We're back for a regularly scheduled full day. Leading things off...
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Twinkie II. The red cue makes the start today in 15-ball. Diamond's Leonardo had a solid performance in game 1, but he couldn't finish it off with a miss on the 15 at the bottom side. Harrison's Twinkie II tapped down the winning shot for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II made a six-ball run in game 2, but she struggled after that. Lucky for her, the Gems' Leonardo flubbed his look at the 15, and Twinkie II banked it to the top right for the win to go up 2-0 in the series. Twinkie II had a chance to secure the series after Leonardo fouled on the 15 in game 3, but Twinkie II scratched as she made the last shot. Leonardo stays alive with a gifted win to get him back to a 2-1 deficit in the series. Leonardo capitalized on an earlier foul in game 4 as Twinkie II scratched while aiming on the 2. Leonardo made the 2-15 combination from ball-in-hand to tie the series at 2. Twinkie II unleashed a seven-ball run early in game 5, but she failed to back it up. Leonardo answered later with an 11-15 kick combination to the top side for the win and 3-2 series win to get into the bracket semifinals in a hosting position.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Tigerette v. Noelle. Two tough opponents meet in 9-ball for the purple cue's only series today. Central's Noelle had a five-ball run early in game 1, but Boston's Tigerette ended up with the win on a perfect bank of the 9 to the bottom right. Tigerette owns a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Tigerette left significantly less doubt in game 2, finding the sweet spot on the break to get the 9 down at the bottom left for a 2-0 series lead over the Warriors' Noelle. In game 3, Noelle reestablished herself as the better player so far from open play, controlling most of the offense and taking the 9 at the bottom right to get a win. Tigerette remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Noelle doubled down in game 4, making the 9 on the break to the bottom left just as Tigerette did in game 2. The series is now tied at 2. Noelle completed the reverse-sweep in game 5, weathering a seven-ball run by Tigerette to pick up the final pair of shots. Noelle took the series 3-2 and will visit the Stonebridge Wolves' Hershey in the bracket semifinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Lily. The red cue is back for this 9-ball set. North Modernistic's Peach immediately took a 1-0 series lead by winning game 1 on the break as the sweet-spot shooting strategy takes hold league-wide. Eastside's Lily had a decent look early in game 2, but the Nighthawks' Peach retook control and won on a four-ball run-out in the end. Peach holds a 2-0 series lead. The Sharks' Lily finally took over the offense in game 3, making a six-ball run-out that ended with a 5-9 bank combination to the top left after a stalled-out attack from Peach, who remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Peach made a great push in game 4 with a six-ball run, but her miss on the 7 proved costly. Lily fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 2. Lily scratched on the break in game 5, but she bounced back well in an exciting battle. Peach couldn't close it out on the 9, and Lily picked up the win for a 3-2 series win and the day's third reverse-sweep. Lily will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Patches v. Kelsea. The red cue gets another turn in 13-ball. Oceanside's Patches made one of each on the break and chose solids to spark a four-ball run. Capital City's Kelsea failed to make a shot of her own as Patches cruised to a win and 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Patches had a strong start to game 2, but she never got a chance to finish it off. The Sharpshooters' Kelsea was much more formidable on offense this time, earning the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Kelsea wasted no time on solids from the start, and Patches took a penalty for an overfill. Kelsea had some difficulty on the 8, but she had enough time to collect the win for a 2-1 series lead. Kelsea struck again in game 4, taking some time to get started before winning a tight battle against Patches at the end. Kelsea secured the series at 3-1 with the win. Kelsea made two solids and a stripe on the game 5 break. She chose to play solids and again just outpaced Patches at the end for a win. Kelsea is off to the bracket semifinals on the strength of a 4-1 series win.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Bear. The silver cue's only appearance today is in 8-ball. Pronger's Avril made a six-ball run before scratching on the opening turn. Commerce's Bear put in a great effort to catch up, only to miss on the 8. That allowed Avril to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Avril went empty on the game 2 break, allowing the Tradewinds' Bear to establish his offense first. Bear was a little unsteady later on, but he held on for the win to tie the series at 1. Momentum swung back to Avril early in game 3 as she made a run on solids, but she went for a bold combination play and ended up sinking the 8 prematurely instead. This gifted a win and the 2-1 series lead to Bear in a jarring change to the landscape of the series. Avril bounced right back in game 4, needing just two turns to collect the win on a five-ball run-out with a bank on the 8 to the top side. Bear could only watch as he was shut out, with Avril tying the series at 2 in the process. Avril kept up the momentum in game 5, rallying quickly for a six-ball run before making a pair for Bear. The visitor couldn't answer her, and Avril closed out the win for a 3-2 series win to earn the right to visit Boston Swifts newcomer Tigerette in the bracket semifinals. Avril has her first kill of the year to make Bear the 34th eliminated player.
Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Celestia. A North Division showdown is set for 15-ball with the green cue. Oceanside's Celestia had chances to win game 1 early, but she took it to full-term when she made the 15 at the bottom side after Viewpoint Sound's Princess sputtered late. Celestia owns a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia had some good moments again in game 2, but she was the one to make a mistake near the end. The Meteors' Princess got redemption by sinking the 15 to the top left for the win, tying the series at 1 after a close battle. Princess found a groove at the end of game 3 after another tight battle with Celestia. Princess rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Princess again found a surge late in game 4, rallying for another four-ball run-out after Celestia couldn't get herself back on track. Princess clinched the series at 3-1. Princess eventually rallied again in game 5, winning on a seven-ball run-out after a gritty battle. Princess won the series 4-1 over Celestia to earn a road position in the bracket semifinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Ruby. The red cue exits after a 10-ball series. Royal's Brownie had some offense early in game 1 but couldn't settle it down, allowing Todavía's Ruby to bury a three-ball run-out for the win. Ruby holds a 1-0 series lead. Neither player looked very convincing in game 2, but the Crowns' Brownie was able to tough it out with a pair of shots at the end for the win over the Stills' Ruby. The series is tied at 1. In game 3, Ruby had a little better play. Brownie tried to keep pace, but Ruby made the three-ball run-out in the end to grab the win and retake the series lead at 2-1. Pace once again favored Ruby, as Brownie couldn't capitalize on a couple of looks at the 10. Ruby then charged with a four-ball run-out this time to get the win and secure the series at 3-1. Ruby made it a quick finish in game 5, sinking a 5-10 combination to the bottom left after sniping the 4 at the top right. She won the series 4-1 over Brownie, and Ruby's road run continues into the bracket semifinals. This was these two players' sixth career meeting, tying a Tournament record.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Ellie. Club-mates are ready to battle in 13-ball for the blue cue's lone series of the day. Neither player was able to get much going on offense, but Tysini's Charli had a brutal foul contact late in game 1 that helped Capital City's Ellie move toward the win. The Sharpshooters' Ellie made one of each and scratched on the game 2 break. She chose stripes, but the Hummingbirds' Charli found more success on solids, although a favorable refereeing decision helped her get the win to tie the series at 1. Charli fell off the pace again in game 3, scratching twice to fall behind. Ellie was much more precise even with questionable positioning, which worked to earn her a win for the 2-1 series lead. Ellie had an explosive break in game 4, but she stalled out on her last stripes. A ball-in-hand situations allowed Charli to win on a four-ball run-out to retie the series at 2. Ellie did everything right until her last ball in game 5, falling short there as it just wouldn't line up at the bottom right. Charli rallied from way back to get the win and 3-2 series win, which puts her in the bracket semifinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Greg. The finale today is in 13-ball with the green cue. Good starts and bad finishes were mirror-images on both sides, and game 1 ended with Archtown's Greg scratching as he made the 8. This gifted the 1-0 series lead to Capital City's Sprinkles after she squandered the chance to earn it. The Arrows' Greg had a solid performance in game 2, nearly using a strategic scratch perfectly. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles got a little lucky when Greg rattled the 8 out of the bottom right, allowing her to sink a pair for the win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Greg finally applied the right finish in game 3, holding off Sprinkles through defensive positioning before he struck for his win. Greg cut the deficit to 2-1. Greg surged to a lead in game 4, which allowed him to make as many solids as Sprinkles did in the game. Greg fought off any lingering danger with a smashing shot on the 8 to the top right to tie the series at 2. Game 5 turned into a race, and Greg got down to the right side of the table much faster than Sprinkles. Greg made that lead stand for the win and 3-2 series win, capping off the day with another reverse sweep. Greg will be on the road in the bracket semifinals. Greg took his first kill in a do-or-die series, with Sprinkles the 35th player out.
We'll play again tomorrow, hopefully under better timing.
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