Today's the start of a new week of pool action, beginning with...
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Strawberry. The red cue draws in first today for a series of Rotation. Stonebridge's Hershey gained an edge in game 1 with a three-ball run, and he didn't let go, holding off Victoria's Strawberry for the 8-5 win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Strawberry didn't stay down for long, orchestrating an eight-ball run-out quickly in game 2 with plenty of deflections, double-pots, and positioning. The quick 8-0 win tied the series at 1 with the Wolves' Hershey. Hershey came back from Strawberry's initial three-ball run with a four-ball run of his own, but Strawberry surged to an 8-6 win on a fortunate four-ball run-out. Strawberry took the series 2-1 and will play in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Leonardo. The silver cue gets a turn now, playing Accuracy. Oceanside's Celestia fell behind with an unlucky miss in game 1, and failed again late as Diamond's Leonardo escaped with a 2-3 win for the 1-0 series lead despite not playing his best. Leonardo had an unspectacular break in game 2, but he made it work, saving his only miss for late in the game. The Waves' Celestia had a chance to make it interesting at the end, but she missed her shot, and Leonardo would win 1-3 to seal the series at 2-0. Celestia made a triple-pot, cutting the 3 to the bottom side and deflecting the 6 to the bottom right and the 10 to the top side in a stunning game 3 shot. It paved the way for a fast-paced game that saw Celestia take her only win by a 0-2 score. Leonardo settled for a 2-1 series win to get into the second round, where he'll visit Sleepy B. of the Archtown Arrows.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Waluigi. The silver cue stays in action for 8-ball now. Web City's Waluigi made an impact quickly in game 1, with a four-ball run and a three-ball run on his first two turns. Golden's Strut had no answer as Waluigi easily took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut held the lead for much of game 2, but it still seems like he got off easy when the Spiders' Waluigi missed the 8 late in the game. Strut put it away for the close win to tie the series at 1. Strut had a five-ball run early in game 3, but Waluigi clawed back to get first dibs on the 8. He missed it, putting it on the edge of the top left for Strut to tap in on the next turn. Strut won the series 2-1 and will host Sydney S. of the Harrison Specters in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Rosalina. Before the break, the red cue comes back for 9-ball between Urban rivals. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy struck quickly in game 1, making the 1 to the bottom left, the 6 to the top right, and the 9 in the bottom right for a win off the break for the 1-0 series lead over Whitewater's Rosalina. The Union's Ms. Puppy needed a little more effort in game 2, making two on the break for a four-ball run, and then smashing a five-ball run-out after the Shores' Rosalina missed her only shot of the game on the 5. Ms. Puppy clinched the series at 2-0 with the dominant win. Game 3 saw Ms. Puppy's grip slacken even more, as she still made two on the break but never really had a run. Rosalina actually got the win on a three-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Ms. Puppy's 2-1 series win sends to round two, where she'll host Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Shelley. Club-mates go to battle in 12-ball with the silver cue after the daily break. Infinity's Shelley took stripes in game 1, using a four-ball run on her second turn. Southern's Mams was never in position to catch up as Shelley cruised to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley again used the delayed burst to get the win in game 2, waiting a couple of turns before racking up a four-ball run. The Monarchs' Mams was again unprepared to counter it, and Shelley marched away to a 2-0 series lead. Shelley made a ball on the break in game 3, but she couldn't corral her final ball as Mams worked a faster attack for the win. Shelley took the series 2-1, and she'll return home as a visitor to her Torpedoes teammate Mr. Snowman in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Sleepy B. A pair of veterans meet in 9-ball with the blue cue. Neither played could get a strong grip on game 1, with Midland's Rainmane looking good early but Archtown's Sleepy B. there to pot the 9 at the end in the top right. Sleepy B. leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Sleepy B. had to sit back for much of game 2, especially during a five-ball run from the Predators' Rainmane. The run came up short with a missed cut on the 7, and Sleepy B. made it and then banked the 9 to the top left for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Sleepy B. pieced together a late three-ball run in game 3, but she missed on the 9 on a tough cut. Rainmane converted for the win, while Sleepy B. took the series 2-1 to set up a second-round series with the Eastside Sharks' Gizmo.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Wings. The red cue cycles back at the halfway point of the day, playing 12-ball. Lighton's Acorn gave away a wild-card ball on the break and made another early mistake but still nearly won. However, Central's Wings was meticulous in positioning and used Acorn's missed contact to spark his own four-ball run-out, which gave Wings the 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn got ahead with shots at the sides in game 2, but the Warriors' Wings refused to go quietly. Wings pushed back and got positioning at the end, converting a pair of shots for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Wings gave away a wild-card ball late in game 3, but Acorn had no clear shot and set up Wings' final pair of shots for the win. Wings swept the series 3-0 and will visit a former teammate, the Pearl Surfers' Neopolitan, in round two.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Sage. A couple of durable sophomores meet in 9-ball with the red cue. Victoria's Sage struggled with consistency in game 1, but still put up a three-ball run late. She missed the 9, leading to Royal's Cassie poking it away at the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the roles reversed, as the Crowns' Cassie made two on the break and another four-ball run to be threatening at the end. She missed the 7, and the Spurs' Sage took over for the final pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Sage post some strong offense in the middle of the game, but Cassie snagged the last two balls this time, taking the win and 2-1 series win. Cassie will host Sweetheart of the Boston Swifts in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Gal. The red cue remains in action for this Rotation series. Commerce's Niki made a four-ball run early in game 1, while North Modernistic's Gal double-potted the 6 to the bottom side and 9 to the top right to tie it. Down the stretch, Niki surged again, winning 8-5 for the 1-0 series lead. A closer start to game 2 left the Tradewinds' Niki in a tough position after her scratch. The Nighthawks' Gal made sure Niki wouldn't recover, smashing in a six-ball run-out for the 8-3 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. In game 3, Gal started with a four-ball run, including a tricky double-pot of the 3 and 4 early on. Niki got one back, but Gal fired off a four-ball run-out to seal an 8-1 win at the end. Gal's 2-1 series win sets her up to visit Strawberry of the Victoria Spurs in the second round, one of her six advancing bids.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Wario v. Hughbert. The host welcomes the player he replaced in this Accuracy series with the silver cue. Neither player had the strongest grip on game 1, but Southridge's Wario trailed for most of the game and ended up losing 4-5 to Infinity's Hughbert, who took the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Wario did a better job of settling down in game 2, while the Torpedoes' Hughbert scratched on the first and last shots of the game. Wario took the win 2-5 and tied the series at 1. The Defenders' Wario stayed on track in game 3, holding back Hughbert in a close finish. Wario won the game 1-3 and took the series 2-1. He will host Lighton Prestige star Spirit in round two with one of his seven successful bids.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Sierra. More Accuracy is on the way, with the blue cue in action this time. Todavía's Sierra never really looked comfortable in game 1, trailing from the very start. Atlantic's Isabella faded at the end but held on to win 3-6 for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra failed to correct her issues from before, struggling again as the Pirates' Isabella stayed steady for the 3-5 win this time. Isabella had clinched the series at 2-0, albeit unconvincingly on the merits of her play. Isabella showed no fear in game 3 despite Sierra's defiant play this time. Sierra missed a couple of shots in the mid-game and Isabella hung on for a 1-2 win to sweep the series 3-0. Isabella will host Boston Swifts captain Patches in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Shaggy. The blue cue stays in action, now playing 15-ball between Aquatic Derby rivals. Pearl's Bright had the clear possession advantage in game 1, especially later on when he had a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out to earn the win, sandwiching the surges around a scratch from Whitewater's Shaggy. Bright leads the series at 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy had something to prove in game 2, making the first four and the last four balls on separate runs. The Surfers' Bright couldn't stop Shaggy, whose win tied the series at 1. The 15 spent most of game 3 situated in the crosshairs of both players' shots. It still took until an 11-15 combination to the bottom left from Bright to put it away, which gave the host his 2-1 series win. Bright will host Mitchell of the Victoria Spurs in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Citrus. The silver cue takes its turn, this time playing Rotation. Pronger's Potter led for much of game 1 but stalled out around the middle. Lighton's Citrus slowly gained strength and took over, ultimately winning 8-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Citrus took her time to get started in game 2, but the Tridents' Potter failed to apply early pressure. When Citrus started, it was a five-ball run, and she coasted to the 8-0 win from there, clinching the series at 2-0. Citrus again made a hot start in game 3, but she couldn't sustain it to the end. Potter rallied back and used defense to keep Citrus at bay as he took the 8-5 win. Citrus still won the series 2-1, and she'll visit North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in round two with the last of her six bids to advance.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Hannah. The day's finale is in 13-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Hannah had a good start to game 1, but Terrace City's Oreo played for positioning. Oreo took over with a four-ball run, and then made the 8 after Hannah scratched. Oreo's push gave her a win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Flames' Hannah tried a positional counterattack in game 2, making a four-ball run, but she needed more than that. The Knights' Oreo defended well for a couple of turns and then struck in the winning shot on the 8 to the bottom right to seal the series at 2-0. Hannah finally completed an effort in game 3, as Oreo took her foot off the gas a bit. Oreo won the series 2-1 and will host Vincent of the Tysini Hummingbirds in the second round.
That's it for today. We'll go again tomorrow, hopefully with a bit more speed due to commitments after the scheduled pool time.
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