We're ready to go with the second half of the first round, although today is likely the last day before a break. We begin with...
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Strut. A rising star and a veteran meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 was filled with ineptitude on both sides, as Harrison's Sydney tossed away a late chance to win, and Golden's Strut capped the difficult performance with a miscued shot that still made the 15 for his 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut was nearly dominant in game 2, making a pair of three-ball runs and three pairs of shots to stymie any offense for the Specters' Sydney. Strut did corral the last two balls for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Strut took a step back in game 3, and Sydney still couldn't fix her erring issues, but it was a mistake that cost her the game. She missed a 10-15 combination attempt, and Strut made it to the bottom right to earn the series sweep at 3-0. Strut will visit the Archtown Arrows' Dusky in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Max. Two heady veterans meet as the blue cue stays on for Rotation. Atlantic's Max had the better start in game 1, but Modernistic's Chimpy kept it close throughout. Max took a three-ball run to gain his second lead, only to see Chimpy work a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to win 8-6 after Max's error. Chimpy leads the series 1-0. The Pirates' Max did not let himself get run over so easily in game 2, holding a tie and using ball-in-hand after a frustrated scratch by the Union's Chimpy to produce a four-ball run. Chimpy made a brief counterattack, but Max secured the 8-3 win to tie the series at 1. Chimpy still lacked his usual patience in game 3, going into an all-out war with Max in a difficult game. Chimpy gained the lead later than expected, and made it stand with a four-ball run-out for the 8-3 win to topple Max 2-1 for the series. Chimpy sends himself to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Chimpy. Two enigmatic players meet with the blue cue in hand for 7-ball. Modernistic's Chimpy couldn't seem to find his shot, a common theme with the blue cue today, although Todavía's Anton hardly had an issue. Anton made a three-ball run and owned a massive possession share in his win, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Anton spared his home fans from another drawn-out battle, winning game 2 on the break as the 7 bounced to the bottom right. The stunner shot clinched the series 2-0 over the Union's Chimpy, who never had a chance to pull even. Anton remained the stronger player in game 3, going empty on the break but picking up a lot of offense after that. Chimpy couldn't handle the 6 on his one late chance, and Anton laced it to the bottom right before taking the 7 for a 3-0 series sweep. Anton heads to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Melissa Benoist. A massive star-power series is ready to go in 9-ball with the red cue. Eastside's Graham had all of the offense early on in game 1, but a miscue after a run by Terrace City's Melissa cost him his one chance on the 9. Melissa cut it to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Graham still seemed to have more authority on his shots in game 2, but he tried a bank of the 8 and the cue got in the way at the top left. The Knights' Melissa, who did play better this game, made the last two balls for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Melissa made a pair of balls from the break in game 3, but a scratch on her second shot ignited a seven-ball run-out by Graham, who salvaged a win from the lost series. Melissa heads to the second round with a 2-1 series win.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Gabe v. Wild Thing. Returnees on new teams meet in 8-ball with the silver cue after the lunch break. Maplewood's Gabe started a bit slower than Archtown's Wild Thing in game 1, but Gabe double-potted stripes to the side and made a 14-6-9 bank combination to the top right as part of his winning four-ball run-out. Gabe also banked the 8 to the bottom side to earn that 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Lumberjacks' Gabe try to be tricky with his shots, which didn't work as planned most of the time. Instead, the reliable and simple performance by the Arrows' Wild Thing earned the win, as the visitor made a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Wild Thing tried to start confidently in game 3, but he couldn't overcome a strong defensive play late in the game by Gabe. The host Gabe made contact on a three-rail kick, sparing himself enough time to make the last two balls on his next turn for the win and 2-1 series win that sends him through to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Salmo. The red cue draws in for this series of Rotation. Diamond's Smokey started off well, but briefly fell behind in game 1 against Eastside's Salmo. Smokey fought back, pulling even before finding a three-ball run-out to get the 8-5 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey saw a three-ball run by the Sharks' Salmo early on, but immediately answered with a six-ball run of his own. The players exchanged pairs of shots at the end, with Smokey winning 8-5 to secure the series at 2-0 in his favor. Smokey started slow in game 3, keeping even with Salmo for much of the early part of the game. Salmo had a later scratch, and Smokey erupted on a five-ball run-out from here, winning 8-3 to earn the 3-0 series sweep that puts him in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Valencia. A hotshot young captain meets a tenured captain in 12-ball with the red cue. North Modernistic's Peach turned in a three-ball run from the break, and this helped her, alongside good positioning, to hold off a fierce attack from Golden's Valencia late the in game. Peach kicked her last shot to the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach couldn't get herself set up in game 2, allowing the Pilots' Valencia to get most of the early offense. Peach slowed Valencia down, but couldn't stop the visitor from taking the win, which tied the series at 1. Peach had the first offense in game 3, but she couldn't get positioning after a mistake of illegally potting a ball. Valencia took over from here, giving away a wild-card ball before kicking in her last shot for the win and 2-1 series win. Valencia is set to play in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Lexi Woode. A captain and a villain clash as the red cue gets a look in Accuracy. Atlantic's Delila never trailed in game 1, but Harrison's Lexi always stayed within a shot. Delila had four tries at the lead in regulation and overtime before making the fifth one stick, winning 4-5 on the second turn in overtime for her 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila played a much stronger game in game 2, missing only once throughout the rack. The Specters' Lexi matched her for awhile, but faded late, and Delila won 1-3 to take the series at 2-0. Delila couldn't settle into game 3, and she gave up trying after about the halfway mark, allowing Lexi to win the game in a runaway 3-8 result. Delila took the series 2-1, earning a spot in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Smudge. Every event gets love today, as the blue cue touches base in 10-ball this time. Modernistic's Daisy had an edge in possession from the start, and while Infinity's Smudge did try a late three-ball run, Daisy got the last two balls to counter that. Daisy took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy again controlled possession in game 2, but she called her kick on the 9 to the top right and it went in the top side. The Torpedoes' Smudge claimed the turn, and cut the 10 to the top right for the win, stealing the win to tie the series at 1 after the critical moment went against Daisy. Smudge had a three-ball run early in game 3, but Daisy regained control later on, winning with a three-ball run-out to take the series at 2-1. Daisy will host the Todavía Stills' Sierra in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Hoppy. The red cue gets back in play for Rotation between a legend and a sophomore. Southern's Hoppy built up a lead slowly in game 1, attacking patiently when she could. It didn't work out, as Swordpoint's Snowball went off for a five-ball run to take the lead, and then won 8-6 with a single shot on her next turn, good for a 1-0 series lead for the host. The roles reversed in game 2, with the Blades' Snowball taking the early lead before the Monarchs' Hoppy stormed back on a four-ball run to take the lead. Hoppy persisted from here, winning 8-4, tying the series at 1 in the process. Snowball and Hoppy battled closely for the first half of game 3, but eventually Hoppy found a three-ball run-out, winning 8-4 for the 2-1 series win after Snowball couldn't sustain a counterattack. Hoppy will visit the Diamond Gems captain Smokey in round two.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Cheddar. Cousins and club-mates clash in Rotation with the silver cue. Archtown's Dusky came out hot on a four-ball run that was cut short by a scratch, but she followed it up with another big run. North Modernistic's Cheddar tried to counter, but Dusky eventually made the 9-12 combination as part of her final pair of shots for an 8-3 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar took the first lead in game 2, but watched as the Arrows' Dusky dismantled it. Cheddar fired back on a four-ball run to take a stranglehold on the game, and she made the 10 when Dusky couldn't to win 8-3 to tie the series at 1. Dusky and Cheddar battled evenly and messily at the start of game 3, but Cheddar eventually pulled away, easily winning 8-1 to take the series 2-1. Cheddar will visit the Terrace City Knights' Jennifer in the second round for an Urban Derby series.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Stephanie Livilotti. The silver cue closes the day in 7-ball. Lighton's Spirit didn't pot a ball on the break, but she defended very well. Southridge's Stephanie experienced this firsthand, her kick striking the 7 instead of the 1 and potting the deciding ball illegally to gift the win and 1-0 series lead to Spirit. The Defenders' Stephanie showed no fear of creativity in game 2, and it paid off quite well as she dominated the game over the Prestige's Spirit. Stephanie got the win on the last two shots, a 3-5-6 combination to the top right with the 3 double-potting in the bottom right, followed by a 5-7 cut combination to the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw the most even performance between the players, but the result favored Spirit as she made the 7 on her second try. Spirit takes the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
That's all for now. I'll provide an official update during Premier action tonight on Twitter @UnitedPCL regarding tomorrow's playing status.
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