We're ready to go with another day of games. This one is likely to test players' patience, but we begin with...
Valencia v. Shaggy. The silver cue gets the start today in Rotation between daughter and mother. Golden's Valencia suffered a scratch near the middle of game 1, and Whitewater's Shaggy struck a five-ball run to take control. Shaggy eventually won 8-5 to go up 1-0 in the series. The Shores' Shaggy got buried by the Pilots' Valencia with defensive positioning. Valencia left no clear shots on the board and cruised to an 8-0 win to tie the series at 1 after game 2. Valencia ripped a five-ball run off the break and made one more before fouling in game 3. Shaggy surged on a seven-ball run, but left the 14 short of the bottom right. Valencia then made a pair for the 8-7 win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Shaggy finally got loose again on offense and gathered an 8-4 win over Valencia to retie the series at 2. Shaggy and Valencia had a very tight start, but Shaggy pulled away at the end on a five-ball run-out for the 8-3 win. Shaggy took the series 3-2 and moved into the quarterfinals.
Quincy v. Panda. Another Rotation series uses the purple cue. Terrace City's Quincy made five balls over two early turns, building an unassailable lead to beat Southern's Panda 8-2 in game 1. Quincy leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Panda had no trouble turning things around in game 2, controlling the offense in an 8-3 win over the Knights' Quincy to tie the series at 1. In game 3, things were a bit closer between the two players. Panda pulled away in the end on a three-ball run-out, beating Quincy 8-5 this time as Panda earned a 2-1 series lead. Quincy appeared to be building up his luck in game 4, but that all evaporated as Panda broke through a cluster in the middle. Panda ran to the finish for an 8-4 win to clinch the series at 3-1. A tight start to game 5 gave way to Quincy ripping a six-ball run-out for the 8-2 win and a little consolation against Panda, who took the series 3-2. Panda is into the quarterfinals.
Patches v. Leandra. The third series today is 15-ball with the green cue between tough opponents. Tysini's Leandra popped a five-ball run late in game 1 after an absolutely wretched start for both players. Boston's Patches struck back with the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches had the better offense near the end of a more cohesive game 2, but her late misses allowed the Hummingbirds' Leandra to pick off the last two balls for the win. This tied the series at 1. Patches picked up a little speed late in game 3 with a three-ball run, but Leandra answered with a three-ball run-out for the win to gain a 2-1 series lead. Patches wasn't done yet, locking in on offense late in game 4 to get the win on a five-ball run-out after Leandra's offense sputtered. The series is tied at 2. Leandra took total control at the end of game 5, making a five-ball run and a four-ball run-out on consecutive turns to beat Patches 3-2 in the series. Leandra punched her ticket to the quarterfinals with gusto.
Midnight v. Violetta. Along to 9-ball, where the red cue draws in. Queens' Violetta controlled game 1 with a four-ball run and a pair at the end for a simple win and 1-0 series lead over Westside's Midnight. The Flames' Violetta was unimpressive in game 2, making a late three-ball run but mostly struggling after a bad break. The Rockers' Midnight wasn't much better until she won with a late pair to tie the series at 1. Midnight fell off the pace in a tight game 3 with a scratch after a contact play on the 8. Violetta needed two swipes at the 9 before making it at the top right to regain the series lead at 2-1. Midnight kept herself in the series in game 4, weathering a creative attack from Violetta earned that petered out with a foul. Midnight then raked in a four-ball run-out to tie the series again at 2. Violetta got a favorable referee decision in game 5, and then made the 5-9 bank combination with a deflection off the 8 to get into the bottom side to beat Midnight 3-2 in the series. Violetta's heroics have her in the quarterfinals.
Jane v. Princess. In 8-ball, we'll have the blue cue's lone series today. Tysini's Princess opened game 1 on a five-ball run, and Stonebridge's Jane was never able to catch up after that. Princess leads the series 1-0. The Hummingbirds' Princess started well in game 2, but the Wolves' Jane took control with a seven-ball run. Jane won on her second turn with the 8 at the top left, tying the series at 1. A slower start to game 3 built up a little tension. Jane looked to get clear near the end but never could, and Princess rallied with a six-ball run-out instead for the win. Princess earned a 2-1 series lead. Jane had all the early offense in game 4, but took her time getting onto the 8 and fouling on her second try at it. Princess took the ball-in-hand and made another six-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-1. Both players had massive runs early in game 5, but Jane was able to back hers up while Princess' six-ball effort was wasted. Princess still won the series 3-2 and will play in the quarterfinals.
Puff II v. Ms. Kitty. Back to Rotation, as the silver cue cycles in. Boston's Puff II started well in game 1, but couldn't sustain the attack. Pacific's Ms. Kitty took over after a dull middle of the game and ended up winning 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II again struck first in game 2, but her lead was short-lived. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty pushed back quickly and later found a six-ball run-out for the 8-2 win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty started a little too slow in game 3, and her comeback came up short as Puff II finally protected a lead. Puff II took the 8-5 win this time, but still trails 2-1 in the series. Puff II triple-potted at the bottom left on the break in game 4, but that would be nearly all of her offense. A four-ball run-out lifted Ms. Kitty to an 8-5 win that secured the series in her favor at 3-1. Ms. Kitty built up a lead in game 5, then took her time at the end before winning 8-3 for the 4-1 series win over Puff II. Ms. Kitty heads to the quarterfinals versus the Whitewater Shores' Shaggy.
Nightfur v. Debby. Former Southeastern captains tangle in 12-ball with the purple cue. Royal's Nightfur had a lot of offense early on, and received a favorable judgement by the referee as she banked the 10 to the top right after Southridge's Debby scratched. Nightfur then made the 9 at the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Debby wasn't very smooth in completing game 2, chipping her way to victory as the Crowns' Nightfur couldn't get a good position to save her life. Debby's slow-burn win tied the series at 1. Nightfur yielded a wild-card ball in the middle of game 3, but Debby couldn't cash in on it. Nightfur instead rallied for a four-ball run-out for the win, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Game 4 turned into a defensive battle at the end, as Debby resisted giving away a wild-card ball, but Nightfur showed no mercy in pushing her out of position. Nightfur eventually won at the top side to seal the series at 3-1. Nightfur nearly repeated the effort in game 5, but a foul allowed Debby to step in for the win. Nightfur won the series 3-2 and is headed to the quarterfinals.
Niki v. Diddley. In 13-ball, the green cue gets a look. Commerce's Niki made one of each and scratched on the break in game 1, choosing to keep solids. Maplewood's Diddley kept it close, but couldn't outrun Niki, who got the win with the 8 in the bottom left for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Niki had a slow start and a couple of fouls in game 2. The Lumberjacks' Diddley kept pace and had positioning late, but Niki burst back with a five-ball run-out for the win to go ahead 2-0. Niki was relentless, taking stripes on the break and letting Diddley clear some balls off the table early in game 3. Niki then fired back on another five-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series at 3-0. Niki couldn't kick her offense up a notch in game 4, while Diddley was steady throughout and earned a long-awaited win to cut Niki's lead to 3-1. Diddley did it again in game 5, outplaying Niki as she tried to battle for positioning at the bottom right. Diddley made the last pair for the win, but Niki advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 series win.
Sarah v. Jake. The finale today is also in 13-ball, using the red cue. Tysini's Sarah flirted with danger when she scratched on her last solid. Royal's Jake couldn't punish her for it, and Sarah later made a pair to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah will regret her missed opportunities in game 2, as she chipped the 8 wide of the bottom left at the end. The Crowns' Jake had a few misses of his own but converted this time for the win to tie the series at 1. Jake made one of each on the break in game 3, and chose to play solids. He kept his offense dynamic, while Sarah took too long to set herself up at the end. Jake then made a pair for the win and went ahead 2-1 in the series. Sarah made an impressive comeback in game 4, rallying on a four-ball run to get onto the 8. Jake had a chance to win but missed, and Sarah converted to retie the series at 2. Jake had a three-ball run early in game 5, and that little boost was enough for him to keep ahead of Sarah. Jake won the series 3-2 and will face Niki in the quarterfinals.
We'll be back with another set of games tomorrow.
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