We're one-third through the First Round after today's games. First up...
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Angelica. The red cue draws in for 15-ball to complete the two-day venue doubleheader. Terrace City's Oreo had some tough moments in game 1, including a 9-15 combination attempt that was short. Lighton's Angelica made the same play at the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Angelica had a rotten start to game 2 with three errors. The Knights' Oreo burst forward on a nine-ball run, which Angelica answered on a three-ball run but missed the 15 at the end. Oreo tapped the winning shot to the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Oreo tried a similar strategy in game 3, but her late seven-ball run ended with a miss on the 14. Angelica made the final pair of shots to escape with a win and 2-1 series win to get into the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Sparkles. The second series today uses the purple cue in 13-ball. Tysini's Leandra showed confidence from the start of game 1, but it was still close. Golden's Sparkles can blame a scratch for putting her behind, and Leandra made sure to finish the effort with a win for the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra held a lead for much of game 2, but the Pilots' Sparkles forced Leandra to make an illegal play for positioning. While a good strategy, Leandra failed to account for the following five-ball run-out from Sparkles, which was enough for the visitor to tie the series at 1. Leandra took a stunning loss in game 3, as her first shot led to the 8 going down illegally, gifting the win and 2-1 series win to Sparkles. This puts Sparkles in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Luigi v. Dusky. Players on new teams meet in 10-ball with the purple cue. Atlantic's Dusky had a marginally better game 1, but it was Southridge's Luigi who missed the bank on the 10 at the bottom right. Dusky mopped it up for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Luigi had a stronger game 2 with a six-ball run over the middle, but he missed on the 9. The Pirates' Dusky shut it down, taking the final pair of balls for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dusky went back on attack in game 3, a five-ball run setting the tone before she made the 7-10 combination to the top left to finish a 3-0 series sweep on Luigi. Dusky moves on to the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Starlight. Today's marquee matchup, and perhaps the best of the round, uses the blue cue in 9-ball. Queens' Violetta played a frenzy break in game 1 to pot a pair, but the game turned defensive. Eventually, Pacific's Starlight deflected off the 3 to tap the 9 into the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Starlight still struggled to find much offense, and her booming make on the 8 resulted in a scratch. The Flames' Violetta gladly took the 9 from ball-in-hand for a well-earned win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was as close as any in the series, which saw Starlight just miss an 8-9 combination to the top left. Violetta picked off both shots individually for the win and the 2-1 series win, and she'll next host Diamond Gems captain Shadow in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Rosemary. Leading into the lunch break, there's 12-ball with the purple cue. Commerce's Rosemary had a lot of offense until a late scratch. Infinity's Shelley used her good positioning and a little patience before making a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley gave away a wild-card ball in game 2, but completely committed to solids. She was very close to victory before her second scratch, and in recovering from that, she set up the Tradewinds' Rosemary for the winning pair of shots. Rosemary's victory tied the series at 1. Shelley was not discouraged and quickly found her way to her last ball in game 3, but the path from there was slow. Rosemary's defense held on long enough for her to make three balls over the last two turns for the win. Rosemary advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Sydney S. When we return, the red cue is in for 8-ball. Harrison's Sydney S. botched her finish in game 1, leaving the 8 short at the top left. She gave Westside's Midnight just enough time to execute a three-ball run-out for the win, which put Midnight up 1-0 in the series. The Specters' Sydney S. ripped a six-ball run in game 2, but that was all the offense she could find. The Rockers' Midnight cut back with a five-ball run and won on a three-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. Sydney S. had the lead for most of game 3 as well, but she was unable to pot her last ball. Midnight had a sneaky-good performance for this win, which earned her a 3-0 series sweep. Midnight will face Urban rival Rosemary of the Commerce Tradewinds in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Cubby. Back in 12-ball, the purple cue comes between club-mates and Northeastern rivals. Archtown's Sally didn't have the most direct path to victory, but she was faster than Web City's Cubby in the end. Sally's good effort gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally didn't have the same impact in game 2, allowing the Spiders' Cubby to get ahead. Cubby gave away a wild-card ball, but he held on for the win with a tap-in at the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Sally was back on track in what became a fast game 3 battle. Cubby made an early pair and had positioning, but Sally's four-ball run-out on her third turn secured the win and 2-1 series in her favor. Sally will host Midland Predators newcomer Chicky Phil in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Vladimir v. Dewey. Unmarked on the schedule, this Northeastern Derby goes in 10-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Dewey had an impressive four-ball run in game 1, but he under-hit his shot on the 7. Maplewood's Vladmir stepped in and worked a three-ball run-out for the win to pull ahead 1-0 in the series. The Specters' Dewey had chances at the end of game 2 to get back on track, but he wasn't assertive. The Lumberjacks' Vladimir was able to support his four-ball run and get the win by tapping the 10 into the top side. Vladimir secured the series at 2-0 in the process. Dewey had a pair of three-ball runs early in game 3, but he fell apart in the end. Vladimir then stole this win with a three-ball run-out to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Vladimir is set to host Westside Rockers captain Misty in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Dustin. The red cue's last series today is in 7-ball. Central's Dustin brought the Whitewater crowd to silence with his double-pot of the 2 to the top side and the 7 to the top right to take the 1-0 series lead over Katharine. The Warriors' Dustin did it again in game 2 with a perfect break shot to send the 7 to the top right for the clinching shot as he moved to a 2-0 lead in the series. The Shores' Katharine finally had a chance to put up a fight in game 3, but she missed on the 6 at the top left. Dustin made the final pair to complete a 3-0 series sweep that moves him into the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Kayla. The purple cue is on for 9-ball between captains. Todavía's Easter was unrelenting in her attack, striking early and beating Royal's Kayla with a four-ball run-out at the end. Easter holds a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla tried to chip in a bit more, but an error on the 2 ruined her game 2 performance. The Stills' Easter buried the 2 and then cut a 3-9 combination to the top right for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Kayla put her best effort in game 3, with four balls over her last two turns, but a miss on the 9 was dealt with by Easter at the top right. Easter finished with a 3-0 series sweep to carry her into round two.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Quincy. Returning to 7-ball, the blue cue draws into action. Lighton's Acorn couldn't establish himself on offense in game 1, instead giving Terrace City's Quincy the time to bury a four-ball run-out for the win. Quincy leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Quincy took a step back on offense in game 2 as the Prestige's Acorn showed a little strength. Acorn faltered late, and Quincy made no mistakes in taking the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Quincy didn't finish off a sweep in game 3, inconsistency ruining his late play. Acorn was able to pluck the 7 at the bottom left to stick Quincy with a 2-1 series win to head into the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Hughbert v. Cowzart. The silver cue makes its daily debut in Accuracy. Pacific's Cowzart maintained a perfect effort in game 1, standing tall while Tysini's Hughbert just slipped up a bit. Cowzart's 0-2 win gave him a 1-0 series lead with confidence. The Volcanoes' Cowzart scratched on the game 2 break and never had a chance to get back into the battle. The Hummingbirds' Hughbert missed once late, but converted the final ball on a cut to the bottom left for a 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. Hughbert kept it close initially in game 3, but he fell apart completely by the end, allowing Cowzart to cruise to a 1-6 win. Cowzart won the series 2-1 and will visit Pronger Tridents newcomer Avril in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Starlight. The visitor's second series today is in 8-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Starlight popped off with a five-ball run in game 1, but that was all the offense she managed. Capital City's Chris responded with a three-ball run and a five-ball run-out on consecutive turns for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris led the way for much of a choppy game 2 battle, but he let it slip away at the end. The Volcanoes' Starlight kept things very close and struck for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was even grittier than before, with neither player finding much on the run. Starlight just held on at the end to grab the win for a 2-1 series win over Chris, which sends Starlight to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Whiskers. The green cue's lone appearance today comes in 9-ball. Maplewood's Whiskers needed just one shot in game 1 with a 1-9 combination to the top left after Terrace City's Oreo had an empty break. The perfect play put Whiskers ahead 1-0 in the series. The Knights' Oreo replied with a big chunk of the game 2 offense, including a four-ball run. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers tried to poach the result with a bank shot, but she missed and Oreo buried the 9 at the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Whiskers turned the offense back on late in game 3, making five balls over two turns with no interference from Oreo. Whiskers won the series 2-1, booking a trip to the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Shadow. One more captains' battle today features the silver cue in 7-ball. Oceanside's Snuggle pulled off a strong finish in game 1, with a three-ball run before making the 7 on the next turn. Diamond's Shadow just couldn't find a way in, allowing Snuggle to grab the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow refused to go quietly, picking up a three-ball run-out after a mixed start to game 2. The Waves' Snuggle didn't have enough to fight it off as Shadow's win tied the series at 1. Snuggle nearly took game 3, surging with a four-ball run, but he missed the 7 at two pockets and left it lined up for Shadow to bury in the bottom side. Shadow converted for the win and 2-1 series win to move along to the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mr. Snowman v. Debby. The day ends with the blue cue in 10-ball. Central's Mr. Snowman made the 10 illegally on the break, but couldn't build a run off of that. Diamond's Debby then ripped a seven-ball run but just missed her cut on the 10, allowing Mr. Snowman to redeem himself at the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The roles appeared reversed in game 2 as the Warriors' Mr. Snowman created a six-ball run. The Gems' Debby missed her one look at the 10, and Mr. Snowman buried it on his second try for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman had a four-ball run early in game 3, but it wasn't enough, as Debby's second turn was a six-ball run-out for the win. Mr. Snowman settled for a 2-1 series win, which will see him host Todavía Stills captain Easter in the second round. This was Mr. Snowman's 100th unique opponent.
That's one-third of the First Round. The middle stretch begins tomorrow and will play every day through June 13 before a scheduled one-day rest.
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