We're back with hopefully a standard and uninterrupted day of Tournament play, beginning with...
Ebay Center, Queens: Hannah v. Gizmo. The blue cue gets the first series today, in 10-ball. Eastside's Gizmo had a dangerous game 1 effort, hounding the 10, but he only won when Queens' Hannah illegally potted it with a scratch, giving him a free shot for the win. Gizmo leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Gizmo didn't play as well in game 2, but when the Flames' Hannah missed the 8-10 combination to end a three-ball run, Gizmo shot back on a three-ball run-out to take the win. Gizmo's good play secured the series in his favor at 2-0. Hannah probably should have taken game 3, but a cautious approach backfired late in the game, negating her four-ball run as Gizmo took the 10 from ball-in-hand after her scratch. Gizmo swept the series 3-0 to get to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Mario. The blue cue remains in action in this 12-ball series. Central's Mario got everything to go just right in game 1, a three-ball run helping him neutralize the hot start from Freedom's Stripes before getting position at the top side to end it. Mario leads the series 1-0. The Cascades' Stripes had a decent three-ball run in game 2, but it looked like the Warriors' Mario would still best her with good positioning. He sacrificed one opportunity late, leaving the 10 at the top right on a kick, and Stripes had a three-ball run-out on the next turn to take the win and tie the series at 1 in a thrilling finish to the game. Stripes and Mario combined for a close start, but Mario got the edge late, and Stripes' defensive efforts were futile, as Mario took the game and a 2-1 series win to head to the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Goldy. Another series in the Southeast sees the blue cue used for Accuracy. Queens' Violetta didn't have the cleanest start in game 1, but she put Everton's Goldy behind early on and made it work at the end for a 2-4 win and 1-0 series lead to the host. The Eagles' Goldy couldn't quite figure out how to maintain a small lead, allowing the Flames' Violetta to drag her down to the same level before Violetta capitalized on a late miss by Goldy. Violetta ran away with the 2-3 win at the end, securing the series at 2-0. Violetta slowed up a bit in game 3, but Goldy couldn't match the pace again, falling by a 2-4 score as she was swept out of the bracket 3-0. Violetta punches a ticket to the second round with the confident series.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Taylor Swift. The blue cue continues its sampler tour, now in action for 9-ball. Commerce's Taylor showed no fear against the experienced Tysini captain Princess in game 1. Taylor got the win with a 6-9 bank combination to the top right that also drained the 6 in the bottom side for a win on a double-pot. Taylor holds a 1-0 series lead. Taylor had a fierce five-ball run from the break in game 2, doing enough to throwing the Hummingbirds' Princess off her game at the end as she missed the 9 at medium range. The Tradewinds' Taylor made the tap-in, securing the series at 2-0. Taylor had another two-ball break, but it was her scratch while potting the 9 that highlighted the game, gifting a win to Princess. Taylor still advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Dreamy. Club-mates clash in 10-ball with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Dreamy had a threatening first turn with a five-ball run, but she faded with an empty second turn. Pacific's Leonette answered, making a four-ball run-out to get the win on her third turn, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette ended game 2 in the same way, a four-ball run-out, but she took a much more even share of shots before that, battling on short runs with the Blades' Dreamy. Leonette's late burst made it a 2-0 series lead in her favor. Leonette had a dominant share of possession in game 3, but she buckled late, letting Dreamy get a tap-in on the last ball for the win. Leonette took the semi-friendly series 2-1 to move to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Solaris. A rookie hosts a sophomore as the silver cue comes to action in 7-ball. Oceanside's Jason showed a bit more command on his shots than did Infinity's Solaris, and it helped him when Solaris missed the 7, as Jason tapped it in for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Waves' Jason take a step forward with a four-ball run, but it was his ugly finish that marred the result for the host. The Torpedoes' Solaris missed a cut on the 7 after receiving a ball-in-hand a shot earlier, but Jason scratched on a follow-shot to give Solaris the win anyway, tying the series at 1. Jason made the same mistake in game 3 while shooting the 6, scratching to waste his three-ball run and giving Solaris ball-in-hand for the 7. Solaris was true, winning the series 2-1 with the play that sent him to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Vladimir Vasilyev. The blue cue is back for more Accuracy as a veteran takes on a rookie. Stonebridge's Vladimir played well in his debut game, controlling his shots and even getting a double-pot before burying Archtown's Dusky in a 1-3 deficit she never came back from. Vladimir leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw the score get flipped, as the Arrows' Dusky got a lucky bounce to keep a small lead, which forced the Wolves' Vladimir into a miss of his own. Dusky held on for the 1-3 win from here, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went into overtime after Dusky and Vladimir both buckled under pressure. Each missed their first shot in the extra rack, and then Vladimir scratched on his next shot, giving Dusky a 5-6 win and 2-1 series win. Dusky is off to the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Avril Lavigne. Celebrities meet in 10-ball, another series administered by the blue cue. Southridge's Debby had a slightly better game 1 than Southern's Avril, taking the close battle with a late three-ball run-out. Debby leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Avril probably should have taken game 2, running three balls late in the game before a miss on the 10. The Defenders' Debby capitalized on the chance, securing the series at 2-0 with her win on a short shot to the bottom right. Avril had a nice four-ball run at one point in game 3, but she fell again as Debby answered with a four-ball run-out to earn the series sweep at 3-0. Debby advances to the second round with the big win.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Cubby. These two Empyre club-mates clash in 8-ball with the blue cue. Web City's Jack was lucky to make a solid on the break, but he scratched soon after. Eastside's Cubby went on a rally after that, and while Jack pulled back, Cubby jumped Jack's last ball to pot the 8 in the top right, a highlight-worthy play to give Cubby the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Cubby had a fair amount of control as the Spiders' Jack scratched early in game 2 as well, but Cubby's cluster-buster illegally potted the 8, gifting the win to Jack. The series is tied at 1, heading into a decisive game. Jack started game 3 with a six-ball run, featuring one instance of collateral damage. He didn't expect Cubby to then make a six-ball run, giving Cubby the late advantage. Cubby converted on the 8 two turns later, winning the game and the 2-1 series to get to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Sage. Solid Core's two rookies of disparate ages face off in 15-ball with the silver cue. Commerce's Rosemary had a successful game 1, nearly denying Victoria's Sage a chance to shoot early on. Sage had a few turns, but didn't do much, and Rosemary had a three-ball run a couple turns before a 4-15 combination to the top right for the win. Rosemary has a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a much better effort from the Spurs' Sage, who had five of the last seven balls as she gained steam, but a miss on the 15 allowed a medium-distance strike by the Tradewinds' Rosemary to earn the win. Rosemary secured the series at 2-0. Sage continued her aggressive push in game 3, and this time it worked, as she made the 8-15 combination to the top right with a deflection off the 13 to beat Rosemary once. Rosemary still won the series 2-1, heading to the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Stripes. Stars of cricket's Select division face off in Accuracy with the red cue. Maplewood's Whiskers had a bit of trouble at times in game 1, but every miss she had was answered with a miss from Freedom's Stripes, who ended up losing 2-4 by adding a few extra misses. Whiskers holds a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes fell behind early in game 2, but she nearly clawed her way back, getting the Lumberjacks' Whiskers to waste the initial lead. Stripes' last miss cost her, as Whiskers would take the 3-4 win to clinch the series at 2-0 despite her late fade. Whiskers tried to keep up with a more voracious attack from Stripes in game 3, but she lost 3-4 to the visitor, who was determined to get something out of this series. Whiskers takes a 2-1 series win into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Strut. The finale for today is in 9-ball with the silver cue. Capital City's Lorde played well in game 1, but she can't take credit for winning, as Golden's Strut used his ball-in-hand from her scratch to pot the 8 and then scratch while making the 9, gifting Lorde the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut had a bit better time staying grounded in game 2, as the Sharpshooters' Lorde couldn't focus on the shot in front of her. Strut ended with a three-ball run-out capped by the 6-9 combination to the top right to win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Strut continue to push, but he wasn't successful at the end, where Lorde converted a three-ball run-out to take the series 2-1 with the win. Lorde heads into the second round.
There won't be Tournament play tomorrow, but I do intend to finish Select Week 9.
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