It's send-off day for the blue cue, which is set to be replaced soon. While it's unclear if the new blue cue will enter the mix today, there are no blue assignments for tomorrow's action, which should guarantee a changing of the guard by Sunday. All stadium lights today will be blue in honor of the retiring stick, which also leads us off with...
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Acorn. The first series today is in 13-ball and using the blue cue. Pearl's Wings made one of each on the break in game 1, and he rode with solids to great success. Lighton's Acorn had no luck setting himself up, and Wings took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn had a fancy double-pot in game 2, but he couldn't get his later shots to hit very well. The Surfers' Wings worked all the way back and made a pair for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. In game 3, Wings' offense remained smooth and fast, leaving Acorn no chance to salvage a result. Wings swept the series 3-0 and will play in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Wild Thing v. Shiny. The blue cue goes again in Accuracy. Web City's Wild Thing had a strong start to game 1, then faltered later on. Lighton's Shiny pushed but couldn't keep it tied on the last ball, and Wild Thing converted for a 3-4 win to go up 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Shiny held a lead for most of a close game 2, but she faltered at the end. She made a ball on the overtime break but missed again later, and the Spiders' Wild Thing took a 2-3 win to secure the series at 2-0. Wild Thing completed the sweep with little trouble in a 2-5 win over Shiny in game 3. Wild Thing will advance to the second round. This was the last regular series on the old blue cue.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Molly. The purple cue cycles in for its lone series today in 9-ball. Golden's Sparkles was a bit too inconsistent on offense in game 1, while Southern's Molly was able to fill in the gaps for the win and 1-0 series lead. Neither player showed much command in game 2 until the Monarchs' Molly made a 6-9 kick combination to the top left for the win. She clinched the series at 2-0 over the Pilots' Sparkles, who was not very sharp on offense. Sparkles got a little revenge with a clean finish in game 3 after Molly was only okay on offense. Molly still won the series 2-1 and will head to a visiting assignment in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Avril. The silver cue takes a twirl in 7-ball. Pacific's Twinkie I handled her business at the end of game 1, making a four-ball run-out after Pronger's Avril left the 4 standing. Twinkie I owns a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I had a couple of good turns in game 2, but the Tridents' Avril stepped in at the end with a three-ball run-out for the win. This tied the series at 1. Twinkie I continued to find some offense in game 3, but she left the 7 standing again, and Avril buried it at the bottom side for the win. Avril's 2-1 series win takes her into the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Panda. The green cue enters the action in 12-ball. Tysini's Charli took an early lead in game 1, but her late offense wasn't very productive. Everton's Panda had enough time to rally with a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead as his positioning served him better. The Hummingbirds' Charli played for the long run in game 2, taking solids early while sacrificing positioning. The Eagles' Panda got hung up on the sides at the end, and Charli stole the win to tie the series at 1. Charli started strong in game 3 as well, making a three-ball run off the break. Panda took too long on the setup and never got to finish, as Charli struck at the bottom right for a 2-1 series win that allows her to host in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Mams v. Gradley. The green cue remains in action for an Accuracy battle. A close battle in game 1 was decided on a scratch by Swordpoint's Mams right near the end. Boston's Gradley converted the last ball for a 2-3 win to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was very similar with both players engaging well on offense. The Swifts' Gradley was the one to falter just at the end this time, and the Blades' Mams stepped in to make the last ball for a 2-3 win that tied the series at 1. Mams and Gradley put on a show in game 3, battling back and forth throughout. Gradley just had an edge at the end to grab the 1-2 win for the 2-1 series win that sets him up to visit Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Dustin. More Accuracy sees the silver cue cycle in again. Some aggression from Central's Dustin left him overextended while Infinity's Shelley had just one mistake on a follow-through scratch. Shelley won 1-3 and took a 1-0 series lead. Things were a little closer in game 2, but the Warriors' Dustin suffered a miss on the final ball. The Torpedoes' Shelley deposited it to the bottom right for the 1-2 win to seal the series at 2-0. Both players were even after Shelley skidded in the middle of game 3. At the end, she played an intentional miss to give Dustin the 2-3 win. Shelley takes a 2-1 series win with her into a second round meeting with another Warrior, the newcomer Klaus.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Carly v. Panda. The new blue cue makes its debut in the middle of the action for 10-ball. After a brief standing ovation before the series, Westside's Carly looked like a seasoned veteran in game 1. She made a pair of three-ball runs to earn the win and 1-0 series lead over Everton's Panda. The Rockers' Carly had a bit more trouble getting things to go her way in game 2, but the Eagles' Panda picked up the slack and made a late pair for the win. This tied the series at 1. Carly had a fantastic time wrapping up game 3 after Panda didn't get much offense going. Carly made a six-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win, and she'll host again in the second round. After the series, both players agreed the new cue shot well, although there were some concerns about its breaking ability. This was Panda's 100th unique opponent.
Mitsubishi Arena, Apex: Cowzart v. Toki. The new blue cue continues in an 8-ball series, its last turn of the day. A close start opened up when Apex's Cowzart made a four-ball run before missing on the 8. Eastside's Toki replied with a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Wonders' Cowzart fire back with force while the Sharks' Toki struggled to get his offense going. Cowzart's early five-ball run and strong finish gave him the win to tie the series at 1. Toki took back the lead in game 3, striking early and often. Despite Cowzart's late attempt at defense, Toki won with a kick on the 8 at the bottom left, showing full confidence in the new cue. Toki took the series 2-1 and will host Tysini Hummingbirds captain Leandra in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Marissa. The green cue is back for Rotation. Oceanside's Celestia started well in game 1, but she couldn't keep it up. Maplewood's Marissa smashed a four-ball run-out at the end for an 8-5 win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Lumberjacks' Marissa couldn't find any offense. The Waves' Celestia struck first and then added a seven-ball run-out for the 8-0 win to tie the series at 1. Celestia kept going with a three-ball run off the break in game 3. Marissa tried to keep it close, but Celestia escaped with an 8-4 win despite a couple of errors. Celestia won the series 2-1 and will host Stonebridge Wolves newcomer Dewey in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Misty. North Division rivals battle in 12-ball for the red cue's only series of the day. North Modernistic's Gal was simply a bit faster on offense in game 1, and Westside's Misty likely came up a turn too slow. Gal holds a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal had a great start to game 2, but the Rockers' Misty quickly answered it. Gal then flubbed her attempt on the 10 at the bottom side and Misty worked a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Misty smashed down two solids and a stripe on the break in game 3. Gal tried to stay competitive, but she had no angle at the top side, and Misty earned the win at the top right for a 2-1 series win. Misty will visit Everton Eagles star Cleo in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Omari. A captain and a sophomore tangle in 8-ball with the green cue. Todavía's Easter had a strong start in game 1, but she couldn't do anything about Zenith's Omari unleashing a six-ball run-out for the comeback win. Omari holds the series lead at 1-0. The Skywatchers' Omari wanted to distribute his shots a little better in game 2, but once he freed them up, the Stills' Easter fired back on a four-ball run-out for the win. Easter tied the series at 1 while controlling play at the side pockets. Easter scratched on the break in game 3, but Omari failed to claim a suit. Easter then made a six-ball run that ended in illegal contact before sinking her final pair for the win to seal the series at 2-1. Easter will host again in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Sally. The green cue goes again in 12-ball. Eastside's Lily had a good start on stripes in game 1, and she kept up the pace later. Archtown's Sally made some moves, but Lily's lead was too much to overcome as the host went ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Lily made four stripes and two solids on the opening turn of game 2. Despite the help, the Arrows' Sally scratched on her lone shot, and Lily banked and kicked her last shots in for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Lily didn't get as good of a start in game 3, but she still kept things competitive until a late scratch. Sally made her last pair of shots with no trouble for her lone win, while Lily heads to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Fluffina. A West Division battle in 7-ball sees the silver cue exit the day. Victoria's Yekaterina wasted no time in making a four-ball run in game 1, but Infinity's Fluffina fired right back on a three-ball run-out for the win. Fluffina leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Fluffina kept the offense going with a pair on the break in game 2, and she ran the table after that to clinch the series at 2-0. Fluffina stretched her consecutive balls streak to 16 before missing the 7 twice at the end of game 3. The Spurs' Yekaterina stole the win at the bottom right to avoid the sweep, but Fluffina's 2-1 series win puts her in the second round versus Pronger Tridents veteran Avril.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Jennifer. Today's finale uses the green cue in 7-ball. Terrace City's Jennifer enjoyed a four-ball run in game 1, but she missed on the 7 at the end. Midland's Americus put it away at the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus had a stronger role on offense in game 2, making a five-ball run. She scuffed a shot on the 7, but the Knights' Jennifer also missed before Americus sank it for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Americus had to put in a little more effort in game 3, but she got the win to sweep Jennifer 3-0 in the series. Americus will host Queens Flames superstar Violetta in the second round. Jennifer will take only two bids forward into the second round.
I'll part with one last message today. When I first got the blue cue in 2011, it was my consolation prize for not getting a different stick that had been sold hours before I got to the store. I brought it in as a secondary option to the longstanding red cue, thus beginning the three or four year stretch of the Fire and Ice era. What quickly became clear was how good the blue cue was from the start, giving me a change of pace on my bad days. I played its original tip to the nub, even as the silver, purple and green cues eventually joined the collection. It was tough to watch a once-powerful cue slip into being fourth or even fifth best at times, though it's clear now why with the wear and tear of many competitive years eventually showing from inside to out. I'm proud to retire it now as a hero -- no breaks, only a couple of cracks and a decade of memories. Thank you for joining me on its journey, and I look forward to its replacement, the exact same model, giving me many more years of happiness. A rising tide lifts all boats, and so I wish for smooth sailing through this new change. We'll be back tomorrow.
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