We'll cross the halfway point of the third round during today's action. We begin with...
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Mitchell. Southwestern foes meet in 15-ball with the blue cue to open the day. Tysini's Leandra struck for a five-ball run early in game 1, but she didn't support it enough. Victoria's Mitchell pulled back with steady offense and won with four balls over his last two turns for the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Mitchell employed a heavy defense to start game 2, sticking the Hummingbirds' Leandra with some bad shots. The mid-game was fairly even, but Mitchell surged to a win with a six-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. Leandra couldn't do enough in game 3, working a late four-ball run but badly missing on the 15. Mitchell stepped up and converted the shot for a win and a 3-0 series sweep that sends him to the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Hannah. The silver cue is next up, playing 12-ball. Freedom's Roxy scratched on the game 1 break, but it didn't slow her down. She had a later three-ball run, and Queens' Hannah failed to counter well enough. Roxy then made her final pair of shots for the win to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy was a bit too slow in game 2, as the Flames' Hannah took an early lead on a three-ball run. Hannah kept her offense steady to get the win, tying the series at 1. Hannah started well in game 3, but she didn't have time to finish after Roxy made a four-ball run. Roxy got good positioning for her last shot and converted to take the series 2-1. Roxy will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Nicole. The red cue draws in for 13-ball here. Golden's Sparkles came close to winning, but a pair of late scratches in game 1 bought Lighton's Nicole enough time to rally back. Nicole completed the comeback for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Sparkles led throughout game 2, but she took too long to wrap things up. A scratch turned the tides, and the Prestige's Nicole picked up a three-ball run-out to swipe the win to seal the series at 2-0. Nicole simply didn't have much offense in game 3, helping to speed up the process for Sparkles by the end. Sparkles took her lone win while Nicole won the series 2-1 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Melissa v. Starlight. The 100th series of the round is in 13-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Starlight began with a three-ball run in game 1 to counter a strong break from Terrace City's Melissa. The pace stayed high, with Starlight nabbing the final pair just in time to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Volcanoes' Starlight started game 2 on a four-ball run, and she came very close to winning before a scratch. The Knights' Melissa surged from there, making her final pair of shots to take the win that tied the series at 1. Starlight found an early four-ball run in game 3, and had just enough in the tank to hold off Melissa's fierce comeback attempt. Starlight made the final pair again to win the game and the 2-1 series. Starlight will visit Citrus of the Lighton Prestige in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Mitchell. The visitor's second series of the day comes in 8-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 saw both players surge late, with Mitchell doing a four-ball run that Pronger's Potter answered with a three-ball run. Potter missed his chance on the 8, and Mitchell swooped in to pot a pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Mitchell picked off a six-ball run in game 2, taking full control despite good early positioning from the Tridents' Potter. Mitchell made the 8 on his next turn for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Mitchell had another good push on offense, getting onto the 8 by illegal means. Potter didn't let Mitchell back to the table with a six-ball run-out to close game 3. Mitchell settled for a 2-1 series win that will see him visit Oreo of the Terrace City Knights in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Jason N. The red cue is back for 9-ball. Central's Twilight had problems with distance shooting in game 1, and while Atlantic's Jason N. was plenty shaky in his own right, he picked up the 9 for the win after Twilight's three-ball run ended. Jason N. owns a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight did herself in during game 2, working a four-ball run but scratching as she tried to get positioning. The Pirates' Jason N. took the 9 from ball-in-hand for the win and 2-0 series lead. Jason N. controlled game 3, exchanging pairs with Twilight early on before making his own five-ball run-out to sweep the series 3-0. Jason N. is in line to host Victoria Spurs captain Spice in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Sarah. A star and a rookie clash in Accuracy with the blue cue. Pearl's Watermelon was a step behind from the start in game 1, taking an early miss. Tysini's Sarah faltered late but held on to win 2-3, giving the rookie a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon held on for a bit in game 2, but she completely fell apart in the middle. The Hummingbirds' Sarah slid to a 3-7 win, clinching the series at 2-0 despite a lackluster finish to the game. Watermelon managed to bait Sarah into a late miss to ruin a perfect game 3, but Sarah won 1-4 and swept the series 3-0 against the suddenly-stumbling MVP candidate. Sarah will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Gizmo v. Valencia. Another Accuracy series features the silver cue. Golden's Valencia missed early in game 1, forced Eastside's Gizmo to miss late, but couldn't stay even. Gizmo ended up with a dramatic 1-3 win to pull ahead 1-0 in the series with his win. The Sharks' Gizmo stayed even for most of game 2, but he missed a late shot to drop back into a tie. The Pilots' Valencia then just needed one shot in overtime to get the 1-2 win, which tied the series at 1. Valencia and Gizmo battled shot-for-shot in game 3, with only a miss on the final ball separating the two. Gizmo won 3-4 and will take the series 2-1 to get to the bracket quarterfinals, which will be a road appearance for him.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Vincent v. Leonette. The blue cue takes a turn in 13-ball. Pacific's Leonette paced the attack in game 1, overcoming a mid-game scratch to win on a pair of shots. Leonette took a 1-0 series lead over Tysini's Vincent in the process. The Volcanoes' Leonette made a ball on the break in game 2. She battled with the Hummingbirds' Vincent until he accidentally potted a ball for her. Leonette then used ball-in-hand from Vincent's illegal contact to pick up a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Leonette couldn't stay on track in game 3, missing a multitude of shots near the end. Vincent was able to take over and get the win with a pair at the end. Leonette won the series 2-1, continuing her road warrior run into the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Gabe. The red cue cycles in for 15-ball. Game 1 was a fairly standard battle with a few momentum shifts that ended with Maplewood's Gabe beating Southern's Dominic on a four-ball run-out. Gabe leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a little more excitement at the end. The Lumberjacks' Gabe messed up a chance at a run, and the Monarchs' Dominic tried a trick. He attempted to deflect off the 11 to get the 15 in the top left, which came up short, but the 11 drifted back to tap the 15 in for the win anyway. Dominic's stunner tied the series at 1. Neither player did a great job of separating themselves in game 3. It went down to the wire, where Dominic won on a three-ball run-out to take the series 2-1. Dominic will host Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Sweetheart. The host gets a second set today, playing 8-ball with the red cue. Boston's Sweetheart posted an early five-ball run, but Pearl's Watermelon was a little luckier in the late part of game 1, picking up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon picked up a four-ball run in game 2, but the Swifts' Sweetheart fought back from there and finished strong to get her win. Sweetheart tied the series at 1 in another fast-paced effort. Game 3 saw tensions rise amid difficult shooting angles and a lack of success. Watermelon channeled her frustration into a four-ball run-out, escaping the tough series with a 2-1 series win. Watermelon is set to play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Puff II. Back east, the silver cue is on hand for Accuracy. The Swifts' Puff II had the game in her hands, but she scratched to end regulation, and then missed on the overtime break as Pronger's Spot held on to win by a 3-4 score. Spot leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Puff II made no noticeable changes in her approach in game 2, which caused a more decisive loss as the Tridents' Spot was very strong in winning 1-3. Spot clinched the series at 2-0. Puff II couldn't hold onto an early lead in game 3, unraveling at the end as Spot claimed a 3-5 win this time. Spot swept the series and will continue his hosting spree in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Watermelon. The visitor continues a busy day in 12-ball with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Gal had a tough break in game 1, leaving Pearl's Watermelon in much better positioning. Watermelon made the most of it, earning the win with a pair of shots for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon gave away a wild-card ball on the game 2 break, but it was erased by two scratches from the Nighthawks' Gal. Despite the sloppy play, Gal had better positioning and took the win to tie the series at 1. Gal made one of each on the game 3 break, giving Watermelon the wild-card ball advantage. Watermelon made the most of it in a tight game, picking up the win to seal the series at 2-1. Watermelon heads to the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Watermelon. The visitor completes a road doubleheader in 13-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Potter had all the early offense in game 1, but he couldn't finish it off. Pearl's Watermelon was patient and consistent in roaring back for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon wasn't great in game 2, but the Tridents' Potter again wasted his chances to make an impact late. Watermelon picked up a pair of shots at the end for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Watermelon took over in game 3, making two balls on the break and attacking with a four-ball run-out at the end after Potter failed to defend much. Watermelon swept the series 3-0 and will host Leonette of the Pacific Volcanoes in the bracket quarterfinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Niki. The red cue's last appearances today is in Accuracy. Lighton's Shiny had a struggle throughout most of game 1, but she got a little revenge by dragging Commerce's Niki down near the end. Niki held on for the 3-4 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Niki was again denied a perfect game 2, but she was definitely the better player in a deserved 1-5 win over the Prestige's Shiny. Niki's win confirmed her advancement with a 2-0 series lead. Niki and Shiny were even in game 3, with Niki sportingly allowing Shiny to pick up the win after being tied on the last ball. Shiny won 2-3, but Niki took the series 2-1 to get into a road series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Boots. The day ends with the silver cue playing 13-ball. Pearl's Boots had no problems locking in on offense in game 1, storming to the 1-0 series lead with a five-ball run-out that Pronger's Lize had no chance to answer. The Surfers' Boots had a good break in game 2, but she faltered with a later scratch. The Tridents' Lize took her time but bounced back to win on a four-ball run-out, which tied the series at 1. Game 3 was a bit of a race, as Lize attacked with a four-ball run from the break and Boots followed the same path. Lize would suffer a scratch, and Boots eventually made her last pair to win the game and the 2-1 series. Boots will be a visitor again in the bracket quarterfinals. This marked Boots' first kill of the year, and Lize is now the 18th player eliminated from the Tournament.
We'll be off Friday, but Tournament play resumes Saturday morning.
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