A new day of games awaits, beginning with...
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Snuggle. The red cue opens the day with 13-ball. Boston's Puff II had a better start to game 1, but when she sank one of Oceanside's Snuggle's balls, the course of the game flipped. Snuggle pieced together a four-ball run-out from there and took a 1-0 series lead with his win. The Swifts' Puff II had a couple of looks at the 8 in game 2, but she couldn't sink it at the bottom right before the Waves' Snuggle put his last ball there. Snuggle then made the 8 long-distance to the top left for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Snuggle wasn't at his best in game 3, but he was still a step or two ahead of Puff II. Snuggle was able to get the win with only light pressure, sweeping the series 3-0 to earn hosting rights in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Neopolitan. Coastal captains tangle in 10-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Starlight had a choppy game 1, but she found a three-ball run-out at the end after Pearl's Neopolitan suffered a scratch. Starlight leads the series 1-0. Game 2 was a fairly tight and sloppy battle on both sides until the Surfers' Neopolitan deflected a shot off the 7 to sink the 10 at the bottom left. This trick play helped Neopolitan even up the series at 1 game apiece versus the Volcanoes' Starlight. Neopolitan took momentum deep into game 3 with a four-ball run, but she rattled the 10 out of the top right and left it near the bottom right for Starlight to tap in. Starlight won the series 2-1 and will host Royal Crowns captain Kayla in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie v. Stealth. The red cue is back for Rotation. Swordpoint's Stealth had the initial lead in game 1, but Southridge's Stephanie buried a pair to get ahead, then a four-ball run-out to take the 8-3 win. Stephanie's hot finish put her up 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Stealth grabbed the lead again early in game 2, and this time he was able to hold on despite some tight moments. The Defenders' Stephanie scratched on her shot at the 12, and that allowed Stealth to confirm his 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Stephanie took the lead early in game 3, but she got fired up with missed shots, and Stealth was able to pot four balls over two turns at the end for a comeback 8-6 win. Stealth won the series 2-1 and will be a visitor again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Taylor M. The blue cue gets a look in 15-ball. Southern's Mams had a lot of offense early in game 1, but she couldn't make it count after missing the 10 late. Eastside's Taylor M. took over for a four-ball run-out to the four corners, earning her win and 1-0 series lead in style. Game 2 went at a slower pace, thanks to a poor break from the Sharks' Taylor M. The Monarchs' Mams had trouble with offense, but after Taylor M. ended a three-ball run with a miss on the 15, Mams was able to corral the winning shot at the top right to tie the series at 1. Mams was able to make a contact kick on the 13 late in a close game 3, while Taylor M. missed contact. Two turns later, Mams had the 15 down at the top right for the win and 2-1 series win. Mams will be on the road versus Everton Eagles newcomer Vincent in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Pauline. The purple cue activates for Rotation. Central's Dustin had a ball on the break and managed to maintain his edge well in game 1. Queens' Pauline managed just one brief challenge, but Dustin parried it and got an 8-4 win in the end to go up 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Dustin had a slower game 2 performance, while the Flames' Pauline tallied a four-ball run-out at the end after a contested start. Pauline's strong finish gave her an 8-4 win this time, tying the series at 1. Dustin wasn't exactly sharp in game 3, but he was good enough to earn an 8-2 win as Pauline struggled to make legal plays. Dustin won the series 2-1 and will host the Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Shadow. The purple cue remains active in a 15-ball set. Diamond's Shadow had a five-ball run as the highlight of game 1, but his offense faded late. He missed the 15, and Everton's Puff III made it from distance to the bottom left while barely avoiding a scratch at the top right. Puff III is up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Puff III had a good share of offense early on in game 2, but the Gems' Shadow kept things close. At the end, Shadow potted a four-ball run-out of mostly straight but long shots, with his win tying the series at 1. Puff III got a little fortunate in game 3, as Shadow's five-ball run near the end didn't threaten the 15. Shadow would get a later chance for the win, but he left it up at the top left, and Puff III made the tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win. Puff III will visit Victoria Spurs captain Spice in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Missy. Another purple cue series comes in 9-ball. Capital City's Missy went with a decoy shot on the 2 on her second turn of game 1, with the kick-back deflection sending the 9 to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead over Royal's Sunshine. The Sharpshooters' Missy didn't slow down in game 2, making a four-ball run on her first and last turns to earn another win as the Crowns' Sunshine fell flat. Missy's big attacks clinched the series in her favor at 2-0. Missy again had a good start to game 3, but her finish was lacking this time. Sunshine made a pair at the end for a win to avoid the sweep. Missy's 2-1 series win sets her up for another road trip in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Jack. The red cue cycles in for an 8-ball series. Oceanside's Josie knocked in a five-ball run to get onto the 8, but she couldn't put it away. Web City's Jack pushed back with a three-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack started on a three-ball run in game 2, but he went cold after that. The Waves' Josie made a four-ball run and a three-ball run on consecutive turns and had plenty of leeway to take the 8 at the bottom left for the win. The series is tied at 1. Josie was pretty good at first in game 3, but she faltered near the end. Jack picked up a three-ball run-out for the win, which also gave him a 2-1 series win. Jack is set to host the Golden Pilots' Max in the bracket quarterfinals. Josie is the sixth player out of action, and Jack has his first kill this year.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Patches. The green cue's lone outing today is in 12-ball. Boston's Patches blasted a five-ball run early in game 1, immediately putting Lighton's Spirit in trouble. Spirit made good use of her defense, but Patches eventually pushed through it for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches made a pair of stripes on the break and then let the Prestige's Spirit clear off the table a bit. Spirit was down to her last ball, which she missed on a bank toward the bottom side. Patches bounced back for a three-ball run-out to nab the win and secure the series at 2-0. Patches yielded a wild-card ball on the break in game 3, and Spirit quickly handled shots at the side pockets. Patches kept up a reasonable challenge, but Spirit had no trouble earning the win this time. A 2-1 series win sees Patches off to visit the Whitewater Shores' Twinkie III in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Ms. Puppy. Strong veterans clash in 10-ball as the red cue exits the day. Either player could have taken over in game 1, but a slow battle ended up fizzling out in the end. Pacific's Leonette put the 10 in the bottom left for a 1-0 series lead over Modernistic's Ms. Puppy. Offense ticked up a few notches in game 2, as the Volcanoes' Leonette made a four-ball run and the Union's Ms. Puppy answered with a three-ball run-out. Ms. Puppy's win tied the series at 1 game apiece. Frustrations rose as shot quality dropped late in a tense game 3. Leonette eventually let loose and picked up the win for a 2-1 series win over Ms. Puppy. Leonette will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Stealth. The visitor's second series of the day is in 7-ball with the blue cue. Freedom's Nikolai made the 3 to the top left and the 7 to the top side on the game 1 break for an instant win and 1-0 series lead over Swordpoint's Stealth. Game 2 wasn't instant for the Cascades' Nikolai, but he had the better half of a back-and-forth against the Blades' Stealth. At the end, Nikolai made a pair for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Nikolai and Stealth both struggled early in game 3, with Stealth losing his cool a bit faster. Nikolai responded with a five-ball run-out to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Nikolai will host Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Smokey. The purple cue is done after 9-ball. Pearl's Boots dug up a three-ball run, but her attempt on the 7-9 combination to the top left failed near the end. Whitewater's Smokey made those balls individually for the win to grab a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Smokey wasn't spectacular at first in game 2, simply holding even at first. The Surfers' Boots will regret her miss on the 8, as it allowed Smokey to put in a pair for the second straight turn, and this pair earned him the win. Smokey sealed the series at 2-0. Smokey got the 2 on the break in game 3, and his next shot off the 1 deflected to send the 9 to the bottom left for the win. Smokey swept Boots 3-0 in the series and will next travel to Freedom to face the Cascades' Andrew in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Andrew v. Hughbert. The blue cue takes a turn in Rotation. Freedom's Andrew scratched on the break in game 1, setting him back a bit early on. Tysini's Hughbert still had a battle on his hands, but it was a winnable one, and he did so by an 8-5 score. Hughbert leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Hughbert got on the edge of a win in game 2 with a bit of slow pace, but he couldn't finish it off. The Cascades' Andrew held on just enough for an 8-7 win to tie the series at 1. Andrew legally made a ball on the break in game 3, and that seemed to make all the difference. He used a three-ball run to get on the verge of victory before Hughbert offered a slight resistance. Andrew went on to win 8-2 and took the series 2-1, setting him up to visit the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai in the bracket quarterfinals. Hughbert is the seventh player to exit the competition, and Andrew's first kill of the year.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Dewey v. Ms. Kitty. More Rotation uses the silver cue. Harrison's Dewey slowly built a lead in game 1, only to see Pacific's Ms. Kitty tear it down in a couple turns. From an even score, Dewey continued to fade, and Ms. Kitty won 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty had more control at the start of game 2, and while the Specters' Dewey had a slight push-back in the middle, he fell far short. Ms. Kitty won 8-3 and clinched the series at 2-0 in the process. Dewey had a relatively easy time in game 3, working his way to an 8-3 win to avoid the sweep. Ms. Kitty still won the series 2-1 and will travel to Lighton to take on the Prestige's Angelica in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Pounce. The host's second series today is in Accuracy with the blue cue. Boston's Puff II got a 2-3 win in game 1, which probably could have seen much higher scores. Southern's Pounce was very bad at the start but settled in just a little too late as Puff II earned the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II blew the lead twice late in game 2, and the Monarchs' Pounce was able to force overtime by making the final ball. In overtime, Puff II got a late fall on the break, and Pounce missed his second shot. Puff II won 3-4, clinching the series at 2-0. Puff II didn't let up in game 3, dominating as Pounce spiraled out of control. Puff II picked up a 1-5 win this time, sweeping the series 3-0 to get into a bracket quarterfinals appearance versus the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Summer.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Melissa. The day comes to a close with the silver cue in Rotation, which will be played at 30% lighting due to energy concerns as a heatwave rolls through the league territory. Queens' Mario wasn't bothered early on, but he cooled in the middle. Terrace City's Melissa launched a threat, only to fall back as Mario surged late for an 8-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Mario scratched on the break in game 2, leading the Knights' Melissa to a five-ball run from ball-in-hand. With total control, Melissa slowed a bit, but still won 8-1 to tie the series at 1. Mario had a couple of turns in the lead in game 3, but Melissa would not go quietly. At the end, Melissa managed to tie the game twice, then banked the 15 to the bottom right for the hard-earned 8-7 win to take the series 2-1. The victory gave her hosting rights versus her Knights teammate Oreo in the bracket quarterfinals.
A fun and fiery day of action is done, with more to come tomorrow as the Second Round plows on.
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