We're back for the last day before a day off tomorrow. Leading off...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Salmo v. Pauline. A sophomore hosts a rookie in 8-ball with the silver cue for the first series. Capital City's Pauline had to make a big comeback after Eastside's Salmo started well in game 1. Pauline was up to the task, winning on a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 lacked the pace of game 1, as neither player could develop a run. The Sharks' Salmo briefly looked good, but he scratched on his only chance at the 8, and the Sharpshooters' Pauline stepped in to make a pair of shots for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Pauline played game 3 much like game 1, hesitating early on as Salmo made an early push, and then attacking with a five-ball run-out to stun the host. Pauline took the series in a 3-0 sweep to head into the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Valencia. Captains clash now in Accuracy as the silver cue remains in action. Viewpoint Sound's Mams held on for awhile in game 1, but Golden's Valencia took longer to bend, and by that time the game was out of reach. Valencia stayed steady to win 2-4, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia had a much tougher time in game 2, unable to find her shot early despite a good break. The Meteors' Mams missed her first shot but only one other after that, taking a 2-5 win to tie the series at 1 with her steady finishes as the game progressed. Mams and Valencia kept things close in game 3, but a mid-game miss by Valencia changed the game, and Mams held on tight to the 1-2 lead until it became a win. Mams took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Wario. A strong veteran meets a wild sophomore in 8-ball with the blue cue. Royal's Jake proved a bit too generous in a sloppy game 1 performance, giving away two balls to Victoria's Wario. In such a close game, this proved critical, and Wario tapped the 8 in when Jake missed it narrowly at the bottom left, giving Wario a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake played a much cleaner game 2, getting a four-ball run on both of his turns to effectively limit any counterattacking by the Spurs' Wario. Jake's quick win tied the series at 1. Jake had a decent start in game 3, getting to the 8 but unable to sink it, and then Wario took over, winning on a six-ball run-out to stun the host and earn the 2-1 series win. Wario advances to the second round with the comeback.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Kayla. A falling star meets a rising star in 8-ball with the red cue. Westside's Slinks needed a bit of a push in game 1 as Royal's Kayla had the better start, but the game quickly turned defensive. Slinks did better here, frustrating Kayla long enough to pick off her last two stripes and the 8. Slinks' smart play gives her a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Crowns' Kayla didn't let the series get away from her in game 2, weathering a four-ball run from the Rockers' Slinks before making five balls over two turns to get the win. Kayla's comeback tied the series at 1. Kayla and Slinks exchanged big runs at the start of game 3, and Kayla followed up with a three-ball run to get onto the 8. Slinks couldn't match that, but she would take the win anyway, as Kayla gifted the game by scratching on the 8. Slinks won the series 2-1 to move on to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Spirit. Big-name players meet in 15-ball with the blue cue after the lunch break. Atlantic's Delila had a rough start in game 1, as Lighton's Spirit did better until a long chase on the 6. After that, Spirit popped a five-ball run, but Delila won on a four-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila played a larger role in the buildup to the finish of game 2, battling more directly with the Prestige's Spirit this time. Delila completed the effort on a four-ball run-out after Spirit couldn't extend her last run beyond three balls. Delila clinched the series at 2-0. Delila and Spirit battled with more chippy runs and short turns in game 3, and once again Delila found the opening at the end, tapping in the 15 for the win to sweep Spirit out. Delila is off to the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: B. Chapman v. Twinkie II. The red cue gets its turn in 15-ball. North Modernistic's Chapman had a clear advantage in game 1, including a late seven-ball run in her offense, but she missed a cut on the 15, and Harrison's Twinkie II tapped it into the top side. Twinkie II's heads-up play earned her a win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Chapman did well in game 2 early on, but she fell apart in the second half, missing on both turns as the Specters' Twinkie II walked away with a win on a four-ball run-out right after a three-ball run. Twinkie II clinched the series at 2-0. Twinkie II had a late five-ball run after a productive effort in game 3, but Chapman flipped the script on her, poaching the win on a bank of the 15 to the top left. Twinkie II will still advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Puff I. Talented veterans keep the red cue up for a series of 9-ball. Modernistic's Puff I put up a good effort with a four-ball run in game 1, but she scratched while shooting the 9, and Freedom's Roxy took the win from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead in the end. Game 2 went rather quickly, with the Union's Puff I getting a six-ball run on her first turn. She never saw the table after a miss on the 7, as the Cascades' Roxy struck with a three-ball run-out to claim another win, securing the series at 2-0. Roxy couldn't get any offense going in game 3, and this provided Puff I an opportunity. Puff I struck the cue off the 3 to deflect the 9 into the bottom right for the win, making it a 2-1 series win that puts Roxy in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Steven. The blue cue is back for 10-ball in this series. Atlantic's Steven pulled in a good five-ball run-out at the end, after haplessly battling with Southridge's Bianca for the first half of game 1. Steven's surge gave him a win and 1-0 series lead. A nonchalance of sorts covered game 2 on both sides, and while they both had their good turns, it took two tries before the Defenders' Bianca knocked in the 10 for the win, beating the Pirates' Steven in the game to tie the series at 1. Steven put up an early fight in game 3, but he quickly became overwhelmed by a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out on consecutive turns by Bianca, who took the series 2-1 with the win. Bianca will host the Royal Crowns' Kayla at this venue in a second round Castle Derby.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. A. Charlton. The Pirates returnee is back in action against a Pilots veteran for Rotation with the silver cue. Game 1 was close at first, but short runs began to add up for Golden's Charlton, and by the end, she had a three-ball run to beat Atlantic's Steven 8-2 for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Steven ended up on the right side of a back-and-forth effort in game 2, with an early three-ball run, and then another to counter a four-ball run by the Pilots' Charlton from ball-in-hand. With the lead, Steven made two more shots, winning 8-5 to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Charlton take an early lead with a nice run, but Steven shut her down rapidly on a seven-ball run-out, good for an 8-4 win and 2-1 series win with the miraculous stretch of play. Steven pushes this bid into the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Shelley. The red cue is back in play for this battle in 7-ball between a sophomore and returning veteran. Infinity's Shelley capitalized on an empty break in game 1 from Oceanside's Dewey, taking the game on a three-ball run-out. Shelley finished with a spinning kick 3-7 combination at the top right for the win, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley had a three-ball run from the break in game 2, setting the tone well, but it didn't deter the Waves' Dewey, who picked up a three-ball run-out at the end for the win. Dewey's push tied the series at 1. Dewey had an unfortunate scratch from ball-in-hand right after Shelley did the same, and Dewey later missed on the 7, leaving Shelley a tap-in for the win and the 2-1 series win. Shelley advances to the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Solaris v. Rosalina. Big-name sophomores are the next to play 10-ball with the blue cue. Infinity's Solaris had a tough game 1 at the start, but he picked up the pace at the end, eventually working around the more cautious play of Diamond's Rosalina to pick up his win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Rosalina played a bit tougher in game 2, nearly making a 5-10 cut combination toward the top right. The Torpedoes' Solaris answered with a productive turn, but his 7-10 combination attempts never came off, and Rosalina made the same play for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a slow start from Rosalina, and it didn't get better, as Solaris made six of the last seven balls, with Rosalina's one in that stretch coming illegally. Solaris took the game and the 2-1 series win, advancing to host the Midland Predators' Fuchsia in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Anton. The last series today is between rookies in Rotation with the blue cue. Todavía's Anton found two bursts in game 1, a four-ball run to establish his lead and a late pair to reply to a three-ball run by Maplewood's Summer at the end. Anton won 8-5, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Lumberjacks' Summer struck first in game 2, but she couldn't make that small lead hold up against a five-ball run from the Stills' Anton. The visitors held the lead for the rest of the game, and while Summer chipped closer, Anton shut the door, winning 8-4 to clinch the series at 2-0. Anton remained strong, although he lacked the same big-time runs in game 3, but he still managed to defeat Summer 8-5 to earn the series sweep at 3-0. Anton heads into the second round.
That's all for this set of games. Tournament play should resume on Sunday, although it could take until Monday due to a cricket backlog.
No comments:
Post a Comment