Today, we return from the administrative break to begin a 23-day Second Round. There is currently a scheduled day off for July 18. We will continue to play three-game series in this round, beginning with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Frosty. The purple cue opens the round in Accuracy. Eastside's Lily had a positive start to game 1 despite an early miss. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty struggled for most of the first half, and it was too late for her to recover at the end as Lily won 1-4 for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Lily didn't have as good of a performance in game 2, falling behind with a late miss. The last ball was tough to corral, causing a score inflation that left the Meteors' Frosty with a 4-5 win to tie the series at 1. A back-and-forth battle in game 3 saw Lily nearly strike gold with a good cut on the 15 to the top right, only to see the shot end in a scratch. Frosty made the 10 to the bottom right from ball-in-hand to seal a 3-4 win and 2-1 series win. Frosty will continue her travels in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer v. Noelle. The red cue draws in for a 15-ball series. Terrace City's Jennifer began game 1 on a three-ball run, but she was less consistent later on. Central's Noelle would chip in regularly and finished with a win after making the last pair. Noelle leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Jennifer struggled a bit more in game 2, especially towards the end. The Warriors' Noelle had an opposite trajectory, with a bad start and a five-ball run-out finish for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Noelle was pretty good in game 3, but her late three-ball run was answered by Jennifer with a six-ball run-out. Noelle settled for the 2-1 series win and will play on into the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Charli. The purple cue is back for 8-ball between leading stars. Tysini's Charli had a six-ball run to get onto the 8, but she didn't really expect Todavía's Easter to match that. Lucky for Charli, Easter missed the 8 too, and Charli was able to cut it to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had to make a rally with a five-ball run after a slow start to game 2. The Hummingbirds' Charli couldn't make her last ball before Easter struck for the final pair to get the win that tied the series at 1. Easter established herself with a seven-ball run in game 3, and Charli could only manage a four-ball run in response. Easter's remarkable game ended with the 8 in the bottom side, giving her the series win at 2-1. Easter will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Angelica v. Sparkles. Another 15-ball series uses the red cue. Golden's Sparkles had a small edge in game 1, but her gamble to go for a 7-15 combination at the top left didn't pay off. She made the shot but also scratched, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Lighton's Angelica, who had a reasonably good effort as well. The 15 again lingered at the top left for awhile in game 2. Both players took swipes at it, but the best looks and the winning shot both went to the Prestige's Angelica. She converted the 6-15 combination as a double-pot, securing the series at 2-0 over the Pilots' Sparkles. In game 3, the 15 came close to the top right, and Angelica went into hunting mode. Sparkles was not particularly dangerous, allowing Angelica to deflect her shot off the 3 to sink the 15 for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Angelica will return to the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Boots. The blue cue gets a turn in 8-ball. Westside's Goatee didn't have the smoothest performance, but once she got ahead of Pearl's Boots, Goatee held that lead. Goatee finished with the 8 in the top left for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Rockers' Goatee started well in game 2, but her finish lacked decisiveness this time. The Surfers' Boots kept it close until she potted the final pair, pulling away to the win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Boots had a strong appearance in game 3, as Goatee pushed late with a four-ball run, only for Boots' five-ball run-out to earn the win with a bank of the 8 to the bottom side. Boots advances to the bracket quarterfinals with a 2-1 series win.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Isabella. The silver cue is up for 12-ball. Pacific's Twinkie I made one of each on the game 1 break and chose solids, promptly giving away a second wild-card ball. With plenty of flexibility, Atlantic's Isabella won unchallenged to take a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella didn't have much positioning in game 2, but she put in a good effort anyway. It wasn't enough, as the Volcanoes' Twinkie I finished off the win at the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Twinkie I had an early four-ball run in game 3, but she again gave away two wild-card balls. Isabella was able to bait Twinkie I into missed contact before finishing from ball-in-hand. Isabella took the series win at 2-1 to earn a road position in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Maison. More 15-ball with the red cue sees the host play a second series today. Todavía's Easter was confident from the start of game 1, but Eastside's Maison didn't back down at first. The visitor Maison had no choice when Easter ripped a seven-ball run-out for the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Stills' Easter had a good performance at first in game 2, but her miscue opened the door for the Sharks' Maison. He walked right through, as a ten-ball run-out lifted Maison to the win that tied the series at 1. Maison continued with a five-ball run from the break in game 3, but it ended with a foul. Maison would strike a four-ball run later, only for Easter to sink the last two balls for the win and 2-1 series win. A fast-paced series favored Easter, who will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor S. v. Kirstin. Another 15-ball series uses the red cue. Commerce's Taylor S. made four balls on her first turn, but the last was an illegal play on the 15. This gifted the win to Stonebridge's Kirstin, who holds a 1-0 series lead prior to her first shot of the series. Game 2 went the distance, with the Tradewinds' Taylor S. showing some promise in attack. That all fell apart with a pair of misses on the 15, the latter of which was punished by the Wolves' Kirstin, who sealed the series at 2-0 with her win. Both players found three-ball runs late in game 3, and both of those runs ended in errors. Kirstin benefited, as Taylor S. left just the 15 on the table, and Kirstin converted for the 3-0 series sweep. Kirstin will host the Lighton Prestige's Angelica in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Potter. The venue doubleheader ends with the red cue in 9-ball. Commerce's Rosemary had almost all of the offense in game 1, but a scratch after she sank the 8 would allowed Pronger's Potter to strike the 9 to the bottom side for a free win. Potter leads the series 1-0. The Tridents' Potter had slightly better offense in game 2, but the Tradewinds' Rosemary got this win, spinning a shot off the 3 to bump the 9 into the top left. The series is now tied at 1. Rosemary had another error in game 3, this time sinking the 9 illegally to give away the win and 2-1 series win to Potter after a sloppy start. Potter will play on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor M. v. Jake. The purple cue cycles in for Accuracy. After a shaky start on both sides, Eastside's Taylor M. settled in and found her way to a win by a 2-4 score. Royal's Jake was just too loose, and Taylor M. earned the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Taylor M. missed a chance to win in regulation in game 2, dropping back into a close tie with the Crowns' Jake. Overtime went to the end, where Taylor M. scratched while potting the last ball to give Jake the 2-3 win that tied the series at 1. Taylor M. looked pretty good in game 3, but Jake ruined that by taking positional control late after Taylor M. missed the 8. Jake baited her into many more misses, flipping the lead in his favor for the 4-5 win and 2-1 series win. Jake will advance to the bracket quarterfinals in a visiting role.
Intel Center, Diamond: Salmo v. Puff I. Up north, the silver cue exits the day in 8-ball. Diamond's Salmo began with a five-ball run in game 1, but Modernistic's Puff I quickly matched that despite collateral damage. Salmo's second turn was empty, and Puff I struck for a three-ball run-out to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Salmo took things slower in game 2, a strategy that worked well despite pressure in the form of a four-ball run from the Union's Puff I. Salmo was able to control the late game and win with a three-ball run-out, tying the series at 1. Puff I made a good start in game 3, but it wouldn't hold up. Salmo mixed the styles of the first two games to combine poise and speed into a four-ball run-out for the win. Salmo took the series 2-1 and will earn a trip to the bracket quarterfinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Bells. The purple cue comes right back for Accuracy. Todavía's Bells played well at the start, burying Swordpoint's Bandit in his own misfortune early on. A clean finish left Bells with a 1-3 win to give her a 1-0 series lead. Both players were perfect deep into game 2, but the Blades' Bandit missed on the second-to-last ball. The Stills' Bells didn't miss her chance, earning the win 0-1 to clinch the series at 2-0. Bells wasn't as good in game 3, although she could have forced overtime if she wanted to. However, with the series under control, she allowed Bandit to win the finale 3-4. Bells' 2-1 series win puts her in another road position in the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Steven. Eastern Hills rivals use the purple cue in their Rotation battle. Diamond's Leonardo had too many errors in game 1, and while Atlantic's Steven wasn't clean, he was able to get some successful shots in as well. Steven wound up winning 8-3 with a pair at the end to take the 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Steven picked his way to the lead after a slow start, using a four-ball run to get onto the edge of victory. The Gems' Leonardo struck back with a three-ball run-out, winning 8-7 in a close call to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was another tough battle early on, until a three-ball run-out lifted Leonardo to an 8-4 win over Steven. This gave Leonardo a 2-1 series win to send him through to the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Cobalt v. Molly. The purple cue is done after a Coastal derby in 13-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt struck a pair on the break and found great success on solids. Southern's Molly put up a challenge but couldn't line up her late shots, and Cobalt got the win with a finishing pair for the 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Cobalt again played well in game 2, but he wasn't able to finish this effort. The Monarchs' Molly had a slight edge in positioning that held up at the end for the win, tying the series at 1. Molly made a good effort in game 3, playing at a high pace, but her final turn ended short as a three-ball run. Cobalt punished her miss on the 8, rallying with his own four-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Cobalt will retain hosting privileges in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Angelica. The visitor's second series today is in 12-ball with the blue cue. Golden's Strut gave away a wild-card ball as part of a four-ball run to start game 1. Lighton's Angelica had to play catch-up, and scratch made that even harder. Strut would eventually win at the bottom right on his last shot, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Strut had a great performance at the start of game 2. He looked ready to carry the momentum to the end, until he scratched on his last ball. The Prestige's Angelica had kept it close to that point, and she was able to make her final pair quickly enough to get the win while Strut was out of position. Angelica tied the series at 1. Strut had a wild-card ball to work with in game 3, but he couldn't get any late positioning. Angelica also struggled for a bit, but she recovered and put the winning shot in the bottom side to take the series 2-1. Angelica is set to appear in the bracket quarterfinals. This was Strut's 100th unique opponent.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Paps. The green cue's first and last series today is in Accuracy. Royal's Kayla had a scratch on the game 1 break and didn't improve much after that. Capital City's Paps didn't miss until near the end, giving him a confident 1-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Paps fell behind early in game 2, although that lead didn't hold up for the Crowns' Kayla. What did work for Kayla was Paps' second collapse later on, including a decisive scratch. Kayla won 3-4 and tied the series at 1 heading into the finale. Kayla nearly kept it perfect in game 3, but a miss on the final ball wouldn't change the result. Paps also missed, making it a 1-3 win for Kayla, who took the series 2-1 to get into the bracket quarterfinals.
That's it for today. Second Round action continues at the regular time tomorrow.
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