2018 Qualifiers - Day 4

We're back, likely with 40 more qualifying efforts to go through today. First up...

The Diamond Gems star Citrus makes her season debut in 7-ball with the silver cue. The table seemed cruel not to give Citrus a ball on the break, but she double-potted the 1 to the top side and the 5 to the top right before making the 3-7 combination to the bottom left to end in 3 shots with no errors. Up next, the Tysini Hummingbirds captain Princess shoots 8-ball with the red cue. Princess made a ball on the break just barely, and proceeded to rally through the game, ending in 18 shots without an error for an excellent outing. Another captain goes next, as the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Mams debuts in 7-ball with the red cue. Mams made a ball on the break, but her highlight was the 2-7-5 kick combination to the top left on her second shot from play. She would cool off a bit after this but still ended with 8 shots and no errors in a good game. Strawberry brought the silver cue back to action, as the Victoria Spurs newcomer shoots 9-ball this time. Strawberry made a ball on the break, and she would need only 10 more shots without an error, despite one close call, to complete a strong game. Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball rounds out the group with 8-ball and the blue cue. Snowball set the new standard in the event, going empty on the break but double-potting the 11 and 12 on her first shot to the top right. She would take one error in the game, but the rest was cleanly played as she finished with 16 shots.

The second group gets underway with the Atlantic Pirates' Isabella shooting 8-ball with the blue cue. Isabella pulled up a bit early on, going with short runs after getting nothing on the break. It was worth it, as her caution helped her finish with 20 shots and no errors. The Gems' Citrus returns to action for her 8-ball game now, using the blue cue for her second game of the day. Citrus didn't play as well this time, making nothing on the break and taking no errors among 24 shots as she had trouble shooting the solids. The eighth player drawn today is the Commerce Tradewinds' Niki, who shoots 8-ball with the blue cue as well. Niki showed well at the start of the game, knocking one in on the break, but she rattled a few of her shots later in the game. She would take one error on a scratch before closing the game on 21 total shots. The trend of 8-ball with the blue cue continues as Puff I of the Modernistic Union steps up for her second game in qualifying. Puff I made two balls on the break, and save for a shaky finish on the stripes as she cleared the table, she did well, taking 18 shots and no errors in the game. Salmo breaks the pattern to debut with the Eastside Sharks in 7-ball with the silver cue at the end of this group. Salmo nearly scratched on an otherwise empty break, but put that scare aside to shoot 9 shots without an error for a nice game.

The third batch leads off with the Freedom Cascades veteran Stinky shooting 8-ball with the red cue. Stinky made nothing on the break and he had trouble picking up some of his shots in the middle of the game before finishing strong to end on 22 shots and no errors. North Modernistic Nighthawks sophomore Luigi is next, debuting for the year in 7-ball with the silver cue. Luigi couldn't quite make a ball on the break, but he took two on his first shot and played smart throughout the appearance, finishing in 7 shots without an error. The Commerce Tradewinds' Lionel keeps the silver cue in action for some 8-ball. Lionel did extremely well in this appearance, making one ball on the break and staying error-free throughout to finish with 17 shots in a strong turn from the muscly veteran. The Central Warriors newcomer Wings plays 9-ball with the red cue for the 14th game of the day. Wings couldn't make a ball on the break, but he used the rails to his advantage with all sorts of glancing kicks to complete the game in 13 shots without an error. The group closes with Diamond Gems captain Smokey playing 7-ball with the blue cue for his season debut. Smokey potted the 1 on the break, but also scratched to negate the advantage. He still closed the game out in 8 shots, with just the one error, for a strong debut this year.

Group four gets going with Pronger Tridents sophomore Potter, who debuts in 7-ball with the silver cue. Potter had the first really bad appearance of the day, taking one error for a failed jump shot and needing 16 shots in total to get through the game after an empty break. Daisy keeps the event in 7-ball, but brings the blue cue to action for her sophomore year debut for the Modernistic Union. Daisy also played to an empty break in her appearance, but the rest of her game was cleaner than that of her predecessor, as she finished without an error in 9 shots for a strong game. The Todavía Stills captain Easter makes her season debut next, playing 7-ball with the blue cue. Easter knocked a ball in on the break, and continued to play well, getting lucky early on before closing with pure skill to finish in 8 shots with no errors. Paps keeps the blue cue at the table for another game of 7-ball as he makes his debut with the Tysini Hummingbirds. Paps put together as average a performance as any, taking nothing on the break with no errors in 10 shots for a neutral debut. The 20th player called today is Dreamy, who continues to test her sore shoulder with 10-ball and the blue cue here. Dreamy started slow with an empty break and shaky shooting, but she settled in to complete the rack in 18 shots for a solid performance, and she had no errors.

The fifth bunch starts with the Victoria Spurs' Wario shooting 8-ball with the blue cue. Wario had a good start with a ball on the break, but he lost his touch on the shots later in the game, picking up two errors among his 26 shots to clear the table. Harrison Specters third-year rising star Sydney Sierota goes 22nd today, debuting in 7-ball with the red cue this year. Sydney didn't make a ball on the break, and she missed contact with the 7 late in the game for her only error in 10 shots in a decent start to her season. Following that, the Everton Eagles' Kirstin is up for 9-ball with the red cue. Kirstin couldn't get anything to fall on the break, but she dazzled with interesting carom shots to finish the game with 14 shots and no errors for a solid appearance. Another Specter comes next, as the captain Twinkie II represents Harrison with the silver cue in 8-ball. Twinkie II started well with a ball on the break, but she had an inability to work with the stripes even at close range, and she saw her score inflate to 28 shots, including two errors, by the end of the rack. Wrapping up the group, the Modernistic Union rookie Kodiak debuts in 7-ball with the blue cue. Kodiak had a ball on the break, but spent most of the game trying to get clear shots. He would need 13 shots to complete the game, but he didn't take an error for one positive sign.

Group six sees Sleepy B. of the Archtown Arrows make her season debut with the blue cue in 7-ball. After potting a ball on the break, Sleepy B. left the 7 right in the middle of the table, where it blocked most of her first eight shots. She would take one error before rushing to finish with 14 shots for the game. Another season debut is on the way, as the Victoria Spurs' Yekaterina Vasilyeva starts qualifying with the blue cue in 7-ball as well. Yekaterina didn't make a ball on the break, but she also didn't take an error in the appearance, needing 12 shots to get through the rack as she faced some challenging positions. Precious brought some variety to the events, using the red cue for 8-ball in the Pronger Tridents captain's second appearance. Precious had a ball on the break, but she missed too many shots early in the game, and then struggled again late, taking no errors but also 26 shots for the game. The Pearl Surfers' Boots gets the next game, playing 7-ball with the silver cue. Boots showed why she's well-regarded in the sport, making nothing on the break but missing none of her shots from play. She ended with 7 shots and no errors in a very clean performance. Mario goes 30th today, making his sophomore year debut for the Central Warriors in 7-ball with the silver cue. Mario went empty on his break, and needed three attempts at the 6-7 combination at the end to finish with 12 shots, although he had no errors.

The seventh group begins with the Pacific Volcanoes superstar captain Starlight debuting for the year in 7-ball with the red cue. Starlight dazzled as she made a ball on the break and completed the game in 6 shots after that, taking no errors for a wonderful first game of the year. Following that, another debut is ready as the Pronger Tridents' Zach plays 7-ball with the blue cue. Zach didn't make a ball on the break, and he had one error after a tough cut on the 4, but he finished the game with 9 shots for a positive outing altogether. The Whitewater Shores' Shaggy breaches 12-ball, the first player to do so, using the silver cue. Shaggy was not ready for the appearance by any means, struggling after making the easy shots and racking up five errors among her 26 shots before completing the difficult game. The Stills captain Easter returns to action for her second game today, using the red cue in 8-ball. Easter did make a ball on the break, and she avoided taking errors despite some occasionally challenging shots. She finished the game in a reasonable 22 shots. At the back of the group, the Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno steps in to play 8-ball with the red cue. Juno proved relentless in attack, going empty on the break but punishing every shot to complete the game in 18 shots without an error. Her positioning was especially positive in this game.

The last group begins with the Southern Monarchs sophomore Hoppy playing 8-ball with the blue cue. Hoppy scratched on the break, and then took her second and final error with a lazy shot after making the 8. She would need 21 total shots to get through a relatively good game. The Boston Swifts superstar captain Patches debuts next, playing 7-ball with the red cue. Patches looked to be in for a long game after missing the 1-7 combination on her first turn, but she made it on a bank to end with 2 shots and no errors after her empty break. The 1 also fell in the bottom right after the 7 dropped in the bottom side to make it a double-pot. The 38th player today is Leandra, the Tysini Hummingbirds star, who shoots 8-ball with the silver cue. Leandra made a ball on the break, and then backed it up with 22 shots, taking no errors during the appearance that sees her place decently for the event. The Whitewater Shores captain Bear keeps the silver cue in action for his season debut in 7-ball. Bear went empty on the break, and managed to leave himself in increasingly difficult positions early on. He got through that just fine, but he had two later errors and he jammed his finger on the table, which could cost him a game or two in cricket, and he finished with a poor 17 shots. Today's last game goes to Rainmane, the Midland Predators star, who plays 7-ball with the red cue. Rainmane did alright, taking one error early on after some tough shooting positions but needing just 12 total shots to get through the appearance.

Tomorrow, we've got 40 games of this and six more UPCL Elite cricket games scheduled.