We're getting onto the home stretch of the Second Round. Leading off...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Sugar. The red cue starts the day in 13-ball between West Division rivals. Swordpoint's Dreamy had a better start in game 1, and she was able to turn that into a win at the end after Tysini's Sugar couldn't make her last ball. Dreamy leads the series 1-0. The Blades' Dreamy didn't have the most composure in game 2, but she got a little lucky late with positioning after the Hummingbirds' Sugar failed to ignite a run. Dreamy made her last stripe and the 8 to the bottom side for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sugar had her best attack, but she wasn't able to finish it off. Dreamy won with a three-ball run-out instead to make it a 3-0 series sweep that takes her into the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Bells. The green cue is up for 9-ball. Zenith's Bells made a four-ball run early in game 1 and added a three-ball run-out after Capital City's Sprinkles couldn't make a 5-9 combination to the bottom left. Bells leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles couldn't get much going in game 2, missing a bank on the 4 that led to the Skywatchers' Bells burying the 4-9 combination to the bottom left for the win. Bells sealed the series at 2-0. In game 3, Bells made the 9 to the bottom left on the break for the instant win and 3-0 series sweep. She'll visit the Stonebridge Wolves' Jane in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mitsubishi Arena, Apex: Mr. Snowman v. Twinkie II. The red cue is back for a 15-ball series. Apex's Mr. Snowman couldn't control the offense in game 1, as Harrison's Twinkie II took over in the middle and won at the end with the final pair for the 1-0 series lead. The Wonders' Mr. Snowman had a choppy effort in game 2, and a scratch near the end allowed the Specters' Twinkie II to pot a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Twinkie II open with a four-ball run, and she continued to pace play after that. Mr. Snowman had a chance to win at the end but missed the 15 on a simple shot, and Twinkie II wound up sweeping the series 3-0 to get into the bracket quarterfinals.
Mitsubishi Arena, Apex: Midnight v. Acorn. A captains' battle in 7-ball with the green cue ends a venue doubleheader. Lighton's Acorn made quick work of game 1, burying a deflection off the 3 to sink the 7 at the top left on his second turn. He leads Apex's Midnight 1-0 after the host failed to make a 3-7 combination. The Prestige's Acorn wasn't as sharp in game 2, as the Wonders' Midnight picked up a four-ball run before missing on the 5. Acorn then made a pair at the end this time, earning the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Acorn made it a quick finish in game 3 by sinking the 7 on the break in the bottom right, sweeping Midnight 3-0. Acorn will host Westside Rockers captain Misty in a top series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Blizzard. The blue cue enters the action in Rotation. Zenith's Blizzard took the initial lead in game 1, but Whitewater's Katharine pulled ahead on a four-ball run and then made a pair later to take an 8-5 win. Katharine is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Skywatchers' Blizzard was undeterred in game 2, taking another early lead, only to watch it fall apart in the middle. The Shores' Katharine again staged a comeback and picked up an 8-5 win to secure the series at 2-0. Blizzard never really got going in game 3 as Katharine dominated fully in an 8-3 win for the 3-0 series sweep. Katharine will host Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy in the bracket quarterfinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Cobalt. The silver cue's lone series today is in 9-ball. Game 1 was a close battle, as Victoria's Strawberry put up a solid fight only for Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt to sink a pair at the end for the win. Cobalt leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Cobalt needed just three shots to win game 2, burying the 8 on the break, sending the 1 to the top left and then deflecting off the 2 to get the 9 at the bottom left. This sealed the series in Cobalt's favor at 2-0. Cobalt couldn't get a look at the 9 despite putting it near the bottom left on the break in game 3. Strawberry eventually put it away with a 4-9 combination to get the win and break up a run of sweeps. Cobalt took a 2-1 series win and will visit the Eastside Sharks' Maison in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Spirit. The green cue is up for a Rotation set. Pearl's Boots had a hot start in game 1, but Lighton's Spirit closed the gap well to make it interesting in the end. Boots ended up winning 8-6 to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit had a massive surge through the middle of game 2, but her offense ended with a miss on the 13. The Surfers' Boots recovered just in time to earn another 8-6 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Boots trailed for a noticeable portion of game 3, but she made a four-ball run-out at the end for an 8-5 win to sweep Spirit 3-0 in the series. Boots will host the Harrison Specters' Snuggle in the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Sunshine. The blue cue takes a turn in Accuracy. Atlantic's Steven scratched on the break and missed on the last ball. Those mistakes made it a little easier for Royal's Sunshine to grab a 2-3 win for the 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Crowns' Sunshine somehow managed to keep himself perfect in game 2, winning by a 0-3 score as the Pirates' Steven was good but a little unsteady. Sunshine secured the series at 2-0 with this win. Sunshine fell apart in game 3, although Steven was hardly better. At the end, Sunshine broke the tie on the last ball in regulation with his sporting miss, and Steven won 5-6 to get his lone win. Sunshine took the series 2-1 and will visit the Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Neopolitan. North Division foes battle in 9-ball for the purple cue's lone series today. Pearl's Neopolitan was threatening early in game 1, but Whitewater's Marsell managed to win on a three-ball run-out that ended with a kick on the 9 to the bottom side. Marsell holds a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell dispatched the Surfers' Neopolitan quickly in game 2, as the host buried the 9 to the bottom left on the break to seal the series at 2-0. Marsell couldn't quite repeat the effort in game 3, and he poked the 9 away from the bottom left before Neopolitan had a shot. This led to a balanced battle, and Neopolitan made the 9 at the top side for the win. Marsell won the series 2-1 and will visit the Westside Rockers' Goatee in the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Ms. Kitty. A big series in 8-ball uses the red cue. Capital City's Chris took solids at the start, but he couldn't piece together a large run. Pacific's Ms. Kitty was choppy as well, but her offense was fast enough to earn the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Chris suffered a tough fate in game 2, as he had a couple of scratches that slowed him down but he still got a look at the 8. He missed that shot to the top left, and the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty rallied for the win on a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Ms. Kitty got a little lucky to win game 3 on a five-ball run-out, as she nearly made the 8 illegally, and Chris ended up getting swept 3-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty will visit Queens Flames veteran Pauline in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gizmo v. Hughbert. More 8-ball uses the green cue. Todavía's Hughbert had a solid start in game 1, but a scratch slowed his pace to a crawl. North Modernistic's Gizmo wasn't able to take advantage of it, and Hughbert took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gizmo was strong early in game 2, although the Stills' Hughbert got close late on a four-ball run before missing on the 8. Gizmo then made a pair for the win to tie the series at 1. Hughbert surged with a four-ball run in game 3, and Gizmo had to scrap with him for a bit late in the game. Hughbert then made the 8 at the top side to take a 2-1 series win and earn the right to visit the Archtown Arrows' Cubby in the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Dewey v. Rosalina. The blue cue cycles in for 13-ball. Victoria's Rosalina got off to a positive start, and Stonebridge's Dewey spent a lot of time catching up in game 1. Rosalina had just enough to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead right after Dewey pulled even. The Spurs' Rosalina made a pair of stripes on the break in game 2, and she held the lead the rest of the way. The Wolves' Dewey made some progress, but Rosalina's defense allowed her to cruise to the win that clinched the series at 2-0. In game 3, Rosalina continued to pace things on offense, and Dewey helped her out by making her last ball. Rosalina then put the 8 in the bottom side for the win and 3-0 series sweep, earning her a trip to Maplewood to face Lumberjacks captain Diddley in the bracket quarterfinals.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Buddy. The blue cue exits the day after this 8-ball series. Whitewater's Shaggy started behind with an early scratch, and Atlantic's Buddy was strong on offense but eventually slowed down. Shaggy then struck a four-ball run-out to come from behind for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy pulled off a more daring escape in game 2, as the Pirates' Buddy again got onto the 8 and missed it. Shaggy then rallied with a six-ball run-out for the win, sealing the series at 2-0 in exciting fashion. In game 3, it was Buddy who made a nice comeback with a six-ball run-out to get on the board and deny Shaggy the sweep. Shaggy still won the series 2-1 and will host the Central Warriors' Klaus in the bracket quarterfinals. Buddy is the 10th player eliminated this year, and Shaggy has her first kill.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Nibbles. The host's second series today is the last for the red cue, playing 9-ball. Web City's Nibbles made an impact early in game 1 with a four-ball run, but Lighton's Acorn was there to close it out on a three-ball run-out after nearly getting the 9 on the break. Acorn leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Nibbles had plenty of chances to strike for a more impressive result in game 2, but a choppy battle ended with the Prestige's Acorn mopping up the 9 at the top left. Acorn secured the series at 2-0. Acorn wasn't able to finish it off in game 3, and Nibbles buried a three-ball run-out for his lone win. Acorn took the series 2-1 and will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Rainmane. The green cue closes the day with 10-ball. Southern's Pounce had some momentum with a four-ball run near the end of game 1, but he chunked his attempt on the 10. Midland's Rainmane put it away at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce had more trouble igniting his offense in game 2, and this led to a choppy battle. The Predators' Rainmane prevailed with a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Rainmane ended it early in game 3 with a 4-10 combination to the top left after more shaky shooting from Pounce. Rainmane swept the series 3-0 and will play on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
While pace wasn't great today, the job was done. We'll continue tomorrow with potentially looser timing and scheduling.
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