We've got Tournament play resuming today after yesterday's unplanned off day. We'll begin with...
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Lionel. Two strong players square off in 10-ball with the red cue to start the day. Midland's Leonardo displayed quality in his attack in game 1, but his four-ball run came to an end when Commerce's Lionel deferred possession after an illegally potted ball. Leonardo missed on the 9, and Lionel converted two shots at the end for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo bounced back in game 2, making a six-ball run to answer a three-ball run at the start by the Tradewinds' Lionel. Leonardo then took the 10 a turn later to grab the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 drew a middle line between the extremes of the first two, going back-and-forth until Leonardo could pot the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Leonardo will have a visitor role in the third round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Gizmo v. Spice. Reality club-mates meet in the second series today, playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Eastside's Gizmo potted one of each suit on the game 1 break, giving Victoria's Spice her first wild-card ball. Gizmo yielded another later, but Spice also gave one away, and this set Gizmo up to make his last two shots after a previous scratch. Gizmo converted, winning the game for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharks' Gizmo had a pair of balls drop on the break in game 2, and he even received a wild-card ball from the Spurs' Spice as she cleared defense late in the game. Gizmo failed to hit his last shot at a tough angle, giving Spice a clear look at her final two shots. Spice came through with the win, tying the series at 1. Spice had a four-ball run from the break to take all the corners early in game 3. Gizmo stayed sharp and nearly caught up, but he couldn't position the 9 at the top side with Spice playing defense, and Spice eventually made her last two shots for the win. Spice won the series 2-1, and will be the visitor in her third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Twinkie I. Newcomers to the Coastal Derby will meet in a series of 9-ball with the silver cue. Southern's Dominic had a decent break and saw Pacific's Twinkie I scratch on her first turn after making the 1-7 combination. Dominic would have a later scratch end his three-ball run, but Twinkie I missed on the 9 at the end, and Dominic tapped it in for the win. Dominic holds a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic continued to play well in game 2, with a four-ball run early in the game, but he faltered in the end. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I emerged with the win when she made a pair of shots at the end, tying the series at 1. Twinkie I came out on a surge in game 3, making a three-ball run from the break. The middle of the game was poor until Dominic took over, and he made the 9 on his second try to topple Twinkie I. Dominic won the series 2-1, and will host his third round appearance.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Puff III. A long-awaited round debut comes in this 8-ball series with the red cue. Stonebridge's Juno had a four-ball run from the break in game 1, but Everton's Puff III was even better, running the table in eight straight shots to secure a one-turn win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much slower, especially after the Eagles' Puff III bumped the 8 toward the top right. The Wolves' Juno kept things close for most of the game, and received a gift at the end when Puff III accidentally tapped the 8 in on an errant bank attempt. This helped Juno to tie the series at 1. Puff III had a slightly more efficient offense in game 2, and she managed to hold off a late comeback attempt by Juno before tapping in the 8 legally this time for the win. Puff III took the series 2-1, and will host the Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette in the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Ms. Puppy. Long-tenured captains meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Boston's Patches started out pretty well, but couldn't sustain her offense. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy took over in the middle of the game, making an eight-ball run-out look easy as she claimed a 1-0 series lead on a strong win. Game 2 also saw a mixed start to the action, which ended with the Union's Ms. Puppy scratching. The Swifts' Patches proceeded to piece together a seven-ball run with a lot of luck, until she missed on the 15 at the bottom right. Ms. Puppy converted this shot, earning the win and clinching the series at 2-0. Patches struggled with motivation for game 3, and it showed in her miss on the 4. This led Ms. Puppy to pot the 4 and then use the 5 to glance the cue into the 15, potting it at the bottom right for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Ms. Puppy advances to the third round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Ruby. The silver cue gets its turn at 15-ball in this series between veterans. Game 1 had a mostly unremarkable start, with plenty of changes in possession for most of the early going. Freedom's Stripes took longer to get her offense going, and this allowed Archtown's Ruby to capitalize on a 6-15 combination to the top right for the win and the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes took game 2 on her first turn after the Arrows' Ruby had an empty break. Stripes double-potted the 1 to the bottom side and the 13 to the bottom right, and then sent the 2-15 combination to the top side, tying the series at 1 with the win. Game 3 saw no early finish, as both players battled right up to the end. Stripes had the inside track to get onto the 15, but she muffed her shot at the bottom left, and Ruby sent it to the bottom right to claim the win for a 2-1 series win. Ruby will play on into the third round.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: Bear v. Shelley. The silver cue remains in action for an 8-ball series now. Whitewater's Bear had a decent start after some struggles early on, potting the last four balls over two turns while Infinity's Shelley scuffled with a lack of clear shots. Bear easily took the win and a 1-0 series lead. Neither player seemed intent on finishing up game 2, with the Shores' Bear rallying as the Torpedoes' Shelley gave him about four too many turns. Bear still couldn't get the 8, leaving it on the edge of the top right, where Shelley tapped it in for the win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Bear had all of the early offense in game 3, until a five-ball run by Shelley occurred. That run ended in a scratch, but Shelley would not be denied, using all the space on the table to pick up a three-ball run-out a couple of turns later. Shelley took the series 2-1, and will host her series in the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Stripes. Both players have their second series of the day in 10-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Twinkie I put the 4 close to the 10 in game 1, causing a panic for both players. Freedom's Stripes turned ultra-defensive, which would fail when she missed on the 3 at tap-in range, allowing Twinkie I to win with the 4-10 combination two shots later. Twinkie I gained a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I didn't have the cleanest performance in game 2, missing a lot of shots after an early burst. The Cascades' Stripes took her time in picking up the slack until she found a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Stripes had some of the early offense in game 3, carrying the pace to the middle of the game. Twinkie I wouldn't be defeated so easily, making a four-ball run-out with a 6-10 combination to the bottom right as the clincher. Twinkie I will host the Golden Pilots' Strut in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Dewey v. Katelynn. After a break, the red cue will play this series of Accuracy. Oceanside's Dewey started a bit slow in game 1, but managed to force Lighton's Katelynn into a couple of misses to tie the game. Both players missed their first shot in overtime, and then Dewey won when Katelynn scratched later on, by a 3-4 score for the 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Katelynn had a double-pot early in game 2 that led to some misfortune soon after. The Waves' Dewey couldn't hold the lead, dropping pairs of shots near the middle of the game to fall behind. Katelynn wouldn't miss again after her early troubles, winning 2-4 to tie the series at 1. Dewey and Katelynn tangled pretty closely early in game 3, the two players battling for position on every shot. Katelynn slipped up later on, and couldn't find her way back into the game as Dewey won 2-5 for a 2-1 series win. Dewey will host the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the third round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Gradley. The host is on his second series today when he plays 10-ball with the red cue. Southern's Dominic began with a clinical six-ball run, aided partially by Boston's Gradley choosing to defer possession. Game 1 ended less smoothly, with Dominic potting the 10 after Gradley couldn't find his shot. Dominic took the series lead 1-0 with this win. The Monarchs' Dominic showed much less quality in game 2, and he haphazardly shot at the 8-10 combination late in the game. The Swifts' Gradley had little trouble cutting the same combination to the top left to get the win, tying the series at 1. Dominic had no trouble striking early for the win in game 3, slipping a 4-10 combination to the top right after Gradley had exhausted his opening run. Dominic took the series 2-1, and will host Victoria Spurs rookie Sage in the third round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Caitlin Woode v. Solaris. The silver cue steps in for a turn in Accuracy. Southridge's Caitlin suffered a scratch on the break, beginning a sequence that would see multiple lead changes until Infinity's Solaris finally nailed down the win at 5-6 in regulation after Caitlin had another scratch late. Solaris leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Solaris lost his cool after a sloppy break led to trouble in the middle of game 2. Every time the Defenders' Caitlin missed, Solaris squandered a chance to make it a closer game, allowing Caitlin to get by on a 5-7 win to tie the series at 1. Solaris kept things competitive for a bit longer in game 3 before another late collapse doomed him. Solaris' final shot with the game decided was a scratch, as Caitlin took the 2-5 win to win the series 2-1. Caitlin will host a series in the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Peach. The final series today is in 7-ball with the blue cue. Boston's Gradley had a five-ball run on his second turn in game 1, and then made the 7 that the North Modernistic captain Peach missed on her second turn. Gradley's strong performance gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach had a productive counterattack in game 2, allowing the Swifts' Gradley some early possession before shutting him down on her own four-ball run-out. Peach's late surge tied the series at 1 game apiece. Gradley and Peach went back and forth for much of the early part of game 3. Gradley had a chance to develop a late run, but scratched as he made a deflected shot on the 6. Peach made the last two shots to get the win for a 2-1 series win. Peach will be the visitor in her third round series.
That'll be all for today's games. We'll have more Tournament early tomorrow, and game 5s in the first round of the Hutton Cup will follow that.
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