The silver cue takes its first day off this year. Today's action gets going with...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Rosemary. The red cue gets the start with a Rotation series. Commerce's Rosemary had the early lead in game 1, but Freedom's Stripes got close with a three-ball run, and then Rosemary scratched. Stripes used that ball-in-hand for a three-ball run-out to win the game 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Rosemary held the lead deep into game 2 as well, but missed contact on her attempt at the 15 allowed the Cascades' Stripes to complete a comeback from ball-in-hand. Stripes won 8-7 this time, clinching the series at 2-0. Rosemary held the lead deep into game 3, but she collapsed once more as Stripes pieced together a six-ball run-out for the 8-6 win. Stripes swept the series 3-0 and will host Americus of the Midland Predators in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Sweetheart. In 13-ball, the purple cue comes between Southeastern rivals. Golden's Valencia stuck herself in a bad position, but the defense it provided slowed Boston's Sweetheart. It wasn't enough, as Sweetheart converted a shot after the defense broke, and she made the 8 on the next turn for the 1-0 series lead over Valencia. The Swifts' Sweetheart started with a three-ball run in game 2, which the Pilots' Valencia answered on a five-ball run. Valencia couldn't make her last ball before Sweetheart rattled off a four-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. Sweetheart looked to be in danger early in game 3, as Valencia had very good positioning. Sweetheart had just enough defense to last until she made a three-ball run-out for the win, finishing a 3-0 series sweep. Sweetheart will visit Commerce Tradewinds veteran Niki in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Wild Thing v. Dominic. The blue cue draws in here for 9-ball. Stonebridge's Wild Thing made a play that left the 9 very near the top left in game 1. He didn't get to cash it in, as Southern's Dominic attacked with a three-ball run-out capped by a 7-9 combination for the win. Dominic leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Dominic had a much stronger appearance in game 2, collecting most of the offense as the Wolves' Wild Thing struggled to calibrate his shot. Dominic picked up the win with a late pair, sealing the series at 2-0. Dominic opened with a three-ball run in game 3, but Wild Thing converted the 2-9 combination to the top left to steal a win. Dominic took the series 2-1, and he's set to visit Victoria Spurs newcomer Rosalina in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Paps v. Pedey. The purple cue returns for 10-ball. Capital City's Paps unleashed a seven-ball run in game 1, but he narrowly missed on the 10. Todavía's Pedey cut the 10 to the top left to poach a win, going ahead 1-0 in the series despite having little offense. A more balanced game 2 saw the Sharpshooters' Paps pull a three-ball run from ball-in-hand, but he missed on the 9. The Stills' Pedey knocked in the final pair for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Pedey scratched as he double-potted the 6 and 10 to the left corners, but Paps scratched on his play from ball-in-hand. Pedey then made a three-ball run-out for the win, completing the 3-0 series sweep. Pedey will host the Pearl Surfers' Bright in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Wild Thing. The visitor's second series today uses the green cue for 12-ball. North Modernistic's Gal started with a three-ball run in game 1, but Stonebridge's Wild Thing responded on a four-ball run. Gal then gave Wild Thing a wild-card ball, and that made it easier for the visitor to close out the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Wild Thing gave away a wild-card ball on the game 2 break, but he followed up with a four-ball run. The Nighthawks' Gal had her shots aligned but couldn't execute a big run, and Wild Thing pulled away for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Gal made sure to put her best effort forward in game 3, and it worked out for an easy win as Wild Thing stalled after the break. Wild Thing took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Bear v. Delila. Veterans meet in 7-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Everton's Bear made a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but faltered a bit after that. Atlantic's Delila couldn't corral the 7, and Bear tapped it to the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Bear attacked well again in game 2, making a pair at the start and the end in an overwhelming effort versus the Pirates' Delila. Bear's win secured the series for him at 2-0. Bear again took a pair on the break in game 3, but he couldn't get much more. Delila won this time, using a four-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Bear's 2-1 series win sends him to the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Rocky. Coastal rivals clash in 12-ball with the blue cue. Pearl's Neopolitan began with a four-ball run in game 1, but Oceanside's Rocky made a five-ball run-out on his second turn for a quick win and 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Rocky struck the sides quickly in game 2, a smart play as he quickly found himself on his last ball. The Surfers' Neopolitan tried to play defense, but it wasn't enough. Rocky won with a shot to the top right after careful positioning, and he sealed the series at 2-0 in the process. Rocky had a decent break in game 3, but Neopolitan played faster on offense this time. Neopolitan got the win with a three-ball run-out, while Rocky settled for a 2-1 series win to go into the second round, where he'll host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Nibbles v. Marsell. The 700th series of the year is in 8-ball with the green cue. Whitewater's Marsell made the first move in game 1, but he was unable to support it much. Web City's Nibbles held even for a bit before making a four-ball run-out for the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Shores' Marsell unleashed a seven-ball run on his first turn in game 2, leaving the Spiders' Nibbles quite desperate. Nibbles didn't make anything, and Marsell went on to sink the 8 at the bottom left to tie the series at 1. Marsell didn't have much of a break in game 3, but Nibbles wasn't able to keep his offense going either. Marsell found a groove in the middle and added a pair at the end for the win and 2-1 series win. Marsell will play in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Gal. Urban rivals meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Game 1 came to a quick close, as Commerce's Tigerette missed a 2-15 combination and North Modernistic's Gal made a harder version of the same shot to the top left for the win. Gal leads the series 1-0. The Tradewinds' Tigerette lasted longer in game 2, but she suffered a big miss when the 10-13-15 combination didn't fall to the bottom right. The Nighthawks' Gal had already made a five-ball run, and capped the effort with a 10-15 combination for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Gal didn't play quite as well in game 3, but it didn't matter. Tigerette's late three-ball run ended with her missing the 15 wide of the top left. Gal cleaned up another shot for the win, finishing off a 3-0 series sweep that allows her to host Viewpoint Sound Meteors captain Hoot in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Autumn v. Luigi. The green cue returns for a Rotation series. Diamond's Autumn had a good start in game 1, but not enough pace later on. Southridge's Luigi solved his offense issues with a five-ball run-out for the 8-5 win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Luigi had his moments in game 2, but it turned into a back-and-forth battle between him and the Gems' Autumn. In the end, Autumn narrowly prevailed for an 8-6 win, tying the series at 1. A close battle emerged in game 3, with Luigi keeping pace quite well. His illegal contact on the 8 would be his downfall, as Autumn took a four-ball run-out from there to win 8-4. Autumn won the series 2-1 and will host North Modernistic Nighthawks enforcer Cheddar in round two.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Vincent v. Gizmo. In 15-ball, the blue cue is used. Everton's Vincent had a clear majority of the possession in game 1, and he was rewarded with an easy finish on the 15 after North Modernistic's Gizmo couldn't bank it to the bottom right. Vincent holds a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Vincent wasn't as clearly in control in game 2, but he was good enough for a four-ball run-out that ended with a 4-12-14-15 combination to the top left. This gave him the win and clinched the series at 2-0 over a hapless Nighthawks' Gizmo. Vincent kept it going in game 3, taking only a small step back on offense. Gizmo had some chances this time, but he couldn't make it click. Vincent made the final pair and swept the series 3-0, setting him up to host the Victoria Spurs' Sage in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Ruby v. Stinky. The blue cue stays in action for 10-ball. Todavía's Ruby was incredibly creative on a five-ball run to open game 1, but she ended it with a scratch. Freedom's Stinky had a much more straightforward five-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky didn't have as much poise in game 2, while the Stills' Ruby flitted around with more creative plays. The result was a close and tense finish, which saw Ruby make the 10 on her third try to get the win that tied the series at 1. Ruby fell apart at the end of game 3, unable to connect on a 7-10 combination. Stinky ended up making a pair of three-ball runs on his last two turns to get the win, which in turn gave him the series at 2-1. Stinky will visit Lighton Prestige veteran Shiny in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Maggie v. Wild Thing. The visitor gets a third series today, using the green cue in Accuracy. Modernistic's Maggie twice failed to hold a lead in regulation in game 1, but she was strong enough to force overtime. There, Stonebridge's Wild Thing missed his second shot and Maggie won 2-3 to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Union's Maggie remained strong in game 2 despite taking the first miss. The Wolves' Wild Thing dropped in evenly with a scratch and then couldn't pot the last ball, which Maggie converted for a 1-2 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Maggie scratched on the break in game 3, disrupting her rhythm overall. Wild Thing cruised to an easy 1-4 win this time, but Maggie will earn the trip to Midland to take on the Predators' Chicky Phil in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Vladimir. The blue cue exits the day in a Northeastern derby edition of 8-ball. Maplewood's Vladimir couldn't capitalize on mid-game hesitation from Everton's Cleo in game 1. Cleo got back on track and found a way to the win, going up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Cleo had a steady stream of mild offense in game 2, while the Lumberjacks' Vladimir did one big attack and couldn't follow it up. Cleo's strategy paid off in the form of a win to clinch the series at 2-0. Vladimir seemed to have the edge at first in game 3, but Cleo stormed back with a six-ball run-out to finish the 3-0 series sweep. Cleo's dominant showing sends her to the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Katelynn. The red cue checks in for Rotation. Swordpoint's Snowball established quite the lead for herself in game 1. Royal's Katelynn chipped back slightly, but Snowball made a 10-11 combination to the bottom side with the 10 caroming to the bottom right for the 8-3 win, which also gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Katelynn again failed to launch her offense in game 2. The Blades' Snowball chaotically built a lead and finished with a double-pot of the 9 to the bottom left and the 14 to the top left on a cluster buster initiated by the 6. Snowball won the game 8-0 and secured the series at 2-0. Katelynn had all the early offense this time, although Snowball put up quite a fight before succumbing by an 8-7 score. Snowball won the series 2-1 and will host Infinity Torpedoes veteran Fluffina in a battle of old-school stars.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Taylor S. The day ends with the red cue in hand for 9-ball. Neither player had a strong grip on the offense in game 1, but Eastside's Lily locked down a win with a three-ball run-out. Lily leads Commerce's Taylor S. 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. wouldn't get a chance to even the series in game 2, as the Sharks' Lily won in two shots. Lily sent the 5 to the bottom left on the break and jammed a 1-9 combination to the top side to clinch the series at 2-0. Lily wasn't able to sweep, as Taylor S. uncorked a 7-9 bank combination to the bottom side on a tough finish in game 3. Lily took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
We'll cross the three-quarters mark of the First Round tomorrow.
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