We continue on today with the red cue getting its first day off. Opening the action.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Smokey. The blue cue gets the first look with some 10-ball. A humid day has led to slow play around the table, which Midland's Shawn found out quickly in game 1. A choppy battle, Whitewater's Smokey was unable to string anything together late before Shawn deflected off the 9 to take the 10 at the top left for the 1-0 series lead. Another slow-play battle in game 2 saw the Shores' Smokey waste a couple of chances for early combinations. The Predators' Shawn stepped up with a bank of the 10 to the bottom left for the win to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Shawn sputtered out of offense after a good start. Eventually, Smokey made a 5-10 combination to the top left for his lone win, leaving Shawn to advance on a 2-1 series win. Shawn will visit Swordpoint Blades veteran Dreamy in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Ms. Puppy. The green cue is up now for Accuracy. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy had a double-pot in game 1, but it was a much harder game for her after that. Todavía's Sierra couldn't hold a lead in regulation, but Ms. Puppy's overtime break was empty, allowing Sierra to win 3-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy skidded early in game 2, which she wasn't able to recover from. The Stills' Sierra held the line well until the end, but she still finished with a 2-3 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Sierra stepped up her game again in game 3, playing nearly perfect to get the 1-3 win over Ms. Puppy this time. Sierra's 3-0 series sweep sends her to the second round. This was Sierra's 100th unique opponent.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Spice. The silver cue's daily debut comes in 8-ball. Pronger's Avril started with stripes quickly in game 1. Both players hit shots that included collateral damage, but Victoria's Spice was unable to launch a run before Avril won on a three-ball run-out. Avril leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Spice had a four-ball run get the lead in game 2, but she didn't support it very well. The Tridents' Avril had time to make a pair and then a four-ball run-out on consecutive turns to take the win that secured the series at 2-0. Avril didn't have much offense until a four-ball run in game 3, but it was too late to stop Spice, who banked the 8 to the bottom right for the win. Avril took the series 2-1 and will host Pacific Volcanoes captain Starlight in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Shadow. Eastern Hills rivals battle in 12-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Maison made a stripe on the break and gave away a wild-card ball on the next turn in game 1. From there, Diamond's Shadow had all the offense in a dominant win for the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow had a four-ball run from the game 2 break, instantly applying pressure on the Sharks' Maison. The rookie Maison made some shots, but Shadow had an easy time finding plays on the right corners for the win. Shadow soon sealed the series at 2-0. Shadow made a pair on the break in game 3, but his positioning suffered after that. Maison took a couple of turns to set himself up, then knocked down a six-ball run-out for the win that stuck Shadow with a 2-1 series win. Shadow heads to Pronger in the second round to face the Tridents' Potter in another regional rivalry match.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Dusty. High-flying players battle in Rotation with the green cue. Central's Noelle had a couple of double-pots and generally better play in game 1. Noelle's use of defense especially frustrated Golden's Dusty as Noelle went on for an 8-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty began with a three-ball run in game 2 and looked like a lock for the win until her late fade. The Warriors' Noelle slowly got closer, then struck a three-ball run-out capped by a 13-14 combination to the top left to win 8-6. Noelle clinched the series at 2-0. Noelle had most of the early offense in game 3, but Dusty would not exit the series quietly. Dusty buried a seven-ball run-out for the 8-4 win, leaving Noelle to advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Pedey. The purple cue comes aboard with 13-ball. Todavía's Pedey struggled at first but received two freebies from Commerce's Niki, as the host played recklessly. Pedey then suffered a late scratch, opening the door for Niki to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Pedey again came close in game 2, but couldn't capitalize on the scratch the Tradewinds' Niki had late. Niki made a pair at the end for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Niki came close to a sweep in game 3, but late positioning didn't go in her favor. Pedey instead finished it off for his lone win, while Niki's 2-1 series win sends her to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Bright. Back in Rotation, the purple cue is used. Harrison's Twinkie II attacked well early in game 1, and kept it going with a three-ball run-out at the end for an 8-1 win over Pearl's Bright. Twinkie II holds a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II had some offense early on, but the Surfers' Bright broke away with a five-ball run-out that started with a double-pot. Bright ended up winning 8-2 to tie the series at 1. Twinkie II had some moves, including a three-ball run that put her ahead in game 3. Bright answered with his own three-ball run, and he then took two of the last three for the 8-7 win to win the series 2-1. Bright's close call got him into the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Potter. The green cue cycles in for 8-ball. Pronger's Potter had a good amount of offense early in game 1, but he couldn't fend off an eight-ball run-out from Viewpoint Sound's Princess a few turns in. Princess' big attack gave her the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Tridents' Potter again took the early lead in game 2, and he again failed to complete the effort. The Meteors' Princess wasn't as dominant this time, but she won with a four-ball run-out, which sealed the series at 2-0. Potter put in his best effort in a tight game 3 battle, but he was again a little too loose at the end. Princess put the 8 in the bottom right on a long shot to finish the sweep, which sets her up for a potentially huge match against Midland Predators sophomore Kitty in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Graham v. Dusty. The visitor's second series today comes against a major personal rival in 13-ball with the purple cue. Central's Graham struck first in game 1 but Golden's Dusty used better positioning and some aggressive shooting to get the win. Dusty leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Graham held the lead right down to the wire in game 2, but a savvy defensive touch from the Pilots' Dusty blocked Graham's try at the 8. Dusty then used the ball-in-hand for a three-ball run-out, sealing the series at 2-0 with the win. Dusty was quick on offense in game 3 as well, showing no mercy to Graham despite the series being already decided. Dusty's easy win made it a 3-0 sweep in her favor to send her to Boston in the second round, where she'll face the Swifts' Ice Cream in a Southeastern Derby.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Andrew v. Chris. The purple cue stays on for some 9-ball. Three-ball runs were the norm in game 1, with Freedom's Andrew starting and ending the game in that way. Capital City's Chris had a run in the middle, but Andrew holds the series lead at 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Chris struck first in game 2, making a couple pairs of shots. The Cascades' Andrew matched the first pair and then answered the latter with a three-ball run-out for the win. Andrew's surge at the end clinched the series in his favor at 2-0. Chris turned up his offense in game 3, refusing to be swept as he made a five-ball run and a pair at the end. Andrew settled for a 2-1 series win, and he'll host fellow sophomore Kitty of the Midland Predators in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Bear v. Rosalina. In 8-ball, the silver cue is used in its last series today. Victoria's Rosalina held a lead for most of game 1, but she couldn't quite find her shot on the 8. That gave Everton's Bear enough time to rally, and he made five balls over his last two turns for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Eagles' Bear start with confidence, but it was the Spurs' Rosalina with a hodgepodge seven-ball run-out that earned the win. Rosalina's chaotic final turn was enough to tie the series at 1. Game 3 resembled the opener a bit, as Rosalina gained the lead early on. Bear put in a furious four-ball run to get onto the 8, but he couldn't corral it, and Rosalina won with a pair of shots. Rosalina took the series 2-1 and earned a trip to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Juno. Brute Force club-mates meet in Accuracy with the green cue. Westside's Slinks did good work in game 1, holding her lead for most of the game. Stonebridge's Juno had a phantom pot, but scratched on the same play, and Slinks closed with a 1-3 win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Rockers' Slinks scratched on the break in game 2, an error that would haunt her throughout. The Wolves' Juno improved greatly, staying perfect to take a 0-2 win that tied the series at 1 game apiece. A back-and-forth battle in game 3 saw Juno waste a lead late in the game. Slinks picked up the lead late when Juno missed again, and that was a 2-3 final to give Slinks the series at 2-1. Slinks will play on into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Celestia. Thoughtful players use the green cue in Rotation. Oceanside's Celestia pushed a three-ball run early in game 1, which Capital City's Missy eventually surpassed for a short-lived lead. Celestia closed the effort with a five-ball run-out, winning 8-4 and grabbing the series lead at 1-0. The Waves' Celestia did well to keep up with the Sharpshooters' Missy at the start of game 2, but Missy's four-ball run was enough to keep the host ahead. Missy added a late pair for the 8-4 win, tying the series at 1. Missy had a three-ball run early in game 3 to establish a lead. Celestia tied it with her own three-ball run, then added a four-ball run for a big lead. Missy's missed contact led Celestia to pot the last ball of her 8-3 win to take the series 2-1. Celestia advances to round two.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Vincent v. Cobalt. The blue cue checks out with this 10-ball battle. Everton's Vincent potted five of the last six balls in game 1, but he missed the one that counted, which Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt put in the top right after Vincent missed. Cobalt's poached win puts him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Meteors' Cobalt took over the offense in game 2, using a pair of four-ball runs to assert himself and claim victory in the game and the series at 2-0 as the Eagles' Vincent could only watch. Cobalt didn't play as hard in game 3, allowing Vincent to eventually pick up a slow-paced win. Cobalt's 2-1 series win will see him travel to Maplewood to face Lumberjacks captain Diddley in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Melissa. The host's second series today comes against a Celebrity club-mate in 9-ball with the purple cue. Pronger's Avril continued her resurgent season with a four-ball run-out in game 1, after Terrace City's Melissa failed to establish much offense. Avril's win put her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Knights' Melissa continued to struggle to find a run in game 2. The Tridents' Avril was much more confident, converting a pair at the end and plenty more before that in a win that clinched the series at 2-0. Avril needed just two shots to take game 3, burying the 5 on the break and using a cluster to drive the 9 to the bottom left on her first shot after that. Avril swept Melissa 3-0 and will play in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Sprinkles. The purple cue ends the day with 8-ball. Capital City's Sprinkles had most of the offense early in game 1, but her lack of a finishing touch bought enough time for Terrace City's Kiwi to storm back and earn the win. Kiwi is up 1-0 in the series. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles again started game 2 with some pace, but she followed it up this time and won with a three-ball run-out after the Knights' Kiwi suffered a late scratch. Sprinkles' second push helped her tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Sprinkles work a four-ball run early, followed by a six-ball run from Kiwi. Offense got sloppy, and Kiwi suffered a scratch. Sprinkles finished with a flash, jumping her shot on the 13 to the top left before kicking the 8 to the same spot to take the series 2-1. Sprinkles heads on to the second round.
That's all for the first 400 series of the First Round. We'll be back at it tomorrow.
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