The Tournament rolls on today, before taking a break tomorrow. Today's action leads with...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Avril Lavigne. The blue cue leads off with 15-ball in the first series of the day. Royal's Kayla had all of the offense early on, but she struggled with the 5, and Southern's Avril took over soon after, getting a deflection off the 8 to pot the 15 early for the win. Avril holds a 1-0 series lead. Neither player had a smooth game 2, but there were some good shots. The Monarchs' Avril made the 1 on a kick to the bottom left, bested only by Kayla's 4-15 bank combination to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1 with the great shot. Game 3 featured a tight start between the two players, but it eventually broke for Avril, as she rallied on a five-ball run-out to take the win. Avril advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Sally. A Northeastern Derby doubles up with Rivalry play in this 15-ball series with the red cue. Central's Wings started with a three-ball run that ended with illegal contact. Archtown's Sally never let him back in, making the 2-14 combination to the top right before finishing a three-ball run-out on the 3-15 combination to the bottom right for the win. Sally leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a nice run at the start from the Arrows' Sally, a six-ball run by the Warriors' Wings in the middle of the game, and then a tight finish going to Wings as he ties the series at 1. Game 3 saw a lot of runs, with Sally getting a pair of three-ball runs around a four-ball run from Wings, but it was Sally with a third three-ball run for the win in the end, deflecting the cue off the 15 to take the 15 at the bottom left. Sally won the series 2-1, heading to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Hoppy. The blue cue is back in action as sophomores meet in 10-ball. Oceanside's Celestia had a tough start, and it looked like Southern's Hoppy had a decent chance in game 1, but Celestia replied with a five-ball run-out, taking the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia had a slightly better start in game 2, but the finish lacked this time, and the Monarchs' Hoppy capitalized on a late miss on the 6 by Celestia to take the last pair of shots for the win. Hoppy's strong ending tied the series at 1. Game 3 brought many missed opportunities on both sides, and ironically, a finish that was quite opportunistic. Celestia received ball-in-hand after an error by Hoppy, and Celestia shot the 5-10 combination to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win. Security stepped in to hold back an angry Hoppy, who fumed as Celestia took a ticket to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Jack. A veteran welcomes back a player who took a hiatus in this 15-ball series with the silver cue. Midland's Rainmane had a better start in game 1, but she couldn't keep up at the end, and Web City's Jack went ahead 1-0 in the series by winning on a four-ball run-out. The Predators' Rainmane couldn't make any improvements in game 2, playing close at first and dropping off badly at the end. The Spiders' Jack didn't pick up the slack, but he did win in an ugly finish, nearly scratching as he secured the series at 2-0. Rainmane was all over game 3 at the start, a five-ball run pacing her attack, but she didn't earn the win herself, as Jack's ill-fated kick toward the 10 clipped the 15 into the top right to gift Rainmane a win. Jack took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Midnight. Two tough club-mates clash in 12-ball with the red cue. Stonebridge's Juno had a nice run after a shaky start in game 1, setting herself up for her final shot a turn later after Westside's Midnight failed to counterattack. Juno leads the series 1-0. In game 2, strategy was key for both players, as they developed counteractive defense at the top side and bottom left. The Wolves' Juno got the breakthrough at the top side first, leaving the Rockers' Midnight to scramble for a couple of turns until Juno could complete the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 got off to a faster start, as Juno rallied on a three-ball run to get close to the finish. Midnight managed to get even later on, but Juno made the last ball to the top side for her win and 3-0 series sweep, putting Juno into the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Wild Thing v. Melissa Benoist. The red cue stays up for Rotation in this one. Archtown's Wild Thing had a three-ball run early in game 1, and while Terrace City's Melissa got one back, but Wild Thing had a five-ball run-out a couple turns later, winning 8-1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Melissa had a better performance in game 2, building a big lead and holding on despite the Arrows' Wild Thing rallying in the middle of the game. Melissa would pick up and 8-4 win at the end, tying the series at 1. Melissa tried to get something going in game 3, but Wild Thing pulled away late in the game, rallying to the 8-3 win to take the series 2-1. Wild Thing will be in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Chris. The blue cue is back for 12-ball between former teammates. Capital City's Chris had a slow start in game 1, but on two occasions, Viewpoint Sound's Dani set him up for shots. Chris took advantage on both plays, helping him get the win for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris potted three balls on the break, but one was a stripe that became a wild-card ball for the Meteors' Dani. She made great use of this, keeping Chris well-defended until a deep run that she finished off a turn later for the win, tying the series at 1. Chris had a surge at the start in game 3, but he couldn't get positioning on the last two shots he needed, and Dani managed to rally on a three-ball run-out. Dani took the series 2-1 with this win, advancing to the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Melissa Benoist. The venue doubleheader rolls on with 10-ball and the red cue. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot took a scratch on the break, but after Terrace City's Melissa had a three-ball run on her first turn, the two exchanged close plays. Hoot emerged with the win after Melissa missed on the 10, giving Hoot a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot had a good break in game 2, but he didn't make anything. Melissa had a short spurt end in a scratch, and the rest of the game was a close and chippy battle that tilted toward Melissa after another rattled shot on the 10 by Hoot. This tied the series at 1. Melissa tried to jump the 8 early in game 3 to get to the 2, but it failed, and Hoot drew the cue off the 2 and the right rail to double-pot with the 10 at the bottom right. This gave him the series win at 2-1, sending the host to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Jennifer Livilotti. Another instance of a player facing a former captain pops up in this 9-ball series with the silver cue. Rattled shots were a problem for both players, but more for Terrace City's Jennifer, who rattled the 9 out of the bottom left. Whitewater's Bear, who had played alright, took the win on a simple cut, good for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Shores' Bear dominated in game 2 with an overwhelming possession share, but his scratch while making the 7 let the Knights' Jennifer take ball-in-hand for the last two balls. She converted on both, tying the series at 1 with her win. Jennifer had a dominant share in game 3, balancing the offense for the series better, but she needed a scratch by Bear to secure things. His scratch came late, and Jennifer made the 9 from ball-in-hand to take the 2-1 series win to get to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Wario. The red cue is back in play for 12-ball. Harrison's Twinkie II had a good start in game 1, but she couldn't work across the table at all. Victoria's Wario played just enough defense before a three-ball run on one turn and a cut on the next earned him the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II had a couple of good moments in game 2 as well, but nothing to match a three-ball run from the Spurs' Wario, which set him up well for his last ball. Wario would need a couple more turns to get the right shot, but he converted for the win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 had a good start from Twinkie II, as she picked a few shots out, but it turned into a race, and Wario picked up momentum late to get the win for a 3-0 series sweep. Wario is off to the second round in this event.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Potter. The last visitor is now the host, as sophomores meet in 10-ball with the red cue. Victoria's Wario started out alright in game 1, but he ceded some ground in the middle to Pronger's Potter before fighting back on a three-ball run-out. Wario's strong late play earns him the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter had the better runs in game 2, a three-ball run early and short but effective turns late giving him an edge. Still, he nearly gave the game away, but the Spurs' Wario flubbed a point-blank shot on the 10, allowing Potter a tap-in to tie the series at 1. Wario had a decent effort with a four-ball run over the middle of game 3, but it wouldn't hold up against a determined Potter, who took the last two shots for the win and 2-1 series win to get to the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Lize. A legend faces a rookie with potential in today's last series, 8-ball with the red cue. Golden's Dusty answered a three-ball run by Pronger's Lize with a five-ball run of her own, and then a three-ball run-out a few turns later, as the host grabs a 1-0 series lead. Scratches played a large role in game 2, interrupting runs from both players. The Pilots' Dusty got the most benefit, kicking the 5 into the top left after Lize's second scratch, and that let her set up the 8, which she made on the next turn for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 was a scratch-filled festival of chaos, as Lize started well but couldn't solve Dusty's defense. Dusty made some impressive shots, and would eventually win to take the series in a 3-0 sweep to get to the second round.
That's all for today's games. Tournament play resumes on Sunday, while Premier cricket Week 9 ends tomorrow afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment