It's the middle day of the First Round, which is a little more than three weeks into a six-and-a-half week run. We'll begin today with...
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Kodiak. The silver cue opens the day in 15-ball. Pearl's Neopolitan looked confident on offense despite getting almost no extended possession. Modernistic's Kodiak tried to fight back late, but scratched as he made the 14. Neopolitan then took the 15 from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan again struggled to piece together a run in game 2, but the Union's Kodiak remained just as hapless. Kodiak tried a 6-15 combination to the top left which failed, and Neopolitan deflected off the 6 to pot the 15 there for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Neopolitan had a little more of the offense in game 3 as well, making five of the last six balls. Kodiak, however, made the one that counted for the win, leaving Neopolitan to advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Jane v. Puff I. The red cue draws in for a Rotation series. Modernistic's Puff I had a pair of three-ball runs in game 1, and Stonebridge's Jane could only answer one of them. Puff I went on to take an 8-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Jane refused to go quietly, keeping herself in the series with an 8-4 win in game 2. The Union's Puff I had a couple moments of offense, but nothing sustainable as Jane tied the series at 1. Jane got onto the final shot in game 3, but she missed multiple chances to convert. Puff I made four balls over her last two turns for the 8-7 win and 2-1 series win that sends her to Southern for a meeting with the Monarchs' Mams in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Niki. More Rotation features the green cue. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot took it very close at the start of game 1, but his steady offense resulted in an 8-3 win over Commerce's Niki. Hoot leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Hoot scratched on the game 2 break, setting himself back almost immediately. The Tradewinds' Niki looked dangerous, but a late shake-up nearly cost her. Niki just managed an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. A close battle emerged early in game 3, with Hoot clawing back from an early deficit. Niki then fired off a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to seal the series at 2-1. Niki advances to the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Sage v. Lily. Back in 15-ball, there's the blue cue. Eastside's Lily saw some good offense go to waste early in game 1, as Victoria's Sage made five of the last seven balls for the win. Sage's persistent attack led her to the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Spurs' Sage take a small step back early on. The Sharks' Lily looked solid for awhile, but Sage made sure to secure the series with a 12-15 combination to the top left. Sage's series lead extended to 2-0. Sage struck quickly in game 3 after Lily failed to wrangle a 2-15 combination. Sage's 3-15 combination from range to the top left was good for a win and a 3-0 series sweep to put her in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Blaze. The purple cue gets all sticks active today with this 7-ball set. Todavía's Easter got off to a fantastic start, drilling the game 1 break in a way to hit the 7 at the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead against a stunned Infinity's Blaze. The Torpedoes' Blaze made a three-ball run in game 2, but the Stills' Easter sandwiched it with a pair of balls potted on each side, including the winning pair. Easter easily clinched the series at 2-0. Blaze had a chance to avoid the sweep in game 3, but his shot on the 7 was a little wide. Easter cleaned it up with a tap-in for the win and 3-0 series win that gets her into the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Cubby. The blue cue returns to action in 8-ball. Web City's Cubby featured a five-ball run early in game 1, then finished it off with a three-ball run-out after Swordpoint's Bandit wasn't able to strike efficiently late in the game. Cubby leads the series 1-0. The Blades' Bandit had a massive lead early in game 2, but a late scratch slowed him down. That gave the Spiders' Cubby just enough time to snag the win, securing the series in his favor at 2-0. Cubby had too many scratches and misplays at the end of game 3, giving Bandit the space he needed for his lone win in the series. Cubby's 2-1 series win sees him on the road again in the second round as he visits Diamond Gems veteran Leonardo.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Jane. The visitor's second series today comes in 12-ball with the purple cue. Maplewood's Diddley started fairly well, but he was out of position late. Stonebridge's Jane then made a four-ball run to pull even before potting her last pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had good positioning and awful execution in game 2. The Wolves' Jane eventually gave away a wild-card ball, and Diddley failed to capitalize on it. Jane then tapped her last shot to the top left for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Diddley was just a bit more crafty than Jane in game 3, with both players getting very close to the finish. Diddley made a pair for the win, while Jane advances to the second round with a 2-1 series win; she'll face Central Warriors newcomer Graham on the road.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Stealth. The First Round is half over with this 10-ball series using the red cue. Tysini's Sugar showed why she's top on the bracket, making a five-ball run early on and a four-ball run-out at the end for a dominant 1-0 series lead over Swordpoint's Stealth. Game 2 saw the Hummingbirds' Sugar make a three-ball run early on before things got a bit choppy. The Blades' Stealth got the last chop, taking the 10 to the bottom right for the win that tied the series at 1. Stealth brought heat with a seven-ball run on his second turn in game 3. Sugar then made a tough pair but left the 10 standing, where Stealth slammed it to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win. Stealth will visit another Southwestern rival, the Lighton Prestige's Citrus, in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Bright. Another 10-ball series uses the purple cue. Pearl's Bright struggled late in game 1 after a close start. Terrace City's Quincy wasn't great either until he banked the 10 hard to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Knights' Quincy maintained his possession edge with a five-ball run in game 2, but he peaked too early. The Surfers' Bright cleaned up the final pair of shots for the win, tying the series at 1. Quincy looked desperate in game 3, and for good reason with Bright confidently knocking in a three-ball run after claiming possession. Quincy made his shot on the 9 but scratched immediately, and Bright took the 10 from ball-in-hand for the win and 2-1 series win to put him through to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Melissa v. Nibbles. The venue doubleheader ends in 13-ball with the blue cue. Terrace City's Melissa ran circles around Web City's Nibbles this time. Melissa ended in three turns, the second a four-ball run that set her up later on the 8. Melissa owns a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Nibbles found a four-ball run in game 2 and looked set after the Knights' Melissa scratched. Nibbles took an illegal shot from the kitchen to position his last ball, but he never got a chance at it. Melissa roared back on a four-ball run-out, banking the 8 to the bottom side for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Melissa had one of each on the game 3 break and went with solids for a four-ball run. Nibbles pulled back on his own four-ball run to get the lead, and he would finish the effort quickly for his lone win of the series. Melissa won the series 2-1 and heads to the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Stinky. Newly-named captains battle in 12-ball with the purple cue. Game 1 was even very early on. Freedom's Stinky chose solids and made it work, but it looked like Royal's Kayla on stripes had a chance to make noise. Stinky finished with a shot on the 3 at the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky had an empty break in game 2, and the Crowns' Kayla immediately turned out a four-ball run. Stinky tried defense, but Kayla overpowered him with patience and smart choices, getting the win to tie the series at 1. Kayla had two scratches early in game 3, leaving plenty of space for Stinky to operate. Stinky was relentless on offense, working left to right for the easy win and 2-1 series win that allows him to advance to round two.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Cheddar. Experienced veterans clash in 15-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Goldy mixed results and creativity in game 1, but faltered too much at the end. North Modernistic's Cheddar found a pair of shots to close her win for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy didn't have many opportunities for runs in game 2, with the Nighthawks' Cheddar showing a lot of confidence. Cheddar left the 15 near the top left and cleaned it up a few turns later for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Goldy looked adrift in her shooting in game 3, rarely putting together much menace on her shots. Cheddar eventually corralled the 15 at the bottom left to complete a 3-0 series sweep, which will take her to Pearl to meet the Surfers' Neopolitan in the second round. This was Goldy's 100th unique opponent.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Americus. Southeastern foes meet in Rotation with the red cue. Queens' Violetta made a ball on the break and later had a three-ball run, but a slow finish from Midland's Americus still resulted in an 8-6 win. Americus is up 1-0 in the series. The Predators' Americus continued a loosely-organized onslaught of offense, while the Flames' Violetta was again unusually weak in possession. Americus won this game 8-3, clinching the series at 2-0. Violetta had the lead early in game 3, but she was unable to hold onto it at the end, as Americus' five-ball run-out was good for an 8-5 win. Americus swept the series 3-0 to get into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Citrus. The host gets a second look today, using the green cue in 13-ball. Eastside's Lily did well with solids in game 1, but she couldn't dig her last ball out of a bad position. Lighton's Citrus got onto the 8 with a three-ball run, then buried it at the top right on the next turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Lily overcame one rookie mistake in game 2, overfilling the bottom right, but her positional play near the end was poor. The Prestige's Citrus punished it with a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series in her favor at 2-0. Citrus got nothing on her game 3 break, but that worked out fine for her. Lily's first shot went into a cluster and illegally sank the 8 to the bottom right, gifting the win and 3-0 series sweep to Citrus. The visitor Citrus will host a Southwestern rival, the Tysini Hummingbirds' Hughbert, in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Ms. Puppy. Captains and club-mates use the silver cue for 13-ball. Lighton's Acorn had two scratches and rough positioning and still got the first legal contact on the 8 in game 1. He also left it short at the bottom right, giving Modernistic's Ms. Puppy a well-earned win and 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy showed no mercy in game 2, a six-ball run from the break putting the Prestige's Acorn into a panic. Acorn made one shot before Ms. Puppy kicked the 8 to the top left for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Ms. Puppy remained strong on offense in game 3, attacking pretty thoroughly. Acorn got a three-ball run in response, but Ms. Puppy kicked the 8 into the bottom left for the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Ms. Puppy will hit the road again in the second round, destination to be determined.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Steven. The silver cue closes the day in 7-ball. A back-and-forth battle in game 1 went in favor of Archtown's Hoppy as she buried the final pair of shots following Atlantic's Steven missing on the 6. Hoppy leads the series 1-0. The Pirates' Steven deserved better than what he got in game 2, a four-ball run ending with a cruel and narrow miss on the 7 at the bottom right. The Arrows' Hoppy made no mistake in converting it for the win to secure a series win at 2-0. Hoppy let game 3 get away from her, as Steven won with five balls potted over his three turns. Hoppy took the series 2-1, and she'll host Outcast club-mate and Pronger Tridents star Spot in the second round.
We'll continue the second half of the First Round tomorrow.
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