The first round continues today, beginning with...
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Yekaterina. The blue cue leads off with Accuracy. Commerce's Solaris struggled right out of the gate in game 1, and by the time he found his shot, Victoria's Yekaterina was mostly secure. Yekaterina ended up with a 1-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. A fast-moving game 2 saw the Tradewinds' Solaris twice convert double-pots. His latter one allowed the Spurs' Yekaterina to play a little defense, and Solaris' bank attempt on the last ball missed. Yekaterina knocked it to the top left for the 0-1 win that sealed the series in her favor at 2-0. Yekaterina fell off the pace pretty badly in game 3, although she had pulled even near the end before fading to let Solaris win 3-5. Yekaterina took the series 2-1 and will visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Blaze in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Summer. The purple cue steps in for Rotation. Maplewood's Summer popped off with a five-ball run to start game 1, and Boston's Sweetheart only got a three-ball run later. Summer was able to close with an 8-4 win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Lumberjacks' Summer had far less fortune in game 2, as it was the Swifts' Sweetheart using a five-ball run to take the quick lead. Sweetheart then filled in the rest to win 8-1, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was as balanced as any in the series, with Sweetheart maintaining the lead throughout. Summer couldn't string a response together near the end, and Sweetheart got the 8-5 win to advance with a 2-1 series win. Sweetheart will visit Swordpoint Blades rookie Esmeralda in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Summer. The visitor completes her road doubleheader in 9-ball with the purple cue. Despite a trio of scratches in game 1, Maplewood's Summer still got the win with a pair at the end, as Tysini's Leandra was too inconsistent. Summer leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Summer had some struggles in game 2, but fewer scratches. Still, her missed bank on the 7 allowed the Hummingbirds' Leandra to kick the 7 into the top side to spark a three-ball run-out. Leandra's win tied the series at 1. Leandra had some moments on offense in game 3, but it was her miss on the 7 that allowed Summer to attack for a three-ball run-out. Summer won the series 2-1, an upset that carries her to a second round series in Pacific versus the Volcanoes' Twinkie I.
Sony Center, Queens: Pauline v. Paps. The host meets the player that replaced her for Accuracy with the green cue. Queens' Pauline struggled at the start of game 1, and the deficit proved just a little too much when she added a miss on the last ball. Capital City's Paps held on for the 3-4 win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Pauline was much improved in game 2, keeping a perfect effort while the Sharpshooters' Paps had just a single miss in the mid-game. The result, a 0-1 win for Pauline, tied the series at 1. Pauline had a cluster-buster that yielded no success in the middle of game 3. That would come back to haunt her in Paps' 1-2 win that went down to the wire. Paps took the series 2-1 and will visit Royal Crowns captain Kayla in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Nibbles v. Bright. The red cue comes aboard for 12-ball. Web City's Nibbles gave away a wild-card ball on the game 1 break, but Pearl's Bright returned it to the table late. At that point, Nibbles' momentum led him to the comeback win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Nibbles had a good start in game 2, and he was far more successful than the Surfers' Bright at executing his shots over the course of the battle. Nibbles easily took the win with a bank to the bottom side, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Bright take a stand, attacking a four-ball run early on. Nibbles tried to counter it, but Bright made his final pair for his lone win the series. Nibbles advanced on a 2-1 series win and will visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Fluffina in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Snowball. Southwestern captains collide in Accuracy with the red cue. Capital City's Chris nearly slipped up late in game 1, but things remained tied. His overtime break sank a ball, and Swordpoint's Snowball would eventually fade. Chris missed once in overtime, but Snowball missed twice straight as Chris took the 3-4 win deep into the extra rack for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 also got into overtime, as the Sharpshooters' Chris just hung on enough to force the Blades' Snowball into a tie. Chris then converted on the overtime break again, and Snowball missed, giving Chris the series at 2-0 with this 4-5 win. Chris accidentally made the last ball after trying a sporting gesture in game 3. Forcing overtime, Chris then missed his first shot in overtime after Snowball got a ball on the break, which meant Snowball won 2-3. Chris took the series 2-1 and will host Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Wild Thing. Club-mates meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Bells looked strong in game 1 with a five-ball run, but she didn't offer much support after that. Stonebridge's Wild Thing played a slower style that ended with him getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Bells spread her offense a bit more in game 2, but it also came with an uptick in errors. The Wolves' Wild Thing was hardly better, and he was unable to lock things down late. Bells made the final pair for the win to tie the series at 1. Bells picked up the pace again in game 3, including six balls over her last two turns. Unfortunately, Bells missed on the 15, and Wild Thing buried it to the top right to take the series 2-1. Wild Thing will visit Tysini Hummingbirds sophomore Sarah in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Tigerette v. Blaze. The blue cue is back in 9-ball. Commerce's Tigerette opened with a three-ball run and added a five-ball run before missing on the 9. Infinity's Blaze gladly took the cheap win for a 1-0 series lead with a tap-in at the bottom left. The Torpedoes' Blaze was much more involved in game 2, and he was rewarded with the win after a four-ball run-out following a foul from the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Blaze sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Blaze contributed just a bit in game 3, unable to truly dominate the battle. Tigerette struck late, poking the 9 to the bottom left for the win. Blaze won the series 2-1 and will visit Leonette of the Pacific Volcanoes in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Valencia. Feisty opponents clash in 8-ball with the silver cue. Golden's Valencia started well with steady offense, only for Freedom's Stripes to raise a threat with a six-ball run. Valencia then made her final pair for the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Stripes had a bit more offense in game 2, but the Pilots' Valencia recovered well after a slow start. The finish was tight, and it took Stripes missing on the 8 for Valencia to get the win this time. Valencia secured the series at 2-0. Valencia had hardly any offense in game 3, as Stripes used a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out to earn the win. Valencia did provide one ball of collateral damage to help Stripes in her win. Valencia took the series 2-1 and will visit Archtown Arrows captain Sally in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Jake. Club-mates tangle with the red cue in 13-ball. Web City's Jack made three balls on the break, but he was lucky Royal's Jake struggled after a four-ball run. Jack eventually got back on track after Jake fouled. Jack won with a three-ball run-out to go up 1-0 in the series. The Spiders' Jack had a five-ball run from the break to start game 2. The Crowns' Jake tried and failed to counter it, ending up with a scratch. Jack made his last ball illegally, giving Jake a chance from ball-in-hand, but Jake again fell short, and Jack took the 8 at the top left to clinch the series at 2-0. Jack was a little slower at first in game 3, but Jake had bad positioning late in the game. Jack worked a four-ball run-out capped by a kick on the 8 to the bottom left to get the win and complete the 3-0 series sweep. Jack will play in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Esmeralda v. Jennifer. Another 13-ball series marks the blue cue's exit today. Swordpoint's Esmeralda made two stripes and a solid on the game 1 break, but elected to play solids. It was the right choice, as Terrace City's Jennifer struggled mightily throughout the game. Esmeralda ended up getting a fairly strong win for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Esmeralda played solids in game 2, but it was a close battle. Her three-ball run early on didn't hold up as the Knights' Jennifer found better positioning at the end to get the win. This tied the series at 1. Esmeralda had better positioning in game 3, and she exploited that advantage after Jennifer scratched. Esmeralda set herself up nicely for the final pair of shots, converting both on the next turn to take the series 2-1. Esmeralda will host another Terrace City Knight, the captain Kiwi, in the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Vladimir. The red cue cycles in for 9-ball. Terrace City's Kiwi had most of the early offense in game 1, while Maplewood's Vladimir jammed a shot on the 4 that sent the 9 to the bottom right. Vladimir's good fortune gave him the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Vladimir had a bit more offense in game 2, including a late three-ball run, but he missed on the 9. The Knights' Kiwi was there to clean it up at the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Kiwi took over with a pair on the break en route to an eight-ball run-out, keeping Vladimir from ever getting to the table in game 3. Kiwi won the series 2-1 with the epic finish, and she's headed to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Brownie. We've got 12-ball with the green cue here. Freedom's Nikolai had a good start, and despite a scratch in the middle, he was in total control. Royal's Brownie did push a three-ball run late, but Nikolai was able to win with a shot to the top right for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai had another good start in game 2, but a four-ball run from the Crowns' Brownie changed the flow. Nikolai needed to make a positional play and failed to adjust, allowing Brownie to pot the last pair of shots for the win that tied the series at 1. Brownie couldn't get anything on the break in game 3. Nikolai attacked with a four-ball run, but it was still close. Nikolai made his final shot on a kick to the top right on his second attempt, good for a 2-1 series win over Brownie. Nikolai will maintain his top-seeded hosting position in round two.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Hughbert v. Omari. Another 12-ball series uses the red cue. Tysini's Hughbert started well, but couldn't bring it home in game 1, taking a pair on the break and very little else. Web City's Omari showed creativity in his attacks and had plenty of time to work with in his win, which put him ahead 1-0 in the series. The ending of game 2 could have gone either way, with the Spiders' Omari making a valiant comeback effort, only to fall short with a miss at the top right. The Hummingbirds' Hughbert then made a pair to finish his win, tying the series at 1. Hughbert had a good start in game 3, but it almost wasn't enough as Omari got himself set up for a big counterattack. Omari faltered on his second shot, and Hughbert then made his last shot to the top side to win the game and the 2-1 series. Hughbert will visit club-mate and Archtown Arrows veteran Hoppy in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Ms. Puppy. A captains' battle in 8-ball sees the silver cue's day end. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy used a five-ball run to overcome her slow start. Southern's Panda struggled at the end, getting multiple chances for a finish that he failed to convert. Ms. Puppy ultimately took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy had a three-ball run at one point in game 2, but she couldn't get much else. A couple turns later, the Monarchs' Panda stepped up for a five-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Panda couldn't really get much going in game 3 after Ms. Puppy blasted a six-ball run. Ms. Puppy was quick to take the final pair for the win, clinching the series at 2-1. Ms. Puppy will host Freedom Cascades sophomore Andrew in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Paps v. Easter. The host's second series today is in 12-ball with the green cue. Capital City's Paps was a little too lax with his shooting in game 1, leaving plenty of openings. Todavía's Easter overcame a scratch near the end, sinking a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had the edge throughout game 2, but it was narrow at times. The Sharpshooters' Paps applied late pressure and some defense, only for Easter's final shot to sneak in to the top right for the win. Easter sealed the series at 2-0. Easter had a good start in game 3, but it was a close finish yet again. Paps tried to get ahead late, but Easter had enough time to convert at the top side to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Easter is set to host the Everton Eagles' Vincent in the second round.
We'll keep it going with more action tomorrow.
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