Today is the last day before a scheduled break on Saturday for pool activity. Leading off...
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Acorn. Former club-mates do battle in 13-ball with the blue cue for the first series today. Lighton's Acorn cranked a four-ball run on his second turn in game 1, stunning Diamond's Leonardo. Acorn then made a pair on his next turn for the win to take a 1-0 series lead in a quick game. The Prestige's Acorn had a sloppy performance in the middle of game 2, but corrected course on a three-ball run near the end. Unfortunately for him, the Gems' Leonardo struck for a three-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. In game 3, both players made a couple balls for each other. Acorn benefited the most from this, pulling away at the end after Leonardo couldn't corral his final ball. Acorn won the series 2-1 and will visit Kodiak of the Modernistic Union in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Bells. The red cue draws in after the break for a series of Accuracy. Both players were sharp in game 1, but Todavía's Bells struggled a little at the end and Freedom's Stinky held on for the 1-2 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky missed first in game 2, but he wouldn't flub a shot again. The Stills' Bells faded at the end of the game, allowing Stinky to take another win by a 1-3 score this time. Stinky leads the series 2-0. In game 3, Stinky again took an early miss, but he kept himself steady as Bells dropped off late again. Stinky's 1-3 win secured a 3-0 series sweep in his favor, which sets him up to host Brownie of the Royal Crowns in the second round with one of his five advancing bids.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Ted. The red cue gets another spin in 7-ball between Junior club-mates. Both players had scratched in game 1 as they attempted positioning. Tysini's Sarah saw her scratch prove more costly as Web City's Ted turned the ball-in-hand into a three-ball run-out for the win. Ted leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Ted came close to deflecting a kick off the 1 to push the 7 near the bottom right, but the Hummingbirds' Sarah would take the game later on a 3-7 double-pot combination to the same pocket for the win. Sarah tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw a return of the scratches, as Sarah sank the cue while shooting the 6. Ted made the 6, but scratched as he cut the 7 to the top side, gifting the win and 2-1 series win to Sarah, who will host Fluffina of the Infinity Torpedoes in a Southwestern rivalry match in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Debby. The blue cue is back for this 13-ball set. Capital City's Missy made the 5 at the bottom side on the break and never looked back, staying steps ahead of Southridge's Debby throughout game 1. Missy easily won for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy looked good at first in game 2, but the Defenders' Debby leapt forward and won on a three-ball run-out after good positional play. Debby's quick attacks for the win tied the series at 1. Missy had a positive start in game 3, but she missed twice on the 8. Debby had played a long positioning game and it paid off with a three-ball run-out for the win. Debby took the series 2-1 and will visit Melissa of the Terrace City Knights in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby v. Vincent. The silver cue's first series today is its last 10-ball set of the round. Tysini's Vincent had a few good moments in game 1, but he couldn't make it work, as Southridge's Debby converted the 10 to the bottom left on her second try. Debby owns a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Debby left the 10 near the top right early in game 2, and while the Hummingbirds' Vincent took a couple of swipes in that direction, he couldn't connect. Debby did convert a 6-10 combination for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Debby didn't have her best go in game 3, while Vincent quickly struck the 3-10 combination to the bottom right to salvage a win. Debby won the series 2-1 and will host Bandit of the Swordpoint Blades in round two. Debby has six advancing bids while Vincent takes four in the next round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow v. Celestia. The silver cue stays in action for a 7-ball series between greats of their generations. Diamond's Shadow and Oceanside's Celestia displayed their shared heady playing style, although Celestia didn't think far enough ahead in game 1. Her miss on the 7 allowed Shadow to take it for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia settled in better in game 2, making a pair of three-ball runs around the Gems' Shadow kicking the 4 to the bottom right. Celestia's dominant offense gave her a win to tie the series at 1. Shadow had an early four-ball run in game 3, but his miss on the 4 left a three-ball run-out for Celestia to convert. Celestia won the series 2-1 and she'll visit the Todavía Stills' Ruby in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Gradley. A niece and uncle go in another family battle, this one in 9-ball with the blue cue. Southridge's Bianca weathered a storm from Boston's Gradley in game 1 before churning out a four-ball run-out on her own. Bianca's strong finish gave her a 1-0 lead in the series. The Defenders' Bianca did her attacking early in game 2 with a five-ball run, but the Swifts' Gradley made a three-ball run-out, including a two-rail kick on the 9 to the top left, to get the win. Gradley tied the series at 1 game apiece. Bianca again managed a decent run in the middle of game 3, only to fade as Gradley put up a three-ball run-out for the win. Gradley's 2-1 series win gives him a road series versus Sparkles of the Golden Pilots in a second-round Southeastern Derby. Gradley has seven bids remaining, while Bianca takes six into the next round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Nicole v. Pedey. The red cue cycles back into action for a 13-ball series. Lighton's Nicole made a stripe on the break and then sparred with Diamond's Pedey early in game 1. Nicole eventually overpowered her opponent, striking a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Nicole struck again on the break in game 2, but it was a much more free-flowing game. The Gems' Pedey had a three-ball run that Nicole successfully answered by banking the 7 to the bottom left to solve her positioning problem. Nicole had four balls over two turns at the end for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Nicole made a four-ball run early in game 3, but she was too hesitant on the 8, buying Pedey enough time to make a three-ball run-out for his lone win. Nicole took the series 2-1, and she'll host Isabella of the Atlantic Pirates in the second round. Pedey has only three advancing bids.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Jack. The red cue goes again, this time in Accuracy. Shooting was casual on both sides in game 1, with Pacific's Twinkie I ending up missing contact late in a close battle. Web City's Jack closed up a 4-5 win from there despite lacking quality in his own shots, but he was good enough for a 1-0 series lead. The players started a little cleaner in game 2, but that was all gone by the end. The Spiders' Jack missed multiple opportunities to grab the win, and ended up losing 5-6 in overtime as the Volcanoes' Twinkie I held on just long enough to tie the series at 1. Twinkie I finally strapped in for game 3, playing her best game of the series to hold off Jack in a 2-3 win. Twinkie I took the series 2-1 and will host Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris in the second round with one of her five advancing bids.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Hoot. Coastal leaders battle in 7-ball with the silver cue. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot looked really good with a four-ball run in game 1, but he sent the 7 wide of the top left, and Pearl's Neopolitan tapped it in to poach the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Surfers' Neopolitan had a much greater impact in game 2, winning with a three-ball run-out that saw her deflect off the 4 to tap the 7 into the bottom side. This came after a slow start from the Meteors' Hoot, and Neopolitan's win was enough to win the series at 2-0. Neopolitan controlled the offense for much of game 3, spreading it over a few turns as she beat Hoot one more time to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Neopolitan will host Pedey of the Diamond Gems in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Spice v. Boots. Different generations, same club as these two meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Spice needed a little time to get going in game 1, but without much of a challenge from Pearl's Boots, Spice was able to eventually make a six-ball run-out. Spice's win gives her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots cranked a ridiculous early winner in game 2, a 1-15 combination deflecting off the 5 to the top left, while the cue knocked the 13 in for a double-pot. Boots tied the series at 1 while the Spurs' Spice tried to pick her jaw up off the floor. Spice recovered well in game 3, avoiding any shenanigans with Boots. Spice then executed seven balls over two turns to grab the win, taking the series 2-1. Spice will take on a fellow captain, the Swordpoint Blades' Snowball, in round two.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Wings. The red cue is back now for a Rotation series. Diamond's Smokey had a steady stream of offense in game 1, while Central's Wings missed a number of shots he could have made. Smokey cruised to the win at 8-1, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Wings put up a bit more of a fight in game 2, but he was still a little too sloppy to be effective. The Gems' Smokey finished off the game with a three-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to seal the series at 2-0. Wings made no mistakes in game 3, pummeling an early five-ball run and adding a three-ball run-out capped by an 8-15 combination to the top right for the 8-0 over Smokey. The series went 2-1 to Smokey, who will host an Eastern Hills rival in the Freedom Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Wings advanced four bids to the next round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Waluigi. The blue cue is set to administer an Accuracy series. Midland's Rainmane scratched on the break of game 1, but she settled down well as Web City's Waluigi made a mess of the late-game. Rainmane ended up winning 3-4 to take the early 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Waluigi did a better job of keeping up in game 2, missing only twice, but the Predators' Rainmane only had a scratch on the break to sully her performance in a 1-2 win. Rainmane sealed the series at 2-0 with the dominant effort. Game 3 went into overtime, where Rainmane missed twice while holding the break shot, but Waluigi missed three times, giving Rainmane the 5-6 win. Rainmane swept the series 3-0 and will host Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Leonette. Closing out the week, the blue cue is on hand for 9-ball. Todavía's Bells had a majority of the offense in game 1, making four balls over her last two turns and using defensive positioning. Pacific's Leonette broke the defense to make the 8, and then cut the 9 to the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had a pair of three-ball runs end in scratches in game 2, the mistakes piling up too high. The Stills' Bells shot back on a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 went quickly, with a four-ball run from Leonette over the middle canceled out by Bells making a three-ball run-out for the win. Bells took the series 2-1 and will host Shadow of the Diamond Gems in the second round with one of her four remaining bids.
Tomorrow, UPCL Premier cricket is likely to end its regular season, followed by pool on Sunday. Administrative duties will be carried out before the Hutton Cup playoffs begin.
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