Tournament action has finally returned, and we begin with...
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Roxy. The silver cue will bring us back into play with a series of 15-ball. Freedom's Roxy had some good pushes in game 1, and she got a bit of help when Archtown's Ruby missed a 10-15 combination attempt and also scratched. Roxy made the 10-15 as a double-pot to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy continued to pace the attack in game 2, albeit at a much slower speed. The Arrows' Ruby didn't show much threat in her attacks, allowing Roxy to eventually win with a four-ball run-out for a 2-0 series lead. Roxy started pretty well in game 3, but Ruby kept things close this time, interjecting offense where she could. Ruby made a push toward the end of the game, but her two misses on the 15 allowed Roxy to take the win on her second attempt, which clinched the series at 3-0 for the visitor. Ruby had a dominant share of possession in game 4, easily her best game yet, but shaky shots near the end left the door open for Roxy to poach this win, extending her lead in the series to 4-0. In game 5, neither player showed much urgency, leading to a frustrating and painfully slow game. Ruby did finally make the 15 at the end, avoiding the sweep as Roxy wins the series 4-1 to earn her spot in the bracket quarterfinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Boots. A pair of veterans go at it after a six-week break in 12-ball with the red cue. Midland's Americus led off in game 1 with a three-ball run from the break, and pressured Pearl's Boots after that as well. Boots replied on a four-ball run from ball-in-hand, but Americus closed out the game at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots replied with a three-turn win in game 2, highlighted by a quick four-ball run. The Predators' Americus tried to make a tough shot to spur a counterattack, but she left the last ball on a clear line for Boots to get the win, tying the series at 1. Boots gave up a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, which proved a bit costly for her later on. Americus defended well before charging to even the game, and then used ball-in-hand to get the win on the last ball after Boots missed contact. Americus now holds a 2-1 series lead. Positioning became more important in game 4, as both players battled for the bottom side. Boots faltered when she scratched, allowing Americus to set herself up for a two-ball run-out a turn later. Americus sealed the series at 3-1 with the crafty and patient win. Americus had gotten down to the last ball in game 5 before a scratch while potting it at the top side. Against all odds, Boots, banked the 1 to the top right, and the cue caromed to pot the 7 legally at the bottom left as well. Americus settled for a 3-2 series win and the right to host the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Chicky Phil. The silver cue plays Rotation, leading off a player doubleheader for Quincy and a venue tripleheader in Terrace City. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a good start in game 1, but slipped a bit in the middle, allowing a pair of three-ball runs to put Terrace City's Quincy ahead. Chicky Phil battled back, eventually winning 8-7 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy had a much more pleasant game 2, playing well defensively in a slow start, and then running well ahead of the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil. Quincy sealed the game after a stagnant finish, winning 8-3 to tie the series at 1. Quincy started slowly again in game 3, but he stormed ahead on a three-ball run and then won with a three-ball run-out after Chicky Phil scratched on a deflected shot that potted the 14 illegally. Quincy's late push helped him take the 8-3 game and a 2-1 lead in the series. Chicky Phil put forth his best challenge in game 4, aided by Quincy's awful break. Chicky Phil trailed for most of the game, but a three-ball run put him ahead before Quincy made the last two balls to clinch the series at 3-1 on an 8-7 win. Chicky Phil started and ended game 5 with combo shots, making the 1-2-8 kick combination to the top right, and then winning on a 7-14 combination Quincy failed to convert on the prior turn. Chicky Phil's 8-3 win cut Quincy's series win to 3-2, as the host advances to the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Gizmo. The Knights rookie completes his doubleheader in 10-ball with the blue cue. Terrace City's Quincy showed a little fatigue in game 1, unable to accurately hit his shots. Eastside's Gizmo picked up the slack, making consecutive pairs of shots at the end for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Gizmo dominated in game 2, making a ball on the break and then bursting past the Knights' Quincy on a seven-ball run-out. This extended Gizmo's series lead to a strong 2-0. Game 3 saw Gizmo take a small step back on offense, with Quincy taking some control in the middle of the game. Gizmo did have three combination shots, making the 2-6 banked to the bottom right, a glancing shot off the 2 to put the 8 in the top right, and then a 9-10 to the bottom right to take the win. Gizmo secured the series at 3-0 with the final of those three trick shots. Gizmo continued to assert himself early in game 4, making a ball on the break and a short run. Quincy had a couple of positive turns of his own, but made the 10 illegally to end a three-ball run, and Gizmo cut the 10 to the bottom right for the win, moving his lead to 4-0. Quincy avoided the sweep admirably in game 5, holding his own until Gizmo kicked the 7 to the top left, an uncalled shot that turned possession over. Quincy made the last pair to get the win, but Gizmo won the series 4-1 and will visit the Southridge Defenders' Stephanie in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Dani. The Terrace City tripleheader ends with 8-ball and the silver cue in this series. Terrace City's Kiwi jumped out to a nice lead fairly early in game 1, and managed to hold of Viewpoint Sound's Dani long enough to make three balls on the last two turns for the win. Kiwi grabbed the 1-0 series lead with the strong opener. The Knights' Kiwi put the pressure on immediately in game 2 with a four-ball run from the break. The Meteors' Dani tried to play defensively, but couldn't avoid Kiwi's late charge for the win. Kiwi is now up 2-0 in the series. Dani replied with a seven-ball run on her first turn in game 3, and she nearly made the 8 as well. Kiwi answered on a four-ball run, but a scratch snuffed out the comeback, and Dani potted the 8 from the kitchen to the top right for the win to cut the series to 2-1. Kiwi pushed back with a six-ball run cut off by a scratch early in game 4. Dani made efforts to close the gap, but would fall to a three-ball run-out from Kiwi a few turns later, as Kiwi's final push helped her to clinch the series at 3-1. Kiwi made a big start with a five-ball run in game 5, only to watch as Dani collapsed her defense around the bottom right. Kiwi scratched at one point, but finally broke Dani's defense with a four-ball run-out to get the win. Kiwi took the series 4-1, advancing to the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Lize. A pair of rookies battle in 10-ball with the silver cue as we finally switch venues. Todavía's Anton did well in game 1, using a five-ball run to assert himself on offense, but his miss on the 10 allowed Pronger's Lize to clean up the scraps for a win. Lize leads the series 1-0. The Tridents' Lize did better in game 2, using a pair of four-ball runs to get onto the 10, but she sent the winning shot attempt wide. Anton mopped it up at the bottom side on a straight shot for the win, tying the series at 1 with a poached win. Game 3 started with mixed results on both sides, but after Anton missed one too many times, Lize burst forward on a six-ball run-out, regaining the series lead at 2-1 in the process. Anton kept fighting in game 4, using short bursts which Lize mostly matched early on. Anton found his chance in the middle of the rack, potting a 6-10 combination to the top right for the win, retying the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. Anton didn't have enough offense to turn the series around in game 5, succumbing to Lize's attack at the very end as the visitor won the game and a 3-2 series. Lize will again be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Violetta. A strong captain takes on a star sophomore in 9-ball with the red cue. Queens' Violetta struck first in this highly-anticipated series, stalling Pronger's Precious long enough in game 1 to set herself up for a three-ball run-out. Violetta's smooth finish gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta had a pair on the break of game 2, and then closed out a crafty effort with an unintentional two-rail bank of the 9, turning a miss at the bottom side into a win at the top left. Violetta now leads the Tridents' Precious 2-0 after the stunning finish. Violetta allowed Precious a shot at the 9 in a much less dominant game 3 performance. Precious put too much on the rare late-game chance, scratching and missing wide on the 9, and Violetta potted it from ball-in-hand to seal the series at 3-0 in her favor. Violetta showed far less mercy in game 4, beginning with a four-ball run after a pair on the break, and winning on turn two with a four-ball run-out capped by an 8-9 combination to the bottom right to make it 4-0 against Precious. Game 5 saw Precious actually control the pace, but her miss after a three-ball run gave Violetta the one look she needed to finish the 9 into the top right after nearly getting it there on the break. Violetta swept the series 5-0, but will remain on the road for her bracket quarterfinals series.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Rosemary. Young players collide in a series of 7-ball using the blue cue. Atlantic's Klaus had a decent start in game 1, and worked a three-ball run on his second turn, but his miss on the 4 gave Commerce's Rosemary a chance to account for her foul early on. Rosemary would win on a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Rosemary didn't have much possession again in game 2, letting the Pirates' Klaus pace the game for himself for the most part. Klaus had a late miss on the 7, and Rosemary took care of it with a cut to the top right to push her series lead to 2-0. Klaus replied in game 3 quite easily, taking an empty break from Rosemary and turning it into his own seven-ball run-out on his only turn. Klaus' dominant stretch cut the series deficit to 2-1. Klaus didn't do it all in one turn in game 4, but he started on a three-ball run and made the rest over the next two turns to defeat Rosemary again. This tied the series at 2. Klaus again had the bulk of possession in game 5, a five-ball run in the middle the largest highlight. Rosemary made things tough at the end, but she had no shot for the 7, and Klaus eventually made it to take the series 3-2. Klaus' comeback puts him into the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Pauline v. Chimpy. A rookie takes on a wily veteran for a 9-ball series with the blue cue. Modernistic's Chimpy had three errors in game 1, but still managed to pop up for a late shot on the 9 after Capital City's Pauline left too much available. Chimpy leads the series 1-0. The Union's Chimpy had another sloppy start, leading to a brief possession for the Sharpshooters' Pauline. When she missed on the 4, Chimpy took over for a five-ball run-out, his sudden burst enough to give him a 2-0 series lead with the win. Chimpy popped a three-ball run to start game 3 before ceding possession to Pauline after a miss on the 2-9 deflected combination off the 5. Pauline handled a couple of shots, but Chimpy would emerge with the win on a 4-9 combination to the top right to clinch the series at 3-0. Chimpy continued to demonstrate a positive attack, making a three-ball run early in game 4. Pauline shot back on a four-ball run before the game slowed down, ultimately ending with Chimpy taking another win for the 4-0 series lead after Pauline let the 9 escape her grasp. Pauline had an excellent performance in game 5, but ended up with no consolation, as her pair of four-ball runs did everything but pot the 9. Chimpy tapped it into the top left for the win, sweeping the series 5-0 as he punches a ticket to the bracket quarterfinals. With the series win, Chimpy has his first kill of the year, while Pauline's rookie campaign ends as the 17th eliminated player this year.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Bryant. The long-awaited close of this day of games comes after this 15-ball series with the red cue. Queens' Violetta had a slight majority of the possession in game 1, but she couldn't corral the 13 late, and Maplewood's Bryant did enough to make the last two shots for the win. Bryant's solid outing earned him a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta didn't look like herself in game 2, allowing the Lumberjacks' Bryant a large share of possession. Bryant took advantage of it with medium-sized runs early on and chippy late play, eventually taking the win when Violetta crumbled at the end. Bryant owns a 2-0 series lead. Violetta recovered a bit with an early three-ball run in game 3, but Bryant had a later four-ball run before leading a long chase on the 15. Both players missed easy chances before Bryant won with a frustrated shot that banked the 15 to the bottom left. Bryant secured the series at 3-0 with the somewhat lucky finish. Bryant had some good shots early in game 4, but his best left him behind later in the game. Violetta managed to recover enough shots to put up a three-ball run-out for the win, cutting the series to 3-1. Bryant made four of the last five balls over two turns in game 5, but even that wasn't enough, as Violetta got another consolation win by tapping in the 15. Bryant won the series 3-2, earning a road spot in the bracket quarterfinals.
We're back with more Tournament action going forward, as September will likely see a large portion of the third round games.
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