Qualifiers 2019 - Day 4

Today marks a shift that should see 8-ball become the game of focus for a few days. First up...

The Southridge Defenders' Caitlin shoots 7-ball with the red cue in the opening game. Caitlin's break was lackluster, and it took a double-pot followed by a four-ball run to close with 11 shots and no errors in a shaky game. Oceanside Waves third-year Dewey goes next, using the blue cue in 8-ball. Dewey simply couldn't string shots together in this appearance, requiring 26 shots without an error after an empty break. The blue cue stays on for Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris making his season debut in 7-ball. Chris couldn't move the needle, making a ball while scratching on the break for his only error in 11 shots. A. Charlton is set to make her Archtown Arrows debut with the silver cue. Charlton needed only 7 shots after making a ball on the break, although that included a late error when she scratched on the 5. The Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman closes the group, taking the silver cue to play 9-ball. Mr. Snowman got tagged for a couple of errors and saw an empty break, but still managed to end with 14 shots.

The second group gets going with Gizmo of the Eastside Sharks shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Gizmo left frustrated, his awful break netting a ball but causing him to take four errors in 23 shots to complete the effort. The Lighton Prestige's Spirit is the seventh player drawn, and she'll take her chances in 10-ball with the silver cue. Spirit had an empty break and an early error, but locked it down from there to score 16 shots in a good performance. Next up, another Eastside Shark plays as Chelsea takes on 8-ball with the blue cue. Chelsea had nothing on the break, a common theme today, but she secured the game in 20 shots without an error in an impressive late rally. Todavía Stills captain Easter makes her season debut, also using the blue cue for 7-ball. Easter had an early error after an empty break and had to chase the 7 around to finish with 11 shots. Ending the batch, the Golden Pilots' Strut makes his season debut with the red cue. Strut was headed for disaster when he double-potted the 2 and 4, saving his turn at 12 shots without an error.

Group three starts with the Whitewater Shores' Marsell taking on 9-ball with the silver cue. Marsell had an error and had to chase the 5 mid-game before asserting himself on a five-ball run-out to close with 15 shots. Midland Predators star Rainmane jumps in for her season debut, using the blue cue in 7-ball. Rainmane had nothing on the break, but didn't miss a shot that counted, finishing with 7 shots and no errors. The Terrace City Knights' Melissa takes the next game, using the red cue for her 9-ball appearance. Melissa had a ball on the break, but struggles in the mid-game ruined her score, inflating to 18 shots and one error by the end. Dominic keeps the red cue in action, as the Southern Monarchs veteran plays 8-ball. Dominic managed to keep a clean performance, only suffering a couple of bad misses in 21 shots with no errors. More 8-ball finishes this group, as the Queens Flames' Hannah shoots with the blue cue. Hannah made two balls on the break and even had time for one error over 18 shots in a strong performance.

The blue cue stays up as the Pronger Tridents' Potter uses it in 8-ball. Potter had a less eventful but even performance, taking 18 shots with no errors and nothing on the break. Continuing along, the Harrison Specters' Lexi tries her hand at 8-ball with the silver cue. Lexi had a ball on the break, but left the 8 too close to the bottom right. She incurred the five-error penalty when it went down early, causing her to finish with 27 shots despite playing relatively well. The 18th game of the day belongs to Eastside Sharks captain Graham, who uses the red cue in 7-ball. Graham had nothing on the break and two errors before ripping a five-ball run-out to close with 12 shots. The red cue stays in action for Royal Crowns veteran Kayla, who is set to play 9-ball. Kayla impressively made two balls on the break and took no errors over 12 shots for a good full-rack performance. The Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Hoot ends this group, playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Hoot had two balls on the break, but suffered two errors and needed 18 shots to complete the game in average condition.

The fifth group opens as Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette debuts in 7-ball with the blue cue. Tigerette was livid after scratching on the break, but she struggled in tight spaces, needing 15 shots and two errors to finish the game. Viewpoint Sound Meteors newcomer Frosty debuts for the team with the silver cue in 7-ball. Frosty had a sneakily good break, making the 7 at the top side to finish with 0 shots and zero errors as another silver cue performance goes perfect. Season debuts continue as Stealth uses the blue cue to open his Swordpoint Blades season. Stealth had nothing on his break and needed 13 shots without an error to overcome some poor positioning. Prism of the Todavía Stills is up next, using the red cue in 9-ball. Prism drained a ball on the break and then took the game in 14 shots with one error for missed contact. Wrapping up the group, A. Charlton takes her second game of the day for the Arrows, playing 8-ball with the silver cue. Charlton kept things simple after her only error, a scratch on the break. Charlton finished the appearance with 22 shots.

Bunch six begins with Sydney S. of the Harrison Specters making her season debut in 7-ball with the red cue. Sydney S. had a ball on the break and then harassed the 7 by pushing it around with the 1. It worked, as she finished with 4 shots and no errors. Golden Pilots legend Dusty is the next to debut, using the blue cue for her first outing of the season. Dusty scattered the rack well and put it down in 8 shots with no errors despite the empty break. The 28th player of the day is the Commerce Tradewinds' Solaris, who debuts with his new team using the red cue in 7-ball. Solaris was humbled by atrocious first-shot accuracy on nearly every ball, needing 15 shots and no errors to finish his game. Nicole of the Lighton Prestige will keep the red cue up for her season debut. The usually level-headed veteran got taken by greed, as Nicole's turn lasted 12 shots after she went for a 5-7 combination that didn't materialize. She had no errors and an empty break. Americus of the Midland Predators rounds out this group, also using the red cue in 7-ball. Americus held her own for a bit, but too many contact plays ran her score up to 14 shots and one error, for which she was visibly distressed.

Group seven sees the stretch of debuts continue, as the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart starts her season with the blue cue. Sweetheart had a pair of balls on the break, but also a pair of errors later on in her 8-shot performance, giving important credit to the pro-error community. The Atlantic Pirates' newcomer Jason N. takes a turn with the blue cue in 8-ball. Jason N. had a critical error in illegally potting the 8, costing him 5 shots, but his game was so good, he finished with 21 shots anyway, getting a couple of double-pots to cover his empty break. Todavía Stills trade acquisition Ruby debuts for the team in pool with the silver cue for her 7-ball game. Ruby rifled in a ball on the break and needed only 9 shots to clear the table, taking no errors. Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette steps in for 8-ball with the blue cue. Leonette had plenty of good shots after making a ball on the break, but she faded with four errors late in the game, ending at 26 shots. Southridge Defenders newcomer Wario goes 35th today, his debut with the team coming using the blue cue in 7-ball. Wario had a chance for a good game, but it fell apart as he took 17 shots and one error after an empty break.

Batch eight kicks off with Lize of the Pronger Tridents shooting 8-ball with the silver cue. Lize rattled off a ball on the break and closed with only 20 shots and a single error for a great outing. Moving along, Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno shoots 7-ball with the silver cue in her season debut. Juno narrowly avoided disaster a handful of times over 9 shots, taking no errors and recording a ball on the break for good measure. The Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley advances the pace again, playing 12-ball with the silver cue in this appearance. Shelley had decent shooting skills, making a ball on the break, but five errors, mostly scratches, caused her score to inflate to 26 shots. Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan is the 39th player drawn today, and she'll shoot 8-ball with the blue cue. Neopolitan did what she could with an empty break, but a late fade and two errors brought her to 25 shots. The blue remains in action for Web City Spiders veteran Ted, who will finish the group with a 10-ball game. Ted played smart in his appearance, using the 3 to set up a 3-10 combination to the top right that ended his turn at only 6 shots and no errors.

The ninth group has the Blades' Stealth returning for 8-ball with the blue cue in his second game of the day. Stealth had an error on the break when he scratched, and his cautious finish gave him 20 shots in a solid performance. The blue cue stays in 8-ball action for the Queens Flames' Violetta, who makes her second appearance of the year. Violetta's break was encouraging, sinking two balls, but an error and 24 shots later, she was left dejected by the troublesome event. Another 8-ball game will be played as Daisy of the Modernistic Union goes in the 43rd game of the day, using the red cue. Daisy had nothing on the break and struggled a lot early in the game, but with only one error. She finished with 22 shots. The 8-ball spree continues with the Victoria Spurs' Strawberry playing it with the silver cue. Strawberry fared worst of all, taking an empty break and four errors over 28 shots, erupting with frustration that is shared by many across the league with this event. The Atlantic Pirates' Isabella caps the group with 10-ball and the red cue, another beleaguered event. Isabella had an eventful game, making a ball on the break, scratching without contact for a double error, and then converting the 3-10 combination to the top right to end at 6 shots.

The final group commences with the Pilots' Strut playing 8-ball with the silver cue in his second game of the day. Strut didn't get anything on the break, but the veteran stayed composed, his lone error actually helping him finish with 20 shots. The Knights' Melissa also gets a second game today, using the blue cue for 10-ball. Melissa also benefited from previous experience, making a ball on the break and using just 14 shots with one error for an illegally potted ball during the game. The Sharks captain Graham continues the repeat players binge with his 8-ball game with the red cue. Graham took the event lead at 15 shots, making a ball on the break and taking no errors while getting a couple of double-pots to help him out. Chicky Phil makes his Web City Spiders debut next, keeping the red cue up for 7-ball. Chicky Phil had a ball on the break, but two preventable errors put him at 12 shots in the end. The red cue will close the day with the Stonebridge Wolves' Hershey playing 8-ball. Hershey excelled in his game, making a ball on the break and clearing the table in a mere 18 shots without an error, a great finish to an occasionally difficult day.

That's all for today. Same thing tomorrow; Elite cricket followed by Qualifying.