A new week of games is here, and should conclude with the end of the third round. Today's action starts with...
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Strawberry v. Kyle. The silver cue will be first up, playing 9-ball in the opening series. Victoria's Strawberry had a weak start in game 1, but Queens' Kyle was no better. Strawberry found her shot later in the game, eventually winning on a four-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Kyle capitalized on the Spurs' Strawberry starting a mid-game run a little earlier in game 2. Strawberry ran out of steam as she got onto the 9, which Kyle converted easily for the win to tie the series at 1. Strawberry again had a late four-ball run in game 3 after a relatively good start from Kyle, who had a chance but missed on the 9 late in the game. Strawberry made the 9 on her second try to regain the series lead at 2-1. Strawberry had flaws in game 4, scratching on the break and then burying herself at the edge of the bottom right when making the 8 to prevent a look at the 9. Kyle gladly took the win from ball-in-hand, retying the series at 2. Kyle opened with a three-ball run from the break in game 5, and then went a bit cold. Strawberry picked up the pace from here, but failed to finish a run with a rattled shot on the 9, allowing Kyle the tap-in at the top left for his win. Kyle took the series 3-2, and will visit the Golden Pilots legend Dusty in the bracket quarterfinals. Strawberry is the 49th player eliminated this year, and Kyle has his first kill for making that happen.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Cheddar. Two solid players continue the 9-ball start, this time using the red cue. Maplewood's Bryant started well with a ball on the break in game 1, but couldn't keep shooting well. North Modernistic's Cheddar was only marginally better, and she only got the win when Bryant scratched while making the 9. Cheddar leads the series at a shaky 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Bryant was even better in game 2, making a seven-ball run in the middle of the game. Unfortunately, the Nighthawks' Cheddar made the first and last ball, picking up an unlikely win to push her series lead to 2-0. Cheddar made sure to seal the series quickly, her break causing the 5 to drift to the bottom side, which set up a lucky 1-9 combination to the top right as she flung the cue into a crowd of balls. Bryant had no chance to prevent this, as Cheddar clinched the series at 3-0. Bryant avoided the sweep in game 4, making a pair of shots at the end to counter a three-ball run from Cheddar that she had after a slow start. Bryant's win cuts Cheddar's series lead to 3-1. Bryant had a four-ball run to start game 5, and then made the 5-9 combination as a double-pot at the bottom right after a weak response from Cheddar. Bryant's win made it a 3-2 series win for Cheddar, who will be a visitor in her bracket quarterfinals series.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Shawn. The red cue remains in action a little to the east, playing 10-ball. Stonebridge's Cobalt had some good moments in game 1, but mostly Midland's Shawn drove the game forward. Shawn brought the heat at the end with a well-played three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt answered with an utterly dominant game 2, making an early pair after the Predators' Shawn went empty on the break. Cobalt took over after brief weak stretch, making an eight-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 with his win. Shawn deferred possession after Cobalt illegally potted the 4, leading to Cobalt having a five-ball run early in game 3. Shawn had a chance to finish on a run, but he sent the 10 wide at the bottom right, and Cobalt made it to take a 2-1 series lead for himself. Cobalt had another decent performance, although a few extra errors in game 4 made it interesting. Cobalt's scratch on the 7 led Shawn to ball-in-hand, but Shawn missed his second shot. Cobalt ended a second straight game with a bank on the 10, this win securing the series at 3-1 for the host. Cobalt still had a majority of the offense in game 5, but his lack of decisive shooting allowed Shawn to mop up the 10 at the end despite Shawn's poor decision-making earlier in the game. Cobalt walked away with a 3-2 series win, and he will visit the Eastside Sharks' Cubby in the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Twinkie II. After the lunch break, a pair of captains clash in Accuracy with the blue cue. Capital City's Chris made quick work of game 1, playing a near-perfect performance while Harrison's Twinkie II showed more weakness. Chris picked up the 1-4 win with ease to take the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris scratched on the game 2 break, a mistake he never really recovered from. The Specters' Twinkie II held a lead for the latter parts of the game, turning it into a 2-4 win with a miraculous shot that saw the 11 deflect off the 14 and into the bottom side to help her tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a highlight performance on both sides, as Twinkie II and Chris maintained perfect efforts until five balls to go, when Chris had a miss. Twinkie II continued to stay perfect, picking up the 0-1 win for a 2-1 series lead. Chris got himself under control, pacing game 4 quite well when Twinkie II fell apart. Chris couldn't keep it perfect, settling for a 1-3 win to retie the series at 2 games apiece after the strong outing. Chris fell apart in game 5, missing shots early and then his last two to allow Twinkie II a 1-4 win for the 3-2 series win. Twinkie II advances visiting the Tysini Hummingbirds' Leandra in the bracket quarterfinals. Twinkie II has her first kill of the year, making Chris the 50th eliminated player.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Shaggy. The silver cue steps back into the game for some 9-ball. Game 1 saw a weak first turn on both sides, followed by Harrison's Sydney popping a six-ball run. Sydney missed the 7, but Whitewater's Shaggy converted, igniting her three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead to the visitor. Game 2 had a bit more complexity until the Shores' Shaggy missed on the 4. The Specters' Sydney answered with a five-ball run-out, just barely making three of the shots she needed for the win to tie the series at 1. Sydney showed a bit more aggression on the game 3 break, and then closed things out in fine form, making five balls over her last two turns with a 7-9 combination to the top right as the finishing shot. Sydney's win puts her ahead of Shaggy 2-1 in the series. Sydney had a much less convincing majority of possession in game 4, putting things on the line with a miss on the 7. Shaggy made it, but couldn't corral the 9 later, and Sydney put it away at the bottom right to seal the series at 3-1 with this win. Sydney had a couple of errors again in game 5, but nothing worse than Shaggy scratching on a bank attempt on the 9. Sydney took the game from ball-in-hand, completing a 4-1 series win that will see her host a bracket quarterfinals series in the next round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Spice. The host has a quick turnaround from her last series, bringing the silver cue back home for its last 12-ball series of the round. Whitewater's Shaggy scratched and gave away a wild-card ball on the game 1 break. Victoria's Spice took over, making a pair from the kitchen and then positioning and executing a three-ball run-out when Shaggy had illegal contact later on. Spice easily won for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice returned the wild-card ball favor on the game 2 break, allowing Shaggy a little extra flexibility. Shaggy played a patient game, making her positioning precise. Spice provided a small scare on her four-ball run, but Shaggy made her last two shots on the next turn for the win to tie the series at 1. Shaggy again gave away a wild-card ball to start game 3. Spice did well on offense early on, but had a bit of trouble lining up her final ball thanks to Shaggy's defense. This strategy worked, as Shaggy swooped in for a three-ball run-out and the win, taking a 2-1 series lead with the win just in front of Spice. Shaggy didn't give up a wild-card ball on the break, but she did on the next shot as her defense-breaking play backfired. Shaggy then illegally potted a ball and couldn't stop Spice from taking over with a short run. Spice closed out with a pair of shots after Shaggy missed a low-percentage bank, with Spice's win retying the series at 2. Spice struck first with solids in game 5, but a back-and-forth game saw Shaggy get position at the bottom left. Spice tried a defensive play, but Shaggy evaded it, making the 11 for the win to take a 3-2 series win. Shaggy will be on the road against Harrison Specters top-seed Lexi in the bracket quarterfinals. Spice is the 51st player eliminated this season, with Shaggy picking up her first kill.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Fuchsia. The blue cue is next to finish an event, also playing its last 12-ball series of the round. Freedom's Roxy had a good break but not much luck from it in game 1, as Midland's Fuchsia kept pace. Roxy missed a kick to get positioning on a ball, and Fuchsia attacked with a four-ball run-out from there for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Fuchsia had a positive four-ball run from the game 2 break, giving her a step on the Cascades' Roxy immediately. Roxy found a few good shots and got positioned fairly well, but Fuchsia was efficient with her last two balls, winning three turns after the opening run to go up 2-0 in the series. Roxy had a large lead in game 3 when she fave Fuchsia a wild-card ball, the product of a sloppy shot. Fuchisa proceeded to charge back, but she had to give the wild-card ball back to make a defensive play. Roxy weathered one last push from Fuchsia before ending the game victorious, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Roxy surrendered a wild-card ball on the game 4 break, and Fuchsia added a three-ball run right after that. Roxy had a four-ball run to get onto her last ball, but Fuchsia held position at Roxy's last pocket location, the bottom left. Roxy ultimately gave the game away to Fuchsia with a light touch, which gave Fuchsia the series as well at 3-1. Roxy absolutely dominated in game 5, making a four-ball run early on and adding a patient but effective attack that left Fuchsia unable to convert until her last turn. Roxy easily won, but Fuchsia advances to host a bracket quarterfinals series against the Victoria Spurs rookie Sage on a 3-2 series win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Shawn. The blue cue remains in action for a big series between veterans in Accuracy. Pearl's Beth held her own initially in game 1, but a spate of misses towards the end of the game confirmed the win for Midland's Shawn, who took a 1-4 result for the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Shawn didn't have as great a start in game 2, but he played steady while the Surfers' Beth scuffled early. Shawn couldn't quite make it perfect, settling for a 1-3 win when he missed his last shot. Shawn leads Beth 2-0 in the series. Beth and Shawn engaged in a messy game 3 battle, with neither player able to hold onto a lead for long. The initial rack ended with a tie, forcing overtime, where Beth's empty break cost her the game. Shawn sent his only overtime shot to the top left for a 5-6 win to clinch the series at 3-0. Shawn didn't lose a step in game 4, keeping a lead despite some early struggles against Beth. Things didn't get better for Beth, as Shawn would close out a 1-4 win, which might have been generous to her. Shawn has a 4-0 lead in the series. Shawn couldn't complete the sweep in game 5, trailing for much of regulation before Beth dropped a shot to force overtime. Here, Shawn missed twice more, with Beth's conversion on her second shot enough for her to win 2-3. Shawn took the series 4-1, and he will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Midnight. The blue cue closes its round obligations in 8-ball with this series. Boston's Gradley started well in game 1, but had to weather an attack where Westside's Midnight made five balls over two turns before a little collateral damage. Gradley then closed with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw only three turns, with the Swifts' Gradley taking a five-ball run from the break, the Rockers' Midnight firing back on a seven-ball run that just missed on the 8, and then Gradley closing out his win with a three-ball run-out. Gradley is up 2-0 in the series after that frantic battle. Midnight had plenty of offense to start in game 3, but a couple of scratches pinned her back. Gradley sputtered into action with a double-pot and scratch that kept Midnight in a weak position. Gradley then found small runs before putting a perfectly weighted shot on the 8 at the top right for the win to seal the series at 3-0. Gradley got a bit generous, giving Midnight some freebies in game 4. Midnight had her own good share of offense, but she couldn't get onto the 8 before Gradley's four-ball run-out came out of nowhere for the win. Gradley surges to a 4-0 series lead. Midnight had just pulled ahead of Gradley in a close game 5 battle when her trick shot attempt on her last solid led to the 8 falling illegally in the bottom right. This gifted Gradley the final win of his 5-0 series sweep. Gradley will host the Lighton Prestige's Nicole in the bracket quarterfinals in a Cola Wars Derby.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. The day's finale is the red cue's round finale in 15-ball. Southern's Hoppy had a strong appearance in game 1, peppering her offense throughout the rack, but she didn't do enough at the end. Victoria's Yekaterina turned a quiet game into a win with a three-ball run-out, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Hoppy had a later-arriving offense in game 2, but that's more than the Spurs' Yekaterina can say in an embarrassing sequel to her win. Hoppy's highlight performance was a seven-ball run, and she made the last three balls on the next two turns for the win, tying the series at 1. Yekaterina redeemed herself in game 3 after Hoppy committed an early foul. Yekaterina had an early finish with a six-ball run-out capped by a spinning 4-15 kick combination to the top right for the win. Yekaterina is ahead 2-1 in the series. Hoppy came out firing in game 4, blasting a seven-ball run early on. Yekaterina countered on a three-ball run, but a later scratch after some back-and-forth led to Hoppy making a pair of shots for the win, tying the series again at 2. Yekaterina stormed back with a massive win in game 5, making a seven-ball run and then a pair of three-ball runs to suffocate Hoppy's offense. Yekaterina got the win on that third run, taking the series 3-2 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals, where she will visit the Archtown Arrows' Sally. Yekaterina took her second kill of the year, making Hoppy the 52nd eliminated player this year.
We'll be back tomorrow on another full day in the homestretch of round three.
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