We're continuing along with a somewhat hard road today, beginning with...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Max v. Starlight. The green cue goes first today in 13-ball. Pacific's Starlight had the first glimpse of offense in game 1, but her bad positioning allowed Golden's Max to slowly catch up and earn the win. Max leads the series 1-0. Game 2 was a little more competitive, with the Pilots' Max getting onto the 8 first. The Volcanoes' Starlight made a pair but miscued her shot at the 8, and Max took the win from ball-in-hand to clinch the series at 2-0. Starlight again had a chance to make a flurry of offense, but her miss on the 11 at the bottom left gave Max an easy shot on the 8 for the win. Max swept the series 3-0 and will play in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Megan. The purple cue is next up for a 12-ball series. Oceanside's Megan delivered a lot of offense early in game 1, but a scratch on her double-pot play set her far back. Everton's Cleo then unleashed a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Cleo had a scratch on the break, but she was able to claim a favorably-lying solids. The Waves' Megan was caught out of position even with a wild-card ball, and Cleo picked up another confident win to seal the series at 2-0. Cleo again gave away a wild-card ball in game 3, but her positioning and a well-touched kick to the bottom side for her last shot helped her sweep Megan 3-0 in the series. Cleo moves on to round two.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Potter. The green cue returns in this Accuracy series. Pronger's Potter had the lead for part of game 1, but a late collapse allowed Royal's Brownie to set the tone in her 1-3 win. Brownie pulled ahead 1-0 in the series. Both players were excellent throughout game 2, but it was the Crowns' Brownie who missed on the last ball to break the deadlock. The Tridents' Potter converted for a 0-1 win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Game 3 also came down to the wire, with Potter suffering the miss on the last ball this time after an earlier double-pot from Brownie put him in that position. Brownie won 1-2 and took the series 2-1 to earn a trip to the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Maison. The red cue's lone series of the day is in 10-ball. Eastside's Maison took his time before unleashing a six-ball run in game 1. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot missed his chance at the 10, and Maison made it on his second try for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Maison had most of the offense again in game 2. The Meteors' Hoot had an attempt on the 8 that missed by a wide margin, and Maison pushed a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Maison still had good offense in game 3, but he got a little too casual near the end. Hoot was able to snag a win, while Maison moves on to host the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Marissa on his 2-1 series win.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Kiwi. The host completes his doubleheader in Rotation with the blue cue. Eastside's Maison was unable to find enough offense in game 1 to make a difference, as Terrace City's Kiwi applied steady pressure in her 8-4 win. Kiwi leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Maison committed a foul with an illegal use of the stick in game 2. The Knights' Kiwi took the lead off of that, but Maison rallied on a surprisingly six-ball run-out to take the 8-3 win. This tied the series at 1. Fatigue played no role in Maison's game 3, as he provided little bursts of offense and played strong defense to keep Kiwi off the board in an 8-0 shutout. Maison won the series 2-1 and will host Boston Swifts star Gradley in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Strut. Up north, the silver cue is on hand for 10-ball. Pronger's Avril had a good break that put the 10 near the top left. Golden's Strut was unable to do anything on what would be his lone turn in game 1, as Avril's three-ball run-out ended on a 3-10 combination to the top left for the win. Avril is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tridents' Avril faded a bit in game 2, while the Pilots' Strut worked a four-ball run early on and made the last pair for the win to tie the series at 1. A close battle in game 3 ultimately favored Avril in the end, as she had the late offense to beat Strut. Avril won the series 2-1 to get into the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Waluigi. The purple cue draws in for 15-ball. A slow start to game 1 quickly turned into a big eight-ball run-out for Pacific's Ms. Kitty. The sudden change of pace put Ms. Kitty ahead 1-0 in the series over Web City's Waluigi. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty didn't have a defining run in game 2, instead opting for choppy bursts of offense. The Spiders' Waluigi played a similar style to less success. Ms. Kitty then kicked the 12-15 combination to the bottom side, a bit of fortune helping her to secure the series at 2-0. Ms. Kitty wasn't able to finish the sweep, as Waluigi made a four-ball run-out to end game 3 victorious. Ms. Kitty's 2-1 series win sets her up to visit Waluigi's Web City Spiders teammate Nibbles in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Buddy v. Kodiak. The 200th series of the round is in 13-ball with the purple cue. Atlantic's Buddy had a good start from the break, and a late double-pot at the right corners, but he missed his chance on the 8. Modernistic's Kodiak put the winning shot in the bottom left for a 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Union's Kodiak made a pair of stripes on the break, but a later scratch slowed him down. The Pirates' Buddy kept pace and took a late lead, ending with the 8 at the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Buddy and Kodiak put on a good battle in game 3, with Kodiak's positioning slipping away late to ruin his chances for a win. Buddy then made the final pair, taking a 2-1 series win with him to the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Mr. Snowman. Continuing along, the silver cue plays 12-ball. Modernistic's Daisy was a little more effective with her shots in game 1, while Central's Mr. Snowman couldn't make contact on his last chance at a run. Daisy went on to win the game and earn a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mr. Snowman got down to the last ball in game 2, needing just the top right to win. He surrendered a wild-card ball to the Union's Daisy, and she did the rest, slowly pushing him out of position while setting herself up for a miraculous victory to seal the series at 2-0. Daisy surrendered a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, and she didn't have time to recover from it. A clean effort from Mr. Snowman gave him a win, but Daisy is through to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Greg. A star hosts a rookie in Accuracy with the green cue. Lighton's Spirit maintained perfection in game 1, while a miss early and another late doomed Archtown's Greg. Spirit won 0-2 and owns a 1-0 series lead early on. Game 2 looked pretty similar, as the Arrows' Greg fell behind with a scratch and lost his chance to keep it close with a late miss. The Prestige's Spirit didn't give any mercy, winning 0-2 again to clinch the series at 2-0. Greg had multiple chances to establish a lead in game 3, but he wasted them all and fell apart late. Spirit was there to win 5-6 for the 3-0 series sweep that puts her in the second round as she played her 100th unique opponent.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Bear v. Sydney S. Northeastern rivals collide in Accuracy with the blue cue. Everton's Bear couldn't quite take care of business in game 1, but he would get the 2-3 win three turns into overtime, when Harrison's Sydney S. left a shot short of the top left. Bear leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Bear made a ball on the game 2 break this time, so his late failure to secure a win saw the Specters' Sydney S. take the overtime break. She went empty on the extra rack, and Bear made his shot to win 2-3 and seal the series at 2-0. Bear wasn't quite as sharp in game 3, allowing Sydney S. to gain a late lead that she held onto for her own 2-3 win in regulation. Bear took the series 2-1 to move into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor M. v. Andrew. Sophomores meet in 13-ball with the purple cue in this Eastern Hills Derby. Eastside's Taylor M. took solids off the break in game 1, but the race to the right corners went to Freedom's Andrew. He had a good kick on his last ball and then made a pair on his next turn, putting Andrew up 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Andrew got stripes off the break and played patiently in game 2. The Sharks' Taylor M. was a little more energetic, but a tough situation at the bottom right saw her sink the 8 illegally to gift the win and the 2-0 series lead to Andrew. Taylor M. refused to succumb to the sweep, ripping a crafty five-ball run-out for the game 3 win after Andrew took too long for positioning. Andrew still won the series 2-1 to make the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Brownie. In 9-ball, the silver cue is used. Pearl's Neopolitan had two scratches and shaky offense in game 1, opening up plenty of room for Royal's Brownie, who got the win with a three-ball run-out. Brownie leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Brownie had another rough start in game 2, but she unleashed a seven-ball run-out after forcing the Surfers' Neopolitan into an impossible position. Brownie's good strategy sealed the series in her favor at 2-0. Brownie continued with a surprising five-ball run early in game 3, and she deflected a shot off the 8 to take the 9 at the bottom right. Brownie swept Neopolitan 3-0 in the series to advance to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Missy. Another 9-ball series features the purple cue. Boston's Ice Cream tallied a three-ball run from the break and added another after Capital City's Missy missed contact on the 7. Ice Cream looks confident with her 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Swifts' Ice Cream scratched on the game 2 break and didn't feature much after that. The Sharpshooters' Missy picked up the slack, most notably on a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a mix of the two games, but Ice Cream was unlucky to see Missy repeat the previous finish with a four-ball run-out at the end. Missy's game-ending surge gave her a 2-1 series win and a ticket to the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Twinkie II. Veterans of their teams meet in Accuracy with the silver cue. Harrison's Twinkie II had a lead for parts of game 1, but Capital City's Lorde bossed the possession late to get a 2-3 win for herself. Lorde has a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Sharpshooters' Lorde couldn't hang onto a late lead, dropping into a tie to force overtime. Lorde missed on the overtime break, and the Specters' Twinkie II converted to win 2-3, tying the series at 1. There were a few more mistakes in game 3, mostly as Lorde skidded through the middle. Twinkie II held on for a 4-5 win, which gave her a 2-1 series win as well. Twinkie II will play in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Marissa v. Puff I. The day ends with 7-ball and the silver cue. Maplewood's Marissa didn't dominate in game 1, but a three-ball run-out was enough for her to take the win and 1-0 series lead over Modernistic's Puff I. The Union's Puff I found a three-ball run in game 2, but she was unable to add another later on. The Lumberjacks' Marissa did that instead, her three-ball run-out clinching the series in her favor at 2-0. Game 3 followed the same basic pattern, again with Marissa capping the effort with a three-ball run-out. Marissa swept Puff I 3-0 in the series, and will take on another Reality player in the Tysini Hummingbirds newcomer Sugar in round two.
We'll be back tomorrow in what's shaping up to be a high-skill-oriented set of series.
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