. North Modernistic's Bright had more of the late possession, but he couldn't develop a true run, and Royal's Kayla picked off the 15 at the end for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a bit less pace on both sides, but a bit more strategy. The Crowns' Kayla had control in the early and late stages of the game, with the Nighthawks' Bright getting a few shots in the middle of the game. Kayla's late push won her the game on a three-ball run-out, giving her a 2-0 series lead for her effort. Kayla continued to play pretty well for much of game 3, but her quality slipped in the late stages and hit its worst level with a scratch after making the 12. Bright happily picked up the scraps, making the last two balls from ball-in-hand for a win to cut the series to 2-1. Game 4 didn't start all that favorably for Bright, but Kayla's offense evaded her as well, and this led to a fairly even battle until Bright made the 5-15 combination for the win. This unexpected success helped Bright to tie the series at 2 games apiece. Bright had a good effort in game 5 with a four-ball run over the middle to help move things along quickly. Kayla countered even better two turns later, making a five-ball run-out for the win and 3-2 series win. Kayla will advance to a road series in the bracket quarterfinals. Bright is the nineteenth player to be eliminated this year, and Kayla has her first kill for doing so.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Waluigi v. Leonette. A struggling rookie takes on a veteran having her breakout year for a series of 7-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Leonette capitalized on a poor outing from Maplewood's Waluigi in game 1. The host made a ball on the break, but didn't have much from the run of play, allowing Leonette to patiently earn a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had a commanding break in game 2, and was so good that the Lumberjacks' Waluigi never got a shot. Leonette made the 3 to the bottom right and the 7 to the top side on her break, pushing her series lead to 2-0 in the process. Leonette continued to dominate possession in game 3, although her break was rather flat. Leonette did produce a four-ball run at one point, but her long shot on the 7 failed her, and Waluigi tapped it in for the win, getting himself on the board in the 2-1 series. Waluigi kept pretty even with Leonette for much of game 4, but he made a rookie mistake when he drew the cue back into the top side after making the 6. The scratch allowed Leonette to clinch the series on the 7 from ball-in-hand to the bottom right, putting her ahead 3-1. Leonette tried to keep composed in game 5, but she didn't have the same sharpness as she had in previous games. This allowed Waluigi to keep even possession and get the win late, making it a 3-2 series. Leonette will return home to Verizon Field Events Center in Pacific to host a Coastal Divisional against the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Hoot in the bracket quarterfinals. Leonette has her first kill of the year with this win, knocking the rookie Waluigi out as the 20th player eliminated.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Precious. The blue cue's tour ends with 9-ball between two under-appreciated veterans. Swordpoint's Stealth didn't get anything out of his break, and he engaged in a tense and choppy battle for game 1 with Pronger's Precious. In the end, Precious couldn't get a line on the 9, and Stealth barely tapped it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth seemed most comfortable at the start of game 2, but he saw his performance slip. The 7 proved very difficult for him to make, and the Tridents' Precious made it, only to miss the 9. Stealth also missed his chance at the 9, and Precious made it the second time for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a reversal of the script, as the players struggled in the early going. Precious had the bulk of the trouble, turning in a small offensive effort. Stealth broke free in the end with a five-ball run-out for the win to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 followed a similar pattern, with neither player establishing themselves until a late three-ball run from Precious. She and Stealth each missed the 9 once, but Precious made it on the second try to get the win, retying the extremely close series at 2. Precious changed the game in game 5, going for a quick finish with a four-ball run-out that saw her drive the cue off the 3 to the take the 9 in the bottom right. Stealth had no chance to react as Precious took the series 3-2, advancing to host the Web City Spiders' Dani in the bracket quarterfinals at Pronger's Ford Forum.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Watermelon. The red cue is back for this series of 15-ball between tough captains. Pearl's Watermelon battled through the early part of game 1, holding an even keel against Harrison's Twinkie II. Watermelon broke out in a big way when she could, working her way to a nine-ball run-out for the win and a massive 1-0 series lead with momentum. The Surfers' Watermelon lacked the same instincts for shooting in game 2, unable to carry the momentum over at all. A few scratches and a four-ball run-out from the Specters' Twinkie II left the series in a 1-1 tie after a slower-paced second game. Twinkie II carried her quality shooting into the start of game 3, but things got a bit slow in the middle of the game. Watermelon didn't put up a long run at the end of the game, but she worked her way to the win over her last three turns, reclaiming the series lead at 2-1. Watermelon couldn't get much more than a good break out of game 4, as Twinkie II chipped her way through the early parts with a lot of successful shots. Watermelon had a chance to counter, but it went to waste when Twinkie II rattled off a six-ball run-out for the win, retying the series at 2. Twinkie II managed to maintain her play in the early part of game 5, but Watermelon stayed right with her to keep it close. Twinkie II surged again around the 9, but faltered at the end, and Watermelon picked up the last two shots to win, taking the series 3-2. Watermelon advances to the bracket quarterfinals, where she heads to the House of 10 Windows in Del Sur to face Southern Monarchs rookie Hoppy. Watermelon also has her first kill of the year, as Twinkie II becomes the 21st player eliminated from this year's Tournament.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Sparkles. The blue cue ends its day in 10-ball in the Northeast. Central's Dustin had a clear edge in game 1, as Todavía's Sparkles looked shaky and uncertain on most of her shots. Her scratch on the 5 allowed Dustin to emerge with a five-ball run-out for the win, highlighted by a double-pot of the 6 to the top left and 7 to the bottom right. Dustin leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Dustin had a dominant edge to game 2, easily keeping the Stills' Sparkles at bay for most of the game. Dustin had an abrupt end to a four-ball run when he missed the 9, and while Sparkles converted that shot, she couldn't grab the 10. Dustin made it instead, boosting his series lead to 2-0. Dustin didn't exactly have as much of a dominant game 3, with Sparkles showing a bit better in the early going to keep things even. Dustin pulled away once again in the end, with a pair of three-ball runs setting him apart as he clinched the series at 3-0. Dustin saw his pace of play drop again in game 4, but he nearly made the 10 illegally out of the blue at the top right. Sparkles saw a chance to get a bank combination on it, but scratched, and Dustin made the 5-10 combination to the top right for another win and a 4-0 series lead on the point-blank shot. Dustin had a terrible game 5 by his standards, greatly aided in such a result by Sparkles' best game of the series. Sparkles ended on a four-ball run-out with a 6-10 combination to the bottom right to make it a 4-1 series. Dustin will stay at home to host the Maplewood Lumberjacks captain Fluffina in the bracket quarterfinals Northeastern Divisional series. Sparkles is the 22nd player to be eliminated this year, giving Dustin his first kill.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Roxy. The best team in the league sees two of their own battle it out in 7-ball with the silver cue. Jasmine took over in game 1, never letting Roxy get a shot in. Jasmine made two balls on the break, and then finished the six-ball run-out with a 5-7 combination to the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Jasmine couldn't copy the effort over to game 2 at all, scratching once early on. She got possession back after Roxy couldn't develop a run, but lost it again, and Roxy used this turn for a four-ball run-out, ending on an option shot that saw her place the 7 in the top left after a deflection off the 5, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Roxy wasted no time in taking the series lead, needing just two shots in game 3. Roxy made the 6 to the bottom right on the break, and then used a follow shot on the 1 to get the cue to tap the 7 in at the top left. The 1 didn't fall, but Roxy still took the game and a 2-1 series lead over Jasmine. Game 4 saw Roxy go empty on the break, allowing Jasmine to carve out a bit of possession for herself. Jasmine couldn't get a run going, and the players battled until Roxy emerged on a three-ball run in the end, sealing the series at 3-1. Jasmine countered in game 5 with a winning deflection of her own after Roxy couldn't do it. Jasmine made the 7 after bouncing the cue off the 1, leading Roxy to a 3-2 series win in the end. Roxy will be on the road for her bracket quarterfinals series.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Dustin. A clash of superstars ends the day in 7-ball with the red cue. Boston's Patches had a decent break in game 1, but it gave way to a slow period of play. Central's Dustin tried to counter but nothing stuck, and Patches picked up the win later with a four-ball run-out to give her the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches had a similar early performance in game 2, holding things fairly steady with a solid appearance. The Warriors' Dustin took a bit more initiative later in the game, earning a three-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Patches didn't have the cleanest appearance in game 3, making a couple of mistakes in the early going that allowed Dustin a bit of free time on the ball. Dustin didn't do enough with the gifts, and Patches struck back at the end with a crisp three-ball run-out to earn the win and retake the series lead at 2-1. Dustin kept pace with Patches at the start of a sluggish game 4, as neither player grabbed control. Dustin had a three-ball run over the middle to tip things in his favor, and after Patches missed on the 6, Dustin made the last two balls for the win, tying the series again at 2. Dustin had a clear edge in game 5, shooting with more authority and intent than Patches, who held on for awhile. Dustin ultimately prevailed with a nice finish to win the series 3-2, earning himself a trip to the bracket quarterfinals.
That's it for the 60 games today. Tomorrow is much more likely to be 40 games, or potentially 50 if pace of play is favorable.
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