The Second Round chugs along with a challenging day to kick off its second week. First up...
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Kirstin. The silver cue opens the day in 13-ball between Eastern Hills rivals. Atlantic's Delila did well on the break, and then went quiet for most of game 1. Stonebridge's Kirstin set herself back with two scratches, and she lost when she illegally potted the 8 after blocking her last ball. Delila's free win gave her a shaky 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila potted five balls over her first two turns in game 2, and the Wolves' Kirstin had absolutely no offense to challenge her. Delila had plenty of time to orchestrate this victory, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3's pace returned to slow and weak, with Delila again holding a clear edge on offense to get the win and 3-0 series sweep over Kirstin. Delila will head to the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Autumn v. Avril. Another 13-ball series uses the red cue as more Eastern Hills players step up. Diamond's Autumn had a slightly better time in game 1, avoiding errors while Pronger's Avril failed to make an impact in the late game. Autumn made a pair at the end for her win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Autumn had a lot of positioning work to deal with in a close game 2 battle with the Tridents' Avril. At the end, Avril had first crack at the 8 and missed to the bottom side, allowing Autumn to make the 2 and the 8 to the top side on consecutive turns for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Avril turned in a five-ball run after Autumn suffered a scratch in game 3. Avril's two attempts on the 8 both failed, and Autumn used a pair of three-ball runs to fight back for the 3-0 series sweep. Autumn is set to travel in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Strawberry. The blue cue comes aboard for 15-ball. Central's Twilight had a modest attack in game 1, but she went cold on the 14. Victoria's Strawberry was able to corral the final pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead after a close battle. The Warriors' Twilight kept her composure in a sloppy game 2 that saw the Spurs' Strawberry struggle for legal contact. Twilight's shining moment was a 10-12 kick combination sending the 15 to the bottom right on a deflection for the win. This tied the series at 1. Strawberry had a sequence of two misses the progressively sent the 15 closer to the top right. Twilight then bumped it to the edge, and on her next turn, she double-potted the 6-15 combination for the win. Twilight won the series 2-1 and will play on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Summer. The purple cue draws in for 9-ball. Pacific's Twinkie I started a little slow in game 1, but unleashed a seven-ball run-out after Maplewood's Summer failed to grab control of the offense. Twinkie I's run put her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I struggled a bit more early in game 2, and she wasn't bailed out by a hot finish this time. The Lumberjacks' Summer ripped a five-ball run-out this time, tying the series at 1 with her win. A close battle emerged early in game 3, with both players having a legitimate claim at the series. Twinkie I capitalized when Summer missed on the 6, igniting a four-ball run-out in response. Twinkie I advanced to the bracket quarterfinals on a 2-1 series win.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Rainmane. The silver cue cycles in for Accuracy. Neither player tripped up in regulation in game 1, and it looked like overtime could be the same way until Midland's Rainmane scratched on her second shot on the extra rack. Swordpoint's Stealth took a hard-earned 0-1 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane got back on track in game 2, while the Blades' Stealth faltered early this time. Rainmane was perfect until a late scratch, but she still won 1-2 in the game, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 went deep into overtime after a shaky start on both sides evened out. With crunch time approaching, Rainmane had a miss that gave Stealth a 3-4 win for the 2-1 series win. Stealth will advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Sparkles. In 13-ball, the purple cue gets a turn. Pearl's Neopolitan jumped ahead fairly early in game 1, and while Golden's Sparkles pushed late, the visitor came up short. Neopolitan put the 8 in the top left for the win to stake out a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan had a good start to game 2, but she couldn't corral her last ball at the bottom left. The Pilots' Sparkles baited Neopolitan into illegal contact plays, and Sparkles eventually made three shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Neopolitan had a pair of scratches late in game 3 that took away her momentum. Sparkles was patient but strong to get the win, taking the series 2-1 and earning the right to visit Freedom Cascades sophomore Andrew in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Graham v. Spot. Strong players clash in Rotation with the blue cue. Central's Graham posted a three-ball run early in game 1, but his offense didn't hold up under pressure from Pronger's Spot. By the end, Spot had pulled ahead and picked up an 8-4 win with a pair from ball-in-hand. Spot leads the series 1-0. The Warriors' Graham stepped up his game with a pair of three-ball runs in game 2, but he didn't finish it off. The Tridents' Spot was there to counterattack with a five-ball run-out for the 8-6 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Graham again found a surge of offense in the middle of game 3, but Spot was there to put out the fire with his 8-5 win. Spot swept the series 3-0 and will continue in a visiting role in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Chicky Phil. The green cue's only outing today is in Rotation. Oceanside's Snuggle provided a steady stream of offense in game 1, helping him to an easy 8-3 win over Midland's Chicky Phil, who simply couldn't keep up with the pace. The Waves' Snuggle took a different route to get to the same result in game 2, struggling at first and then turning it around for an 8-3 win as the Predators' Chicky Phil fell apart at the end. Snuggle's victory this time sealed the series at 2-0. Snuggle couldn't get going in game 3, the early deficit costing him valuable points as Chicky Phil avoided the sweep on an 8-6 win. Snuggle took the series 2-1 and will head to the bracket quarterfinals, where he hosts Whitewater Shores veteran Katharine.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sparkles. The visitor's second series today is the blue cue's exit, playing 8-ball. Golden's Sparkles made a push with a four-ball run in game 1, but Everton's Puff III held her off just long enough to claim the victory for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III had a two-turn surge of offense come up just short in game 2. The Pilots' Sparkles remained calm under pressure and made a pair of shots at the end to get her win, tying the series at 1. Puff III again turned up the aggression after Sparkles had an awful break. Momentum shifted back and forth, but Puff III was good enough to grab the win with a three-ball run-out to take the series 2-1. Puff III will host her appearance in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Americus. The red cue is up for Rotation. Freedom's Stripes put the first point on the board, but Midland's Americus had a pair of four-ball runs separated by only a few empty turns. Americus' surge of offense counted for an 8-1 win that gave her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much more contested in the early stages. The Cascades' Stripes held a lead at one point, but the Predators' Americus rallied on a five-ball run-out and picked up an 8-4 win to secure the series at 2-0 in her favor. Stripes had her best attack early in game 3, taking the lead briefly before Americus launched a five-ball run. Stripes kept it close after that, but Americus completed her sweep with an 8-6 win. Americus will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Vladimir. In 15-ball, the purple cue gets a look. Pacific's Leonette looked much stronger in game 1 with little bursts of offense early on. Maplewood's Vladimir flipped it around with his shot on the 7 pinching the 15 off the top rail to fall in the bottom left for the win. Vladimir surprisingly holds a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Vladimir strengthened his play in game 2, taking a clear majority of the shots. He would be rewarded after the Volcanoes' Leonette scratched late, as Vladimir made the final pair to seal the series at 2-0. Vladimir kept up the quality enough in game 3 to get the win, snagging a late pair of shots after a close battle with Leonette this time. Vladimir swept the series 3-0 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Midnight. Urban rivals collide in 9-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Midnight didn't get much offense in game 1, while Modernistic's Puff I was able to channel her frustration into a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went the other way, as the Union's Puff I struggled throughout. The Rockers' Midnight needed some time to get up to speed, but she finished on a five-ball run-out for the win. This tied the series at 1 game apiece. In game 3, Midnight tried to play strong early on, but Puff I took over by the end with five balls potted over her last two turns. Puff I won the regional rivalry 2-1 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Jane. The silver cue stays on for 8-ball between Eastern Hills rivals. Stonebridge's Jane led for quite some time in game 1, but she couldn't quite sink the 8 despite many opportunities. Freedom's Roxy fought all the way back and took the win instead, leading the series 1-0 with the effort. The Cascades' Roxy seemed to have an early edge in offense in game 2, but that didn't hold up this time. Choppy play eventually opened the door for the Wolves' Jane to knock in a five-ball run-out in four shots for the win, tying the series at 1. Roxy and Jane reversed their roles from game 1, as Roxy was the one with multiple misses on the 8 this time. Jane eventually caught up and earned the win with a pair of shots, taking the 2-1 series win as well. Jane will host Victoria Spurs newcomer Rosalina in the bracket quarterfinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Sierra. The purple cue's finale today is in 12-ball. Web City's Jack had more time to establish his positioning in game 1, and when he needed to make at the end, he got it. Todavía's Sierra was just a little too slow on offense as Jack took a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack went corners first in game 2 on stripes, while the Stills' Sierra picked out the sides early on. It came down to one ball left for each player, and that's when Jack had a smooth tap-in on the 11 at the bottom side for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Sierra received a wild-card ball on the break, but she wasn't fast enough on offense to make it count. Jack thundered through the rack for another win, sweeping the series 3-0 and retaining hosting rights in the bracket quarterfinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Dreamy. Southwestern veterans clash in Accuracy with the red cue. Game 1 went into overtime as both players faltered at various times. They also each missed their first shots in the extra rack, but it was Swordpoint's Dreamy who failed again. Lighton's Acorn scooped up a 4-5 win and took the 1-0 series lead. A much faster performance in game 2 saw the Blades' Dreamy get caught up working around a cluster. That deficit she created for herself was all the Prestige's Acorn would need to grab the 1-3 win that clinched the series at 2-0. Acorn wasn't able to duplicate that performance, but Dreamy did a good imitation of it in game 3 instead. Dreamy got this win 1-3, avoiding the sweep as Acorn punches his ticket to the bracket quarterfinals with a 2-1 series win. That's the end of Dreamy's season, the second player out so far, with Acorn earning his first kill this year.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Molly. The day ends in 10-ball between Coastal rivals using the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty led the way in a competitive and quick back-and-forth with Southern's Molly. Ms. Kitty got a three-ball run, which Molly answered with a pair and a miss on the 10 before Ms. Kitty won at the top right for the 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Molly continued to show energy in game 2, including a three-ball run that ended with an illegally potted ball. She scrapped another turn near the end before the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty potted the final pair to seal the series at 2-0. Ms. Kitty saved the best effort for last, winning game 3 on a massive seven-ball run-out to sweep Molly 3-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty heads to the bracket quarterfinals.
A slow day of action still brought some thrills. We'll be back at it tomorrow.
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