We're back for another full day of games, cramped in among other things. We begin with...
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Cassie. The blue cue has the first series today, playing in Rotation. Diamond's Rosalina had a fantastic start to game 1, but she couldn't sustain her attack later on, and Royal's Cassie went unchallenged once she grabbed the lead. Cassie cruised to an 8-4 win for a 1-0 series lead with confidence. The Crowns' Cassie worked out a nice couple of runs after forcing the Gems' Rosalina into misses in game 2. Cassie completed the impressive win by double-potting the 8 to the bottom side on a bank and the 12 to the top right on the carom for a 9-1 win and 2-0 series lead. Cassie made three balls on the break of game 3, and while Rosalina stayed close, she never evened the score. Cassie won 8-6, completing the 3-0 series sweep to earn her spot in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Katharine McPhee. The blue cue remains in action with this 10-ball series. Freedom's Jasmine thought she started well in game 1, but Whitewater's Katharine picked up a seven-ball run-out, double-potting the 4 and 8 to the right corners to set up her final push for the win. Katharine's impressive run gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine kept things going with three balls on the game 2 break to ignite a seven-ball run. The Cascades' Jasmine countered well but missed the 10 twice, and Katharine deposited it at the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Katharine continued to attack well in game 3, keeping her offense high with a three-ball run late in the game. She rattled the 10 out, and this gave Jasmine the chance to pick up the win with a tap-in to make it a 2-1 series. Katharine will travel to Central to face the Warriors' Noelle in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Brownie. Two veterans are set to go at it in 8-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Brownie controlled game 1 early on, but after a nice run of her own, Web City's Shadow provided a five-ball run as a counterattack, including an incredibly double-pot of the 6 and 7 to the top side. Brownie faltered, and Shadow poked a pair of shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow used the delayed attack technique again in game 2, answering a four-ball run from the Hummingbirds' Brownie with his own five-ball run. Brownie played better defense this time, obstructing Shadow until she could poke the last two shots down to win it herself, tying the series at 1. Shadow had a four-ball run early in game 3, but Brownie had a late four-ball run to get onto the 8. Brownie couldn't bank it in, and Shadow closed with a three-ball run-out, committing collateral damage to avoid the scratch as he picked up the win and a 2-1 series win. Shadow's nervy finish gets him into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Frosty. Two sturdy veterans clash in Rotation with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Frosty had the early lead in game 1, but a slow-moving start allowed Capital City's Chris to stay in the game. Chris found a breakthrough on the 8-13 combination, and soared to the win at 8-3 with a double-pot of the 9 and 12 at the bottom right. Chris leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Chris started game 2 with a three-ball run, giving himself a nice lead, but the Wolves' Frosty stayed close in the middle of the game. Chris committed a late scratch, and Frosty used the ball-in-hand to find a three-ball run-out for an 8-6 win, tying the series at 1. Chris and Frosty went back and forth in a thrilling game 3. Frosty had the game tied after a long struggle late, but Chris made the final two shots to win 8-6, good for a 2-1 series win. Chris will host the Royal Crowns' Cassie in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Diddley. The silver cue gets its first action today, also playing Rotation. Maplewood's Diddley carried the early lead for most of game 1 until Stonebridge's Hershey tied it late. The slower second half of the game eventually went to Diddley, who made the 15 for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley pounded a four-ball run from the break in game 2, immediately pressuring the Wolves' Hershey. The host rallied partially back later on, but Diddley shut the door, winning 8-5 to secure the series at 2-0 in a dominant second game. Diddley tried to hold on in a close game 3, but it didn't work out. Hershey made four balls over his last two turns to win 8-5, salvaging a game in Diddley's 2-1 series win. Diddley will visit the Viewpoint Sound Meteors rookie Vincent in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Stealth. A venue doubleheader concludes with the silver cue staying around for 9-ball. Stonebridge's Juno had some creative shots early in game 1, but she lost her touch late, and Swordpoint's Stealth made a move late, tapping the 9 in at the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a few missed shots leading to frustration for both players, but nothing worse than the Blades' Stealth rattling the 4 out of the bottom side to hit the 9 into the top right, only to scratch at the bottom left. This massive mistake gifted the win to the Wolves' Juno, who has the series tied at 1. Stealth had chances in game 3, but his last attempt at the 9 left it aligned with the top side, and Juno converted on a tap-in to take the series 2-1. Juno will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Valencia. A returning veteran meets a strong captain in 7-ball with the red cue. Golden's Valencia had a couple of early pairs of shots in game 1, but her offense faded late, and Central's Noelle picked up the slack with a three-ball run-out for the win. Noelle holds a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia looked to be in trouble in game 2, as the Warriors' Noelle charged forward with two on the break as part of a five-ball run, but Valencia countered it with a pair on her first turn to get the win. The series heads into the decisive game tied at 1. Valencia had control of game 3 for almost the entire time, but she missed on the 7 after a three-ball run, and Noelle didn't give her another chance. Noelle won the series 2-1, and will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round, one of her five bids to get there.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Missy. The red cue remains in action for this series of 8-ball. Capital City's Missy didn't mess around early in game 1, striking quickly, and her next turn was a four-ball run-out to counter Infinity's Mr. Snowman quite well. Missy did give up some collateral damage, but it didn't prevent her from taking a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy kept her offense up into the middle of game 2, but the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman provided a more significant defensive effort. Mr. Snowman dismantled his defense in two turns, a four-ball run followed by a three-ball run-out to earn the win and tie the series at 1. Missy had a five-ball run in game 3, but she'll regret the collateral damage on the way, as she couldn't hold off Mr. Snowman in the end. Mr. Snowman used a slower pace, but he struck quickly once he got to the 8, taking the win and the 2-1 series win as he advances to host the Web City Spiders' Shadow in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Strawberry. The Yellow Derby takes a 12-ball twist, with the red cue still in action. Victoria's Strawberry received a wild-card ball from the game 1 break, and Diamond's Smokey erred twice more in the game, eventually leading Strawberry to a three-ball run-out for the win. Strawberry holds a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players quickly strike at the right corners before a long battle on the rest of the table. The Spurs' Strawberry gave away a wild-card ball, but the Gems' Smokey couldn't pot his last ball in time, and Strawberry put a pair away at the end to take the win and the 2-0 series. Smokey tried to play smart in game 3, but he gave away two wild-card balls, one before and one after his five-ball run. He had a later scratch to add some defense, but Strawberry jumped to pot her final ball at the top right for the win. Strawberry swept the series 3-0, and will visit the Pearl Surfers' Watermelon in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Max v. Smudge. The silver cue is back for another dip into the 9-ball pool. Infinity's Smudge attacked well in game 1, a four-ball run highlighting her offense. Atlantic's Max, on the other hand, saw his last two turns end in scratches, helping Smudge late in the game as she picked up a dominant win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge took a bit longer to develop her offense in game 2, as the Pirates' Max played better defensively, but by the end, Max couldn't keep his shots legal. Smudge took over and tapped the 9 in on her second try after Max missed far wide of the top left. Smudge clinched the series at 2-0. Max picked up a bit of offense late in game 3 after Smudge dominated the start, but Smudge still made the last two balls, just tapping the 9 to the top side to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Smudge will visit the Diamond Gems' Rosalina in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Nicole. After dinner, the blue cue is in play for some 12-ball. Lighton's Nicole had the first offense in game 1, and while she gave away a wild-card ball, Whitewater's Bear couldn't beat her defense. Nicole picked off the last pair of shots at the right corners to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Nicole couldn't get her offense going quickly in game 2, but the Shores' Bear struggled even more. This led to a sloppy game, until frustration afflicted Bear too much, and Nicole tapped in her last shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 followed the pattern of game 2, with Bear earning and then giving back a wild-card ball, allowing Nicole enough time to correct her early struggles for the win. Nicole swept the series 3-0, and travels to Pronger to face the Tridents' Potter in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Waluigi v. Midnight. The blue cue brings the day to an end in 8-ball. Lighton's Waluigi did all he could in game 1, starting with a five-ball run with some collateral damage. He had a lead for awhile, but he couldn't hold off a six-ball run-out from Westside's Midnight, the collateral damage likely helping her pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 turned out to be one of the best games of 8-ball in league history. The Rockers' Midnight began with a six-ball run from the break, but the Prestige's Waluigi would not be outdone, running the table on eight straight shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Waluigi started slowly in game 3, allowing Midnight to build up a lead, but he pulled even at the 8 with a five-ball run. Waluigi missed on the 8, and Midnight buried it for the win and the 2-1 series win, sending her to visit the Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the second round.
That's all for today's games. Tomorrow will be, at a minimum, a standard set of games.
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