The Tournament returns for a new day of first-round action. Leading off...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Jason N. The blue cue is first in line for a 7-ball series to start the day. Westside's Goatee needed only two turns to claim the win, ending with a three-ball run-out after Atlantic's Jason N. committed a scratch after making a pair of shots. Goatee leads the series 1-0. The Pirates' Jason N. did a better job in game 2 of using defensive positioning, stymieing most of the attack for the Rockers' Goatee. Jason N. then converted a 4-7 combination to the bottom right for the win to tie the series at 1. Goatee again struggled for offense in game 3, leading Jason N. to taking a four-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Jason N. made the comeback to get to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Jack. The host completes an early-day doubleheader with the blue cue in 8-ball. Westside's Goatee posted a four-ball run in game 1 at one stage, but she tried to play through the defense of Web City's Jack. It failed, giving Jack a tap-in on the 8 to the bottom right for his 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Goatee again had a run, making three straight before a miss. The Spiders' Jack wouldn't let her get away, assembling a four-ball run-out to claim game 2 and clinch the series at 2-0. Jack went empty on the break in game 3, but his second turn was an eight-ball run-out, executing his shots to perfection to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Jack will enjoy a spot in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Sydney S. A pair of veterans keep the blue cue in action for 12-ball. Capital City's Missy gave away a wild-card ball on the break, which Harrison's Sydney S. greatly enjoyed. Sydney S. made a three-ball run early and then plucked the last two shots patiently for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Sydney S. went off with a four-ball run from the break in game 2, and while the Sharpshooters' Missy kept it close, Sydney S. was unchallenged on her final pair of shots for the win. Sydney S. holds a 2-0 series lead. Sydney S. employed a patient strategy in game 3, which paid off when she cashed in a five-ball run-out to secure a 3-0 series sweep over Missy. This puts Sydney S. into round two.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Sweetheart. The red cue takes a turn today in 9-ball before the lunch break. Lighton's Shiny had a five-ball run to start game 1, but she came away empty-handed after missing a tap-in on the 9. Boston's Sweetheart converted instead, taking the win for a 1-0 advantage. The Swifts' Sweetheart did plenty to earn her win in game 2, pulling off a two-rail bank-combination, 8-9 to the top right, to seal a four-ball run-out for the win. This clinched the series at 2-0 over the Prestige's Shiny. In game 3, Sweetheart struggled to get any offense going. Shiny capitalized by kicking the 4-9 combination to the bottom right to avoid the sweep in a 2-1 series. Sweetheart still moves on to the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel v. Stealth. The red cue gets another look in 9-ball after the break. Swordpoint's Stealth began with a four-ball run in game 1, but he cooled off as North Modernistic's Lionel heated up late. Lionel ultimately made the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The players reversed roles in game 2, with the Nighthawks' Lionel excelling on offense only for the Blades' Stealth to snag some late shots for the win, which tied the series at 1. In game 3, both players had their turns on offense, with Stealth ultimately prevailing on a strong pair of shots at the end. Stealth took the series 2-1 over Lionel to earn a spot in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Cobalt. The host returns home to play 8-ball with the silver cue in her second series today. Harrison's Sydney S. couldn't gain any traction on offense in game 1, making for a very lopsided win by Stonebridge's Cobalt, which puts the visitor ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 went better for the Specters' Sydney S., who had to fight off a rush from the Wolves' Cobalt as he made six balls over two turns. Sydney S. then shut the door with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Sydney S. pulled ahead in game 3 with a five-ball run and then bested Cobalt down the stretch for another win. Sydney S. takes the 2-1 series win with her to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Delila. Two original players clash now with the silver cue in Rotation. Atlantic's Delila had a five-ball run early in game 1, including a double-pot of the 4 and 12 to the sides, and she made that lead stand despite a late rally from Todavía's Bells to tie the game. Delila took the 15 at the top left, winning 8-7 for the 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Bells lacked all-out offense in game 2, but she consistently stayed ahead of the Pirates' Delila. Bells keyed a rally with a deflection to pot the 9 at the top side, ending on a three-ball run-out for an 8-2 win to tie the series at 1. Bells couldn't replicate the effort in game 3, as Delila made the first four balls and cruised to an 8-5 win after that. Delila won the series 2-1 to get into round two.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Slinks. The red cue is back for 9-ball again between new club-mates. Central's Noelle had a four-ball run to open game 1, but she didn't get much after that, and Westside's Slinks picked up the win with a three-ball run-out at the end. Slinks lead the series 1-0. The Rockers' Slinks began game 2 on a four-ball run, but she missed a later 6-9 combination to the top right. The Warriors' Noelle swooped in on a four-ball run-out, rallying back to tie the series at 1 with her win. Slinks had some offense in the middle of game 3, but again couldn't strike late, as Noelle rallied on a three-ball run-out for the win. Noelle took the series 2-1 as she heads to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Gal. The red cue stays up in the Northeast for this 15-ball series. North Modernistic's Gal took over with a six-ball run late in the game, and she picked up the 15 at the top left as well after a tough battle with Everton's Kirstin at the end. Gal owns a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal made it a quick finish in game 2, potting the 1 to the top right and then kicking the 2-15 combination through traffic to the bottom side to stun the Eagles' Kirstin. The remarkable trick shot gave Gal the series at 2-0. Gal didn't have as much fun in a chippy game 3, which saw Gal position herself poorly at the end, allowing Kirstin to pot the 15 to the bottom right from ball-in-hand. Gal still won the series 2-1, and she'll visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Bianca. The red cue continues to play in this 12-ball series. An abundance of caution in game 1 saw less efficiency in favor of maintaining positioning. Swordpoint's Dreamy eventually tried defense late, but Southridge's Bianca kicked in her last ball for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Dreamy rallied with a five-ball run in game 2, taking advantage of the Defenders' Bianca being wildly out of position after a scratch. Dreamy eventually earned ball-in-hand and put the 4 in the bottom left for the win, tying the series at 1. Bianca started hot with a four-ball run, which could have been more had she not rattled the 6 out of the bottom left. This bought Dreamy a little time, but her positioning failed, and Bianca took her time to patiently make her last two shots for the win and 2-1 series win. Bianca is off to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Sierra. The blue cue is back for another 7-ball series today. Neither player grabbed control of game 1, leading to Todavía's Sierra taking the 1-0 series lead with a pair of shots at the end after Boston's Sweetheart whiffed on the 6. The Swifts' Sweetheart did everything but win in game 2, rallying with a six-ball run before missing the 7 to the top left. The Stills' Sierra poached the shot from range to get the win, securing the series in her favor at 2-0. Sierra delivered a devastating break in game 3, sending the 7 straight to the bottom left to sweep Sweetheart 3-0. Sierra's convincing series win puts her in round two.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Stripes. The red cue gets another turn, playing 10-ball between these veterans. Infinity's Shelley had three chances to win in game 1, but she wasted all of them, allowing Freedom's Stripes to take the close battle with a tap-in on the 10 at the top left. Stripes leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Shelley didn't imprint herself on game 2 in any meaningful way, her set-up on the 9 leading the Cascades' Stripes to complete the win after making five balls over the last two turns. Stripes sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Shelley had some better command in game 3, but not enough on the 9, as Stripes was able to knock down the last two balls to win the game and sweep the series 3-0. Stripes moves on to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Avril v. Nightfur. A sophomore meets a captain in 12-ball with the blue cue. Web City's Avril had a pair on the break and good positioning after that, but Royal's Nightfur played defense until Avril gave away a wild-card ball. Nightfur made it work with a three-ball run-out on the next turn for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur was a little too cautious with positioning in game 2, as she could have gone on a run but missed at the top side just in time for the Spiders' Avril to convert her last ball behind Nightfur's defense. Avril's timely finish tied the series at 1. Nightfur elected to go with solids on a fairly even table in game 3, and it looked smart when Avril surrendered a wild-card ball and scratched on consecutive turns. Nightfur was never able to capitalize, leaving two balls up as Avril held on for the win and 2-1 series win. Avril is on her way to round two.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Kirstin. A new Monarch meets one that's moved on to a new team for today's finale in 13-ball with the blue cue. A fairly even game 1 went in favor of Everton's Kirstin as she erupted for a four-ball run and nearly kicked the 8 into the top left. Southern's Mams had one chance to save it, but she missed her last ball, and Kirstin tapped the 8 in for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Kirstin again managed to pull herself ahead in game 2, and the Monarchs' Mams never found her positioning. Kirstin easily took the win and clinched the series at 2-0. Game 3 didn't see much of a challenge for either player, as Kirstin narrowly edged Mams in a standard contest. Kirstin swept the series 3-0 and will play in the second round.
That's it for today's games, with more coming tomorrow as we get ready to go on six-day weeks. This is being done to catch up after the four-month delay.
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