The weather's cooler but the play should remain strong. We begin today with...
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Rocky v. Snowball. The green cue is up in 8-ball to start things off. Westside's Snowball had a good start in game 1, but she still had to scrap for the win after a slow comeback push from Oceanside's Rocky. Snowball barely held on for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Snowball was better in game 2, carving a four-ball run-out at the end to shock the Waves' Rocky. Snowball's late surge secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Snowball continued to shoot well in game 3, leading to a six-ball run after an early scratch. Rocky had nothing on offense, and Snowball got the win to sweep the series 3-0, earning a road position in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Bells. South Division rivals battle in 8-ball with the purple cue. Midland's Rainmane wasted a late three-ball run in game 1 when she couldn't put away the 8 twice. Zenith's Bells eventually made it to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane kept her pace high in game 2, making a five-ball run. The Skywatchers' Bells tried to keep up but fell short as Rainmane earned the win to tie the series at 1. Rainmane smashed a six-ball run to start game 3, and Bells again couldn't match the intensity. Rainmane won the series 2-1 to earn a hosting position in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Ellie v. Hughbert. The West Division gets the spotlight in 9-ball with the purple cue. Capital City's Ellie was decent to start game 1, but Todavía's Hughbert answered her with a three-ball run-out at the end. Hughbert leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Hughbert was solid early in game 2, but the Sharpshooters' Ellie stung him with a 4-9 combination to the bottom right for the quick win. Ellie tied the series at 1. In game 3, Ellie had a six-ball run-out to pull her way to a win and 2-1 series win over Hughbert. Ellie will host the Queens Flames' Mario in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Acorn. The purple cue remains active for 12-ball. Lighton's Acorn had a decent look throughout game 1, but he stalled out on his last ball. Maplewood's Summer answered with a pair of shots to nab the win and 1-0 series lead at the end. The Prestige's Acorn was again first to get onto his last ball, only to fall short of the win again in game 2. The Lumberjacks' Summer made three balls over her last two turns for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Summer started well in game 3 with one of each, and she controlled the game on stripes to sweep Acorn 3-0 in the series. Summer will host the Swordpoint Blades' Mams in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Rudolph v. Blake. The blue cue will test things out in 10-ball for its lone series today. Eastside's Rudolph pushed on offense late and took a pair at the end for the win after a good challenge from Freedom's Blake in game 1. Rudolph holds a 1-0 series lead. Both players attempted to make bold moves, but they often resulted in turnovers of possession. At the end, the Cascades' Blake sniped the 10 to the bottom right to tie the series at 1 versus the Sharks' Rudolph. In game 3, Blake was able to double down with a masse shot on the 6 and a deflection off the 7 to put the 10 in the bottom left for the win. Blake won the series 2-1 and will play in the second round. After the series, the assessment on the blue cue was that it will remain playable but the replacement process will begin, likely in time for the second round or bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Vladimir v. Spot. Back north, the green cue is in for 8-ball. Pronger's Spot was a little more persistent in game 1, getting a three-ball run-out after Maplewood's Vladimir stalled out. Spot leads the series 1-0. Both players went in hot on the 8 in game 2, but the Lumberjacks' Vladimir missed his chance on it at the bottom side. The Tridents' Spot sniped the 8 to the bottom right for the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Spot was strong again in game 3, although Vladimir certainly had a few looks on offense too. Spot won with a three-ball run-out for the 3-0 series sweep, and he'll host the Westside Rockers' Snowball in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Chris. A West Division captains' battle uses the red cue in Accuracy. Todavía's Easter had a costly scratch near the end of regulation in game 1, which dropped her into a tie. She got nothing on the overtime break, and Capital City's Chris easily converted a shot for the 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris suddenly lost all control on his shots in game 2 near the end, leading to a sloppy performance. The Stills' Easter also struggled, but easily won 3-6 to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Chris faltered first and fell behind. He thought he did enough to force overtime after a long-range shot near the end, but Easter answered on the last ball for the 1-2 win. Easter took the series 2-1 and will host in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Bright. The red cue stays in for 7-ball. Pearl's Bright played well enough to win, but he was too loose on his shots late in game 1. This allowed Victoria's Strawberry to survive an error on the 6 and end up kicking the 7 in the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Strawberry made a pair on the break and scratched in game 2, but she got possession back after the Surfers' Bright scratched. Strawberry closed the win with a three-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. Strawberry wasted no time in making it a sweep, beating Bright with the 7 at the bottom right on the game 3 break. Strawberry moves on to round two.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Daisy v. Precious. The red cue checks out after a turn in 8-ball. Oceanside's Daisy started fairly well, but Pronger's Precious stayed close and overtook her on offense late in game 1. Precious cruised to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious didn't play as well in game 2, while the Waves' Daisy attacked somewhat recklessly. Despite a late error, Daisy was able to stay ahead and earn the win, tying the series at 1. Precious got back on track with a five-ball run early in game 3. Daisy had trouble getting loose on a run, and Precious knocked the 8 down legally at the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series win. Precious will continue her travels in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Slinks v. Spice. The silver cue cycles in for 12-ball. Victoria's Spice had a mediocre game 1, striking first before Tysini's Slinks made a five-ball run. In a frenzy, Spice got no more offense before Slinks sank the last ball at the bottom side for the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Slinks made a four-ball run off the break in game 2. The Spurs' Spice tried to keep up again and came close, but Slinks was good enough to finish it off for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Spice was a little faster on offense in game 3, and it paid off when Slinks knocked a ball in for her. Spice dodged the sweep with her win, but Slinks' 2-1 series win sets her up to host Diamond Gems captain Shadow in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Pauline v. Acorn. The green cue is up for a 7-ball set here. Queens' Pauline had a five-ball run in game 1, but her miss on the 7 allowed Lighton's Acorn to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn made a pair at the start and the end of game 2, offsetting a three-ball run by the Flames' Pauline in the middle that ended with illegal contact. Acorn's win secured the series in his favor at 2-0. Acorn had a chance to finish the sweep in game 3, but he flubbed his shot on the 7. Pauline mopped it up to get on the board, but Acorn's 2-1 series win assures he'll be on his way to Apex to visit Wonders captain Midnight in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Kodiak v. Violetta. The green cue administers 8-ball between club-mates. Queens' Violetta completely lost control late in game 1 after a mediocre start. Web City's Kodiak benefited from it, as Violetta scratched when she made the 8 on an angry shot. Kodiak leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Kodiak looked to be cruising toward victory in game 2 as well, but the Flames' Violetta rallied back with a six-ball run-out to claim the win. This tied the series at 1. In game 3, Kodiak took a massive lead early and had a great look at the 8 that just barely missed at the bottom side. Desperate for offense, Violetta unleashed another six-ball run-out for the win to take the 2-1 series win. Violetta will visit Atlantic Pirates veteran Dusky in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Hoot. The green cue exits the day after this 7-ball battle. A choppy game 1 saw both players miss on the 7 before Royal's Jake put it down for the win and 1-0 series lead over Viewpoint Sound's Hoot. The Crowns' Jake opened game 2 with a three-ball run, but the Meteors' Hoot killed the pace after that. Jake eventually got a lucky spinning bounce on the 7 to send it to the top left for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. In game 3, Jake scratched on the break and Hoot made a six-ball run-out for his lone win of the series. Jake won the series 2-1 to get a hosting position in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Oreo. The silver cue checks out with a 13-ball set. Harrison's Twinkie II played well from the start and knew when to give her defense up. Terrace City's Oreo didn't have time to overcome a late scratch, and Twinkie II earned the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II had a decent showing in game 2, but the Knights' Oreo played a more physical game at the end to win on a three-ball run-out. Oreo's win tied the series at 1. A close battle for positioning emerged to end game 3, but it was Twinkie II who buried the three-ball run-out this time to beat Oreo 2-1 in the series. Twinkie II retains hosting rights in the second round. This was Twinkie II's 100th unique opponent.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Rudolph. Today's finale is in 15-ball with the purple cue. Eastside's Rudolph had a five-ball run in game 1, but Lighton's Citrus started and ended the game with four-ball runs to earn the win for a 1-0 series lead with pace. The Prestige's Citrus wasn't as good in game 2, leading to a slow start. The Sharks' Rudolph hushed the crowd with an eight-ball run, then scuffled before getting on track to make the final pair for the win. This tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw both players trying to pull off the spectacular. Eventually, they switched to regular shooting, and Citrus made a four-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Citrus will host again in the second round.
Tomorrow, we end the first half of the First Round before taking a scheduled break.
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