We're ready for Friday pool, beginning with...
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Panda. A star takes on a captain in 10-ball with the silver cue to start the day. Victoria's Yekaterina needed a little time to find her form before sinking a four-ball run. Southern's Panda tried to fight back, but he scratched on the 10, and Yekaterina made it from ball-in-hand to give herself a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina had a little less offense in game 2 as the Monarchs' Panda tried to stay competitive. Panda had two chances at the 10 near the end of the game and missed both, while Yekaterina converted her second try to get the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Panda finally got a win in game 3 as Yekaterina struggled with positioning. Panda worked a five-ball run-out for this win, which left Yekaterina at a 2-1 series win. Yekaterina will visit her most recent opponent's father in the second round, hosting the Tysini Hummingbirds' Paps.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir v. Jake. The silver cue remains in action for this 13-ball series. Royal's Jake had good positioning and started well in game 1, but he couldn't get onto the 8, and Stonebridge's Vladimir rallied back with a three-ball run-out to claim the win. Vladimir leads the series 1-0. The Wolves' Vladimir struck on the break again in game 2, but he was a little slower on offense this time. The Crowns' Jake played a patient but efficient game, capitalizing with a four-ball run-out when it lined up. The big finish gave Jake a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Jake start out hot with a three-ball run. Vladimir chipped back and even gained the lead, but his lack of positioning allowed Jake to fight back for the win and 2-1 series win. Jake is off to the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Lexi. Back in 10-ball, the blue cue gets its first assignment of the day. Harrison's Lexi was clearly better in game 1 with a three-ball run compared to a pair of errors by Infinity's Fluffina. Lexi was also greedy, missing the 5-10 combination attempt she had after Fluffina illegally potted a ball. Fluffina made that shot at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a much choppier battle between the players. The Torpedoes' Fluffina may rue lightly hitting the 10 at the bottom left, leaving it lined up for the Specters' Lexi to convert for the win, which tied the series at 1. Fluffina broke through again at the end of a close game 3, ripping a four-ball run-out to take the 2-1 series win over Lexi. Fluffina will host a former club-mate, the Todavía Stills captain Easter, in round two.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Slinks. A pair of club-mates resumes action after the lunch break in Rotation with the red cue. Westside's Slinks had an impressive four-ball run end with a scratch in game 1, allowing Diamond's Pedey to respond on a five-ball run-out for the 8-4 win. Pedey leads the series 1-0. The Gems' Pedey started well again in game 2 with a four-ball run. The Rockers' Slinks pulled back a bit in the middle of the game, but couldn't extend her attack as Pedey took another 8-4 for the 2-0 series lead. Slinks had a strong four-ball run early in game 3, including a 5-12-13 combination to the bottom right. Slinks couldn't finish it, as Pedey roared back to win 8-6 for the 3-0 series sweep. Pedey is into the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Hannah v. Wario. Castle Derby rivals give it a go in 7-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Hannah scratched in game 1 at an inopportune time, allowing Southridge's Wario to make a trip of tap-ins for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Wario made sure the Flames' Hannah didn't see the table in game 2, getting the 4 to fall on the break very late before he ran the table in seven shots. Wario's brilliant run clinched the series for him at 2-0. Wario completed the sweep on a five-ball run-out in another dominant effort in game 3 that saw Hannah limited to just two shots. Wario's 3-0 series sweep sets him up to face the other Castle Derby rival in the second round, as he'll visit Brownie of the Royal Crowns.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Cobalt. The silver cue is back in action for another 13-ball series. Oceanside's Snuggle had good offense in game 1, but failed to position himself on his last ball. Stonebridge's Cobalt took the cheap possession and used it well to earn the win with a pair of shots for the 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt struck on the break in game 2, but as he searched for a big finishing run, the Waves' Snuggle undercut him. Snuggle banked in his last two shots perfectly and cut the 8 to the bottom left for the win, tying the series at 1. Snuggle had an empty break in game 3, which spread the rack well. Cobalt plucked a five-ball run on his first turn, sending Snuggle into a desperate frenzy. Snuggle picked up four balls, but Cobalt took the win and the 2-1 series win. Cobalt will visit Jake of the Royal Crowns in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor M. v. Cheddar. The silver cue gets another series, playing 9-ball this time. North Modernistic's Cheddar drew up a three-ball run-out at the end of game 1, earning the win despite struggling to get much possession against Eastside's Taylor M. early on. Cheddar is up 1-0 in the series. The Nighthawks' Cheddar again had a couple of early errors in game 2. The Sharks' Taylor M. took a couple of corresponding potshots at the 9, but she missed. Cheddar protected it to the finish to earn the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Taylor M. salvaged one win out of the series in game 3, banking the 9 to the top left to get a win in another close game with Cheddar. In the end, it's a 2-1 series win for Cheddar, who will visit Midnight of the Westside Rockers in round two.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Josie. The blue cue cycles in for Accuracy between Coastal rivals. Oceanside's Josie boldly made an early double-pot, but this loss of the last-shot advantage was costly, as Southern's Dominic won the shorter game 1-2 for a 1-0 series lead after a close battle. Game 2 was significantly sloppier than the first, with the Waves' Josie quickly falling behind. Finishing was difficult as well, but the Monarchs' Dominic eventually emerged with a 4-6 win to seal the series at 2-0. Dominic took a chaotic game 3 battle with Josie, who appeared to give up in frustration near the end of the 2-5 contest. Dominic swept the series 3-0 and will host A. Charlton of the Archtown Arrows in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Gradley. The red cue takes a turn in 13-ball as the host gets her second series of the day. Boston's Gradley had appeared to turn the less favorable distribution from the break into a win in game 1, but it was revealed he had double-potted after the game, which granted the win and 1-0 series lead to Harrison's Lexi on a technicality. The Swifts' Gradley was much more careful with his shot placement in game 2, doing just enough to edge by the Specters' Lexi for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was close throughout, coming down to the bottom side. Lexi did better to shove Gradley out of the way while potting her own ball before putting the 8 away in the top right. Lexi took the series 2-1 and will head to the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Spot. The blue cue is called on for a 9-ball set. Pronger's Spot posted a three-ball run early in game 1, but a struggling start turned into a brilliant finish as Central's Dustin rallied with a three-ball run-out for the win. Dustin leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Dustin lacked a big run in game 2, and his play was still a bit sloppy. The Tridents' Spot capitalized on that, picking up steam late while still playing choppy in the win. Spot's victory tied the series at 1. Dustin took his time to ignite the offense in game 3, but an illegal contact call by Spot served as the catalyst. Dustin broke out with a five-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-1. Dustin is off to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Gradley. Another Trident gets to play host against a foe on his second series of the day, using the red cue for 7-ball. Pronger's Lize left the 7 near the top left from the game 1 break. Both players took swipes in that direction, but Boston's Gradley finished the game with a pair of shots for his win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Lize made sure to take a stand in game 2, striking late against the Swifts' Gradley by making a three-ball run-out for the win. This win helped Lize tie the series at 1. Lize had a three-ball run at one point in game 3 as well, but she fell short of the mark by missing the 7, which Gradley mopped up for the win and 2-1 series win. Gradley is set to visit Twinkie I of the Pacific Volcanoes in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Twinkie III. We're back to 9-ball with the blue cue in this series. Oceanside's Jason V. had the majority of the offense in game 1, including a late four-ball run stalled by missed contact. Whitewater's Twinkie III got ball-in-hand on the 9 and put it in the bottom right for the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Waves' Jason V. again worked a late run, this time a three-ball surge that ended with a miss on the 8. The Shores' Twinkie III converted the last two balls for her win to seal the series at 2-0. Twinkie III showed the youngster how to finish a game, rallying with a five-ball run-out in game 3 to complete the 3-0 sweep of Jason V. Twinkie III will visit the Central Warriors' Dustin in round two.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Gradley. An all-Swifts series in 12-ball is next, using the blue cue. Sweetheart gave away a wild-card ball on the break in game 1, but Gradley wasn't able to do enough on offense to take advantage. Sweetheart's strong play gave her the win and 1-0 lead in the series. Both players had good set-up play in game 2, but Sweetheart just ruined a run by under-hitting a ball. Gradley capitalized by making his last two balls for a narrow win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Gradley got pushed around in game 3, as Sweetheart disrupted him at the bottom side and left him poor positioning late in the game. Sweetheart then put the 3 in the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win that sends her to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Chimpy v. Waluigi. Maligned players clash in today's finale, which is also the silver cue's last 9-ball action of the round. Westside's Chimpy made do with limited possession in game 1, as Web City's Waluigi had an early four-ball run and added more after that. Chimpy's unpredictable win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Chimpy asserted himself better in an even game 2, surging ahead over the Spiders' Waluigi at the end on a three-ball run-out. This secured the series at 2-0 for Chimpy. In game 3, Waluigi had some early moment go his way, but his late play slipped. Chimpy took the win on a tap-in at the bottom side. Chimpy swept the series 3-0, and he will host Mr. Snowman of the Infinity Torpedoes in the second round.
We're likely to feature at least some pool tomorrow and some cricket on Sunday as we transition into the weekend workload.
No comments:
Post a Comment