We're back for a Friday full of action to reach the halfway point in the round, beginning with...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Katharine. The green cue starts the day in Rotation. Oceanside's Snuggle couldn't get anything going during game 1, making it fairly easy for Whitewater's Katharine to collect the win by an 8-3 score. Katharine leads the series 1-0. The pace was much higher in game 2, which saw the Shores' Katharine battle back-and-forth with the Waves' Snuggle. At the end, both had misses after a pair, and Katharine was able to corral the 15 to the top right for the 8-7 win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Snuggle returned to his struggles in game 3, with multiple miscues and weak contact in tight spaces. Katharine was able to close out with an 8-3 win to secure the series at 3-0. Katharine had no trouble adding another win in game 4, as Snuggle's offense fell off even harder this time. Katharine wasn't as sharp, but the 8-3 win stretched her series lead to 4-0. Katharine completed the sweep with an 8-5 win in game 5, which saw Snuggle take the early lead before losing control later. Katharine's 5-0 series win sees her take a road position again in the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Delila. Veterans collide in 13-ball with the silver cue. Southern's Pounce dominated in game 1, as Atlantic's Delila only made one ball and had to put it back on the table after a scratch. Pounce then rocked a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce had a decent couple of turns in game 2, but the Pirates' Delila had a better pace this time. Delila won with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Delila held defense at the top left as long as she could in game 3, and the strategy worked out well. Pounce was unable to break through, and then fouled when going for his last ball. Delila took the ball-in-hand to make a pair at the end for the win and 2-1 series lead. Delila took solids from the game 4 break, but Pounce had the lead late with quick work on stripes. It was still anyone's game when Delila sank the 8 prematurely, gifting the win to Pounce to retie the series at 2. Game 5 was quick, with Pounce posting a four-ball run on the break. Delila answered with a five-ball run, but also sank one of Pounce's remaining balls for him. This set up a quick battle at the top right, which Pounce won before sinking the 8 to the top left. Pounce won the series 3-2 and will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Sarah in the bracket semifinals. Delila is the 33rd player out of the Tournament, while Pounce has his first kill.
Sony Center, Queens: Crystal v. Strawberry. The red cue makes its lone appearance today in 9-ball. Victoria's Strawberry threatened with a late three-ball run in game 1, but she scratched as she sank the 8. Queens' Crystal had a free shot on the 9 for the win to get the 1-0 series lead. The start of game 2 was a comedy of errors on both sides, but the Flames' Crystal failed to get back on track. The Spurs' Strawberry eventually found a five-ball run-out, banking the 9 to the top side for the win to tie the series at 1. A choppy back-and-forth developed in game 3, which Crystal saw most of the offense in. Strawberry wouldn't be denied late as she slammed a bank of the 9 to the top right this time for the win and 2-1 series lead. Crystal kept herself in the series with a three-ball run-out to end game 4 on a dramatic note after Strawberry slipped up. Crystal tied the series at 2 in the process. Strawberry struggled to begin game 5, but Crystal failed to assert herself on offense. Strawberry then made five of the last six balls to get the win and 3-2 series win. Strawberry will visit the Tysini Hummingbirds' Charli in the bracket semifinals for a Southwestern derby.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Isabella. The green cue is back for a 13-ball series. Swordpoint's Stealth was fast at the start of game 1, but struggled to get touches on his last ball. Atlantic's Isabella tried to play for positioning, but Stealth made his final pair just in time for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Stealth scratched to end a three-ball run on his opening turn in game 2, a play that left him in awful positioning. The Pirates' Isabella still had to do her part, but she was strong in the game and earned the win to tie the series at 1. Isabella couldn't get much going until deep into game 3, when Stealth was waiting for her to open the table up some more. Isabella came up short at the end, with Stealth burying a three-ball run-out for the win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Isabella played desperate defense in game 4 to keep her series going, smothering the 8 that Stealth left short at the bottom left. Stealth scratched out of trouble, but also scratched as he sank the 8 on the next turn, and Isabella took the hard win to tie the series at 2. Isabella didn't make things any easier on herself in game 5 either, but she was able to push at the end after Stealth missed a ball-in-hand play on his last ball. Isabella took a pair for the win and 3-2 series win, which sees her advance to a road position in the bracket semifinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Avril. The silver cue is done for the day after 10-ball. Golden's Valencia had an aggressive approach to game 1, which backfired with a miss on the 6. Pronger's Avril took over from there for a four-ball run-out and the win, giving her a 1-0 series lead. Frustrations mounted quickly in game 2 for the Pilots' Valencia, who couldn't control her emotions again and fell as Avril made a pair to the top left at the end. Avril leads the series 2-0. Avril should have had a big run to close out game 3, but she was off target multiple times. Valencia finally composed herself enough to make the 10 at the bottom right, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Valencia stayed focused in game 4, corralling a six-ball run-out on her second turn that she capped with a 5-10 combination to the top left. Avril's series lead is gone as Valencia tied the series at 2. Valencia's comeback would fall short, as the 10 parked in front of the bottom left for Avril to convert a 3-10 combination with a favorable deflection off the 5. Avril won the series 3-2 and will stay on the road for her bracket semifinals series.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Buddy v. Bianca. The purple cue draws in for this 13-ball series. Atlantic's Buddy pulled off a tough four-ball run early in game 1 to get near the 8. Southridge's Bianca couldn't match it, and Buddy sank the 8 to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Buddy worked a four-ball run from the break in game 2, but also spotted one to the Defenders' Bianca. She collected six shots over her two turns in the game, earning a technical comeback win to tie the series at 1. The Defenders' Bianca popped off with a four-ball run at the start and then had to play for positioning. Buddy made only a slight challenge, and Bianca fought it off with a three-ball run-out for the win. Bianca leads the series 2-1 after game 3. Bianca wasn't as fast off the break in game 4, taking one of each and choosing solids. Buddy made a good attack, but a rookie mistake of setting up at the wrong pocket bought Bianca enough time to get the win. Bianca secured the series at 3-1. Bianca didn't show any mercy in game 5, as Buddy started well and dropped off. Bianca picked up the pace from there to grab the win and 4-1 series win. Bianca will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Andrew v. Smokey. Along to 9-ball, where the purple cue stays in action. Freedom's Andrew did well in game 1 with a four-ball run before his miss on the 9. The awkward positioning led to a scratch by Whitewater's Smokey, and Andrew tapped the 9 to the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Andrew kept the pace up in game 2 with a somewhat fortunate four-ball run. The Shores' Smokey couldn't get any bounces to go his way with a miss on the 8, and Andrew buried the last pair for the win to move to a 2-0 series lead. Andrew couldn't close it out in game 3, his offense slipping a bit as Smokey provides pressure. Smokey cashed in with a big five-ball run-out for the win, cutting Andrew's series lead to 2-1. Smokey doubled up with a big break that sank the 9 at the top left for an instant win to tie the series at 2 as Andrew could only watch. Tension rose in game 5 as neither player wanted to make a critical mistake. Smokey wouldn't get much offense, as Andrew had an early three-ball run and a pair at the end for the win. Andrew won the series 3-2 and will host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the bracket semifinals. Smokey is the 34th player out of the competition, and Andrew joins the league-lead with two kills.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Rudolph v. Shaggy. The green cue exits the day with 7-ball. Harrison's Rudolph made a ball on the break in game 1, but he couldn't sustain his offense after that. Whitewater's Shaggy picked up the win for a 1-0 series lead after Rudolph missed on the 7. The Specters' Rudolph made a good push with a six-ball run in game 2, but he missed his chance at a win on the 7. The Shores' Shaggy then banked it to the bottom right to extend her lead to 2-0. Shaggy started well in game 3, but couldn't keep it up at the end. Rudolph was able to strike back with a pair for the win, cutting Shaggy's series lead to 2-1. Rudolph returned to inconsistency with his shooting in game 4, and Shaggy would cash in on it with a pair at the end for the win. Shaggy sealed the series at 3-1. Shaggy didn't need to do much in game 5 with the series already in hand, so she made a couple early shots and let Rudolph win on a three-ball run-out. Shaggy is set to be on the road again in the bracket semifinals. The series win was Shaggy's first kill of the year as Rudolph is the 35th eliminated player.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Graham. Aggressive opponents clash in 12-ball with the purple cue. Central's Graham didn't get a great start, giving back his wild-card ball after a big break from Freedom's Stripes. Graham held defense at the top right up to the end, when double-potted at the right corners for the win and 1-0 series lead through game 1. The Warriors' Graham lacked command in game 2, scratching twice and yielding a late wild-card ball. All of that helped the Cascades' Stripes strike back for a big win to tie the series at 1. Stripes was efficient with a four-ball run on stripes from the game 3 break. Graham made it close at times, but he lacked Stripes' positive positioning and couldn't get through at the end. Stripes made a pair for the win and took the series lead at 2-1. Stripes continued to play big at the start of game 4, taking a pair from a break and a three-ball run on the next turn. Graham had to make a rally, and he only got about half of what he needed, with Stripes finishing the win at the bottom left to clinch the series at 3-1. Stripes let up in game 5, faltering late with a pair of scratches to let Graham set the tone. Graham closed out with a shutout, while Stripes advanced to the bracket semifinals on a 3-2 series win. Stripes picked up her first kill of the year, with Graham being the 36th player out of action.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Peach. Ending the day, the blue cue's lone series is in Rotation. Game 1 started out extremely choppy, with the lead changing hands frequently. North Modernistic's Peach put an end to it with a four-ball run-out at the end to grab the 8-5 win over Archtown's Sleepy B. Peach holds a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. lost her cool in game 2, launching a ball off the table. The free possession netted a point for the Nighthawks' Peach, who took it slow to get the 8-4 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Peach picked up the 15 on the break, a special moment but just another point on the scoresheet. She had no trouble staking out a huge lead, enough to weather Sleepy B.'s four-ball run late. Peach won 8-4 and clinched the series at 3-0. Sleepy B. finally got a bit of revenge in game 4, taking an 8-6 win with a four-ball run-out for the comeback at the end. Peach remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Sleepy B. picked up an 8-4 win in game 5, letting the aggression out on her later shots. Peach tried to make it close, but had to settle for a 3-2 series win.
That's all for today's action, which sees the Bracket Quarterfinals at its midpoint.
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