We're back for a standard day at slightly different times today. We begin with...
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Bandit. A superstar hosts a sophomore in 9-ball with the blue cue for the first series. Todavía's Sierra looked great in game 1, working well with some tight shots on a six-ball run from the break. Her bank on the 6 failed, and Swordpoint's Bandit took over with a three-ball run-out for a quick win and a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra played well in game 2, although the game took much more time. The Blades' Bandit was on his back foot as Sierra made four balls over her last two turns, but Bandit cut the 9 in when Sierra rattled it out of the top right. Bandit clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Bandit completed an impressive series with a four-ball run-out, showing growth and strength as he swept Sierra 3-0. Bandit heads to the second round with the strong outing.
Ebay Center, Queens: Kyle v. Leonardo. In the second series today, the red cue is up for 10-ball between a returnee and a veteran. Queens' Kyle got off to a hot start with a four-ball run, but after a slow middle of game 1, Midland's Leonardo ended it on a four-ball run-out to give himself the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 lacked the types of runs game 1 had, and it came down to a decision by the Predators' Leonardo. The visitor let the Flames' Kyle keep possession after making the 8 illegally, and Kyle successfully met the challenge, drawing the cue off the 6 to take the 10 at the top right. This tied the series at 1. Kyle's break in game 3 came up empty, but it left a simple enough 1-10 combination to the top right that Leonardo easily converted for the win and the 2-1 series. Leonardo makes it to the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Ice Cream. A returnee meets a veteran on a new team in Accuracy with the blue cue before the lunch break. Modernistic's Chimpy missed twice early in game 1, and Boston's Ice Cream barely budged from her position, retaining the lead for the whole game and winning 1-2 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy missed his first and second-to-last shot in game 2, but once again the Swifts' Ice Cream maintained perfection until the very end, taking another 1-2 win to clinch the series at 2-0 in some close games so far. Game 3 saw Chimpy absolutely fall apart, while Ice Cream held her ground pretty well until a late miss. Ice Cream walked away with a 1-6 win for a 3-0 series sweep, and she'll face the Central Warriors' Wings in round two. Chimpy advances four bids to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Americus. A Southeastern derby in Accuracy with the red cue brings around the final season debut. The long wait to debut didn't bother Boston's Puff II, as she played perfectly in an 0-4 win over a hapless Americus of Midland in game 1. Puff II holds a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II didn't maintain the perfect play in game 2, falling apart with three straight misses in the middle of the game. The Predators' Americus had fallen behind early but kept her game clean enough to win 2-4 in the end, tying the series at 1. Puff II fell behind quickly in game 3, but she managed to even the game later on. This was brief, as Americus induced four straight misses from Puff II, although a few misses of her own inflated the final score to 4-6. Americus won the series 2-1 to earn her spot in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Citrus. The red cue stays in action for a major series in 9-ball between soon-to-be former club-mates. Golden's Valencia worked a three-ball run from the start in game 1, but Diamond's Citrus matched it late, and then took the 9 when Valencia couldn't cut it to the bottom right. Citrus owns a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus remained a strong presence in game 2, making three pairs of shots, but the latest of the three pairs ended in a scratch, and Valencia took the final pair of shots for the win, tying the series at 1 after keeping her cool. Valencia left no doubt as to her chops, winning game 3 on a break that saw the 2 and 9 fall in the bottom right and the 7 and 8 land in the top right. Valencia's stunner gave her a 2-1 series win over Citrus, and the right to host the Terrace City Knights' Melissa in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Stephanie Livilotti. The red cue is ready to go for some 15-ball. Midland's Americus put the 15 near the top right on the break, but Southridge's Stephanie controlled the offense in game 1 early on. Stephanie had a couple of half-chances toward the 15 that didn't go before Americus built a six-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus used a similar strategy in game 2, getting a four-ball run and looking dangerous later on, but she missed on the 14 and the Defenders' Stephanie cleaned up the last two shots for the win. The series is currently tied at 1. Americus had a strong outing in game 3, although both she and Stephanie could have had cleaner performances. Stephanie had a chance to win, but rattled the 15 out, and Americus converted for the win and 2-1 series win that puts her in the second round again.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Charli XCX. Two underrated veterans collide as the silver cue makes its daily debut in 9-ball. Maplewood's Whiskers had a pair on the break and a pair at the end, successfully sandwiching a five-ball run from Tysini's Charli. Whiskers' good finish on her second turn earned her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 seemed to fall into the lap of the Hummingbirds' Charli, but she missed the 9 from ball-in-hand after a scratch from the Lumberjacks' Whiskers. Charli would miss the 9 three more times, the final time sending it and the cue off the table, and Whiskers tapped it in on her fourth try for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Charli has been suspended for the Hummingbirds' United Cup second round games against the Pearl Surfers. Charli did salvage something out of the series, holding nearly complete control of game 3 and making the 8-9 combination to the top right for the win. Whiskers advances on a 2-1 series win to host Northeastern rival Noelle of the Central Warriors in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Noelle. The silver cue remains in action for a series of Rotation next. Swordpoint's Bandit did well in game 1, attacking with force right at the start. Central's Noelle offered little resistance, and Bandit cruised to a patient 8-1 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle jumped out to the big lead in game 2, and did so rather quickly, but it nearly failed her anyway. The Blades' Bandit attack with a three-ball run and then a four-ball run to tie the game, but he missed on the 15, and Noelle made it to win 8-7, tying the series at 1 in the surprising finish. Bandit struck first in game 3, but three-ball runs were exchanged to put Noelle ahead, and she added a pair on her final turn for the 8-4 win to advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win. Noelle will visit the Pacific Volcanoes' Starlight in her next series. Bandit advances four bids as his first round comes to a close.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Noelle. The silver cue travels with the visitor, who completes a doubleheader in this 15-ball series. Whitewater's Bear and Central's Noelle had an active battle in game 1, with Noelle holding a bit more possession early on but struggling with the 12. Bear corralled it as part of his three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured far more errors, with frustrations high after a difficult start. The Shores' Bear did play a cleaner version of the game, but he missed on the 15, bailing out the Warriors' Noelle as she banked it to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Noelle tried to keep up with Bear in game 3, but it wasn't happening. Bear showed a bit of weakness after a scratch, and Noelle had a good run, but she failed to bank the 12-15 combination in, and Bear made it straight on at the top right to take the series 2-1. Bear advances to the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Charli XCX. Attitude-prone veterans tangle in Rotation with the red cue. Tysini's Charli kept close with Stonebridge's Juno for most of the game, then fell behind late. Charli felt robbed when the league ruled illegal contact on her tying shot, so she made the final pair on her next turn for an 8-7 win over Juno, and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli maintained a lead early in game 2, although the Wolves' Juno did eventually pull even. Charli retook the lead, and it stuck this time, as she eventually won 8-4 to clinch the series at 2-0. Charli couldn't hold a lead in another tough game 3, and Juno kept even for the first half before finishing on a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win. Charli did take the series 2-1, and she'll return to this venue to face Juno's Wolves teammate Cobalt in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Ice Cream. The blue cue takes its turn in Rotation now between experienced veterans. Boston's Ice Cream jumped out to a nice lead in game 1, and then watched as Southern's Panda attacked back, nearly tying the game. Ice Cream then took a late pair of shots, winning 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Ice Cream couldn't get the same start in game 2, allowing the Monarchs' Panda to hold the lead for quite awhile. Ice Cream recovered at the end, sinking four balls over her last two turns to take another 6-5 win, this one clinching the series at 2-0 in her favor. Panda lacked the ability to care about the result of game 3, and while he did make a couple of pushes later on, Ice Cream earned the win at 8-4 to sweep the series 3-0 as she makes it to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Lorde. The final series today is also Rotation with the blue cue between talented opponents. Eastside's Chelsea had a four-ball run early in game 1, helping her pace a big attack, but Capital City's Lorde would not go quietly. Lorde nearly tied the game, but Chelsea finally closed the door at 8-5, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Chelsea played similarly in game 2, but she didn't build her lead as well. She still was on the brink of victory when the Sharpshooters' Lorde began her rally, and a couple of moments of defense helped Lorde pull all the way back for an 8-7 win to tie the series at 1. Lorde couldn't manufacture another rally in game 3, as Chelsea doubled down on her strategy and watched it work out. Chelsea walked away with an 8-3 win and a 2-1 series win to get herself into the second round.
That's all for today. We'll have one standard day tomorrow, and plans have changed to take both Saturday and Sunday off for rest. After tomorrow, both sports will resume on Monday.
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