We continue along in Tournament play with a standard day today, beginning with...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Pauline. A big-name captain meets a big-name rookie in 10-ball with the red cue to lead us off. Pacific's Starlight had a majority of the possession in game 1, including a four-ball run and a late pair of shots, but Capital City's Pauline banged the 10 to the top left on a bank for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Pauline was a little wild in game 2, twice illegally potting balls. The Volcanoes' Starlight deferred possession both times, and it worked out in the end, as Starlight took the win with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Pauline had two mistakes in game 3, missing contact twice early on. Starlight burst forward with a six-ball run before Pauline had another shot, but Starlight would make the last two balls as well, taking the series 2-1. Starlight is through to the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Cleo. Two strong players meet in today's second series, using the blue cue for 8-ball. Pearl's Boots led off with a four-ball run from the break, which Everton's Cleo answered with a five-ball run on her second turn. Cleo again was a ball better soon after, winning on a three-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots didn't stay down for long, finding a creative five-ball run on her second turn to put pressure on the Eagles' Cleo. Defense became Cleo's priority, but she couldn't stop Boots from banking the 8 to the bottom side for the win, which tied the series at 1. Boots and Cleo had a more difficult battle in game 2, battling closely until Boots broke through on a three-ball run-out. Boots took the series 2-1, and will host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in the second round.
Nike Field, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Sally. The red cue gets its turn in 8-ball now between these two veterans. Archtown's Sally had an early four-ball run in game 1, immediately putting Commerce's Taylor under pressure. Taylor almost got onto the 8, but a scratch halted her progress, and Sally used a double-kiss kick to the bottom left to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally had much more difficulty in game 2, even as the Tradewinds' Taylor twice potted a ball for her. Taylor nearly didn't make the 8, needing a lot of time before an easy cut developed to give her the win, tying the series at 1. Taylor had a good run early on, and while Sally got some of it back, game 3 tipped Taylor's direction on her four-ball run-out. Taylor showed mental composure after going down early, winning the series 2-1 to make the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Rosemary. A third-year player takes on a rookie as the blue cue returns for some 7-ball. Pronger's Zach did almost all the work in game 1, with a ball on the break, a four-ball run, and a bank on the 7 on his second try. Commerce's Rosemary had no answer for Zach, and the host took a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Rosemary would not go quietly in game 2, even as the Tridents' Zach opened on a three-ball run. Rosemary made the ending tough, and potted the final two balls to take the win, tying the series at 1 with her persistent play. Zach and Rosemary had a close battle in game 3, but Rosemary's strong start gave her confidence to make a couple of shots late for the win and a 2-1 series win. Rosemary will play on into the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Hughbert. Two less-talented players do battle with the silver cue in Accuracy. Southern's Dominic can't find many faults with how he played in game 1, perfect until the very end when Southridge's Hughbert left him with an awkward angle. Hughbert, on the other hand, missed frequently early, leading to Dominic's 1-4 win for a 1-0 series lead. The roles reversed in game 2, with the Monarchs' Dominic surprisingly falling apart in the middle of the game. The Defenders' Hughbert maintained perfection throughout the rack this time, winning 0-4 to tie the series at 1. Dominic fell behind by a shot twice in game 3, but he forced Hughbert to miss both times. Hughbert had to take the overtime break, and he couldn't produce anything, leaving Dominic to win 2-3 with a single shot. Dominic took the thrilling series 2-1.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Gal Gadot. A rising star sophomore takes on a big-name rookie in 8-ball as the red cue is back in action. Oceanside's Celestia had the first run in game 1, but she lacked a supporting effort, and North Modernistic's Gal unraveled Celestia's defense, taking the 8 in a few turns' time for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia got another good start in game 2, but she again lacked the second burst of offense needed in this event. The Nighthawks' Gal nearly gave it to her, as she had a late scratch, but this just set Gal up for a four-ball run-out in the end, clinching the series at 2-0 with her win. Gal kept herself a little calmer for game 3, leading to a fantastic finish as she hit a three-ball run, Celestia countered with a pair, and Gal banked the 8 to the top left to win. Gal swept the series 3-0 as she moves on to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Rainmane. An all-Predators series is up next with the blue cue in 9-ball. Game 1 started with a bit of promise for high-quality play, but after Rainmane's first error, the game turned choppy and slow-moving. Fuchsia eventually picked up the win, cleaning up the 9 after Rainmane missed it to take a 1-0 series lead. Rainmane still lacked her usual precision in game 2, but she kept a fairly even battle with Fuchsia, who had a chance to win late but couldn't convert on the 8. Instead, Rainmane made a late pair of shots, winning the game to tie the series at 1. Rainmane put the 9 perilously close to the top right while missing the 2 early in game 3, and Fuchsia made her pay for it with a 3-9 combination for the win. Fuchsia took the series 2-1, earning a spot in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Quincy. Just after facing a teammate, the host completes a doubleheader against a club-mate in 12-ball with the blue cue. Midland's Fuchsia picked up a three-ball run on the break in game 1, which Terrace City's Quincy countered with a four-ball run soon after. It wasn't enough, as Fuchsia's better positioning helped her win, with Quincy gifting a ball to her and allowing her to tap in the final shot for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy got a bit more offense with an early run in game 2, and he had good positioning to weather a three-ball run from the Predators' Fuchsia. The fast moving game saw both players in good spots, but Quincy made his last pair of shots faster, tying the series at 1 with his win. Quincy cranked a four-ball run from the break in game 3, giving him a large lead, but Fuchsia stalled him before her own five-ball run, which was partially undone by an illegally potted ball. On even terms, Quincy fell flat, and Fuchsia made her last two shots in two turns for the win and 2-1 series win, earning the right to host the Todavía Stills superstar Sierra in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Sugar v. Dominic. Former teammates meet in Rotation with the silver cue. Southern's Dominic didn't control game 1 as much as he slowly assembled a series of productive turns to build his lead. Web City's Sugar made a three-ball run as a counterattack, but Dominic soon took the win 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Sugar played a bit closer in game 2, keeping in step with the Monarchs' Dominic for much of the game. Dominic still held the lead for almost all of the game, but he couldn't complete the effort, and Sugar made a three-ball run-out to win 8-7, tying the series at 1. Sugar had a more aggressive attack in game 3, and it worked out nicely for the veteran, as she surged forward and won the game 8-1 over a stunned Dominic. Sugar takes the series 2-1, and will host the Atlantic Pirates' Steven in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Cassie. The red cue is back in action, as a former MVP clashes with a rookie in 12-ball. Central's Dustin gave away a wild-card ball on the break in game 1, but it didn't impact much of the start of the game. Royal's Cassie would even give it back, but she had taken control at that point, and her better positioning and a three-ball run helped her get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Cassie started well in game 2, but it was a three-ball run in the middle that set the Warriors' Dustin apart, giving him both an advantage and good positioning as he would quickly dispatch his final ball to tie the series at 1. Dustin again gave Cassie a wild-card ball on the break of game 3, but while she held onto it this time, Dustin gained an edge with positioning even with a scratch, and he used that advantage to take the game and the 2-1 series as he heads to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Snuggle. Two experienced and talented captains meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Graham had a five-ball run from the break and a late four-ball run in game 1, but despite all that positive play, his miss on the 15 allowed Oceanside's Snuggle to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead on a tap-in. The Waves' Snuggle carried a much larger share of the offense in game 2, and the players exchanged three-ball runs toward the end of the battle. Snuggle was working on another such run when he left the 11 too near to the 15, and the Sharks' Graham buried the combination at the bottom side to tie the series at 1 with his win. Graham did an amazing triple-pot in game 3, drawing the cue off the 2 to make the 11 at the top side, and then adding the 8 at the bottom side and the 2 at the top side thanks to some caroms. This was part of a four-ball run, and with two three-ball runs later on, Graham combined offense and success as he earned the win and the 2-1 series win. Graham will host the Atlantic Pirates' Klaus in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Lize. A 10-ball series with the silver cue punctuates the day, and it may get lopsided. Web City's Shadow controlled the pace in game 1, including a five-ball run, but he chipped his shot on the 10 wide, and Pronger's Lize poached the win for a 1-0 series lead at the bottom right. The Spiders' Shadow, feeling threatened, played a lot tougher in game 2, leaving the Tridents' Lize with many poor shooting angles. Lize missed or made illegal contact each time, and Shadow eventually got a chance at the 6-10 combination to the top right for the win, which tied the series at 1. Shadow had a strong break in game 3, and he added a four-ball run, but his defensive play and scratch allowed Lize to pot the last two balls for the win. Lize pulled off the upset 2-1 in the series, and will play in the second round with hopes of better health by then.
That's all for today. The rest of the week should also play out normally, with the exception of a break for all cricket competitions until United Cup play on Monday.
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