We're set to return to Tournament play today, but potentially at the cost of Select Week 16's start. First up...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Leonardo. The first series in our return to action pits a sophomore against a veteran in 9-ball with the blue cue. Midland's Leonardo had a good performance in game 1, making a number of shots with a three-ball run early on. Oceanside's Dewey answered late on a three-ball run, and then made the 9 when Leonardo couldn't, giving Dewey the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo had the more notable shots in game 2, including a jump scratch attempt at the 2 and a scratch after a perfect spinning kick on the 7 didn't slow the cue. The Waves' Dewey filled the gaps with a couple of nice runs at the start and the end to take the win and a 2-0 series lead. Dewey dominated possession in game 3, with a four-ball run from the break and a three-ball run-out at the end, sweeping Leonardo. Dewey's sweep puts him into the second round to host the Swordpoint Blades' Bandit.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi Woode v. Rosalina. A classic evil against good series goes with 15-ball and the red cue. Harrison's Lexi took a three-ball run from the break and a four-ball run late in the game before potting the 15 alone to beat Diamond's Rosalina in game 1. Lexi's strong performance gives her a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi weakened her offense after another strong start to game 2, and the Gems' Rosalina picked up much of the slack later on. Rosalina had a couple of chances at the 15 in the end, but Lexi made it on her second chance to secure the series at 2-0. Lexi had another good break, but also scratched early in game 3, and Rosalina saw her chance. Rosalina made a 1-9-3-12 combination to the top right, and that set up her 1-15 combination to the bottom right with a deflection to add the 3 at the top right for a double-pot in the win. Lexi still took the series 2-1, setting up a Northeastern Derby she'll host against the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Bryant in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Zach. The blue cue returns to action after lunch for a Rotation series. It took Central's Dustin committing an error in game 1 to get the offense going, as Pronger's Zach ignited a seven-ball run, and then won 8-0 a turn later for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much slower, with the Warriors' Dustin hosting for most of the game but with the Tridents' Zach right on his tail the entire time. Dustin eventually picked up the win by an 8-6 score, tying the series at 1 with the close result. Zach fell behind a bit early in game 3 as Dustin played well at the start, but Dustin's lead would not last the whole game. Zach won 8-6 with a four-ball run-out at the end, securing the series for himself at 2-1. Zach will visit the Freedom Cascades' Stripes in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Lize. A sophomore meets a rookie and has a big advantage in another Rotation series with the blue cue. Pronger's Lize got off to a better start in game 1 than anyone could expect, but as the shots became longer, Southridge's Bianca found her groove and came from behind to win 8-5 for the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca played a slow but perfect game 2, leaving the Tridents' Lize either snookered, pinned on the rail, or at a distance for every shot. Lize had one chance from ball-in-hand, which she under-hit, and Bianca took the 8-0 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Bianca had a more challenging battle in game 3, as Lize managed to pull even after a slow start. Bianca held her off with a pair of late shots to win 8-6, sweeping the series 3-0 as she gets set to host the Eastside Sharks' Chelsea in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Hannah. The blue cue stays in play for a 12-ball series between a veteran and a sophomore. Queens' Hannah gave away a wild-card ball as she selected stripes in game 1, and she struggled to position herself for her last shot, but Terrace City's Oreo couldn't beat Hannah's defense, and Hannah won from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah started well in game 2, but she couldn't find her final shot at all, and the Knights' Oreo, with the help of a wild-card ball given away by Hannah, poached the gritty win to tie the series at 1. Hannah and Oreo exchanged five-ball runs early in game 3, setting a quick pace for the decisive game. Oreo's run ended in a scratch, and the time it took her to make that extra ball helped Hannah get the inside edge and the win on her final shot for the win. Hannah took the series 2-1 and will visit the Archtown Arrows' Wild Thing for a second round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Sweetheart. A quietly good sophomore meets a bold veteran for 15-ball, another series with the blue cue. Game 1 went fairly quickly at first, with many changes of possession and a great kick by Oceanside's Celestia to make the 7. A chase on the 10 slowed things down, and Boston's Sweetheart left it out for Celestia to make, igniting a four-ball run-out by the host. Celestia leads the series 1-0. Both players had a shakier start to game 2, but the Waves' Celestia was the first to regain her form with a late six-ball run. The bold play went unrewarded, as the Swifts' Sweetheart sniped the 15 to the bottom left from long range on her first opportunity, winning the game to tie the series at 1. Celestia started with a five-ball run in game 3, and she kept her offense steady after that, beating Sweetheart with a two-rail bank-combination, 8-15 to the bottom right. Celestia's extremely productive offense gave her a 2-1 series win and second round series to host against the Tysini Hummingbirds' Paps.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Strawberry. Two veterans on new teams meet in Accuracy, the silver cue's first appearance of the day. Viewpoint Sound's Dani fell behind once in game 1, but she managed to make Victoria's Strawberry miss to tie the game. The battle went to overtime, and a nearly flawless rack ended with Dani missing the last ball. Strawberry won the thriller 1-2, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani held multiple one-shot leads in game 2, but she fell even each time, including on the last shot of regulation. Dani was forced to take the overtime break, and that netted nothing, allowing the Spurs' Strawberry to win 3-4 with a tap-in on the 2 at the top side. Strawberry clinched the series at 2-0. Dani had a lead early in game 3, but she let that disappear with a handful of misses in the middle of the game. Strawberry cleaned up each one of those misses by Dani, winning 1-5 in a decisive game for the 3-0 series sweep that gets Strawberry to the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Stealth. Club-mates and Southwestern minor rivals meet in 12-ball as the blue cue comes back to action. Infinity's Shelley got going in game 1 with a three-ball run, but a scratch later on ruined her chances of a win. Swordpoint's Stealth put up an impenetrable defense, and only removed it on his three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley stayed on track in game 2, playing similarly but adding a little defense to throw the Blades' Stealth off his game. It worked out, and Shelley eventually made her last two shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Shelley had early control in game 3, but she only corner shots down when she scratched. Stealth picked up his sides earlier, and managed to navigate Shelley's defenses to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Stealth advances to a road series in the second round against his brother, the Southern Monarchs' Pounce.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Rudolph. The silver cue gets its turn in 12-ball now, between a sophomore and a rookie. Queens' Violetta went with a corners-first approach in game 1, but while she had decent positioning, she couldn't find her shot at the sides. Harrison's Rudolph worked right-to-left instead, and found more success late, picking up the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Rudolph had a chance at the game 2 win even with an illegally potted ball destroying one of his better turns. He kicked his last ball into position at the bottom side, but to do so left a clear shot for the Flames' Violetta on her last shot, and she made it to tie the series at 1 with her win. Rudolph had the edge in game 3, getting a nice pair of early shots in before Violetta could get her offense going. Rudolph would maintain that slight lead for the whole game, poking his last ball in ahead of a defensive play from Violetta to take the series 2-1. Rudolph is into the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Potter. The red cue gets another series, playing Accuracy between Outcast members. Stonebridge's Cobalt played high-event shots, with a ball on the break and a double-pot, but Pronger's Potter held the early lead for quite awhile. This changed when Potter had a rash of misses in the middle of the game, setting Cobalt up to win 2-4 for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Wolves' Cobalt checked some of the same boxes in game 2, but a scratch while making a ball and a failure to tap in a shot late helped the Tridents' Potter fly under the radar in his 2-4 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Potter faltered when it mattered in game 3, missing twice early on and then once more late to assure Cobalt of the 1-3 win. Cobalt took the series 2-1 to earn the right to host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Sprinkles in round two, one of his six bids to continue playing.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Boots. It's an all-Surfers series this time as the blue cue steps in for more Rotation. Game 1 started slowly and evenly for the teammates, but eventually Beth pulled away, winning on a three-ball run-out as Boots couldn't advance her offense. Beth took the win 8-3 for a 1-0 series lead. Boots had the first good turn in game 2, but that lead didn't hold up from a stronger run by Beth, who then added a bit more on two later turns to win 8-4. Beth's late surge this time secured the series at 2-0 in her favor. Beth needed only two turns in game 3 to get an 8-0 win, and it was really all on the second turn, an eight-ball run-out that stunned Boots. Beth swept the series 3-0 and will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Jack. Strongman opponents meet in Accuracy with the silver cue. Commerce's Lionel and Web City's Jack had a fantastic start to game 1, but Lionel fell apart after awhile, and Jack barely held onto a decent score as he won 2-6 in the end. Jack leads the series 1-0. The Tradewinds' Lionel was no better in game 2, his only positive moment coming on an accidental jump shot that deflected to put the 11 in the top right. This gave him a fighting chance late, but the Spiders' Jack boxed him out for the 5-6 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Lionel had a better performance in game 3, taking control of the lead and holding on to beat Jack 3-6 this time around. Jack still takes the series 2-1, moving along to the second round in this bid, one of three to advance.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Smudge. Two talented opponents tangle as we begin a set of bonus series in 8-ball with the blue cue. Harrison's Lexi was on a four-ball run to start game 1, but illegal contact ruined her turn. Infinity's Smudge soon pulled even, and from there Smudge played better while Lexi got worse. Smudge took the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge could have done some damage in game 2 had she not clipped a solid on her second shot after a two-ball break. The Specters' Lexi had control of the game from this point, and made a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Lexi owned possession for much of game 3, but Smudge had a five-ball run to make it interesting at the end. Smudge couldn't bank the 8 to the top left, and Lexi tapped it in instead, winning the game and the 2-1 series. Lexi will host the Terrace City Knights rookie Melissa in the second round. Smudge settles for taking three bids to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Dani. Both players here make their second appearance today, meeting in Rotation with the red cue. Game 1 started slowly on both sides, and eventually Viewpoint Sound's Dani established herself first. Midland's Leonardo gave chase once, but Dani pulled away to win 8-3 on a secondary attack, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani had her chances in game 2, a late three-ball run falling just a shot short of the win in a back-and-forth battle. This miss would be costly, as the Predators' Leonardo pounded a three-ball run-out to win 8-7, tying the series at 1. Leonardo struggled a bit at first in game 3, but he found a five-ball run to put the pressure on Dani. A scratch later, and Dani had the lost the game as Leonardo made the 11 for an 8-3 win to take the 2-1 series win. Leonardo will host Archtown Arrows veteran Sally in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Goldy. Two of the strongest captains out there clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. Everton's Goldy had the more composed shots in game 1, using her heady play to counter the forceful approach Commerce's Tigerette took. Goldy made the final pair of balls to get her win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Goldy completed game 2 in good form after a mixed start against the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Goldy made a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 2-0 in a technical upset. Goldy didn't put all that much effort into game 3 this time, but she still had enough in the tank to beat Tigerette, who struggled and left the 7 in a good spot. Goldy's 3-0 series sweep earns her a trip back to this venue to face another Commerce Tradewind, the rookie Rosemary, in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Kodiak. A sophomore and a rookie meet in 10-ball with the silver cue, two Outcast members bringing the day to a close. Modernistic's Kodiak had a very good performance in game 1, including a five-ball run-out to end any hopes Todavía's Prism might have been harboring about her chances. Kodiak leads the series 1-0. The Union's Kodiak didn't play quite as well in game 2, but he still had the majority of the offense despite a better effort from the Stills' Prism. Kodiak found the win with a three-ball run-out at the end to secure the series at 2-0. Prism managed to avoid the sweep in game 3, poking the 10 in after Kodiak couldn't make it at the bottom right. This only made it a 2-1 series for Kodiak, who will visit the Harrison Specters' Sydney in the second round.
That's all for Day 40. By my estimates, there will be 15 more round one game days, including one more day with bonus series.
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