We're back after an unplanned day off to play more series. We should have three straight days of games before a guaranteed break on Saturday. We begin with...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Sleepy B. Veterans go at it in the first series today, playing 7-ball with the blue cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. didn't have the flashy offense in game 1 like Golden's Sparkles did, but Sparkles had a couple of mistakes that allowed Sleepy B. to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Sparkles have five balls over two turns in game 2, but still managed to come up empty on a missed cut on the 7, and the Arrows' Sleepy B. showed no mercy in making the 7 to clinch the series at 2-0 with this win. Game 3 saw Sleepy B. scratch while also making a pair of shots on the break, leading Sparkles to a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the early win. Sleepy B. took the series 2-1, and will visit the Todavía Stills rookie Anton in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Stealth. The blue cue gets another series of 7-ball as another pair of veterans do battle. Royal's Kayla pounded a six-ball run from the break in game 1, but she rattled a bank on the 7 to the top side before scratching on her second try. Swordpoint's Stealth made the 7 to the bottom right on his second chance, taking a 1-0 series lead with the cheap win. The Crowns' Kayla had a three-ball run in the middle of game 2, but she couldn't get contact on the 4, and the Blades' Stealth surged to the win on a three-ball run-out from here, securing the series at 2-0. Kayla did pick up a win in a less intense game 3, poking the 6-7 combination to the bottom right after Stealth whiffed on the 6. Stealth still won the series 2-1, and will travel to Pacific to face the Volcanoes' Twinkie I in the second round. Kayla will advance five bids into the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Citrus. The red cue comes on for a 15-ball series between related veterans. Diamond's Citrus seemed to pace the attack for a lot of game 1, but Everton's Blizzard did cut in with a three-ball run late, only to miss the 15. Citrus tapped it into the bottom left, getting the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Gems' Citrus had a fairly strong outing going in game 2, even before a four-ball run and a three-ball run. Citrus gave the Eagles' Blizzard a chance at the 15, but Blizzard missed it, and Citrus got the tap-in for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Citrus picked up her offense late in game 3 after some moments from Blizzard. Citrus double-potted the 9 to the top left and the 12 to the top side, and then won on the next turn with a 13-15 combination to the bottom right. Citrus swept the series 3-0 to earn the right to visit the Southridge Defenders captain Debby in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Nicole. The silver cue gets its first look today, bringing us back to 7-ball. Pearl's Boots never let Lighton's Nicole get to the table in game 1, pushing the 7 on the break to the top left for the instant win. Boots holds a 1-0 series lead after that perfect shot. The Prestige's Nicole made up for lost time in game 2, making a majority of her shots to counter an intimidating presence on offense from the Surfers' Boots. Nicole added the last two shots to get the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Nicole dominated the offense in game 3, using a four-ball run early and adding more later, but she missed on the 7 and Boots didn't give her another chance. Boots tapped the 7 in for the win and took the series 2-1, and she will host the Terrace City Knights rookie Quincy in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Salmo v. Rudolph: A rookie visits a sophomore in a 9-ball series that keeps the silver cue in action. Eastside's Salmo popped a four-ball run from the game 1 break, but he couldn't sustain the offense, and Harrison's Rudolph picked up the win with a tap-in on the 9 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Rudolph had a ball on the break in game 2, but watched as the Sharks' Salmo made an early three-ball run. Salmo again faded early, and Rudolph made five balls over two turns to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Rudolph won game 3 in only four shots, making a ball on the break and banking the 1 to the bottom right before an easy shot on the 2 and a contact play on the 3 that deflected the 9 to the bottom right. Salmo was stunned while Rudolph's 3-0 sweep puts him into the visitor role against the Queens Flames' Kyle in round two. Rudolph plays five bids in the second round, while Salmo carries only one.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Quincy. The blue cue's last 8-ball series of the round is between a legend and a rookie. Everton's Goldy made a stripe on the break, but she struggled early. Terrace City's Quincy found his groove for a bit, then Goldy countered, before Quincy finally won with a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy had a more controlled appearance in game 2, getting solids early. The Knights' Quincy didn't do much on his second turn, and this allowed Goldy to ignite a six-ball run-out, ending with a bank on the 8 to the bottom side after playing well in a confined area. Goldy's win tied the series at 1. Quincy had a clear edge for most of game 3, but Goldy made it interesting on a late three-ball run that nearly resulted in more. Quincy then replied with a pair of shots for the win and 2-1 series win. Quincy will visit the Diamond Gems' Rosalina in the second round. Quincy takes seven bids into the second round, an early favorite for the Rookie of the Year.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Daisy. Sophomores meet as the blue cue continues its service in 15-ball. Oceanside's Dewey made an imposing eight-ball run at one point in game 1, but Modernistic's Daisy fired back on a three-ball run before scratching. Dewey flubbed the ball in hand play, but he would rebound with a three-ball run-out after Daisy also missed the 10. Dewey leads the series 1-0. The Union's Daisy got closer in game 2, limiting the effectiveness of runs from the Waves' Dewey. This worked out, as Dewey was frequently left frustrated, and Daisy picked up the 10-15 combination to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Daisy made a pair of balls on the game 3 break, and this set the tone for a heightened offense from the visitor. Dewey struggled at the start, and he slipped up near the end, allowing Daisy to pick up the pace again as she took the win. Daisy's 2-1 series win puts her into the second round against the Web City Spiders' Sugar on the road. Both players will have six bids in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Sierra. Talented veterans square off in another blue cue series of 15-ball. Maplewood's Diddley didn't have the hottest start to game 1, allowing Todavía's Sierra to build a convincing case in possession. Sierra would make five of the last seven balls as well, but a scratch on the 15 put Diddley ahead 1-0 in the series with the gifted win. The Lumberjacks' Diddley battled more closely with the Stills' Sierra at the start of the second game, keeping things even initially. Sierra began to fade late, and Diddley eventually made the move, winning on a five-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Sierra had a bit of a push late in game 3 after another muddied and contested start. Sierra's five-ball run ended with a miss on the 14, and Diddley picked up the last two shots for the win, sweeping the series 3-0 to earn the right to host the Boston Swifts' Gradley in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Mr. Snowman. A couple of veterans hitting rough patches this season meet in 12-ball with the silver cue. Infinity's Mr. Snowman needed some time to get his offense going after a good break by Everton's Kirstin, but when the host gave away a wild-card ball, Mr. Snowman soon cashed in to win with a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman made three balls legally on the game 2 break, part of a larger five-ball run that put panic into the home fans. The Eagles' Kirstin channeled their fears, making one ball early and then using defense until she could ignite her own five-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Kirstin's offense didn't dry up in game 3, but four scratches cost her the game, surrendering positioning on wasted shots. Mr. Snowman took his time in getting the win until he made two shots at the left corners to win the series 2-1, earning a place in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Isabella. The red cue is back in action now, playing Rotation this time. Terrace City's Oreo had the early lead in game 1, but Atlantic's Isabella took over on a four-ball run. Isabella got closer to winning, then stalled as Oreo made a three-ball run to tie it again, only for Isabella to tap in the 14 for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead when Oreo missed a bank shot. The Pirates' Isabella stepped in with a better effort in game 2, making a three-ball run early and then battling to keep the Knights' Oreo down in the middle of the game. Isabella's suppression plays worked, and Isabella eventually earned the 8-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Oreo built up a big lead early in game 3, but Isabella interfered as much as possible until she found a way to tie the game. The tie was short-lived, as Oreo made two shots on her next turn to win 8-6, but Isabella still took the series 2-1. Isabella will face the Golden Pilots' Strut in the second round. Oreo will play three bids in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Pedey. The red cue stays at the table for an Accuracy series. Boston's Patches had a good start in game 1, and while she twice dipped level to Diamond's Pedey, she recovered well both times, eventually taking the win 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead in a quick game. The Swifts' Patches had a rough start to game 2, falling behind rather quickly, but she recovered and forced the game into overtime after two late misses by the Gems' Pedey. In overtime, Patches went empty on the break, and Pedey made a shot to win 2-3, tying the series at 1. Patches and Pedey combined for a beautiful game 3, going perfect until Patches stumbled late. She forced Pedey into a miss on the last ball, forcing overtime. Here, it took a scratch by Pedey after a remarkable cut by Patches to decide the game. Patches made one more shot for the 1-2 win, taking the series 2-1 as she earns a chance to host the Atlantic Pirates' Steven in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Pauline. The red cue ends the day in Rotation between a captain and a rookie. Royal's Nightfur had a fantastic game 1 appearance, making a three-ball run early on and another three-ball run at the end to win 8-0, shutting out Capital City's Pauline for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Pauline had a bit more luck early in game 2, but the Crowns' Nightfur had little patience for that, making five balls over her last two turns to win 8-3. Nightfur's dominant pair of wins earned her the series at 2-0. Nightfur had a good start in game 3 as well, but this one wasn't sustainable, as Pauline battled back and ended up winning the game 8-7. Nightfur took the series 2-1, and will host Whitewater Shores rookie Katharine in the second round.
That's all for today, and the Tournament is now 500 series in. We'll likely play tomorrow, although Elite action may interfere with that plan.
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