Another day of pool is on the way. First up...
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Summer. The blue cue gets the first appearance today, playing 10-ball. Web City's Ted enjoyed a late five-ball run, but he left the 10 standing at the bottom right, and Maplewood's Summer poached the win by tapping it in. Summer leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Summer made much more impact in game 2, starting strong. The Spiders' Ted tried to keep up, but Summer banked the 4 to the top side and deflected the 10 to the bottom right on a double-pot for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Ted didn't leave the series empty-handed, picking up the game 3 win on a strong performance. Summer took the series 2-1 and will visit North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Ted. The visitor plays his second straight series as the silver cue wraps up its Accuracy obligations for the round. Golden's Strut made a ball on the break in game 1, and he stayed a step ahead of Web City's Ted for much of the game. Strut just held on at the end for the 3-5 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted organized his play much better in game 2, missing only once and forcing the Pilots' Strut into some late trouble. Ted pressed for the 1-3 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Ted and Strut played a tense and close game 3, which eventually spilled into overtime. Here, Strut missed on the break, and Ted made a shot for the 4-5 win to take the series 2-1. Ted will visit this venue again to face the Pilots' Max in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Stinky. The blue cue is back for this Rotation series. Midland's Fuchsia made a positive start in game 1, but struggled a bit on the 4 after Freedom's Stinky made a shot. Fuchsia eventually used ball-in-hand after Stinky's scratch, running four straight shots for the 8-2 win and 1-0 series lead, including the winning bank of the 9 to the bottom right. The Predators' Fuchsia went empty on the game 2 break, but turned an illegal contact foul from the Cascades' Stinky into her own eight-ball run-out. Fuchsia's monster second turn for the 8-0 win sealed the series at 2-0. Fuchsia and Stinky went back-and-forth throughout game 3, with Stinky making the final pair to emerge with an 8-7 win. Fuchsia settled for a 2-1 series win to punch her ticket to round two.
Apple Center, Todavía: Ruby v. Nicole. The red cue draws in this time for 10-ball. Lighton's Nicole enjoyed a hefty chunk of possession in game 1, including a five-ball run, but she left the 10 standing. Todavía's Ruby struck it to the top left from medium range for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Ruby posted a three-ball run-out to cap a close game 2 that saw the Prestige's Nicole enjoy a bit more of the early offense. Ruby's good finish here secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Ruby lowered the intensity a bit in game 3, but still picked up the win in a chippy finish as Nicole missed a bank toward the top left. Ruby swept the series 3-0, and she'll host Midland Predators captain Shawn in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Taylor S. The blue cue completes its 10-ball slate after the break. Maplewood's Bryant left the 10 near the top right on the break in game 1, but Commerce's Taylor S. never managed to line up a combination. When she illegally potted the 8, Bryant made the 4-10 combination instead for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Bryant again struggled early in game 2, allowing a little possession to the Tradewinds' Taylor S. That came to an end when Bryant ripped a five-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Bryant looked okay in game 3, but it was a remarkable 7-10 cut combination to the bottom right that gave Taylor S. her lone win of the series. Bryant won the series 2-1 and will host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Salmo. An experienced captain takes on a journeyman in Rotation with the silver cue. Westside's Misty made her presence felt with an early four-ball run, and when Southern's Salmo failed to counter it, Misty coasted to her 8-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a tale of two misses, as the Monarchs' Salmo missing the 4 allowed the Rockers' Misty to open up a large lead, but Misty's late flub on the 11 paved the way for Salmo's five-ball run-out. Salmo took the game 8-7 to tie the series at 1. Salmo stormed ahead quickly in game 3, balancing his offense well. Misty went on a three-ball run to get closer, but Salmo won 8-3 and will advance with a 2-1 series win. Salmo is set to visit the Golden Pilots' Sparkles in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Fuchsia. The visitor gets her second series today in 13-ball with the red cue. Midland's Fuchsia looked good initially, but Diamond's Smokey turned it around by double-potting the 12 and 9 to the bottom side and bottom right on his three-ball run. Smokey stayed patient and picked up the win eventually, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Gems' Smokey again managed an early three-ball run in game 2, putting the Predators' Fuchsia under pressure. Positioning was a challenge in the late-game, with Smokey doing a little better to earn the win, which clinched the series at 2-0. Smokey again posted a three-ball run at the start of game 3, and after some tricky maneuvering, he breezed by Fuchsia after her late scratch. Smokey swept the series 3-0 and will host Bandit of the Swordpoint Blades in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Leonette. The red cue stays in action as we return to 10-ball. Westside's Slinks made three balls on the break in game 1 as part of her four-ball run, but the offense went cold after that. Pacific's Leonette picked up her pace at the end, making the 10 to the top right for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had the better of play in game 2, but she missed the 9 to the top left at the end. The Rockers' Slinks took the last two balls, overcoming earlier struggles to pick up the win, tying the series at 1. Slinks made the first two and the last two in game 3, controlling the ends to stop Leonette. Slinks' 2-1 series win sets her up to face former teammate and another Volcano in Cowzart in round two.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Charli. Another series with the red cue is next, in 13-ball. Golden's Dusty made a ball on the break in game 1, and then added a four-ball run-out after Tysini's Charli accidentally potted one of Dusty's balls. Dusty's dominant win puts her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Dusty had a similar start in game 2, but a scratch sidetracked her effort. The Hummingbirds' Charli pounced on the vulnerability, converting a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Charli stormed ahead quickly in game 3, but Dusty played a vicious defense at the top side to block Charli, who was unwilling to cede a ball. Charli eventually got on the 8, but she scratched as she made it to the bottom side, gifting Dusty the win and 2-1 series win. Dusty will host Jack of the Web City Spiders in the second round. Charli will have three bids left in the next round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Kodiak v. Jake. The blue cue takes a turn in 15-ball here. Game 1 was defined by short, chippy runs and burst. Royal's Jake had a three-ball run near the end, but his bank on the 15 got jammed. Modernistic's Kodiak struck it to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was sloppier for both players, as virtually no runs developed throughout the game. The Union's Kodiak tried to bank the 15 to the bottom left at the end, but missed, and the Crowns' Jake tapped it in for the win to tie the series at 1. Kodiak had a five-ball run late in another choppy game 3 effort, but scratched as he made the 13. Jake then stepped in, making the final pair from ball-in-hand for the win and 2-1 series win. Jake heads to a second round series on the road against Southern Monarchs captain Panda.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Daisy. The blue cue stays on for this 9-ball series. Modernistic's Daisy didn't appear to have much offense initially, but she worked a four-ball run only stalled by a late scratch. Commerce's Solaris took the 9 from ball-in-hand to the top right to get the win and 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Tradewinds' Solaris took a little more control of his destiny in game 2, turning a miss on the 4 from the Union's Daisy into his own three-ball run-out. Solaris' winning shot was a 6-9 combination to the top right to seal the series at 2-0. Solaris took a couple of swipes at the 9 early in game 3, but he missed the 7 later on, and Daisy made the final pair to salvage a win from the series. Solaris took a 2-1 series win, and he'll host Whiskers of the Maplewood Lumberjacks in round two.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Snowball. Back in 13-ball with the red cue, a daughter hosts her own mother. Swordpoint's Snowball put the 8 in a tough spot at the top right in game 1, attempting to use it defensively. Royal's Brownie played cautiously and dodged Snowball's defense at the end, a brilliant kick on the 8 tapping it down for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Brownie was close to getting the win after a three-ball run in game 2, but she had no plans for the 8. The Blades' Snowball, in desperation mode, made a four-ball run-out that including banking the 2 to the top side while maintaining position. This bold attack tied the series at 1. In game 3, Brownie made seven balls over four turns, keeping a steady stream of offense. Her best came for the win, as she poked her last ball to the top right, removing Snowball's defense before cutting the 8 to the same pocket for the win. Brownie's 2-1 series win lines her up to host Shawn of the Midland Predators in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Mario. The red cue stays up again for 15-ball. Queens' Mario, fed up with the slow pace of game 1, threw the cue into a cluster, ricocheting off the 4 to take the 15 at the top right. Mario took a 1-0 series lead over Southern's Pounce, who was left stunned by the play. The Monarchs' Pounce had a couple of clever shots in game 2, but he missed a 6-15 combination to the top right. He left it well aligned for the Flames' Mario, who succeeded where Pounce failed. Mario's win this time sealed the series at 2-0. Pounce had a mid-game surge with a five-ball run, but he was rattled after narrowly missing the 11-12 combination to the bottom right. Mario eventually spiked the last two balls down to get the win for a 3-0 series sweep. Mario will head to Oceanside for a United Derby against the Waves' Celestia in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Zach. More 15-ball closes out the day as Eastern Hills rivals clash with the blue cue. Freedom's Stripes had the better of play in game 1, including a late four-ball run that ended with a miss on the 15. Pronger's Zach mopped it up for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach was stronger in game 2, but the result didn't reflect that. The Cascades' Stripes made sure to be clinical at the end, deflecting off the 14 to put the 15 away at the bottom right for the win. Stripes tied the series at 1. Game 3 was as close as it gets, with Stripes double-potting the 13 and 14 to the left corners, but she missed the 15 three times. Zach eventually cut it to the bottom right for the win to take the series 2-1. Zach will visit Rosalina of the Whitewater Shores in the second round. Stripes has four advancing bids.
That's all for today. We're likely to play tomorrow, and then take Saturday off for cricket. Pool would resume on Sunday.
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