We continue the stretch run for this round, beginning this day with...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Leonette. The red cue leads things off in a series of 12-ball between a rookie and a veteran. Pacific's Leonette had to battle a bit in game 1 despite Oceanside's Jason giving her a wild-card ball on the break. Leonette returned it with a later scratch, but beat Jason in their race to the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Volcanoes' Leonette gave away a wild-card ball early on to the Waves' Jason, who already had a lead at the time. The added flexibility helped him speed up his attack, and he took the win to tie the series at 1. Jason had a good start with a four-ball run in game 3, but Leonette charged back as Jason tried to position his last shot later on. Leonette made a pair of three-ball runs to take the win, and a 2-1 series win. Leonette will host another Coastal rival in the third round, playing against the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Nibbles.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Shaggy. Another series of 12-ball is ready to go, this one with the silver cue. Whitewater's Shaggy worked a bit faster in game 1, although she felt some pressure from Todavía's Prism later on. Shaggy did hold off the threat, potting her last ball to earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy had a wild-card ball in game 2, but her issues with scratching quickly surrendered the advantage. The Stills' Prism also had a wild-card ball for awhile, long enough to organize her shots and win when a good bounce helped her finish off the last pair of solids. Prism's win tied the series at 1. Prism had a hot start in game 3, picking the corners quickly, while Shaggy had to watch. Shaggy then built a slow comeback, keeping Prism's positioning poor at the end of every turn. Prism never got a clear shot on her last ball, as Shaggy took over late for the win and a 2-1 series win. Shaggy returns home to host the Victoria Spurs captain Spice in the third round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Briana Livilotti. The blue cue comes for this series of Rotation between friends. Victoria's Yekaterina spent most of game 1 trailing Queens' Briana, as the rookie played well initially. Yekaterina, a more seasoned veteran, struck at the right moment near the end, winning 8-6 with a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina put together a standout performance in game 2, using a three-ball run from the break to set the tone and suffocating defense to keep the Flames' Briana at bay. It worked to perfection, as Yekaterina ended up winning by an 8-0 score while Briana never had a clear shot at the target ball. Yekaterina clinched the series at 2-0. Yekaterina kept up the attack early in game 3, pulling away with a nice lead initially and doubling it later on. Briana made a bit of a counterattack, but Yekaterina took the win at 8-3 and swept the series 3-0 as well. Yekaterina will host a Southwestern rival, the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman, in the third round. This makes Briana the ninth player eliminated, and Yekaterina has her first kill of the year.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Sydney Sierota. The silver cue plays its last Rotation series of the round here. Freedom's Jasmine came out with a bit of a jump in game 1, and it helped her establish a lead. Harrison's Sydney tried to catch up, but Jasmine continued to pull away at the end of the game, eventually winning 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. Jasmine and Sydney battled a bit more closely to start game 2, but Jasmine again held the advantage almost all the time. Jasmine pulled away again in the end, using a couple of short runs to win 8-5, clinching the series for herself at 2-0. Jasmine continued her surge in game 3, weathering a slow start as Sydney also struggled, and then pulling away to win 8-3 for the 3-0 series sweep. Jasmine's dominant performances put her through to the third round, where she hosts Eastern Hills rival Steven of the Atlantic Pirates.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Leandra. The red cue is back now, playing a series of 7-ball. Stonebridge's Vladimir had an edge in possession in game 1, although it was far from a clean performance. He did make the last two balls to beat Tysini's Leandra, who lacked an extra punch to her attack as Vladimir went ahead 1-0 in the series. The Wolves' Vladimir had his moments in game 2 as well, showing off some skill in the middle of the game, but the Hummingbirds' Leandra shot back with a pair of shots at the end to get the win, tying the series at 1. Vladimir took no chances in game 3, as Leandra made a ball on the break but missed on her next shot and Vladimir rallied from there on a six-ball run-out. Vladimir's massive win gave him a 2-1 series win, and he will host the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the third round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Chris. A sophomore meets a captain in 15-ball with the silver cue to bring today to half-completion. Midland's Fuchsia had a clear advantage on possession, with a five-ball run and a three-ball run pacing her attack, but she left the 15 up for Capital City's Chris and he made it on his first try for the win to go up 1-0 in the series. The Predators' Fuchsia competed well with the Sharpshooters' Chris early in game 2, with the two exchanging near-even possession shares. Chris turned this around with a six-ball run-out, the brilliant attack securing the series for him at 2-0. Fuchsia had a highlight-reel triple-pot in game 3, making the 1-4-5 combination to the bottom left, with the 4 caroming to the top side and the 1 to the bottom side in a fantastic shot. Chris had his moments in game 3 after that, but Fuchsia came up with the win in the end when Chris missed contact on the 14. Chris did take the series 2-1, and he will host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in a tough third round series.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Stealth. The blue cue takes this series in 7-ball. Pacific's Twinkie I had a pair on the break and a three-ball run-out at the end, sandwiching a pair of successful shots by Swordpoint's Stealth on his only turn. Twinkie I's pacey attack gave her a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I wasted no time in sealing the series at 2-0, winning game 2 with a three-ball run-out from the break to shut out the Blades' Stealth. Twinkie I's winning shot was a glancing play off the 2 to drill the 7 to the top right as the clinching shot. Twinkie I didn't have a remarkable effort in game 3, playing evenly with Stealth for most of the game until a struggle ensued on the 7. Twinkie I did manage to put the 7 in the bottom left for the win, sweeping the series 3-0 and earning the right to host the North Modernistic Nighthawks' B. Chapman in the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Gradley. Two talented players square off for this series of Rotation with the red cue. Infinity's Smudge picked up a six-ball run from the break in game 1, a show of dominance that caused Boston's Gradley to miss his first shot. It would be his only one, as Smudge made a pair on her second turn for the 8-0 win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge continued to see most of the bounces go in her favor in game 2, rallying with a four-ball run-out at the end to win 8-2 after a brief counterattack from the Swifts' Gradley. Smudge secured the series at 2-0 with another fantastic game. Smudge tried to keep up in game 3, but she had taken a step back and Gradley refused to be swept in this series, winning the game 8-6. Smudge took the 2-1 series win, and will play on into the third round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Boots. Respected veterans meet in 15-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 didn't start so well with an awful break from Westside's Slinks. The shattering of the rack took a few turns, leading to a slow pace in the game that didn't work out so well for Pearl's Boots, who missed late. Slinks picked up the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks delivered a much better break for game 2, although the Surfers' Boots took a big run fairly early in the game. Slinks did not get bothered, using a decoy shot on the 11 to bump the 15 to the top left for the win, which clinched the series for her at 2-0. Boots had a five-ball run early in game 3, showing determination on her part, but she faded toward the end of the game, and Slinks came up with a four-ball run-out for the win to sweep the series 3-0. Slinks will visit the Oceanside Waves rookie Jason V. in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Hughbert. The blue cue's last series today is in 7-ball after a short break. Terrace City's Kiwi butchered her chance to win game 1, missing badly on the 6. Southridge's Hughbert took over from here, making a pair of shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi recovered in game 2, keeping things even with the Defenders' Hughbert at first before pushing forward at the end of the game. Kiwi made the 7 on her second try to get the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Kiwi never let Hughbert take a shot in game 3, making two balls on the break and five more shots after that, the last three being tap-ins, to get the win. Kiwi took the series 2-1, and will host the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Nibbles in the third round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Waluigi. A pair of sophomores clash in the silver cue's last 9-ball series of the round. Southridge's Bianca had a wonderful 4-9 bank combination to the top left to end a three-ball run-out, countering an early attack by Lighton's Waluigi. The winning shot put Bianca ahead 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Waluigi had a four-ball run at one point in game 2, but he couldn't get anything after his miss on the 6. The Defenders' Bianca waited a turn before assembling a well-executed four-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series in her favor at 2-0. Waluigi had his chances to avoid the sweep in game 3, none better than a late three-ball run that ended with him scratching. Bianca took the 9 from ball-in-hand, and she won the series 3-0, moving on to host the Golden Pilots' Dusty in a third round Southeastern Derby. Waluigi is the tenth player eliminated this year, his Prestige career in question, while Bianca has her first kill.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Wings. Today's action ends where tomorrow's begins, with the silver cue playing 8-ball in today's finale. Central's Wings took the lead early in game 1, but Freedom's Stripes controlled the middle of the game to pull ahead. Stripes plateaued after a couple of short runs, and Wings rallied on a seven-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a more tense battle between the players, with the Cascades' Stripes keeping ahead for most of the game. The Warriors' Wings pulled ahead late, and then received ball-in-hand when Stripes failed on a masse shot. Wings buried the 8 for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Stripes had a slower start to game 3, giving Wings a bit of a false sense of security. Stripes roared back, eventually getting the win with a three-ball run-out. Wings took the series 2-1, and will be the visitor in his third round series. Stripes is the eleventh player to be eliminated, and Wings took his first kill of the year.
That'll be all for today. We'll be back to the morning/afternoon split used over the last couple of weeks for tomorrow's games, with an early finish required due to other commitments.
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