We've got a special weekend edition of Tournament play, a full day for this Sunday action. We begin with...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Dusty. Two strong competitors duke it out in 8-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Nikolai put up a good effort in game 1, coming back from a poor break to easily beat Golden's Dusty, as the visitors couldn't make much offense during the game. Nikolai leads the series 1-0. Offense didn't get any better in game 2, with another slow start from the Pilots' Dusty. The Cascades' Nikolai got onto the 8 first but couldn't convert, and Dusty pieced together a three-ball run and then a pair of shots at the end to cut the 8 into the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Nikolai had a four-ball run in the middle of game 3 to pull himself ahead of Dusty in the game, and he then made a couple of shots at the end to pick up the win and a 2-1 series win. Nikolai advances to the third round, where he will be a host again.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Rosemary. The blue cue is on for Rotation in today's second series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had an easy time in game 1, making a pair of balls on the break and shooting circles around Commerce's Rosemary. Even with some tough turns, Mr. Snowman emerged with an 8-1 win after a glancing hit off the 8 to pot the 12-10 combination at the top right. Mr. Snowman owns a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break again in game 2, and had a relatively easy time, although the Tradewinds' Rosemary offered far more pressure this time. Rosemary nearly sparked a late run herself, but the 10 refused to fall for her, and Mr. Snowman made a pair of shots to ice his 8-5 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman utterly dominated game 3 as well, his highlight coming on a simple jump to pot the 4 at the top side before he cruised to an 8-2 win to sweep Rosemary. Mr. Snowman will be on the road in his third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Dusky. The red cue is back in action now to play some 10-ball. Archtown's Dusky showed off some sweet skill in game 1 on an early three-ball run-out, pulling a deflection off the 3 to slip the 10 into the top right for the win, stunning Oceanside's Josie. Dusky's highlight-worthy shot gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky made a pair of balls on the break in game 2, then watched as the Waves' Josie scratched on her only shot. Dusky took the 2 from ball-in-hand, setting up a 3-10 combination tap-in to the top right to secure another win. Dusky sealed the series at 2-0 without much challenge. Dusky had a five-ball run early in game 3 after Josie scratched, but that would be the extent of her offense, as Josie assembled a later three-ball run-out to snag a win. Dusky took the series 2-1 to earn a visitor spot in a third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Stealth. Southwestern rivals tangle in 8-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Victoria's Sage put up a four-ball run in game 1 at one point, but Swordpoint's Stealth broke out of his cold start with an eight-ball run-out, taking all of his shots in a single turn for the 1-0 series lead with his win. The Spurs' Sage struck a bit faster in game 2, finding a six-ball run to really put the Blades' Stealth under pressure. Stealth tried to rally back, but he had a scratch, and Sage took the 8 to the bottom side from the kitchen for the win. Sage's bounce-back game tied the series at 1. Stealth then returned to his initial form in game 3, making a five-ball run before a scratch. Sage tried to fight back, but Stealth soon found a three-ball run-out to grab the win, taking the series with him at 2-1. Stealth will continue into the third round, visiting the Westside Rockers' Slinks.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Dustin. The silver cue is set to debut for the day in Accuracy between future club-mates. Central's Dustin had a couple of misses in the middle of the game, but Web City's Jack failed to capitalize, and then Jack missed twice late in the game to give Dustin the 2-4 win. Dustin leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Jack took a steep decline in game 2, missing a bunch of shots early and late in the game. The Warriors' Dustin pushed Jack down by cleaning up many of the host's misses, which led to Dustin taking the 1-7 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dustin fired off a perfect performance in game 3, taking the lead early after Jack had a miss and never looking back again. Dustin's 0-3 victory made it 3-0 series sweep in his favor, and he'll visit another Northeastern rival in the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Cheddar. The silver cue takes another series, this one an Urban Derby in Rotation. North Modernistic's Cheddar used a couple of short runs in game 1 to build a large lead, and while her late scratch allowed Terrace City's Jennifer to avoid the shutout, Cheddar soon capped her win at 8-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer had a three-stage attack in game 2, a smart strategy as the Nighthawks' Cheddar had enough to cancel out the first two bursts. Jennifer made a pair of shots at the end to protect her lead, winning 8-5 to tie the series at 1. Jennifer scuffled a little at the start of game 3, but managed to hold a lead and then take two pairs of shots on her final two turns to secure an 8-5 win over Cheddar for the 2-1 series win. Jennifer will be the visitor in her round three series.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Smudge. A sophomore meets a seasoned captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Rosalina wasted no time in taking a 1-0 series lead, bringing the home crowd to its feet when she made the 9 on the game 1 break, stunning Infinity's Smudge as it tailed the 5 to the bottom right. The Gems' Rosalina took a pair of balls from the break, allowing the Torpedoes' Smudge to shoot. Smudge missed her first shot, and she wouldn't get another chance, as Rosalina assembled a seven-ball run-out to earn another win, clinching the series at 2-0 with the dominant effort. Rosalina went empty on the break in game 3, but Smudge also missed her first shot, and Rosalina returned to form quickly with a nine-ball run-out on her second turn, making it a 3-0 series sweep filled with utter dominance. Rosalina will visit her friend and the North Modernistic Nighthawks sophomore Luigi in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Kiwi. More 9-ball with the silver cue sees a rookie hosting a captain this time. Terrace City's Kiwi came out on top in game 1 after a gritty battle that saw many failed trick plays and a short-range miss on the 9 by Oceanside's Jason. Kiwi cleaned this one up to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi started game 2 in positive fashion, but she missed a glancing shot later on, and the Waves' Jason took over. Jason made a couple of shots, and then applied a light touch off the 2 to deflect the 9 to the bottom right for a win, tying the series at 1 with the smart play. Jason and Kiwi each had their looks in game 3, trying to find a way to get into the mix. Jason had a chance at the win late, tapping in the 8 that Kiwi missed, but he whiffed on the 9, and Kiwi ultimately got the win for a 2-1 series win. Kiwi will play on into the third round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Juno. The winner of this series will play the winner of the previous red cue 10-ball series. Eastside's Cubby had a slow start in game 1, allowing Stonebridge's Juno a fair amount of possession, but Cubby took one look at the 5 and glanced the cue off of it just right to push the 10 into the top right for the win. Cubby leads the series 1-0 after the good trick play. Game 2 started even more slowly on both sides, but the Sharks' Cubby picked up the pace, taking five of the last six balls for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Wolves' Juno had tried a 9-10 kick after making the 8, but it failed, and Cubby cut both the 9 and 10 in with force to earn his win. Cubby didn't have much left in the tank in game 3, which almost worked out anyway as Juno also struggled. Juno had enough poise to pick up the 10 at the top right to finish the game, cutting Cubby's series win to 2-1. Cubby will host a club-mate, the Archtown Arrows' Dusky, in round three.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Melissa Benoist. The red cue takes its last series of the day in 9-ball. Terrace City's Melissa looked best in the middle of game 1, pressuring Golden's Valencia until the visitor missed on the 8. Valencia cut the 8 in, and then made a better cut on the 9 to the bottom right to earn the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia battled with the Knights' Melissa in a close first half of game 2, but Valencia easily pulled away in the end. Valencia missed the 5 on her first try, but Melissa left it in a good spot, and it ignited a four-ball run-out by Valencia, which clinched the series at 2-0 in her favor. Valencia had no trouble in game 3, spinning a shot off the 3 to drive the 9 cleanly to the top right, sweeping Melissa 3-0 as she picked up this win on a four-ball run-out. Valencia easily made it to the third round, and earned her first kill as Melissa's rookie season ends with her as the fourth player eliminated.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Nicole. The silver cue gets the next series of 9-ball right now. Lighton's Nicole took game 1 on a late run, impressively besting Terrace City's Jennifer with a three-ball run and then a tap-in on the 9 when Jennifer couldn't convert her chance. Nicole leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Nicole had pairs of shots on her first two turns in game 2, keeping her pace on offense going. This ended when the Knights' Jennifer took over to make a five-ball run-out all at once on her third turn. Jennifer's massive run was good enough to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Jennifer try to pace play early on and then again with a late three-ball run, but she snookered herself behind the 8. Nicole took over to make the last two shots of the game for the win and a 2-1 series win. Nicole will be back in this venue to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the third round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Max. The silver cue wraps up the day with a series of 12-ball. Pronger's Spot showed a lack of regard for the rules in game 1 when he intentionally had illegal contact in an effort to get positioning. Atlantic's Max made him pay for it, constructing a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Max made a pair of balls on the break, and then patiently waited for another chance to strike. The Tridents' Spot made a three-ball run at one point, but couldn't sink the 4 at the top side, and Max made a three-ball run before flubbing a shot on his last ball. Max would convert a turn later to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Max had one of each on the break and claimed stripes, which ended up being a mistake as Spot assembled a four-ball run from his first turn. Max couldn't defend enough to stop Spot, who kicked the 7 to the top left a few turns later for the win. Max took the series 2-1, and will be the visitor in his third round series.
That's all for today's action. With the Hutton Cup now in the second round, staying on schedule for it and the Tournament should be easier in the coming weeks.
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