We'll reach three-quarter through the First Round today. Leading off...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Briana. The red cue opens the day in 7-ball between Southeastern rivals. Neither player looked that good in game 1, with Queens' Briana suffering a particularly bad miss on the 7 that allowed Royal's Jake to tap it in at the top left for the win. Jake leads the series 1-0. The Flames' Briana recovered a bit in game 2, winning on a four-ball run-out despite another slow start. The Crowns' Jake still hasn't truly found a groove, while Briana has tied the series at 1. Jake came alive with a four-ball run in game 3. Briana had a chance for the win but rattled the 7 out of the bottom right, and Jake converted to take the series 2-1. Jake will play in the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow v. Graham. The second series today uses the blue cue in Rotation. A close battle at the start of game 1 saw Central's Graham hold a slight lead. Diamond's Shadow couldn't spark a run, but Graham went deep on a six-ball run-out, ending with a decoy on the 8 to bump the 10 to the bottom side for the 8-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow had time to build a lead after the Warriors' Graham made a couple of early errors. Shadow stalled out in the middle, and Graham took the lead with a pair of three-ball runs. Graham went on to take an 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Graham had a little more work to do in a frustrating game 3 for both players. Shadow put in a good resistance but fell 8-6 in the end as Graham swept the series 3-0 to get into the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Angelica. The green cue comes aboard for Accuracy. Lighton's Angelica missed on her first shot in game 1, and that would be it for the mistakes. Atlantic's Steven held on to a perfect effort for the 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Angelica kept a steady standard of play in game 2, again taking the first miss but this time recovering as the Pirates' Steven unraveled late. Angelica won 1-3 this time, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Steven returned to a perfect performance in game 3, burying Angelica under her own mistakes. Steven's 0-3 win gave him the series at 2-1, and he'll visit Westside Rockers veteran Slinks in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Tigerette. The green cue remains active for 8-ball. Archtown's Sleepy B. had a nice start to game 1, but a scratch and poor play later on made it a nervy finish. Commerce's Tigerette slowed down at the wrong time, and Sleepy B. took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette had no trouble in game 2, smashing a three-ball run and a five-ball run-out on consecutive turns to shut out the Arrows' Sleepy B. Tigerette's dominant attack tied the series at 1. Tigerette sustained the offense into game 3, applying lots of pressure to Sleepy B. early on. Tigerette didn't let up at the end, earning the win to take the series 2-1. Tigerette will visit an Urban rival in the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Rudolph v. Frosty. More 8-ball sees the purple cue activate. Harrison's Rudolph made a four-ball run from the break in game 1. It was enough to scare Viewpoint Sound's Frosty into a bad shot, as she tried and failed to sneak the 2 past the 8 at the top left. The 8 fell instead, and Rudolph had an easy win for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Frosty had a scratch on her second turn with no balls potted, giving the Specters' Rudolph a full ball-in-hand. Rudolph converted a seven-ball run-out her, clinching the series at 2-0. Rudolph eased up a bit in game 3, while Frosty was on her game and finished with a win this time. Rudolph still won the series 2-1, and he'll host Southridge Defenders captain Stephanie in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Waluigi. The silver cue is back in action with 10-ball. Pacific's Starlight ended up with the game 1 win after Web City's Waluigi illegally hit the 10 on a kick attempt toward the 7. Starlight potted the final pair of shots to go ahead 1-0 in the series. A close battle in game 2 opened up as the Spiders' Waluigi made a three-ball run, only to suffer a scratch. The Volcanoes' Starlight buried a three-ball run-out after that, securing the series at 2-0. Starlight didn't have the best start in game 3, but she finished well with a hard-hitting four-ball run-out to finish a sweep of Waluigi. Starlight will host a fellow Coastal captain in the second round when the Pearl Surfers' Neopolitan comes to town.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Goatee. The silver cue goes again in 12-ball. Tysini's Sarah started game 1 with a three-ball run. She stayed composed even as Westside's Goatee situated herself for a run that never came. Sarah then finished the effort cleanly for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah made one of each on the game 2 break and elected to play on solids. This proved to be a mistake, as the Rockers' Goatee used the advantage of a wild-card ball and the skill of her five-ball run-out to earn the win in one turn. Goatee tied the series at 1. Goatee played solids after making a pair on the break, but she was unable to line herself up later. Sarah did just enough for the win, smartly gaining the lead and keeping momentum until she was able to close out a 2-1 series win. Sarah is set to host Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Max v. Sage. Another 12-ball series features the green cue. Victoria's Sage very quickly got down to her last ball in game 1, but she sank it illegally and twice missed contact after that. Golden's Max had plenty of time to rally to the win with a three-ball run-out, putting him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Max had to play a bit more strategy in game 2, as the Spurs' Sage made a few defensive moves to slow things down. Max eventually got a look at the top side and jammed the 4 in through Sage's defense to earn the win. Max sealed the series at 2-0. Max received a wild-card ball in game 3, but he didn't get the proper alignment of shots to take advantage of it. Sage had already made a four-ball run and needed little time to pot her final pair to the right corners for her lone win of the series. Max won the series 2-1 and will host Melissa of the Terrace City Knights in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Steven. The visitor's second series today uses the silver cue in 13-ball. A race from left to right in game 1 saw Southern's Pounce block Atlantic's Steven just long enough. Pounce then made a pair of shots at the end for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Pirates' Steven had a three-ball run in game 2, but that was all the offense he mustered against the Monarchs' Pounce. In three turns, Pounce sank the seven balls he needed for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 had a similar start, but Pounce was unable to sustain much offense this time. Steven filled the void rather well with confident attacks to earn the win, leaving Pounce to advance on a 2-1 series win. Pounce will host Whitewater Shores newcomer Smokey in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Potter. The red cue cycles in for 9-ball between these veterans. Infinity's Smudge made a ball on the break, but never got a second turn in game 1, as Pronger's Potter cut the 1 to the top left and then deflected off the 2 to put the 9 in the same pocket. Potter's tricky play earned him a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter used the same deflection play to make the 3 early in game 2. The Torpedoes' Smudge had a little offense in the middle, but Potter pulled away on a four-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Potter couldn't dominate the offense in game 3, and Smudge stepped in with a four-ball run-out at the end to avoid the sweep. Potter won the series 2-1 and will visit Commerce Tradewinds rising star Rosemary in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor M. v. Sprinkles. The red cue's last series today is in 12-ball. Eastside's Taylor M. made a four-ball run in the middle of game 1, then banked her last shot to the bottom right after Capital City's Sprinkles failed on the counterattack. Taylor M. surprisingly took a strong 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Taylor M. had a decent start to game 2, but she scratched near the end. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles kept it close enough to strike a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Sprinkles couldn't get anything going after making a pair on the break in game 3. A scratch stalled her out and set up Taylor M. for a five-ball run. Taylor M. would easily win the game and the 2-1 series, and she'll head to Midland to face the Predators' Americus in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Wario. The official three-quarters mark of the round comes after this 10-ball series with the green cue. Southridge's Wario didn't stun anyone, but his make on the 2 in game 1 led to a 3-10 combination to the top left. He converted and gained a 1-0 series lead over Swordpoint's Snowball. The Defenders' Wario didn't have any tricky plays in game 2, which went the distance and ended with a pair of shots by the Blades' Snowball. This tied the series at 1. Wario and Snowball engaged in a back-and-forth battle at the start of game 3, but it was Snowball who found the four-ball run-out in the end for the win. Snowball won the series 2-1 and maintains home advantage into the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Wario. The visitor completes a road doubleheader with the green cue in 8-ball. Southridge's Wario tried a slow build in game 1, only for Maplewood's Diddley to wreck it with a massive six-ball run-out at the end. Diddley took a confident 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a similar strategy in game 2, using a four-ball run to pull ahead. The Defenders' Wario tried to bank his 12 to the bottom left, but it clipped the 8 and sank the latter ball illegally to gift the win to Diddley. This made it a 2-0 series in Diddley's favor. Wario almost certainly had game 3 in his hands, especially after a scratch stalled Diddley's four-ball run. Wario then flubbed his shot on the 8 to the bottom left, and Diddley rattled off another four-ball run to get the win and 3-0 series sweep. Diddley will host Westside Rockers captain Misty in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Pedey. The purple cue gets a look in 12-ball for its last series of the day. Tysini's Sugar had a decent start and not much else in game 1, as Todavía's Pedey outpaced his host quite well and went relatively unchallenged for the win. Pedey leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Sugar had a stronger lead in game 2, but her foul for an overfill at the top side gave the Stills' Pedey plenty of room to work. Pedey quickly buried a four-ball run-out for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Pedey didn't seem to be in a rush in game 3, but as Sugar took her time to play, Pedey picked up the pace and won on a three-ball run-out. Pedey swept the series 3-0 and will host the Commerce Tradewinds' Rosemary in round two.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Cowzart v. Princess. Coastal rivals battle in 10-ball with the silver cue. Viewpoint Sound's Princess showed some venom with a late four-ball run, but she couldn't corral the 10. Pacific's Cowzart got the tap-in to take game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Cowzart played a more balanced role in game 2, while the Meteors' Princess couldn't find a similar run as the one from before. Cowzart would get the win with a three-ball run-out, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Cowzart failed to complete the sweep in game 3 despite a four-ball run. His miss on the 10 left it at tap-in range for Princess at the bottom left. Cowzart won the series 2-1 and is set to host North Modernistic Nighthawks enforcer Cheddar in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Ms. Puppy. The blue cue ends the day in 7-ball between Urban rivals. Whitewater's Marsell had a couple of lucky moments in game 1, but none came on the 7. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy would put the winning shot in the bottom side to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Shores' Marsell found a little redemption in game 2, making a three-ball run-out with a bank on the 6 to the top left followed by a cut on the 7 to the same pocket. This erased the Union's Ms. Puppy's lead, with the series now tied at 1. Marsell picked up a five-ball run in game 3, but he scratched at the end of it. Ms. Puppy then got the win with a pair of shots, advancing on a 2-1 series win. Ms. Puppy will be back in Whitewater to face the Shores' Twinkie III in the second round.
The final quarter of the first round is upon us, with the anticipated closing date being June 30.
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