The first burst of action since returning from a hiatus ends with today's action. We begin with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Gizmo v. Stephanie. The red cue gets the first series today, playing in 12-ball. Eastside's Gizmo took stripes on the second turn of game 1, and he played a calculated-risk style while Southridge's Stephanie focused on measured defense. Gizmo's persistence paid off with a good cut to the bottom left, giving him a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Stephanie, showing a little desperation, made a four-ball run to get to her last ball in game 2. It didn't work, as the Sharks' Gizmo pulled back on a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Stephanie gave away a wild-card ball in a furious pursuit of a win in game 3. Gizmo nearly made it work, just missing on his last ball at the top right. Stephanie then made a pair for the win to leave Gizmo with a 2-1 series win, which sends the host to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Andrew. The silver cue comes aboard for a 9-ball series. Central's Andrew made a good showing with a late four-ball run in game 1, but he missed on the 9, and Midland's Fuchsia swept it up for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit more balanced at the end, with the Predators' Fuchsia poking in a pair, only for the Warriors' Andrew to upstage her on a three-ball run-out. Andrew's win tied the series at 1. Andrew started with a four-ball run in game 3, but his 5-9 kick-combination attempt didn't work out. Fuchsia made the 5 and then converted a 6-9 combination to the top right instead, winning the game and taking the series 2-1 to put herself in a series versus the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Blizzard. The red cue takes its turn in 9-ball with this series. Game 1 was a balanced battle between the players, with Everton's Blizzard just nabbing the win on the final shot after Royal's Kayla left the 9 too close to the bottom right. Blizzard leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Kayla refused to go down in game 2, making the last two balls after another close battle to best the Eagles' Blizzard this time. Kayla's win tied the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 saw a drastic drop in the quality of play, most notably when Blizzard missed a simple cut on the 9 at the top right. Kayla tapped it in for the win and 2-1 series win, earning the right to host Midland Predators captain Shawn in round two.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Hughbert. The silver cue is back now for 10-ball. Infinity's Hughbert had a four-ball run and a healthy share of the offense in game 1, but his miss on the 10 left it for Pearl's Neopolitan to convert for the 1-0 series lead to the host. The Torpedoes' Hughbert made sure to capitalize on his chances in game 2, making a five-ball run and then adding the last two balls after the Surfers' Neopolitan fell short on the counterattack. Hughbert's solid finish tied the series at 1. In game 3, Neopolitan had the big run with a four-ball run, but she still had to convert the 10 from a deceptive angle after Hughbert missed it. Neopolitan did finish the game, taking the 2-1 series win and setting herself up to host Wario of the Southridge Defenders in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Nibbles. The silver cue goes again, this time in Accuracy between a pair of captains. Both players remained perfect deep into the game, and they each missed one late, but a mid-game miss from Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles allowed Terrace City's Kiwi the 1-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 mirrored the previous battle in many ways, but this time, the Knights' Kiwi was the one with a late miss to squander a good performance as Nibbles walked away with a 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. The two players finally lost their touch in game 3, with the lead going back-and-forth. Kiwi held on at the end for a 4-5 win over Nibbles, taking the series 2-1 and advancing to host the Boston Swifts' Puff II in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Klaus. After the break, the silver cue keeps going with this 7-ball set. Offense didn't come easy in game 1, as it took Atlantic's Klaus making a three-ball run for the confidence to arrive. He missed on the 7, which Central's Twilight cleaned up for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight brought a bit more thunder in game 2, attacking with a six-ball run-out on her second turn to keep the Pirates' Klaus at bay. Twilight's big push clinched the series for her at 2-0. Klaus had a three-ball run again in game 3, but it didn't pay off, as Twilight countered with a three-ball run-out to complete the 3-0 series sweep. Twilight will play in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Ruby. A pair of Stills teammates clash in this 12-ball series with the red cue. Ruby fought her hardest to stay in game 1 despite Bells starting well, and it nearly worked until Ruby scratched. Bells, by the thinnest margin, made her last ball for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Ruby danced delicately around a defensive play from Bells at the bottom left, unwilling to give her teammate the wild-card ball. Bells made the defense hold just long enough before making two shots at the end for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Ruby was spotted three wild-card balls in game 3, but she didn't get much for positioning after Bells' five-ball run at the start. Bells still ended up winning, sweeping the series 3-0 to get to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Leonette. The marquee matchup of the day pits daughter against mother in 7-ball with the red cue. Lighton's Citrus struggled to really corral her shot, while Pacific's Leonette showed just enough patience to escape game 1 with a win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Volcanoes' Leonette made the 1 on the break, and then converted a tough 2-7 combination to the bottom left to earn the win, clinching the series 2-0 over the Prestige's Citrus. Leonette didn't have enough in her for the sweep, as Citrus made a three-ball run and then picked up the 7 later in game 3 to get her only win. Leonette's 2-1 series win will see her return to this venue to face the Prestige's Nicole in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: A. Charlton v. Gabe. A Northeastern rivalry between club-mates will play out in 7-ball with the silver cue. Archtown's A. Charlton made a four-ball run after Maplewood's Gabe scratched in game 1, but she left the 7 up. Gabe made it at the top side, giving himself the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Gabe left the 7 near the bottom left on the game 2 break, and then made it with a deflected shot off the 3 a few turns later after the Arrows' Charlton failed to challenge it. Gabe secured the series at 2-0. Charlton refused to suffer a sweep in game 3, making a majority of the shots to claim the win as Gabe settled for a 2-1 series win. Gabe will take on another Northeastern opponent, traveling to visit the Central Warriors' Twilight, in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Sleepy B. The silver cue remains in action for this series of 12-ball. Whitewater's Katharine spotted a wild-card ball early in game 1 to Archtown's Sleepy B., and then overcame that deficit anyway as Sleepy B. failed to execute a fairly lined-up framework. Katharine owns a 1-0 lead in the series. The Arrows' Sleepy B. wove her way to a four-ball run in the middle of game 2, greatly undermining the Shores' Katharine with the effort. Sleepy B. was able to finish at the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 looked favorable for Sleepy B. at first, but Katharine erased that with an impressively coordinated five-ball run-out to earn the win. Katharine took the series 2-1 and will host an Urban rival in the Westside Rockers' Chimpy in round two.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Avril. The red cue gets the call for an 8-ball series. Game 1 was as even as it gets, as both players chipped in offense and struggled at times. Stonebridge's Hershey clutched up in the end with a long shot on the 8 to the bottom left to take a 1-0 series lead over Web City's Avril. The Wolves' Hershey began game 2 with a four-ball run from the break. After awhile, the Spiders' Avril replied on a seven-ball run, narrowly missing the 8 at the top right. Hershey fired back with a three-ball run-out to seal the win and the series at 2-0. Avril made an early six-ball run in game 3, which Hershey countered on a five-ball run. It wasn't enough, as Avril made the next two shots for the win to salvage a game from the series. Hershey advances on a 2-1 series win, and he'll host Sleepy B. of the Archtown Arrows in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Bianca. Third-years and cousins clash in 13-ball with the red cue. Southridge's Bianca waited too long to make her last move in game 1, allowing Commerce's Solaris to correct poor positioning on both his last ball and the 8 for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca managed a five-ball run early in game 2, which brought her time to set up for her final ball. The Tradewinds' Solaris shot poorly and scratched twice, and Bianca eventually took the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Solaris started very quickly and got onto the 8 with relative ease, but he couldn't find a space for it. Bianca rallied back with a four-ball run to get close, and then mopped up two shots on the last turn for the comeback win and 2-1 series win. Bianca punched her ticket to the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Solaris. The visitor completes a doubleheader against his own grandmother, an Urban divisional rival, in 7-ball with the red cue. Whitewater's Shaggy put down the 6 in the bottom right and the 7 in the top left on the game 1 break, going up 1-0 in the series over Commerce's Solaris. The Shores' Shaggy began game 2 with a three-ball run from the break, but the Tradewinds' Solaris made his one attack count. He won with a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Solaris didn't let Shaggy to the table in game 3, working a three-ball run-out capped by a deflected shot off the 2 to pot the 7 at the bottom right for the win. Solaris won the series 2-1, and is now set to face his mother, the Golden Pilots captain Valencia, in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Citrus. The silver cue wraps up a blue-cue-free day with 8-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot had to battle back a bit in game 1 as Lighton's Citrus started on a five-ball run. Hoot came close, but Citrus held him off for the win, giving herself a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much slower, with no big runs developing. The Prestige's Citrus fell back into defense at the end, but the Meteors' Hoot overpowered her and got the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 combined the two that came before, with a bit of sloppy play and a frenetic pace. Hoot just got by Citrus at the end for the 2-1 series win. Hoot will play in the second round.
We'll be postponing Elite again, with likely some action to be a factor on Saturday. Pool returns likely on Sunday.
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