We're back for the middle day of the opening round, leading off with...
Andrew v. Snuggle. The green cue gets the first look today, playing Rotation. Freedom's Andrew had a positive start to game 1, but Oceanside's Snuggle wrestled away control to take an 8-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Snuggle opened game 2 on a five-ball run before cooling off. The Cascades' Andrew pulled even late, but Snuggle made the next pair of shots for the 8-6 win to seal the series at 2-0. Andrew again jumped out to a lead in game 3, only for Snuggle to make eight balls over three turns for an 8-6 win again. Snuggle swept the series 3-0 to move into the second round.
Twinkie II v. Summer. Northeastern rivals meet in Accuracy with the red cue. Harrison's Twinkie II had a great start to game 1, but she fell apart completely at the end to allow Maplewood's Summer to grab a 2-4 win. Summer leads the series 1-0. The Specters' Twinkie II didn't do well early in game 2, but stayed close enough to force overtime. The Lumberjacks' Summer scratched on the overtime break, and Twinkie II won 3-4 to tie the series at 1. Game 3 had a similar start to the opener, with Summer missing twice in the middle. Twinkie II didn't fade this time, holding on for a 1-2 win and 2-1 series win. Twinkie II will act as host to the Southern Monarchs' Shannon in the second round.
Dreamy v. Wings. Back in Rotation, the blue cue gets the call. Swordpoint's Dreamy opened on a three-ball run and showed little mercy after that, beating Pearl's Wings by an 8-1 score for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings did better at the start of game 2, but a massive comeback allowed the Blades' Dreamy to clinch the series at 2-0 with an 8-5 win. Wings came out firing with a four-ball run in game 3. Dreamy got close, but Wings made his next four balls over two turns for an 8-3 win. Dreamy settled for a 2-1 series win to earn the visiting role versus the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart in the second round.
Juno v. Nightfur. Brute Force's toughest clash in 10-ball with the silver cue. Stonebridge's Juno made three balls on the break in game 1, then struggled afterwards as Royal's Nightfur established her offense and won with a pair. Nightfur holds a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 started with a back-and-forth tint to play before the Crowns' Nightfur smashed a four-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0 over the Wolves' Juno. Nightfur weathered an early four-ball run from Juno in game 3, then fired back with a three-ball run-out at the end to grab the 3-0 series sweep. Nightfur is off to the second round.
Easter v. Fluffina. The purple cue draws in for Rotation. Todavía's Easter began game 1 with a five-ball run, damage that Maplewood's Fluffina failed to cover. Easter wound up with an 8-4 win to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina struck first in game 2, but this lead didn't hold up later, as the Stills' Easter pulled even just after the midpoint. Easter than pulled away with an 8-5 win to secure the series at 2-0. Fluffina led for much of game 3, but couldn't quite hold on at the end, as Easter poked down the last ball for an 8-7 win to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Easter heads to the second round.
Twilight v. Fluffina. The visitor completes a doubleheader while using the green cue in 8-ball. Central's Twilight fired off some offense early in game 1, but Maplewood's Fluffina held just enough defense at the end to transition to a three-ball run-out for the win. Fluffina has a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight nearly had game 2, but her three-ball run ended with a bad miss on the 8 at the top left. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina put it away for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Fluffina couldn't complete the sweep, as Twilight finished strong in game 3 to make it a 2-1 series. Fluffina will see the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the second round.
Chimpy v. Gradley. The red cue cycles in here for 15-ball. Westside's Chimpy weathered a fiery start from Boston's Gradley in game 1. Chimpy then double-potted the 11 and 15 to the right corners to get the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Swifts' Gradley took a step back in game 2, but it took time for the Rockers' Chimpy to attack. When he did, Chimpy made 11 balls over three turns for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Chimpy made a triple-pot when he sank the 4-6-14 combination to the bottom left, sending the 6 on a follow and the 4 to the top side on the deflection. Gradley then replied with a pair of three-ball runs for the win. Chimpy settled for a 2-1 series win to get into the second round.
Dani v. Nicole. Friends and veterans meet in 13-ball with the blue cue. Lighton's Nicole did well with solids, but couldn't line up her last ball before Viewpoint Sound's Dani made a final pair for the win. Dani has a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Nicole made her route very obvious in game 2, and still nearly completed the effort. The Meteors' Dani cut her off just in time with a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Nicole fought hard to keep things close in game 3, but she missed badly on the 8, and Dani sent it to the bottom right to finish her 3-0 series sweep. Dani will play in the second round.
Kodiak v. Sarah. The second half of the round starts with the silver cue in 13-ball. Modernistic's Kodiak needed more time for positioning in game 1, but Tysini's Sarah didn't oblige. A bank of the 10 to the bottom right opened her three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah made two stripes and a solid on the game 2 break and elected to play stripes. The Union's Kodiak was again a little too slow, as Sarah's efficient style earned her another win to clinch the series at 2-0. Kodiak started well on solids but never found a second wind in game 3. Sarah pulled ahead in the middle and worked her way to a win to finish the 3-0 series sweep that sent her to the second round.
Acorn v. Misty. A longstanding friendship sees the purple cue activate for 12-ball. Lighton's Acorn found a way to survive after making two of each on the game 1 break. Westside's Misty fouled late in game 1 to give back one wild-card ball, and Acorn kicked in his last shot at the top right to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn carved up a four-ball run on the opening turn of game 2, then added the last pair on bank shots as the Rockers' Misty was left stunned. Acorn sealed the series at 2-0. Acorn seemed to have control early in game 3, but a faster than expected effort from Misty allowed her to snag a win. Acorn advanced to the second round on a 2-1 series win, and he'll face the Oceanside Waves' Celestia next.
Melissa v. Bianca. Back in 13-ball, the green cue gets another turn. Terrace City's Melissa made one of each on the game 1 break, allowing her to choose solids and play relentless defense. Southridge's Bianca got more offense given to her by Melissa than that she made herself, as Melissa cruised to the win and 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Melissa couldn't dominate the same way in game 2, as it was a close battle that came down to the top right. The Defenders' Bianca struck her last ball there and then made the 8 on her first try for the win, tying the series at 1. Bianca did everything she could to line herself up in game 3, but she was a turn too slow, as Melissa made her final pair of shots just in time for the win to take the series 2-1. Melissa will face the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Dani in the second round.
Watermelon v. Hannah B. The red cue will play this 8-ball series. Queens' Hannah had just a bit more pace in game 1, while Pearl's Watermelon couldn't find a late run to help her attack. Hannah took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon had an uptick in the pace of play in game 2, combined with a slight regression for the Flames' Hannah. Watermelon was able to get the edge late and earn the win, tying the series at 1. Watermelon had all the early offense in game 3, but suffered a late scratch. Hannah capitalized on that and took the win late, advancing to face Lionel in the second round after her 2-1 series win.
Precious v. Puff II. It's 10-ball time with the blue cue. In a fast-paced game 1, Pronger's Precious was able to bank the 10 to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead over Boston's Puff II. The Tridents' Precious wasn't able to lock it down in game 2, missing the 9 badly at the top left. The Swifts' Puff II made the last two shots to get the win, tying the series at 1. A back-and-forth theme emerged in game 3, which saw both players make a late pair. In the end, Puff II cleaned up the 10 at the bottom left when Precious missed it. Puff II won the series 2-1 and will act as visitor to the Pearl Surfers' Neopolitan in the second round.
Megan v. Shiny. Another 13-ball series features the silver cue. Oceanside's Megan overfilled the top left on the break in game 1. Lighton's Shiny would quickly gain the lead, and a smooth play on the 8 at the bottom right gave Shiny the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Waves' Megan started better in game 2, but couldn't sustain the offense late, and the Prestige's Shiny picked off a late pair to earn the win again. Shiny secured the series at 2-0. Shiny had a good start in game 3, but a scratch slowed her down. Megan blew by with a three-ball run-out for the win. Shiny won the series 2-1 and will face the Golden Pilots' Strut in the second round.
Wings v. Spice. The host's second series today comes with the purple cue in 15-ball. Pearl's Wings flashed an eight-ball run over the middle of game 1 and still needed luck and Victoria's Spice to scratch late. Wings then put the 15 in the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings still moved the offense pretty heavily in game 2, but he slowed near the end. The Spurs' Spice ultimately made the last pair for the win, tying the series at 1. Wings faltered in the middle of game 3 after a decent start, as his scratch allowed Spice to make the 8-15 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand. Spice took the series 2-1 and will oppose Kiwi in the second round.
Crystal v. Midnight. Tough opponents close the day in 8-ball with the green cue. Queens' Crystal had an empty break, then made a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over Westside's Midnight. The Flames' Crystal employed a similar strategy in a close game 2, making a four-ball run and a three-ball run. The Rockers' Midnight couldn't sink her last ball before Crystal put the 8 in the top left to secure the series at 2-0. Both players made six balls through their first two turns, but Crystal had first dibs at the final pair, which she made. Crystal swept Midnight 3-0 and will next pay a visiting role to Smokey in the second round.
We'll keep rolling with more action tomorrow.
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