Another batch of series is set to play today, beginning with...
Rainmane v. Sunshine. The red cue opens the day in Rotation. Midland's Rainmane battled closely in game 1, pulling ahead late and ultimately taking an 8-7 win after Royal's Sunshine couldn't convert the 15. Rainmane leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Sunshine stepped up his offense in game 2, finding clever double-pots and a surge early on to pace himself to an 8-3 win, tying the series at 1 versus the Predators' Rainmane. In game 3, Rainmane had one early push, but couldn't fend off Sunshine's 8-4 win that came on a late surge. Sunshine won the series 2-1, upsetting the two-time event champion to push his way into the second round versus the Oceanside Waves' Snuggle.
Dustin v. Ms. Kitty. The blue cue also takes a spin in Rotation for the second series. Central's Dustin had a decent start, but dramatically slowed down in the middle. Pacific's Ms. Kitty was a little more productive, taking a choppy 8-6 win for the 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Warriors' Dustin needed a big comeback in game 2 and couldn't find it, as the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty prevailed 8-5 with plenty of odd deflections going in her favor. Ms. Kitty clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Dustin couldn't salvage anything from game 3, once again watching Ms. Kitty take an 8-5 win to complete her sweep at 3-0. Ms. Kitty will play in the second round.
Neopolitan v. Cheddar. In 15-ball, the silver cue activates for the day. Pearl's Neopolitan struggled to find her offense in game 1, and Whitewater's Cheddar capitalized by making a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan made a modest improvement in game 2, but couldn't get herself back on track at the end. The Shores' Cheddar just clipped in the 15 at the top right for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Neopolitan had most of the offense in game 3, but her late three-ball run ended with a miss on the 15. Cheddar buried it to the top right to finish a 3-0 series sweep that gets her into the second round.
Stripes v. Smudge. Tough veterans clash in Accuracy with the purple cue. Freedom's Stripes was strong in game 1, but a couple of misses were enough for Infinity's Smudge to grab a 0-2 lead and hang on for the win. Smudge leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Smudge scratched on the break in game 2 and missed again early, while the Cascades' Stripes had just one late miss in her 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. Stripes made a ball on the break in game 3, but faded quickly after that. Smudge was virtually unchallenged in taking a 2-4 win to earn the 2-1 series win and a place in the second round.
Lorde v. Missy. Current teammates face off in 9-ball with the green cue. Commerce's Lorde put up a five-ball run in the middle of game 1, but missed on the 8. Capital City's Missy then made the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy opened game 2 with a pair of three-ball runs, but she missed a bank on the 6 to the top side. The Tradewinds' Lorde took over and made a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Lorde wasn't bad to start game 3, but Missy dominated the finish on a six-ball run-out to take the series 2-1. Missy will face Reality club-mate and Harrison Specters captain Twinkie II in the second round.
Kyle v. Easter. The red cue cycles in for 7-ball. Queens' Kyle made a five-ball run on his second turn in game 1, but twice missed the 6 before Todavía's Easter made the final pair for the win. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter made a pair on the break in game 2, but couldn't strike again. The Flames' Kyle potted the last five balls over two turns for a win, tying the series at 1. Kyle made an early pair in game 3, but Easter closed him out with a five-ball run-out to give her the win and 2-1 series win. Easter will act as host versus Coastal rival and Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette in the second round.
Chelsea v. Precious. Longtime Eastern Hills rivals clash in 12-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Chelsea had good positioning and defense, but Pronger's Precious ran right through it and beat Chelsea to the finish for the win. Precious' aggressive style earned her a 1-0 series lead in this 2016 championship rematch. The Tridents' Precious enjoyed plenty of early offense in game 2, but she was a step too slow in finishing. The Sharks' Chelsea was right there with her, and struck an impressive sequence on solids before making the winning shot at the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Chelsea had a scratch in the middle of game 3, but it didn't stop her from getting better positioning to beat Precious at the end. Chelsea's win gave her a 2-1 series win and a trip to the second round.
Sarah v. Shannon. Underrated opponents battle in 15-ball with the silver cue. Tysini's Sarah made some questionable shot selections in game 1, and that often led to turnovers of possession. Southern's Shannon played better and earned a win for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah stabilized herself offensively in game 2, leading to a closer battle. The Monarchs' Shannon faded a bit late, and Sarah made the final pair for the win, tying the series at 1. Shannon had plenty of early offense in game 3, but again lost control later on. Sarah used a four-ball run to get momentum, then struck in the winning shot to the top side to take the series 2-1. Sarah is off to the second round.
Snowball v. Mams. Along to 10-ball, which is played with the purple cue. Southern's Mams clobbered a five-ball run early in game 1, but her offense was weak after that. Swordpoint's Snowball answered on a three-ball run-out, banking the 10 to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball picked up a ball on the game 2 break, but the Monarchs' Mams handled the rest with a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out for the win. This tied the series at 1. Snowball had her best attack with a five-ball run in game 3, only to foul and allow Mams to make the final pair. Mams won the series 2-1 and lines up to play host to the Royal Crowns' Nightfur in the second round.
Paige v. Neopolitan. The designated visitor gets a second series today in 8-ball with the green cue. Queens' Paige had her fair share of offense in game 1, but couldn't settle down after a scratch. Pearl's Neopolitan was there to sink the final pair for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Surfers' Neopolitan had a fine start in game 2, but she wasn't able to finish it off. The Flames' Paige made six balls over her last two turns for the win, pulling even at 1 game apiece in the series. Paige dominated outright in game 3, but took too long on the 8 and scratched as she banked it into the bottom side. This gifted a win and the 2-1 series win to Neopolitan, who moves on to the second round.
Crystal v. Tigerette. The top series of the day uses the red cue for 10-ball. Commerce's Tigerette didn't get many chances for offense in game 1. Queens' Crystal locked in the win with a five-ball run-out, featuring an 8-9 kick combination to the top side for a clutch play. Crystal owns a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette missed the 8 after posting a three-ball run late in game 2. The Flames' Crystal looked ready to strike, but failed on the 10, and Tigerette kicked it in for the win to tie the series at 1. Tigerette capitalized again at the end of game 3, making a three-ball run-out after Crystal couldn't do anything on the 8. Tigerette won the series 2-1, and the three-time medalist will face the Oceanside Waves' Dewey in the second round.
Midnight v. Princess. The blue cue returns with this 9-ball battle. Neither player gained control of game 1 quickly, which led to Westside's Midnight winning on a pair at the end after Tysini's Princess missed on the 8. Midnight leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Princess got a chance on the 9 in game 2, but couldn't send it home, and the Rockers' Midnight pulled off a two-rail kick to put it away at the top left for the win. Midnight secured the series at 2-0 in the process. Princess had little motivation to play out game 3, and Midnight controlled the offense again, winning with the final pair for the 3-0 series sweep. Midnight is through to the second round.
Gradley v. Shiny. The silver cue completes its day in 8-ball. Boston's Gradley couldn't get anything going, as Web City's Shiny survived a scratch and recovered on a five-ball run-out for the game 1 win. Shiny leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Gradley opened on a five-ball run in game 2, then scratched. The Spiders' Shiny fought back with a late four-ball run, but she came up short as Gradley took the win and tied the series at 1. Gradley kept his momentum up early in game 3, and finished with a three-ball run-out as Shiny's offense faltered. Gradley got the 2-1 series win and the right to play host to the Eastisde Sharks' Taylor S. in the second round.
Shaggy v. Fuchsia. The purple cue is done after a Rotation set. Whitewater's Shaggy used a pair of three-ball runs in game 1, one to establish a lead and the other to beat Infinity's Fuchsia by an 8-3 score. Shaggy holds a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy used a five-ball run to build a quick lead in game 2, but struggled to support it. The Torpedoes' Fuchsia raced to the 8-7 win at the end with her five-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 as well. Shaggy looked a little lost early in game 3, but Fuchsia didn't secure the lead very well. Shaggy then surged on a seven-ball run-out for an 8-3 win and 2-1 series win. Shaggy punched her ticket to the second round.
Hoppy v. Sage. A burgeoning rivalry is renewed in 7-ball with the green cue. Archtown's Hoppy sank the 7 and scratched on the game 1 break, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Victoria's Sage. The Spurs' Sage didn't allow the Arrows' Hoppy a shot in game 2. Sage made a ball on the break, then used the 2 in combination with the 5 and 7 to cap off a four-ball run-out from the break. Sage sealed the series at 2-0. Sage fouled after a three-ball run in game 3, allowing Hoppy to make a three-ball run-out for the win. Sage still won the series 2-1, getting revenge and moving into the second round all at once.
Snowball v. Graham. Closing the day, the red cue plays 7-ball. Swordpoint's Snowball couldn't lock it in after a five-ball run, but she made her second try on the 7 at the bottom left after a bad bank attempt by Eastside's Graham. Snowball leads the series 1-0. Two pairs of shots were enough to lift the Blades' Snowball over a three-ball run from the Sharks' Graham in game 2. Snowball's strong finish secured the series for her at 2-0. Snowball hit a fantastic break in game 3, getting the 7 to carom to the top right as she swept Graham 3-0 in the series. Snowball will face Southwestern rival Sage in the second round.
There's only three days left in the first round of this competition. More to come tomorrow.
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