We're rapidly approaching the middle of the Second Round, with a scheduled day off coming up on Saturday as well. For today's full slate, which won't feature the green cue, we begin with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Niki. The red cue gets the first look today, playing 9-ball. Eastside's Lily picked up a four-ball run-out on her second turn, a 4-9 combination to the bottom left earning the win and 1-0 series lead after Commerce's Niki had a scratch on her only shot in game 1. The offense remained hard to find early in game 2, especially for the Tradewinds' Niki. Eventually, the Sharks' Lily flipped the switch to push a seven-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Lily had a three-ball run from the break and another pair later, but Niki's two pairs of shots were enough for her to get the win and avoid the sweep. Lily won the series 2-1 to earn a hosting position in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Chimpy. Another 9-ball series uses the silver cue. Freedom's Nikolai made a pair on the game 1 break, but the offense fell apart after that on both sides. Westside's Chimpy would eventually take the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. Fortune smiled on the Cascades' Nikolai in a close game 2, as his attempt on the 9 was a miss at the top right that deflected off three rails and into the bottom side for the win. He tied the series at 1 against the Rockers' Chimpy. In game 3, Nikolai found a four-ball run, but it was Chimpy on the counterattack for the win with a three-ball run-out. Chimpy took the series 2-1 and will visit Web City Spiders veteran Waluigi in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Greg v. Buddy. Rookies meet in 7-ball with the purple cue. Archtown's Greg starts flat in game 1, leaving plenty of room for Atlantic's Buddy to carve out a six-ball run-out. Buddy was a little lucky to kick the 6 to the bottom side, which set him up for the winning shot and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Buddy scratched on the game 2 break, but the Arrows' Greg couldn't get any offense going this time. Buddy then supplied a five-ball run-out for this win, clinching the series at 2-0. Buddy couldn't get anything on the game 3 break, and an offhand 1-7 combination shot ended up in the top right on Greg's first turn. The surprise win for Greg denied Buddy a sweep, instead making it a 2-1 series win to send Buddy to Victoria to face Spurs captain Spice in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Hoot. The red cue cycles in for a 15-ball series. North Modernistic's Gal had her best play early in game 1, while Viewpoint Sound's Hoot gained strength toward the end. Hoot tried to pinch the 15 to the top left, but his miss allowed Gal to grab the win and 1-0 series lead with a tap-in. Play loosened up a bit in game 2, with both players finding some joy on runs. The Nighthawks' Gal remained strong late, but it was the Meteors' Hoot who put the 15 down at the top right on his second attempt. Hoot's win tied the series at 1, a fair mark so far. Gal had a four-ball run in the middle of game 3, but she couldn't follow it up at the end, and Hoot buried the last pair of shots to get the win. Hoot took the series 2-1 and will remain on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Rocky. The red cue's last series today is in Accuracy. Boston's Patches faltered in the middle of game 1, while Oceanside's Rocky was nearly perfect until the end. Patches then missed on the last ball, and Rocky won 1-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Rocky refused to open the door in game 2, posting a perfect effort in a 0-5 win that saw the Swifts' Patches struggle from the start. With the win, Rocky secured the series at 2-0. Rocky fell apart in game 3, his misses piling up rapidly while Patches was able to secure the win and then fade to a 3-6 score. Rocky won the series 2-1 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Ice Cream. The blue cue comes in for another Accuracy set. Boston's Ice Cream got herself just a bit too far behind in game 1, as Archtown's Sally was able to take a late miss and still hang on for a 2-3 win. Sally leads the series 1-0. A close battle in game 2 ultimately required overtime, as the Arrows' Sally failed to convert the final ball. In overtime, it took awhile for either player to slip up, and it was Sally who did so, allowing the Swifts' Ice Cream to win 2-3, tying the series at 1. Sally had the first miss in game 3, but she kept things close and capitalized on Ice Cream's miss on the final ball. Sally won 2-3 and took the series 2-1 to get into the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Cowzart. Using the purple cue, it's time for 12-ball. Freedom's Stripes had a modest start to game 1, but Pacific's Cowzart was a little cleaner on positioning. Cowzart worked left to right efficiently and won with a late pair to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Stripes had a fairly strong appearance in game 2, working her way to a win on a three-ball run-out after the Volcanoes' Cowzart overfilled at the bottom left. Stripes' win tied the series at 1 game apiece. Stripes was strong from the start of game 3 as well, but it appeared Cowzart had a slight edge near the end. He then gave away a wild-card ball, and the flexibility helped Stripes claim victory in the game and 2-1 series. Stripes is set to host her appearance in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Maggie v. Twinkie III. Urban rivals meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. A slow start sapped the energy from both players in game 1. At the end, it was more of a choppy battle, which saw Whitewater's Twinkie III emerge with a shaky win and 1-0 series lead over Modernistic's Maggie. Offense did not improve in game 2, although the Union's Maggie was able to agonize over a missed 4-10-15 combination to the bottom left. At the end, the Shores' Twinkie III double-potted the 14 to the top left and the 15 to the bottom side for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Twinkie III actually put forth her best offense in game 3, but it went to waste when she missed on the 14. Maggie made the final pair to get the win and dodge the sweep. Twinkie III's 2-1 series win sends her on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Debby v. Noelle. The blue cue stays on with a 12-ball battle. Diamond's Debby had a couple good pushes on offense in game 1, but Central's Noelle answered both, the second time coming with a pair of shots to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle was caught out of position for most of game 2, but she did a good job of protecting the top right for as long as she could. It wasn't enough, as the Gems' Debby sank her last shot there to get the win, tying the series at 1. Debby yielded a wild-card ball to Noelle early in game 3, a massive mistake. Noelle went on a four-ball run and needed only a couple other turns to pot her last shot at the bottom right. Noelle won the series 2-1 and will travel again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Hershey. Eastern Hills rivals play 7-ball in the blue cue's last outing today. Pronger's Potter eventually broke away with a five-ball run in game 1, but he undercut the 7 toward the bottom right. Stonebridge's Hershey cleaned it up with a tap-in for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter again had a good share of offense in game 2, but he rattled the 7 out of the top right at the end this time. A steady hand helped the Wolves' Hershey tap it in for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Hershey stepped up on offense in game 3, delivering a five-ball run-out to finish off the sweep of Potter. Hershey will head home in a visiting capacity against his Stonebridge Wolves teammate Kirstin in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Shaggy. Captains clash in 10-ball with the silver cue. Royal's Kayla pushed the 10 near the top left on a miss in game 1. Whitewater's Shaggy tried to get a look at it but never could, and Kayla made the 3-10 combination for the win to move ahead 1-0 in the series. The Shores' Shaggy looked more confident with a four-ball run in game 2, but a chaotic finish saw her illegally pot the 8. The Crowns' Kayla took the 10 to the top left by choosing to keep possession, and that win clinched the series for Kayla at 2-0. Kayla illegally potted the 9 about halfway through game 3, and Shaggy elected to keep possession. Shaggy then posted a five-ball run-out for the win, leaving Kayla to advance to a road position in the bracket quarterfinals on a 2-1 series win.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Sage v. Chris. The purple cue's exit comes with a Rotation series between Southwestern foes. Victoria's Sage simply lacked offense in game 1, while Capital City's Chris was thorough in attack. Chris went virtually unchallenged in his 8-2 win to grab the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Sage paced the offense early in game 2. The Sharpshooters' Chris did a better job of fighting back on offense, exchanging the lead a couple of times in the middle. Sage still finished with an 8-6 win, making a late pair to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a mix of the first two, with Sage rifling a pair of three-ball runs, only for Chris to counter at the end on a three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win. Chris took the series 2-1 and will play on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Megan v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue is back for 13-ball. It took some time due to poor positioning and scratches, but Oceanside's Megan unleashed a four-ball run-out to win game 1. Central's Mr. Snowman was not close enough to challenge at the end of the opener. The Waves' Megan was stronger in game 2, attacking quickly to get the lead. The 8 was a little tougher to corral, but she blocked the Warriors' Mr. Snowman at the top left and he couldn't defend her. Megan got the win on a tap-in to secure the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman tried to play some defense in game 3, but Megan was slippery and eventually picked out a bank of the 8 to the bottom side for the win. Megan swept the series 3-0 and will host Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy in the bracket quarterfinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Sarah. Today's top matchup also uses the silver cue for 13-ball. Victoria's Yekaterina showed no mercy from the break, clearly taking solids and using them efficiently. Tysini's Sarah had a little more offense toward the end of game 1, but Yekaterina put the 8 in the top left for the win to stake out a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina seemed to navigate a tough start to game 2 well, but she lost her positional advantage later and scratched. The Hummingbirds' Sarah took over with a three-ball run and managed to defend against Yekaterina long enough to earn the win that tied the series at 1. Yekaterina had a huge lead in game 3, but it didn't matter in the end. Sarah illegally potted one of her balls, leaving Yekaterina with ball-in-hand but no clear angle. Sarah then executed a three-ball run-out at the side pockets for the win, taking the series 2-1. Sarah is off to the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Max. The silver cue keeps going in 9-ball. Central's Noelle didn't have the cleanest of starts in game 1, as Golden's Max held the early offense. Noelle then poked a 7-9 kick combination off the bottom rail and into the top left for the win, a stunning play to go up 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Max didn't stay down for long, missing on the 1 with enough spin to sink the 9 somewhat accidentally at the top left. That remarkable shot gave Max a win to even up the series at 1 game apiece versus the Warriors' Noelle. Max dominated just about everything in game 3, with a six-ball run-out appearing to give him a win. That victory would go to Noelle after one of the longest late scratches ever. The cue dropped in the bottom side a good 15 seconds after Max's shot, and Noelle would take the 2-1 series on a fluky win. Noelle next hosts Diamond Gems veteran Leonardo in the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Cowzart. The visitor's second appearance today is the finale, playing Accuracy with the silver cue. Pronger's Avril had an awful middle portion of game 1, allowing Pacific's Cowzart to fade a bit without facing consequences at the end. Cowzart picked up a 3-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Cowzart remained very strong in game 2, taking an early lead as the Tridents' Avril struggled. Avril got better in the middle, but faded too far late, and Cowzart won 1-4 to seal the series at 2-0. Avril made a big deal of forcing overtime in game 3, and both players went deep into the extra rack. Cowzart still picked up the win, a 4-5 result to complete his 3-0 series sweep. Cowzart will visit the Swordpoint Blades' Stealth in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all for today. The midpoint of the round comes Wednesday.
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