It's turning into a sprint to the finish now, with the final five days of the First Round upon us. Leading off...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Panda. The silver cue starts the day in Rotation between captains. A very slow start to game 1 quickly turned into a dominant effort for Westside's Misty, who wound up with an 8-1 win after a four-ball run-out. Southern's Panda had nothing go right as Misty went ahead 1-0 in the series. The Rockers' Misty had a slower performance in game 2, as the Monarchs' Panda held the lead early on. Misty recovered nicely with a five-ball run-out for the 8-5 win to seal the series at 2-0. Misty pulled off another tough comeback in game 3, making five balls over two turns as Panda failed to finish the effort. Misty won 8-7, swept the series 3-0, and will host Urban rival Jennifer of the Terrace City Knights in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Maison. The red cue gets an appearance in 15-ball. Eastside's Maison had a rough game 1, including a late scratch when he tried to bank the 15. Golden's Valencia wasn't much better, but veteran savvy served her well in the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia didn't have as much fortune in game 2, mostly because of improvements from the Sharks' Maison, who made a pair of three-ball runs and other offense in a strong win. This tied the series at 1. Maison had a tougher start to game 3, with Valencia applying renewed pressure this time. Maison escaped with a 7-15 combination to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win, earning him the right to face Todavía Stills captain Easter in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Peach. Arguably the biggest series today, the purple cue is on for 12-ball. North Modernistic's Peach had a three-ball run in game 1, but nothing else really worked her way. Queens' Violetta wasn't clinical in her finish, but she got the win and pulled ahead 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Violetta started game 2 with a four-ball run, and while the Nighthawks' Peach came close to a win, her late missed contact was critical. Violetta used the ball-in-hand to make her last ball for the win, overcoming a wild-card ball deficit to clinch the series at 2-0. Peach didn't even get a shot in game 3, as Violetta ran the table from the break in excellent form. Violetta swept the series 3-0 and will host Freedom Cascades captain Stinky in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Wario v. Esmeralda. Back in 15-ball, the blue cue is used. A pair on the break set the tone for Southridge's Wario, who had a near dominant offense. Swordpoint's Esmeralda didn't attack much, and Wario got the win for a 1-0 series lead with five of the last six balls. The Defenders' Wario wasn't as dangerous to start game 2, but when the Blades' Esmeralda failed to pot the 9, Wario attacked with a seven-ball run-out. The sudden blitz finish gave Wario the series at 2-0. Game 3 was tough for both players, as Wario's break didn't produce a great spread. Esmeralda still had trouble shooting well, and her miss on the 15 at the end allowed Wario a tap-in for the 3-0 series sweep. Wario will host the Freedom Cascades' Andrew in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Bells. The blue cue remains active for 8-ball. Todavía's Bells twice sank balls for Everton's Puff III in game 1, an unnecessarily generous effort. Puff III capitalized with a four-ball run-out at the end, going up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Puff III grabbed stripes on the break, and then made a four-ball run after the Stills' Bells committed illegal contact. Puff III kept the offense up at the end of game 2, winning on a three-ball run-out to secure the series at 2-0. Puff III had a five-ball run in game 3 after Bells had led the way for most of the battle. Puff III missed the 8 multiple times before Bells made it at the bottom side to avoid the sweep. A 2-1 series win puts Puff III in the second round versus Golden Pilots veteran Sparkles.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Shiny. The green cue activates in 15-ball. Whitewater's Katharine made good use of her shots in game 1, controlling the offense and adding some defense. Lighton's Shiny had no angle on the 10, and her cluster-buster set up Katharine for a 10-15 combination to the top left. Katharine now leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Katharine had a three-ball run from the break and a five-ball run late in game 2 to pace the offense again. The Prestige's Shiny made her shot on the 15, but the cut to the bottom left led to a scratch at the top right, gifting Katharine the win and the series at 2-0. Katharine again controlled play with a five-ball run and a three-ball run, but she missed the 15 this time. Shiny cut it to the bottom right to dodge the sweep, as Katharine's 2-1 series win will be what sets her up to face the Eastside Sharks rookie Toki in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Sleepy B. Northeastern rivals tangle in 7-ball with the red cue. Web City's Jack made three balls on the break, then went cold. It took a little time for Archtown's Sleepy B. to get comfortable, but she delivered with a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. doubled down on the game 2 break, getting the 3 to fall at the top left and the 7 to the top right after narrowly missing a scratch. The Arrows' Sleepy B. secured the series at 2-0 over the Spiders' Jack. Sleepy B. had a decent start in game 3, but Jack used a three-ball run-out to get the win, avoiding the sweep. Sleepy B. rides a 2-1 series win into another Northeastern derby against the Everton Eagles' Bear in round two.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Greg. The silver cue cycles in for 9-ball. Diamond's Leonardo left the 9 near the bottom left on the game 1 break. Both players took swipes at it, and Archtown's Greg connected on a 2-9 combination on his second try, getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Greg continued to put in mild efforts on offense. The Gems' Leonardo had little success with aggressive shooting, but tweaked to a softer style and won on a three-ball run-out in game 2. This tied the series at 1 game apiece. Leonardo made a four-ball run from the break, but Greg took over with a three-ball run later. Greg just missed the 9 at the top left, where Leonardo delivered the winning shot to take the series 2-1. Leonardo will host Esmeralda of the Swordpoint Blades in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Sarah. The host gets a second look today, using the silver cue in 10-ball. A relatively normal game 1 saw a sloppy finish, as Web City's Jack missed the 9 and Tysini's Sarah scratched as she made it. Jack took the 10 to the top left from ball-in-hand to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah used a five-ball run to establish some quality in game 2, but her miss on the 9 proved crucial. The Spiders' Jack responded with the final pair of shots for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Sarah finally struck for a win in game 3, taking another close battle to the finish before making a pair to beat Jack. The series was 2-1 in Jack's favor, and he'll host former teammate and current Pronger Trident Avril in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Summer. Young players meet in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Bianca had a scratch on the break in game 1. Maplewood's Summer gladly took over with a three-ball run. A tight battle briefly emerged before Summer won on a five-ball run-out for the 1-0 lead in the series. The Lumberjacks' Summer tried to make a late push after struggling for most of game 2. She potted one of the Defenders' Bianca's balls illegally, and then scratched while making the 8 on her next turn, gifting a win to Bianca. The series is tied at 1. Bianca had a good start in game 3, but Summer made it interesting with a late five-ball run. The close finish just went to Bianca, who ended up with a 2-1 series win that allows her to visit Archtown Arrows newcomer Klaus in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Luigi v. Salmo. The venue doubleheader ends with the purple cue in 7-ball. Southridge's Luigi turned a pair of balls on the break into a five-ball run-out, winning on a 5-7 combination to the top right for the 1-0 series lead over Diamond's Salmo. The Gems' Salmo had chances to shoot in game 2, but his success rate was rather low. He missed on the 7 most notably, and the Defenders' Luigi struck for the win at the bottom right, clinching the series at 2-0. Luigi wasn't as strong in game 3, and Salmo took advantage of that with a four-ball run-out for his lone win of the series. Luigi won the series 2-1 and will host the winner of the next series.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Cowzart v. Shawn. Another 7-ball series uses the purple cue. Pacific's Cowzart started with a five-ball run in game 1, but he was let off the hook when Midland's Shawn couldn't pot the 7. Cowzart converted at the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Cowzart had an empty break in game 2, but followed up with a five-ball run-out after the Predators' Shawn couldn't form a run. Cowzart's strong finish sealed the series in his favor at 2-0. Shawn avoided the sweep with a good finish to game 3 after Cowzart's intimidating but toothless first turn. Cowzart won the series 2-1 and will visit Southridge Defenders veteran Luigi in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Andrew v. Hoppy. The blue cue's last turn today is in Rotation. Archtown's Hoppy played with a steady offense throughout game 1, easily building a lead against Freedom's Andrew. Hoppy held on for the 8-3 win in the end, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Andrew didn't let his loss bother him, bouncing back with a quick lead in game 2. The Arrows' Hoppy remained close throughout the game, but Andrew was strong enough to win 8-4, tying the series at 1. Hoppy held the lead for much of game 3, but Andrew surged with a six-ball run-out at the end to take the 8-6 win. The improbable comeback gave Andrew a 2-1 series win, and he'll head to the second round to host Tysini Hummingbirds newcomer Hughbert.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Shiny. The purple cue exits with 13-ball. Lighton's Shiny applied defense to the top right, which Pearl's Neopolitan tolerated for awhile. After Shiny butchered her positioning, Neopolitan took over and steadily worked her way to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Shiny made a stronger resistance in game 2, but her last attack came up short on the 8. Already on thin margins, the Surfers' Neopolitan made a pair of shots to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Neopolitan had a pair of stripes on the break, but Shiny went out of her way to make things difficult throughout the series. The effort was wasted, as Neopolitan still took the win for a 3-0 series sweep. Neopolitan will host Golden Pilots veteran Sparkles in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Cobalt. The green cue gets a turn in Rotation. Everton's Cleo went from nothing to everything quite fast in game 1, using an eight-ball run-out to get the 8-1 win over Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt, who was stunned at the end. Cleo leads the series 1-0. A much tougher game 2 awaited for the Eagles' Cleo, who finally pulled ahead with a late four-ball run. The Meteors' Cobalt didn't go quietly, but he left the 13 at the top right after a long bank attempt. Cleo tucked it in for an 8-6 win to seal the series at 2-0. Cleo again had a bumpy route to victory in game 3, but this one wasn't too bad as Cobalt seemed resigned to the series loss and put forth little effort. Cleo swept the series 3-0 with an 8-2 win in the finale, and she'll host Commerce Tradewinds veteran Niki in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Klaus. Ending the day, the green cue plays 9-ball. A slow start on both sides opened the door for Queens' Mario to explode with a six-ball run-out. His big push left Archtown's Klaus in awe, and Mario grabbed a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Arrows' Klaus had a chance for a big run in game 2, but he scratched two turns into the sequence. The Flames' Mario used ball-in-hand quite well, igniting a five-ball run-out that secured the series at 2-0 in his favor. Mario couldn't pull off a big run again in game 3, and this time Klaus made a pair at the end for the win. Mario won the series 2-1 and will host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the second round.
We're down to four days left in the First Round, which will continue tomorrow.
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