After some scheduling issues yesterday, we return with new games today. First up...
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Bandit. The two crafty players meet in 15-ball with the silver cue in the day's first series. Swordpoint's Bandit was clearly the worse player in game 1, with a handful of errors and two pitiful mistakes late leading to a choppy win for Modernistic's Chimpy, who leads the series 1-0 now. Game 2 went much the same, although the Union's Chimpy had more of the errors. The Blades' Bandit would pull away with the last two shots at the end for the win, tying the series at 1 after another gritty effort. Game 3 saw more sloppy play, including both players taking errors for illegal contact with a ball at rest. Chimpy picked up six of the last eight balls, with a four-ball run and a pair of shots to ice the performance in a win, beating Bandit 2-1 in the series to get to the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Nightfur. Captains clash in 15-ball with the red cue in the day's second series. Neither player grabbed control of game 1, with plenty of chances both ways. Smudge nearly wasted hers, with a miscue as she shot the 14, but Nightfur gave possession back on the 15. Smudge banked it to the top side, but scratched, gifting Nightfur a win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw tempers flare again between the two fiery captains. Smudge picked up some quality late in the game, but her miss on the 15 left a tap-in for the Crowns' Nightfur to clinch the series on at 2-0. Play remained poor in game 3, and with the series decided, both players unleashed full fury on the table. Smudge got the win, and Nightfur took the series 2-1, but both players will be suspended one game in their respective cricket leagues.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Spice. Play returned to action on Thursday after poor quality on Wednesday, but had to be postponed again until Saturday. The silver cue is in play for 8-ball. Atlantic's Steven had to come from behind after Victoria's Spice had the better start in a still-shaky game 1. Steven's late push gave him the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice jumped out to an early lead again in game 2, and the Pirates' Steven twice scratched before potting a ball. Steven's poor play was short-lived, and he rallied to get the win with a pair of three-ball runs late, securing the series at 2-0. Spice had to try a rally in game 3 this time, but she fell just a bit short against Steven, who buried the 8 on a sharp cut to sweep the series 3-0 as he heads to the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Oreo. The silver cue remains in action for Accuracy in this series between veterans. Swordpoint's Snowball tried her best in game 1, but her one miss opened the door for Terrace City's Oreo to pick up the 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead in a perfect effort. Oreo didn't start as well in game 2, but the Knights star recovered from a scratch on the break and early miss quite well. The Blades' Snowball couldn't maintain a lead, and then missed on the last ball, allowing Oreo to complete the comeback at 2-3 for a 2-0 series lead. Oreo had a shaky game 3 at times too, but Snowball fell apart completely by the end, as Oreo completed her 3-0 series sweep in a 2-5 win. Oreo advances to the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Americus. Two veterans go at it in Rotation with the red cue. Midland's Americus jumped out to a massive lead of four shots at one point, but she couldn't hold on, as Central's Wings patiently chipped back to win 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured a more back-and-forth style, with the Warriors' Wings initially slipping behind before overtaking the Predators' Americus at mid-game. Americus didn't stop there, winning on a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after Wings scratched while shooting the 8. Americus won 8-5 to tie the series at 1. Americus didn't have any support for her win, getting run over in game 3 as Wings took the series 2-1 with an 8-0 win, including a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after Americus' second error. Wings heads into the third round with the effort.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Sugar v. Lexi. The silver cue returns for 10-ball between former teammates. Game 1 saw a bit of a slow start for both players, especially Web City's Sugar. Harrison's Lexi broke the slump a bit faster, ending with a five-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit smoother, although Lexi experienced a scare with a scratch. The Spiders' Sugar wasted the chance at the run, and the Specters' Lexi replied on a three-ball run, but missed her kick on the 10, giving Sugar a tap-in for the win to tie the series at 1. Lexi had a few looks in game 3, but illegally potting the 10 around the middle of the game shifted the momentum to favor Sugar, who dominated the second half for the win. Sugar won the series 2-1 and heads to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine McPhee v. Cassandra. A rookie debuts against a returning star in 15-ball with the red cue. Game 1 was a chippy battle between the two players. Runs were hard to come by, but a late one from Diamond's Cassandra ended too soon, and Whitewater's Katharine came away with the win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Shores' Katharine came close to a win on a wild shot that nearly bumped the 15 to the bottom right, but instead left the 6-15 combination lined up for the Gems' Cassandra. The visitor buried it, tying the series at 1 with the fortunate shot. Game 3 was likely the closest in the series, with Katharine getting a late three-ball run but proving unable to hold on, allowing Cassandra to take the game with the last two shots for a 2-1 series win. Cassandra is through to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Slinks. A sophomore sensation meets a seasoned veteran in 10-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Violetta had a good start in game 1, but she couldn't keep up the pace. She had a late chance after a scratch by Westside's Slinks, but she missed the shot, and Slinks rallied for a three-ball run-out to take the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 featured a more aggressive approach by the Flames' Violetta, aided by a pair of scratches from the Rockers' Slinks. Violetta had a three-ball run and a five-ball run-out as the core of her attack to tie the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 saw an exciting finish, as Slinks illegally potted a ball to start the sequence. Violetta tried a 5-10 combination to the top right, which failed, setting Slinks up to win with a successful 5-8-10 combination to the bottom right. Slinks advances on a 2-1 series win.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Steven. Two steady veterans meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Modernistic's Puff I came extremely close to triple-potting the 6, 8, and 15 in game 1, but the 15 hung by the top side to the end. Atlantic's Steven was barreling toward it on a four-ball run, but he missed on the 12, and Puff I made the last two shots to win for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Union's Puff I had to steal her chances in game 2, as the Pirates' Steven had a strong possession share highlighted by a four-ball run. Puff I struck late on a three-ball run, but she left the 15 at the top right, which Steven tapped in for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Puff I take a bit more offense back from the start of the game. Steven had to dig in and play defense, but it wouldn't matter, as Puff I made the last shot after her three-ball run gave her a bit of a scare by not being the finishing turn. Puff I won the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Sydney Sierota. The silver cue returns to play in 9-ball. Diamond's Pedey had a strong game 1 effort, making a ball on the break and keeping Harrison's Sydney on the periphery until he could make a three-ball run-out. Pedey leads the series 1-0. The Specters' Sydney did better with asserting herself in the series, taking a pair of three-ball runs in game 2. This, combined with a weaker effort from the Gems' Pedey, allowed Sydney to pot the 9 at the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1 with the dominant display. Game 3 featured a close battle between the two players, one which Sydney refused to lose as she chipped in pairs of shots to overwhelm Pedey late and grab the 2-1 series win. Sydney will return to this venue in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Nikolai. Strong and young opponents clash in an Eastern Hills Derby edition of 9-ball with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Hershey nearly took game 1 on the break, and he kept a soft shot early on before toppling Freedom's Nikolai with a three-ball run-out at the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Hershey dominated the first part of game 2, with two balls on the break and a productive second turn, but his miss on the 7 allowed the Cascades' Nikolai to make the last two shots to get the win, tying the series at 1. Hershey had another good start in game 3, but it didn't hold up in the end, as Nikolai surged forward to take the win on a three-ball run-out. Nikolai's late burst gave him the series at 2-1, putting him into the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Peach. Today's finale is in 15-ball, featuring the silver cue. North Modernistic's Peach snagged the win in game 1, showing a bit better than Pacific's Leonette despite the rather poor quality of play. Peach had a five-ball run in the middle and a three-ball run-out at the end to move ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Nighthawks' Peach had the better of play in a cleaner showing, keeping the Volcanoes' Leonette unsteady. Leonette had a chance to make waves late, but she snookered herself and scratched, and Peach brought the game to a quick end on a 13-15 combination to the bottom side from ball-in-hand to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a couple of deep runs for each player, with Leonette putting a halt to Peach's final run by making the 15 to the top right for the win. Peach still won the series 2-1, heading to the second round.
That's all for Wednesday-Saturday after a chaotic stretch for the league. If play quality remains decent or better, we will have a standard day tomorrow.
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