We're back after a single day off. We begin this session with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Panda. The red cue gets today's first series, playing 15-ball between these veterans. Eastside's Cubby had a slight early edge in possession, but the advantage withered in a choppy finish to game 1 that saw Southern's Panda pull out the win by making the last two balls. Panda leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Cubby managed to recover well in game 2, using a pair of three-ball runs to sandwich a four-ball run by the Monarchs' Panda. Cubby's latter run earned him the win, with the 15 rattling out of the top right but falling in the bottom side to tie the series at 1. Cubby and Panda both struggled with maintaining possession in game 3, no moment more obvious than Cubby's scratch on his lone attempt at the 15. Panda buried it from ball-in-hand to take the win and 2-1 series win, and Panda will visit the Midland Predators' Americus in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Jack. The red cue stays in action for a series of 12-ball. Boston's Ice Cream had a fine start with a four-ball run and some positioning work on her break turn in game 1, but Web City's Jack pulled off a remarkable six-ball run-out to win in a single turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack had a slower start in game 2, while the Swifts' Ice Cream did better to keep up her pace with an early three-ball run. Ice Cream did give Jack two wild-card balls, but Ice Cream's offense was strong enough to overcome those as she won the game to tie the series at 1. Jack rallied with an early four-ball run in game 3, putting pressure on Ice Cream, but his next two turns stalled out. Ice Cream had near perfect defense, and built a four-ball run-out on her third turn to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Ice Cream will host the Oceanside Waves' Dewey in round two.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Slinks. The blue cue picks up a series here in 9-ball between tough veterans. Royal's Jake had a three-ball run early in game 1 and added short bursts later on, but Westside's Slinks managed to take a pair of shots at the end to earn the win. Slinks leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Slinks had an early scratch in game 2, giving the Crowns' Jake a chance to win early. Jake made the 1 but missed the 2-9 combination to the top right, and Slinks shot back with a 2-5-9 combination to the top right for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw more frenetic offense from the two players, as neither was particularly in form this time. Slinks had a chance to win late, but scratched on the 9, and Jake tapped it in from ball-in-hand. Slinks took the series 2-1 and will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Crystal. The silver cue now gets a crack at 9-ball in another series between veterans. Queens' Crystal had a remarkable run after an incredibly slow start by both her and Southern's Dominic. Crystal pulled off a six-ball run-out to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic picked up a three-ball run in game 2 at one point, and while the Flames' Crystal tried to counter, she failed. Dominic took the win this time on a 6-9 combination to the top right, tying the series at 1 in the process. Dominic pulled together a bit more offense for this game, although he staggered his successful shots. Crystal tried to build runs at times, but came up short, and Dominic took the win for a 2-1 series win to host the Pacific Volcanoes' Twinkie I in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Precious. The red cue is back in action for 8-ball between stars. Midland's Rainmane had the slower start in game 1, but once Pronger's Precious plateaued her offense, Rainmane took over and found a five-ball run-out to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious again found a strong start in game 2, pacing the offense well, but a four-ball run by the Predators' Rainmane turned the game around. Rainmane would need one more turn to get the 8 in the top right, but Precious let her have it when she couldn't form a counterattack. Rainmane clinched the series at 2-0. Rainmane had a five-ball run from the break this time, and ended up winning only a few turns later, as Precious didn't make a ball in the entire game. Rainmane swept the series 3-0 to earn the right to host the Commerce Tradewinds' Taylor in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Sweetheart. The red cue remains in action again, administering a big series of 10-ball. Diamond's Citrus pulled off a three-ball run early in game 1, which Boston's Sweetheart later answered on a three-ball run of her own. Citrus then picked up the final pair of balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart kept herself in the fight in game 2, countering an early surge from the Gems' Citrus, who then missed a kick attempt on the 3. Sweetheart took over from where the cue rested, tapping in the 3 and making the 4-10 combination to the top right for the win to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart took over late in game 3 with a five-ball run, although she did leave the 10 in a doable spot. Citrus was unable to convert, her cut missing contact, and Sweetheart struck it into the bottom side to clinch the 2-1 series win. Sweetheart will visit the Midland Predators' Shawn in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Solaris. Back in the southeast and back in 9-ball we go as the silver cue takes this series. Midland's Americus and Infinity's Solaris had a rough game 1, chasing the 6 more than anything else. Americus eventually moved along and picked up the win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Predators' Americus continued to have a better showing on offense, including a late three-ball run, but her bank attempt on the the 8 in game 2 set up a pair of shots for the Torpedoes' Solaris to make for the win. Solaris came through well, tying the series at 1. Americus tried to stay competitive in game 3, but Solaris had a decent attack early on before developing a five-ball run-out to easily take the game. Solaris won the series 2-1, and will visit the Victoria Spurs' Wario in the second round. Americus is even in all ways, advancing four bids despite losing this series.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli XCX v. Wild Thing. The red cue returns for another 10-ball series. Tysini's Charli had a couple of three-ball runs later in game 1, while Archtown's Wild Thing couldn't quite make any response. He had a chance to win but missed on the 10, and Charli tapped it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli showed some weakness with numerous errors in game 2 early on, but the Arrows' Wild Thing frequently deferred possession and didn't effectively use what he had. Charli stepped up late with a five-ball run-out to get the win, securing the series for herself at 2-0. Charli didn't find a late surge in game 3, allowing Wild Thing to develop his own offense this time. Wild Thing stepped up and won with a three-ball run-out at the end, making it a 2-1 series win that puts Charli into the second round, where she hosts the Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Cobalt. Wild Thing will play five bids in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Crystal: The blue cue finally returns to play for a series of 12-ball. Archtown's Ruby led the way on offense for most of game 1, but she made an aggressive play to disrupt Queens' Crystal at the bottom right. The play backfired, and Crystal made her last three balls before Ruby could pot one, giving Crystal the 1-0 series lead with the win. The Arrows' Ruby had a better distribution on the game 2 break, but she couldn't capitalize on the good positioning. The Flames' Crystal held on defensively for awhile, weathering a storm from Ruby, and then Crystal made her last ball to win the game and seal the series at 2-0. Ruby took her sweet time in winning game 3, battling constantly with Crystal for better positioning. Ruby just barely knocked in her final ball first, making it a 2-1 series win to put Crystal into the second round, where she'll visit Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette. Ruby moves on with three bids in the second round overall.
Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Steven: The blue cue gets another 12-ball series right away. Queens' Briana started well on a three-ball run, but Atlantic's Steven answered that on his first turn. Briana scratched on her second turn, and Steven came through with a three-ball run-out, avoiding dangerous shots and getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Steven had a three-ball run from the game 2 break, but he also gave the Flames' Briana a wild-card ball. Positioning was good for both players, although Briana had the edge at the top left, and with her two advantages, she earned the win to tie the series at 1. Briana had two balls on the break in game 3, but she also gave Steven a wild-card ball. Briana didn't anticipate Steven finding a four-ball run and good positioning for his last shot, which rushed her failed second turn. Steven made a final tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win as he earns a trip to Central to face the Warriors' Noelle in the second round. Briana has only two series going to the next round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Gal Gadot. The blue cue will play again, in 7-ball this time. North Modernistic's Gal used a softer touch in game 1 than did Diamond's Smokey, and this paid off for the rookie. Smokey scratched on his first turn and couldn't corral the 6 on his second turn. Gal capitalized on both mistakes, picking up the win on the latter for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal didn't have the smoothest game 2, with a much slower pace allowing the Gems' Smokey to pressure his visitor. Smokey was unable to make the 6 later in the game though, and Gal made it before banking the 7 to the bottom left for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Gal had troubles corralling the 4 after Smokey failed on an earlier shot on the 3 at short-range. Smokey would end up taking the 4 to ignite a three-ball run-out for the win. Gal still won the series 2-1, and will visit Todavía Stills captain Easter in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Kiwi. A strong sophomore meets a talented captain in Accuracy with the silver cue in today's last series. Southern's Hoppy had a fantastic game 1 effort, making mostly easy shots. Terrace City's Kiwi faltered a few times, while Hoppy persisted perfectly late in the game to win 0-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Hoppy tried to maintain that standard in game 2, but a cluster kept getting in her way, and she faded hard toward the end of the game. The Knights' Kiwi maintained her performance, and that was enough to win 3-5, tying the series at 1. Game 3 started with five misses over the first six shots, and Kiwi was trailing through a fast middle section of the game. Hoppy then fell even before another pair of misses were exchanged. It came down to the last ball, which Hoppy missed and Kiwi kicked into the top left for the 4-5 win and a 2-1 series win to put the visitor in the second round.
That's all for today. We should get back to the normal schedule tomorrow.
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