We're back with another Sunday edition of Tournament play. We begin with...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Smokey. A journeyman meets a captain in Accuracy with the silver cue to start today's games. Southern's Dominic had three balls potted on his first two turns in game 1, an attack that would haunt him as Diamond's Smokey forced overtime at the end. Dominic was unable to make a ball on the overtime break, and Smokey converted a shot for a 2-3 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey held his own despite a tough break in game 2, keeping the lead in the middle after the Monarchs' Dominic faltered. Smokey broke out of Dominic's defense, winning 2-3 again to clinch the series at 2-0. Dominic tried to keep up in game 3, and he actually did enough to force Smokey into a tie at the end of regulation. Smokey responded by making a ball on the overtime break, and Dominic couldn't convert, allowing Smokey another 2-3 win to sweep the series 3-0. Smokey will play on into the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Whiskers. The silver cue stays up in the second series for some 8-ball. Pacific's Ms. Kitty started slowly in game 1, watching Maplewood's Whiskers pick up a four-ball run on her first turn. Ms. Kitty took two runs after that, with a little help from Whiskers' errant shot that potted the 5. Ms. Kitty won on a three-ball run-out, going up 1-0 in the series. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers again had the better start in game 2, putting away a nice run early on. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty opted to make most of her counterattack all at once at the end, winning with a five-ball run-out to secure the series at 2-0. Ms. Kitty needed only two turns in game 3, taking a six-ball run from the break, and then using a great shot on the 10 to the bottom left to set herself up for the 8 at the bottom right, which she also made for the win, a shutout. Ms. Kitty swept Whiskers 3-0 to earn a spot in round three.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Nicole. The blue cue gets its turn next, playing 12-ball between a sophomore and a veteran. Pronger's Potter had a couple of balls on the break, and had better positioning than Lighton's Nicole throughout game 1. This came in handy when he made his last shot, as Potter's ability to maintain a lead helped him earn a 1-0 series lead with a win. The Tridents' Potter looked good at the start of game 2, despite giving the Prestige's Nicole a wild-card ball on the break. Potter slowly unraveled his lead-off four-ball run, and while Nicole gave her wild-card ball back, she still made her last two shots faster than Potter could make one, giving her the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw both players display some creative flair, although Nicole's last brilliant moment wouldn't have counted had she won, as she was found in violation of the rules post-game. Potter came out victorious despite the disadvantage, playing a little defense before building to a pair of shots at the end for the win and 2-1 series win. Potter will travel to Viewpoint Sound to take on the Meteors' Dani in the third round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Leonardo. The red cue is up for 8-ball in its first series of the day. Atlantic's Delila fell behind early in game 1 to a five-ball run by Midland's Leonardo, but the visitor was unprepared to defend his lead. Delila charged back on a four-ball run, and then made a pair of shots on her final turn for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players go empty on their first turn, and then the Pirates' Delila ripped a six-ball run, only to be outdone as the Predators' Leonardo ran the table with an eight-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Leonardo and Delila battled slowly in game 3, until Leonardo's attempt to kick for contact didn't connect. Delila took the ball-in-hand to make a three-ball run-out for the win and a 2-1 series win. Delila will visit the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai in the third round for an Eastern Hills Derby series.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Crystal. The blue cue is back for a captains' battle in 12-ball. Commerce's Tigerette started well with stripes in game 1, but she had a bit of trouble after Queens' Crystal picked all the corners up in a single turn. Crystal also got favorable position at the side pockets, and while Tigerette tried to play defense, Crystal got around her for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Flames' Crystal picked up solids on the break in game 2, and had no trouble attacking quickly after that. The Tradewinds' Tigerette made as many balls for Crystal as herself in the game, with the wild-card ball hastening Crystal's win, as the visitor took the 2-0 series lead. Tigerette took a more aggressive approach in game 3, and while Crystal managed to use a four-ball run to get onto her last ball, Tigerette still kicked her own last ball in on her second try for the win. Crystal took the series 2-1, and will visit the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the third round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Cassie. The blue cue goes again, this time in Rotation. Capital City's Chris scratched on the game 1 break, setting off Royal's Cassie for a four-ball run. Chris rallied back, nearly tying the game, but Cassie found a four-ball run-out soon after that, good for an 8-3 win and a 1-0 series lead in her favor. Game 2 saw both players battle back-and-forth throughout the game. The Sharpshooters' Chris held the first and last leads, rebutting a three-ball run from the Crowns' Cassie with a three-ball run-out of his own to win 8-6, tying the series at 1 on his win. Chris had another unfortunate scratch on the break in game 3, and while Cassie didn't burst far ahead this time, Chris couldn't catch up to her at any point in the game despite some defensive efforts to do so late in the game. Cassie walked away with an 8-5 win and 2-1 series win to earn a visiting spot in the third round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Kodiak. The blue cue wraps up its appearances for the day in Accuracy. Modernistic's Kodiak struggled early and late in game 1, with a bunch of misses at each end of the game. Midland's Shawn got a little sloppy in the middle, but still easily won the 2-7 game for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Shawn actually fell behind first in game 2, but this didn't last all that long, as the Union's Kodiak had a flurry of misses right after that to slip behind. Shawn looked shaky near the end, but held on to take a 2-5 win to seal the series at 2-0 over Kodiak. Shawn made a mess of game 3 for himself, missing a couple of times early before completely falling apart at the end. Kodiak, on the other hand, had his best game, taking the 2-7 win to make it a 2-1 series win for Shawn. Shawn will move on to the third round, paying a visit to the Pearl Surfers' Beth.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Crystal. The silver cue returns to action in Rotation. Queens' Crystal struck first in game 1, but Commerce's Lionel didn't take long to tie it. The two players battled for quite awhile, until Crystal had a six-ball run-out to win 8-2, a weaving double-pot of the 8 and 10 to the right corners propelling her to the win and a 1-0 series lead. Both players wasted chances to establish themselves with scratches throughout the game. The Flames' Crystal was less affected by scratches, building her lead up cleanly. The Tradewinds' Lionel saw a scratch on what would be his last turn, as it led to Crystal making a three-ball run-out to win 8-2 again. Crystal clinched the series at 2-0. Lionel finally stood up for himself more strongly in game 3, avoiding errors and making a four-ball run-out at the end to come from behind in an 8-6 win over Crystal. The visitor Crystal still won the series 2-1, advancing another bid to the third round in this productive two-series stay against the Tradewinds.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Valencia. The silver remains in action, as two strong veterans clash in 10-ball. Archtown's Sally looked dangerous on the break, making a ball but missing her 1-10 combination attempt. Golden's Valencia tried to glance the cue off the 3 to poke the 10 toward the top right, but it set Sally up to double-pot the 3 in the bottom right with the 10 at the top right. Sally's big winner gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally had another good break in game 2, but after making the 1 she missed the 2-10 glancing kick combination toward the top right on her second. The Pilots' Valencia mopped it up, kissing the cue off the 2 to bump the 10 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1 with the quick finish. Valencia did enough in game 3, which went full term, to force Sally into a pressure situation. Valencia's four-ball run over the middle led to Sally being unable to cut the 10 to the bottom right, and Valencia cleaned the shot up for another win and a 2-1 series win. Valencia will head to Swordpoint to take on the Blades' Snowball in the third round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Vincent Sullivan v. Diddley. The silver cue closes its day in Rotation. Viewpoint Sound's Vincent showed brilliant poise in game 1, thrice leaving Maplewood's Diddley snookered. Vincent snookered himself near the end of the game, but Diddley couldn't build a run off of it, and Vincent won 8-1 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley took the Meteors' Vincent out of his defensive shell early in game 2, as Diddley stretched out to a nice lead early on. Vincent tried to bunker from here, and it worked for awhile, but when Vincent scratched, Diddley took the 11 from ball-in-hand for the 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Vincent tried hard after Diddley had a three-ball run to take an early lead. Vincent answered on a five-ball run to get on the brink of victory, and while Diddley chipped back a bit, Vincent closed him out with an 8-6 win in the end. Vincent took the series 2-1, and will be on the road in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Wario. The red cue gets the last two series, beginning with this 12-ball set between sophomores. Oceanside's Celestia made a mess out of game 1, limiting herself to one scratch but wasting many good positional shots. Victoria's Wario was far out of position on his last ball, but managed to set it up and bury it before Celestia could get to her last ball. Wario leads the series 1-0. The Waves' Celestia made small improvements in game 2, but a defensive shot that led the Spurs' Wario to an ill-fated jump attempt on his last ball was Celestia's best moment. Wario sank the ball illegally, and Celestia chose to finish the game, making her last two balls to steal the win away, tying the series at 1. Wario had a big lead in game 3 when he scratched, and things got a bit close as Celestia pressured him toward the end of the game. Wario came out just fine, making a silk right-rail bank of the 3 to the bottom side to get his win and a 2-1 series win. Wario will return home to host a third round series.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Isabella. Fresh off their teams' cricket series, these players bring on today's finale in Rotation with the red cue. Game 1 went back and forth between the two players, with the game eventually ending up tied on the last ball. Atlantic's Isabella had a chance at it, but Golden's Strut would be the one to make it for the 8-7 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella again found herself behind in the middle of game 2 after a hot start from the Pilots' Strut. Isabella did not get discouraged, attacking with a four-ball run-out for the 8-6 win, the comeback helping her to tie the series at 1. Isabella held the lead for most of a very tense game 3, but she couldn't quite finish it off. Strut roared in a four-ball run-out to take the 8-7 win instead, giving him a 2-1 series win as well. Strut will advance to the third round.
That's all for today's Tournament play. We'll be back tomorrow morning and afternoon ahead of the start of the Hutton Cup semifinals.
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