We're ready to put on a show for the second day of games this year. First up...
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Lize. The opening series today is in 15-ball with the purple cue. Stonebridge's Juno didn't get much on her break, but Southridge's Lize stunned the home crowd with a shot on the 1 that led to the 15 dropping at the bottom left. Lize's miracle shot gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Lize needed more than one shot in game 2, but a late 10-15 cut combination to the bottom side was enough to put her ahead of the Wolves' Juno by an insurmountable 2-0 margin. Juno salvaged a result in game 3 with a double-pot of the 7 to the bottom side and the 15 to the bottom left, but Lize still took the series 2-1.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Potter. The venue doubleheader closes with 8-ball and the green cue. Stonebridge's Hershey had a five-ball run in game 1, but the two-stage attack of Pronger's Potter was more effective. Potter had a pair of four-ball runs, the latter giving him the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter cranked out a six-ball run from the break in game 2, but stalled out there. The Wolves' Hershey fired back to win on a five-ball run-out, tying the series at 1. Hershey made one of each on the break and took a five-ball run on stripes. Potter countered effectively with a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win to put himself in the first round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow v. Precious. Eastern Hills captains collide in 12-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Precious quickly got to the side pockets, but Diamond's Shadow was faster on the right side of the table and had enough cushion to win game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow surrendered a wild-card ball despite potting two solids on the game 2 break. The Tridents' Precious had everything aligned for the win, but missed her fourth shot and never recovered, allowing Shadow to overcome his disadvantage to clinch the series at 2-0. Shadow again gave away a wild-card ball in game 3, and Precious again came within a ball of winning. Shadow then turned on contact defense, and made it work until he could kick his last shot to the top right to sweep the series 3-0.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Strawberry. The red cue gets its first look today in Accuracy. Boston's Sweetheart had a decent start, but a late fade led to Victoria's Strawberry claiming the game 1 win by a 1-3 score. Strawberry leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Strawberry had a little less fortune in game 2, taking only a couple of misses. The Swifts' Sweetheart did good work to punish those, and won the game 1-2 to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart buried a pair on the break in game 3, setting the tone for her perfect finale that saw her beat Strawberry 0-2. Sweetheart took the series 2-1 and will play in the first round in this event.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Stinky. Team leaders battle in 8-ball with the purple cue. Pearl's Neopolitan spent virtually all of game 1 a couple steps behind Freedom's Stinky, and the latter used that advantage to take his time in a win. Stinky leads the series 1-0. Both players found a groove in game 2, with the Surfers' Neopolitan sinking five straight before the Cascades' Stinky drained four in a row. Neopolitan wouldn't miss her second try at the 8, tying the series at 1 with this win. Neopolitan weathered a lot of Stinky's offense in game 3, which played out as a mix of the previous games. Neopolitan then struck a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Misty. More captains do battle after the lunch break in this 15-ball series with the green cue. Royal's Kayla grabbed control of game 1 with a late five-ball run, then took the 15 to the bottom left when Westside's Misty missed it. Kayla holds a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla left the 15 near the top left early in game 2, but the Rockers' Misty never got a clean look at it. Kayla won on a 3-10-15 combination to clinch the series at 2-0. Kayla posted a strong four-ball run to start game 3, but Misty took vengeance with an eleven-ball run-out on her only turn to avoid the sweep. Kayla settled for a 2-1 series win to advance on.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Blaze v. Princess. A rookie meets a superstar in Rotation with the red cue. Infinity's Blaze struck first, but Viewpoint Sound's Princess absolutely dominated on offense in an 8-1 win for the 1-0 series lead after game 1. Fortunes reversed in game 2, as the Torpedoes' Blaze established a strong lead and the Meteors' Princess couldn't keep up this time. Blaze tied the series at 1 with this 8-2 win. A close start in game 3 gave way to Blaze's five-ball run-out after Princess saw a scratch on the 7 for what would have been the go-ahead point. Blaze's 8-3 win secured a 2-1 series win in his favor.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Whiskers. The host's second series today is in 12-ball with the red cue. Stonebridge's Hershey made a ball on the break and didn't stop there. Maplewood's Whiskers came up empty under Hershey's pressure, giving the host a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had a little more success in game 2, but a late scratch allowed the Wolves' Hershey to assert himself with positioning. He would win on his next turn, sealing the series at 2-0. Hershey overfilled twice in game 3, unable to get lined up for a late run. Whiskers had little trouble nabbing this win to stick Hershey with the 2-1 series win.
Intel Center, Diamond: Debby v. Vladimir. Old faces in new places are set to face off in Accuracy with the silver cue. A close battle in game 1 required overtime, where Diamond's Debby missed on her second shot. Maplewood's Vladimir converted for the 2-3 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was even closer, coming down to the last ball. The Gems' Debby sent the 2 wide of the bottom left, and the Lumberjacks' Vladimir tapped it down for a 1-2 win to secure the series at 2-0. Debby wasn't great in game 3, but she played better than Vladimir for her lone win of the series by a 4-5 score. Vladimir advances to the first round with a 2-1 series win.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Pounce. Sibling rivalry strikes here in 7-ball with the red cue. Both players took their time in game 1, but Freedom's Stripes moved ahead 1-0 in the series with a three-ball run-out to leave Southern's Pounce hanging. Game 2 was another back-and-forth battle, but the Cascades' Stripes left the 7 on the table for the Monarchs' Pounce to bury at the top right. Pounce converted, with his win tying the series at 1. Stripes prevailed at the end of another tight game 3, just getting the shot down against Pounce at the end. Stripes won the series 2-1, but it was far from comfortable.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue's last turn today comes in Rotation. A fairly close start in game 1 turned into dominance for Southern's Panda who walked away with an 8-3 win over Central's Mr. Snowman. Panda leads the series 1-0. Runs were difficult to achieve in game 2, so the Monarchs' Panda chipped his way to an 8-5 victory as the Warriors' Mr. Snowman scuffled with scratches all over the table. Panda sealed the series at 2-0. Panda couldn't quite finish off the sweep, as Mr. Snowman put up a resistance and won game 3 by an 8-7 score. Panda advances on a 2-1 series win instead.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Bear v. Brownie. The green cue is in for 12-ball here. Everton's Bear had a four-ball run early on, but late positioning failed him, especially under pressure from Royal's Brownie playing a physical style. Brownie would surge all the way at the end for the win, going up 1-0 in the series. The Crowns' Brownie held her defense at the bottom left just long enough for the Eagles' Bear to give up a wild-card ball late in game 2. Brownie then converted to the top side for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Brownie didn't have much in the way of strategy for game 3, but Bear was a little slow to strike. Bear did get the win eventually, leaving Brownie with a 2-1 series win.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gizmo v. Whiskers. The visitor gets her second look today, shooting Accuracy with the purple cue. North Modernistic's Gizmo made a mess of game 1, leading to an easy 0-4 win and 1-0 series lead for Maplewood's Whiskers. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers nearly kept it perfect in game 2, but she unraveled at the end, and the Nighthawks' Gizmo stole a 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Gizmo drained three balls on the break and kept up a brilliant pace of play in game 3, while Whiskers missed just once late in a 0-1 win for Gizmo. This gave Gizmo the series 2-1.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Sally. Captains clash with the green cue in 10-ball. Atlantic's Delila seemed fine in game 1 until she illegally potted the 10. Confidence shaken, Delila crumpled as Archtown's Sally rallied for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally started fine in game 2, but the Pirates' Delila took over with a pair of three-ball runs late to earn the win. Delila's surge put her in a series tied at 1 game apiece. Sally scratched after making the 8 in game 3, but Delila faltered on the 10, and Sally knocked it down at the bottom right to advance with a 2-1 series win.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Jane. Eastern Hills rookies get their first taste of the regional rivalry in 13-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Maison showed off his heady playing style in game 1, strategizing and executing well ahead of Stonebridge's Jane to earn the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Maison couldn't recover from a scratch early in game 2, giving the Wolves' Jane plenty of room to work with as she evened the series at 1-1. Jane ripped a four-ball run from the break, but a late scratch tipped the momentum to Maison, who buried a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Maison heads to the first round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Sage. Closing out the day, we've got drastically different veterans using the purple cue in 8-ball. Midland's Rainmane made up for a bad break with a six-ball run, but Victoria's Sage fought back with seven balls over two turns to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane again used a six-ball run in game 2, but this time it was to defeat the Spurs' Sage at the end. Rainmane's beastly attack helped her tie the series at 1. Rainmane had some good moments in game 3, but a five-ball run put Sage ahead, and she made the 8 on the next shot for the win. Sage advanced to the first round on a 2-1 series win.
Play-In Round action continues tomorrow with another 16-series day.
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