We return to action today with another full slate. First up...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Molly v. Peach. The blue cue gets the opening series in 8-ball. North Modernistic's Peach had a great start to game 1 and did just enough to hold off a rally from Southern's Molly at the end. Peach holds a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach was kept quiet early in game 2, but the Monarchs' Molly didn't take a convincing lead. Peach rallied on an eight-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Peach wasn't able to support her five-ball run early in game 3, as Molly fought back and grabbed a win. Peach took the series 2-1.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Jane v. Gabby. Young opponents meet in 13-ball with the silver cue. Stonebridge's Jane had problems with her positioning, and Southern's Gabby quickly exploited that. Gabby took game 1 with a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Jane had a five-ball run early in game 2, but she ended up falling short with a chase on her last stripe. The Monarchs' Gabby also overcame a scratch to pick up the win with a pair at the end, which sealed the series at 2-0. Jane had a good attack early in game 3, but Gabby replied with a six-ball run-out, a perfectly executed sequence that allowed the visitor to sweep the series.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Panda. Club-mates battle in 10-ball with the blue cue. Everton's Panda displayed good movement on the cue ball, especially as he worked a four-ball run-out to win game 1 for a 1-0 series lead over Golden's Sparkles. The Pilots' Sparkles went all in for a deflection play on the 10 at the top left to start game 2, but she left it hanging. On his second shot of the game, the Eagles' Panda converted the 1-10 combination for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Panda couldn't find any early magic in game 3, but Sparkles avoided the sweep with a 4-10 combination to the bottom left. Panda settled for a 2-1 series win.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Luigi. The green cue activates for a 12-ball series. Commerce's Luigi was better early in game 1, but he faltered in the middle after giving away a ball to Infinity's Fluffina. A couple turns later, Fluffina made a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Fluffina made one of each on the break in game 2, and turned that into a four-ball run on stripes. The Tradewinds' Luigi battled back a bit, but Fluffina made her final pair for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Luigi had better positioning in game 3, helping him dodge a sweep as he kept Fluffina at bay. Fluffina advanced on a 2-1 series win.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Omari. More 12-ball follows, this time with the blue cue. Freedom's Stinky stayed a step ahead even with an overfill on the break in game 1. Zenith's Omari had some threatening offense but couldn't cash in late, and Stinky took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Skywatchers' Omari improved his play early in game 2, but he got blocked at the end. The Cascades' Stinky made a clutch defensive move at the top right, eventually setting himself up to win with a pair, which clinched the series at 2-0. Stinky didn't have the right positioning to finish off game 3, as Omari made a three-ball run-out for his lone win. Stinky moves to the first round after a 2-1 series win.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Valencia. The red cue joins the party in 10-ball. Maplewood's Summer had the better play in game 1 and won with a 7-10 combination to the bottom left after Golden's Valencia had a loose shot on the 7. The Pilots' Valencia had better plays in game 2, but illegally potting the 7 wasn't one of them. After a scramble for control, the Lumberjacks' Summer made the last two shots for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Summer completed the sweep in game 3, starting with a three-ball run and adding a four-ball run-out as Valencia struggled on offense.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor S. v. Easter. Captains clash in 7-ball with the purple cue. Commerce's Taylor S. had a controversial play to extend her game 1 run to four balls. She was allowed to shoot at the 2, but couldn't sink it. Todavía's Easter then double-kissed the 2-7 bank combination into the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had a six-ball run in game 2, but it ended with her giving away the win. She made the 5-7 combination to the bottom left and scratched on the same play, allowing the Tradewinds' Taylor S. to tie the series at 1 without taking a shot. Taylor S. left nothing to chance in game 3, making the 5 and 7 on the break to claim the 2-1 series win over Easter.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Lorde. The silver cue is done for the day after this 10-ball series. Southern's Lorde made a 2-10 combination early in game 1, but also scratched on the play, denying her the early win. Boston's Ice Cream had modest offense, but Lorde made the final pair, earning the win and 1-0 series lead anyway. The Swifts' Ice Cream illegally sank the 5 but retained possession on the play. She then missed contact on the 7, which allowed Lorde to take the 7-10 combination as a double-pot to the top left for the win. Lorde secured the series at 2-0 with this win. Lorde faltered with a scratch on the 9 in a close game 3 battle. Ice Cream took the 10 for free from ball-in-hand to avoid the sweep, but Lorde won the series 2-1. This was Ice Cream's 100th unique opponent.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Daisy v. Twinkie I. In another 10-ball series, the blue cue is used. Oceanside's Daisy found a lot of offense in game 1, working well both early and late. She closed on a four-ball run-out to beat Pacific's Twinkie I for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I remained inefficient on offense in game 2, as the Waves' Daisy picked up the last four balls over two turns to get the win. Daisy secured the series at 2-0. Daisy didn't get much right in game 3, as Twinkie I made a six-ball run and then added the last pair over the following two turns. Daisy still won the series 2-1 to get into the first round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Nibbles. The red cue checks out with 15-ball. Eastside's Maison had a large chunk of the offense in game 1, but he came up short in the end. Web City's Nibbles picked off the 15 at the top side on a bank to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Maison put up another good effort in game 2, but he couldn't finish this one either. The Spiders' Nibbles ended up with the win when he converted the 15 on his second try, sealing the series at 2-0. In game 3, it was all Nibbles at the end. He made a seven-ball run and followed up with a three-ball run-out to complete the 3-0 series sweep over Maison.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Chicky Phil v. Sierra. This series features the purple cue in 7-ball. Midland's Chicky Phil made three balls on the break in game 1 and followed up with a four-ball run-out on his next turn to beat Todavía's Sierra. Chicky Phil owns a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra was a little more involved in game 2, but the Predators' Chicky Phil still finished with a pair of shots for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Chicky Phil completed the sweep in game 3 with a three-ball run from the break and a 6-7 bank combination to the bottom left at the end.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Debby. Veterans meet in 9-ball with the blue cue. Everton's Puff III enjoyed more of the offense in game 1, while Diamond's Debby made a move late but came up short. Puff III deposited the 9 in the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Debby had a chance for a push at the end of game 2, but her last turn ended in a scratch. The Eagles' Puff III made the final pair from ball-in-hand to earn the win and 2-0 series lead. Puff III was solid again in game 3, but Debby won on a three-ball run-out capped by an 8-9 combination to the top right. Puff III still won the series 2-1.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Puff II v. Maison. The purple cue is back for 8-ball. Momentum shifted often in game 1, with Eastside's Maison making a six-ball run that Harrison's Puff II answered with a four-ball run. Maison then took the 8 just in time to get the win and 1-0 series lead. A much tighter game 2 battle saw the Sharks' Maison stumble a couple of times. The Specters' Puff II was steadier and made the 8 at the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Puff II went on a deep five-ball run to keep things close after Maison's hot start in game 3. Maison couldn't finish on his last ball, and Puff II got the win for a 2-1 series win.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Chris. These two captains meet for the first of two consecutive days, playing 9-ball with the green cue. Capital City's Chris brought game 1 to a sudden finish when he double-potted the 6 and 9 to the left corners for the 1-0 series lead over Boston's Sweetheart. The Sharpshooters' Chris nearly won it early in game 2, but instead saved his offense for a late four-ball run-out capped at the top side. He clinched the series at 2-0 as the Swifts' Sweetheart struggled to get going. Sweetheart avoided the sweep with a spark of a three-ball run-out at the end of game 3. Chris settled for a 2-1 series win to advance.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Greg. Ending the day, the purple cue is in 10-ball. Swordpoint's Dreamy pieced together a six-ball run to start game 1. Archtown's Greg illegally potted the 7, but Dreamy deferred possession. It was a mistake, as Greg made three more shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Legal shots were rare in game 2, as both players had multiple uncalled plays. The Blades' Dreamy suffered again from what's being described as top side fade, leading to a late scratch. The Arrows' Greg took the ball-in-hand for an 8-10 combination at the bottom side to seal the series at 2-0. Dreamy couldn't catch a bounce in game 3, suffering another defeat as Greg made a three-ball run-out for the 3-0 series sweep.
That's it for today. Tournament play is questionable for tomorrow -- if it plays, it'll be the halfway mark of the Play-In Round.
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