We're back and starting a little early today as we work to squeeze in another ten series. First up...
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Vincent Sullivan v. Ms. Puppy. The red cue leads off with a series of 15-ball today. Game 1 was wild from the start, as both players tried difficult shots early on. Viewpoint Sound's Vincent had a poor attempt at the 5, leading to Modernistic's Ms. Puppy using it to deflect the cue onto the 15, which sank at the bottom left for the win. Ms. Puppy is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Meteors' Vincent kept his offense strong in game 2, working a lucky six-ball run with many deflected successes. Vincent did block his own shot on the 15 during the run, but would beat the Union's Ms. Puppy with possession in the end, tying the series at 1. Vincent had the majority of possession in a game 3 littered with short runs. Ms. Puppy did answer with a three-ball run early on, but it was her poaching the 15 at the end to give her a gritty win as she regained the series lead at 2-1. Ms. Puppy held her own on offense in game 4, keeping an even performance with Vincent. Ms. Puppy won on an 11-15 combination to the bottom right that Vincent left behind from his miss bank combo attempt, giving Ms. Puppy the series at 3-1. Vincent lost his energy and drive in game 5, and Ms. Puppy also took a step back, leading to a choppy game. Vincent couldn't corral the 15 despite many half-attempts, and Ms. Puppy converted when Vincent missed his one direct chance at it. Ms. Puppy's 4-1 series win sets her up to return home to Modernistic, where she'll host the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Luigi in a massive regional rivalry in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Quincy. The blue cue comes on as two young and rising stars battle it out in 8-ball. Terrace City's Quincy ripped a four-ball run on his first turn, and then got a bonus when Whitewater's Marsell answered with a six-ball run and a little collateral damage. Marsell showed more finishing skill, as Quincy missed twice on the 5 while Marsell marched to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy began with a three-ball run in game 2, although the skill dropped dramatically on both sides. The ending was much grittier, as the Shores' Marsell floundered while trying to build a run, while Quincy made a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Quincy scratch on the break, allowing Marsell to build his first attack. Congestion near the bottom right slowed the game down, which gave Quincy the time to set up and convert on a four-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series lead. Marsell had to make a bold play in game 2, pushing the 8 to the edge of the top right as a defensive play. It worked, as Quincy's prior scratch and now reduced shooting options took his offense away, and Marsell had time to rally for the win, retying the series at 2. Marsell had a good start and even received some collateral damage from Quincy, but Marsell's offense dried up too soon. Quincy rallied at the end with a smooth five-ball run-out for the win and a 3-2 series win. Quincy will again be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Jeremias. Southeastern rivals are next on the schedule, also playing 8-ball but with the red cue. Midland's Rainmane had a positive start with a five-ball run cut short by a scratch to begin game 1. Royal's Jeremias fired back on a six-ball run to gain the lead, but he lacked a finishing touch, and Rainmane pulled back for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The runs came later in game 2, as the Crowns' Jeremias broke a slow start with a four-ball run, only to have the Predators' Rainmane upstage him with a seven-ball run-out for the win. Rainmane leads the series 2-0. No deficit seems too large for Rainmane in this series, as Jeremias used a couple of short runs to get ahead in game 3, but Rainmane stormed back with an eight-ball run-out for another win to clinch the series at 3-0. Both players made a ball for the opponent in game 4, and then engaged in a close race to the finish. Rainmane finally came up short, missing badly on the 8 that Jeremias converted on the next shot to cut the series to 3-1. Rainmane had a solid performance again in game 5, but Jeremias was just a bit better without the threat of meaning behind the competition. Rainmane will advance on a 3-2 series win, and will host her series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Valencia. Two tenured captains clash in 10-ball with the silver cue after the lunch break. Swordpoint's Snowball had more offense in game 1, but Golden's Valencia stayed respectable and cleaned up the 10 at the top right after Snowball missed it. Valencia's tap-in finish gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball controlled if not quite dominated in game 2, making every ball but over four turns to get the win. The Pilots' Valencia just couldn't connect on her shots after scratching on the break, and Snowball took advantage to tie the series at 1. Snowball combined aspects of both games to great success in game 3, using the short runs of the first and the high possession of the second to swarm and efficiently attack against Valencia. Snowball is now ahead 2-1 in the series. Snowball continued to play well in game 4, although Valencia showed a bit of heat with a three-ball run before scratching as she potted the 9. Snowball took the 10 from ball-in-hand to get the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Snowball provided a gutsy finish in game 5, ending a short period of weak offense with a tough 3-10 combination to the top side to secure a 4-1 series win over Valencia. Snowball will host her bracket quarterfinals series with plenty of confidence from this one.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Crystal. Another huge battle between captains takes place in 15-ball with the silver cue. Commerce's Tigerette looked to have an advantage after a four-ball run in the middle of game 1, but Queens' Crystal stormed to the win with a six-ball run-out at the end for her 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal had a lot of short runs in game 2, enough to give her outright control of the possession, but the final run was three balls and belonged to the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Tigerette got the win with a hammered shot on the 15 to the bottom left, tying the series at 1 with the perfect play. Game 3 started a bit on the slow side before a pair of three-ball runs by Tigerette livened things up. Tigerette scratched after the second run, allowing Crystal to pick up a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the win. Crystal retook the series lead at 2-1. Game 4 consisted of both players mostly exchanging pairs of shots back and forth throughout the game, up to Crystal's miss on the 15 on what would have been a three-ball run. Tigerette made the tap-in, tying the series again at 2 games apiece. Tigerette had a bad break in game 5, raising the tension between the two players as they competed on bad shooting positions. Things opened up later in the game, leading to Crystal missing her bank on the 15 toward the bottom right, which Tigerette cleaned up for the win and a 3-2 series win. Tigerette is set to host a series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Gal Gadot. A sophomore star meets a rookie sensation in 7-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Violetta beat North Modernistic's Gal in two shots in game 1, making the 2 and 6 to the bottom right on the break before a 1-7 combination deflected off the 4 and 3 to the bottom right for the win, with the 4 also going to the top right for the double-pot. Violetta owns a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta lacked a biting offense in game 2, allowing the Nighthawks' Gal to earn some comfort. Violetta popped up out of nowhere with a shaky but effective three-ball run-out in the end, taking the win and a 2-0 series lead. Violetta returned to form with a three-ball run to start game 3, although her miss on the 4 was unusual. Gal responded with her own three-ball run, but missed on the 7, which Violetta buried from a distance to the bottom left to clinch the series at 3-0. The two players exchanged pairs of shots early in game 4, and then Violetta had another pair of shots. Each player missed the 7 once, with Violetta making it on her second try to defeat Gal again to extend the series lead to 4-0. Violetta still dominated possession in game 5, but her four-ball run ended with a second straight miss at the bottom left, and Gal tapped in the 7 to avoid the sweep with this one win. Violetta won the series 4-1, and will host her bracket quarterfinals series.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Juno. The red cue begins a venue doubleheader with a series of 12-ball between Eastern Hills rivals. Atlantic's Klaus made three balls on the break, giving Stonebridge's Juno a wild-card ball. Klaus' offense died on the first shot, while Juno had a four-ball run and a good set-up to win on the next turn for the 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Juno started with a three-ball run in game 2, which the Pirates' Klaus eventually matched before his mental error led to a foul. Juno took over with ball-in-hand, having set herself up nicely for a three-ball run-out for the win, which gives her a 2-0 series lead. Juno gave a wild-card ball away to Klaus on the game 3 break, but then showed the host how to play with the disadvantage. Juno used a defensive strategy at first until she could position herself for her last two shots, beating Klaus to the punch to seal the series at 3-0. Juno didn't get the best initial positioning in game 4, allowing Klaus to take a large lead rather quickly. Klaus had trouble lining up his final shot at the top side, never actually shooting directly as Juno stormed back to take two shots at the side pockets for the win and 4-0 series lead. Klaus did get a win in game 5, battling evenly with Juno despite having a wild-card ball in his pocket. Klaus botched a shot at the bottom right twice before finding the right burst to get the win. Juno took the series 4-1, and will visit the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Spot. In the other half of the venue doubleheader, the red cue plays 9-ball between sophomores. Atlantic's Isabella scratched on the game 1 break after potting a ball, leading to a three-ball run by Pronger's Spot. Isabella fired back on a four-ball run but missed the 9, which Spot put away for a clean win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Spot unquestionably controlled game 2, but a cautious shot to avoid scratching on the 9 left a tap-in for the Pirates' Isabella to claim the win on. Isabella converted, tying the series at 1. Game 3 started quite slowly, as neither player could get a clean look at the 1 until Spot's third attempt. Spot made sure to end the game quickly, deflecting a shot off the 2 to put the 9 in the bottom right on the next shot. Spot regained the series lead at 2-1 with the trick play. Spot opened with a three-ball run in game 4, nearly leaving a deflection play for Isabella which went unconverted. Isabella fired back with a three-ball run later, but she scratched while trying to shoot the 8, and Spot took the last two balls for the win to seal the series at 3-1. Isabella brought game 5 to a stunning end, shooting at the 4 in a cluster and getting the 9 to pop out on a track headed directly into the bottom left. Spot, while stunned, still took the series in a 3-2 win to earn a visiting spot in the bracket quarterfinals. Isabella is the 42nd player to exit the Tournament, while Spot has his first kill of the year from the win or go home series.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Marsell. The silver cue returns to the table to administer a 15-ball series. Whitewater's Marsell led the charge in game 1, using short runs after Capital City's Chris had a bad break. Marsell provided the dagger with a four-ball run-out ending on a 14-15 combination to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell had a break just as bad for game 2, and he had a tougher time on offense for most of the game. The Sharpshooters' Chris wasted a late chance with ball-in-hand, giving Marsell the chance to make the final pair of balls for the win, which he did. Marsell moves ahead 2-0 in the series. Marsell had a big four-ball run in game 3 at the start, and continued to press on Chris from a possession standpoint. Marsell tried to ignite a run late, but flickered out twice, and Chris made the 11-15 combination to the top left for the win to cut the series to 2-1. Chris barely kept himself in the series in game 4, hardly seeing any possession as Marsell created small and medium runs. Chris used defensive positioning to prevent Marsell from a good luck on the 15, and Marsell's kick came up just short at the top left. Chris made the tap-in, tying the series at 2. Chris saved his offense for game 5, blasting eight balls over his last two turns, but a miss on the 15 and an impeccable cut to the top side by Marsell gave the visitor a 3-2 series win. Marsell will head to Web City to face the Spiders' Jack in the bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Ms. Puppy. The silver cue closes out the day as club-mates battle in 9-ball. Maplewood's Whiskers did enough in game 1 to pick up the win after neither her nor Modernistic's Ms. Puppy outright controlled the game. Whiskers buried the last two shots to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The directionless shooting continued in game 2, as both players seemed to prefer spraying a shot without regard for the outcome. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had a late scratch with this strategy, allowing the Union's Ms. Puppy to take the 9 from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 1. Whiskers finally had a dominant performance in game 3, a six-ball run helping her get onto the 9. Disaster struck when Whiskers missed on the 9, and Ms. Puppy again made a tap-in to win, going ahead 2-1 in the series. Both players appeared to have more intent in game 4, leading to a close game with short runs. Ms. Puppy started on a three-ball run before a tougher middle of the game. Whiskers would close the game on a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 2 to set up a big finale. Whiskers dominated in game 5, making a pair of four-ball runs on her only two turns to get the win and a 3-2 series win. Whiskers will face the Southern Monarchs' Dominic on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all we've got today. More games will be played, hopefully in a condensed time, tomorrow.
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