We're on to a new set of games today, beginning with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Shawn. The red cue gets the first look, playing 10-ball in the opening series today. Midland's Shawn had the best sequence in game 1 with a five-ball run, but he didn't make it count for much as Central's Wings took the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings had an obvious advantage in possession in game 2, a three-ball run the highlight of that, but the Predators' Shawn took the win as he made the 10 on his second try. This play tied the series at 1. Wings had two instances of illegally potted balls in game 3, the first seeing Shawn pass on possession and the second seeing the visitor bury the 10 to the bottom left to win. Shawn took the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Vladimir Vasilyev. Two young players go at it in 8-ball with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Vladimir had a strong start to game 1, giving up some collateral damage to Commerce's Niki. This almost backfired when Niki had a five-ball run, but Vladimir closed the game victorious for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Vladimir had a four-ball run early in game 2 to pace his attack, and while the Tradewinds' Niki came close to catching up, she was a bit too slow again. Vladimir shut things down late and secured the series at 2-0 in his favor. Vladimir started game 3 with a six-ball run, but Niki would pick up a five-ball run on her third turn of the game, and she beat him to the finish to take her only win. Vladimir advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Noelle. The blue cue remains at the table for 12-ball between two of Empyre's most popular players. Central's Noelle answered a pair of early balls from Eastside's Graham with her own four-ball run. This put Graham into an ultimately futile defensive posture, as his scratch paved the path for Noelle to take the win and 1-0 series lead. Noelle bombed a three-ball run just on the break of game 2, all solids dropping. This shook the Sharks' Graham, who never fully covered that damage, and Noelle patiently put the other three balls away to grab the win and the 2-0 series lead. Noelle had another blistering break, but she illegally potted one of the stripes this time. Graham rallied from here, making it a closer finish than before, but not close enough as Noelle tapped her last shot in at the top side. Noelle swept the series 3-0 to move into the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Paps. Back in 8-ball, the blue cue administers a series between veterans. Tysini's Paps burst forward on a four-ball run early in game 1, but it wouldn't be enough, as Boston's Sweetheart matched that at the end on a four-ball run-out for the win. Sweetheart leads the series 1-0. In game 2, the Swifts' Sweetheart burst forward with a six-ball run on the break with a little collateral damage. The Hummingbirds' Paps pulled back close in the game, but he missed on the 8, and Sweetheart buried it on her second try to take the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Paps outran Sweetheart in a competitive and exciting game 3, using a couple of three-ball runs and a two-ball finish to get the win. Sweetheart took the series at 2-1 to advance into the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Neopolitan. A couple of stars shine in 7-ball with the red cue. Terrace City's Jennifer needed only three shots to win in game 1, getting the 1 on the break and finishing with a 3-7 combination to the top left to take a 1-0 series lead over Pearl's Neopolitan. In game 2, the Surfers' Neopolitan countered with ferocity, using a six-ball run-out after an unsuccessful turn by the Knights' Jennifer to take the win. This made Jennifer's win earlier look wise by being finished so early, as Neopolitan's effort here tied the series at 1. Game 3 was the closest in the series, and while Neopolitan did have a three-ball run, she also had a late scratch, and Jennifer made the last two balls for the win. Jennifer took the series 2-1, moving on to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Pauline. The blue cue returns to action in another 12-ball series. Commerce's Tigerette conquered Capital City's Pauline in game 1, getting a three-ball run from the break and a strong enough positioning set for a three-ball run-out in the end. Tigerette's shutout effort gives her a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Pauline was better in game 2, in that she made a ball during the game. The Tradewinds' Tigerette still dominated throughout the game, with a three-ball run early on and an impressive bank to the bottom left to win after a scratch had set her back. Tigerette took the series at 2-0, with nearly 100% of the possession. Pauline avoided a total embarrassment with her win in game 3, a four-ball run highlighting the performance. Tigerette had a chance to get the win, but she couldn't keep her run going, and she settled for a 2-1 series win.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Bells. A rookie meets a veteran in 7-ball, the silver cue's first series today. Royal's Cassie did a lot of things right in game 1, but she still needed a massive mistake by Todavía's Bells, who missed the 7 at tap-in range, to get the win. Cassie leads 1-0 in the series thanks to Bells' blunder. In game 2, the Crowns' Cassie had a three-ball run ended by illegal contact, but the Stills' Bells missed on the 7 to give her a three-ball run that would go to waste. Cassie took the 7 on the last shot, winning the game and the series at 2-0. Bells had a three-ball run early in game 3 before it turned into a gritty ending. Bells did get the win over Cassie this time, driving the 7 off the left rail and into the bottom right. Cassie claimed the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Waluigi v. Easter. A sophomore takes on a stronger captain in Rotation with the blue cue. Lighton's Waluigi started pretty well in game 1, but he couldn't sustain it against a good defensive effort by Todavía's Easter, who rallied late and won 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had an easy go of it in game 2, as the Prestige's Waluigi committed three errors during the game, leading to most of Easter's points. Easter would take the win at 8-1, clinching the series with a 2-0 lead. Waluigi had no trouble in game 3, as he battled closely with Easter in the early part of the game before erupting for a five-ball run-out that secured an 8-2 victory for him. Easter still won the series handily at 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Mario. The silver cue is back for more 7-ball in this series. Central's Mario took advantage of the scraps Viewpoint Sound's Hoot left behind in game 1. There were plenty of those, none better than Mario taking the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot had to fight hard in game 2 to get himself back into the series, but he pieced together a four-ball run-out to stymie the Warriors' Mario at the end. Hoot's strong finish this time tied the series at 1. Mario had two pairs of successful shots in game 3, the latter earning him the win after Hoot whiffed badly on the 3. Mario took the 3 from ball-in-hand, and then made the 4-7 combination to the top right to secure the series at 2-1 in his favor. Mario heads to the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal Gadot v. Gabe. The blue cue gets a taste of 9-ball in this series. North Modernistic's Gal had control of game 1 from the start with three balls on the break. Maplewood's Gabe tried to battle back, but Gal won with an 8-9 combination to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal couldn't replicate that effort in game 2, as the Lumberjacks' Gabe took a much more significant role in the game. Gal had a late push with a pair of shots, but Gabe made the last pair of balls for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw another competitive effort on both sides, as Gabe had a three-ball run over the middle only to see Gal make a three-ball run-out to deny him the series. Gal won the game and advanced to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Watermelon. The blue cue stays on for another 9-ball series between these two veterans. Tysini's Brownie found a burst of strength in game 1 on her second turn, stunning Pearl's Watermelon with a six-ball run-out culminating in a 6-9 combination to the bottom right. Brownie leads the series 1-0 after the impressive finish. The Hummingbirds' Brownie lightly hounded the 9 for parts of game 2, while the Surfers' Watermelon elected to keep her shooting strategy simple. Brownie got the better of Watermelon at the end, glancing a shot off the 5 to make the 9 in the top right for the win and the 2-0 series lead. Game 3 started a bit slower than the others, and Watermelon had her chances to make a run, but Brownie took over at the end on a three-ball run-out, earning the win and a 3-0 series sweep as she heads to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Mario. The final series today is in 10-ball with the silver cue. Central's Mario had a jumbled start to game 1, but he passed on possession after Midland's Americus illegally potted a ball. Americus extended her run to seven balls, good for the win as she drained the 10 in the top right to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Mario would make the same decision in game 2 as the Predators' Americus illegally potted the 6. She didn't make him pay for it this time, but Americus still got the win in the natural flow of play, defeating Mario and clinching the series at 2-0. Mario got one back in game 3, battling Americus to the end to get his only win in the series. Americus advances on a 2-1 series win, moving into the second round.
That's all for today's games. We'll be back with more of the same tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment