We're back with another day, intending to play ten series again before settling into a three-week span of eight series per day on weekdays. We begin this session with...
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine McPhee v. Sage. A pair of rookies start us off in 12-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Sage set the tone in game 1 on a four-ball run early in the game. Whitewater's Katharine took care of her easy shots, but couldn't hold off Sage, who won with a kick on the 10 to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Sage got lucky to make the 9 on the break at the bottom side, but her consistent pace and pressure proved more important in game 2. The Shores' Katharine had a couple of good shots, but couldn't keep up as Sage marched on to the win for a 2-0 series lead. Sage continued to start well in game 3, and with a freebie wild-card ball surrendered by Katharine, Sage found it easy to finish as well. Sage took the 2 to the top left and cut the 5 into the top side on consecutive turns to seal the series at 3-0. Sage had to take a more defensive posture as her shot slipped in quality in game 4. Katharine pushed back better here, and the two went back-and-forth at the end, with Katharine ultimately taking the win to cut the series to 3-1. Katharine absolutely butchered game 5, giving up a wild-card ball on each of her first two turns. Sage wasn't decisive in shooting, but her patient play was more than enough to earn another win and a 4-1 series win. Sage's unlikely deep run in the event continues in her road bracket quarterfinals series. Katharine's rookie campaign ends as the 20th player eliminated, and Sage records her first career kill in the process.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Noelle. The blue cue remains in action as veterans collide for 10-ball. Capital City's Sprinkles showed strong precision in game 1, a seven-ball run on her second turn highlighting her game. Central's Noelle had a chance to counter that, but missed on the 10, and Sprinkles made it for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle put up much more of a fight in a close game 2, battling with the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles all game. Sprinkles had a chance to end on a run, but rattled the 10 out of the bottom left, and Noelle tapped it in to win, tying the series at 1. Noelle had about as much offense as before in game 3, as the focus for both players shifted to creativity and defense. Sprinkles' plan unraveled with two errors in the second half, allowing Noelle to dictate play. The latter error led Noelle to making the last two shots for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Noelle dominated in game 4, making a ball on the break and then adding a four-ball run and a five-ball run-out on the next two turns as Sprinkles flailed around without making a shot. Noelle's big game secured the series at 3-1 in her favor. Noelle didn't do as much in game 5, with Sprinkles getting the two biggest runs, but Noelle made a pair of shots at the end of the game to steal the win away, pushing her series win to 4-1. Noelle will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals after winning this series. Sprinkles is out of the Tournament, the 21st to exit, while Noelle took her first kill of the year.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Gal Gadot. Highly ranked 15-ball players clash with the red cue after a short scheduled break. Everton's Kirstin smashed a six-ball run on the break of game 1, but allowed North Modernistic's Gal to even things out in the middle of the game. Kirstin responded with a five-ball run-out for the win, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The Eagles' Kirstin failed to replicate this all-out attack in game 2, leading to a much slower battle. The Nighthawks' Gal also struggled early on, but broke free in the end on a six-ball run-out which helped her tie the series at 1. Gal set a stronger pace for game 3, but it was a late defensive play on the 14 that benefited her most. Kirstin could only make weak contact on the 14 after Gal left the cue on the mouth of the bottom left, and Gal made the last two shots on her next turn for the win and 2-1 series lead. Gal had some issues with her shot early in game 4, leading to a change of style that produced a seven-ball run late in the game. Gal did miss on the 14, and Kirstin would make no such mistake, potting the last two balls to retie the series at 2 with her win. Gal threw everything she could at Kirstin in a fast game 5, a five-ball run and a four-ball run to follow it, but Kirstin's early four-ball run and a pair at the end secured the win and the series at 3-2 for the host. Kirstin will be a host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Vladimir Vasilyev. Eastern Hills rivals take the next 15-ball series with the blue cue. Short bursts paced game 1 on both sides, and neither player could steer clear of fouls. Stonebridge's Vladimir had the worst one, scratching while making the 12 to give Freedom's Jasmine ball-in-hand on the 15. Jasmine converted, the win putting her up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 didn't have anything impressive happen early on, but the Cascades' Jasmine soon buried the Wolves' Vladimir, making a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out on consecutive turns for the win. Jasmine's ahead 2-0 after this win. Jasmine had the bulk of possession in game 3, aided by a five-ball run from the break. Her possession thinned later in the game, and a miss on the 15 at the bottom side allowed Vladimir to pot his fourth ball in two turns for the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Vladimir only had a three-ball run early in game 4, followed by Jasmine pounding a six-ball run and a pair of shots on her next turn. The game slowed on the 14, and Vladimir eventually made the last two shots to get the win, tying the series at 2. Game 5 saw Jasmine renew her attack, with a pair of three-ball runs and plenty of pressure. Vladimir seemed to handle it well, fighting back toward the end, but Jasmine converted the 10-15 combination to the bottom side a shot after Vladimir missed the same play. Jasmine took the series 3-2, and will advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Dani. The red cue goes on a bit of a run, beginning with this 9-ball series. Terrace City's Quincy had a rough break in game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Dani didn't challenge him well enough early on in the game. Quincy would work his way to a win on a three-ball run-out, going up 1-0 in the series. The Meteors' Dani had all the momentum in game 2 after a four-ball run, but she couldn't cash in on her good shooting. The Knights' Quincy made the last two balls this time for the win, extending his series lead to 2-0. Quincy couldn't produce very much in game 3, faltering at the start again. This time, Dani refused to cede possession late, assembling a six-ball run-out to take the win and cut the series down to a 2-1 deficit. Dani had a nice run over the middle of game 4, making five shots in a row, but a miss on the 7 allowed Quincy to put up a three-ball run-out for the win, which clinched the series for him at 3-1. Dani and Quincy both three-ball runs in game 5, but it was a much sloppier ending that saw Quincy scratch on his second try on the 9. Dani converted from ball-in-hand, leaving Quincy to advance on a 3-2 series win. Quincy will be the host again in his bracket quarterfinals series.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Leonardo. The red cue continues its run in 10-ball. Midland's Leonardo grew into game 1 well, but he illegally potted the 7 on a failed trick play. Commerce's Taylor had held her own and elected to take possession, making a pair of shots to win for the 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Taylor looked poised to play aggressively in game 2, but she couldn't hit her shots well enough. The Predators' Leonardo instead made the play, jamming the cue on the right rail while potting the 3 to set up a 4-10 combination at the top right for the win. Leonardo's smart play tied the series at 1. Taylor bounced back just fine in game 3, getting a pair of three-ball runs, including one at the end of the game, to defeat Leonardo and take a 2-1 series lead. Taylor continued to push against Leonardo in game 4, controlling the pace of play again and making a three-ball run-out when Leonardo failed to convert on the 8. Taylor wound up clinching the series at 3-1. Taylor had a productive start in game 5, but Leonardo carried the attack on a five-ball run toward the finish. Leonardo did need three tries on the 10 before he could make it, scraping out a win to give Taylor only a 3-2 series win. Taylor will host her bracket quarterfinals series.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Luigi. Moving into the Northeast, the red cue switches to 15-ball. North Modernistic's Luigi pushed a run to five balls with a triple-pot of the 4 to the bottom side, the 14 to the bottom right, and the 5 to the top right on a bank. Ultimately, it was a six-ball run, and despite another three-ball run, Web City's Shiny popped up to take the 15 at the end for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi bounced back in a tighter game 2 performance, beating the Spiders' Shiny by using a pair of three-ball runs and her own scratch against her at the end. Luigi's strong finish tied the series at 1. Luigi returned to his game 1 form in game 3, supplying a pair of five-ball runs. These alone weren't enough to win, but when Shiny missed her only chance at the 15, Luigi tapped in his second try to secure the win for a 2-1 series lead. Luigi took a step back on offense in game 4, but still had a good performance. Shiny challenged him late but couldn't make a play on the 13, allowing Luigi a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Luigi tried to continue with the same style in game 5, but Shiny made a faster attack work in her favor, winning on a four-ball run-out to cut the series to 3-2. Luigi advances to the bracket quarterfinals, where he will again play as a visitor.
Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Hannah. The red cue's binge of series concludes right here in 8-ball between young players. Both players had collateral damage plays in game 1; Queens' Hannah did hers early while Todavía's Anton sank Hannah's second-to-last ball. Hannah would grind out a win with a pair of shots at the end, going up 1-0 in the series. The Stills' Anton immediately made a mark in game 2, producing a six-ball run. The Flames' Hannah countered with a five-ball run on her third turn, but Anton buried the 8 on a bank to the bottom right in response, tying the series at 1 with the win. Hannah answered with a four-ball run early in game 3, a play that Anton never truly recovered from. Hannah's offense diminished on each following turn, but she still came up with the win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Anton looked ready to fight back in game 4, a four-ball run pacing his offense early on, but Hannah shredded that plan with a six-ball run-out a couple of turns later, snagging another win to seal the series at 3-1 in her favor. Anton had the lead for much of game 5, but Hannah stayed in the fight in a tough game. Hannah chipped away at the deficit and did well enough to get a win, taking the series 4-1 as well. Hannah will be on the road against the Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the bracket quarterfinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. A. Charlton. The silver cue makes its only appearance today in Accuracy between these Southeastern rivals. Both players spent most of game 1 shooting perfectly, but Midland's Leonardo had two late misses and Golden's A. Charlton scratched on her final shot. Charlton barely held on for the 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Charlton had a slightly rougher time in game 2, slipping up a couple of times in the middle of the game. The Predators' Leonardo kept a steadier course, and won 2-3 despite a late scare from Charlton. This tied the series at 1. Leonardo played well again in game 3, limiting himself to only one miss. Charlton had a scratch after a bad miss at tap-in range, and another missed contact late in the game sent her to the 1-3 loss as Leonardo moves ahead 2-1 in the series. Charlton evaded elimination in game 4, playing nearly perfectly until a late miss, but even as Leonardo banked in the last ball, he took the 1-2 loss. Charlton's critical win reties the series at 2, setting up a big final game between evenly matched players thus far. Leonardo didn't have his best play in game 5, falling apart by the end of a 3-6 loss that sees Charlton advance on a 3-2 series win. Charlton will be the visitor against the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Jasmine. The visitor begins a split-doubleheader in today's final series, playing Accuracy with the red cue. Southern's Pounce had an easy go of it in game 1, as Freedom's Jasmine couldn't get her shot calibrated to the game. Pounce won in a 1-5 walk, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce scratched on the break in game 2, a mistake that would prove costly on the final ball in a tied game. Pounce's final miss put him behind, and the Cascades' Jasmine cleaned it up to win 3-4 to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 continued a run of sloppy play throughout the series. Neither player seemed to have control of the game until the last shot, as Pounce put the 12 in the bottom left to grab a 4-5 win, which gave him a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 seemed to go very easily at first for Pounce, but he ran into troubles with two late misses forced by Jasmine. This nearly erased his lead, forcing him to make the last shot on the 2 to the top left to preserve a 2-3 win. The win clinched the series at 3-1 for Pounce. Jasmine didn't give up, controlling most of game 5 for herself and scratching on the final shot once the game was firmly in her grasp. Jasmine beat Pounce 2-3 this time, but Pounce won the series 3-2 to earn a trip to Pronger for a bracket quarterfinals series with the Tridents' Lize.
We'll be reducing the load tomorrow, dropping to 40 games as the schedule is aligned well currently.
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