The second week of the preseason begins now, with...
Antoine Hendrickx v. Cubby. A strong unaffiliated player meets a likely equal league veteran with the blue cue. Antoine had a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but Cubby shot back with an excellent five-ball run of his own. Antoine would later scratch and illegally pot the 8 on the same turn, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Cubby. In game 2, Cubby had a three-ball run at the start, but he got lax with his positioning at the end. Antoine played good defense at the top left and then picked up a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Antoine had game 3 in his grasp near the end, but he missed a cut on the 8 after a hot start. Cubby rallied with pairs of shots on his last two turns after just rattling the 10 out of the bottom left on a bank attempt, earning the win to take the series 2-1. He will host Puff I in the second round.
Melissa v. Luis Godinez. A sophomore in the league meets an unaffiliated graybeard with the silver cue. Melissa took too long at the bottom side in game 1, while Luis needed three attempts before finally kicking the 8 to the bottom left as he took a slow win for a 1-0 series lead. Melissa started better in game 2, picking up a three-ball run, and she closed the game the same way, countering a three-ball run by Luis in the late parts of the game. Melissa's win tied the series at 1. Luis had some dangerous turns in game 3, but he couldn't get onto the 8 without some help from Melissa, who hit Luis' last ball in as collateral damage during her five-ball run-out to swipe the win. Melissa took the series with a 2-1 win.
Marsell v. Twinkie III. The two top players for the Whitewater Shores duel with the red cue. Twinkie III led off well in game 1, and had a three-ball run to get onto the 8 quickly, but Marsell played just enough defense twice to ruin Twinkie III's game. Marsell prevailed from ball-in-hand with a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. Marsell had a weak break in game 2, but that didn't slow Twinkie III down, as she needed only three turns to get onto the 8. Marsell couldn't remove his defense without losing, and Twinkie III soon broke through anyway to win at the bottom right, tying the series at 1. Marsell had to pick his shots carefully in game 3, making a change in approach in the middle of the game to counteract Twinkie III's defense. The plays worked, with Marsell making the final pair of shots to win the series 2-1.
Peach v. Normando Alonso. A captain takes on an unaffiliated strategist in the blue cue's second series today. Peach had Normando playing from behind for much of game 1, and Normando ended up giving the win away when he couldn't make a safe play at the top left. Peach is up 1-0 in the series. Normando made a rally in game 2 after falling behind Peach early on again. Normando got within one ball before Peach made a pair of shots to take the win, sealing the series in her favor at 2-0. Normando made a three-ball run along the bottom rail to slow Peach's success in game 3, but Peach didn't have to worry about Normando after that, as he failed to pot another ball. Peach slowly worked her way to the win to complete a 3-0 series sweep that gets her into the second round.
Starlight v. Strut. Two very talented league players are ready to go in their series with the silver cue. Starlight got off to a good start in game 1, but Strut forced it down to the wire, his missed cut on the 14 and a pair of earlier scratches allowing Starlight to walk away with the win and 1-0 series lead. Starlight couldn't duplicate the effort in game 2, falling apart on her last few turns while Strut picked his way more carefully around the table. Strut ended up taking this win, tying the series at 1 with a solid performance. Strut had a great start in game 3, but his lack of speed at the end allowed Starlight to rally, getting within a ball of the 8 before Strut put it away at the bottom right for the win. Strut narrowly escaped with a 2-1 series win, and he will host Shiny in the second round.
A. Charlton v. Jennifer. Two veterans of the league with similar styles clash with the red cue. Charlton had a fantastic performance with two stripes and a solid on the game 1 break, but she never got positioning for her last ball. Jennifer worked the table better late in the game, and used Charlton's missed contact for ball-in-hand to make the 8, going up 1-0 in the series. Charlton had another creative attack thwarted by scratches and bad positioning, while Jennifer weaved through the rack with relative ease. Jennifer's bold attacking play gave her the win and a 2-0 series lead. Charlton thought she could hold off Jennifer late in game 3, but Jennifer pushed forward again, and Charlton once more lacked the proper positioning to succeed. Jennifer got the win, sweeping the series at 3-0. She will next host Delila in the second round.
Waluigi v. Salmo. Two of the statistically worst league players meet with the blue cue here. Waluigi made quick work of Salmo in game 1, as Salmo only had a good first turn before going cold. Waluigi worked his way to a big win for a 1-0 series lead. Salmo again had an early push that fell apart, this time thanks to his late illegal contact error. Waluigi took over and patiently shot to earn the win, clinching the series at 2-0 in the process. Salmo tried again in game 3, but his struggles to make shots at the top right and the bottom left outweighed his early success. Waluigi again rallied with steady play, doing enough to get the win for a 3-0 series sweep.
Curro Garza v. Lucila Zavala. An opportunist hosts a hard-shooter as the silver cue plays with two unaffiliated players. Curro had a number of mistakes in his game 1 effort, including a scratch that opened up Lucila's path forward. Lucila had a productive finish with a four-ball run-out for the win that gave him a 1-0 series lead. Lucila had an aggressive start in game 2, but didn't plan on a scratch on his final ball. Curro took the chance provided to him to convert a three-ball run-out, the timely attack giving him a win to tie the series at 1. Curro and Lucila both deserved to lose in game 3, but after a sloppy late-game sequence, Lucila emerged the regretful winner. Lucila took the series 2-1 to earn a spot in the second round against another unaffiliated player, Natal Badillo.
Kayla v. Goatee. A pair of league veterans are set to meet with the red cue after a short break. Kayla didn't get enough done early in game 1 to avoid Goatee's late rally after a mixed mid-game. Goatee took this win with a three-ball run-out after careful positioning lined her up well. Goatee leads the series 1-0. Goatee dropped off with her pace in game 2, a good break leading to congestion near the top side. Kayla picked her shots really well, finding her way through Goatee's defense before taking the win. Kayla tied the series at 1 with the smart play. Goatee had control of game 3 for most of the course of the game, but she struggled to convert at the top right, and a couple of miracle shots got Kayla onto the 8. Kayla struck the 8 to the top right for the win, taking the series 2-1. Kayla will visit Mitchell in the second round.
Spot v. Darryl Estrada. A crafty third-year meets an ace-level unaffiliated player with the blue cue. Spot had a chaotic break that left five balls near the bottom right defensively. Darryl didn't mind, breaking the defense and churning his way to a win to go up 1-0 in the series. Darryl had a good break and struck first a couple of turns later, with a four-ball run following that. Darryl was unable to convert at the bottom side, allowing Spot to rally over a couple of turns. Spot made a pair of shots when Darryl made illegal contact, giving Spot a win to tie the series at 1. Darryl tried to rally after Spot had a quick four-ball run to start game 3. Darryl came close at the end, but Spot had better positioning to take the win for a 2-1 series win.
Jason N. v. Tigerette. A sophomore meets a well-tenured captain with the silver cue this time. Jason orchestrated a brilliant attack in game 1, striking on his second turn to claim stripes. He then used the next turn to set up shots, before converting a five-ball run-out to stun Tigerette. Jason won in a shutout for a 1-0 series lead. Jason had nothing going late in game 2, exchanging scratches more than made shots with Tigerette, who struggled as well. Tigerette had a chance to win, but she scratched on the 8, gifting the win and a 2-0 series lead to Jason. Tigerette offered only one big run in game 3, which barely challenged Jason's superiority in the series. Jason had four balls over two turns and a patient finish to take the series in a 3-0 sweep.
Smokey v. Puff III. A pair of experienced league veterans are ready to go with the red cue. Puff III took far too long in game 1 to ignite her offense, and by the time she got going, Smokey was working on wrapping up the win. Smokey played a smart game here, the win putting him ahead 1-0 in the series. Smokey was a little slower in game 2, but it didn't seem to change how Puff III played, as she still saved her attacks for late in the game. Smokey had just enough time to take the win in this game, securing the series at 2-0. Smokey failed to get anything for his last ball at the bottom side in game 3, allowing Puff III to finally mount a successful rally for a win. Smokey still took the series at 2-1, setting him up to host Dobromil Zeman in the second round.
Stinky v. Azul Mora. The last afternoon series has the blue cue going between a league veteran and a slick unaffiliated player. Stinky got off to a good start, but a scratch saw the tides turn toward Azul, who attacked with a four-ball run to pull ahead. Azul stayed strong with a pair on his final turn for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. Azul had a decent start in game 2, but Stinky had better positioning later in the game. Azul relied heavily on a defensive blockade at the bottom left, and this worked, as Stinky's brute force attack helped Azul to get on track for the win. Azul made a three-ball run-out, taking the win to secure the series at 2-0. Stinky tried to get on track in game 3, but Azul remained very crafty with his shooting, weaving his way to another win for a 3-0 series win.
Noppadon Gruemor v. Misty. The silver cue's last appearance today is in this series between heavy-hitters in their respective classifications. Noppadon had most of the early offense, but he wasn't clinical in attack like Misty was when she made her shots. Misty's patience came in handy at the end as she took the win on a clean shot for a 1-0 series lead. Misty struck first in game 2, but she struggled to position herself later in the game. Noppadon got onto the 8 but missed on his first try, only for Misty to pot it accidentally before she was ready to, which gifted Noppadon the win that tied the series at 1. Noppadon and Misty had a battle for positioning in an evenly-played game 3. Noppadon prevailed thanks to Misty getting aggressive at the wrong time, allowing Noppadon to pot the last two balls a couple of turns later. Noppadon took the series 2-1, and will visit Cisco Solorio in the second round.
Maynard Cabagnot v. Caitlin. The red cue ends its day with a weaker unaffiliated player going against an average league player. Maynard started better in game 1, pacing the attack initially, but Caitlin's experience showed as she came from behind to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. Caitlin had a positive break in game 2, and then ran circles around Maynard from there, as Caitlin had the game won before Maynard could pot a ball. Maynard's poor shooting from the end of game 1 doomed his series as Caitlin clinches at 2-0. Caitlin began with a four-ball run to set the tone in game 3, but Maynard fired back with a five-ball run to pull ahead. Caitlin ended up illegally potting the 8 in her quest for positioning, gifting a win to Maynard. Caitlin still advances with a 2-1 series win, which sets her up to face Melissa in the second round.
Solaris v. Dries Renard. The blue cue ends the day with a hotshot third-year against a forgettable unaffiliated player. Game 1 saw the ugliest effort both players could do, with Solaris eventually winning the draining, slow, and awful game as Dries failed to line up either of his last two shots. Solaris is up 1-0 in the series. Solaris was first to get onto the 8 in a much more impressive game 2, only to see Dries challenge with a three-ball run capped by his kick on the 5 to the bottom right and a missed bank on the 8 at the bottom side. Solaris converted the 8 to get the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Solaris didn't have the same attacking pace in game 3 of the series, allowing Dries to storm past him at the end for the win. Solaris will take the series at 2-1 to get to the second round.
We'll have more of this tomorrow, likely after a bit of Elite cricket action.
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