We're cruising through the second round, hitting the one-third mark today. First up...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Lindsay. The silver cue opens the day in 8-ball in its lone series. Central's Noelle looked good for a stretch in game 1, but she couldn't finish it off as Stonebridge's Lindsay won on a three-ball run-out. Lindsay leads the series 1-0. The Wolves' Lindsay saw her momentum die with a scratch in game 2, and the Warriors' Noelle picked up a five-ball run-out starting from the kitchen. Noelle tied the series at 1 with this win. Both players had five-ball runs in game 3, but it was Lindsay who was able to close things out after Noelle missed on her last solid. Lindsay took the series 2-1 and will get a chance to host the Commerce Tradewinds captain Taylor S. in the bracket quarterfinals. This was Noelle's 100th unique opponent.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Rachel v. Sierra. The purple cue enters the action in Rotation. Both players had some momentum early in game 1, but Whitewater's Rachel took control later with an incredible double-pot. Todavía's Sierra pushed back a bit, only for Rachel to win 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra couldn't get her offense going in game 2, allowing the Shores' Rachel to run roughshod over her in an 8-0 shutout. Rachel sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. In game 3, Sierra returned to a more active role on offense, but she couldn't build a late run. Rachel scrapped for the 8-7 win to complete her 3-0 series sweep and earn her place in the bracket quarterfinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Debby. The blue cue steps in for 15-ball. Victoria's Strawberry had a slightly more composed offense in game 1, but both players had their chances at the 15 that lingered near pockets. Diamond's Debby slipped up late, and Strawberry made the final pair for a full-term win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 followed a similar pattern, with the 15 hanging around the bottom left but never collected in combination. The Gems' Debby lost her pace late, and the Spurs' Strawberry rattled off a five-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Debby had a four-ball run late in game 3, but she couldn't support it on later turns, and Strawberry cleaned up for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Strawberry is into the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Vincent v. Ellie. In 7-ball, the purple cue draws back into the action. Neither player was at their best in game 1, but Capital City's Ellie got on track with a late pair for the win to go ahead 1-0 over Everton's Vincent. Things did not get better in game 2, and the Sharpshooters' Ellie had basically nothing go for her this time. The Eagles' Vincent picked up this win on a three-ball run-out after a long struggle, tying the series at 1. Ellie brought game 3 to an early end with a 1-7 combination at the top left to end what could have been another long battle. Ellie beat Vincent 2-1 in the series to earn the right to visit Freedom Cascades newcomer Frosty in the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Dusky v. Mr. Snowman. The green cue takes a shot at 12-ball. Atlantic's Dusky made one of each on the game 1 break and took a four-ball run on stripes. Apex's Mr. Snowman got a pair back but Dusky answered with her last pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Dusky again jumped ahead after making one of each on the break and taking stripes with a five-ball run in game 2. She took it slow at the end and still easily beat the Wonders' Mr. Snowman to seal the series at 2-0. Dusky didn't have the same pop on her break in game 3, and Mr. Snowman finally stepped up on offense to challenge. He got the win with a three-ball run-out, although Dusky won the series 2-1 and will continue to host in the bracket quarterfinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Lorde. The red cue is up now for 15-ball. Lighton's Spirit had a three-ball run off the break and a five-ball run-out to finish game 1, leaving Southern's Lorde a solid but unhelpful share of offense in the middle. Spirit leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Spirit again had an explosive break in game 2, but she fell off the pace in the middle. The Monarchs' Lorde made a late four-ball run that ended in a scratch, but still collected the 15 after Spirit missed it twice. Lorde tied the series at 1. Lorde was trying to get creative in a much slower game 3, but she scratched on the 11 and sank the 15 on the same play to give away the win and 2-1 series to Spirit. This gives Spirit a visiting role in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Megan v. Andrew. The purple cue begins a longer run of 12-ball. Oceanside's Megan made a stripe on the break, but Freedom's Andrew answered with a five-ball run on his first turn. Andrew then won a turn later for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Andrew had a slower attack in game 2, as the Waves' Megan was quick to get down her last ball. Andrew played enough defense to stall her out, then used a four-ball run to pull even before making his last ball in the bottom left for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Megan got a freebie in the middle of game 3, but she couldn't get the rest of her offense lined up. Andrew easily won again, sweeping the series 3-0 to earn the right to host the Pronger Tridents' Potter in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Jack. Another purple cue series of 12-ball features the Black and Orange Derby. Terrace City's Oreo started hot in game 1, but she wasn't able to close it out. Web City's Jack made a three-ball run-out to finish off the comeback win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack looked completely lost after scratching on the break in game 2, allowing the Knights' Oreo to get onto her last ball. Oreo didn't scratch, but she couldn't tuck the 12 into the top right, and Jack rallied all the way back for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Oreo finally got to close out an effort in game 3, as Jack's positioning was too off-target to mount a comeback. Jack settled for a 2-1 series win to get him into a hosting position in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge; Roxy v. Wild Thing. The blue cue gets a turn in 12-ball here. Southridge's Roxy made one of each on the break and made her offense hold up on stripes. Web City's Wild Thing got within a ball of the finish before Roxy made the final pair for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy again sank one of each on the break, but it was the Spiders' Wild Thing who struck for a three-ball run on solids next. Roxy made a small reply, but Wild Thing buried a pair at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Wild Thing seemed to have the better start in game 3, but Roxy got better after her own scratch, making a three-ball run to apply pressure. Roxy was able to close it out for a 2-1 series win that sets her up for a South Division battle versus Boston Swifts newcomer Sydney S. in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Hughbert. The green cue is done for the day after this 12-ball series. Tysini's Charli committed two scratches in game 1, and that was enough to flip the result to Todavía's Hughbert, who won on a four-ball run-out. Hughbert owns a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli didn't have the right positioning to deal with the Stills' Hughbert late in game 2. Hughbert was able to be patient and win after Charli scratched, securing the series at 2-0. In game 3, Charli took a big lead, watched Hughbert erase it on a four-ball run, and then made her final ball just in time for the win. Hughbert took the series 2-1 to earn a place in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Charli. The visitor completes her personal doubleheader in Rotation with the red cue. Tysini's Charli built up a big lead, but Commerce's Solaris erased it with a four-ball run, then got ahead on a three-ball run. Charli fought back, but Solaris won 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. An even battle saw the players stay close for much of game 2. The Hummingbirds' Charli lost an edge at the end of the game, and Solaris closed her out with an 8-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Charli ran out of motivation about midway through game 3, and Solaris was there to pick up some scraps for an 8-4 win and 3-0 series sweep. Solaris will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Smokey v. Luigi. The red cue begins a day-ending stretch of Accuracy. Pacific's Smokey had a decent start, then crumbled in the middle of game 1. Commerce's Luigi missed on the last ball but held firm for a 2-3 win to go up 1-0 in the series. The Volcanoes' Smokey had to make the last ball in regulation to force overtime, and he did it, then put the Tradewinds' Luigi in trouble early. Smokey ended up with a 3-4 win to tie the series at 1. Smokey had a rough section in the middle of game 3, and that was enough to sink his series. Luigi was relentless in a 1-3 win to take the series 2-1, and he'll visit the Stonebridge Wolves' Hershey in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Esmeralda v. Vincent. The blue cue exits after this Accuracy set between East Division foes. Harrison's Esmeralda looked shaky early in game 1 with a scratch on the break, but she stabilized in the middle. Everton's Vincent then fell apart, allowing Esmeralda to snag a 2-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Vincent struggled too early and too often in game 2, making a desperate comeback chance at the end fall short. The Specters' Esmeralda faltered a bit but won 2-4 and secured the series at 2-0. Esmeralda held on again in a close game 3 battle that started slow. She got a 2-3 win for the 3-0 series sweep, which sends her into the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Quincy v. Mr. Snowman. The purple cue is ready to check out with Accuracy. Apex's Mr. Snowman looked to be pushing forward late in game 1, but a rattle-out at the bottom right put him behind. Modernistic's Quincy finished off a 2-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Union's Quincy had a decent effort in game 2, but he couldn't beat perfection from the Wonders' Mr. Snowman, who didn't miss in a 0-2 win to tie the series at 1. Mr. Snowman lost his chance to win in regulation, but a tense start to overtime saw Quincy miss three shots in to give Mr. Snowman a 4-5 win. Mr. Snowman will continue on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Porsche Events Center, Zenith: Blizzard v. Goatee. The red cue ends the day with Accuracy. A back-and-forth game saw Zenith's Blizzard scratch to drop into a tie, followed by a miss on the overtime break to allow Westside's Goatee a clear shot for the 4-5 win. Goatee leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Goatee took a bruising approach to game 2, twice making double-pots that induced misses from the Skywatchers' Blizzard. That made the difference as Goatee won 3-5 to seal the series at 2-0. Goatee didn't do as well in game 3, letting Blizzard pick up a 3-5 win to avoid the sweep. Goatee won the series 2-1 and will visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Fuchsia in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all for today. We should be done with heatwave pool at this point, leading to a somewhat normal schedule tomorrow.
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