We're getting into the late parts of the second round. We'll play at least the next six days in a row. First up...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Taylor M. The blue cue will go first today in 10-ball. Eastside's Taylor M. looked like the better player with a four-ball run in game 1, but she allowed Royal's Brownie to make two of the last three balls for the win. Brownie leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Brownie made a valiant effort at a 4-10 kick-combination to the top right, but it rattled out. This left a regular combination at the same spot available for the Sharks' Taylor M., who converted for the win to tie the series at 1. A choppy offense in game 3 saw Brownie surge late, only to leave the 10 at the edge of the bottom right. Taylor M. put it in for the win and 2-1 series win, which sends her to another road series in the third round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Stealth. The blue cue stays on for this 7-ball series. Game 1 was pretty even between the players, with Swordpoint's Stealth showing a little late momentum. He missed on the 7, and Todavía's Sierra made sure she didn't, pulling ahead 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Stealth looked much more convincing in game 2 with a six-ball run on his second turn. However, he missed the 7 awkwardly. The Stills' Sierra took a chance to bank it diagonally to the top right, and it worked, securing the series in her favor at 2-0. Sierra took no chances in game 3, making the 1-7 combination to the top right with a deflection off the four on just her second shot. Sierra swept Stealth 3-0 to get herself into a visiting position in the third round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Luigi v. Kayla. Now it's the silver cue's turn to play in Accuracy. Royal's Kayla flubbed a pair of shots at the start of game 1, but held on as the game progressed. North Modernistic's Luigi lost his whole lead by the end, with Kayla winning 2-3 for the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla stayed perfect throughout game 2, never giving the Nighthawks' Luigi a chance to answer for his early miss. Kayla won 0-2, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 was as even as it gets in this series, with Luigi and Kayla tied heading into the final ball. Kayla left Luigi with bad positioning, forcing him to miss, and Kayla converted for a 2-3 win and 3-0 series sweep. Kayla will return home to face the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Bryant in the third round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Mitchell v. Sugar. Southwestern newcomers battle in 9-ball with the silver cue. Victoria's Mitchell got a late ball on the break in game 1 and turned it into a five-ball run. Swordpoint's Sugar had a chance to counter, but she scratched on her only shot, and Mitchell won with a three-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Mitchell attacked brilliantly again in game 2. He made four balls on the break but missed on his next shot. The Blades' Sugar potted the 4 but missed the 5, sparking Mitchell's four-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Mitchell continued to enjoy a majority of the possession in game 3, but a miss on the 8 allowed Sugar to make a pair for the win. Mitchell took the series 2-1 and will visit another Southwestern foe in the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman in round three.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Gabe v. Shadow. Experienced foes collide in Rotation with the red cue. Diamond's Shadow had the early lead in game 1, but Maplewood's Gabe slowly chipped his way ahead. Gabe eventually pulled away and won 8-3 for the 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 was electric and fast-paced, with the Lumberjacks' Gabe posting a seven-ball run from the break and narrowly missing on a shutout at the top side. The Gems' Shadow took over with a five-ball run before a scratch, and Gabe closed it up at 8-5 to clinch the series at 2-0 despite the nervy moments. Shadow had a more controlled attack in a sloppy game 3, which saw both players scratch numerous times. Gabe pulled ahead in the middle, but Shadow locked down an 8-5 win instead. Gabe won the series 2-1 and will visit Stonebridge Wolves veteran Wild Thing in the third round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Rosalina v. Diddley. The red cue stays on for this 10-ball set. Whitewater's Rosalina showed a little skill with a four-ball run-out, kicking the 9 to the bottom right to set up on the 10 at the top side. Maplewood's Diddley could only applaud the effort as Rosalina took the 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Rosalina had a fair share of the offense in a fast game 2, but she couldn't turn it into a victory this time. The Lumberjacks' Diddley made the final pair at the end, sealing the win to tie the series at 1. Diddley got the win in an unconventional manner in game 3, calling the 10 to the top left off a deflection off the 4. It worked, after the 10 plowed through the 5 for the double-pot, sending Diddley to the third round with his 2-1 series win over Rosalina.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Potter. Another red cue series is played in 12-ball. Pacific's Leonette made a pair from the break of game 1, but it didn't last long. Pronger's Potter took things slow as he gained the lead, and Leonette never got a good look on her last ball. Potter would win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had an easier time on offense in game 2, enjoying a very easy positioning. The Tridents' Potter really couldn't do much to stop Leonette from taking this win to tie the series at 1. Leonette tried multiple times to get a big finishing run in game 3, but she couldn't quite get lined up for the first shot. Potter took her mistakes to build his offense and got the win for a 2-1 series win. Potter will travel to Queens to take on the Flames' Violetta in the third round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Puff II. The silver cue cycles in for 7-ball here. Southridge's Bianca had a large share of the offense with a three-ball run and a pair on consecutive turns, but the 7 gave her trouble before Boston's Puff II made it on her second try for the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca struggled with form as the Swifts' Puff II paced the offense early in game 2. This changed at the end, with Bianca making a pair to take the win, which in turn tied the series at 1. Bianca had all the offense with a six-ball run in game 3, but she missed a bank on the 7 to the top right. Puff II cleaned it up for the win and 2-1 series win, which allows her to host the Diamond Gems' Pedey in round three.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Leonardo. Club-mates tangle in an Accuracy series with the silver cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. had an awful break and scratch to start game 1, which represented the difference at the end of the sloppy battle that Diamond's Leonardo took by a 5-6 score. Leonardo shakily leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Sleepy B. played much better in game 2, and every time she faltered, the Gems' Leonardo fell behind again. Sleepy B. took the win 2-3 and tied the series at 1 after a better performance. Sleepy B. held a lead for much of game 3, but she fell apart at the end as Leonardo imposed his will just in time for the 4-5 win. Leonardo took the series 2-1 and will be on the road for his third-round series.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Twinkie II. The silver cue keeps going with 13-ball. Royal's Cassie had awkward positioning after her initial attacks, while Harrison's Twinkie II did well to get herself set up. This difference in approaches led to Twinkie II earning the win and a 1-0 series lead rather easily. In game 2, the Specters' Twinkie II was set back by an illegally potted ball. She got into position for a final burst just in time for the Crowns' Cassie to put the 8 away at the bottom right for the win, which tied the series at 1. Cassie started with a pair on the break of game 3, but Twinkie II was more than willing to race to the finish. Twinkie II figuratively blew a tire by missing contact, allowing Cassie to shoot the 8, but Cassie sank the 8 in an uncalled pocket and Twinkie II won the series 2-1. Twinkie II will head to round three after a turn of fortune.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Smudge. Former teammates clash in a highly hyped 8-ball battle with the silver cue. Infinity's Smudge looked more involved in game 1, but her play to get positioning late in the game accidentally collected the 8 at the bottom right. Maplewood's Whiskers was gifted the win and 1-0 series lead in the process. The Torpedoes' Smudge was a little closer to getting it right in game 2, overcoming a deep deficit but putting the 8 in an uncalled pocket at the end. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had also played well, but still took a second gift to clinch the series at 2-0. Whiskers unleashed a seven-ball run but couldn't quite make the 8 in game 3. Smudge fired back with a three-ball run before gifting the game away by illegally sinking the 8 a third time. Whiskers swept the series without potting the 8, her 3-0 series win taking her to host the Archtown Arrows' Hoppy in the third round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Sage v. Leonette. More 8-ball is on the way with the blue cue. Victoria's Sage had a five-ball run and made it count for something when Pacific's Leonette failed to stay sharp later in game 1. Sage made a couple of shots at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette had a late six-ball run in game 2, making a push for the 8 but miscuing on her final shot. This allowed the Spurs' Sage to capitalize from ball-in-hand, making sure her own six-ball run from earlier wasn't wasted as she clinched the series at 2-0 with the win. Sage didn't have much offense in game 3, as Leonette attacked with a five-ball run and paced the play from there in her lone win. Sage took the series 2-1 and will visit the Queens Flames' Briana in the third round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Wild Thing v. Chris. Solid veterans meet in 7-ball with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Wild Thing unleashed the offense in game 1, potting three-ball runs on both of his turns to overwhelm and defeat Capital City's Chris. Wild Thing leads the series 1-0. The Wolves' Wild Thing again opened game 2 with a three-ball run, but the Sharpshooters' Chris slowed things up midgame this time. Chris made a pair during this stage, but Wild Thing potted the final pair to win, securing the series at 2-0. Despite Wild Thing's imposing offense and the threat of a sweep on the horizon, Chris was steady in game 3, making the final pair of shots to get his win. Wild Thing won the series 2-1 and will host Todavía Stills star Sierra in the third round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Spice v. Snowball. Southwestern captains battle in 15-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Spice enjoyed a lot of the offense in game 1, but she also made a few mistakes. Most notably, her late run fell short, and Swordpoint's Snowball sank the 15 to the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The tables turned in game 2, as the Blades' Snowball saw most of the possession and had a late run come up short. The Spurs' Spice did her part, making the shots she was given, including the 15 at the bottom left for the win. This tied the series at 1. Game 3 was the most even in the series, especially at the end. Snowball had a three-ball run and nearly made it more but she missed on the 14, allowing Spice to take the last two balls for the win. Spice won the series 2-1, and she'll face another captain in the Atlantic Pirates' Delila in the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Cassie. Southeastern foes take a turn in 8-ball with the red cue. Boston's Sweetheart had a good run going in game 1, but the outcome evaded her when she illegally sank the 8. Royal's Cassie hadn't done much to that point, so she was thankful for the gifted win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart stormed back with a seven-ball run on her first turn of game 2. She wouldn't have to finish the effort, as the Crowns' Cassie illegally potted the 8 early this time, gifting the win to Sweetheart to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart came out with a stick on fire, making a five-ball run from the break. Cassie countered with a four-ball run, but Sweetheart's three-ball run-out was good for the win and 2-1 series win. Sweetheart heads to round three against Pearl Surfers co-captain Watermelon.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Chimpy. Finally, Urban rivals face off in 12-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 saw Westside's Chimpy get a four-ball run to close out, but he sacrificed a wild-card ball to do it. Whitewater's Katharine elected to try to run the remainder of her suit, and she did it, forcing a replay. In the replay, Katharine gave up a wild-card ball on the break, but Chimpy couldn't get control of his shots. Katharine overcame the disadvantage to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Chimpy looked to be in good shape with a five-ball run in game 2, but he scratched on his second turn. The Shores' Katharine had kept up well and made a three-ball run-out after the scratch, taking the win and the series at 2-0. Katharine didn't have any offense in game 3, as Chimpy needed only a couple of turns for the win. Katharine took the series 2-1 and will visit Pronger Tridents captain Precious in the third round.
We'll be back with what appears to be a hard schedule tomorrow.
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