The second-to-last day of the First Round shows a bit of a calm before the storm. Leading off...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Whiskers. The blue cue opens the day in Rotation. Freedom's Nikolai had an easier time on offense in game 1, as Maplewood's Whiskers struggled to get anything going. Nikolai picked up an 8-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai made a pair early in game 2, again quickly establishing his lead. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had a worse effort this time, only making two shots before Nikolai finished the 8-2 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Whiskers made a big response in game 3, getting her lone win with a six-ball run-out that featured two double-pots. Whiskers won the game 8-1, but Nikolai took the series 2-1, and his top-seeded bid moves on to host the Everton Eagles' Vincent in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Rainmane. Another Rotation series also uses the blue cue. Victoria's Yekaterina opened with a three-ball run in game 1 and added a four-ball run on her next turn. Midland's Rainmane did well to slow the host down, buying Rainmane enough time to make the comeback. Capped by a three-ball run-out, Rainmane won 8-7 to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina looked a little rattled in game 2, missing contact a couple of times. The Predators' Rainmane overcame another early deficit with a three-ball run, and added a three-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to secure the series at 2-0. Rainmane and Yekaterina battled evenly in game 3, but a couple of flubbed shots by Rainmane would cost her the game. Yekaterina earned the 8-7 win, while Rainmane advanced to the second round on a 2-1 series win. Rainmane will visit Golden Pilots captain Valencia for a Southeastern Derby.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Ice Cream. The green cue comes aboard for 10-ball. Boston's Ice Cream impressed with a five-ball run over the middle of game 1, but she missed on the 8. Infinity's Smudge fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The early pace in game 2 was a bit slower, but the Torpedoes' Smudge turned it around with a five-ball run-out after the Swifts' Ice Cream failed to take control. Smudge sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Ice Cream made a four-ball run early in game 3, then watched Smudge pot five balls over two turns. Smudge whiffed on the 10, and Ice Cream converted it for her lone win of the series. A 2-1 series win sets Smudge up to visit Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball in a second round Southwestern Derby.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Josie. The venue doubleheader ends with the purple cue in 13-ball. Oceanside's Josie prioritized the side pockets in game 1, while Infinity's Fluffina went corners first. Josie was a little quicker on offense, winning on a three-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie lost a bit of her precision in game 2, and her positioning didn't help. Josie illegally overfilled at the bottom left, and the ball-in-hand led the Torpedoes' Fluffina to a six-ball run-out for the win that tied the series at 1. Fluffina opened game 3 with a four-ball run to apply pressure on Josie immediately. Josie would get a three-ball run on her second turn, but Fluffina sent the 8 to the top left for the win and 2-1 series win on the next shot. Fluffina will host Southridge Defenders star Bianca in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Luigi v. Sarah. Another 13-ball series features the silver cue. Southridge's Luigi had the edge for most of game 1, but he didn't get a clear look at the 8. Tysini's Sarah made sure he didn't get a second chance, pulling off a tough cut on the 1 to the top left as part of a stunning four-ball run-out. Sarah leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Sarah had a positive start to game 2, but a five-ball run by the Defenders' Luigi was stronger. Sarah tried to answer, but she missed a kick on the 1 toward the bottom left. Luigi soon made the 8 in the same spot for the win, tying the series at 1. Luigi looked dangerous when he struck a three-ball run on the break. His shooting to the left corners was disappointing, and Sarah's attacks were sharp enough to make three balls on the last two turns for the win. Sarah took the series 2-1 and will face her friend, Southwestern rival, and Victoria Spurs star Yekaterina in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Goldy. The blue cue cycles in for 7-ball after the lunch break. Everton's Goldy started well in game 1, but Pronger's Potter made two pairs of shots to get the win and 1-0 series lead with a quick effort. Scratches shaped game 2 pretty significantly, especially when the Tridents' Potter had one after making the 5. The Eagles' Goldy grabbed the final pair of shots from ball-in-hand to tie the series at 1. Goldy struggled with offense in game 3, missing many shots hard and wide. Potter eventually got on track with a four-ball run-out to take the series at 2-1. Potter will appear in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Crystal. The green cue is done for the day after this Rotation series. Queens' Crystal wasted a lot of opportunities with scratches and fouls. Westside's Midnight wasn't exactly clean in game 1 either, but she was good enough to win 8-5 for the 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal continued to take too many errors, with the free possessions leading to cheap offense for the Rockers' Midnight. That likely made the difference in a slow 8-3 win for Midnight, who clinched the series at 2-0 in the process. Crystal finally found offense early in game 3 with a four-ball run. Midnight came close to catching up, but Crystal was able to close for an 8-6 win. Midnight won the series 2-1 and will host Midland Predators captain Shawn in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Bianca. The silver cue steps back in for 15-ball. Atlantic's Delila had a lot of the early offense in game 1 despite no distinct runs. Southridge's Bianca got a little bit back before missing the 8-15 combination to the top left. Delila converted that same play for the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Bianca again looked like a passenger in game 2, and she missed a 5-15 combination narrowly at the bottom left. The Pirates' Delila deflected off the 5 to tap the 15 down for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Delila had most of the offense again in game 3, but a late four-ball run ended with a miss on the 14. Bianca made the final pair to get her lone win, while Delila heads to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Stealth. A sister hosts her brother and Swordpoint Blades teammate in 7-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 was almost all Stealth, as the acting visitor made a three-ball run at each end of the game while Snowball only struggled to pot one ball. Stealth leads the series 1-0. Stealth quickly doubled down, winning game 2 on the break with the 7 flying cleanly into the bottom side to seal the series at 2-0 over Snowball. Stealth made a pair from the break in game 3, but he couldn't strike the 3 down. The Blades' Snowball took one double-pot and added some smooth plays to get a win on a five-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Stealth's 2-1 series win puts him in Freedom in the second round to face the Cascades' strongman Nikolai.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Goldy. Both players' second series of the day is in 8-ball for the red cue's lone appearance today. Everton's Goldy made an effort to keep game 1 close, but she couldn't quite finish it. Infinity's Smudge held on long enough to get the win instead, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Goldy began game 2 with a four-ball run, only to go cold after that. The Torpedoes' Smudge struck a four-ball run late and then added the 8 when Goldy had no response. Smudge's comeback clinched the series in her favor at 2-0. Smudge didn't get much offense in game 3, especially with Goldy's six-ball run highlighting the game. Goldy did pick up the win two turns later to avoid the sweep, as Smudge will take a 2-1 series win into her road series versus the Westside Rockers' Chimpy.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Mario. The silver cue is on for 15-ball. Southern's Panda started with a three-ball run in game 1, but Queens' Mario had a four-ball run in response and finished with a three-ball run-out for the win. Mario holds a 1-0 series lead after the fast performance. The Flames' Mario kept the energy high to start game 2, adding a couple of runs initially. The Monarchs' Panda weathered that storm and then turned in five of the last six balls, including the 15 to the top left for the win. Panda's victory tied the series at 1. Game 3 kept the pace high at the start and tapered off a bit at the end. Mario had a look at the 15 but it rattled away from the top right, and Panda knocked it to the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series win. Panda will visit Diamond Gems veteran Leonardo in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Spice v. Pauline. Another silver cue series is the last 9-ball of the round. Queens' Pauline worked a three-ball run in the middle of game 1, but Victoria's Spice answered with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead in an otherwise unspectacular effort. The Spurs' Spice got lucky on the game 2 break, with the 6 dropping at the bottom left and the 9 slowly trickling into the top left for the win. Spice sealed the series at 2-0 over the Flames' Pauline. Spice didn't have the easiest time on offense in game 3, and Pauline made her pay for it with a pair at the end to get her lone win. Spice's 2-1 series win allows her to host Freedom Cascades veteran Stripes in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Princess. Today's marquee series is in 15-ball with the purple cue. Lighton's Acorn looked pretty composed in game 1, and a six-ball run to get onto the 15 was strong, but he missed the medium-range shot. Viewpoint Sound's Princess cleaned it up, a poached win good for her to take the 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Princess scratched on the break in game 2, and the Prestige's Acorn went deep with an eleven-ball run from ball-in-hand. His miss on the 12 allowed Princess to counter with a four-ball run-out, clinching the series at 2-0. Princess finally grabbed the majority of the offense in game 3 with a six-ball run and a later three-ball run. Acorn had a chance at the win, but his lack of finish burned him again, and Princess completed the 3-0 series sweep. Princess will visit Victoria Spurs star Yekaterina in a big second round series.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Dewey v. Boots. The silver cue gets a turn in 15-ball here. Three noticeable runs pace Harrison's Dewey in game 1, with a pair of four-ball efforts and a five-ball run-out to leave basically no room for Pearl's Boots. Dewey's massive showing gave him a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots looked to get a little offense early in game 2, but she wasn't able to sustain that through the whole battle. A few mistakes eventually set up the Specters' Dewey for an impressively orchestrated five-ball run-out, which secured the series for him at 2-0. Dewey lacked a big and sweeping attack in game 3, but the sweep would be his with a pair at the end to deny Boots a win in her best effort. Dewey's 3-0 series win sets him up to host Capital City Sharpshooters veteran Sprinkles in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Oreo. Two veterans collide in 7-ball with the silver cue. Terrace City's Oreo had a three-ball run on her first turn but couldn't convert a pair at the end. Everton's Cleo mopped up the 7 at the bottom left for the tight win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Cleo took care of a four-ball run to start game 2. With a couple turns to work, the Knight's Oreo came up short, and Cleo made a pair at the end, a dominant win to seal the series at 2-0. Cleo continued her offense at the start of game 3, but it fell apart in the middle. Oreo took over late with a three-ball run-out to avoid the sweep, as Cleo settled for a 2-1 series win. Cleo will host the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Cheddar in a huge second round meeting.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Dominic. The purple cue closes out the day in 8-ball. Tysini's Sugar had the initial burst of offense in game 1, but Southern's Dominic made things interesting with a scratch-shortened five-ball run. The close finish just favored Sugar with the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sugar was far too slow out of the gate in game 2, and she only had a three-ball run to her credit. The Monarchs' Dominic had already made a four-ball run, and he played smart at the end to get the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Dominic had a scratch early in game 3, but still managed a five-ball run to get a late lead. He couldn't corral the 8, and Sugar eventually won with a three-ball run-out. Sugar will host Reality club-mate Gizmo of the North Modernistic Nighthawks in the second round.
Tomorrow, the First Round comes to its long-awaited close.
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