We're ready to go with a new day of play, beginning with...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Stinky. The purple cue will lead off today in 7-ball. Lighton's Shiny made quick work of game 1, putting the 7 and 1 in the bottom side on the break for a 1-0 series lead over Freedom's Stinky. The Prestige's Shiny nearly did it again to start game 2, but had to settle for regular dominance in the form of a four-ball run-out. The Cascades' Stinky had his chances this time, but Shiny's win secured the series for her at 2-0. Shiny had a decent start again in game 3, but Stinky would pick up the last two balls for a win to avoid the sweep in a 2-1 series. Shiny is off to the first round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Mams. The red cue draws in for 8-ball between these established veterans. A slow start pinned back both players, but Harrison's Sydney S. featured a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over Southern's Mams. The Monarchs' Mams rattled down an early six-ball run in game 2, but she fell apart and couldn't finish the effort. The Specters' Sydney S. methodically rallied to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Mams again came up short in game 3, her offense stalling on the last ball again. Sydney S. stormed back for the win to sweep the series 3-0.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Shaggy. Perhaps today's biggest series, these two captains play 12-ball with the silver cue. Central's Twilight baited Whitewater's Shaggy into giving away a wild-card ball in game 1. Shaggy nearly battled back from it, but Twilight was a little sharper to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy had a five-ball run in game 2, ending by giving the Warriors' Twilight a wild-card ball again. Twilight went big but couldn't bank her shot to the top right, and Shaggy scooped up an easy win to tie the series at 1. Shaggy picked up a three-ball run in game 3, but it removed her defense, and Twilight countered on a three-ball run-out for the win. The tight series favored Twilight 2-1.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Shawn. The host's second series today is in 9-ball with the red cue. Midland's Shawn showed flair with a jump on the 5, but his overall play was erratic. Freedom's Stinky was more consistent in game 1, and took the win with a late pair of shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky started off fine in game 2, but the Predators' Shawn struck early with a 6-9 combination to the bottom left to get the win, which tied the series at 1. A fast pace in game 3 saw Stinky rip a four-ball run, only for Shawn to counter on a three-ball run-out that gave him the series by a 2-1 margin.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Goatee. The purple cue will administer Rotation between these veterans. Both players kept it close initially in game 1, until Royal's Brownie pulled ahead late and picked up an 8-4 win to go up 1-0 in the series against Westside's Goatee. The Crowns' Brownie played a stronger game 2, controlling the offense nearly the whole time while the Rockers' Goatee struggled to connect her shots. Brownie won 8-2 this time, sealing the series at 2-0. Offense exploded on both sides in game 3, as Brownie used a four-ball run to erase a deficit, only for Goatee to pull to an 8-4 win with her four-ball run-out. Brownie's 2-1 series win is enough to get her into the first round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Autumn v. Graham. A rookie takes on a big-name star making his debut with a new team in Accuracy with the red cue. Central's Graham had a rough middle of game 1, costing him the win as Diamond's Autumn held on for a 2-4 win. Autumn leads the series 1-0. Both players improved in game 2, but an early scratch from the Warriors' Graham would ultimately be the difference. The Gems' Autumn stayed true for a 1-2 win to secure the series at 2-0. Autumn had another good performance in game 3, and Graham again made a critical mistake that cost him another 1-2 result. Autumn swept the series 3-0 to move into the first round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Princess. After the lunch break, the blue cue is on for 13-ball. Westside's Goatee made a good effort early with a four-ball run, but Viewpoint Sound's Princess pulled ahead with a five-ball run and won on the next turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Princess took one of each on the game 2 break and later potted a four-ball run before a scratch ruined her offense. The Rockers' Goatee had enough time to catch up and earn the win, tying the series at 1. Goatee held the edge for much of game 3 until Princess played defense late. Goatee's missed contact allowed Princess to use ball-in-hand to make the final pair of shots. Princess also won the series 2-1.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Rosalina. Southwestern rivals tangle in 8-ball with the silver cue. Lighton's Acorn unleashed a five-ball run from the break and added a three-ball run-out later, a dominant win to go ahead 1-0 in the series against Victoria's Rosalina. The Prestige's Acorn remained dangerous in game 2, but two scratches set him back far enough for the Spurs' Rosalina to get the lead and convert the 8 to the bottom right for the win. The series is tied at 1 game apiece. Rosalina weathered a big run from Acorn early in game 3, then countered with her own six-ball run-out to take the series 2-1 in a comeback.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Katharine. The host begins a doubleheader with the purple cue in hand for Accuracy. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty had a ball on the break but couldn't hold the advantage in a tight game 1, as Whitewater's Katharine took a 1-0 series lead on a 1-2 win. The Shores' Katharine scratched on the game 2 break and never had a chance to get back into it, as the Meteors' Frosty stayed perfect for a 0-3 win to tie the series at 1. Frosty scratched on her first and last shots in game 3, but it was fine enough to win 2-4 against a sloppy effort from Katharine. Frosty won the series 2-1 to punch her ticket to the first round.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Frosty. The visitor completes her doubleheader with the green cue's lone series today in 13-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty had no luck with positioning in game 1, allowing Queens' Mario to take an easy win for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Frosty was better on offense, but scratches became a problem for her in game 2 and the Flames' Mario was patient enough to exploit her mistakes. Mario would slowly build his way to the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Frosty looked thoroughly defeated in game 3, but Mario was having trouble with scratches again, slowing down his march to the win. Mario still swept the series 3-0.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Ms. Puppy. Institutions of their teams collide in 13-ball with the silver cue. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy knew exactly how to line herself up in game 1, and was rewarded with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over a hapless Spirit of Lighton. The Union's Ms. Puppy had quite the battle on her hands in game 2, including a scratch that left the bottom right blocked. The Prestige's Spirit tried to dig around it but sank the 8 prematurely, and Ms. Puppy claimed the win to seal the series at 2-0. Ms. Puppy couldn't figure out the positioning in game 3, and Spirit finally cashed in a good alignment to get her lone win in Ms. Puppy's 2-1 series win.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gizmo v. Sierra. The blue cue draws in for this 15-ball match. It was glaringly obvious after game 1 why both players were in the Play-In Round to begin with. North Modernistic's Gizmo had an awful break, but he took the win after Todavía's Sierra missed the 15 from ball-in-hand. Gizmo leads the series loosely by a 1-0 margin. Game 2 was a little faster, but the Nighthawks' Gizmo wasted all his late offense with a scratch. The Stills' Sierra didn't make a mistake this time, burying the 15 to the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was cut short on a brilliant 3-15 combination to the bottom side from Gizmo, which moved him to a 2-1 series win over Sierra.
Intel Center, Diamond: Salmo v. Jennifer. The purple cue's last look today is in 7-ball. Terrace City's Jennifer never got a shot in game 1, as Diamond's Salmo ran the table for the win and 1-0 series lead. That proved to be a wise strategy, as the Gems' Salmo saw an empty break in game 2 turn into a 1-7 combination to the bottom left on the first shot from the Knights' Jennifer. With that, the series became tied at 1. All's well that ends well for Salmo, as Jennifer couldn't get a run going in game 3 and Salmo converted a 2-7 combination to the top side for the win and 2-1 series win.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Klaus. The red cue is up for 15-ball here. Archtown's Klaus paced the game with an early six-ball run and plenty of other offense, but he slipped late. Swordpoint's Bandit poached the win with a pair of late shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit had a much better game 2, with a four-ball run early on and a cluster-buster on the 2 that drained the 15 to the bottom left to secure the series at 2-0 over the Arrows' Klaus. In game 3, Bandit continued to play a bruising style with his shots. Klaus picked up a little offense, but missed the 15 late, and Bandit converted at the top left for a 3-0 series sweep.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Celestia. Two skilled foes battle in Accuracy with the silver cue. Oceanside's Celestia left her skill at home in game 1, playing poorly as Central's Dustin took the 1-0 series lead with an unchallenged 2-6 win. The Warriors' Dustin led for much of game 2 but couldn't make it stand after a late miss. His overtime break was empty, and the Waves' Celestia converted for the 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Another close battle in game 3 saw Dustin miss a chance to win in regulation, leading to overtime. Dustin's overtime break here didn't work so well, leaving an open shot on the 4 to the top right that Celestia buried for a 2-3 win. Celestia won the series 2-1 to get into the first round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Sydney S. The blue cue ends the day in 7-ball. Pearl's Neopolitan had a solid three-ball run but couldn't finish game 1 off, allowing Harrison's Sydney S. to poke the 7 to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney S. rode that momentum through game 2, making a three-ball run and a four-ball run-out after the Surfers' Neopolitan was blocked for her only shot. Sydney S.'s win secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Sydney S. came up short in game 3, as Neopolitan avoided the sweep with the final pair of shots. Sydney S. settled for a 2-1 series win to advance with.
We're already basically a quarter of the way through the Play-In Round. Check back tomorrow for more action.
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