We're getting close to the end of the First Round. Today's action kicks off with...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Dustin. The blue cue starts the day in 9-ball. Pacific's Ms. Kitty made a pair on the game 1 break, but little else went right for her. Central's Dustin made a four-ball run that ended in a scratch, but Ms. Kitty missed the 9 and Dustin cleaned it up for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty provided more resistance in game 2, but her three-ball run near the end failed, as she missed the 9 with a thin cut. The Warriors' Dustin potted it to the bottom left for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Dustin's break in game 3 left the 9 near the top left, but he couldn't get a look at it. Ms. Kitty deflected a shot off the 3 to sink the 9 for her lone win in Dustin's 2-1 series win. Dustin will visit Pronger Tridents newcomer Prism in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Blaze. The blue cue remains active for 13-ball. Midland's Shawn gave away a ball to Infinity's Blaze, who couldn't strike on his last ball until he scratched. Shawn then used a three-ball run and the ensuing ball-in-hand to pot the 8 at the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead in a tight game. The Predators' Shawn made three balls on the game 2 break, but the rest of his offense was unimpressive. The Torpedoes' Blaze fought back late with a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Shawn saved his effort in game 3 with a four-ball run to get onto the 8. Shawn used the 8 defensively at first to force Blaze into a late kick shot, which he missed. Shawn then put the 8 in the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series win. Shawn will host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Sprinkles in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Watermelon. The purple cue comes on for 9-ball. Pearl's Watermelon tried a late jump in game 1, which sent the cue ball off the table. Capital City's Sprinkles made the final pair from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles played well on the break turn in game 2, but she was unable to support it later. The Surfers' Watermelon stepped up with a three-ball run-out capped by a 5-9 combination to the bottom side to tie the series at 1. Watermelon showed a little of the form that made her a breakout start last year, using a seven-ball run-out in game 3 to defeat Sprinkles. Watermelon won the series 2-1 and will visit the Todavía Stills captain Easter in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Puff I. The blue cue is back in 10-ball. Everton's Puff III had a poor performance from the break in game 1, leading to a choppy battle that saw Modernistic's Puff I snag the last two shots. Puff I leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Puff III made improvements in game 2, mainly with a five-ball run. The Union's Puff I couldn't keep up, and her miss on the 10 at the end allowed Puff III to tap in the winning shot to tie the series at 1. Puff I made a late four-ball run in game 3, but it didn't work out after her miss on the 9. Puff III surged for the last two shots to get the win and 2-1 series win. Puff III will visit Archtown Arrows newcomer Klaus in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Crystal. Southeastern superstars meet in 8-ball with the silver cue. Golden's Dusty greatly outpaced Queens' Crystal in a game 1 filled with rattled shots and fractured runs. Dusty's better play was enough for a 1-0 series lead despite little confidence. The Flames' Crystal had total control for much of game 2, but the 8 proved elusive. The Pilots' Dusty slowly chipped back into competition, but Crystal's bank on the 8 to the bottom right would fail her as she also scratched on the play. This gifted the win to Dusty, who took the series at 2-0. Dusty wouldn't slow down in game 3, commanding the offense quite well on solids as Crystal struggled. Dusty easily made a three-ball run-out for the win and 3-0 series sweep, which allows her to host the Atlantic Pirates' Steven in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Luigi. The host's second series today is in 12-ball with the purple cue. Everton's Puff III pushed with a three-ball run in game 1, a pressure that Southridge's Luigi failed to shrug off. Luigi's missed contact allowed Puff III to finish the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III made a solid on the game 2 break, and then added a later run to counter good positioning from the Defenders' Luigi. On their last balls, Luigi faltered and Puff III struck the bottom left for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Puff III looked to be in trouble despite a great start to game 3, as Luigi offered a lot of resistance. However, Luigi made a ball for Puff III, and she was able to add the final pair immediately after that for the win, the 3-0 series sweep, and the right to face fellow Eagle Cleo in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Sierra. The red cue debuts today in 9-ball. Stonebridge's Hershey made the final pair in game 1 after a back-and-forth battle saw Todavía's Sierra unable to string many shots together. Hershey holds a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra made an improvement with a four-ball run in game 2, but she scratched on the final shot of that stretch. The Wolves' Hershey made the 9 from ball-in-hand to the top left for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Sierra again made a four-ball run late in game 3, and again came up short on the 9, which Hershey was able to take with relative ease to complete his 3-0 series sweep. Hershey is set to host Pronger Tridents star Spot in an Eastern Hills derby in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Strawberry. We're back to 13-ball with the blue cue at the halfway point today. Todavía's Easter had one of each on the game 1 break, and she chose stripes. It was a wise decision, as positioning was tough for Victoria's Strawberry. At the end, Easter made a tough pair of cuts for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had to be a little tougher in game 2, as positioning didn't come easy. The Spurs' Strawberry scratched late, and Easter illegally potted her last stripe. Strawberry only made a pair from ball-in-hand before Easter finished the game for a win to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a high pace on both sides, but Easter just missed on her chance at the 8. Strawberry took the final pair of shots for a win, leaving Easter to head to the second round on a 2-1 series win. Easter will host Terrace City Knights veteran Melissa in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Tigerette. Struggling captains collide in Accuracy with the red cue. Boston's Patches had the first miss in game 1, but recovered after that while Commerce's Tigerette entered a free-fall. Patches held on for a 3-5 win and took the 1-0 lead in the series. Both players improved in game 2, but the Swifts' Patches made sure to maintain the margin quite well. Patches was perfect this time, leaving no way out for the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Patches' 0-2 win sealed the series at 2-0. Patches had another positive start in game 3, but she ran out of luck, and Tigerette took over in the middle. Tigerette managed a 1-3 win, making it a 2-1 series win for Patches to earn the right to host Oceanside Waves rookie Rocky in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Sally. Another captains' battle goes in 15-ball for the silver cue's last turn today. Pronger's Precious began to feel frustrated in game 1 as shots stopped working. Archtown's Sally went bold for a kick on the 7, which ended up bumping the 15 into the top side for a fortunate win and 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally had a number of noticeable runs in game 2, but she appeared to wear out by the end. The Tridents' Precious stepped up at the perfect moment, making three balls over her last two turns for the win to tie the series at 1. Precious had a lot of early momentum in game 3, only for Sally to return in force later. Sally had a four-ball run near the end that ended in a scratch, allowing Precious to pot the 15 from to the top left from ball-in-hand. Precious won the series 2-1 and will host her son, Royal Crowns rookie Sunshine, in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Paps v. Mario. The red cue finishes its day in 8-ball. Capital City's Paps found an early five-ball run in game 1, which Queens' Mario later answered on a six-ball run. The close finish favored Paps, who sank a pair to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Paps put the 8 very close to the top left on the break, but it didn't fall. It would come back to hurt him, as he tried to sneak the 2 behind the 8 and failed, gifting the win to the Flames' Mario in a close game 2. This tied the series at 1. Paps had almost no offense in game 3 until he made two pairs of shots over two turns. Mario's early success had given him enough runway to get the win, and that in turn won him the series at 2-1. Mario will visit North Modernistic Nighthawks veteran Lionel in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Vladimir. The purple cue cycles in for 15-ball. Royal's Jake had an attempt to kick the 3-15 combination to the top left in game 1, but he missed contact. Maplewood's Vladimir used the ball-in-hand to convert the same play directly for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a five-ball run in game 2, making an impressive push near the end, but the Lumberjacks' Vladimir would again have the last word as he potted a pair to get the win. Vladimir sealed the series at 2-0. Vladimir brought the heat with a hard-hitting run at the start of game 3, and then a five-ball run-out at the end for a dominant win and sweep of Jake. Vladimir is set to visit Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Noelle. The green cue enters the action in 8-ball. An awful break by Infinity's Shelley slowed things at the start of game 1. Central's Noelle had a little more fun on offense, and she won with a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle had a much better break in game 2, her five-ball run to start things giving her a huge advantage. The Torpedoes' Shelley didn't get particularly close, and Noelle wasted no time at the end as she earned the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Noelle didn't get much early in game 3, but it was a scrap all the way to the end against Shelley, who missed her lone chance on the 8 with missed contact. Noelle made her last two shots from ball-in-hand for the win to finish a 3-0 series sweep. Noelle is set to visit the Eastside Sharks' Lily in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Gizmo. The venue doubleheader ends with the purple cue in Accuracy. North Modernistic's Gizmo look infallible in game 1, but his play fell apart late, and Infinity's Fluffina did just enough to snag a 4-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gizmo regained his previous form in an excellent game 2, refusing to miss a single shot. His perfect game was too high a standard for the Torpedoes' Fluffina, as Gizmo tied the series at 1 with a 0-2 win. Gizmo looked ready to command game 3, but he fell apart again later on. Fluffina did what she needed to for the 3-5 win, which helped her take the series at 2-1. Fluffina is set to host Enterprise club-mate and Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Spot. The blue cue is up for Rotation now. Pronger's Spot made a four-ball run early in game 1, and that would provide him a margin to work with. Tysini's Sugar got a bit closer, but Spot held on and won 8-4 to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tridents' Spot got to the verge of victory in game 2 with a four-ball run, only to struggle near the end. The Hummingbirds' Sugar made a disjointed comeback effort before Spot finished off the win at 8-6. Spot clinched the series at 2-0 in the process. Spot couldn't settle down after a scratch on the break in game 3, and Sugar was determined to avoid the sweep. Sugar got an 8-3 win, and Spot heads to the second round on a 2-1 series win before visiting the Central Warriors' Graham.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Stripes. A brother and sister meet in 13-ball with the green cue to end the day. Freedom's Stripes can blame her problems in game 1 on a couple of mid-game errors. Swordpoint's Stealth took his time to finish off the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes had most of the offense to start game 2, but it wasn't enough. Meticulous planning helped the Blades' Stealth stage a seven-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Stealth had a chance at a comeback in game 3 when Stripes intentionally fouled to open up a finish. Stealth was on a four-ball run-out, but he scratched as he potted the 8 to transfer the win to Stripes. Stealth won the series 2-1 and will host Golden Pilots veteran Max in the second round.
We'll be back at it again tomorrow, now with five days left in the First Round.
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