Today, we end the Bracket Semifinals on our new midweek earlier schedule. First up...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Dusty. The red cue is up for 8-ball to open the day. Pacific's Ms. Kitty set a quick pace in game 1 with a four-ball run, then added a three-ball run before Golden's Dusty made a four-ball run. Ms. Kitty won on her third turn by putting the 8 in the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty was fairly solid in game 2, although her pace dropped from before. At the end, she missed on the 8, and the Pilots' Dusty fired off a three-ball run-out to earn the win to tie the series at 1. Ms. Kitty took the lead early in game 3 as well, and Dusty rallied on a five-ball run to get back to even. Ms. Kitty then made a pair of shots for the win to give her a 2-1 series lead. Ms. Kitty was strong in game 4, although Dusty enjoyed a bit more early offense this time. Ms. Kitty wasn't fazed, battling back to win on a four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-1. In game 5, both players struggled somewhat on offense, and Dusty made Ms. Kitty's last ball before she took the 8 herself. Ms. Kitty won the series 4-1 and will host her Volcanoes teammate Smokey in the bracket finals, guaranteeing a Pacific representative in the Finals. Ms. Kitty took her fourth kill of the year to make Dusty the 112th eliminated player.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Snowball. The purple cue's last series of the round is in 10-ball. Terrace City's Kiwi held control for most of game 1, but Westside's Snowball still got a look at the 10. She scratched as she made it, allowing Kiwi to take it for free to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi was a little less sharp on offense in game 2, but the Rockers' Snowball couldn't take advantage of it after a late miss. Kiwi finished with a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Kiwi had some solid plays in game 3, but she missed her chance on the 10. Snowball had scratched before that, but she sniped the 10 to the top left for the win, cutting Kiwi's series lead to 2-1. Kiwi faltered again in game 4, lacking the finishing touch needed to finish things off. Snowball buried the 10 at the top left to collect the win and tie the series at 2. Snowball came up big in game 5 as Kiwi couldn't finish another battle. Snowball made a five-ball run-out for the win and 3-2 series win, which sets her up to visit Todavía Stills veteran Pedey in the bracket finals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Tigerette v. Avril. The silver cue draws in for an 8-ball series. Boston's Tigerette had the better of play and held on for a win in game 1 over Pronger's Avril in a slow battle. Tigerette leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Tigerette was unrelenting in game 2, making a six-ball run off the break. The Tridents' Avril took just one shot, sinking the 8 illegally to gift the win to Tigerette, who now leads the series 2-0. Tigerette had a little more trouble in game 3 as Avril played some defense near the end. Tigerette solved that problem with a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 3-0. Tigerette again controlled the offense in game 4, but she sank the 8 in an uncalled pocket at the end to gift the win to Avril. Tigerette remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Avril jumped out to a lead in game 5 and made it stick for another win, leaving Tigerette with a 3-2 series win. Tigerette will host South Division rival and Royal Crowns sophomore Sunshine in the bracket finals. Tigerette earned her first kill to make Avril the 113th player out of the Tournament.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Frosty. The blue cue is in the mix with 15-ball. Freedom's Frosty set the tone right away in game 1, banking the 2 into a cluster to jar the 15 loose into the bottom left for a stunningly quick win over Victoria's Strawberry. Frosty leads the series 1-0. The Cascades' Frosty didn't repeat the effort in a choppier game 2 battle. In the end, the Spurs' Strawberry loosened up to make a five-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Frosty had most of the offense early in game 3, but she couldn't bring it home late. Strawberry rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Frosty played pretty well throughout game 4, burying another five-ball run late before a miss on the 15. Strawberry iced it at the bottom right for the win and 3-1 series lead to secure her advancement. Strawberry kept the surge going in game 5 with a five-ball run-out to earn the win and a 4-1 series win over Frosty. Strawberry will visit club-mate and Pearl Surfers co-captain Watermelon in the bracket finals. Strawberry is up to two kills and Frosty is the 114th eliminated player, while the Cascades are the second team fully eliminated.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Sugar. The red cue cycles in for a 10-ball series. Tysini's Sugar made a rare choice in game 1, deferring possession on the 10 after Royal's Sunshine sank it in an uncalled pocket. Sunshine immediately cut it to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead, capping off an eight-ball run-out. The Hummingbirds' Sugar got more involved in game 2, but both players missed bank attempts on the 10, and Sugar's left it near the top right. The Crowns' Sunshine won on a tap-in to extend his series lead to 2-0. Sugar was unlucky in game 3, unleashing a seven-ball run only to miss contact in her attempt on the 10. Sunshine cut it to the bottom left for a cheap win that secured the series for him at 3-0. Sunshine slipped up at the end of a challenging game 4, allowing Sugar to sink the 10 at the bottom left for her first win. Sunshine remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Sugar collected another win late in game 5 with a pair of shots, banking the 10 to the bottom right to leave Sunshine with just a 3-2 series win. Sunshine will host club-mate and Todavía Stills star Ruby in the bracket finals. Sunshine is up to three kills and Sugar is the 115th player out of action.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Roxy v. Violetta. The blue cue exits after this 12-ball series. Southridge's Roxy started well in game 1, and she rode through the defense of Queens' Violetta. In the end, Roxy buried a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Roxy had another strong start in game 2, but the Flames' Violetta held firmer on defense this time around. Violetta quickly switched to offense at the end to win on a three-ball run-out after stalling Roxy's offense. The series is tied at 1. Violetta was reluctant to attack Roxy's defense until late in game 3, and by then it was too late, as Roxy easily made her last ball after that to earn the win and 2-1 series lead. Violetta immediately retook momentum in game 4 with a five-ball run. Roxy's hopes of fighting back ended with a scratch, and Violetta sank a shot to the bottom left for the win to retie the series at 2. Violetta scratched on the break but maintained a lead anyway, and she was faster to finish than Roxy. Violetta took the series 3-2 and will visit the Apex Wonders' Cowzart in the bracket finals.
Sony Center, Queens: Briana v. Blaze. The silver cue is done after a 15-ball series. Queens' Briana had some pop from the break in game 1, then backed it up with a three-ball run-out in the end after Infinity's Blaze saw some freedom to shoot in the middle. Briana leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Blaze played well in game 2, but he faltered on a couple of late shots that allowed the Flames' Briana to pull herself back into competition. Briana won with a tap-in on the 15 at the top side to go up 2-0 in the series. Neither player had much consistency to speak of in game 3, leading to a choppy and slow battle. At the end, Blaze made the 15 to the top left on his second attempt, getting on the board though Briana still leads the series 2-1. Blaze made a four-ball run late in game 4, but he missed on the 15 and Briana sank it at the bottom right for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Blaze tried to get creative late in game 5, but he ended up illegally sinking the 15 to gift another win to Briana, who took the series 4-1. Briana will visit Boston Swifts captain Sweetheart in a South Division showdown for the bracket finals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Shadow. Today's marquee series is in 9-ball with the green cue. Southern's Pounce scratched on the break in game 1, and Diamond's Shadow quickly replied with a 2-9 bank combination to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow remained strong in game 2, making a pair off the break and closing with a three-ball run-out after some halfhearted challenges from the Monarchs' Pounce. Shadow leads the series 2-0. Shadow began game 3 with a three-ball run and continued to look threatening until he missed contact on the 9 while attempting a cut. Pounce converted his ball-in-hand play for the win to trim Shadow's series lead down to 2-1. Shadow bounced back well in game 4, steady on offense and confident after Pounce couldn't keep control. Shadow won on a four-ball run-out, securing the series for himself at 3-1. Pounce fouled early in game 5 and Shadow showed no mercy, smashing a 1-9 combination to the bottom left for the win and 4-1 series win. Shadow will be on the road again in the bracket finals against the Stonebridge Wolves' Jane. Shadow joined the league lead with four kills, and Pounce is the 116th eliminated player.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Panda v. Sparkles. Club-mates battle in 15-ball with the red cue to end the round. Everton's Panda scratched after making a pair on the game 1 break, but he still outplayed Golden's Sparkles the rest of the way. Panda won with a pair and went ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Sparkles looked like much more of a threat in the middle of game 2, but the Eagles' Panda neutralized that with a five-ball run-out for the win. Panda leads the series 2-0. Panda nearly made a 2-6-15 combination to the top left and bottom left on the carom in game 3, but neither play fell. Sparkles then cut a 2-15 combination to the bottom left for the quick win, cutting Panda's series lead to 2-1. Sparkles continued to push on offense, but a few too many scratches slowed her down in game 4. Panda capitalized late, making a four-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 3-1. In game 5, Panda had some nice shots, but Sparkles double-potted the 6 and 15 at the top left to get the win. Panda won the series 3-2 and will host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the bracket finals in an East Division matchup. Panda took his first kill to make Sparkles the 117th player eliminated overall and the last to exit in the Bracket Semifinals.
That's it for the Bracket Semifinals. We're taking a two-day administrative and rest break to make sure all remaining participants are at their best heading into the Bracket Finals, which begin Friday. Keep an eye on @UnitedPCL on Twitter for the end-of-round standings update and the next round's schedule.
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