A new day of games is here, beginning with...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Pauline. The blue cue gets the first look today, playing 7-ball. Royal's Jake came up with the win in game 1, potting the 7 on a bank to the top right in a choppy battle that saw Capital City's Pauline struggle. Jake leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Jake figured a little bit out on offense late in game 2, depositing a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. The Sharpshooters' Pauline still looked loss, taking a much deserved series loss. Pauline avoided a total disaster, picking up a three-ball run-out to close game 3 victorious. Jake won the series 2-1 and will host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Sleepy B. Veterans meet in Rotation with the blue cue. Infinity's Shelley had a slightly better pace than Archtown's Sleepy B. throughout game 1, staying slightly ahead at all times. Shelley capped the win with a pair of shots for an 8-5 result and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley loosened up on offense a bit more in game 2, while the Arrows' Sleepy B. continued to struggle to attack. Shelley closed up with an 8-4 win this time, sealing the series at 2-0. Shelley didn't have her best offense in game 3, as Sleepy B. started with a four-ball run and never looked back in the 8-3 game. Shelley won the series 2-1 and will play in round three against an opponent to be determined.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Spice. Another Rotation series features the silver cue for its last appearance in this event in round two. Victoria's Spice had a strong start in game 1, but couldn't hang on as Archtown's Hoppy took the lead on a four-ball run. Spice had a chance to counter but fell short on the 14, and Hoppy won 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Hoppy came out blazing in game 2 with a three-ball run, and she countered a lone ball from the Spurs' Spice with her own five-ball run-out. Hoppy's 8-1 win secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Hoppy continued to attack well early in game 3, but nearly saw Spice rally back, as the visitor made a five-ball run before missing on the 10. Hoppy buried the last shot at the bottom right for an 8-5 win to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Hoppy will remain in this venue but as a visitor when she faces her Arrows teammate A. Charlton in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Wario. The blue cue returns for a 15-ball series, its last in the event this round. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy made a decent effort early in game 1, but Southridge's Wario took over with an eight-ball run. Ms. Puppy then missed the 14, allowing Wario to make another pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy very narrowly avoided dropping the series in game 2, as the Defenders' Wario charged on a six-ball run near the end but missed the 15. Ms. Puppy mopped up the final shot at the top right, poaching the win to tie the series at 1. Wario wasn't able to make a big run in game 3, a guarantee for his failure as Ms. Puppy chipped in the last two shots to get the win. Ms. Puppy won the series 2-1 and will host Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the third round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Valencia. The silver cue is used in a high-level Accuracy match. A close battle in game 1 saw Viewpoint Sound's Dani take a second miss late in the game. Golden's Valencia didn't budge this time, winning 1-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The players remained very competitive in game 2, with the Meteors' Dani missing just once. That was all the Pilots' Valencia needed, as she stayed perfect in the 0-1 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Valencia continued to show no mercy in game 3, missing once to even the score but getting Dani to drop two late shots as well. Valencia's 1-3 win gave her a 3-0 series sweep, sending her to the third round against the Eastside Sharks' Gizmo.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Puff I. Urban rivals meet in 13-ball with the blue cue. Modernistic's Puff I had a positive performance in game 1, weathering a four-ball run from Whitewater's Katharine on the opening turn. Puff I then made five balls over her last two turns for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine had a good idea in game 2, but the execution resulted in her double-potting the 9 to the bottom side and the 8 to the bottom right. This gifted the 2-0 series lead to the Union's Puff I, who will gladly accept easy passage to the next round. Puff I struck for a pair on the break and seemingly had a strategic scratch later in game 3, but Katharine also scratched to break the plan. Katharine would win on a three-ball run-out, avoiding the sweep as Puff I took the series 2-1. Puff I will visit the Archtown Arrows' A. Charlton in the third round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Lexi. Two determined players collide in 9-ball with the silver cue. Midland's Fuchsia found a groove late in game 1 with a four-ball run-out, claiming the win and 1-0 series lead rather easily over Harrison's Lexi. The Predators' Fuchsia picked up the win by much easier means in game 2, as the Specters' Lexi made the 1 on a cut to the bottom left, then kicked the 9 illegally to the top right to lose. Fuchsia clinched the series at 2-0 with the gift. Lexi finally put it all together in game 3, making a five-ball run over the middle and adding a three-ball run-out when Fuchsia couldn't find the 7. Fuchsia will advance on a 2-1 series win, earning the right to host a series in round three.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Lize. The silver cue goes again in this 13-ball series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had a four-ball run to start game 1, and while Pronger's Lize made a good effort to keep it close, her scratch at the end allowed Mr. Snowman to take the 8 easily. Mr. Snowman owns a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman again employed a four-ball run to set the tone, but this time he struggled to corral the 4 at the top side. The Tridents' Lize pulled back and used Mr. Snowman's scratch as her own launchpad for the win to tie the series at 1. Lize made a three-ball run at the start of game 3, then grappled for positioning and got the upper hand over Mr. Snowman. Lize won by putting the 15 and 8 in the top side on consecutive shots, winning the series 2-1 in the process. Lize will host Boots of the Pearl Surfers in the third round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Jennifer. Another Urban Derby is in 15-ball with the silver cue. Commerce's Niki had a fantastic effort in game 1 with a six-ball run and a four-ball run included, but she narrowly missed on the 15. Terrace City's Jennifer stole the win from ball-in-hand with the single shot, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Knights' Jennifer struck quickly in game 2, potting the 6 to the bottom right and then pulling off a triple-pot with the 1 in the top right and the 12 and 15 going to the bottom right for the win. Jennifer's big attack clinched the series at 2-0 over the Tradewinds' Niki. Jennifer again had a large chunk of offense in game 3, making six of the last eight balls and cashing in for the win when Niki cut the 15 wide at the top left. Jennifer swept the series 3-0 and will visit Citrus of the Lighton Prestige in the third round.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Sarah. Two of the top young players in the league battle in 8-ball with the blue cue. Queens' Violetta was not as sharp as usual in game 1, allowing Tysini's Sarah to go unchecked after a five-ball run. Sarah took her time to finish but still got the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta looked much more in form in game 2, smashing a four-ball run with one ball of collateral damage on her first turn. She later added a four-ball run-out before the Hummingbirds' Sarah could make a shot on her own. Violetta's quick win tied the series at 1. Violetta continued to play well in game 3 with a six-ball run to suppress Sarah, who never recovered. Violetta picked up the win for a 2-1 series win and will travel to face Nightfur of the Royal Crowns in a third-round Castle Derby.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Hannah. The blue cue goes again in 10-ball. Queens' Hannah allowed Harrison's Sydney S. to keep possession after illegally potting the 10 in game 1. Sydney S. eventually tired out on offense, and Hannah made the last two shots for an easy win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah had more flash than substance in game 2, potting three balls on the break but only one of the remaining seven. Instead, the Specters' Sydney S. made a pair of three-ball runs to pick up the win, tying the series at 1. Sydney S. made a pair from the break in game 3, but Hannah decided to end it quickly with a 3-10 combination on her second shot. The play succeeded at the bottom right, giving Hannah a 2-1 series win and a trip to Victoria to take on the Spurs' Mitchell in round three.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Sydney C. v. Whiskers. The beginnings of a venue tripleheader come in this 13-ball series with the silver cue. Modernistic's Sydney C. never had full control in game 1, but she was a step ahead of Maplewood's Whiskers, which was enough to help the host pick up the win. Sydney C. holds a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Sydney C. made a pair on the break, but in the same pocket. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had a chance to really take control, but her awful positioning wasted game 2 for her, as Sydney C. slowly found her way to the win to secure the series at 2-0. Whiskers wouldn't go home empty-handed, taking the win in game 3 in a close battle that saw Sydney C. nearly find the victory before a scratch. Sydney C. won the series 2-1 and will visit Stinky of the Freedom Cascades in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Shawn. A captains' battle in 7-ball with the blue cue is the middle series of the tripleheader. Midland's Shawn capitalized on a misplay by Modernistic's Ms. Puppy, who underhit the 2 from ball-in-hand. Shawn rallied for a six-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead with. The Predators' Shawn poked a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but he missed contact on the 6 later in the game. The Union's Ms. Puppy had two pairs of shots at the end to get the win, tying the series at 1. Ms. Puppy started well with a five-ball run in game 3, but her miss on the 6 would spell her end in the event. Shawn made the final pair of shots and won the series 2-1, sending him to Royal to face the Crowns' Brownie in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Nikolai. The silver cue is back as the host completes the tripleheader with her second series today, playing Accuracy with the silver cue. Modernistic's Puff I showed strong control in game 1, with Freedom's Nikolai getting very little to work with. Puff I held on for a 2-4 win in the end, taking a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Cascades' Nikolai wrestled control away from the Union's Puff I. Nikolai then used positioning late in the game to push Puff I back for the 1-3 win. Nikolai tied the series at 1 with the smart play. Nikolai continued to play well early in game 3, and not even a late slide could ruin his performance. Nikolai beat Puff I 3-4 in the final game and 2-1 in the series, allowing himself to visit the Tysini Hummingbirds' Vincent in round three.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Bandit. The visitor begins a personal road doubleheader in 7-ball with the red cue. Queens' Violetta had a three-ball run in game 1 and later added a pair for the win, while Swordpoint's Bandit struggled to find any offense at all. Violetta leads the series 1-0. Game 2 featured a fairly slow start until the Flames' Violetta won on a four-ball run-out, deflecting off the 4 to drive the 7 to the top right. The win clinched the series for her at 2-0 over the Blades' Bandit. Violetta had a four-ball run in game 3 but still needed Bandit to miss on the 7 at the top side before she made it for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Violetta is in line to host another series in the third round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Bandit. The visitor's doubleheader and the day as a whole ends with 13-ball and the red cue. Diamond's Smokey was a little too strong in game 1, using positioning and smart plays to defeat a road-weary Bandit of Swordpoint. Smokey picked up the win and 1-0 series lead a turn after Bandit scratched. The Gems' Smokey saw his play quality plummet in game 2, allowing the Blades' Bandit to get away with a slow and sloppy effort. Bandit picked up a hard-earned win to tie the series at 1, setting up a decisive finale. Game 3 was as tight and chippy as expected, especially near the end as the players fought for positioning. Smokey got the upper hand, but his excitement caused him to illegally pot the 8, gifting the win away to Bandit, who won the series 2-1. Bandit will be on the road again in the third round.
We'll play again tomorrow, but the schedule after that gets a little fluid.
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