The finale to the Play-In Round has arrived, with 20 series and 60 games to be played today. After the round ends, the league will take two to three days to handle some administrative tasks in preparation for the First Round. Today's long schedule starts with...
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Taylor M. The purple cue gets things going in Rotation. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy recovered from a slow start with a six-ball run to erase a deficit. Eastside's Taylor M. tried to reply, but came up short as Ms. Puppy won 8-7 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy took a ball on the break in game 2, but that was it for her offense. The Sharks' Taylor M. had a good pace to win 8-1, tying the series at 1 with the statement victory. Taylor M. got to the brink of victory in game 3, but she faltered and watched Ms. Puppy make five balls over two turns for the 8-7 win. Ms. Puppy's propensity for comebacks earned her a 2-1 series win.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Dani. The blue cue comes aboard for 10-ball. Freedom's Nikolai had a good attack and a five-ball run over the middle of game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Dani made the last pair for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai took an early pair in game 2, but the Meteors' Dani again showed strength with a six-ball run and a bank of the 10 to the bottom right on consecutive turns for the win, which sealed the series in her favor at 2-0. Nikolai salvaged a win with an early strike in game 2, potting the 1-10 combination to the top right on his lone shot. Dani still advanced with a 2-1 series win.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Jane v. Taylor M. The visitor gets her second series today, again using the purple cue in 7-ball. Eastside's Taylor M. won with two pairs of shots, including a 4-7 combination to the top side to take a 1-0 series lead over Stonebridge's Jane after game 1. The Sharks' Taylor M. switched up her style after contesting the start of game 2 with the Wolves' Jane. Taylor M. ripped a five-ball run-out with delicate touches to get this win, clinching the series at 2-0. Taylor M. had a decent start to game 3, but Jane picked up the pace late for the win to avoid the sweep. Taylor M. instead won the series 2-1.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Dreamy. The blue cue returns in 13-ball. Swordpoint's Dreamy had a nice surge of offense in game 1, pushing her past Pacific's Twinkie I early on. Dreamy closed the effort well too, going up 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Dreamy had one of each on the break, and chose to play stripes. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I was fine with this, as solids proved useful to her. Twinkie I used the 8 defensively late in the game, and Dreamy sank it illegally to gift Twinkie I the win that tied the series at 1. Dreamy had a messy finish in game 3, wasting good positioning with a scratch. Twinkie I had recovered from her earlier scratch and worked her way to the win for the 2-1 series win.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Daisy. The blue cue stays on for 9-ball before the lunch break. Boston's Puff II had a pair on the break and continued a steady offense throughout her game 1 win over Modernistic's Daisy. Puff II leads the series 1-0. The Union's Daisy made a four-ball run in the middle of game 2, but it went to waste as she missed on the 8. The Swifts' Puff II struck for the final pair of shots to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Daisy wasted opportunities to make a winning shot in game 3, allowing Puff II to clean it up for the 3-0 series sweep.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Melissa v. Greg. After the break, the green cue is on for Accuracy. Terrace City's Melissa had a solid showing at times, but she wasted a late lead and allowed Archtown's Greg to win 3-4 in game 1. Greg holds a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Melissa never really had a chance in game 2, as the Arrows' Greg was perfect until the last ball. Melissa couldn't keep up as Greg won 1-5 in the game to seal the series at 2-0. Melissa didn't put much effort into game 3, which gave Greg plenty of leeway once again. Greg won this one 2-4, sweeping the series 3-0 to get into the first round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Kirstin v. Kiwi. The red cue makes an appearance for 10-ball. Stonebridge's Kirstin had a lot of offense, including four balls over her last two turns, but a miss on the 10 allowed Terrace City's Kiwi to poach game 1 for the 1-0 series lead. A relatively boring game 2 got good at the end. The Knights' Kiwi scratched on the 6, and the Wolves' Kirstin attempted a 7-10 combination to the top left. Kirstin missed, and Kiwi deflected the winning shot in as called to clinch the series at 2-0. Kiwi had plenty of possession opportunities in game 3, but eventually Kirstin took advantage for a six-ball run-out to get her lone win. Kiwi won the series 2-1.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Dewey v. Puff III. Northeastern rivals tangle in 9-ball with the purple cue. Harrison's Dewey found his way to a four-ball run in game 1, but that was the extent of his offense. Everton's Puff III would make the final pair of shots eventually, moving ahead 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Puff III didn't stun in game 2, as both players had a late pair. In that exchange, the Specters' Dewey left the 9 at the bottom left, and Puff III buried it for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Puff III found a quick finish in game 3, working a four-ball run-out capped by a 7-9 combination to the top left to earn the 3-0 series sweep on Dewey.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Bright. A rookie and a veteran clash in the last 9-ball series, featuring the green cue. Pearl's Bright had a three-ball run early in game 1, but it was Eastside's Maison who struck for a four-ball run-out to earn the win. Maison leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Maison had good offense with a three-ball run in game 2, and he made a good defensive play late to bump the 9 away from the bottom side. The Surfers' Bright came up just short on a bank to the top left, where Maison then tapped in the 9 for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Maison made the highlight reel in game 3 with a two-rail 5-7-9 kick combination to the bottom right for the win, stunning Bright as Maison made a 3-0 series sweep.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Dewey. The visitor's second series of the day comes in 12-ball with the purple cue. Tysini's Charli had to take a turn for an intentional scratch to fix her positioning in the middle of game 1. Both players made banks to the bottom right later on, but Harrison's Dewey had that as his winning shot for the 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Dewey opened with a three-ball run in game 2 before giving the Hummingbirds' Charli a wild-card ball. Charli created a three-ball run of her own, but patient positioning allowed Dewey to win with a three-ball run-out to get the win. Dewey sealed the series 2-0. Game 3 saw Charli received a wild-card ball on Dewey's break. Dewey tried to get positioning after that, but Charli was lined up early on and had no trouble earning the win. Dewey settled for a 2-1 series win.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Lize v. Stealth. The red cue exits the round after this 10-ball series. Southridge's Lize had a little offense in game 1, but she struggled to string plays together. Swordpoint's Stealth got away with a bit more, winning with four balls over his last two turns to go up 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Lize worked a five-ball run in game 2, but it ended with an illegally potted ball. The Blades' Stealth took his time before finding a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Stealth had a brutal scratch in game 3, leading to Lize posting a late three-ball run in honorable fashion. Honor got Lize nowhere when she missed on the 10, and Stealth buried it to the bottom side for the win to sweep the series 3-0.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Cobalt v. Cheddar. The silver cue is here, and ready to go in 15-ball. North Modernistic's Cheddar had a five-ball run and a three-ball run in game 1, but she couldn't close it out. Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt can likely count himself as lucky as he made the 15 at the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Cobalt had only two shots in game 2, missing on both of them. The Nighthawks' Cheddar unleashed a wicked thirteen-ball run and added the final pair on her second turn for the win to tie the series at 1. Cobalt finally grew a backbone on offense with a six-ball run, but he didn't support it well. At the end, Cheddar took game 3 with a five-ball run-out to take the series 2-1.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Pedey. The purple cue's round finale comes in 13-ball. Todavía's Pedey never really got on track in game 1, while Pronger's Potter was good from the start and didn't slow down. Potter took the win easily, putting him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tridents' Potter didn't like his positioning in game 2, but he made virtually no effort to improve it. The Stills' Pedey had plenty of time to work around the table to get the win on a four-ball run-out, tying the series at 1. Pedey had to weather a four-ball run from Potter in game 3 before he could attack. Pedey was sharp, but added a defensive element that bought him time to win the game. Pedey took the series 2-1.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Prism v. Rocky. The venue doubleheader ends with the silver cue in 10-ball. Pronger's Prism had a decent attack to start game 1, finding a three-ball run as well later on. Oceanside's Rocky had the last laugh, however, winning on a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. An even battle in game 2 turned into disaster when the Tridents' Prism scratched as she made the 8. The Waves' Rocky put both the 9 and 10 into the bottom side from ball-in-hand for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Rocky wasn't able to finish the sweep as Prism found her way to victory with a short run in game 3. Rocky took the series 2-1 and will head to the first round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Puff I. It's finishing time for the round, with 12-ball on tap with the silver cue. Atlantic's Isabella needed a little time to establish herself in game 1, but Modernistic's Puff I had bad positioning and provided no challenge. Isabella walked away with the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella had a ball on the break, but it left her with bad positioning on solids. The Union's Puff I pushed a four-ball run right away, and Isabella replied with a three-ball run to stay even. Puff I then made her final pair for the win, tying the series at 1 after a quick game. Puff I gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, giving Isabella a little flexibility. Puff I kept it close to the end, but couldn't pot the 15 at the top right, and Isabella picked up the win for a 2-1 series win.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Sierra. Back in 10-ball, the silver cue ends another event. Todavía's Sierra had much more menace on her shots in game 1, controlling the offense and making a pair at the end for the win. Sierra leads Everton's Goldy 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Goldy found her game a bit more in game 2, playing well in a choppy start. The Stills' Sierra had illegal contact late, setting Goldy up for a four-ball run-out that tied the series at 1. Goldy had another good start in game 3, but a late miss on the 6 proved decisive. Sierra used positioning to make the 6-10 combination at the top side, earning the win and the 2-1 series win all at once.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Shawn. The silver cue's round finale is in 15-ball. Midland's Shawn had some struggles in game 1, none worse than his scratch as he tried to set up on the 15. Capital City's Sprinkles took the back-and-forth battle for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles had a decent start in game 2 with a three-ball run, but she couldn't support her offense much. With choppy play ruling, the Predators' Shawn finished on a three-ball run-out to take the win. This tied the series at 1. Game 3 was hardly different from the others, but Sprinkles brought it to a sudden end with an 8-15 combination to the bottom right for the 2-1 series win over Shawn.
Intel Center, Diamond: Salmo v. Bear. The green cue gets its last series of the round in 13-ball. Everton's Bear made quick work of stripes in game 1 while Diamond's Salmo fought for positioning. Bear waited for Salmo to make some space, then ended the game with a bank of the 8 to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Bear started with a four-ball run in game 2, then took one turn for positioning before his three-ball run-out won him the game. With the win, he clinched the series at 2-0 over the Gems' Salmo. Bear didn't stop there, playing a strong game 3. Salmo had the defense on the 8 near the end, but made an ill-advised play that opened up the final two shots Bear needed for the win. Bear swept the series 3-0.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Twilight. The blue cue is back in action for the last 7-ball series of the round. Pearl's Bright nearly jammed the 7 to the bottom side on the game 1 break. Central's Twilight had some offense, but Bright made a three-ball run-out with a shot off the 6 to bump the 7 to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright again nearly buried the 7 on the break in game 2, but this time it was the Warriors' Twilight who won. Twilight had a six-ball run-out, good enough to tie the series at 1. No drama came from the game 3 break, but Twilight beat Bright fast with a 3-7 combination to the top left. Twilight advanced to the first round on a 2-1 series win.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Vladimir v. Autumn. The blue cue ends the day in 8-ball between Junior club-mates. Diamond's Autumn had a four-ball run after a slow start in game 1. Maplewood's Vladimir answered on a five-ball run, and then made each player's last ball before missing the 8. Autumn mopped up the 8 at the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Vladimir cracked a four-ball run early in game 2 before his offense cooled. The Gems' Autumn answered with a five-ball run, but Vladimir pulled back with a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Both players had four-ball runs in game 3, and it came down to the wire, but Autumn's miss on the 8 gave Vladimir a second chance that he converted. Vladimir won the series 2-1 and will earn the final open spot in the first round.
That's it for the Play-In Round. We'll take two to three days off to prepare for the First Round. There won't be a standings update during this time, but keep an eye out for the new schedule.
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