We're back after a fatigue hiatus took out the last two possible game days. We begin with...
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Ms. Puppy. A sophomore takes on a captain in 10-ball with the blue cue. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy managed to lay claim to game 1, chipping back and forth with Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles. Ms. Puppy made the last two shots for the 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy struggled with medium and long-range shots in game 2, but she had enough offense to hold off the Meteors' Nibbles, who was a bit better from distance. Ms. Puppy took over at the end to get the win after Nibbles' good start, clinching the series at 2-0 with her win. Ms. Puppy had a three-ball run from the break and a three-ball run-out on her last turn, sandwiching a three-ball run from Nibbles to take the series in a sweep as she heads to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Chicky Phil. These two veterans meet in Accuracy with the blue cue. Eastside's Graham played perfectly in game 1, never missing a shot, while Pacific's Chicky Phil had a few spread out during the game. Graham took the 0-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Graham proved fallible in game 2, missing one shot right after the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil had missed one. The two battled closely after this exchange, but Graham again got the better of Chicky Phil late, winning 1-2 to clinch the series at 2-0. Graham held a lead for most of game 3, but Chicky Phil again kept up, and he forced Graham into a scratch while potting the last ball, good for a 2-3 win to Chicky Phil. Graham still took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Kyle. The silver cue gets a turn now in 9-ball. Queens' Kyle had a good game 1, with a lot of the early offense and a three-ball run-out to counter a later rally from Swordpoint's Snowball. Kyle's good finish helped him take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Flames' Kyle had a dominant share of offense in game 2, highlighted by a four-ball run, and supplemented with two pairs after that as the Blades' Snowball couldn't find her shot at all. Kyle's big performance ended in a tap-in on the 9 for the win, securing the series at 2-0 in his favor. Snowball would not suffer the sweep, fighting back efficiently against Kyle in game 3 to get the win, using a three-ball run-out in the end after he surrendered possession on illegal contact. Kyle did take the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Dusty. One of the marquee first-round series goes in Rotation with the silver cue. Boston's Patches had to battle closely with Golden's Dusty both early and late, but a four-ball run in between those sparring matches helped Patches take the win 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches faced a bit less resistance in game 2, as the Pilots' Dusty again got frustrated by her sister's defensive measures. Patches stormed away with a three-ball run later, and won 8-1 two turns later to secure the series at 2-0. Patches fell behind to Dusty early in game 3 thanks Dusty's three-ball run, but Patches had one of her own before scratching to give Dusty a free shot at the last ball. Dusty converted, winning the game 8-7, but Patches heads to the second round with a 2-1 series win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Summer. The blue cue returns in a more understated 9-ball series. Maplewood's Summer had the better of play in game 1, battling in quick exchanges early on with Pearl's Bright before getting the 9 on a tap-in late for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw some ugly play, as neither player desired to make the 3 for fear of having to deal with the 4. It became Summer's problem, and while she got contact, she also scratched on the 4. It didn't stop her from a later three-ball run, but the Lumberjacks rookie left the 9 close enough to the top right for the Surfers' Bright to cut it in, tying the series at 1 with his win. Bright did himself in with a bad shot in game 3, going to make contact on the 1 but ending up striking the 4 hard enough to carom the 9 off a rail and into the bottom left illegally. Summer took the gifted win for a 2-1 series win, which puts her in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Chelsea. The red cue is up in 15-ball between these oddball rivals. Game 1 started a bit slowly, as the players had trouble calibrating their shots. Eastside's Chelsea picked up the pace late, with a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out to put Central's Dustin in the hole 1-0 early on. The Warriors' Dustin tried to hound the 15 in game 2, but the Sharks' Chelsea was good at defense and she kept changing the pace to frustrate her host. Chelsea had a late four-ball run, but a scratch gave Dustin a chance to pick up the win on a three-ball run-out, and when he converted, he tied the series at 1. Chelsea had a seven-ball run early in game 3 after throwing Dustin off with a few early misses. They both ended up illegally chasing the 9 while the 8 was on the table, and Dustin picked up on it first, taking a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand in a shocking end to the series. Dustin took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Bandit. The silver cue returns in 10-ball between a captain and a sophomore. Southern's Panda looked pretty confident in game 1, battling with Swordpoint's Bandit early before breaking free on a three-ball run-out to grab the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda flipped it around in game 2 with a four-ball run on his second turn and then a gritty battle from that point on with the Blades' Bandit. Panda got the better of Bandit late, taking the win for a 2-0 lead in the series. Panda and Bandit both had trouble getting on track in game 3, leading to a sloppy game that eventually saw Bandit work a four-ball run-out to snag the win. Panda takes a 2-1 series win with him to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Jasmine. The red cue gets another look, this time in 7-ball. Tysini's Leandra had a ball on the break, but it was still quite the game 1 fight against Freedom's Jasmine. The extra space on the table was a problem, but Leandra contained her shot for a three-ball run-out in the end, her win giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra didn't waste any time in game 2, easing up on the break and ending up with the 7 in the top side and the 6 in the bottom side, good for another win over the Cascades' Jasmine. Leandra owns a 2-0 series lead. Leandra kept the pressure on with a four-ball run from the break in game 3. Jasmine got one back, but Leandra took the last two balls, securing the 3-0 series sweep as she drained the 7 on a cut to the top right. Leandra goes into the second round brimming with confidence.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Pounce. Two experienced strongmen face off in another 7-ball series with the red cue. Southern's Pounce maintained a strong presence in game 1 despite some lapses in shot quality. Midland's Leonardo couldn't fill those gaps, and Pounce easily took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce took a calmer approach to his shots in game 2, and while the Predators' Leonardo found some early success, a four-ball run-out from Pounce assured the visitor of the win. Pounce clinched the series at 2-0 as well. Pounce didn't have much of a shot in game 3, but Leonardo had luck on his side anyway, making the 7 in the top side as collateral after a miss on the 2 caromed into the winning ball. Pounce won the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Strut. The silver cue makes an appearance in 12-ball this time. Pearl's Beth showed some rustiness in game 1, twice potting a ball to a pocket she had already filled, and these mistakes allowed Golden's Strut to build his attack patiently before striking with well-placed shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut had a great break and distribution, and quickly got down to just the well-defended top left. The Surfers' Beth chipped back with a four-ball run after Strut rearranged the defense, and then she added another defensive block, which worked, but she couldn't get her 3 to follow his 12 on an intentional attempt for the tie. Strut took the win and the series at 2-0. Beth and Strut engaged in a race in game 3, each taking the right side first and then battling in the left and center, with Beth eventually getting around Strut's defense for the win. Strut advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Cobalt. Wolves teammates clash in a series of 10-ball with the red cue. Vladimir had a decent start with a couple of early shots, but Cobalt needed only his first turn, as he turned in an eight-ball run-out for the win, bringing the united crowd to their feet as he gained the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured a much closer battle, with Cobalt showing off a bit more of his positioning skill while Vladimir tried to play direct. They evenly split possession, but Vladimir took the game late with the last pair of shots, tying the series at 1 with his win. Game 3 also followed an even split, although with a bit more pace at times. Cobalt benefited this time, picking up the 10 after Vladimir missed his cut shot and had a kick instead. Cobalt won the series 2-1 with this win, heading to the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Gabe v. Prism. A returning player meets a sophomore in the day's final series, which is Accuracy with the silver cue. Todavía's Prism had an early lead in game 1, but she couldn't make it stand, and Maplewood's Gabe took over, holding tight to a 2-5 lead to get the win. Gabe holds a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Prism showed a bit more patience in game 2, letting the Lumberjacks' Gabe hold the lead until nearly the end. She left him in bad spots twice, forcing both of his misses, and she cleaned up at the end to win 1-2. Prism's win ties the series at 1. Prism tried to hold a lead early in game 3, but it went much like game, and she fell apart in the end. Gabe stayed consistent with his play, winning 2-4 to take the series 2-1, and he advances to the second round.
That's all for today's games. We'll play tomorrow after Premier, and Sunday will be Premier only so as to rest up for a week ahead in Tournament action.
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