We're ready to go on another 10-series day in the Tournament. First up...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Avril Lavigne. Coastal rivals battle it out in 15-ball for today's first series. Southern's Avril needed only two turns to make an impact, picking up the 1 and 2 on short shots before throwing the 3 into a crowd and pushing the 15 to the bottom side for a surprise win and 1-0 series lead over Oceanside's Celestia. The Waves' Celestia fought back with a strong game 2, starting with a four-ball run and then closing out with five of the last six balls over two turns to defeat the Monarchs' Avril, who did nothing to control the middle of the game. Celestia's win ties the series at 1. Neither player could replicate the pace of the previous games, although Avril did turn up the offense with a late three-ball run in game 3. She missed on the 15, wasting the run as Celestia buried it to the bottom right instead for the win that puts her ahead 2-1 in the series. Celestia struck quickly in game 4, making a pair on the break. Avril mostly kept pace on her turns, but Celestia shut things down on a three-ball run-out, ending by double-potting the 9 to the top right and the 15 on the deflection to the bottom right. This secured the series at 3-1 for Celestia. Game 5 saw Celestia do a good break, and then capitalize on Avril's miss on the 1 by sinking a 1-14-15 combination to the top right for the win. Celestia took the series 4-1, and she will host the Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine in the bracket quarterfinals. Avril's rookie year ends with her being the 28th player to exit the Tournament, and Celestia has her first kill of the year.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Strawberry v. Twilight. The silver cue makes its first appearance today in this 10-ball series. Central's Twilight took her time to settle into game 1, but she rallied at the end to stun Victoria's Strawberry with a four-ball run-out for the win. Twilight leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Strawberry did most of the offense in game 2, but the Warriors' Twilight refused to quietly even after missing contact on the 8. Strawberry failed to convert on the 9, opening the chance for Twilight to make the last pairs of shots, which she did. Twilight's series lead moves to 2-0. Strawberry showed a more crafty style in game 3, making the 1 with a bit of luck early on. Twilight deferred possession, and she had some success in the middle of the game, but Strawberry won on a three-ball run-out ending with a deflected shot off the 7 to drain the 10 at the bottom side. Strawberry has cut the series to 2-1. Strawberry kept up her offense in game 4, making a three-ball run at one point early in the game and then capitalizing on a couple of poor shots from Twilight to line up and convert a 5-10 combination to the bottom right. Strawberry has tied the series at 2 games apiece. Strawberry began on a four-ball run in game 5, but Twilight soon answered with a three-ball run of her own. The ending got a little choppy, and Twilight was bailed out when Strawberry missed a tap-in on the 10. Twilight converted her second try, taking the series 3-2 on the pivotal final ball. Twilight will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Mitchell v. Bandit. The blue cue returns after the break for some 12-ball. Harrison's Mitchell was a little too generous in game 1, giving up a wild-card ball in the middle of the game. Swordpoint's Bandit appreciated the flexibility, using it with ball-in-hand after another Mitchell error that gave Bandit the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit created his own offense early in game 2, giving him a step on the Specters' Mitchell. This in-game deficit was too much for Mitchell to handle, and Bandit stormed away to the win for a 2-0 series lead. Bandit again struck first in game 3, and used questionable but effective defense to slow Mitchell in the middle of the game. Bandit then capitalized on good positioning to finish off the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Bandit scratched on the game 4 break, leading to a big five-ball run from Mitchell. This put him on the edge of a win, but a scratch on his last ball allowed Bandit to fight back. Ultimately, Mitchell took a long-range shot just in time to beat Bandit, cutting the series to 3-1. Bandit had a three-ball run from the break, and also gave Mitchell a wild-card ball. Mitchell would give it back, but he still had enough time to pick up the win with some smooth shooting that Bandit couldn't counter. Bandit won the series 3-2, and will visit the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Hannah. Southeastern foes tangle in 15-ball with the blue cue. Boston's Gradley made a pair on the break despite a scratch, and added other three-ball runs in game 1 to pace the attack. He missed his shot on the 15, and Queens' Hannah made him bank, kicking it to the top left for the win and a fortunate 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah made a ball on the break in game 2 and sparred more evenly with the Swifts' Gradley this time. Gradley lacked the short runs he had before, and Hannah picked up the win on a three-ball run to pull herself to a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, a poor break left things a bit more contentious. Hannah had trouble making legal contact at times, but Gradley's illegal contact foul on the 8 that led to the 15 sinking at the top right was the worst. This gifted Hannah the last win she needed to clinch the series at 3-0. Gradley avoided the sweep with a lucky win in a sloppy game 4, as neither player put much effort in. Hannah tried to reverse that theme with a six-ball run, but she scratched, giving Gradley the win as he made the last pair of shots to make it a 3-1 series. Gradley came forth with purpose in game 5, attacking relentlessly. Hannah almost stole this win away, but her 5-15 play ended up short at the bottom right, and Gradley converted that combination himself to make it a 3-2 series win for Hannah. The visitor Hannah will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Citrus. Players having differing seasons meet for a series of Accuracy as the red cue steps in to play. Game 1 saw both players have a couple of misses during the regulation rack, leading to overtime. Maplewood's Whiskers controlled most of the extra rack, but one miss allowed Diamond's Citrus to claim a 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus stayed strong in game 2, matching a miss from the Lumberjacks' Whiskers in the middle of the game and then converting after Whiskers' kick play on the 3 failed. Citrus held on to win 1-2, moving up to a 2-0 series lead. Whiskers buckled down under pressure in game 3, performing perfectly this time while Citrus had a couple of unlucky misses to put her behind. Whiskers closed out the game as a 0-2 win, cutting the series to 2-1 in the process. All resemblance of good play abandoned the players in game 4, as Citrus just managed to hold on long enough to force overtime before missing three times on the extra rack. Whiskers had used a great soft break, but still dangled dangerously close to the edge before Citrus lost the game, with the 8-9 Whiskers win tying the series at 2. Whiskers stayed steady in game 5, returning to form after the previous effort. Citrus kept it close throughout the game, but a late miss paved the way for Whiskers to win 1-2, and this gave the host a 3-2 series win. Whiskers will visit the Web City Spiders' Shiny in the bracket quarterfinals for a Northeastern Derby series.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Vincent Sullivan v. Mitchell. The red cue stays in action for a rookie battle in 10-ball. Both players started slowly in game 1, but Harrison's Mitchell found a four-ball run late in the game. He did miss on the 10, allowing Viewpoint Sound's Vincent to poach the win with a good shot to the top right to go up 1-0 in the series. The Specters' Mitchell had a stronger grip on game 2, with a three-ball run and a five-ball run on consecutive turns, but his miss on the 9 again allowed a late stretch of shots from the Meteors' Vincent. This time, it was a pair by Vincent to earn him the win and 2-0 series lead. Mitchell had a five-ball run early in game 3, and controlled fragments of the rest of the game, but he missed a straight shot on the 10, and Vincent would tap this in to get the win to secure the series at 3-0. Mitchell finally found his finishing touch early in game 4, playing off the 2 to tap the 10 into the top right as called, with the 2 falling in the bottom right for the double-pot. Vincent maintains a 3-1 series lead. Mitchell had a four-ball run to bring the game to near-completion, and it was one of his best efforts, but again Vincent made the last ball on his second try to take the win away from the visitor. Vincent won the series 4-1, and will play as a visitor in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Slinks. A 15-ball specialist rookie takes on a veteran returning to form, with the silver cue used here. Oceanside's Jason didn't play at his best for most of game 1, but Westside's Slinks was equally as bad. Jason made it a quick finish, potting the 2 and then a 3-15 combination to the bottom right for the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Waves' Jason did better in game 2, driving the offense effectively. The Rockers' Slinks made a couple of shots, but appeared to be waiting to strike until late. Slinks barely missed scratching on the 9, which Jason then used to deflect a shot that knocked the 15 into the top right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Much to the chagrin of the fans, game 3 more closely resembled game 1 at first. Slinks got hot after a slow start, making six balls on her last two turns of the game, but she allowed Jason to pick up the final two balls for the win, which seals the series in his favor at 3-0. Jason pushed the offense a bit more in game 4, certainly outplaying Slinks even before he made a six-ball run-out capped by the 8-15 combination to the top right. Jason is up to 4-0 in the series, living up to the top-seeded hype once again. In game 5, Jason paced things early on, but Slinks did more of the later work. It didn't matter, as the game slowed to a crawl on the 11 before Jason eventually made the last two balls. Jason swept the series 5-0, and will host a bracket quarterfinals series.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Mitchell. A Northeastern Derby sees the visitor in his third series of the day, playing 7-ball with the red cue. Central's Noelle started well, but her offense soon dried up. Harrison's Mitchell picked up the pace on a late three-ball run, only for Noelle to take the win with a tap-in on the 7 at the bottom side when Mitchell failed to convert. Noelle leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Noelle had a pair of balls on the game 2 break, but didn't push play much after that. The Specters' Mitchell needed two tries to pot the 7, but he did get it for the win, tying the series at 1. Noelle chose to be more aggressive on the 7 in game 3, taking a couple of swipes at it while Mitchell played a more straightforward game. Noelle's plans worked when she deflected a shot off the 5 to drive the 7 into the top left for the win, restoring her series lead at 2-1. Noelle secured the series in game 4, playing the ending much like game as Mitchell came in on a three-ball run he couldn't finish. Noelle cleaned up the 7 to the top left to put herself at 3-1 ahead in the series. Noelle didn't do a whole lot in game 5, as Mitchell completed a five-ball run-out for a dominant win. Noelle advances on a 3-2 series win, and will visit the Stonebridge Wolves rookie Vladimir in the bracket quarterfinals. Mitchell went from three bids to none today, the 29th player eliminated, and Noelle picked up her second kill of the year.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Sierra. A Coastal Derby takes place after another short break, using the silver cue in Rotation. Todavía's Sierra had a little bit of a delayed start, but she worked a six-ball run that Oceanside's Josie had no answer for. Sierra capped the 8-1 win with a kicked and deflected 9-15 combination to the bottom side that gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra took a little more time to get going in game 2, matching the Waves' Josie initially but slipping behind after Josie made a three-ball run. Sierra continued to pressure, but Josie shut the door to win 8-6, tying the series at 1. Sierra bounced back with a dominant game 3, a defiant six-ball run-out helping her to win 8-1, which restored her series lead at 2-1. Josie battled back in game 4, fighting with Sierra on many shots. Josie's five-ball run put her on the fringe of a victory, and she eventually capped it at 8-6 to retie the series at 2. Sierra never found comfort in game 5, as Josie used a decent run early on and pressure for the rest of the game to win 8-4 after Sierra had a bad error. Josie won the series 3-2, but will be on the road against the Terrace City Knights' Jennifer in the bracket quarterfinals. Sierra is the 30th player to exit the Tournament, and Josie's first career kill as well.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Precious. The day ends with 7-ball and the red cue between these two veterans. Modernistic's Puff I had a fantastic start in game 1 with two balls on the break, but her offense faded fast. Pronger's Precious didn't have much to work with, but made the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious had to settle for a pair of shots sandwiched between a three-ball run and the final pair that gave the Union's Puff I the win, equalizing the series at 1 game apiece. Precious got a bit more aggressive in game 3, making a four-ball run over the middle, but her next turn was empty, and Puff I made the final two balls again to get the win. Puff I pulled ahead to a 2-1 series lead. Puff I attacked with a three-ball run in game 4, making a threat to Precious. Puff I then got the win after Precious committed illegal contact, giving Puff I the last two balls from ball-in-hand. Puff I sealed the series at 3-1. Puff I couldn't replicate the effort in game 5, as Precious did knock the 7 in to complete a short run at the end of the game. Puff I will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals, facing the Web City Spiders' Ted.
We've got one more 10-series day before we take a shorter set on Wednesday.
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