We're back on Sunday for pool action, beginning with...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Brownie. The red cue will lead off the day in 9-ball. Pacific's Starlight began with a three-ball run, but her offense was a bit weaker from there, and Royal's Brownie took over at the end to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Brownie blocked herself a couple of times in game 2, the latter of those moments leading to the Volcanoes' making the final pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Starlight had a couple chances on the 9 in game 3, but she missed on both, and Brownie converted on her second try for the win to take the series 2-1. Brownie will visit Melissa of the Terrace City Knights in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Gabe. The silver cue draws in for an Accuracy series between Northeastern rivals. Harrison's Twinkie II built up an early lead as Maplewood's Gabe struggled initially in game 1. Twinkie II barely held on for the 3-4 win, scraping by for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much better, with each player missing only once in regulation. The Lumberjacks' Gabe had a chance to win early in overtime, but he missed, and then missed his next shot as the Specters' Twinkie II clinched the series at 2-0 with her 2-3 win. Twinkie II led for a majority of game 3 and secured it late as Gabe missed a couple of shots. Twinkie II won 2-3 again, sealing a 3-0 series sweep that sets her up to host another Northeastern captain, the Everton Eagles' Goldy, in round two.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound. Frosty v. Dusky. The red cue returns for this 13-ball series. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty kicked off with a four-ball run in game 1, but also had a scratch early on. Archtown's Dusky applied pressure as Frosty struggled, but Frosty did just enough for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Frosty enjoyed a steady offense in game 2, but she was gifted the win as the Arrows' Dusky tried a kick on the 9 and instead made the 8 illegally at the top right. The good fortune secured the series at 2-0 for Frosty. Game 3 opened with Frosty on a four-ball run from the break, but Dusky fired back with a five-ball run. Frosty would pot Dusky's last ball for her, and Dusky then took the 8 on a cut to the top side for the win to avoid the sweep. Frosty took the series 2-1 to move into the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Kitty. A veteran takes on a rookie in the blue cue's long-awaited return, playing 7-ball. A close game 1 nearly went to Midland's Kitty, but she missed the 7 after converting an earlier pair, and Royal's Jake swooped in for a straight shot to win. Jake leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Jake potted three on the game 2 break, with the 2 in the top right, the 5 in the bottom right, and the 7 getting a nudge from the 6 to fall at the top left for the win. Jake clinched the series at 2-0 over the Predators' Kitty. In game 3, Kitty needed only two shots to win, converting a 2-4-7 combination to the bottom right to avoid the sweep. Jake's 2-1 series win pits him against Pauline of the Capital City Sharpshooters in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Leandra. The blue cue remains in action for a 10-ball series. Modernistic's Daisy had a fairly good start in game 1, but a late miss on the 8 opened up a three-ball run-out for Tysini's Leandra, who took the initial 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy did a better job of shutting things down in game 2, using a six-ball run-out to block the Hummingbirds' Leandra in a critical win. Daisy's rush tied the series at 1. Daisy duplicated the effort after Leandra scratched early in game 3, with Daisy making a seven-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Daisy will face an Urban rival and club-mate in the Terrace City Knights' Melissa in round two.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Solaris. A mother hosts her own son in 13-ball with the red cue. Commerce's Solaris enjoyed a fairly strong start in game 1, but a late scratch and impeccable positioning by Golden's Valencia turned the tides of the battle. Valencia would tap the 9 to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Solaris again made some early shots, but nothing prepared him for a five-ball run by the Pilots' Valencia, which only stopped with her illegally potting her last ball. Solaris couldn't make a run off of that, and Valencia cut the 5 to the top left to win on her second try, sealing the series at 2-0. Valencia showed mercy in game 3, spotting Solaris a pair of wild-card balls. Solaris did well to take advantage of the gifts, getting the win as Valencia advanced with a 2-1 series win. Valencia will face Bells of the Todavía Stills in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Brownie. The visitor gets her second series today, playing 8-ball with the silver cue. Royal's Brownie scratched once in game 1, but it worked out because Freedom's Stripes had three scratches in a lackluster effort. Brownie went unchallenged for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. A cleaner game 2 saw the Crowns' Brownie get onto her last ball but narrowly miss it at the bottom left. The Cascades' Stripes countered with a five-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Stripes didn't hesitate in game 3, making a pair of four-ball runs to quickly claim the win and a 2-1 series win over Brownie. Stripes is set to face Viewpoint Sound Meteors leader Hoot in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Shawn. More 8-ball is on the way, with this series using the red cue. Atlantic's Isabella made one of each suit to start game 1, sparking a strong three-turn attack from Midland's Shawn as he stormed ahead for the win. Shawn's strong play gave him a 1-0 lead in the series. After a competitive start in game 2, the Predators' Shawn saw his offense go cold late in the game. This bought time for the Pirates' Isabella to grind her way back in, eventually grabbing the win as Shawn faltered on the 8. Isabella tied the series at 1. Isabella started well in game 3, but she let Shawn hang around, a critical mistake as he rallied for a seven-ball run-out to take the series 2-1. Shawn will visit Cowzart of the Pacific Volcanoes in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Boots. A Coastal derby is set for 7-ball with the silver cue. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles had a good start in game 1, and then made a three-ball run-out after Pearl's Boots missed contact on the 5. Nibbles' win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots tried to turn it around after the Meteors' Nibbles missed contact on the 4 in game 2, but the result was the same. Nibbles rallied back with a three-ball run-out two turns later to clinch the series at 2-0. Nibbles thought he had the sweep in his hands in game 3, but he scratched and potted the 7 on the break to gift Boots her only win. Nibbles settled for a 2-1 series win to earn the right to host the Terrace City Knights' Melissa in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Pauline v. Nikolai. Contrasting styles clash as the silver cue stays on for Accuracy. Both players were even through a rack in game 1, as Capital City's Pauline double-potted the last two balls to the right corners to force overtime. Freedom's Nikolai made a ball on the overtime break, which gave him a 3-4 win when Pauline missed. Nikolai owns a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai saw far less drama in game 2, as the Sharpshooters' Pauline fell behind quickly and never caught up. Nikolai sealed the series with a 3-6 win to go up 2-0. Nikolai struggled early and late in game 3, losing his chance for the sweep as Pauline won 2-5. Nikolai's 2-1 series win still puts him on the road against Puff I of the Modernistic Union in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Bear. A current captain and a former one keep the silver cue going in this 7-ball set. A close battle in game 1 went to Freedom's Jasmine after she took a pair at the end to top Everton's Bear. Jasmine leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Bear didn't stay down for long, busting out a five-ball run-out in game 2 in a dominant finish for the win over the Cascades' Jasmine. Bear's victory tied the series at 1 to set up a decisive final game. Game 3 saw Bear strategize on the fly, leaving Jasmine with a bad angle and then turning the following attack into a four-ball run-out for his win to clinch the series at 2-1. Bear's brilliant play will pit him against Pearl Surfers veteran Bright in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Yekaterina. A couple of inexperienced players meet in 9-ball, again using the silver cue. It took her two turns to get going, but Victoria's Yekaterina stormed away with the game 1 win on a nine-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead over Pronger's Lize after a dominant display. The Spurs' Yekaterina managed a five-ball run in the middle of game 2, but her miss on the 7 allowed the Tridents' Lize to churn out a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Yekaterina's offense fractured in game 3, including a late miss on the 9, an uncharacteristic mistake from the star. Lize pounced on it, taking the win to seal the series at 2-1 as she moves on to face Oceanside Waves captain Snuggle in round two.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Shawn. The Predators' top two players meet in 7-ball with the blue cue. Rainmane looked for mostly direct play in game 1, but it was a creative deflection by Shawn off the 6 to drive the 7 to the top side for the win. Shawn leads the series 1-0. Shawn made a pair on the break in game 2, but had to wait after that. Rainmane made the 1 but missed a 3-7 combination to the top left, and Shawn rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Shawn couldn't complete the sweep in game 3, missing the 6-7 combination to the bottom right. Rainmane deflected a shot off the 6 to tap the 7 in for the win, leaving Shawn win a 2-1 series win. He'll travel for real in the second round, visiting Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Spirit. New club-mates collide in Rotation with the blue cue to close out the day. Lighton's Spirit held the lead for the early parts of game 1, but her scratched opened up an attack for Archtown's Dusky, who made five balls over her last two turns to win 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky didn't get a chance to make anything of her offense in game 2, as the Prestige's Spirit cleaned up a lot of balls on deflections. Spirit was dominant in the 8-0 win, tying the series at 1. Spirit brought chaos to start game 3, and while Dusky assembled a four-ball run to make it close, Spirit locked up at 8-6 to take the series 2-1. Spirit is the latest to earn a spot in the second round.
Tomorrow, we should have pool followed by cricket in a full day of action.
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