We're rapidly approaching the middle of the round (tomorrow), so we'll do another seven series today. First up...
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue stars today, beginning with this 7-ball series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had a three-ball run in an otherwise slow game 1, taking it after Stonebridge's Hershey scratched. Mr. Snowman left the 7 at the bottom left, and Hershey made the tap-in, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead to the host. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman had a more aggressive game 2, making an early three-ball run and another pair after a slow middle section. Mr. Snowman butchered his one chance at the 7, which the Wolves' Hershey cut to the top side for the win to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Mr. Snowman missed a couple of cuts awkwardly in game 3, especially a shot from distance on the 5 toward the top left. Hershey mopped this late miss up and then tapped the 7 into the top side to extend his series lead to a fortunate 3-0 despite getting bossed in possession by Mr. Snowman. Hershey finally controlled the offense in game 4, battling with Mr. Snowman initially before converting a four-ball run-out of straight shots mostly unbothered since his spread break. Hershey's big finish clinched the series at 4-0. Hershey picked up where he left off with a four-ball run from the break in game 5, but Mr. Snowman fired back with a three-ball run-out on his only turn, taking the win to get on the board in the 4-1 series. Hershey took a five-ball run to really gain control of the offense in game 6, but Mr. Snowman made both the first and last balls to sandwich that run, taking another win to cut the series to 4-2. Hershey and Mr. Snowman exchanged pairs of shots early in game 7, but Hershey took over at the end with a three-ball run-out, getting the win for a 5-2 series win. Hershey will host the Oceanside Waves' Celestia in the bracket finals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Marsell. The silver cue stays in action as a rookie takes on a rising star in 15-ball. Whitewater's Marsell looked to have the better of possession in game 1, most notably through making five of the last seven balls over two turns, but he let Oceanside's Jason bank the 15 to the top left for the win, giving the host a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Jason looked strong in game 2, starting with a three-ball run and controlling the offense quite well early on. As the game progressed, the Shores' Marsell chipped away on offense before taking over at the end on a three-ball run-out to snag the win. The series is tied at 1. Marsell got a little too loose on offense in game 3, committing two scratches and a missed contact throughout the game. Jason played a more structured effort, ending with a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after the missed contact to earn the win. Jason regained the series lead at 2-1. Jason went big in game 3, making three balls on the break as part of a four-ball run before adding a three-ball run in the middle and a four-ball run-out on his next turn, a dominating win over Marsell to raise his series lead to 3-1. Jason went off again in the middle of game 5, taking a six-ball run. Marsell fired back with his own three-ball run, but Jason countered that with a three-ball run-out, just barely cutting the 14 to the top right to get a good look at the 15. Jason secured the series at 4-1. Jason continued to prove himself as the top seed on the bracket, battling in a tough game with Marsell this time. Marsell had three instances of missed contact, the latter two helping Jason to convert six of the last seven balls for the win and 5-1 advantage in the series. Game 7 looked like a typical burn-off game, with neither player taking real control. Jason ultimately picked up the win in a close battle, good enough to beat Marsell 6-1 in the series. Jason has hosting rights in the bracket finals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Nicole. After the break, the silver cue takes a look at 9-ball. Lighton's Nicole popped a four-ball run in game 1, but missed a 5-9 combination toward the bottom right. Golden's Dusty jammed a shot off the 5, double-kissing the 9 into the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty took a turn toward dominance in game 2, making a three-ball run from the break and another three-ball run on her next turn. The Prestige's Nicole skirmished with Dusty a bit at the end, but Dusty made the last two balls to win, going ahead 2-0 in the series. Dusty had a ball on the break in game 3, but could only watch as Nicole took over on offense. Nicole had a three-ball run on her first turn and a five-ball run-out to grab the win on the next one, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Dusty offered a firm challenge in game 4, making a four-ball run near the end of the game, but a bank on the 9 didn't go. Nicole put the 9 in the top right, taking her good fortune and using it to tie the series at 2. Nicole pulled ahead in the series with a win in game 5, battling with Dusty at first before making a four-ball run. Nicole missed on the 7, but Dusty left the 9 up and Nicole made that to take the series lead at 3-2. Game 6 saw a turn to the defensive, which Dusty wanted to take credit for. Once the offense returned. Nicole found her way, banking a 4-9 combination to the bottom right for the win to seal the series at 4-2. Dusty had a bounce-back game 7, looking strong throughout and making a three-ball run-out at the end to beat Nicole. In the end, Nicole took the series 4-3, and will be on the road in the bracket finals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Daisy. The red cue takes its lone series today in 12-ball. Modernistic's Daisy had a better game 1 than Boston's Ice Cream, who made a late push to counter Daisy's four-ball run. Daisy held her off, potting her last ball at the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Ice Cream bounced back admirably, earning a wild-card ball from the break as the Union's Daisy made one of each. Ice Cream then potted her remaining five balls over two turns to take the win, tying the series at 1 rather easily. Ice Cream had a ball on the break and a three-ball run on her second turn, only to be one-upped by Daisy on both turns. Daisy started with a pair at the right corners, and then earned ball-in-hand from Ice Cream's missed contact that turned into Daisy's winning four-ball run-out to reclaim the series lead at 2-1. Both players started slowly before getting comfortable in game 4. Positioning proved key, as Daisy had a deep run to get onto her last ball, but Ice Cream used a strategic scratch to stay ahead. Daisy ended up twice missing her last ball after the scratch, and Ice Cream made her last two balls to walk away with the win, retying the series at 2. Daisy hammered a four-ball run after Ice Cream had an empty break to start game 5. Daisy then quickly struck at the top side on a later turn, and kicked the 13 to the bottom side a few turns later just as Ice Cream had gotten all of her shots into position. Daisy's proactive attack restored her series lead at 3-2. Daisy had two for herself and a wild-card ball lost on the break in game 6, but Ice Cream scratched to return the gift before potting one of Daisy's balls to reverse the advantage. Daisy couldn't get position at either open pocket for her last two shots, allowing Ice Cream to pick her way carefully to the win after a stormy four-ball run to start her game. The series is tied one more time, this time at 3 games apiece. Ice Cream made one of each suit on the game 7 break, giving Daisy a wild-card ball. Daisy put her final ball very close to the top left many times, but Ice Cream put in a Herculean defensive effort before kicking in her last ball to that pocket, good for the win. Ice Cream only led the series once, but it was 4-3 after the final game to put her into the bracket finals against the Web City Spiders captain Shadow.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Fuchsia. The blue cue takes a turn in 12-ball as well with home field on the line in this series as well. Midland's Fuchsia exploded with a five-ball run rather quickly in game 1, but Pacific's Twinkie I had put in some offense already and countered with a three-ball run-out after Fuchsia couldn't corral her last ball at the bottom left. Twinkie I leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw the Predators' Fuchsia start big on a four-ball run, worrying about positioning at the left corners later. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I took her time after that, eventually getting onto her last ball tangled with Fuchsia's at the bottom left. Fuchsia had the inside position, but Twinkie I had the shooting angle covered, drawing illegal contact by Fuchsia. Twinkie I gladly took the win to go up 2-0 in the series. Twinkie I started with a three-ball run from the break, and while Fuchsia briefly pulled ahead while Twinkie I's offense went quiet, Twinkie I would find a three-ball run-out soon enough to get the win. Twinkie I has a 3-0 series lead, just on the brink of advancing. Twinkie I burst out on a five-ball run quickly in game 4, but didn't account for an accelerating attack spurred by Fuchsia's good defense. Fuchsia ended with a three-ball run-out after successfully holding Twinkie I back from the bottom left, helping her to cut the series to 3-1. Twinkie I picked her spots carefully in game 5, even as Fuchsia looked very dangerous early on. Fuchsia didn't add a supporting run, and Twinkie I used Fuchsia's illegal contact to pot her own last two balls from ball-in-hand. Twinkie I secured the series at 4-1. Fuchsia never really faced any danger of losing game 6, as Twinkie I has taken the urgency out of her game now. Fuchsia still had to assemble a final turn, making a pair of shots from decent positions after previously giving up a wild-card ball. Twinkie I's series lead shrinks to 4-2. Fuchsia remained on attack in game 7, picking off the side pockets first before finally executing a four-ball run-out with three tap-ins to finish off the win. Twinkie I settled for a 4-3 series win, putting her top-seeded bid into a hosting position in the bracket finals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Rosemary. An all-Tradewinds series guarantees a bit of friendly fire as the captain meets her rookie teammate for 15-ball. Game 1 saw a stretch of play in close quarters between the 3 and the 7, making both players look bad. Tigerette busted out with a late four-ball run, but rattled the 14 out of the top right. Rosemary made the final two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Tigerette had a better effort in game 2, battling and sparring with Rosemary for awhile before deflecting the cue off the 5 to bump the 15 into the top side for a quick win. Tigerette's heady play tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw Tigerette flounder a bit in the early going, a couple of errors holding her offense back. Rosemary played a clean but conservative game, although she sparked with excitement when the route to victory became clear. Tigerette had a three-ball run on this route, but missed the 15, and Rosemary put it in the bottom left to regain her series lead at 2-1. Both players put an emphasis on the 15 in game 4, with Tigerette throwing attacks at it multiple times to no avail. Rosemary split the 2 and 15, sending the latter to the bottom right while the 2-11 combination fell in the top right, a game-winning double-pot to extend Rosemary's series lead to 3-1. Tigerette fought off elimination for the first time in game 5, weathering short bursts from Rosemary in the middle of the game before creating her own four-ball run-out, completed by a double-pot of the 12 and 15 to the bottom side on a follow shot. Tigerette has cut Rosemary's series lead to 3-2. Tigerette continued to push back against Rosemary, taking a dominant portion of the game 6 offense. Tigerette's saving grace came by making a pair of shots before Rosemary missed, and then a five-ball run-out for the win to retie the series at 3. Tigerette finished off the series in style, playing a smothering defense and using a three-ball run before an awkward miss on the 4 left Rosemary in a tough spot. Rosemary missed, and Tigerette aligned and converted a 4-13-6-15 combination to the bottom right to claim the 4-3 series win. Tigerette's win meant Rosemary was the 114th eliminated player, but Tigerette now has her first kill of the year despite the friendly fire.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Patches. The final series today is in 8-ball, also using the silver cue. Boston's Patches had an early three-ball run and added some more later, but she took awhile on her last ball, allowing Infinity's Shelley to pull even. Eventually, Patches made a final pair of shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches showed a bit more confidence in game 2, making a five-ball run early on and holding the Torpedoes' Shelley back with good positioning. Patches cruised to the finish, taking a pair of late shots for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shelley began with a pair of three-ball runs in game 3, a big attack to put herself in a good position. Patches played a little defense before unleashing her five-ball run to even the game. From here, Patches managed to find her way a little faster, as Shelley missed twice on the 8 before Patches took it on her third try for the win. Patches now leads the series 3-0. Shelley started with a fine three-ball run in game 4, and she held Patches back for a turn, although Patches' two turns following that were dangerous. Shelley fired back with a four-ball run-out after this, managing to get a win to cut the series to 3-1. Patches popped up with more fire early in game 5, quickly working her way onto the 8 while Shelley still had half a suit left. Shelley played a cagey defensive style to buy herself time before erupting on a five-ball run-out to steal this win, inching closer while still trailing 3-2 in the series. Patches looked good again with a five-ball run on her first turn of game 6, but she never had a chance to support it, as Shelley weaved a brilliant eight-ball run-out to claim the win, tying the series at 3 to set up a thrilling finish. Patches refused to go down without a fight in game 7, again bursting out to a big lead. Shelley again had to stall later in the game, but Patches converted the 8 after Shelley missed her one chance at it. Patches took the dramatic 4-3 win to punch her ticket to the bracket finals, where she will again be a visitor. Patches has her third kill of the year, while Shelley is the 115th ousted player.
That'll be it for Halloween. The Tournament enters November tomorrow, crossing halfway on the fifth round.
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