The first round is scheduled to end today. The first of the final 14 series is...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Taylor S. The blue cue closes out its obligations in 12-ball with the day's opening series. Commerce's Taylor S. got off to a fantastic start in game 1, especially after Southern's Panda had an unfortunate scratch. Taylor S. went unchallenged as she made a late pair for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Both players had four-ball runs in game 2, with the Tradewinds' Taylor S. doing hers from the break. The Monarchs' Panda followed up, and then each made another ball on their next turns. Panda missed contact with his last ball, allowing Taylor S. to pot her last ball on a cross-table shot to the bottom left for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Taylor S. gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, leading to a a fairly easy win for Panda this time. Taylor S. took the series 2-1 and will visit Kitty of the Midland Predators in the second round. Both players advanced four bids.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Mario. A Castle Derby match occurs in 10-ball with the red cue. Royal's Nightfur allowed Queens' Mario to keep possession after his uncalled 5-10-9 combination to the top right. The plan worked, as Nightfur took the win with four balls over her last two turns to go up 1-0 in the series. The Crowns' Nightfur had an empty break in game 2, but after the Flames' Mario tried and failed to cut the 1 to the bottom side, Nightfur popped off with a five-ball run-out. Her winning shot was a deflection off the 4 that bumped the 6 to the top right and sent the 10 to the bottom side for the 2-0 series lead. Nightfur didn't dominate at any stage of game 3, but Mario didn't offer much of a challenge either. Nightfur's simple three-ball run-out secured the 3-0 series sweep that sets her up to host Noelle of the Central Warriors in round two. Nightfur took five bids forward, while Mario has only three advancing.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Lexi. A Northeastern derby ends the blue cue's first round participation with Rotation. Harrison's Lexi led for much of game 1, but fell behind as Everton's Puff III put on a late five-ball run. Lexi wasn't fazed, attacking back to get the 8-7 win for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Lexi had to make a comeback in game 2 as the Eagles' Puff III emerged with the early lead. Lexi accomplished it, battling for the lead throughout the late game before ultimately win 8-7 with a pair of shots. Lexi clinched the series at 2-0 with the effort. Lexi started on a three-ball run in game 3, which Puff III answered with a four-ball run of her own. Lexi then regained the lead and held it for an 8-6 win to sweep the series 3-0. Lexi will visit Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball in the second round with one of her five advancing bids, while Puff III only moved two bids forward.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Dusty. The red cue is finishing up 9-ball in this series between veterans. Westside's Goatee had a majority of the offense in game 1, but her late miss on the 9 allowed Golden's Dusty to poach the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Rockers' Goatee had a majority of the possession again in game 2, but she made it count this time, closing out on a four-ball run-out for the win. This tied the series at 1 game apiece versus the Pilots' Dusty. Goatee scratched on the break and left the 9 near the top right to start game 3. Dusty enjoyed the ball-in-hand, winning with a three-game run-out capped by a deflection off the 3 to tap the 9 down. Dusty won the series 2-1 and will face Steven of the Atlantic Pirates in the second round. Dusty is running eight bids into the next round, while Goatee has only two.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Jennifer. The silver cue gets in on the action with its 13-ball finale for the round. Terrace City's Jennifer kept pace with Boston's Puff II initially in game 1, leading to a close finish. Jennifer pulled away for the win on a three-ball run-out, giving her the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer had a scratch on the break of game 2, and again late in a close battle. This gave the Swifts' Puff II enough time to set up and convert the 8 at the bottom side for the win to tie the series at 1. Puff II made two balls for Jennifer in game 3, but Jennifer repaid half of that debt in a fast-moving race to the finish. Puff II would get good positioning for the final pair of shots and the win, which helped her advance on a 2-1 series win. Puff II is hosting the Tysini Hummingbirds rookie Sarah in the second round, one of the host's seven advancing bids.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Bryant. The beginning of a marathon afternoon of silver-cue 15-ball begins with these club-mates. Atlantic's Steven featured an early four-ball run in game 1, while Maplewood's Bryant didn't find much success with runs. Steven would go to win after making three of the last four balls, taking a 1-0 series lead in the process. The Pirates' Steven failed to lock it down in game 2 after a positive start. As such, the Lumberjacks' Bryant was able to corral the 15 for a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 started with mixed results for both players, but it was Bryant who broke through on a five-ball run-out for the win. Bryant took the series 2-1 and will visit the Todavía Stills' Bells in the second round. Bryant has six advancing bids, while Steven takes five forward.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Kitty. An aggressive sophomore hosts a passive rookie in 8-ball, the silver cue's last turn in the event. Midland's Kitty fell behind at first in game 1 as Oceanside's Josie found moderate success. Josie's offense dried up by the end of the game, and Kitty was able to rally for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie harnessed her desperation effectively in game 2, posting a seven-ball run on her first turn. The Predators' Kitty answered on a four-ball run, but Josie collected the 8 on the next turn for a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a more balanced battle between the players, which saw Josie get her edge late on a three-ball run-out to complete the comeback in a 2-1 series win. Josie will host the Golden Pilots' Sparkles in round two. Josie moved three bids to the next round while Kitty has five.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Cowzart. The silver cue stays in action for 15-ball. Pacific's Cowzart managed a decent effort in a sloppy game 1, but his near-scratch on the 11 led to an actual scratch as he made the 13. Terrace City's Oreo poked the 15 to the bottom side from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Volcanoes' Cowzart took a few hits in game 2, as the Knights' Oreo baited him into many bad positions. Oreo's scratch reversed their fortunes, and Cowzart was able to scamper away with a seven-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Oreo had a game-making run, sinking twelve straight after Cowzart scratched on the break. However, Oreo's second attempt in the 15 saw her scratch the game right into Cowzart's hands, as the visitor won the series 2-1. Cowzart goes on to face Puff III of the Everton Eagles in the second round. Cowzart advanced seven bids while Oreo moved on with four.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Wild Thing v. Nikolai. The red cue makes its last appearance of the round in 10-ball. Stonebridge's Wild Thing maintained a threatening attack in game 1, but Freedom's Nikolai was able to get a three-ball run-out at the end for the win to take the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai controlled the pace of play in game 2, with six balls over two turns before an inexcusable miss on the 9 at the bottom side. Nikolai's mistake allowed the Wolves' Wild Thing to find life with a pair of shots for the win, which tied the series at 1. Wild Thing scratched on the break after letting the 10 get really close to the bottom right. Nikolai then made the 1-8 combination to the top side, but made illegal contact before potting the 1 later. Wild Thing swooped in with a 2-10 combination to the bottom right, the obvious shot serving as the 2-1 series winner. Wild Thing is set to host Ice Cream of the Boston Swifts in the second round. Wild Thing has a full set of nine bids in the next round, while Nikolai owns five.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Paps. The silver cue will have the last five series, all in 15-ball, starting right here. Terrace City's Quincy had the better attack in game 1, but not by a whole lot as Tysini's Paps challenged at times but mostly struggled. Quincy won on a five-ball run-out to take a 1-0 lead in the series. In game 2, the Knights' Quincy tried to control play with a three-ball run, but the Hummingbirds' Paps sneaked a 4-15 combination to the top right to get the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went down to the wire, and it was a back-and-forth battle, but it just flipped to Quincy as he shelved the 15 at the bottom left for the 2-1 win over Paps. Quincy will host the Freedom Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Both players take five bids to the next round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Easter. The 15-ball marathon continues between these veterans. Golden's Sparkles didn't deliver a very good break to start game 1, leading to some stagnant offense. When it was all said and done, Todavía's Easter broke through for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Sparkles ended up on the right side of a back-and-forth finish to game 2, making a double-pot while scratching, then adding a pair after the Stills' Easter saw her three-ball run come up short on the 14. Sparkles' win tied the series at 1. Sparkles didn't have enough in the tank in game 3, as Easter rallied at the end on a four-ball run-out to claim the win. Easter took the series 2-1, and she will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters' Sprinkles in round two. Each played advanced five bids to the next round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Dani. The third of five straight 15-ball series is here. Maplewood's Summer decided game 1 didn't need to go the distance, deflecting a shot hard off the 7 to pound the 15 to the top right for the 1-0 series lead over Viewpoint Sound's Dani. The Meteors' Dani made a strong attack late in game 2 with a four-ball run, and added more on her next turn, but it didn't work out. The Lumberjacks' Summer held on for the win to clinch the series at 2-0 after converting three of the last four balls. Dani took a bit of a cheap win in game 3 to avoid the sweep, shooting the 3-15 combination to the bottom right after Summer made illegal contact. Summer still won the series 2-1, and she will host the Queens Flames' Hannah in the second round. Both players advance six bids to the next round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Cheddar. Urban rivals and club-mates meet in the next 15-ball set. Commerce's Solaris was a bit lucky to win game 1, struggling throughout alongside North Modernistic's Cheddar. It was Cheddar's late miss on the 15 that allowed Solaris the winning tap-in to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Nighthawks' Cheddar opened things up with a five-ball run in game 2, but the Tradewinds' Solaris shot right back on a three-ball run. Solaris found his second wind just in time with a five-ball run-out to secure the series at 2-0. Cheddar again found a five-ball run in game 3, but it was too early to affect the outcome. Solaris roared back with six balls over his last two turns to get the win, claiming a 3-0 series sweep. Solaris will play host to the Boston Swifts superstar Patches in the second round. Solaris moves on with five bids while Cheddar takes four.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Jennifer. The final series of the first round is this 15-ball match. Midland's Americus and Terrace City's Jennifer kept it even early in game 1, and then each player had a three-ball run near the end. Jennifer's run ended in a scratch, allowing Americus to collect the 15 from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus didn't do anything to control game 2, and this allowed the Knights' Jennifer to redeem herself with a four-ball run-out. Jennifer's win tied the series at 1 heading into the last game of the round. Jennifer finished off game 3 early with a 4-15 combination to the top right, stunning Americus as Jennifer won the series 2-1. Jennifer will visit Commerce Tradewinds veteran Niki in the second round, giving her three advancing bids compared to Americus' four.
That's all for the first round. With any luck, we'll finish off administrative work for both pool and cricket over the weekend and be right back at it for the start of the second round and the Hutton Cup on Monday.
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