The First Round rolls on again today. The blue cue will be out of action due to scheduling, which is a welcome sight for a league expecting its replacement imminently. We begin today with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Misty. A big captains' battle in 7-ball uses the green cue to open the day. Capital City's Chris was limited on offense in game 1 as Westside's Misty attacked well. Misty ended up winning by making four balls over her last two turns for the 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty made a five-ball run off the break to start game 2, then picked up the 7 when the Sharpshooters' Chris missed it at the top side. Misty's win sealed the series at 2-0. Misty again started hot in game 3, but Chris battled back to avoid the sweep on a three-ball run-out for the win. Misty won the series 2-1 and will meet another captain, the Royal Crowns' Kayla, in the second round. Despite the loss, Chris carries four bids into the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Ruby. More 7-ball is on the way with the silver cue. After a close start saw Todavía's Ruby put in a good effort, Midland's Rainmane shut her down with a four-ball run-out to win game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane had good command early in game 2, but she was unable to keep it up. The Stills' Ruby finished off with a three-ball run-out to take the win and tie the series at 1. Rainmane was able to bounce back in game 3, as Ruby's strong start ended with a miss on the 4. Rainmane made a four-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win that puts her in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Roxy v. Leonardo. South Division rivals battle in Rotation with the red cue. Diamond's Leonardo picked up the pace in the middle of game 1 and cemented his lead. Southridge's Roxy was okay but fell short as Leonardo won 8-4 for the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Roxy turned to a smash-and-grab approach in game 2, pounding shots on offense while the Gems' Leonardo struggled to get anything lined up. Roxy won 8-2 this time to tie the series at 1. Leonardo kept things close initially in game 3, but Roxy maneuvered for a four-ball run-out at the end to get the 8-4 win. Roxy won the series 2-1 and will visit Web City Spiders newcomer Wild Thing in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Cobalt. The green cue takes another turn in Accuracy. A close battle in game 1 saw Tysini's Leandra prevail on a 3-4 win to get a 1-0 series lead over Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt as both players stumbled late. In game 2, the score remained tied late after a sloppy start on both sides. The Meteors' Cobalt missed a shot at the bottom left that allowed the Hummingbirds' Leandra to win 2-3, which also let her seal the series at 2-0. Leandra was good again in game 3 and never trailed, while Cobalt took a late miss that cost him again. Leandra won 2-3 to get the 3-0 series sweep and a hosting position in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Waluigi. Players once traded for each other meet in 12-ball with the red cue. Web City's Waluigi had everything in place for a run in game 1, but he couldn't pull it off. Lighton's Shiny battled back just enough to earn the win and 1-0 series lead on a pair of shots. The Prestige's Shiny took solids on the break in game 2, but the Spiders' Waluigi fired back with a five-ball run and nearly made the winner. Waluigi settled for a two-turn win to tie the series at 1. Waluigi tried to buck conventional thinking in game 3 after making one of each and ceding the solid from the side pocket. While his positioning was good, Shiny was faster on offense in her win to take the series 2-1. Shiny will host Pronger Tridents veteran Avril in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Fluffina. The host's second series today is in 10-ball with the purple cue. Infinity's Fluffina made an uncalled shot on the 5 in game 1, and Westside's Misty kept possession to spark a five-ball run-out for the win. Misty leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Misty kept the momentum up with a five-ball run to open game 2. The Torpedoes' Fluffina couldn't match it on her few turns, and a miss on the 10 allowed Misty to convert the shot at the top right and clinch the series at 2-0. Misty had her chances in game 3, but she missed on the 10 at the top side and Fluffina cut it in for the win. Misty won the series 2-1 to get into the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Jane v. Jake. The silver cue cycles in for 12-ball. Stonebridge's Jane had a rough start with an early scratch, but Royal's Jake was too slow at the end. Jane pushed her way to a win on her final pair of shots, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Jane overfilled with solids on the break in game 2. The Crowns' Jake again had some good looks, but this time Jane held a lead for much of the game. At the end, Jake tried to force a replay but only sank Jane's last ball and not his own, gifting away the series at 2-0. Jane wasn't able to do as well in game 3 after again making one of each on the break. Jake was a little better and got the win on a short run at the end to avoid the sweep. Jane moves to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Wario v. Dusky. The green cue takes a turn in 9-ball. Atlantic's Dusky looked good on a four-ball run early in game 1, but Southridge's Wario answered on a five-ball run-out for the win. Wario holds a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 took on a much slower pace. The Pirates' Dusky had little success getting things where she wanted them, and the Defenders' Wario eventually picked up the win. Wario opened game 3 on a three-ball run and added a 5-9 bank combination at the end to sweep Dusky 3-0 in the series. Wario is set to appear in round two.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Leandra. The visitor gets a second series today in 7-ball with the red cue. No time was wasted in game 1. Tysini's Leandra regretted her miss on the 4, as Atlantic's Isabella smashed a four-ball run-out after that for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella didn't have as much pace in game 2, and the Hummingbirds' Leandra was patient until she got a look at the 3-7 combination. Leandra converted it to the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Leandra scratched on the break in game 3. Isabella rallied for a six-ball run, but missed the 7 that Leandra cleaned up to poach the win at the bottom left. Leandra won the series 2-1 and will visit the Boston Swifts' Gradley in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Vincent. The host's second series today uses the red cue for 9-ball. A dodgy start for Infinity's Fluffina turned into a good finish when she won on a four-ball run-out. She leads Everton's Vincent 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw almost no pace for the Torpedoes' Fluffina early on. The Eagles' Vincent also struggled, but he got the win on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Fluffina again struggled to get going in game 3, and Vincent won this one with a bank of the 9 to the top side to end his three-ball run-out. Vincent took the series 2-1 and will visit the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Dani in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Puff II v. Puff I. A meeting between namesakes sees the red cue go again in 10-ball. Modernistic's Puff I seemed to be a little better early in game 1, but Harrison's Puff II fired back with a pair for the win. Puff II holds a slight 1-0 series lead. Things slowed down a bit in game 2, and the Specters' Puff II seemed to lose control of her offense. The Union's Puff I eventually got on track with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Puff II was called for an illegal contact on a double-pot in game 3, but she got the win after Puff I missed on the 6. Puff II used a deflection to drive the 10 to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win that takes her to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Toki. The purple cue checks out with Rotation. Eastside's Toki held on for a bit, but Tysini's Sarah got most of her offense on runs of three and four balls. It was just a matter of time before Sarah made the 8 to the bottom side for the 8-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sarah fell behind early in game 2, but the Sharks' Toki stalled out a shot away from victory. He had plenty of chances for the win, but couldn't finish before Sarah won 8-7 in a comeback to secure the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sarah's hard-shooting style worked for a little bit. Her effectiveness waned in the late game, but she still easily won 8-3 over Toki for the 3-0 series sweep. Sarah will visit Westside Rockers veteran Chimpy in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Oreo. The host completes a venue doubleheader in Rotation in the silver cue's last series today. Tysini's Leandra made her biggest impact with a four-ball run in the middle of game 1. Terrace City's Oreo battled from there, but Leandra won 8-4 for the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra kept a good pace in game 2 with a four-ball run, but the Knights' Oreo retook the lead later and held on for her 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Oreo opened game 3 on a three-ball run, but Leandra quickly made her presence felt. Oreo got on the verge of victory and still had to sweat it out until Leandra missed the 13 and Oreo made it. Oreo won 8-5 for a 2-1 series win and a trip to Apex to face Wonders captain Midnight in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Sunshine. The green cue is done after a 15-ball battle. Pacific's Ms. Kitty set the tone early in game 1 with a three-ball run. Royal's Sunshine was combative throughout, but Ms. Kitty was able to do enough at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty continued to fire off shots with relative ease, especially early on. The Crowns' Sunshine tried to get creative late, but instead set up Ms. Kitty for an 11-15 combination that she converted to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sunshine found a six-ball run-out that ended with the 6 deflecting off the 8 to shove the 15 into the bottom left for a stunning win. Ms. Kitty still took the series 2-1 and will host again in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Molly. The day ends with the red cue in Accuracy. Freedom's Stinky had a good start to game 1, but he let it slip away later when his shooting faltered. Southern's Molly overcame an ugly start to grab a 4-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. Drastic improvements were made in game 2, with both players perfect until the last ball. At the end, the Cascades' Stinky scratched and the Monarchs' Molly finished the game with a 0-1 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Molly didn't take things very seriously in game 3, although she kept things close as Stinky only got away with a 4-5 win. Molly won the series 2-1 and moves on to the second round.
As it stands, tomorrow will be a momentous day in UPCL and Tournament history. For the first time, a cue will be replaced/introduced in full in the middle of the competition as the old blue cue is retired and the new blue cue takes its place. It is sure to be an emotional day, especially for many older players who used it more often in the 2011 competition that predates the league.
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