We're off to a late start but today's action shouldn't be too negatively affected. First up...
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Bandit. The red cue starts the day with some 15-ball. Todavía's Easter had a less impressive effort in game 1, as Swordpoint's Bandit showed a little more comfort on offense, but Bandit couldn't corral the 15. Easter put it in the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter was a little cleaner in game 2, her shot on the 6 setting the 15 very near the bottom left. The Blades' Bandit couldn't get lined up for it, and Easter double-potted the 7-15 combination for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Easter was possibly at her best in game 3 with a five-ball run, but Bandit got the win in response with a four-ball run-out. Easter's 2-1 series win sends her to the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Kodiak v. Andrew. Younger players battle in 8-ball with the silver cue. Modernistic's Kodiak couldn't get anything going in game 1, while Freedom's Andrew essentially cruised to victory unchallenged. Andrew leads the series 1-0. The Union's Kodiak had no trouble getting onto his last ball, but the Cascades' Andrew timed his scratches well. This frustrated Kodiak, who couldn't get a clear look, and Andrew eventually rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Kodiak again didn't have a whole lot of success in game 3, but it was a thundering five-ball run-out from Andrew that made it a 3-0 series sweep for the visitor. Andrew is headed to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Rudolph. The red cue is back between Brute Force members for 12-ball. Midland's Americus had a couple of lucky bounces in game 1, but she earned the win in her own right. Harrison's Rudolph had a double-pot and put up a good fight, but Americus leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Americus made one of each on the game 2 break, but correctly chose to play stripes. The Specters' Rudolph had nothing, and Americus won after three turns to secure the series at 2-0. Americus couldn't bring the effort home in game 3, taking a scratch and giving away a wild-card ball on the same play. Rudolph eventually banked the 1 to the top side for the win, leaving Americus to advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Gal. The red cue goes again in Rotation for the year's 600th series. A tight start to game 1 gave both players some trouble in establishing a rhythm. North Modernistic's Gal found hers with a four-ball run sparked by a kick on the 8 to the bottom left. She held off Boston's Puff II at the end for an 8-5 win, giving Gal the 1-0 series lead. The quality of play dropped in a gritty and difficult game 2. This time, the Nighthawks' Gal couldn't count on a run to help her, but steady and patient shots at the end resulted in another 8-5 win over the Swifts' Puff II. Gal clinched the series at 2-0. Gal finally had a breakout performance with a pair of four-ball runs to take game 3 by an 8-1 score. Gal swept Puff II 3-0 in the series to get into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Paps v. Sally. In 9-ball, the purple cue gets a look after the break. Neither player looked particularly comfortable in game 1. Archtown's Sally had some good play initially, but a pair of banks gave Capital City's Paps the win and 1-0 series lead in the end. The Sharpshooters' Paps took over with offense in game 2, using a four-ball run in the middle to establish himself. The Arrows' Sally got one back, but Paps won with a late pair to seal the series at 2-0. Paps had a nerve issue in his left arm entering game 3, and his offense fell off because of it. Sally made quick work of the game with a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out on consecutive turns. Paps won the series 2-1 and will head to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Ruby v. Frosty. Coastal rivals battle in 7-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Ruby loaded the cannons for a four-ball run, but twice missed the 7. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty stole the win at the top side, giving herself a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Frosty made a pair on the break in game 2 and then went cold. The Stills' Ruby added a couple pairs and took the 7 from ball-in-hand after Frosty scratched late. Ruby's well-earned win tied the series at 1. Ruby had a pair on the break, which Frosty answered on her turn in game 3. Frosty then scratched, setting Ruby up for a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. Ruby won the series 2-1 and will host Victoria Spurs newcomer Rosalina in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Rainmane. A big battle in 13-ball features the red cue. Tysini's Sugar got off to a great start in game 1. Her miss on the 2 at the bottom side slowed her down, but Midland's Rainmane later missed contact. Sugar then buried a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. A cagey game 2 battle saw the Hummingbirds' Sugar make one of each to the top left on the break. She took solids, which turned out to be the right choice after a long battle with the Predators' Rainmane. Sugar finished with the 8 at the top left to seal the series at 2-0. Sugar had a good push at the end of game 3, making four straight shots, but she scratched as the 8 fell to the top left. Rainmane took the free win to avoid a sweep as Sugar's 2-1 series win puts her in the second round against Southwestern rival Fuchsia of the Infinity Torpedoes.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Dani. One more time for the red cue, this one in 7-ball. Maplewood's Summer was narrowly empty on her break in game 1. Viewpoint Sound's Dani took over with a somewhat chaotic seven-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani started with a pair on the game 2 break, which the Lumberjacks' Summer quickly answered. Dani then put together a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series in her favor at 2-0. Dani made a pair before her scratch early in game 3. Summer made sure to lock in with a five-ball run-out to avoid the sweep by earning her lone win. Dani's 2-1 series win earns her a trip to Pronger to face Tridents captain Precious in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Cobalt. The blue cue comes aboard for 8-ball. Boston's Patches had a four-ball run and not much else in game 1, while a steady flow of offense helped Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt find the win on a three-ball run-out. Cobalt holds a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches completely dominated game 2 with a four-ball run and a three-ball run, but she sank the 8 illegally. The Meteors' Cobalt was gifted a win after making no shots in the game, and that sealed the series for him at 2-0. Patches again dominated the offense in game 3, and this time she was rewarded with the win despite Cobalt's four-ball run near the end. Cobalt settled for a 2-1 series win to earn his place in the second round. This was Patches' 100th unique opponent.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Kodiak. The visitor's second series today is in 10-ball with the green cue. Diamond's Leonardo had a four-ball run in game 1, but he couldn't get the finish later on. Modernistic's Kodiak picked up a pair at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Union's Kodiak couldn't quite up his offense in game 2. The Gems' Leonardo took some time but found a five-ball run-out at the end, his positional play shining through as he got the win to tie the series at 1. Leonardo had his moments in game 3, but the ending was sloppy on both sides. Kodiak escaped with a pair of shots for the win and 2-1 series win, which allows him to host an Urban Derby versus the Westside Rockers' Chimpy in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Peach. The blue cue is done with the day after this 8-ball series. North Modernistic's Peach posted a four-ball run after battling early on with Golden's Sparkles. Peach had no trouble making the 8 on her second try for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach appeared to be on a similar track in game 2, but she couldn't finish it off. The Pilots' Sparkles rallied to pull even on a four-ball run and then won with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. After a short delay in game 3, Sparkles found her groove and made a four-ball run-out to finish off Peach in a 2-1 series win. Sparkles' comeback assures her position in round two.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Sage. On to 7-ball with the silver cue. Boston's Ice Cream had all the offense in game 1, including a five-ball run in the middle. Ice Cream then scratched as she made the 7, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Victoria's Sage. The Spurs' Sage made a much stronger campaign in game 2, using a five-ball run-out to get the win after the Swifts' Ice Cream failed to take hold of the offense. Sage clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Sage took game 3 on the break to complete the sweep, sending the 5 to the top left and the 7 to the bottom side for the 3-0 series win over Ice Cream. Sage will be on the road in the second round as well, visiting the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Whiskers.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Graham. The red cue makes its exit in another 7-ball series. Queens' Violetta showed her skills with a ball on the break and the remaining six balls on her next two turns, including a four-ball run-out. Violetta leads Central's Graham 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Graham had most of the offense in game 2, including a five-ball run that ended with a scratch after he made the 6. The Flames' Violetta took the ball-in-hand and potted the 7 at the top left to seal the series at 2-0. Violetta had a good start to game 3, but the end was all Graham with his four-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Violetta settled for a 2-1 series win to earn the right to host the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Nightfur v. Shadow. Eastern Hills captains do battle in 15-ball with the purple cue. Eastside's Nightfur had momentum if not dominance early in game 1, but it was the lack of the latter that allowed Diamond's Shadow to kick the 6-15 combination to the top side for the win. Shadow leads the series 1-0 on a stunning trick shot. The Gems' Shadow laid low again in game 2, sensing the Sharks' Nightfur showing desperation. Nightfur took a try to deflect off the 5, which pushed the 15 to the bottom left, but the cue ball followed it in. This gave Shadow the win, which in turn clinched the series for him at 2-0. Shadow was a bit more involved in the offense in game 3, but Nightfur was there to grab the win as she potted the 15 to the top left. Shadow took the series 2-1 and will visit the Everton Eagles' Puff III in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Wild Thing v. Spot. Another Eastern Hills derby uses the purple cue in 10-ball. A back-and-forth game 1 saw a relatively quick pace of play. Stonebridge's Wild Thing wasn't bad, but his miss on the 10 set up Pronger's Spot at the bottom right. Spot converted, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Wolves' Wild Thing got right back on track in game 2, sparring with the Tridents' Spot in the early turns. Wild Thing finished early on a three-ball run-out, which saw him bank the 5 to the bottom right and then spin a deflection off the 6 to shove the 10 in the top left for the win. The series is tied at 1. Wild Thing had a decent start in game 3, but he missed the 5. This allowed Spot to make a three-ball run-out, capped by the 6-7 combination to the top side and the 6-10 combination to the top left. Spot won the series 2-1 and will host Golden Pilots veteran Max in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Toki v. Wings. Ending the day, there's 7-ball with the green cue. Eastside's Toki made his fair share of offense in game 1, but the final pair went to Pearl's Wings in relatively easy fashion. Wings' win put him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Toki showed some skill to make a four-ball run in game 2, but his chance at a win went away with an awful short-range shot at the 7. The Surfers' Wings cleaned it up for the win, sealing the series at 2-0 as the rookie's growing pains continue. Toki didn't have much left in the tank at the end of game 3, and Wings took advantage of that for a three-ball run-out and the 3-0 series sweep. Wings will visit Golden Pilots superstar Dusty in the second round.
That's it for this day. We're closing in on the two-thirds mark (Sunday), and we'll keep it going tomorrow.
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