Tournament 2019 - Round 2 Day 12

Today's the last day before a rare midweek break. We'll play the usual allotment, beginning with...

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Hoot. The silver cue will lead off the day in 8-ball. Freedom's Stripes started with a six-ball run on her second turn, but Viewpoint Sound's Hoot would answer with a three-ball run and a five-ball run-out to get the game 1 win. Hoot's kick on the 8 to the top side was the winning shot to put him ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw the pace tick down slightly, with the Meteors' Hoot lacking any big runs while attempting to use a steady offense. The Cascades' Stripes countered with a four-ball run-out at the end, good for a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 went down to the wire, with Hoot getting onto the 8 but missing, only for Stripes to bank the 9 to the top side before depositing the 8 at the top right. Stripes won the series 2-1 to get into the third round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Shelley. On the coast, the blue cue comes on for Accuracy. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty made a pair on the break in game 1, but two scratches and other misses piled up, allowing Infinity's Shelley to win by a 1-4 score. Shelley leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw an ugly break from the Torpedoes' Shelley, but she benefited from it as the Meteors' Frosty stumbled early. Shelley slipped soon after, but held on for a 3-6 win as Frosty couldn't stay on track. Shelley clinched the series at 2-0. Shelley made a pair on the break in game 3, but it didn't hold up for long. Shelley fell behind and Frosty showed no mercy in her 1-2 win to avoid the sweep. A 2-1 series win puts Shelley into the third round.

T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Sage v. Bright. The silver cue is back, this time in 10-ball. Originally, the host was listed as Sugar, which was an input error on the schedule. Pearl's Bright showed no mercy on an eight-ball run-out, correcting course after both he and Victoria's Sage started quite slowly. Bright's big run gave him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Surfers' Bright make a pair on the break and a four-ball run-out, showing his positional mastery in another dominant effort. The Spurs' Sage is out of it as Bright holds a 2-0 series lead. Sage had a little larger portion of the offense in game 3, but a late miss on the 9 wasted the effort. Bright made the final pair of balls for the win and 3-0 series sweep to get to round three.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Cheddar. An Urban Derby in 7-ball also uses the silver cue. Commerce's Rosemary did well in game 1, making a pair at the start and the finish to hold off North Modernistic's Cheddar. Rosemary's win gave her a 1-0 lead in the series. The Nighthawks' Cheddar bounced back with a cool head in game 2, grappling at first with the Tradewinds' Rosemary before finding a four-ball run-out. Cheddar's strong finish tied the series at 1. Rosemary had a six-ball run in game 3, but she twice missed on the 7. Cheddar mopped it up on her second try at the bottom right, taking the series 2-1 in the process. Cheddar will visit another Urban rival in Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the third round.

FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Luigi. The blue cue cycles back in for 9-ball. Eastside's Graham earned a quick win in game 1 with a three-ball run-out on his second turn. He used two combinations, including a tough 2-9 to the top left to get the win and 1-0 series lead over North Modernistic's Luigi. The Sharks' Graham didn't gain as much traction in game 2, as the Nighthawks' Luigi posted a pair of three-ball runs to get the win. Luigi's bursts of offense tied the series at 1. Luigi had a poor look at the 7 in game 3, unable to keep himself in possession of the ball. Graham took over for a three-ball run-out to snag the close win, which gave the host a 2-1 series win as well. Graham will play in the third round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Shiny. The host's second series of the day is in 8-ball with the red cue. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty started slow with a scratch on the game 1 break, allowing Lighton's Shiny to get onto the 8 quickly. Shiny stalled too soon, and Frosty made six balls over her last two turns for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit different, with the Meteors' Frosty starting well, only to see the Prestige's Shiny rally on a six-ball run. The close finish went to Frosty, who made a pair of shots for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Frosty didn't have the best of luck in game 3, struggling to find a clear look on the 8. Shiny used a strategic scratch and made a three-ball run-out on the next turn for the win, leaving Frosty with a 2-1 series win to take her into the third round. Frosty will host Eastside Sharks rookie Taylor M. next round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Caitlin. Also on the coast, the blue cue administers 10-ball. Oceanside's Celestia had a bad break and a couple of questionable plays in game 1, but Southridge's Caitlin failed to string much offense together. Celestia won with a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia brought a similar effort in game 2, showing a slight bit more control in her attack. The Defenders' Caitlin didn't care much, carving out a lot of offense, including a three-ball run-out to get the win that tied the series at 1. Celestia had a four-ball run at one point in game 3, but she failed to convert on the 9. Caitlin made a 9-10 combination to the top right for the win instead, as Caitlin would take the series 2-1 to earn a visiting spot in round three.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Dewey. Two crafty players collide in 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Missy found her groove in game 1, shutting things down with a four-ball run-out featuring a bank on the 8 to the top left. Oceanside's Dewey had no chance to reply as Missy took the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Dewey had a chance to finish game 2 with a run, but his three-ball run ended as he missed on the 9. The Sharpshooters' Missy gladly cleaned it up at the top right, sealing the series at 2-0 with this win. Dewey again came close to a win in game 3, but Missy backed up her opening three-ball run with a tap-in on the 9 at the end to sweep the series 3-0. Missy will visit Pacific Volcanoes veteran Twinkie I in the third round.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Bianca. Talented opponents meet in 12-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Jasmine gave away a wild-card ball on the game 1 break, and while she kept it close, a three-ball run-out set Southridge's Bianca ahead 1-0 in the series with the win. The Defenders' Bianca maintained a lead throughout game 2 as well, although the Cascades' Jasmine came incredibly close to winning. When she missed contact on her last ball, Bianca scooped up her 6 to the bottom left for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Bianca had a three-ball run early in game 3, but Jasmine countered on a five-ball run instead. Jasmine battled for positioning for awhile but ultimately won to avoid the sweep. Bianca will be a visitor in the third round after this 2-1 series win.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Slinks. The red cue goes again between veterans in 7-ball. Lighton's Acorn had a scratch, a miscue, and hardly any offense in game 1, as Westside's Slinks filled the gaps to get the win and the early 1-0 series lead for herself. The Rockers' Slinks made a pair and scratched on the break of game 2, leading to the Prestige's Acorn tallying a three-ball run. Acorn missed on the 6, and Slinks used it in the 6-7 combination at the top side to finish her win for the 2-0 series lead. Slinks nearly won on the break in game 3, but she channeled the momentum well to win for real on a three-ball run-out. Slinks swept Acorn 3-0 to stake her claim to a visiting role in the third round.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Noelle. Tough club-mates clash in 10-ball with the red cue. Royal's Nightfur controlled the pace in game 1, but Central's Noelle still had a chance to bank the 10 to the bottom left, which she missed. Nightfur replied with a classic bank finish to the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur came out strong in game 2, but didn't sustain her pace. The Warriors' Noelle had a four-ball run and finished the 10 on her second try after Nightfur couldn't bank it to the top left. Noelle's win tied the series at 1. Game 3 was as back-and-forth as possible, with Noelle looking a little stronger until she made only light contact on the 10. Nightfur struck it to the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series win to move on, as she'll host the Swordpoint Blades' Stealth in round three.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Wild Thing v. Boots. The host looks to shake off his struggles in 13-ball with the silver cue. Stonebridge's Wild Thing was called for illegal contact in game 1, allowing Pearl's Boots to rack up a five-ball run. Boots took her time to finish but still got the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots couldn't replicate the effort, as the Wolves' Wild Thing did enough to knock her off her game. Wild Thing played well in his own right to get the win, tying the series at 1 in a close battle. Wild Thing and Boots scrapped for positioning late in a tactically-laden game 3 battle, with Boots just getting the edge at the end to earn the win. Boots won the series 2-1 and will be on the road in the third round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty v. Taylor S. A rookie takes on a star in 12-ball with the blue cue. Midland's Kitty surrendered a wild-card ball at the start of game 1, a big mistake as Commerce's Taylor S. had good positioning throughout the game. Taylor S. easily won and gained a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Kitty struck first with a three-ball run in game 2, taking out both side pockets, but the Tradewinds' Taylor S. went off with a four-ball run in response. Taylor S. made her last two shots on her third turn for a quick win to clinch the series at 2-0. Taylor S. couldn't connect on the break in game 3 either, and Kitty immediately grabbed a three-ball run. Kitty coasted to the finish in her lone win, while Taylor S. is set to face Stonebridge Wolves third-year Cobalt on the road in the third round after her own 2-1 series win.

Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Melissa. Urban rivals and club-mates battle in 10-ball with the blue cue. Neither player had a great grasp on their offense in game 1, especially as they both missed on the 10 at the end. Modernistic's Daisy made it on the second try, giving her a 1-0 series lead over Terrace City's Melissa. The Union's Daisy capitalized on more poor shooting by the Knights' Melissa in game 2. Melissa made light contact on the 8 on her last turn, setting Daisy up for the three-ball run-out that gave the host a decisive 2-0 series lead. By the end of game 3, both players just wanted the series to be over. Melissa initially made the 10 on her third try, but scratched in the process. It took Daisy three more tries before she put it down to secure a 3-0 series sweep. Daisy will host another Urban rival, the Commerce Tradewinds' Niki, in the third round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir v. Josie. The visitor begins a personal doubleheader in 10-ball with the red cue. Stonebridge's Vladimir couldn't find his way early in game 1, and Oceanside's Josie was able to capitalize later, finishing on a five-ball run-out. Josie holds a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie didn't have the same menace in finishing game 2, allowing the Wolves' Vladimir to tap in the 10 at the top left after she left it there. Vladimir's solid effort tied the series at 1. Josie had a couple of chances to corral the 10 in a loose game 3 effort, but she missed contact on the second try. Vladimir took it on ball-in-hand at the top left, winning the series 2-1 in the process. Vladimir will host Kirstin of the Everton Eagles in round three.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Sparkles. The day closes with 8-ball and the silver cue to wrap up the host's doubleheader. Oceanside's Josie held the lead for much of game 1, but she eased up on the 8 and that gave Golden's Sparkles plenty of time to execute a brilliant five-ball run-out. Sparkles' finishing run included a double-pot, helping her earn a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Sparkles looked to pick things up where she left off, but a crafty positioning play turned into an automatic loss when she illegally potted the 8, gifting the win to the Waves' Josie. The series is tied at 1 with just one decisive game left. Josie had a chance to finish well in game 3, but she ended a three-ball run by leaving the 8 near the bottom right. Sparkles scooped it up, winning the series 2-1 as she prepares to meet the Royal Crowns' Kayla in the third round.

That's it for today. Play resumes Thursday with a standard day at a regular time and pace.