Elite Cricket 2018 - Week 3

After an unexpected day off for personal health, Elite cricket gets going with Week 3 on a condensed schedule. We begin with...

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The first game of the week sees the Flames sit Briana while the Union have Ms. Puppy on the bench after a rough outing last time. Crystal started with a modest 273 for Queens, lacking the pace to make a more decisive attack for the visitors. Daisy looked pretty solid in lead-off for Modernistic, slicing 541 to give Modernistic the early lead. Violetta crumbled at 179 for the Flames, failing to find a swinging rhythm that worked for her. Puff I got beat on a deflection for Modernistic, taking 329 to add a bit to their lead. Kyle couldn't keep his swing under control, falling at 192 when he lifted his last hit too high to damage Queens' comeback hopes. Kodiak answered with 585 for Modernistic in a firm turn that helps to secure their lead later in the game. Hannah tried a rally but came up short with 266 for the Flames, leaving them at a loss with 910. Chimpy tacked on 447 at the end for the Union, his solid showing icing their win at 1902. Modernistic is 1-3, while Queens drops to 3-3.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders finally get their home opener, facing off with the Surfers. Neopolitan rides the bench for the visitors while Jack sits for the Spiders. Boots finally shook off her slow start to the season, cranking out 511 for Pearl to begin this game. Shadow got beat by a subtle deflection, taking 320 to give Web City a small deficit at the start. Watermelon started slow with a poor pace, but she persisted and wrangled 632 for the Surfers to extend their lead. Ted shot back with 453 for the Spiders, playing outside of his preferred big-swing style as the hosts lose a bit more ground. Bright had a gritty effort, snagging 363 for Pearl amid a cluttered pitch. Sugar couldn't get comfortable on her turn, falling with 149 for Web City as they appear primed for a loss. Beth left the door open with only 136 for the Surfers, finishing their scoring at 1642. Shiny made up ground with 241 for the Spiders, but they still lost with 1163. Pearl is 1-4 with their first win, while Web City drops to 1-1.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: Lots of firepower on the bench, as Tradewinds captain Tigerette and Hummingbirds star Leandra both sit in this game. Taylor had a solid outing with 399 for Commerce, just letting one ball roll up on her bat before she could complete the late swing. Princess got a lot of it back with 335 for Tysini, keeping the game close after the initial attacks. Lionel tried to get back on a backhand as a ball floated behind him, but he failed, leaving the turn at 192 for the Tradewinds. Charli fought off some troublesome offerings and only got taken down with an unlucky deflection at 428 for the Hummingbirds, who lead at the midway mark. Rosemary was solid with 328 for Commerce, covering the deficit just barely. Brownie couldn't pull the lead back, ending with a paltry 87 for Tysini as the scoring begins to slip. Niki couldn't secure the game for the Tradewinds, her turn cut short at 190 by another brutal deflection to end their offense at 1109. Paps carried the offense for the Hummingbirds with 496, icing their win at 1346. Tysini takes good vibes on an extended road trip, improving to 2-4, while Commerce falls to 2-1 with the disappointing effort.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames are back home for a pair of games against the Spiders, who play in three of the next four. Sugar sits for the Spiders while Violetta gets her first game off for the Flames. Shadow broke out of the funk with 742 for Web City, setting them up well early in this game. Crystal was even better for Queens, carving out 885 to put the hosts ahead after a lively first turn. Ted turned up weak in this game with only 80 points for the Spiders, not enough to cover the deficit. Briana did better than her opposite mark, but still looked a bit off with 231 for the Flames. Jack managed to cover the deficit lightly with 346 for Web City, but they are in a dangerous position this late in the game. Kyle lost ground with 259 for Queens, never really finding a workable pace to perform with on this turn. Shiny had a good groove with 512 for the Spiders, getting a little distracted at the end to bring their total to 1680. Hannah didn't match it with 479, but the Flames still won with a final score of 1854. Queens is 4-3 on the year, while Web City drops to 1-2 with a tough loss.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows begin a home doubleheader with Ruby resting on the bench, while the opposing captain, the Waves' Snuggle, also sits. Celestia tried to get a good start for Oceanside but her shaky swings cost her early on as she hit only 147. Sally had a more productive turn with 539 for Archtown, giving them the early lead. Josie countered with a surprisingly strong effort, smashing 695 to give the Waves the lead after the second attack. Sleepy B. got almost all of it back with 691 for the Arrows, maintaining their lead at the halfway point. Dewey shot back with 520 for Oceanside, again putting the pressure on the hosts to make a response. Dusky allowed the lead to slip a bit, but it's still noticeable after her 448 for Archtown to keep the hosts ahead late in the game. Jason V. had big swings for the Waves, collecting 465 to put their final score at 1827, forcing one more response from the hosts. Wild Thing looked disorganized, but his 326 met the challenge as the Arrows win with 2004. Archtown goes to 3-4, while Oceanside slips to 4-3 with the tough loss.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows switch jerseys for their Northeastern Derby with the Spiders. Shiny sits for the visitors for rest, while Wild Thing is on the bench for the Arrows. Shadow had a pacey turn going before knocking a ball backward to end at 465 for Web City. Sally kept it close with 433 for Archtown at the start, setting up a battle for the rest of each team to settle. Ted struggled in this appearance, taking only 138 for the Spiders to weaken their early lead. Ruby was even worse for the Arrows, bumbling through a brief turn of 20 points as the hosts remain behind. Sugar answered with a big 799 for Web City, carrying them to a much stronger lead after her turn. Sleepy B. remained a top threat for Archtown, but her 601 caused them to slip farther behind with a player each to go. Jack tried to make a backhand save but didn't put enough lift on the hit, ending his turn at 54 for the Spiders, who close with 1456 in a vulnerable position. Dusky nearly got free, but a cluttered pitch and a deflection sat her down at 295, leaving the Arrows with 1349 in the loss. Web City survives the scare to get to 2-2, while Archtown dips to 3-5.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames will have Kyle on the bench this time, while Ted sits for the Spiders in the second version of this match-up this week. Shadow showed some fatigue this time, only able to corral 180 for Web City in a rare poor start from the captain. Crystal wasn't a lot better, giving Queens a small lead with her 287 in an alright performance. Sugar got beat on a deflection off a dead ball, taking a measly 65 for the Spiders in this low scoring game. Violetta came back into the lineup looking fresh, blasting 968 to give the Flames a massive lead at the halfway mark. Jack had better form for Web City until a deflected ball took out his wicket to end his turn at 382. Briana got lazy trying to make a stop on a rolling ball, and it cost her as the next offering came high and downed her at 225 for Queens. Shiny answered with 558 for the Spiders, but it was too late to help in their loss at 1185. Hannah had only 57 on a shaky turn for the Flames, icing their win at 1537. Queens rises to 5-3, while Web City slips under even again at 2-3.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds start a home doubleheader with Niki resting, while Puff I sits this one out for the Union. Ms. Puppy started slow for Modernistic, but rounded into great form late as she clubbed 902 to get the visitors a big lead. Tigerette answered in a big way with 815 for Commerce, keeping them within striking distance in a fast start to the game. Daisy answered with a firm 578 for the Union to strengthen their lead a bit. Taylor chipped away at the deficit, grabbing 608 for the Tradewinds to tighten things up halfway through the game. Kodiak left Modernistic vulnerable with a pathetic 49 after bouncing a ball straight into the air. Lionel plucked 286 for Commerce, covering the deficit to give the hosts the inside edge late in the game. Chimpy had only 150 for the Union at the end, unable to answer the challenge as they fell with 1679. Rosemary was hardly better with 162 to secure the Tradewinds win at 1871. Commerce goes up to 3-1, while Modernistic drops back to 1-4.

Nike Field, Commerce: Switching to the regular jerseys, the Tradewinds sub Rosemary out of the lineup, while Dusky takes a game off for the Arrows. Sally got beat on a high bounce at the end of her turn, still producing a strong 425 for Archtown to open the scoring. Tigerette couldn't replicate he last result this time, ending at a much weaker 182 for Commerce here. Ruby doubled the Arrows offense with 425 herself, keeping them in control of the game early on. Taylor couldn't settle a ball on a fast spinning offering, getting beat at 194 as the Tradewinds fall farther behind. Sleepy B. slugged another 1135 for Archtown on her turn, almost guaranteeing good results for the visitors after the massive appearance. Lionel cut into the deficit a bit with his 592, but Commerce is likely too far behind for it to matter. Wild Thing packed in another 409 for the Arrows at the end, giving them a total of 2394. Niki managed 314 for the Tradewinds, leaving their losing total at 1282. Archtown rises to 5-4 with the big win, while Commerce sinks to 3-2.

Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: The Torpedoes play the second of a five-game home stand with Mr. Snowman on the bench, while the Hummingbirds sit Brownie as they kick off an eight-game road trip. Princess got things going with 438 for Tysini at the start, a solid opening turn. Smudge didn't have a lot of pace, but she made up for it with solid swings, gathering 767 for Infinity to take the first lead. Leandra answered with 496 for the Hummingbirds, covering the deficit for now. Fluffina couldn't keep up with the game, taking only 131 as the Torpedoes fall behind. Charli did alright with 353 for Tysini here, building on their previously narrow lead with a solid outing. Solaris was taken down on a deflection after his first attempt died in a false start. He had only 105 on the second try, making it a much steeper climb for Infinity. Paps faltered with a measly 12 for the Hummingbirds, leaving them at 1299 in a disappointing finish. Shelley took full advantage of the situation, crushing 1158 to give the Torpedoes the win at 2161. Infinity is 3-2 on the year, while Tysini's road trip starts poorly as they fall to 2-5.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders are back home now, trying to end the week positively with Shadow resting, while Dewey sits for the Waves as they finish a three-game road trip. Snuggle looked remarkably refreshed in his return to action, pummeling 1399 for Oceanside to set the tone early on. Ted took the optional replay and then did worse than before with 144 in a slow start for Web City. Celestia took another 490 for the Waves on her turn, adding nicely to their lead. Sugar was a bit too quick on her swing and chopped a ball out of play to end at just 46 points for the Spiders. Josie flicked 548 for Oceanside on her turn, padding a lead that's almost inevitably going to stand. Jack answered with 450 for Web City, making his presence known even without his teammates' support. Jason V. tacked on 227 for the Waves at the end, giving them a final score of 2664, which should be a win. Shiny clocked in with 705 for the Spiders at the end, making their loss more respectable at a total of 1345. Oceanside jumps to 5-3, while Web City is 2-4.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters give Chris rest in the week 3 finale, while Isabella's bad performances back-to-back earn her a day off for the Pirates. Delila hammered 686 for Atlantic on the opening turn, giving them a healthy first lead. Missy made a rare lead-off appearance for Capital City, but fell with 311 to put them at an early deficit. Steven smashed another 679 for the Pirates, nearly doubling their offense with a pacey attack. Sprinkles replied with 751 for the Sharpshooters, cutting into the deficit slightly as the hosts try to make a comeback. Klaus picked up a solid 359 for Atlantic to give them a little more cushion for their lead. Lorde made a small gain with 367 for Capital City, leaving the rest to the final players. Max didn't make it any easier for the hosts, tacking on 592 to put the Pirates' final at 2316. Pauline tried to get a rally going, but the Sharpshooters rookie had only 404, serving them their first loss at 1833. Atlantic is up to 3-2, while Capital City falls to 5-1.

Follow me on Twitter @UnitedPCL for updates, live recaps, and more. Players of the Week for Elite to be named tomorrow, followed by Premier.

2018 Qualifiers - Day 14

We're ready to go with a standard day of games. We begin with...

Nicole of the Lighton Prestige playing 9-ball with the silver cue. Nicole had nothing on the break and picked up a quick three errors during the game, amplifying her struggles with a lack of command on even short shots. Her shortsighted shooting led to a score of 23. Moving along, the Westside Rockers' Slinks shoots 15-ball with the silver cue. Slinks made a ball on the break, but managed to pick up six errors in 30 shots during the game, mostly for an unrivaled ability to scratch after making a shot. This led to a mediocre performance when judged in full. The Queens Flames captain Crystal tries to get the league back on track with her 9-ball game with the silver cue. Crystal was a little better in this game, but her empty break and two errors, as well as more rattled and off-target shots kept today's poor shooting alive as she finished with 21 shots. Oceanside Waves rookie Josie is stepping into a tough situation, using the blue cue for 8-ball in this appearance. Josie looked solid despite an empty break, giving hope that today's problems may be silver cue-exclusive. She did take one error for illegal contact, but finished at 22 shots in a decent effort. The fifth player today is the Archtown Arrows veteran Sally, who uses the silver cue in 10-ball. Sally had a couple of errors after an empty break this time, expressing frustration with the recurring theme of getting snookered after making a shot in the event. She finished with 20 shots, although her pending suspension case took a hit with her actions in this game.

Group two gets going with Golden Pilots captain Valencia shooting 8-ball with the red cue. Valencia made a ball on the break, setting a positive tone early, but she added two errors during the game, pushing her score to 21 shots for the game, still a decent outing. Next up, Southern Monarchs captain Panda uses the blue cue in 9-ball. Panda had no issue with his game, making a ball on the break, and while he did scratch for his only error, it simplified his finish three shots later, as he made the 3-9 combination to the bottom right to end with 7 shots total. The eighth player to shoot today is Everton Eagles star Blizzard, who uses the blue cue in 12-ball. Blizzard couldn't make anything on the break, but she kept a clean game with no errors, and she finished the appearance in 22 shots. Golden Pilots veteran A. Charlton is next to play, using the silver cue in 12-ball. Charlton had a ball on the break, and then picked up the pace despite two errors in the course of play, ending at 20 shots to show some improvement that gives the league hope for better results later today. Finishing the group, Capital City Sharpshooters newcomer Lorde picks up the silver cue for 12-ball as well. Lorde made a ball on the break and got a good distribution from there, knocking the rack down in 16 shots even with her single error factored in.

The third group leads off with North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie Gal Gadot shooting Rotation with the silver cue. Gal didn't waste much time in getting her offense going, missing a couple of shots but then jumping in. She didn't let the empty break hold her back, finishing at 27 shots with one error for a scratch. Up next, the Waves' Josie is back for 9-ball with the red cue in this game. Josie had a ball on the break and an early scratch before settling into a productive groove to finish with 10 shots for an excellent first showing in this event. The Nighthawks' Gal is back for her second game now, using the red cue in 15-ball. Gal had a rough start to her game, scratching on the break, and she added a second error before she could make the 1. She was saved in the end when the 8-15 combination lined up, and she made it in the top left to end at 20 shots with the two errors. The 14th game today goes to Atlantic Pirates captain Delila, who plays 9-ball with the red cue. Delila got nothing on the break, and suffered three snookers, erring on two of them but winning with a vicious 3-9 kick combination on the third one to end at 8 shots. At the back of the batch, Whitewater Shores mainstay Twinkie III plays 15-ball with the silver cue. Twinkie III had a fortunate game, taking two errors when she couldn't hit the 1 on her first shot, but also finishing with 6 shots as her make on the 1 left her lined up for the 2-3-11-15 combination to the bottom right.

The fourth batch opens with Pacific Volcanoes veteran Chicky Phil using the red cue in 10-ball. Chicky Phil was fuming by the end of his turn, which saw him take four errors before he could pot the 1. He settled down in the end, but still needed 22 shots to get through the increasingly difficult event. The 17th game of the day belongs to the Queens Flames' Kyle, who plays 10-ball with the red cue as well. Kyle had a refreshingly simple game, needing only 15 shots without a ball on the break or any errors to get through his appearance. Following that, Maplewood Lumberjacks rookie Summer shoots her 10-ball with the silver cue. Summer had some words for league officials with the snooker issue in the event, as she took three errors despite her ball on the break to score 21 shots for the game. One was an unfortunate illegal potting of the 10, which really interfered with the rest of the game. Lighton Prestige returnee Katelynn appears in Rotation with the silver cue in the next game. Katelynn overcame a brutal start to the game, picking up three of her four errors before potting the 4, and then she surged late to finish on 26 shots for the game, still barking about snookers and scratches at the end. Rounding out the group, the Arrows' Sally returns for her second game today, using the red cue in 12-ball. Sally was more subdued in this game, going empty on the break and taking a late error for missed contact, but still finishing with a good 19 shots for the game.

Group five starts with Central Warriors newcomer Wings playing 15-ball with the red cue. Wings looked lively from the start despite going empty on the break. He had one early error and another around the middle of the game, but still finished with 25 shots after a brief late fade. Lighton Prestige captain Acorn is the next player drawn, shooting 10-ball with the silver cue. Acorn didn't have too much trouble in his game, showing some of today's best control and needing only 15 shots with one error after an empty break to clear the table. The 23rd game of the day is for Royal Crowns captain Nightfur, as she shoots 9-ball with the silver cue. Nightfur showed no hesitation in her game, making a ball on the break and then immediately potting the 1-9 combination to the top right to finish with 1 shot and no errors. Following that is one of Nightfur's former teammates, the current Queens Flames newcomer Hannah, shooting 10-ball with the blue cue. Hannah couldn't quite make anything on the break, and she missed contact once early in the game, but that was her only error among 16 shots for a good outing. Wrapping up the group, Boston Swifts stalwart Gradley shoots 10-ball with the red cue. Gradley was not happy with his break, which forced him to take one intentional error, his only one of the game, and then another cluster-buster shot to get free. He surged from here, ending at 19 shots for the game.

Group six kicks off with Tysini Hummingbirds captain Princess using the silver cue in 15-ball. Princess got nothing on the break and remained agonizingly close to breaking out on a run, but instead took three errors and 36 shots in the name of fair play in the worst game in the event yet. Trying to bring the quality back up, Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Cobalt uses the blue cue for 12-ball. Cobalt had nothing on the break, and he took no errors in the game, playing pretty well but not perfectly with such a favorable spread as he finished in 21 shots. Continuing along, Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy does her 12-ball with the silver cue. Ms. Puppy had a great outing, making a ball on the break and even getting a little lucky at times. She had no errors among her 16 shots in a quick outing. Going 29th today, Southern Monarchs rookie Avril Lavigne shoots 8-ball with the silver cue. Avril had a great game going, making a ball on the break and cruising through the rack, but her rather unnecessary play for better position on the last ball caused her to scratch while making the 8. She failed from the kitchen as well, with six errors in 26 shots charged to her score. Vladimir Vasilyev of the Stonebridge Wolves closes the group with his 12-ball game with the red cue. Vladimir looked great despite his empty break, taking only one error in 16 shots to get through his game quite fast.

The seventh bunch is headed by Dani of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Dani tried to be a little too creative at times, taking her one error on a scratch after trying to get good positioning. She ended in 14 shots, wasting a few late in hopes of a quicker finish. Atlantic Pirates sophomore Klaus goes next, using the red cue for 9-ball. It was not the best of outings for Klaus, as he went empty on the break and needed 19 shots with only one error to complete the effort. Shooting 33rd today, the Eastside Sharks newcomer Gizmo uses the blue cue for his 9-ball appearance. Gizmo also had an empty break, and he took an early error after getting snookered, but it worked out, setting up a later 5-9 combination to the top right to end his turn in 10 shots. Moving along, Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette steps in to play Rotation with the red cue. Tigerette held her anger in during the appearance, completely losing control after making the 7. She had nothing on the break and only added three errors in a whopping 40 shots. Ending the group, the Crowns captain Nightfur returns for 10-ball with the blue cue. Nightfur started well despite an empty break, but three errors came up throughout the game, and she finished with 20 shots.

The final group commences as Viewpoint Sound Meteors captain Mams shoots 9-ball with the blue cue. Mams couldn't get a grip on the game either, making nothing on the break and chasing the 3 hopelessly around the table. She had two errors and 24 shots in the game. Quality is sagging as we reach the 37th game today, belonging to Nighthawks rookie Gal, her third game being Accuracy as she becomes the first player to finish qualifying. She used the red cue, scoring 19 shots without an error and with nothing from the break. Gal needed 151 shots with five errors in total during qualifying. Next up, the Crowns captain Nightfur is back for her third game, using the red cue in 12-ball. Nightfur had a strong outing this time, making two balls on the break and taking no errors in the appearance. Her strong pace early faded, but she finished with a great 18 shots. The Pirates captain Delila is back for her second game today, using the silver cue in 10-ball. Delila didn't make a ball on the break in this game, but she stayed solid throughout, only taking one error for missed contact in her 16 shots. Boots of the Pearl Surfers gets the last game, using the red cue in 9-ball. Boots had nothing on the break but also finished with 14 shots and no error in a good finish to a roller coaster day.

We're back tomorrow for a regular day of games before a break on Thursday.

Select Cricket 2018 - Week 3

We're ready to start the third week of the Select season. First up is...

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves sit Frosty for performance, while Bianca rests after her pool appearance yesterday for the Defenders. Debby quickly chopped 639 for Southridge to begin the game in great form as her team is on the road for the first time. Juno couldn't get much back with 276 for Stonebridge, giving the hosts an early deficit with her middling outing. Stephanie hammered another 784 for the Defenders, padding their lead by a big margin. Hershey replied with 567 for the Wolves, trying to keep them competitive despite the game slipping farther away. Caitlin couldn't do much on her turn, falling at a weak 110 for Southridge to destabilize their lead. Vladimir made a small dent in the deficit with 362 for Stonebridge, keeping them within striking distance. Hughbert shoveled 631 for the Defenders at the end, icing their efforts at 2164. Cobalt tried a rally with 591 for the Wolves, but they were short at 1796 in an unfortunate loss. Southridge stays perfect at 3-0, while Stonebridge is down to 1-4 in a rough start to the year.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs begin their doubleheader with a Southwestern Derby against the Prestige. Nicole rests for the visitors, while Yekaterina rests for the hosts. Acorn had a false start on his first attempt, and then scored only 197 on the second try in a rough outing for Lighton in their return from a bye week. Spice didn't do better, following a similar pattern in her game as she scored 195 for Victoria. Spirit sliced a much stronger 597 for the Prestige to give them a better second lead. Sage got rattled, making one play on her backhand but failing on two in a row to end with 158 for the Spurs. Katelynn added a strong supporting attack with 456 for Lighton, keeping them in control of the game. Wario picked up only 210 for Victoria, another disappointing effort for a fatigued team with not much hope in sight. His brother, Waluigi, had only 177 for the Prestige at the end, leaving them at a final of 1427. Strawberry made a late rally with 736 for the Spurs, but they still took the loss with 1299. Lighton rises to 2-1, while Victoria is down to 2-6.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs are right back in action, sitting Wario this time as they host the Wolves, who have Vladimir resting in this appearance. Juno took 367 for Stonebridge at the start of the game, a decent outing for the visiting captain against a tired foe. Spice did enough with 384 to give Victoria a minor lead early in the game, with the hopes her teammates can support it well. Frosty was forced onto her backhand twice, and while she cleared those, she sent the next offering out of play to end at 106 for the Wolves. Yekaterina replied with 385 for the Spurs, doubling their offense at the midway mark. Hershey answered with 532 for Stonebridge, getting them back in the mix with another good performance. Sage was forced to replay her turn after a technical error, and her second attempt ended with a measly 66 points for Victoria, who now trail. Cobalt padded the Wolves lead with his 501, giving them a total of 1506. Strawberry firmly hit 400 for the Spurs at the end, unable to cover the deficit again as they lose with 1235. Stonebridge is up 2-4, while Victoria's slide continues to 2-7.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: A match without much of a storyline going in sees Dani sit for the Meteors for performance, while Gabe gets the game off for the Lumberjacks. Mams looked great for Viewpoint Sound to start this game, carving out a big 647 on the first turn. Whiskers answered even stronger with 856 for Maplewood, giving the hosts a lead in a battle of two of Select's best so far. Hoot pick up another 608 for the Meteors, keeping the scoring in this game energetic. Diddley fought it off with his best outing of the year, hauling in 784 for the Lumberjacks to add to their lead. Nibbles found a groove for Viewpoint Sound and rode it to 701, keeping the pressure on the hosts to play at their best. Bryant bested that with 726 for Maplewood, retaining control of the game into the final players' turns. Vincent faltered first, taking only 160 for the Meteors as they lose with 2116. Summer kept it simple for the Lumberjacks, her 313 giving them a final score of 2679 in the win. Maplewood rises to 4-2, while Viewpoint Sound is on the same level at 2-1.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige are home, but Spirit will rest for them this time, while Jeremias sits for the Crowns in their second game of the year. Kayla set the tone with 627 for Royal, giving them a hefty haul early in the game. Acorn couldn't bring himself to that level for Lighton, falling with a mediocre 271 on the first turn for the hosts, who trail from the start. Jake got beat on a deflection that just eluded his bat, ending his turn at 333 for the Crowns. Katelynn put in a strong appearance for the Prestige, cutting into the deficit with her 510 to make things closer at the halfway point. Nightfur charged back with 353, adding a bit more cushion to Royal's lead in a fairly close game. Nicole answered with 471 for Lighton on her turn, chipping away at the deficit once again. Cassie took a decent 279 for the Crowns, giving them a total of 1592 for the game. Waluigi went with 392 for the Prestige, playing hero for once as they make the comeback and win with 1644. Lighton is 3-1 on the year, while Royal feels jobbed to be at 0-2.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks are in their home opener after a long road trip, with Salmo on the bench against the struggling Spurs, who sit their rookie Sage. Spice had an optional replay for Victoria, which allowed her to score 357 to lead off the game. A high deflection got over Graham's outstretched backhand, ending the Eastside captain's turn abruptly at 115 as they play from behind. Yekaterina couldn't make a save late in her turn, but she slowed the ball down, allowing her to pick up 513 to extend the Spurs lead. Chelsea smashed 624 for the Sharks to dig into the deficit a bit halfway through the game. Wario countered with 444 for Victoria, surviving a very early scare and rebuilding his pace from a low level. Gizmo wasted the opportunity to catch up for Eastside, crashing out with a meager 92. Strawberry matched that with 92 for the Spurs to give them a final of 1406 that is far from safe. Cubby failed to make the rally for the Sharks, ending with 108 to give them another loss at 939. Victoria is up to 3-7 on the year, while Eastside falls to 1-5 as their home opener is spoiled.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves have a busy day ahead, first hosting the Specters. Rudolph sits in rest for the Specters, while Frosty is on the bench for the Wolves. Sydney couldn't avoid deflections, earning a false start on her first try but ending with 239 for Harrison on the second attempt. Juno battered 950 for Stonebridge in response, helping the hosts take a sizable lead early on.  Twinkie II couldn't get a grip on her turn, falling at 122 as the Specters start sluggish in this game. Hershey drilled another 479 with pace for the Wolves, extending their lead nicely. Lexi tried a backhand after a productive surge for Harrison, but the played failed, cutting her off at 539 as the visitors remain behind. Vladimir grew into the game for Stonebridge, starting slow but ending at 562 to keep their lead strong with a player each to go. Mitchell clubbed 527 for the Specters, but they still took the loss at 1427. Cobalt tacked on 456 for the Wolves to ice their win at 2447. Stonebridge is up to 3-4 with a busy stretch ahead, while Harrison drops to 2-3.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige and Defenders tangle as two of the best in the league, with Katelynn resting for the Prestige while Caitlin rests for the Defenders. Bianca couldn't raise her pace much in this outing, hitting a middling 268 for Southridge to start the scoring. Acorn got beat on a deflection, continuing his slow start to the year with 185 on this turn. Debby got a little distracted before sending a ball out of play to finish her turn at 361 for the Defenders in a gritty game so far. Spirit feasted on her turn for the Prestige, clobbering 903 to give them a healthy lead halfway through the game. Stephanie fired back with 720 for Southridge, keeping the visitors involved in the tight game. Nicole fought it off with 463 for Lighton, giving them the inside edge heading into the final players' turns. Hughbert scattered 480 for the Defenders at the end, forcing the hosts to reply to their final of 1829. Waluigi gained 241 for the Prestige at the end, leaving them at a loss with 1792. Southridge stays perfect with the narrow win taking them to 4-0, while Lighton slips to 3-2.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns sit Jeremias again, while the Wolves start this tripleheader with Hershey getting a much-deserved rest. Juno had a tough outing with 87 for Stonebridge, getting them off to a low-scoring start. Kayla's first backhand worked great for Royal, but a second one in quick succession failed, giving her 664 to put the hosts firmly ahead early on. Frosty finally busted her slump against her former team, slashing 791 for the Wolves to get them back in the fight. Jake slid down to 211 for the Crowns, actually putting them behind by a thin margin at the midway mark. Vladimir did his part well with 447 for Stonebridge, giving them a noticeable lead for now. Nightfur got beat on a deflection that downed her at 141 for Royal, who now trail late in the game. Cobalt pounded another 650 for the Wolves at the end, putting them at a sturdy final score of 1975. Cassie tried to keep up with 627 for the Crowns, but they still took the loss at 1643. Stonebridge is even at 4-4, while Royal's first win remains elusive as they fall to 0-3.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves touch base at home for the middle game of the tripleheader, with their captain Juno resting, while the Cascades sit Stinky after his two pool games yesterday. Jasmine had a decent outing to start with for Freedom, taking 336 on the first turn. Frosty's newfound success didn't last long, as she hit 171 in lead-off to put Stonebridge behind early. Roxy wasn't much better with 157 for the Cascades, who seem to be playing down to their tired hosts. Hershey let a ball slip behind him, but he had already picked up 618 for the Wolves to give them a strong mid-game lead. Nikolai answered with a massive 800 for Freedom, recovering the lead with his big showing. Vladimir earned an optional replay, but struggled on his second try, only taking 237 for Stonebridge as they fall behind again. Stripes hammered another 791 for the Cascades at the end, finishing their offense at 2084. Cobalt tried a rally with 631 for the Wolves, but they took the loss at 1657 before heading back on the road. Freedom rises to 6-1, while Stonebridge sits at 4-5.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks try to stay perfect at home with Summer resting, while Frosty returns to the bench for the Wolves as they finish their tripleheader. Juno was forced to attempt a backhand for Stonebridge, which she couldn't bring down, ending her turn at 240. Whiskers attacked with a lot of pace for Maplewood, but ended earlier than usual at 433 on the first turn. Hershey covered that damage with 439 for the Wolves on his turn, fighting fatigue as the visitors show some wear and tear from this trip. Diddley had 266 for the Lumberjacks on his turn, accidentally lifting a ball too high as the hosts retain a narrow lead at the midway point. Vladimir put Stonebridge far ahead with 661, giving them a new life with his big performance. Bryant couldn't meet the challenge, falling with a meager 42 for Maplewood. Cobalt tacked on another 617 for the Wolves at the end, setting their final score at 1957. Gabe couldn't solve the pressure for the Lumberjacks, allowing them to fall as his 233 put their final at 974. Stonebridge is at 5-5, getting through a tough week nicely, while Maplewood drops to 4-3.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems are at home for the last game of the week, sitting Pedey for rest while the Specters come in with their captain Twinkie II on the bench for performance. Sydney looked good for Harrison this time, popping 615 to give them a big lead early on. Rosalina struggled on her turn with a dead ball affecting her swing, and she ended with 181 for Diamond. Lexi made a critical fumble with a large back swing taking out her wicket to end her turn at 87 for the Specters. Citrus couldn't figure out the sudden dip in scoring, taking a measly 51 for the struggling Gems. Rudolph answered with a solid 457 for Harrison, giving them a stronger lead at this point. Smokey had all the makings of a deep run, but he changed his contact angle and ended at only 64 for Diamond. Mitchell tacked on 688 for the Specters at the end, likely securing a winning total at 1847. Cassandra went for an ill-advised backhand and knocked it out of play to end at 36 for the Gems, who had a pitiful total of 332 in the loss. Harrison is 3-3, while Diamond deservedly drops to 2-4.

That's all for this week of action. Elite cricket will return for their third week within two days.

2018 Qualifiers - Day 13

A new day is here, and with the expectation of a larger slate of games should play quality hold up. First up is...

The Boston Swifts debut for Ice Cream, as she plays 7-ball with the red cue. Ice Cream didn't get much movement, let alone anything sinking, on the break shot, but she played clean with no errors and finished the appearance in 12 shots, a solid effort. Next up, the Midland Predators star Rainmane uses the silver cue in 10-ball. Rainmane had nothing on her break, although she did come close, but her smart play allowed her to finish with a 6-10 combination to the bottom right for a score of 10 shots without an error. Another debut is on the way when the Viewpoint Sound Meteors rookie Vincent Sullivan plays his first-ever game of 7-ball with the blue cue. Vincent came up empty on the break, but he showed a dynamic shooting strategy, always getting multiple balls in motion, and this led him to finish in 8 shots without an error. The fourth game today goes to the Atlantic Pirates newcomer Max, who shoots 9-ball with the silver cue. Max made a ball on the break, and while he had two errors on his first shot from play for illegal contact and a scratch, he ended the game in 11 shots for a very strong outing. The Eastside Sharks' Chelsea wraps up the group with the silver cue in hand for 12-ball. Chelsea had one error for missed contact during the appearance, and she went empty on the break, but she finished with a score of 19 shots in a strong showing.

Group two leads off with the Tysini Hummingbirds captain Princess shooting Rotation with the blue cue. Princess didn't have the best game, but she stuck to a clean style of play, ending on 28 shots and just one early error for a scratch in her game. The Eastside Sharks newcomer Cubby goes next, using the red cue in 10-ball. Cubby had eyes on the 10 early on despite going empty on the break. He connected quickly, glancing the cue off the 1 to drive the 10 to the top right to end the game in 2 shots without an error. Following that, Jason N. of the Swordpoint Blades plays his second game this year, 8-ball with the blue cue. Jason didn't have as explosive of a game this time, but he did make a ball on the break and finished the rack in 20 shots with only one error for an early scratch. The ninth player called to shoot today is Viewpoint Sound Meteors sophomore Nibbles, who uses the silver cue for 8-ball. Nibbles went empty on the break, and would take another knock in the middle of the game by illegally potting the 8. Nibbles ended with six errors and 25 shots in what would have been a pretty good outing. Finishing the group, the Diamond Gems captain Smokey plays 9-ball with the silver cue. Smokey made a ball on the break, but more surprisingly got a good enough position after making the 1 to the bottom right to convert the 2-9 combination to the top right to end in 3 shots without an error.

The third bunch starts with the Everton Eagles' Cleo playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Cleo had essentially a perfect performance, making a ball on the break and getting a clear look at the 1-10 combination to the top right, which she made to end with 1 shot and no errors. Oceanside Waves rookie Jason V. will feel pressure to keep the good games coming as he shoots 8-ball with the red cue. Jason did quite well, making a ball on the break and taking only one error for a scratch before closing the game in 20 shots with a late surge. The 13th player today is Southridge Defenders newcomer Caitlin Woode, who plays 8-ball with the silver cue. Caitlin played one of the best starts to a game all year, making two balls on the break and only slowing when she took two errors for missed contact and a scratch. She would end up with a still-strong 19 shots for the game. Moving along, Westside Rockers veteran Midnight shoots 12-ball with the red cue. Midnight had one of the ugliest good games out there, needing six errors after making two balls on both the break and the first shot from play. She finished with 21 shots, struggling to get a clear look at the final ball. At the end of the group, the Pirates' Max is back for his second game of the day in 10-ball with the blue cue. Max didn't have the miracle bailout shot available to him like previous players, making a ball on his poor break but also taking four errors among the 23 shots to complete the game.

Group four begins as Westside Rockers captain Misty plays 9-ball with the blue cue. The magic around the league appears to have faded, as Misty had nothing on the break and two errors as well as plenty of missed shots before deflecting the 9 to the bottom side to end at 20 shots. Stinky, the Freedom Cascades veteran, goes 17th today using the red cue for 9-ball. Stinky had nothing on the break, and took three errors during the game before closing at 16 shots in an acceptable performance. Next up, the Todavía Stills' Bells plays 9-ball with the silver cue. Bells had a ball on the break, but she was less than decisive early in the turn, and she finished with 18 shots and one error once she cleared the table, unable to find a combo in the mix. After that, the Eastside Sharks newcomer Gizmo keeps the silver cue in action for his 8-ball game. Gizmo had a strong outing this time, but a couple of errors and some struggles to get clear runs later in the game negated his making a ball on the break and sent him to score 25 shots. Closing the group is his brother, the Whitewater Shores captain Bear, who plays 9-ball with the silver cue. Bear had some poor play early on, but after his lone error on a scratch, he cleaned it up and finished with 14 shots for a solid outing.

Batch five opens with Diamond Gems star Citrus playing Rotation with the silver cue. Citrus had a solid game, scratching on an otherwise empty break but playing perfectly clean from there as she finished with 27 shots in the outing. The Everton Eagles superstar captain Goldy goes next with the red cue in 10-ball. Goldy had nothing on the break and took two errors as she struggled to get clear shots early on, ending at 22 shots total in another disappointing effort. The 23rd game today belongs to North Modernistic Nighthawks newcomer B. Chapman, as she shoots 8-ball with the silver cue. Chapman had the makings of a potentially good outing, but her empty break and an error later in the game derailed it. Her biggest problem was shooting from the perimeter, as she couldn't get good hits, and she needed 26 shots to complete the game. Maplewood Lumberjacks rookie Summer tries to get the shooting back on track as she plays 9-ball with the blue cue. Summer made a ball on the break, but like many recent players, she also added an early error with a scratch. Some frustrating misses later, she finished at 15 shots for a decent effort. Midland Predators newcomer Americus ends the group with her 9-ball game with the silver cue. Americus left no doubt in her appearance, taking one error for a scratch but also making a ball on the break and closing the game in 10 shots.

The sixth batch gets going as Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris does 9-ball with the red cue. Chris buried a ball on the break, but his shots were loose and twice induced errors. He stayed on a decent course, ending with 15 shots in a solid appearance. Dewey of the Oceanside Waves goes next, using the blue cue for 9-ball. Dewey had nothing on the break, a minor disappointment, but he surged from there to close the game in 11 shots, taking no errors in an excellent showing of his shooting skill. Continuing along, the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai is up for 8-ball with the red cue. Nikolai kept the quality heating up again, making a ball on the break and taking no errors among his 17 shots in a top-notch performance this time out. The 29th game of the day goes to the Pacific Volcanoes' Twinkie I, as she shoots 8-ball with the blue cue. Twinkie I had a decent game, but late positioning for the last two solids frustrated her, and she made a bad error by scratching while potting the 8 to end at 26 shots and five errors, a long way away from her successful break. The Tysini Hummingbirds' Brownie rounds out the group with 15-ball and the silver cue. Brownie tried hard to stay clean after a good break, but she picked up four errors for various fouls, and this pushed her score to 28 shots as she never had a chance for combo.

Group seven is headed by Modernistic Union sophomore Daisy, who plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Daisy looked good this game, making a pair of balls on the break. She flirted with the 10 quite a bit, but finally made it on a 5-10 combination to the top right to end at 9 shots and no errors. Diamond Gems veteran Pedey goes next with the red cue for 10-ball. Pedey had a much rougher start, with nothing on the break and a missed contact scratch for two errors on the first shot. He would ended at three errors, but a late burst helped him keep it down to 18 shots. The 33rd player drawn to shoot is Harrison Specters rookie Rudolph, playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Rudolph couldn't get short-range looks at the 1, chasing it around the table after an empty break. He had two errors, for an illegally potted ball and cue off table on one shot, ending at 22 shots for the game when it was over. Hoping for better, Archtown Arrows legend and captain Ruby plays 10-ball with the same blue cue. Ruby couldn't solve the problem, needing 25 shots with one error after an empty break, walking away highly frustrated. Wrapping up the group, Wario of the Victoria Spurs uses the silver cue in 9-ball. Wario didn't do much better in this event, getting nothing on the break and burning through 16 shots with two errors before a 7-9 bank combination to the bottom right ended the game.

The eighth group sees Terrace City Knights rookie Quincy use the blue cue for 10-ball, which is quickly becoming a toxic pairing. Quincy made a ball on the break for a good start, but he lost his carefully-balanced control on the 2, and only a 4-10 bank combination to the top right could save the game at 11 shots and one error. The Pirates' Max gets a third game today, the 37th overall for the day, as he plays 12-ball with the silver cue. Max had a ball on the break, but some difficult positioning gave him a single error and forced him to take 22 shots to finish the outing, still a good score. The Eagles captain Goldy goes next for her second game today, using the red cue in 12-ball. Goldy played a fairly similar game, but with less of the peripheral stuff. She had nothing on the break and no errors, but finished with the same 22 shots as the player before her. After that, Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy uses the blue cue in 10-ball. Ms. Puppy did alright at first, but frustrations with rattled shots persisted later in the game, inflating her score to 20 shots with one error for illegal contact. The Eagles' Cleo ends the group with her second game today, playing 12-ball with the blue cue. Cleo scored 20 with a ball on the break and no errors in the game, solidly playing through one of the tougher events.

Batch nine commences as another Everton Eagle, Kirstin, comes to play 12-ball with the silver cue. Kirstin had a ball on the break, and also took one error trying to get better position on a ball. She didn't slow down, ending with a good 19 shots for the game. The 42nd game of the day belongs to the Union's Daisy, who returns to action with the red cue in 12-ball. Daisy picked up a ball on the break and avoided errors in a difficult game that saw her break a cluster in pieces as she strategically worked her way through the rack. It worked, as she had only 20 shots and no errors in the game. Moving along, the Cascades' Stinky gets his second game today, using the silver cue in 10-ball. Stinky had a great game, making a ball on the break and taking no errors during the game, finishing classically with a bank of the 10 to the bottom right to end at 13 shots. Pacific Volcanoes superstar captain Starlight goes next, shooting Rotation with the silver cue. Starlight couldn't get anything on the break in this game, and she took a pair of errors early on, but she quickly turned the game around, closing at 26 shots after keeping it clean from the 3 onward. Sparkles of the Golden Pilots completes this bunch with her 12-ball game with the blue cue. Sparkles couldn't solve bad positioning in this game after making a ball on the break, needing 25 shots with one error to get out of the appearance in decent form.

The last group is led by the Stills' Bells, playing her second game of the day in 10-ball with the blue cue. Bells had a ball on the break, but also added two errors to her score for various fouls. She rattled the 10 on her first direct shot on it, before ending the game with 17 shots. Sharpshooters captain Chris continues the double-dip trend, returning for his second game of the day with the red cue in 10-ball. Chris didn't get much movement out of the break, and it caused him problems early on. He picked up two errors for illegal contact and an illegally potted ball, then surged, before leveling off at 19 shots in the end. The Everton Eagles' reigning MVP Blizzard steps in to play 10-ball with the red cue as well. Blizzard made the 10 on the break, the only event where the target ball isn't an automatic win, but it counts as a ball on the break. She would take two errors for illegally potted balls, including once more on the 10, before finishing at 25 shots in a game that has a player with a lot of sway challenging the rules. The 49th game of the day is 12-ball with the blue cue for Queens Flames rookie Briana Livilotti. Briana had a fairly good game, going empty on the break but immediately plotting a strong course through the rack, finishing the game in 17 shots and no errors. The final game is the Arrows' Ruby using the blue cue in 12-ball in her second game today. Ruby looked great in this game, although not by the empty break and two errors for scratches. Those made her 17 shots all the more impressive.

We'll have a standard day tomorrow and Wednesday as long as the quality of play is acceptable. Thursday is a scheduled day off.

2018 Qualifiers - Day 12

We're back and ready for another standard day of games. We begin with...

Rotation and the blue cue for the sixth appearance of the year by the Westside Rockers' Slinks. Slinks did a wonderful job in this game, making two balls on the break and taking her only error for accidentally touching the 15 with her cue stick. She ended on 22 shots in the game, setting a positive tone for the day. The Central Warriors' returnee Noelle gets the second game today, using the blue cue for 8-ball. Noelle could have done better, but a tough distribution after the break and two errors slowed her down, forcing her to take 26 shots to clear the table in this appearance. Dominic of the Southern Monarchs goes next, using the red cue in 10-ball. Dominic went empty on the break and took one error early, but his final shot was deflected off the 5 to push the 10 to the top right to end in 9 shots, a perfect execution to secure a good score. Taylor Swift of the Commerce Tradewinds follows that with her 9-ball game with the blue cue. Taylor couldn't make a ball on the break, but she did get an early finish despite her one error, ending on 15 shots as she made the 8-9 combination to the bottom right. The group ends with the Lighton Prestige's Spirit making her long-awaited season debut in 7-ball with the silver cue. Spirit made three balls on the break, with the 2 in the bottom right, the 3 in the top right, and the 5 in the bottom left, and then needed 8 shots to finish the game, but she took no errors in a positive debut.

The Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley leads off group two with her 12-ball game, using the blue cue. Shelley stepped up in a big way, making two balls on the break before taking her only error for a scratch on the first shot from play. She didn't let it hold her back, ending with 16 shots and the one error in a quick game. Moving along, the Victoria Spurs' Yekaterina Vasilyeva plays Rotation with the blue cue. Yekaterina showed her class in this appearance, taking only one early error despite an empty break. She would close in 22 shots, an impressive score given the circumstances. Harrison Specters captain Twinkie II goes next, using the red cue for 12-ball. Twinkie II made a ball on the break and played fast early on before moving to a cautious and patient approach later on, which worked to end her turn in 20 shots without an error. The ninth game of the day goes to the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart, who uses the blue cue for 9-ball. Sweetheart had an up-and-down outing, making a ball on the break but scratching. This was the first of her four errors, with the rest coming from a frustrating and fruitless chase of the 4 around the table that ruined the game, which ended with 23 shots. Wrapping up the group, Salmo of the Eastside Sharks uses the silver cue in 9-ball for his third appearance with the team. Salmo put in a starring performance with only 6 shots to his name after making a ball on the break. He took no errors as he ended the game early with the 5-9 combination to the bottom right, a clean and brilliant play.

Group three gets going as the Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge shoots 10-ball with the blue cue. Smudge had a poor outing this time, getting nothing on the break and picking up three errors for her troubles among the 23 shots it took to clear the table. Lighton Prestige newcomer Nicole plays next, using the blue cue for 8-ball. Nicole didn't have her best, narrowly getting nothing from her break before her only error a couple of shots into the game. She lost control at the end, needing 26 shots to finish as she chased the last four balls around the table. Whitewater Shores captain Bear takes today's 13th game, using the silver cue to play his 8-ball. Bear had nothing on the break, but he also didn't take any errors, wiping the stripes off the table quickly before finishing the game at 19 shots in a good performance. After that, Terrace City Knights rookie Melissa Benoist returns for 12-ball with the blue cue, her third game in two days. Melissa made a ball on the break, and she stayed strong in positioning, working her way to the end efficiently. She did take one error for missed contact late, but she finished with 19 shots for a productive game. Rounding out the group, the Commerce Tradewinds rookie Rosemary brings us into 15-ball with the silver cue. Rosemary changed her approach in this game, showing no fear of errors and taking three of them on scratches after making a ball on the break. It worked, as she finished with 25 shots in a good game.

The fourth batch kicks off with the Boston Swifts' Puff II hoping to get a good Rotation game with the red cue. Puff II is putting her rough start behind her, collecting only 18 shots with a ball on the break and one early error in this beautiful performance. Following that, the Pearl Surfers veteran Boots shoots 8-ball with the blue cue. Boots needed only 19 shots with one error to get through the appearance, while also getting nothing on the break. The veteran had decisive and crisp shots to build the good game. Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades is up next, using the red cue for his 8-ball game. Stealth had a rough game, unable to get clear shots early on. He had a nice run in the middle of the game and took no errors, but the empty break and slow start left him with 26 shots at the end. The 19th player to shoot today is Harrison Specters star Sydney Sierota, who plays 10-ball with the silver cue. Sydney had some early trouble getting clear shots after a poor break, and she would also take two errors in the game before ending on the 9-10 combination to the top left to close at 20 shots. More 10-ball is on the way to bring the group to a close, as the Commerce Tradewinds' Niki appears in the event with the blue cue. Niki suffered two errors after an empty break to start the game. She ended on an 8-10 combination to the bottom right after many failed trick plays before, taking 18 shots for the appearance in total.

Group five opens with the Harrison Specters' Lexi Woode shooting 10-ball with the silver cue. Lexi showed a better look with a ball on the break, but took two of her three total errors with a straight scratch on her first shot from play. She ended the game strong, taking 18 shots for her score. The 22nd game today goes to the Specters captain Twinkie II, who returns for Rotation with the red cue in her second game today. Twinkie II tried to play honest early on, but with small returns, she turned to a reckless style, accruing seven errors after her empty break to finish in 28 shots with a late burst. The Web City Spiders' Sugar is next, playing 9-ball with the blue cue. Sugar had a ball on the break, but some bad positioning in the middle of the game and a single error caused her score to inflate to 16 shots, especially as no combination plays developed. Luigi of the North Modernistic Nighthawks is set to shoot his 10-ball game with the blue cue. Luigi had three errors for a scratch, an illegally potted ball, and illegal contact after an empty break. He needed 24 shots to end the game early on a 7-10 combination, frustration clearly getting the better of him by the end of the turn. At the back of the group, the Queens Flames captain Crystal plays 8-ball with the blue cue. Crystal had a frustrating game, taking three errors among her 30 shots after an empty break, consistently getting snookered by her shots.

The sixth group starts with Southridge Defenders sophomore Bianca playing Rotation with the blue cue. Bianca had a rough-looking start to the game, but only took one error, settling in during the middle and late stages to finish with 24 shots in the appearance. Next up is the Oceanside Waves rookie Jason V. debuting in 7-ball with the silver cue. Jason looked solid despite an empty break, taking no errors over a fairly average 11 shots to complete his first career outing. Moving along, the Diamond Gems' Cassandra plays 12-ball with the blue cue. Cassandra had a ball on the break, and she strategically took the stripes out quickly before turning to the solids, which gave her a bit more work. She would need 18 shots even with plus positioning skills to complete this game. Jennifer Livilotti of the Terrace City Knights gets the 29th game today, shooting 10-ball with the silver cue. Jennifer was another casualty of 10-ball today, with nothing on the break and three errors in a seemingly impossible sequence of bad positions and tough angles on the few clear shots she had among the 24 it took to end the game. Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette wraps up the group with her 12-ball game with the blue cue. Tigerette showed patience after an unlucky break netted nothing. She took no errors in the appearance, closing in 18 shots as she worked sections of the table very proficiently.

Group seven is headed by North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie Gal Gadot playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Gal made a ball on the break, helping her early on, but she faded from her quick pace late in the game, needing 21 error-free shots to complete the effort. The Knights' Jennifer Livilotti comes back to the table for more 12-ball with the silver cue. Jennifer had nothing on the break and started slowly with an error, but she closed better than most, needing only 18 shots for the game to complete her appearance. Lionel of the Commerce Tradewinds is the 33rd player called to shoot today, using the red cue in 10-ball. Lionel had words for the league after shooting 22 with three errors and nothing on the break in what's quickly becoming the least-favored event again. Boston Swifts captain Patches is back in action today with the red cue in hand for 15-ball. Patches had a very eventful game, with a ball on the break, two double-pots, and three errors among her 23 shots as she finished early. The final shot was a double-pot, deflecting off the 11 to take the 15 at the top side, while the 11 dropped in the bottom right after a two-rail carom. Her sister, the Golden Pilots legend Dusty, shoots 9-ball with the silver cue to round out this bunch. Dusty looked to be down and out with an empty break and a quick three errors before turning things around, making a couple of shots and the 6-9 combination to the bottom right to salvage a score of 14 shots for the game.

The final group sees the Freedom Cascades newcomer Stripes jump in for 8-ball with the silver cue. Stripes had a poor outing in this one, needing 25 shots with one error and an empty break as the final solid proved much more elusive than expected. The Web City Spiders' Shiny goes 37th today, using the red cue in 8-ball. Shiny also took an early error after an empty break, but she was a bit quicker late in the game, needing only 22 shots to get through another fairly average performance. The Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball is next to play, using the silver cue in her 9-ball game. Snowball didn't take any errors in the game despite her empty break, showing command on her shots and closing the game in 14 shots for a score right around the league average. After that, Tysini Hummingbirds third-year rising star Charli XCX plays 9-ball with the silver cue as well. Charli tried to get a big break, but nothing came of it, and she would take two errors before closing the game at 18 shots. She had at least two early attempts at the 9 denied on deflections. The Torpedoes' Shelley closes the day with her Rotation game, using the blue cue in this appearance. Shelley did make a ball on the break, but her three errors and lack of a game-changing run in the game put her at 29 shots for the appearance.

That's it for the games today. Tomorrow, we may play 50 or more, depending on timing, as we enjoy some positive momentum after today.

Premier Cricket 2018 - Week 2

We're set for the second week at the highest level. Premier Week 2 begins with...

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles are at home, sitting Kirstin in a pre-planned move, while Melissa gets the game off for the Knights. Kiwi posted 469 for Terrace City in a good start to the game, showing pace early on in her turn. Goldy immediately responded by slugging 1034 for Everton to pace them far ahead of their visitors after a massive showing. Jennifer countered with 521 for the Knights, which wasn't even enough to cover the deficit despite her pacey play. Puff III couldn't hang on very long, quickly falling at 194 amid a chaotic turn for the Eagles that weakened their lead. Oreo got beat on a fast offering, taking her wicket at 243 for Terrace City as the game tightens. Cleo played poorly in her debut, with only 48 for Everton, leaving the game to be decided by the final players. Quincy's turn ended on a deflection at 269 for the Knights, giving them a total of 1502. Blizzard swatted 546 for the Eagles at the end, securing their win at 1822. Everton is 2-0, while Terrace City drops to 1-2 with the tough rivalry loss.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are without Puff II from suspension, while the Pilots sit A. Charlton for this Doubles Derby match. Valencia looked more like herself with 455 for Golden to begin this rivalry game. Patches didn't get as much pace as she wanted for Boston, falling at 280 as they trail from the start. Dusty couldn't do much damage against her sister's team, falling at 333 for the Pilots, who retain a decent lead. Gradley got his bat stuck between a pair of balls, forcing him out of the game at 234 for the Swifts. Strut mishit a ball on his turn, producing a meager 66 for Golden as the game takes an ugly turn. Sweetheart tried to capitalize on the opportunity for Boston, but her 343 only made it a close game. Sparkles couldn't get much for the Pilots with her 200, leaving them in a precarious position at 1054. Ice Cream did enough with 376 for the Swifts to steal the win away in the end, their final resting at 1233. Boston is up to 2-0, while Golden dips to 2-2 with a rematch at the end of the week.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators and Shores meet for a home-and-home, with Shawn sitting for the Predators while Shaggy is on the bench for the Shores in the first game. Bear had a mediocre 240 for Whitewater to start the game. Rainmane belted 1041 for Midland to put them far ahead on the first turn, looking absolutely comfortable in the lead-off role with her captain out. Twinkie III fired back with a big 791 for the Shores to keep things close as the offense kicks in strongly. Leonardo fought back with 722 for Midland, muscling up to preserve as much of their lead as possible. Marsell chopped 463 to dent the deficit this time for Whitewater as they try to play catch-up. Americus let a little more of the lead slip with her 424, but Midland appears to be safe before the final players' turns. Katharine cut in with 441 for the Shores, but the visitors still took the loss at 1935. Fuchsia earned herself a break in the next game, taking only 28 points to cap the Predators win at 2215 before they head back on the road. Midland is 1-2, while Whitewater drops to 2-1.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The teams borrow each others' strategies, with Bear resting for the Shores and Fuchsia on the bench for the Predators in the rematch. Shawn couldn't get his offense going for Midland, taking a measly 66 on the opening turn. Twinkie III set herself up well, but she took a bad swing to end at 223 for Whitewater, giving them only a small lead. Rainmane was forced onto her backhand for the Predators, a play that failed and left her with 299. Marsell spiked 535 for the Shores, giving them a more stable lead in the middle of the game. Leonardo put up a challenge with 770 for Midland covering the deficit to make things interesting again. Katharine fought it off with 515 for Whitewater, still making it close before the final players' turns. Americus tacked on 575 for the Predators at the end, forcing the hosts to respond to their final score of 1710. Shaggy couldn't adjust well enough, crashing out at 166 for the Shores, giving them a losing total of 1439. Both teams adjust to 2-2 after this match, with the Predators sweeping the home-and-home.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores complete their tripleheader with Katharine getting scheduled rest, while the Eagles sit Puff III for their first road game this year. Goldy put a little too much on one of her swings, lifting it out of play to end with only 160 for Everton. Bear had a pathetic 16 for Whitewater, his cold stretch reaching uncharacteristic lengths for the hosting captain. Cleo answered with 279 for the Eagles, not fully taking advantage of the opportunity to build a lead. Twinkie III only got beat on a late deflection, rallying with 799 to give the Shores a confident lead at the midway mark. Kirstin made it close again with 354 for Everton, but they needed a deeper cut to feel good about this game. Marsell made a huge blunder by taking a weak 21 for Whitewater, leaving them vulnerable late in the game. Blizzard did cover the deficit, but her 145 leaves the Eagles at 938 and the mercy of her sister. Shaggy showed no mercy with 579 for the Shores, icing their win at 1415. Whitewater bounced back to 3-2, while Everton dips to 2-1 with the low-scoring loss.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are at home for a pair of games, resting Strut in their game against the Stills, who have Anton on the bench again. Easter wasn't at her best for Todavía, looking a bit disoriented as she took 199 on the first turn of the game. Valencia answered with a solid 450 for Golden on her turn, giving the hosts the early lead. Sierra didn't come anywhere close to covering the deficit her sister created, as the Stills star had a poor 128 this time. Dusty fired back with 552 for the Pilots, her strong showing giving them an even better lead at the halfway point. Bells answered that damage with 560 for Todavía, showing more of her early season dominance in the performance. Sparkles plastered 726 for Golden against her former team, showing them what they're missing as she enjoys a resurgent season. Prism picked up 416 for the Stills, but it won't be enough to help them avoid the loss with 1303 after failures from their top players. A. Charlton pulled 193 for the Pilots at the end, finishing their win at 1921. Golden is up to 3-2 on the year, while Todavía sits at 1-4 on the year.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills complete a back-to-back when the week resumes on Sunday morning. Prism rests for the Stills, while Blizzard gets a game off for the Eagles. Goldy had a decent game going at first but then fell on some difficult times and ended at 144 for Everton. Easter put together a stronger first turn with 482 for Todavía, giving them a nice lead at first. Puff III couldn't get a handle on the game for the Eagles, her 271 failing to cover the deficit still facing them. Sierra didn't have much for pace for the Stills, but she did well enough with 372 to add lightly to the lead. Cleo covered the damage with 377 for Everton, but they are still trailing. Bells had a rough outing with 101 for Todavía, potentially leaving them vulnerable in the low-scoring game. Kirstin had 408 for the Eagles, keeping their growth strong as they finish at 1200 even, forcing the hosts to reply. Anton shut the door with 448 for the Stills at the end, securing their win at 1403. Todavía rises to 2-4 with the win, while Everton looks bad on the road as they drop to 2-2.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are home against the Blades in this one, with Sweetheart and Jason N. getting the game off. Snowball had a lot of low swings for Swordpoint but still scraped out 402 for the game. Patches showed better urgency with her pace, attacking the 4s a lot as she racked up 720 to give Boston the initial lead. Dreamy couldn't solve a deflected ball, ending abruptly at 242 for the Blades, who remain behind after that poor outing. Puff II didn't bounce back from her suspension that well, with 153 for the Swifts to weaken their lead at the midway point. Bandit looked fairly sharp for Swordpoint, hauling in 576 to cover the deficit this time. Gradley fought off most of it with 474 for Boston, retaining a small lead as the final players step up to bat. Stealth kept the pressure on the hosts with his 569, putting the Blades ahead with a final score of 1789. Ice Cream did enough with 528 to preserve the win for the Swifts at 1875 despite it getting a bit nervy toward the end. Boston stays perfect at 3-0, while Swordpoint ends their opening road trip at 2-1.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades' home opener is here, with Dreamy on the bench, while the Stills' best player Bells finally gets her first game off. Easter exploded with 879 for Todavía, the hot start giving them a significant lead to begin with. Snowball tried to go on an answering rally for Swordpoint, but she fell short with 232 as they'll start from behind instead. Sierra churned out another 770 for the Stills on her turn, extending their advantage by a significant margin. Bandit turned things around with 1383 for the Blades, making things pretty close at the midway mark. Prism tried her lucky with cutting things close to the boundary and it failed on her second push, as she closed with 160 when it clipped the corner, endangering the Todavía lead. Stealth almost pulled off an epic backhand, but it flew out of bounds to down him at 563 for Swordpoint, as the hosts take the late lead. Anton had only 267 for the Stills at the end, leaving them at a loss with 2076, wasting the stars' first really good game. Jason N. had only 177 for the Blades, but it was enough to cap their win at 2355. Swordpoint rises to 3-1, while Todavía's busy early schedule sees them at 2-5.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers have their captain Misty on the bench for the third of a six-game home stand, while Puff II returns to the bench for the Swifts. Patches had only 231 for Boston, continuing her hot-and-cold start to the season. Goatee looked comfortable in her first lead-off performance, striking 554 to give Westside the early lead. Gradley pulled in 448 for the Swifts, covering the deficit with a sturdy scoring effort. Slinks had a pacey attack for the Rockers at first, but she slipped late in the turn before ending at a decent 368 to maintain the early lead. Sweetheart bounced back from her benching in a big way with 719 for Boston here, covering the deficit easily to put pressure on the hosts. Midnight got enough of it back to give Westside a noticeable lead again with her 650, but it will be a close finish regardless. Ice Cream gathered 384 for the Swifts at the end, setting their final score at 1782, which will force the hosts to reply. Cowzart knocked 448 for the Rockers, grabbing their win at 2020. Westside is 1-2 after breaking an early funk, while Boston dips to 3-1 in their first loss.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores continue a four-game home stand with their captain Bear on the bench for performance, while Melissa rests again for the Knights after two pool games yesterday. Kiwi looked lively on the opening turn for Terrace City, but a deflection dropped her at 416. Twinkie III continued her superstar-making season with 551 for Whitewater to give them the initial lead. Jennifer covered the deficit lightly for the Knights with 261 on a middling turn. Marsell made the best of a low-pace game until a ball deflected over his bat to knock him out at 451 for the Shores. Oreo hauled in a nice 633 for Terrace City, giving them the lead for now after showing up strong. Whitewater's rookie Katharine looked primed to meet the challenge until a ball hit her bat handle and bounced out of play to end her turn at 224, leaving the hosts slightly behind. Quincy went to his backhand to deal with a deflected ball, but he soon got beat at 208 for the Knights, leaving their final score at 1518, far from safe. Shaggy rallied with 498 to give the Shores a deserved win, finishing with a total of 1724. Whitewater is 4-2, propped up by a good home record, while Terrace City sinks to 1-3 on the year.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots have A. Charlton on the bench, while the Swifts' Patches sits in this Doubles Derby rematch that saw the Swifts win on Friday. Puff II is losing control of her offense for Boston, hitting only 144 in lead-off this time for a poor start for the visitors. Valencia pretty much doubled that with 299 for Golden, giving them a mild lead after the first turn. Her boyfriend, Gradley, had his worst game of the year with 131 for the Swifts, unusual for the reliable veteran. Dusty answered with 352 for the Pilots, extending their lead mildly in another grinding battle between these two teams. Sweetheart had to take the optional replay after a rough first attempt, and the second try yielded 448 for Boston, covering the deficit by a thin margin. Strut was frustrated by a poor swing that he had to compensate for, only grabbing 120 for Golden on the play that sees them narrowly retain the lead before the final players' turns. Ice Cream snagged another 522 for the Swifts on her turn, putting their final score at 1245. Sparkles had only 176 for the Pilots, with the hosts falling to a loss at 947. Boston is 4-1 on the year, having beat their rivals twice this week, while Golden drops to 3-3.

That's all for Week 2. We've got Qualifiers on the way next, and keep an eye on @UnitedPCL on Twitter for the official standings update and Premier Team of the Week.