We're back after an unplanned three-day break, and we're going to play 50 games today. We begin with...
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Gabe v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue is on duty for this 12-ball series between veterans. Maplewood's Gabe defended well and supplied enough offense to have a chance in game 1, but two scratches tipped the game in favor of Infinity's Mr. Snowman, who rode a four-ball run early on to the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman didn't let up in game 2, making four balls over his first two turns. The Lumberjacks' Gabe lacked the time and positioning to catch up, as Mr. Snowman beat him again to pull ahead 2-0 in the series. Gabe had a good rebuttal to Mr. Snowman's game 3 break, making three balls over two turns, but Mr. Snowman shot back with a three-ball run. Mr. Snowman did give away a wild-card ball in the pursuit of positioning, but Gabe couldn't capitalize as Mr. Snowman made his last ball on the next turn to seal the series at 3-0. Mr. Snowman scratched on the game 4 break, but managed to battle hard with Gabe in a solid race to the finish. Gabe couldn't seal off anything defensively, and Mr. Snowman pushed from behind for the win to extend his series lead to 4-0. Gabe once again couldn't capitalize on scratches, and didn't have enough defense in game 5 to stop Mr. Snowman from assembling a strong three-ball run-out. Mr. Snowman swept the series 5-0 to earn a spot on the road against the Golden Pilots' Dusty in the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Potter. A relocated player faces a sophomore in another 12-ball series, this one with the blue cue. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had a good break and solid positioning in game 1, but a large run to get onto her last ball was most helpful. Pronger's Potter played defense as much as he could, but he would ultimately pot Dani's last ball, giving the host a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter put in a better effort in game 2, getting onto his last ball but never finding the right positioning. The Meteors' Dani patiently positioned herself for her final pair of shots before converting on both to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Dani made one of each suit on the game 3 break, and the wild-card ball she gave Potter would prove costly. Dani put her last ball in position at the bottom left but never got a chance at making it, as Potter rallied with a five-ball run-out for the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Potter started well in game 4 as well, but he couldn't free up his remaining shots after an opening run. Dani carefully disassembled her defense, striking quickly at the end to prevent a comeback for Potter. Dani's win this time secured the series in her favor at 3-1. Dani made a pair on the break in game 5, but she couldn't corral the rest of her shots. Potter had a three-ball run early and then waited for Dani to gift a wild-card ball before burying his last shot for the win. Dani still took the series 3-2, and will advance to the bracket quarterfinals. Dani picked up her first kill of the year, making Potter the 40th eliminated player so far.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Jasmine. We continue in 12-ball with the blue cue in another series. Freedom's Jasmine had a bold attack in game 1, a three-ball run derailed by a scratch and then a four-ball run-out on the next turn after Pacific's Twinkie I couldn't find a run of her own. Jasmine leads the series 1-0. The Cascades' Jasmine remained strong in attack in game 2, but she had trouble lining up her final ball at the top side despite a kick that sent the 7 to the bottom left. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I raised her two kicks on a four-ball run-out, the remarkable stretch of shots giving the host a win to equalize the series at 1 game apiece. Jasmine had control in game 3, but she scratched and gave away a wild-card ball on consecutive turns. Twinkie I took over from here, playing defensively but still making her shots well enough to get the win and a 2-1 series lead. Jasmine walked away with a controversial win in game 4, her three-ball run-out coming after Twinkie I botched a shot from ball-in-hand for a late call on Jasmine overfilling the top right. Jasmine won't care too much, as her win retied the series at 2. Jasmine came out shooting in game 5, unafraid to take risks. Unfortunately, she had to illegally pot one of her shots, and Twinkie I took over from there, charging to the victory and a 3-2 series win. Twinkie I will welcome the Central Warriors' Noelle in a minor derby series in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Acorn. After the lunch break, the blue cue remains in action for this Rotation series. Lighton's Acorn had a couple of short runs to build up an early lead in game 1, but Eastside's Cubby chipped back to tie it, and then surged to an 8-5 win with a three-ball run-out. Cubby leads the series 1-0. Cubby pulled out to a stronger lead early in game 2, but allowed Acorn to come all the way back to tie it ahead of shots at the 15. Cubby just potted the 15 in time to avoid defeat, winning 8-7 to move his series lead to 2-0. The Sharks' Cubby tried to establish himself again in game 3, but he flubbed a few too many shots as the Prestige's Acorn converted. Acorn put himself on the brink of victory and slammed the door at 8-4 to get a win, cutting the series to 2-1. Acorn outright dominated in game 4, working a five-ball run from the break and never giving Cubby a clear shot. Acorn ended up with an 8-0 this time, tying the series at 2 with the near-perfect performance. Cubby started well in game 5 but couldn't continue the performance to the end, as Acorn pulled away and won 8-3, taking the series 3-2. Acorn will visit the Archtown Arrows captain Ruby in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Ice Cream. The silver cue returns to action for this series of 15-ball between veterans. Both players had potentially devastating scratches in game 1, but Boston's Ice Cream saw hers come much later. Infinity's Shelley wasted no time in cranking a three-ball run-out after Ice Cream scratched, easily giving Shelley the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley appeared to start better than a foul-riddled performance from the Swifts' Ice Cream. Shelley couldn't sustain her game 2 offense for long, and Ice Cream made six balls over her last two turns for the win, tying the series at 1. Shelley looked to build up a long run after a back-and-forth start to game 3, but after making three straight, she took herself out of good positioning. Ice Cream slowed things down until she could pick up the final pair of balls for the win, pulling ahead 2-1 in the series. Game 4 had a chippy feeling between the players for most of the early part. Ice Cream found a pair of shots just about halfway through, but Shelley erupted on a six-ball run-out on the next turn, taking a win to retie the series at 2. Shelley couldn't complete a late run after deciding to go for the game 5 win, her four-ball run leaving the 15 perfectly aligned for Ice Cream to pot it in the top right. Ice Cream won the series 3-2, and will travel to Oceanside to meet top-ranked Waves rookie Jason V. in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Spice. The red cue makes its only appearance today in this high-quality 10-ball match. Pronger's Zach had a strong performance in game 1, starting off well and countering most of the offense from Victoria's Spice. Zach then found a three-ball run-out, ending on an 8-10 combination to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach had a little more command in game 2, but he blew a couple of opportunities for big runs to close out the game. The Spurs' Spice tapped in the 9 and 10 for the win, tying the series at 1 after a decent effort of her own. Game 3 saw Spice get just about everything right at the end, a four-ball run working to put her on the 10. Unfortunately, she scratched, and Zach buried the 10 from ball-in-hand to the top left for the win, which helped him to regain the series lead at 2-1. Zach deferred possession to Spice in game 4 after she illegally potted the 2. This looked like a mistake until Spice couldn't put the 6 at the top side, ending a four-ball run. Zach fired back on a five-ball run-out, banking the 10 hard to the bottom left for the series-clinching win as he goes up 3-1. Zach didn't have his best effort in game 5, but he didn't need it. Spice took the win on a big four-ball run-out, showing her excellent command a little too late to matter. Zach won the series 3-2, and is in line to host his bracket quarterfinals series.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Peach. The blue cue returns to play four straight series to end the day, beginning here in 9-ball. Swordpoint's Dreamy had a three-ball run from the break, but never got back to the table, as North Modernistic's Peach ripped a six-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Dreamy returned the favor in game 2, as the Nighthawks' Peach made a pair from the break and didn't make it back to the table. Dreamy's seven-ball run-out made sure of that, giving her a well-earned win to tie the exciting series at 1. Game 3 saw both players have a slower start. Peach in particular lacked offense, and this would hurt her when Dreamy finally found a groove, as the host rattled off another six-ball run-out to pick up the win for a 2-1 series lead. Short runs were much more critical to the game 4 battle, as neither player could break out for a longer run. Dreamy had the late chance on the 9 at the top side, but she left it on the pocket's edge, and Peach tapped it in for the win, retying the series at 2. Peach had a good break in game 5, but couldn't quite get the 9 to fall at the bottom right. Worse for Peach was Dreamy lining up and converting the 1-9 combination on her only shot for the win, which subsequently gave Dreamy a 3-2 series win. Dreamy will remain at home in the bracket quarterfinals, taking on her Blades teammate Bandit in a series more focused on club rivalry.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Leandra. Current club-mates battle it out in Accuracy with the blue cue. Maplewood's Diddley briefly fell behind after the midpoint of game 1, but he forced Tysini's Leandra into a miss to even it out. Leandra then missed the last ball, and Diddley tapped it in for the 2-3 win, giving him a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a couple of regrettable misses in game 2, and this didn't bode well as the Hummingbirds' Leandra improved for this game. Leandra played Diddley tough and won 1-3, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Both players took a step back in game 3, with some early positivity drowned out by a smattering of misses late. Diddley had a chance to force overtime but missed on the last ball, and Leandra converted to the bottom right for a 3-4 win to give herself a 2-1 series lead. Leandra dug herself quite the hole early in game 4, but managed to get Diddley to cough up his entire lead, forcing overtime. Diddley missed on the overtime break, but Leandra also missed. Diddley controlled the extra rack for awhile, but slipped up in the middle, and Leandra buried a shot to win 4-5, sealing the series for herself at 3-1. Leandra would not be bested in game 5, playing perfectly. Diddley gave her everything she could handle, but his early miss cost him a chance at the game. Leandra won the series 4-1 to get into the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Ice Cream. More Accuracy will be played with the blue cue here as the host begins his day-ending doubleheader. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles had a ball on the break in game 1, and then also potted the last ball in a tied game, but he scratched on that final shot, gifting the 1-2 win to Boston's Ice Cream, who will hold the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much sloppier on both sides, but the finish came down to the wire. The Swifts' Ice Cream blew a two-shot lead, dropping into a tie with the Meteors' Nibbles, who scratched again while potting the last ball. Ice Cream won 4-5, moving ahead 2-0 in the series. Nibbles tried again in game 3, but he couldn't force Ice Cream into a tie near the end of the game. Ice Cream cut the 5 to the top left from a tough angle to secure another 1-2 win, which clinched the series for her at 3-0. Both players were perfect for most of game 4, until Nibbles had a pair of misses late. Ice Cream would miss contact on the last ball with the result already known, and Nibbles buried it to give Ice Cream yet another 1-2 win. Ice Cream leads the series 4-0. Nibbles finally got a win in game 5, as Ice Cream missed her last two shots to give him the 2-3 win. Ice Cream can be satisfied with a 4-1 series win that will see her take another road series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Nibbles. A marquee 7-ball match ends the day as the blue cue makes one more appearance. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles didn't have much to work with in game 1, wasting his two turns before Terrace City's Kiwi burst out with a four-ball run-out for the win. Kiwi leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Kiwi couldn't spark a similar run in game 2, struggling to put herself in good positions. The Meteors' Nibbles took over after a couple of turns, burying a smart five-ball run-out by using good positioning, which helped the visitor tie the series at 1. Kiwi had a couple of impressive shots in game 3, including a bank 5-6 combination to the bottom right as she pursued a late run. Kiwi came up empty on the 7, which Nibbles then deposited in the bottom left for the win, putting him ahead 2-1 in the series. Nibbles had three balls on the game 4 break, but Kiwi answered back with a three-ball run before missing on the 7. Nibbles did no better, leaving Kiwi to pot the 7 on her second try to retie the series at 2 with this win. Kiwi and Nibbles battled throughout a fast game 5, as Kiwi delivered a double-pot of the 2 and 6 to the right corners before banking the 4-7 combination to the bottom side at the end for the win. Kiwi took the series 3-2 and will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Paps in the bracket quarterfinals. Nibbles is also the 41st player eliminated from the Tournament, and Kiwi has her first kill of the year.
We're trying to keep up this pace for a whole week, resuming action tomorrow.
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