We're ready to go with some more pool action today. The blue and green cues will sit out today. First up...
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Jack. A captains' battle in Rotation uses the purple cue to open things up. Southridge's Bianca had to push for a comeback after falling behind early in game 1. Bianca made five balls over her last two turns, only for Web City's Jack to make the 15 at the bottom right for the 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca had a productive start in game 2, but the Spiders' Jack rallied to take the lead. A slow finish saw Jack crawl to an 8-4 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Bianca played with more urgency in game 3, especially after Jack made a pair on the break. Bianca surged with a five-ball run and added a three-ball run-out quickly for an 8-2 win to get on the board, but she still trails 2-1 in the series. It didn't take long for Jack to bounce back, splitting the first half of game 4 with Bianca. Jack then rallied on a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to clinch the series at 3-1. Jack chose violence in game 5, weathering a lot of offense from Bianca early on before firing back on a six-ball run-out for the 8-7 win to take a 4-1 series win. Jack's late surge was met with boos from the frustrated home fans, but he'll still go on to the bracket semifinals with his first kill of the year in tow. Bianca is the 25th player eliminated this year.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Rocky v. Molly. The red cue enters the action with Accuracy. Oceanside's Rocky had a good game 1, but he missed late and then scratched on a positioning attempt. Southern's Molly held firm for a 1-2 win to get a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Molly fell apart after a scratch on the break in game 2, fading late as the Waves' Rocky went relatively unchallenged for a 1-4 win. This tied the series at 1. Molly played a little loose in game 3, but it was her errors near the end that caused her the most trouble. Rocky also had scratching problems, but he settled down late to grab a 4-5 win that put him ahead 2-1 in the series. Molly regretted her early scratch in game 4, as a late miss ended up being the difference this time. Rocky was sharp again to earn a 1-2 win, and he sealed the series at 3-1. Rocky didn't have his best in game 5, and he let it get away at the end as Molly grabbed a 2-3 win. Rocky's 3-2 series win sends him into the bracket semifinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Ingrid. The silver cue also gets a look in Accuracy. Southern's Pounce led for much of game 1, but he fell apart at the end. Southridge's Ingrid stabilized on offense to earn a 3-4 win that put her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Ingrid was a little shaky at the end of game 2, but she was again able to hold onto a lead for a 2-3 win to extend her series lead to 2-0 over the Monarchs' Pounce. In game 3, Pounce wanted to play with some urgency, but he faltered early and late. That was enough for Ingrid to lock in for a 1-3 win that clinched the series in her favor at 3-0. Pounce had another unimpressive start in game 4, and Ingrid made him pay for it with a 1-3 win this time stretch her lead to 4-0 in the series. It took until deep into overtime, but Ingrid was eventually able to secure a 4-5 win over Pounce to sweep the series 5-0. Ingrid will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Snuggle v. Lorde. The red cue cycles in for this 13-ball set. Southern's Lorde had a decent start to game 1, but Harrison's Snuggle pulled ahead soon after. Snuggle then banked the 5 to the top side, spin-kicked the 6 into the top right and cut the 8 to the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead on an impressive closing run. The Monarchs' Lorde navigated game 2 better than the Specters' Snuggle, as the 8 near the bottom left slowed the contest. At the end, Lorde gambled on a needle-threading shot that clipped illegal contact off the 11 and sank the 8, gifting the win to the Snuggle, who now leads the series 2-0. Lorde again had the lead after starting on a five-ball run in game 3, but she couldn't get her last ball down quickly. Snuggle pressured, and Lorde scratched as she made the 8 to give away the series at 3-0. Lorde finally cashed in a big win in game 4 after Snuggle managed to make just one ball. Lorde took her time but sank the 8 at the bottom left to get on the board while trailing 3-1 in the series. After a terrible break and slow start in game 5, Snuggle launched the cue into a cluster, sending it high off the table while sinking the 8 to gift another win to Lorde. Snuggle won the series 3-2 and will play on the road in the bracket semifinals. Snuggle also earned his first kill of the year to make Lorde the 26th eliminated player.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Goatee. North Division rivals tangle in 15-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Goatee had a nice run near the end of game 1, but Whitewater's Shaggy made sure her previous four-ball run had meaning when she banked the 15 to the bottom right for the win. Shaggy leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy couldn't get a grip on the offense late in game 2 as the Rockers' Goatee made runs of three, five and three balls to earn the win. Goatee's surge tied the series at 1. Goatee delivered an early finish after a slower start in game 3. Shaggy tried to get creative on the 6, but Goatee double-potted the 6 on a two-rail bank to the bottom right with a carom to get the 15 at the bottom side for the 2-1 series lead. Goatee scratched on the break in game 4, and she never really got back on track. Shaggy brought a quick finish with her cut on the 5 to the top side turning into a double-pot as she collected the 15 to the top left on the carom. Shaggy's win tied the series again at 2. Shaggy was alright early in game 5, but Goatee took over with a five-ball run, and she won a turn later on a 13-15 combination to the bottom left. Goatee took the series 3-2 and will play on the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Frosty v. Ellie. The purple cue exits the day after 7-ball. Freedom's Frosty opened game 1 on a four-ball run, but her luck soon ran out. Capital City's Ellie fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Ellie even surprised herself with her break shot in game 2, sinking the 7 on a rocket to the top side to extend her lead to 2-0 in the series. The Cascades' Frosty nearly enjoyed a role-reversal from game 1 in game 3 after Ellie missed the 5 to end a four-ball run. Frosty made the last three balls, but scratched as she sank the 7 to gift the win and the 3-0 series lead to Ellie. Frosty finally got on the board with a three-ball run-out in game 4, but she missed an earlier 1-7 combination after Ellie had scratched on the break. Ellie remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Frosty looked lost at the table in game 5, and Ellie was able to snag the win with a pair of shots at the end to complete a 4-1 series win. Ellie will visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Blaze in the bracket semifinals for a West Division battle.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Roxy. The red cue gets a look in Rotation. Everton's Goldy smashed in a five-ball run off the break, taking immediate control in game 1. Southridge's Roxy mustered little in the way of a comeback, allowing Goldy to win 8-1 for the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy had another stellar start on a six-ball run, and the Defenders' Roxy failed to get on the board in game 2. Goldy won 8-0 and moved ahead 2-0 in the series. Roxy finally put up a fight in game 3, but she couldn't recover from Goldy sinking a four-ball run over the middle to take control. Goldy won 8-6 and secured the series at 3-0. Goldy surged again early in game 4, only to drop off a bit near the end. Roxy attempted a comeback but fell short, as Goldy won 8-6 again to stretch her series lead to 4-0. Goldy completed the sweep in game 5, taking another 8-6 win as Roxy simply fell flat once more at the end. Goldy will host her appearance in the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Carly. More Rotation with the red cue sees a captain host a rookie. Todavía's Easter played a solid game 1, but Westside's Carly picked up the 8-6 win thanks to steady play throughout rather than bursts of offense. Carly leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter was not as good in game 2, too slow on offense especially after she fell distinctly behind. The Rockers' Carly guided the offense to an 8-4 win that put her up 2-0 in the series. Easter took a brutal missed contact late in game 3, and Carly capitalized on it with a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for an 8-7 win. Carly clinched the series at 3-0 in a somewhat surprising upset. Easter finally got on the board, playing some of her best pool of the series in game 4. Easter was able to finish off an 8-4 win over Carly to cut the series deficit to 3-1. After a very long battle, Carly emerged with an 8-6 win in game 5 to finish a 4-1 series win over Easter. Carly will face a North Division rival in the bracket semifinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Autumn v. Anna. The silver cue ends the day in 10-ball. Diamond's Autumn smashed a six-ball run early that ended with an uncalled potting of the 8. Terrace City's Anna couldn't reply, and Autumn made a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Autumn had more of the offense in a slower game 2, but she suffered a brutal miss on the 10 near the end. The Knights' Anna tapped it down at the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Anna made a three-ball run off the break and then went quiet. Autumn took over near the end and snagged the 10 at the top side for the win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Anna tried to add pace to her shots in game 4, but it ended up leading to a shakier offense overall. Her late run failed on the 9, and Autumn buried a pair for the win to seal the series at 3-1. Autumn couldn't grab another win in game 5, as Anna closed with a three-ball run-out. Autumn's 3-2 series win is enough for her to host again in the bracket semifinals.
That was a slog of a day, so the league will hope for higher quality play tomorrow.
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