UPCL Cricket - Week 5 Part 3

We're back to close out week 5 in this post, beginning with...

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Oceanic Derby starts this year with the Pirates riding high against an inconsistent Volcanoes side. Starlight slapped her way to 518 for Pacific, a very confident start for the visitors. Delila had some early struggles for Atlantic, but settled in to provide 354 for their first attack. Ms. Kitty hit 448 in response for the Volcanoes, keeping their lead steady. Isabella's double hit play ended up costing her the rest of her turn, as she was taken down at 290 when the ball went out-of-bounds, and the Pirates lost a bit of ground. Leonette responded with a strong 511 for Pacific, extending their lead once again in a big moment in the game. Americus opted to go for an optional replay after a technical error, but she lost points on the replay and had only 117 for Atlantic. Chicky Phil added 384 for the Volcanoes, bringing them to a final of 1861, their best road output of the year. Klaus tried a rally for the Pirates, producing 641 in a good turn, but they still took the loss with 1402. Pacific improves to 7-5 with the rivalry win, while Atlantic is down to 5-2.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves look to continue their hot streak in the third of seven straight home games, while the Blades kick off a three-game road trip. Snowball started with 459 for Swordpoint, a respectable output for the streaking star. Juno did alright with 346 for Stonebridge, keeping the game a bit close early on. Dreamy answered with 361 for the Blades, maintaining their lead effectively. Frosty ended at 473 for the Wolves on her turn, getting stopped when a ball deflected off her bat, and this makes the game very close at the midway mark. Bandit faltered with 177 for Swordpoint, leaving them vulnerable at this stage of the game. Cobalt pummeled 1120 for Stonebridge, leaving no doubt as to which team has the edge as the final players come to bat. Stealth ended with 152 personally, and that gave the Blades 1149 in the loss. Prism swatted another 795 for the Wolves, giving them a final of 2734 in their emphatic victory. Stonebridge is 7-6 on the year after early struggles, feeling very good going forward, while Swordpoint drops to 8-2 with the surprise upset.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators are back at home for a one-off, hosting the Arrows in the second of their six-game road trip. Sally scored 340 for Archtown, not an overwhelming effort from the lead-off hitter for the visitors. Shawn answered with 506 for Midland, giving them the initial lead in this match. Sleepy B. covered the deficit in scoring 377 for the Arrows, but they are not clicking at the highest pace their offense can. Rainmane had only 179 for the Predators, giving away the lead halfway through the game. Ruby didn't exactly solidify the lead for Archtown, adding 259 on her turn as the game has taken a low-scoring tilt. Leonardo regained the lead for Midland with his 420, capitalizing on earning a replay from a technical error by doubling his offense. Dusky had a great pace and then lost control, falling at 197 for the Arrows to give them 1173, forcing a small response from the hosts. Fuchsia collected 408 to give the Predators 1513 in the win. Midland jumps to 8-6, while Archtown sinks to 4-8, begging questions of how much longer this roster will stay together.

GE Stadium, Southridge: These two teams look to get a jump in their play, as the Defenders host their third of a four game stand, while the Spiders are playing the last two games of a six-game trip back-to-back. Shadow had a very uneven game, ending at 250 after starting well but cratering midway through before a late rally for Web City. Bianca continued to provide steady offense for Southridge, whacking 599 to give them the lead here. Ted took a bad angle on his turn, hurting the Spiders as he added just 112 to their score. Debby launched another 885 for the Defenders, as the captain solidified their lead at the halfway mark. Shiny was frozen by an unfortunate bounce, ending with a meager 96 for Web City. Stephanie belted another 1032 for Southridge on her turn, likely making the lead untouchable already. Dani put in a rally with 778 for the Spiders, but they still took a brutal loss with 1236. Hughbert chopped another 399 to ice the Defenders win at 2915. Southridge looked very confident after getting some time off, going to 6-8, while Web City's about to be very busy, currently at 2-7 with change on its way.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Spiders close their road trip out on the coast, facing a similarly struggling Waves side that begins a three-game home stand. Shadow managed only 161, clearly feeling the effects of the road trip as Web City starts small. Snuggle walloped 867 for Oceanside in response, giving them a large lead to start the game. Ted earned a replay but couldn't do anything with it, adding a measly 81 for the Spiders as they seem quite overwhelmed so far. Caitlin wasted no time in pounding 570 for the Waves, padding their lead quite nicely at the halfway mark. Shiny picked up 196 for Web City, their best effort of the game, but they are still hopelessly behind. Celestia poked 305 for Oceanside, adding a modest amount to the offense for the hosts. Dani was beat on a deflection, and her 64 for the Spiders meant they loss with a pathetic total of 502. Dewey lined 616 for the Waves, icing their impressive win at 2358 total. Oceanside cured what ailed them in this game, going to 5-7, while Web City is 2-8 after the loss, and with very little hope for improvement going forward.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves continue their run of games at home, the fourth of six, while the Crowns embark on a four-game road trip. Nightfur opened with a modest 271 for Royal, although they'll probably be wanting more. Juno scattered 495 for Stonebridge, giving them the early lead in the game. Jake barely had an official game when he ended it on a bad angle, taking a pathetic 12 points for the Crowns, putting them in a deep hole. Frosty was solid but unspectacular in adding 289 for the Wolves against her former team, keeping their lead strong at the halfway mark. Kayla had an amazing offensive outburst for Royal, ripping 1190 to give them the lead after the massive performance. Cobalt didn't have a sequel to his earlier burst, taking only 225 for Stonebridge here as it is suddenly them in a deficit. Hannah tapped 319 to give the Crowns 1792, which should be enough for the win barring a long-shot comeback. Prism didn't have it in her, ending at 286 and giving them Wolves a loss with 1295. Royal's win, a bit of a surprise as it was, puts them at 5-4, passing the now 7-7 Stonebridge side among many others.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: These two teams previously met earlier in the week, and the Prestige are looking for revenge after both they and the Lumberjacks played one game in between. Fluffina has started to show signs of fatigue, taking only 189 for Maplewood to start off this game. Acorn had a firm swing for Lighton, and he rode that to great success, giving Lighton 1036 to start with a massive lead. Diddley fired back with 584 for the Lumberjacks, attempting to keep them in the game. Spirit faltered with only 162 for the Prestige, exposing their lead a bit at the halfway mark of the game. Bryant made it a close game with his 389 for Maplewood, doing well to keep the visitors competitive. Twinkie I supplied 281 for Lighton to stave off their hard-charging opposition. Waluigi couldn't complete the comeback for the Lumberjacks, ending with 144 as he got caught on his backhand and couldn't adjust in time, leaving them with 1306. Salmo tacked on 281 more for the Prestige, giving them 1760 in the win. Lighton earned a series split this week, boosting themselves up to 5-4, while Maplewood is down to 10-6 as their heavy schedule might be catching up with them.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders have also been busy, facing a Gems team very close to them in the standings. This ends a four-game home stand for the Defenders. Smokey did well to score 405 for Diamond, a solid opening attack for the inconsistent captain. Bianca carried Southridge to an early lead, gathering 656 for the hosts on her turn. Citrus got caught out by a change-up offering, but she covered the deficit well with 655 for the Gems, allowing them to fight on. Debby faltered with only 106 for the Defenders, putting them behind halfway through the game. Pedey was under siege early and held on for 63 points for Diamond, weakening their newfound lead. Stephanie made it a much closer game as she scored 404 for Southridge, leaving it for the final players to decide. Rosalina produced 281, getting beat with a big swing that allowed the next offering to get behind her, and the Gems finished at 1404. Hughbert had some nervy swings for the Defenders, but he got the job done, scoring 317 to put them at a win with 1483. Southridge goes to 7-8, passing the now 4-6 Diamond side.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders kick off a three-game home stand, facing the Pirates, who are taking a two-game sprint across the north of the territory. Delila slugged 1136 right at the start for Atlantic, likely burying the beleaguered hosts immediately. Shadow answered with 706 for Web City, making for a high-scoring start between the captains. Isabella had some troubles with timing in this game, taking 281 for the Pirates to pad their lead a bit. Ted flipped a ball behind him and tried to recover it, but he was too late and ended at 231 for the Spiders. Americus cobbled 583 for Atlantic, extending their lead nicely later in the game. Shiny kept Web City in range with her 692, meaning the game is far from done. Klaus stumbled with 167 for the Pirates, leaving them at 2167, which isn't quite safe yet. Dani only matched it with 167 of her own, leaving the Spiders to lose with 1796 in the electric game. Atlantic is up to 6-2 on the year with the gutsy win, while Web City's defense is the problem as they fall to 2-9.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames look to break a home slump in the second of a five-game home stand, while the Arrows would also like to get on track in their third of six straight road games. Sally didn't do well at all for Archtown, taking only 128 on her opening turn. Crystal wasn't much better with 224 for Queens, giving the game a tight and low-scoring vibe. Sleepy B. didn't make it pretty for the Arrows, but she was able to hold on long enough to post 504, giving them a stronger lead. Paige restored a lead for the Flames, slicing 691 on her turn to boost their offense midway through the game. Ruby was distracted by a dead ball on the pitch, and it forced her to change her angle, which stalled her at 114 for Archtown as they remain behind. Violetta didn't help the Queens cause at all, taking a measly 57 in a very short appearance. Dusky tried to launch a ball, but got too much of it and ended with 158 for the Arrows, giving them 904 overall in a low-scoring loss. Max had many silky plays with the bat, including a backhand flip and a reaching save to score 441, giving the Flames a winning total of 1413. Queens improves to 5-7, while Archtown plummets to 4-9.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders are back in action against another high-ranked team, as the Blades come to town for the second of their three games in a row on the road. Snowball tried to save her turn with a backhand, but it didn't work, so she finished with 696 for Swordpoint to begin. Shadow kept things close, carving out 682 for Web City in an impressive run of play for the captain. His sister, Dreamy, countered with 383 for the Blades, getting caught off-balance at the end of her turn. Ted hauled in 415 for the Spiders on his turn, giving them a modest lead at the halfway mark. Bandit shot back with 439 for Swordpoint, giving them a solid lead again, at least temporarily. Shiny pushed Web City a little farther ahead with 476 on her turn, setting up a tight finish that would not have been expected at the start. Stealth provided only 256 for the Blades, giving them 1774 in a game that doesn't look favorable for them. Dani stole the win away for the Spiders, striking 209 to put them at 1782 overall. Web City's massive upset gets them to 3-9, while Swordpoint is left wondering what went wrong as they drop to 8-3.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Both teams are doing well in this particular venue case, as the Sharks have found a groove on the road while the Sharpshooters are a good home team. Chelsea was less than impressive with 225 for Eastside to lead off the game. Chris pounded 776 for Capital City, putting them far ahead at the start. Taylor was betrayed by her backhand for the Sharks, ending with a meager 99 points on her turn. Missy tapped 224 for the Sharpshooters, unable to settle in at any point in the game. Niki was not ready for an off-speed swing, and she caught it too hard, sending it out of bounds as she had only 84 for Eastside as they continue to struggle in this game. Sprinkles couldn't settle into a rhythm either, ending with 226 for Capital City as they continue to watch their lead grow marginally. Paps popped 208 for the Sharks, leaving them at a rough loss with 616 total. Nicole didn't do much either, with only 16 points to give the Sharpshooters 1242 in the win. Capital City's win takes them to 7-5, while Eastside falls again to 3-9.

That's all for week 5. With pool being sent to an unscheduled off-day today, there will be more cricket played, and probably time-released throughout the week. Stand by for a standings update.

2017 Qualifiers - Day 14

It's another day for games, as we'll probably limit things to 40 this afternoon and night. We begin with...

Viewpoint Sound Meteors rookie Nibbles playing 9-ball with the red cue to lead off the first group. Nibbles was struggling early on, taking nothing on the break and then earning an early error on illegal contact. The release valve came on a light miss on the 5, allowing him to carom the cue off it and take the 9 in the top right for a score of 11. Next up, Sleepy B., the Archtown Arrows veteran, shoots Rotation with the blue cue. Sleepy B. had a miserable game, taking six errors, starting from the break, and needing 37 shots to finish the game, a forgettable and regrettable outing that has caught the league's attention to evaluate the rest of this group. The third player of the day is Sugar, the Harrison Specters newcomer, who will try to improve the blue cue's day in Rotation as well. Sugar had an acceptable game, also going empty on the break, but limiting her errors to four, and mostly unintentional, and needing only 28 shots to get through the rack. The league is still observing as Smudge, the Infinity Torpedoes captain, grabs the blue cue to play 12-ball. Smudge is not doing well in qualifying this year, as this game saw her manage to make two balls on the break and still need 25 shots with six errors to get through the rest of the rack. Rounding out the group, and likely determining today's future playing, is Celestia of the Oceanside Waves, who will use the silver cue to play 15-ball. Celestia saved the day, shooting a ball in on the break and taking no errors over 23 shots, playing maybe a bit too cautiously in the end as she submitted a good outing.

Group two begins with Nicole of the Capital City Sharpshooters playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Nicole put in a very good game, going empty on the break and still managing to take no errors and close the rack in 18 shots, working with precision after some early shakiness. Moving along, Snuggle, the Oceanside Waves captain, plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Snuggle had nothing on the break, but that was a minor hiccup in his 13-shot game, with no errors included in an utterly dominant showing from the captain. Following that, Bianca, the Southridge Defenders rookie, has the red cue up for 10-ball. Bianca is not doing well in qualifying, as she had a ball on the break and two errors in this game, again failing to meet average as she took 19 shots for the appearance. Sally of the Archtown Arrows is up next, playing Rotation with the red cue in this qualifier. Sally looked to be playing a dangerous game early on, but she took four errors after her empty break, all with intent, and then managed to get a couple bounces to go her way, ending with 27 shots in a decent performance. The group ends with Atlantic Pirates rookie Klaus playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Klaus had excellent game going and then absolutely ruined it with his last ball. He had made a ball on the break and had a decent line, but shot too hard, and chased the ball around for two errors and 26 shots total for the game, spending about 10 shots on the ball in particular.

Batch three gets going with Archtown Arrows star Ruby playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Ruby had another sterling effort in this game, playing with no errors and nothing from the break during the game. She lined up the 7-10 combination early and didn't mess it up, making it on the second try to end with 14 shots. The twelfth shooter today is Mams, playing 9-ball with the silver cue in this game. Mams did make a ball on the break in this appearance, and she had no errors for the outing, ending with 15 shots, arguably her worst effort of the season so far, which isn't a bad low bar. Up next, Sweetheart of the Boston Swifts plays 15-ball with the red cue. Sweetheart had a mixed game, getting a ball on the break and controlling the game early before slipping late, taking five errors in her 27 shots to finish the outing. Torpedoes captain Smudge is back in action for her second game of the day, playing Rotation with the blue cue. Smudge needed a big rally late in the game to recover from a terrible break and four early intentional errors to try to mix up the distribution a bit, and she ended at 27 shots, good enough given the circumstances. Ending the group, Diamond Gems star Citrus plays Rotation with the blue cue as well. Citrus worked through the game with virtually no resistance, taking a ball on the break and only one error for illegal contact before finishing with a small 22 shots.

The fourth group opens with Kayla of the Royal Crowns playing 15-ball with the blue cue. Kayla faltered early in the game, taking five errors over the course of play after an empty break. Things got easier at the end, allowing her to finish with 26 shots. Continuing along, Watermelon of the Pearl Surfers is up to play 15-ball with the red cue. Watermelon was stricken with bad luck after making two balls on the break, as she spread three errors throughout the game and had to chase some shots to end with an average score of 29 for the game. The eighteenth player called to shoot today is Shiny of the Web City Spiders, who plays her Rotation qualifier here with the silver cue. Shiny dazzled in the outing, getting a ball on the break and taking only two errors, unavoidable as they were, among her 23 shots, showing poise and precision during the turn. Next up is her Spiders teammate Ted, as the rookie is in action with the silver cue for 12-ball. Ted went on a good run after making a ball on his textured break, and he was only stopped by a late scratch for his single error, closing the appearance in 18 shots. Finishing this batch, we have another Spider, Dani, shooting 15-ball with the red cue. Dani was not good at making the game easier for herself, taking nothing on the break and five errors during the game as she tried and failed to be fancy with position. She also ended early, potting the 15 to the bottom right with a deflected shot off the 10, ending the game at 29 shots.

Group five starts just before the mid-afternoon break, with the last player before the break being Stonebridge Wolves rookie Cobalt, who uses the silver cue for his 9-ball qualifier. Cobalt had a ball on the break, and then shot solidly, but didn't make much of a drastic impact, playing to 15 shots with no errors. After the break, the next player is Queens Flames star Paige, who has the red cue up for 9-ball in her third appearance of the year. Paige struggled from the start of the game, going empty on the break, and then she took one error en route to 17 shots, a poor outing. Next up, Mr. Snowman of the Infinity Torpedoes shoots Rotation with the silver cue. Mr. Snowman showed a disregard for the rules of play after making a ball on the break in this game, taking six errors intentionally as he worked the rack in 24 shots. Moving along, Ms. Kitty of the Pacific Volcanoes is up to play 10-ball with the silver cue. Ms. Kitty made a ball on the break, but struggled a bit during the game, needing 19 shots with two errors to complete the appearance. The afternoon ends with the 25th player of the day, Nightfur, the Crowns captain, who returns to action with the red cue for 12-ball. Nightfur made a ball on the break, but that was the last of the good news, as her one error and a lack of position to take her shots from produced a game of 26 shots.

The night kicks off with the sixth bunch, and its first player, Eastside Sharks sophomore Niki, who also plays 12-ball with the red cue. Niki had one ball on the break, but it was the end of the game that frustrated her most, as she chased the final shot, took one error, and closed with 29 shots to go to the back of the line. Moving along, Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades plays 10-ball with the red cue. Stealth had nothing on the break, and four errors during the game, exploding with anger in the end as he needed 27 shots to close the appearance, an unacceptable performance from the veteran. The league has been called to pay attention for the rest of the group, beginning with Diamond Gems rookie Rosalina, who plays Rotation with the blue cue. Rosalina got nothing on her break either, and she took five errors in the game, all intentional, as she made her way through 29 shots to complete the game. After that, the Specters' Sugar plays 15-ball with the red cue in her second game of the day. Sugar got a gift of a line-up shot after her only error, as she was able to make the 3-13-7-15 combination along the right rail to the top right. Her break was empty, but she ended with a tiny 7 shots, a great score to keep the league going. The 30th player of the day will determine if we play on tonight, and that responsibility falls on Pearl Surfers veteran Wings, playing Rotation with the silver cue. Wings had a solid outing, but failed to get anything on his break. He did manage to keep his errors down to one for the game, and he finished in 28 shots, a reasonable performance. The league once again calls for play to continue.

Group seven gets going with Zach of the Pronger Tridents shooting 9-ball with the red cue in his third game with the team. Zach needed only 3 shots after going empty on his break, as he made the 1-2 combination to the top right, and then a deflection off the 3 sent the 9 to the bottom side when he cleaned up the 1, giving him no errors in the performance. That's a tough act to follow for Twinkie III of the Whitewater Shores, who will use the red cue for 10-ball in this game. Twinkie III's struggles persisted in this game, as she had one error, nothing on the break, and 23 shots required to get out of the appearance. Next up, the Sharpshooters' Nicole plays Rotation with the silver cue. Nicole did get a ball on the break, but she had trouble with her finish, collecting three errors in total and finishing at 30 shots, turning a good game to mediocre. The 34th player of the day is Shores captain Bear, who will shoot 12-ball with the silver cue this game. Bear did well despite going empty on his break, as he completed the game in only 21 shots, using smart set-up shots and taking only one error for a strong showing. Closing out the group, Lighton Prestige mainstay Twinkie I plays 15-ball with the silver cue. Twinkie I did the worst possible thing in this game, switching between normal and rogue shooting, which led to her taking seven errors in 32 shots after making a ball on the break, ruining the game.

The final group starts with Boston Swifts superstar captain Patches shooting Accuracy with the blue cue, the fifth player to finish qualifying. Patches had a rough game, going empty on the break and then struggling with precision as she closed with 23 shots and no errors. In total, Patches had 167 shots during qualifiers, middle of the small pack. Following that, Peach, the North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie captain, shoots 9-ball with the silver cue. Peach continues to impress, making a ball on her break and then taking no errors in 12 shots as she cleared the table with ease. Continuing along, Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno plays Rotation with the red cue in this appearance. Juno chose to ignore the guidelines for the game, taking six errors after making a ball on the break, but closing the game in 23 shots as she made it easier on herself. Shooting 39th today is Whiskers of the Infinity Torpedoes, as she'll play 9-ball with the silver cue. Whiskers had no trouble in the game, going empty on the break but submitting a score of 3 with her 2-5-9 combination to the top right, with no time to take any errors in the appearance. Ending the day, Strawberry of the Modernistic Union plays 12-ball with the silver cue. Strawberry had a top-10 worst game of the year in this one, needing 47 shots with two errors after making a ball on the break to finish the game.

With that stink-bomb at the end, I am officially calling for tomorrow to be an off-day for pool. We'll play again on Thursday.

2017 Qualifiers - Day 13

We're back to a standard day for the league, with 40-50 games set to be played as we open the third week of qualifying. Leading us off is...

Goatee of the Westside Rockers, who will start group one with the red cue playing 12-ball. Goatee had an odd game, making a ball on the break but then taking three errors and really struggling for her last ball, ending with 22 shots for the game. Next up, Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno plays 12-ball with the red cue as well. Juno had a ball on her break, and she played very confidently in the game, setting herself up meticulously before ending in 21 shots, including one error for an unlucky scratch. Moving along, Westside Rockers veteran Midnight plays Rotation with the blue cue. Midnight struggled to pinpoint her aim for the game, going empty on the break and taking three errors in a somewhat difficult appearance that needed 35 shots to end. The fourth player called to shoot today is Oreo of the Terrace City Knights, playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Oreo was very close to falling apart in this game, having made a ball on the break but failing to corral the 2 quickly. She corrected this by making the 2-10 combination to the top right, ending with 7 shots and no errors. Finishing this group, Dusky of the Archtown Arrows shoots 12-ball with the blue cue. Dusky did well in this game, taking a ball on the break and then closing it out in 19 shots, taking no errors, although her finish could have been sharper.

The second group begins with the last player of the first half of qualifying. That player is Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette, who has the silver cue up for 8-ball. Tigerette beat the average again, getting nothing on the break but also avoiding any errors in her 19 shots, a good total for the captain. The second half of qualifying sees Max, the Queens Flames veteran, shoot 8-ball with the silver cue, starting just like the first half ended. Max had a terrible game, going empty on the break and then shooting shakily throughout the game, needing 32 shots, including seven errors, to finish it. Five of those errors were assessed for illegally potting the 8. The eighth player of the day is Lighton Prestige veteran Twinkie I, who will shoot Rotation with the red cue. Twinkie I got through the appearance mostly unscathed, needing 30 shots after making a ball on the break, and with only three errors, all accidental. Continuing along, Neopolitan, co-captain of the Pearl Surfers, plays 12-ball with the blue cue. Neopolitan made a ball on the break, and built off of that to take the game in 21 shots with just one error, which helped her finish a three-ball run-out to close the game. Wrapping up the group, Neopolitan stays at the table to shoot Rotation, switching sticks to the red cue. Neopolitan made the best of a terrible rack, needing 29 shots with four errors to clear the table. It could have been much worse, as her empty break left her with no clear shot for about the first ten shots of the game, and she only took one error in that stretch.

Batch three gets going with Shiny of the Web City Spiders playing 12-ball with the red cue. Shiny made two balls on the break, but her post-break distribution was very favorable, and she had just one late game error that pushed her score up to 21 shots, still reasonable enough for the event. The twelfth shooter today is Shiny's Spiders teammate, Ted, who has the red cue up for 10-ball. Ted dominated every facet of his game, needing only 13 shots with one error after making a ball on the break to clear the table in a wonderful game for the rookie. Next up, Valencia of the Golden Pilots plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Valencia had a rough game, taking nothing on the break, and then taking two early errors, eventually requiring 21 shots to finish the appearance, a poor total. Following that, Southridge Defenders captain Debby Ryan shoots 8-ball with the red cue. Debby needed a better break, as the poor spread from the rack led to her taking 22 shots, although the bright side to her game was a lack of errors even as her precision faltered. Icing this group, Ms. Kitty, the longtime Pacific Volcano, has the silver cue up for 8-ball. Ms. Kitty saw her break go empty, but she only needed 18 shots, as she had no errors in the game, and she looked very confident in her shots throughout the game, working well in tight spaces.

The fourth group starts with Infinity Torpedoes rookie Solaris playing Rotation with the blue cue. Solaris looked very strong in this appearance, making a ball on the break and then picking through the rack with only one error in his 27 shots, showing control of his shots all game. Strawberry of the Modernistic Union gets the next game, using the red cue for a game of 9-ball. Strawberry had a ball on the break, but it didn't make a difference in the end, as she had so few clear shots, she needed two errors and 20 shots to complete the game. She was also held back by failing to bury the clear shots she did see. Continuing along, Cheddar of the North Modernistic Nighthawks plays 12-ball with the silver cue. Cheddar did not make a ball on the break in this appearance, but she also didn't take any errors during the game, closing with a respectable 21 shots. The nineteenth player called to shoot today is Dewey, the Oceanside Waves rookie, who will use the blue cue for his third career appearance in 9-ball. Dewey did get a ball on the break, but he took an error that disrupted the flow of his game, and he needed 14 shots to finish the appearance, an acceptable effort. The group ends with Maplewood Lumberjacks rookie Waluigi playing Rotation with the blue cue. Waluigi was charged with four errors after making a ball on the break, but still managed to clear the table in 21 shots, a remarkably quick effort from the star-in-the-making.

The fifth batch opens with a game of 15-ball for Todavía Stills captain Easter, and she'll use the blue cue in this appearance. That combination of game and cue has not gone well this year, and Easter has the best of it, taking nothing on the break and six errors for 31 shots total, a workable performance that could be good on the bracket. Moving on to Easter's Stills teammate Sierra, who also plays 15-ball but with the red cue. Sierra proved quite opportunistic in this game, taking nothing on the break and two errors during the course of play, but then lining up the 5-15 combination and burying it to the bottom right to end with 13 shots for a great score. Victoria Spurs veteran B. Chapman gets the next game, using the red cue in 10-ball. Chapman had her toughest game of the qualifying season so far, making two balls on the break but also taking an error and needing 18 shots before sinking the 10 on a double-pot with the 6. Up next, the Flames' Max returns to the table with the silver cue for his 9-ball qualifier. Max overcame his recent embarrassment to post a game in which he had no errors and a ball potted on the break, all in 12 shots for a very crisp appearance. Rounding out the group, Pounce, the Southern Monarchs newcomer, plays 8-ball with the silver cue. Pounce played about as well as he could in this game, getting two balls on the break and taking no errors, finishing with only 15 shots in a spectacular, league-topping effort.

Group six gets going with Swordpoint Blades rookie Bandit shooting 9-ball with the blue cue. Bandit's struggles in rotation-style games returned in this one, as he had nothing on the break, two errors during play, and needed a long and drifting 8-9 combination off of three rails into the top side to end at 18 shots. Following that, Lighton Prestige captain Acorn shoots 10-ball with the red cue. Acorn was disappointed by the end of his game, needing 20 shots with three errors after an empty break left him with little room to shoot a valid shot. Moving along, Freedom Cascades sophomore Nikolai plays 9-ball with the red cue in his third game of qualifiers. Nikolai didn't get anything out of his break, and he also had a single error on a failed jump shot, but he played well and closed the game out at 15 shots, a decent score. Nightfur, the Royal Crowns captain, gets the next game, using the silver cue for 10-ball in this appearance. Nightfur couldn't lock her shot in at all for the game, going empty on the break and taking one error in 23 shots as she chased almost every ball on the table. Ending the afternoon portion of the games, Atlantic Pirates rookie Isabella plays Rotation with the silver cue. Isabella was erratic all game, getting almost no spread from her break and then needing six errors, mostly intentional, to get through 32 shots in the game.

The evening begins with Harrison Specters newcomer Lexi playing 9-ball with the blue cue. Lexi had one error and no balls on the break for this appearance, needing 17 shots to clear the table as her struggles persisted a bit with the precision factor. Lexi was drawn again to play 10-ball with the silver cue immediately after that game. Lexi had slightly better luck in this appearance, finishing the rack in 18 shots, while taking one error after making a ball on the break. She still could have been a bit better, as she was chasing the 10 in the end. Following that, Pacific Volcanoes newcomer Chicky Phil plays 9-ball with the silver cue. Chicky Phil had a ball on the break, but he took no errors during the game, plodding his way to 16 shots in a middling performance. Next up, Boston Swifts veteran Sweetheart plays Rotation with the blue cue. Sweetheart's peripheral numbers didn't impress, with an empty break and four errors in the game, but her 25 shots made for a very solid game for the veteran. The batch ends with the 35th player of the day, the Union's Strawberry, who has the red cue up for 10-ball. Strawberry played well despite a poor break, which saw her make nothing. She did take an early error, but she ended with 18 shots, and it could have been quicker with a better line on her combination attempts.

Group eight is led off by Stinky of the Freedom Cascades, who will use the blue cue in his 10-ball game. Scores for 10-ball continue to inflate dramatically, as Stinky took four errors after a break saw him have nothing to shoot at, and he needed 23 shots to complete the game. Moving along, Dusty of the Golden Pilots plays 12-ball with the blue cue. Dusty had a great game, making a ball on the break and then picking easy shots as she cruised to a score of 17 with no errors thanks to her smart play. The 38th player to shoot today is Pirates rookie Isabella, who returns to the table to play 15-ball with the blue cue. Isabella breezed through the game, making a ball very late on the break and then taking only two errors over an amazingly fast 19 shots, recording an excellent game in the process. That's a tough act to follow, and it's Commerce Tradewinds sophomore Lorde tasked with doing so as she plays Rotation with the red cue. Lorde couldn't match the performance, taking a terrible break and then six errors during the game due to a lack of free shots, and she needed 33 shots to finish the game, an embarrassing outing. At the back of this group, Volcanoes star Ms. Kitty plays 9-ball with the silver cue. Ms. Kitty made two balls on the break, and she was doing well until a scratch, her single error in the game, which forced her to take 10 shots to complete the appearance.

The ninth bunch starts with Harrison Specters captain Twinkie II, who is up for Rotation with the blue cue. Twinkie II didn't like her break much, but she didn't let it get in her way at all, taking four errors after going empty at the start, and she finished with 26 shots in a very clean finish to the game. Shadow, the Web City Spiders captain, plays 15-ball with the silver cue in the next game. Shadow went empty on his break, and he wasn't pleased with the scatter, so he took six error shots, with the intentional violations inflating his score a bit. He still settled in well, and took the game in 23 shots, very near the top of the board so far. Continuing along, Shannon, the Southern Monarchs veteran, plays 15-ball with the red cue. Shannon didn't do too bad in this appearance, going empty on the break, but playing a smart game and taking only three errors among a reasonable 26 shots. Going 44th today, Viewpoint Sound Meteors captain Mams shoots 8-ball with the silver cue. Mams failed to make anything on the break, and she scuffled early before bursting out to take the game in 18 shots with no errors. The group closes with Brownie of the Tysini Hummingbirds playing 12-ball with the blue cue. Brownie had two balls on the break, making the rest of the game much easier for her, as she needed only 19 shots with no errors to complete the appearance without much challenge.

The last group of the day opens with Everton Eagles superstar captain Goldy shooting Rotation with the blue cue. Goldy made a pair of balls from the break and appeared to be ready to dominate the game, but she lost her grip late, fading with three errors and ending up at 30 shots for the outing. Following that, Oceanside Waves rookie Celestia plays Rotation with the blue cue as well. Celestia couldn't get anything going at the start from an empty break, so she turned to intentionally erring, which gave her six errors over 27 shots when the game ended. The 48th player drawn to shoot today is Potter, the Pronger Tridents rookie, who has the silver cue ready for 12-ball. Free-shooting games have been unkind to Potter, as he made two balls on the break but had a ton of trouble getting set up, taking two errors and ending with 25 shots before the rack was cleared. Next up, Citrus of the Diamond Gems uses the blue cue in her 12-ball game. Citrus played very well in the game, making a lot of shots in one go and taking just one error after making a ball on the break, leading her to 19 shots for the performance. Finally, the day ends with Lexi of the Specters playing her third game of the day, 12-ball with the silver cue. Lexi had only 17 shots in the game, making two balls on the break and taking no errors in a spectacular finale to what could be called a mixed day at times.

I apologize for the lack of cricket to be posted tonight. I won't have the time to play any games of it. I'm considering altering my daily schedule a bit to accommodate cricket better into the order of things.

UPCL Cricket - Week 5 Part 2

We're back for the middle segment of week 5, beginning with...

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Stills make a quick departure from home to face the Sharpshooters just a bit inland. Easter had no resemblance of control in her game, taking a weak 36 points for Todavía in a terrible start. Chris answered with a far more confident 423 for Capital City, giving them a solid lead at the start of the game. Sierra pulled the Stills back in the game, slicing 719 on her turn to easily cover the deficit for the visitors. Missy fired back with 592 for the Sharpshooters, keeping them in control of the game at its halfway point. Sparkles was too aggressive for Todavía, skying a ball to end with only 84 points in her turn. Sprinkles carved out another 642 for the Sharpshooters, almost assuring them of a victory at this stage. Bells went on a rally with 679 for the Stills, but they fell short at 1518 total, taking the loss. Nicole tapped 192 for the Sharpshooters, giving them 1849 in the win. Capital City jumps to 6-5, while Todavía is 8-9, but will rest for the remainder of the week.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors kick off an eight-game home stand against the Cascades, who are on a quick two-game road trip. Jasmine chipped 399 for Freedom to open this game up. Twilight hammered 967 for Central in response, establishing a very intimidating lead for the hosts. Stinky managed only 179 for the Cascades, failing to gain much ground on his turn. Dustin had trouble settling his hits for the Warriors, ending with a meager 61 points as their lead weakens. Roxy made up some of the deficit with her 367 for Freedom, tightening the game at a critical point. Central's rookie Mario did well enough to stave off the threat, pounding 543 on his turn to restore the lead to a position of strength. Nikolai had a firm backhand, but got tangled on the next offering, exiting with 281 for the Cascades, who will lose the game with a final score of 1226. Gizmo showed the right way to do the backhand flick, using it as a catalyst for a larger burst that saw him take 392 for the Warriors, icing their win at 1963. Central is up to 5-2 for the year, while Freedom falls to 3-3.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Lumberjacks embark on a three-game trip against the very rested Pirates in this meeting. Maplewood's Fluffina got victimized by a bad bounce in her appearance, taking only 138 for the turn. Delila lifted 608 for Atlantic, giving them a sizeable lead at the start of the game. Diddley had a lot of pace on his backhand, but it couldn't sink fast enough, and he was out at 220 for the Lumberjacks. Isabella couldn't wrangle a tough bounce for the Pirates, and she added 543 to their lead, a satisfying effort from the rookie. Bryant broke his recent road slump, but his 322 is far from enough to be helpful for a far-back Maplewood side. Americus couldn't stop a fast-paced offering, which claimed her wicket and sent her packing with 192 for Atlantic. Waluigi was too eager for the Lumberjacks, ending up with a pathetic 36 as he was out in quick time, and they suffered the loss with 716. Klaus provided 312 for the Pirates, icing their victorious offensive effort at 1655. Atlantic improves to 4-1 on the year, while Maplewood is down to 10-5, and will take some time off before their next game.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks return home for a quick game, while the Blades are making a one-off trip to the hills for this game. Snowball drilled 793 for Swordpoint, staking out a significant advantage for the visitors from the first attack. Chelsea had another weakened home output, posting 186 for Eastside as they'll play from the familiar behind position. Dreamy tacked on another 417 for the Blades in her turn, keeping their lead solid. Despite her tall frame, Taylor couldn't reach back and grab a ball from in front of the wicket, ending with 533 for the Sharks as they make up a bit of ground at the halfway mark. Swordpoint rookie Bandit did well in his turn, collecting 538 to add nicely to their lead. Niki faltered with 184 for Eastside, likely preventing any instances of a comeback now. Stealth had a terrible game, taking a measly 12 points and leaving the Blades at 1760, although they have little danger of losing. Paps tried to get the Sharks back in the game, but his 343 left them short at 1246. Swordpoint's win takes them to 7-1, while Eastside is 2-8 with another home loss.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots get only their second home game, as the Pirates make a one-game jaunt down south. Delila didn't have the greatest opening attack, assembling only 232 for Atlantic to lead things off. Valencia countered with 531 for Golden to begin the hosts' attack, giving them a noticeable lead. Isabella had a backhand flip during her turn, and she carried the momentum from that to 392 for the Pirates, covering the deficit for now. Dusty poked 328 for the Pilots, keeping them in the lead, albeit by a smaller margin than before. Americus paddled 560 for Atlantic, providing a challenge to the hosts. Strut battled hard in his appearance, cobbling 496 for Golden to give them a smaller lead ahead of the final players' turns. Klaus forced a response from the hosts, knocking 376 to give the Pirates their final of 1560. A. Charlton had only 92 for the Pilots, blowing a lead they'd had all game as they'll lose with 1447. Atlantic came in and stole the game to go to 5-1, while Golden is 4-3 now.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: If the Eagles can win this one-off road game in the Hills, they'll remain atop the league for another week. Goldy got Everton off to a wonderful start, slugging 1144 on the opening turn. Smokey replied with 384 for Diamond, a reasonable effort to cut into the deficit a bit. Puff III pummeled another 581 for the Eagles, working at a ridiculous pace to extend their lead. Citrus answered with a nearly equivalent 596 for the Gems, a good performance but not enough to make progress in beating the deficit down. Kirstin scooped another 690 for Everton, keeping them firmly in control of the game with a massive lead. Pedey couldn't match the pace for Diamond, bailing at 193 as it appears the hosts have been overwhelmed in this game. Blizzard added 378 individually for the Eagles, bringing their total to 2793 in what should be a pretty convincing win. Rosalina couldn't provide much of an answer for the Gems, ending with 20 as she accidentally flipped a ball onto her wicket. Everton remains perfect at 8-0, while Diamond is bumped down to 4-5 after a tough game.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: A rematch of week 3's final game is here, with the Rockers in the second of five straight road games, looking for a sweep against the Prestige. Misty weathered a slot start to the game and cranked out 830 for Westside to lead off the game. Acorn got knocked down at 255 for Lighton, giving them a deficit to overcome in this rematch. Goatee got tangled up at 144 for the Rockers, not helping their lead very much with the weak outing. Spirit popped 608 for the Prestige, making a large dent in the deficit at the halfway point of the game. Midnight shot back with 438 for Westside, re-upping their lead at a critical point in the tight game. Twinkie I nearly kept pace for Lighton, adding 416 to their score as there's plenty left for the final players to play for. Slinks had a middling 285 for the Rockers, bringing them to 1697 overall in the game. Salmo couldn't quite complete the comeback, going for 376 on his turn, but leaving the Prestige at 1655 in the loss. Westside gets their sweep, improving to 8-2, while Lighton is down to 4-4.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs continue their six-game home stand against the Arrows, who are embarking on a six-game road trip. Sally slapped a quick 510 for Archtown to begin the game in good form. Panda made some challenging plays for Southern, including multiple reaching saves as he swung his way to 431, keeping the hosts in the game early on. Sleepy B. was done in by a high-arcing ball, cutting her down at 32 points for the Arrows. Hoppy sent the Monarchs into a firm lead with 608 on her turn, and they'll hope the second half of the game is just as kind as the first. Ruby put in a challenge with 538 for Archtown on her turn, keeping the game competitive. Pounce countered very effectively, working a slow build to 563 for Southern, which gives them a significant advantage with a player each to go. Dusky forced a response from the hosts with her 566, giving the Arrows 1646 total. Shannon chipped 290 for the Monarchs, giving them a final of 1892 in the win. Southern has their first home win to go to 2-4, bringing them closer to the now 4-7 Archtown side.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames look to break a home funk as they start a five-game stretch at home, while the winless Specters try to change that in the fourth of five straight road games. Sydney started with 510 for Harrison, a good opening attack from the struggling sophomore. Crystal got Queens very close to that mark, posting 472 on her turn to keep things tight early on. Twinkie II fired back with 480 for the Specters, maintaining their lead quite efficiently. Paige couldn't reach a deflected ball on her backhand, failing at 287 for the the Flames as it struck her wicket. Lexi basically matched that for Harrison, adding 285 to their score and giving the hosts a bit of a lifeline. Violetta faltered under the pressure, taking just 153 for Queens as they remain at a deficit late in the game. Sugar slammed 731 for the Specters, putting them at a final of 2006. Max slumped down to 90 points for the Flames, and they took the loss with 1002, getting doubled up. Harrison goes to 1-6 with their first win of the year, while Queens is falling fast at 4-7.

Nike Field, Commerce: Another match between struggling teams sees the Sharks return to the road for a pair of games, against the Tradewinds as they open a three-game home stand. Chelsea wasted no time in lining 700 for Eastside to get things start in this game. Tigerette produced another dud appearance for Commerce, managing only 164 for this showing, leaving the hosts far behind. Taylor didn't inspire much confidence for the Sharks, adding 240 to their output. Ice Cream put a bit of a dent in the deficit with her 407, but the Tradewinds remain significantly behind halfway through the game. Niki left the door open, producing a measly 36 for Eastside that sees a once-comfortable lead become vulnerable. Lionel went deep with 616 for Commerce, covering the deficit late in the game as the hosts have gained control. Paps came out of nowhere for the Sharks, blasting 985 to give them 1961 total, a significant challenge for the hosts to overcome so late in the game. Lorde just didn't have it for the Tradewinds, bailing out at 128 to give the Tradewinds 1315 in the loss. Eastside jumps to 3-8 with the win, as the road has treated them well, while Commerce in 2-5 after taking a tough loss.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores hope to keep the Waves from crashing on them in this Aquatic Derby match. Snuggle had a solid performance for Oceanside, collecting 479 to stake out a lead with. Bear did not buckle in his turn, but a bad swing after a tough bounce stalled him at 465, keeping Whitewater very close in the early going. Caitlin couldn't handle the bounces for the Waves, taking only 48 as they are in trouble at this point. Twinkie III did her part for the Shores, poking her way to 410 to give them the lead halfway through the game. Celestia survived an early blitz, but couldn't do much to repair her score, ending with 261 as Oceanside remains behind. Marsell kept Whitewater in good shape with 363 on his turn, giving them a little more breathing room. Dewey put up 338 for the Waves, but it wasn't enough, and they suffered the loss with 1126. Shaggy capped the Shores win with 266 individually for a total of 1504. Whitewater is even on the year at 3-3, while Oceanside drops to 4-7.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: This is a battle of strengths to end this segment, as the Blades are undefeated at home and opposing the Swifts, an elite road team with home struggles. Patches stumbled at the start of the game, taking only 54 for Boston as they are probably playing from behind. Snowball slugged 1182 in response for Swordpoint, establishing a potentially already untouchable lead. Puff II cut back with 542 for the Swifts, trying to keep them in the game against long odds for doing so. Dreamy left an opening when she had only 42 for the Blades, but they are still far ahead at the midway mark. Gradley made some progress with 400 for Boston, getting them a bit closer in a race against time more than anything else. Swordpoint's Bandit cancelled it out exactly with 400 of his own, a good showing from the rookie to keep the game at status quo. Sweetheart couldn't perform a rally, taking 200 for the Swifts and giving them a loss with 1196. Stealth tallied 463 for the Blades, icing their win at 2087. Swordpoint defended their turf again, going to 8-1 and second in the league, while Boston is 5-6 on the year, still feeling a championship hangover.

I'm trying to be better about publishing these on time, so we'll hopefully see Week 5 end tomorrow night.

2017 Qualifiers - Weekend Special #1 (Day 12)

We finally have a weekend that should go uninterrupted. As such, we'll play a large slate of games this time, beginning on Saturday with...

Nikolai of the Freedom Cascades heading group one and playing 8-ball with the blue cue. Nikolai took a ball on the break, and he was shooting well until the shots got longer, which eventually produced an error, his only one, en route to a score of 22 shots for the appearance. Next up, Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan plays 10-ball with the silver cue. Neopolitan considered her game a bit disappointing, making a ball on the break and taking one error but needing 22 shots to finish the rack despite many viable shooting angles. Moving along, Pronger Tridents rookie Potter is back in action for 10-ball, using the red cue in his game. Potter needed only 15 shots after making two balls on the break, concluding a very impressive outing with no errors. Following that, Whitewater Shores captain Bear shoots 9-ball with the silver cue. Bear made a ball on the break, but he had trouble with accuracy, ending on 19 shots with one error for the game. The fifth player of the weekend finishes the first group, and that player is Golden Pilots veteran A. Charlton, who will play 9-ball with the red cue. Charlton didn't waste any time this game, making two balls on the break and the 1-9 combination on the first shot from play, giving her a score of 1 and no errors.

Leading off the second group, Starlight, the Pacific Volcanoes superstar captain, shoots Rotation with the red cue. Starlight had an excellent outing, taking a ball on the break and then just one error during the rest of the game, closing it out in 24 shots as her shooting was dominant and occasionally lucky. Continuing along, Klaus, the Atlantic Pirates rookie, is the last rookie to make his career debut, doing so by playing 7-ball with the silver cue. Klaus didn't get anything on his break, and he didn't take an error either, calmly shooting his way to a score of 13. The eighth player of the weekend is Boston Swifts veteran Gradley, who will use the silver cue to play 8-ball. Gradley took an empty break, and had two errors for scratches during a shaky game, but he closed with a solid 20 shots for the appearance. Charli XCX of the Tysini Hummingbirds gets the next game, using the red cue in Rotation. Charli appeared to have bit off more than she could handle in the game, taking five errors very quickly after her empty break. She settled in to finish the game with 32 shots, somewhat of a miracle given how late in the game she scored just the 3. Icing this group, Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette plays 12-ball with the blue cue. Leonette limited herself to just a late error for missed contact after going empty on the break, and this allowed her to finish the game with 20 shots in total after her errant set-up forced the error.

The third batch gets going with Oreo of the Terrace City Knights shooting 9-ball with the blue cue in her third game of the year. Oreo had nothing on the break and ended up taking two errors during the game itself, giving her a score of 17 shots when it was over in a mediocre appearance. Dominic, the new Viewpoint Sound Meteor, gets the next game as he plays 10-ball with the silver cue. Dominic went empty on his break, and added a shot for an error after an illegally potted ball, but this helped his cause, as he ended the game with 16 shots and stopped chasing the ball he illegally potted. Moving along, Wings, the Pearl Surfers veteran, plays 12-ball with the silver cue. Wings made a huge run during his game, taking a ball on the break and not stopping until he had to set up a few shots. He ended with 16 shots and no errors in a textbook example of how to play 12-ball. The fourteenth player of the day is Central Warriors captain Twilight, who plays Accuracy with the silver cue as she becomes the third player to finish qualifying. Twilight took 24 shots after an empty break in this game, going with no errors but not much to brag about for the captain. Twilight totaled 180 shots during her qualifying sessions. Rounding out the group, Web City Spiders newcomer Dani shoots Rotation with the red cue. Dani had four errors during the game after her empty break, but she needed only 26 shots to complete the outing, better than the expected score given her mistakes.

Group four starts with the last player before the short afternoon ends, and that is Mr. Snowman of the Infinity Torpedoes, shooting 12-ball with the red cue. Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break, and then took an error after a too-soft hit, but he was fine from there, ending with 16 shots in a spectacular game. The night begins with the seventeenth player of the weekend, Diamond Gems rookie Rosalina, who shoots 12-ball with the silver cue. Rosalina surprisingly went empty on her break, and then took one error at the end of the game, ending with 24 shots in the appearance. Next up, Todavía Stills star Sierra shoots Rotation with the blue cue. Sierra dazzled throughout her turn, coming up empty on the break somewhat unfairly, and then making contact on plenty of shots, erring only twice over the 30 shots she needed to complete the appearance. Following that, Westside Rockers captain Misty shoots 15-ball with the silver cue. Misty dazzled in a blaze early on, making two balls from the break, which made it a much easier road to travel as she scored 23 shots with only two errors in the game. She could have finished quicker, as she hawked the 15 relentlessly, but it was stubborn. Ending the batch, Midland Predators captain Shawn shoots 10-ball with the red cue. Shawn stayed on top of the 10 pretty well despite his empty break, and he took two errors for illegally potted balls on errant attempts, but he ended with 13 shots when he made it on the third try, a 6-10 combination to the top right.

The fifth group opens with Lighton Prestige rookie Salmo, who has the blue cue up at the table to shoot 12-ball. Salmo had a late-falling ball on the break, and he picked his shots well from there, taking no errors and setting himself up in quick time, ending with a score of 18 shots. Moving along, Cheddar of the North Modernistic Nighthawks plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Cheddar was absolutely dominant in her game, taking two balls on the break and then breezing through the rest of the rack in 10 shots, avoiding any errors quite easily as she precisely shot each ball down. Another expansion team player, Stonebridge Wolves captain Juno, gets the next game, shooting 10-ball with the silver cue. Juno straddled the average for this game, getting a ball on the break and also taking two errors after unfavorable positions were tough to deal from, and she ended with 17 shots in a reasonable performance. Up next, Swordpoint Blades star Dreamy plays 10-ball with the red cue. Dreamy also took a ball on the break, but she had an early error that disrupted her flow, and she ended up falling to 17 shots despite the hot start. Wrapping up the group, Twinkie II, the Harrison Specters captain, shoots 12-ball with the red cue. Twinkie II made a ball on her break, but two errors and a tough position on the 9 forced her to take 23 shots to end the game, a still-decent total.

Saturday's final group is the sixth of the weekend, which begins with Harrison Specters newcomer Sugar playing 12-ball with the red cue. Sugar made a ball on the break, but also erred twice in the game, needing 24 shots to fix a critical mistake in her set-up work before she finished the game. The 27th player this weekend is Westside Rockers newcomer Slinks, who will shoot 9-ball with the blue cue. Slinks failed to match the hype of her first two appearances with the team, going empty on the break and needing two errors among her 15 shots to finish the game. Moving along, North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie Luigi makes his third career appearance in 9-ball with the blue cue. Luigi had nothing on the break, and then took two errors, all while trying to tap in the 9 on a kick after getting a bad line on the shot. This futile effort eventually ran his score up to 17 shots, a sub-par outing. Following that, Klaus, the Atlantic Pirates rookie, returns to the table for 8-ball with the silver cue. Klaus had nothing on the break and one error in his appearance, needing 20 shots to clear the table, a reasonable outing. The last player for Saturday, and 2016 as a whole, is Chris of the Capital City Sharpshooters, who plays 10-ball with the red cue. Chris made nothing on the break and took 23 shots to complete the game, including one error for missed contact.

The seventh group of the weekend, and first of 2017, begins with Midland Predators rookie Fuchsia shooting 15-ball with the red cue. Fuchsia came to play in this game, going empty on the break but recording only one error over her 22 shots to complete the outing. Following that, Commerce Tradewinds sophomore Lorde shoots 12-ball with the red cue. Lorde needed 23 shots in her appearance, as her break was empty and the distribution from it led to three errors during the game for various offenses. Next up, Hannah, the Royal Crowns rookie, makes her second career appearance in 8-ball with the blue cue. Hannah needed 22 shots for this game, narrowly missing anything on the break, but she also stayed error-free in the appearance. Maplewood Lumberjacks captain Fluffina gets the next game, shooting Rotation with the red cue. Fluffina left the table furious after another bad game, taking two errors after making a ball on the break, and then having to chase the 12 around to ruin what had the chance of being a good game that ended in 32 shots. The last player in the group is the 35th to shoot this weekend. That player is North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie captain Peach, who shoots 8-ball with the red cue. Peach was nearly perfect in this appearance, making two balls on the break and then ending the game with 16 shots and no errors after a showing of very precise shots.

Batch eight gets going with Atlantic Pirates rookie Klaus shooting 9-ball with the blue cue. Klaus had his best game so far, taking the game in a simple 9 shots with no errors after making the 8 from the break in a spectacular outing. Continuing along, the 37th player of the weekend is Boston Swifts veteran Puff II, who has the silver cue up for 12-ball. Puff II drilled two balls in on the break, and then had no errors during the course of play, moving efficiently through the rack in 18 shots for a good game. Lexi of the Harrison Specters plays the next game, using the red cue to shoot 8-ball in her second appearance with the team. Lexi had a rough start and a shaky shooting stance, getting nothing on the break and taking an error in the 22 shots she was at the table for. Moving along, Boston Swifts mainstay Sweetheart uses the silver cue in her 12-ball qualifier. Sweetheart looked like a wizard, making two balls on the break and nearly a third, and then doing her set-up work early, enabling a long run. She had no errors, and after a second set-up sequence, she ended with 15 shots, top of the heap so far. Icing this group, Eastside Sharks sophomore Niki plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Niki made a ball on the break, and seemed to do fine until she had to attack the 6, which gave her problems. She ended with two errors in 17 shots for the game, still a reasonable effort, but wanting for better.

Group nine opens with Chris, the Sharpshooters captain, playing 12-ball with the blue cue in this appearance, his fifth of the season. Chris got nothing from his break, and he struggled in shooting the whole game, needing 28 shots with two errors mixed in to escape the rack. Up next, his teammate on the Sharpshooters, Sprinkles, uses the blue cue for 10-ball. Sprinkles had a disappointing game, taking nothing on the break and then spreading three errors throughout her game, which eventually ended with 19 shots in a poor showing. The 43rd shooter of the weekend is Stealth of the Swordpoint Blades, who keeps the blue cue active for 9-ball. Stealth had another early finish in this game, going empty on the break but still needing only 9 shots with no errors after he deflected the cue lightly off the 7 to pot the 9 at the bottom right. Moving along, Puff I of the Modernistic Union plays 15-ball with the silver cue. Puff I had a fairly uneventful game, taking nothing on the break (although there were many close calls), and then only one error in the game before finishing with an average 27 shots. The group ends with Bear, the Whitewater Shores captain shooting 10-ball with the blue cue. Bear made two balls on the break and still had time to take an error for a scratch in the game, ending with 12 shots in the appearance, a good mark.

The tenth group is led off by Kayla of the Royal Crowns, who plays Rotation with the silver cue. Kayla did make a ball on the break, and she had control of the game early on, until about two-thirds through. At that point, she got erratic, but finished with 29 shots and six errors, most by design. The 47th player of the weekend is Puff III of the Everton Eagles, who will use the red cue in her Rotation game. Puff III had a very good game, getting nothing on the break and accumulating five errors among just 23 shots, showing complete domination in the game. Following that, Princess, the superstar captain of the Tysini Hummingbirds, uses the silver cue in 10-ball. Princess went empty on her break, and then had one error among 19 shots for the rest of the game, a mediocre outing for the star player. Next up, Terrace City Knights star Jennifer Livilotti shoots 10-ball with the red cue. Jennifer hawked the 10 after an empty break, and avoided any errors while doing so, needing 11 shots before she deflected off the 6 to pot the 10 in the top right. Finishing the group, Nighthawks rookie Luigi plays 10-ball with the red cue. Luigi made a ball on the break, starting a dominant effort that saw him pin the 10 near the bottom left but never get a good look at a combination. He settled for an error-free 14 shots for the game, still a wonderful outing.

Bunch eleven starts with Gradley of the Boston Swifts shooting 9-ball with the red cue in his third game of the year. Gradley fell apart after making a ball on the break, collapsing to 20 shots with one error as he proved unable to lock in his shot effectively. Bryant of the Maplewood Lumberjacks gets the next game, shooting 15-ball with the silver cue after many days off. Bryant turned in another sparkling performance, taking a ball on the break and then erring on his terms, collecting five of them but also only 22 shots for the game, a remarkable output from the veteran who might be making a late star turn. Continuing along, Bells, the Todavía Stills newcomer, plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Bells had nothing on her break, and she needed 16 shots with one error to get through a fairly normal game without much in the way of oddity. The 54th player drawn to shoot this weekend is Modernistic Union draft choice Strawberry, who is set to play 8-ball with the red cue in her second appearance with the team. Strawberry showed a bit of rust after a long layoff, making a ball on the break but sputtering on her early shots. She settled in and finished with one error and 21 shots in total for the game, a decent showing. At the back of the group, Twinkie III of the Whitewater Shores plays 9-ball with the blue cue. Twinkie III had a poor outing, taking two errors after an empty break that saw one of those errors, a scratch. She needed 17 shots for the game, and didn't look confident in her shots.

The night begins with the twelfth group of the weekend, and the 56th player, who is Dreamy, the Blades veteran, shooting 12-ball with the red cue. Dreamy seemed a bit lethargic in her game, taking two balls on the break and then sputtering to 24 shots as she worked around the table, with only one error included. Next up, Oceanside Waves veteran Caitlin plays 12-ball as well with the red cue. Caitlin had a wonderful first half to her game, but that was offset by a dreadful second half. Early on, she had two balls on the break to pace herself with, but a cluster developed and proved hard to organize, leading to three errors and 24 shots. Continuing along, Twinkie I of the Lighton Prestige is set to use the silver cue in 10-ball. Twinkie I was pleased with her performance in the game, as she needed only 17 shots with nothing from the break and no errors to complete the qualifier. The 59th player of the weekend is Archtown Arrows stalwart Sleepy B., who returns the red cue to action with more 12-ball. Sleepy B. put in a decent outing for an empty break, taking only one error late on a scratch as she tried to set up a stubborn shot. She ended up with 23 shots for the game, good enough by the circumstances of the game. Closing out the group, Central Warriors superstar Dustin plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Dustin didn't quite get anything on his break, but he was very sharp in the game, taking only 10 shots as he ended on an 8-10 bank combination to the top right, and he had no errors for the game.

The thirteenth group opens with Victoria Spurs rookie Wario shooting 10-ball with the red cue. Wario has not had the best of times recently, and this game was more of the same, with an empty break and three errors causing his score to run up to 22 shots in a game lacking much authority in his shooting. Moving along, Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge shoots 10-ball with the silver cue. Smudge had a poor game, needing 23 shots and two errors after an empty break to clear off the rack, including chasing the last four balls for much of the latter shots. Going 63rd this weekend, Union stalwart Puff I wraps up her qualifiers with the blue cue in Accuracy, the fourth player to finish. Puff I had a slow start, but she finished well, closing with 19 shots and no errors despite the empty break. For the overall session, she ended with a currently league-leading 152 shots. Following that, the Stills' Bells plays 12-ball with the red cue. Bells followed the Sunday night protocol for the event, starting well and then fading in a ball of fire, as she made a ball on the break and then had a late error and a cringe-worthy mistake en route to taking 23 shots to clear the table. The group closes with Maplewood Lumberjacks veteran Diddley playing 12-ball with the red cue as well, with the hopes of accurate finishing skill. Diddley made two balls on the break and then took a composed stance as he worked to set up his shots, eventually clearing the table in an error-free 21 shots, a good outing.

The last group of the weekend kicks off with Westside Rockers stalwart Goatee playing 10-ball with the blue cue. Goatee had nothing from the break, and she did take an error for illegal contact early on, but she did well to finish the game with 17 shots after that point. The 67th player of the weekend is the Prestige's Twinkie I, who will play 12-ball with the red cue in this appearance, her fifth of the year. Twinkie I had a ball on the break, and kept her momentum going for the whole game, as she took no errors and finished the appearance in 17 shots, a very strong outing for the veteran. Next up, Swordpoint Blades rookie Bandit plays 8-ball with the red cue in his second career appearance. Bandit showed impeccable control after going empty on a break that barely shattered at all, as he took no errors and finished the game in 17 shots, a very quick pace for the inexperienced player. Moving along, Shadow, the Web City Spiders captain shoots Rotation with the blue cue. Shadow had a dazzling performance, making a ball from the break and then taking only one error in an easily navigable rack, ending with 19 shots to top the event's leaderboard. Finally, the weekend ends with Klaus, the Atlantic Pirates rookie, shooting 10-ball with the blue cue. Klaus made a ball on the break, and then he had one error for missed contact before closing the game on 14 shots, a very good outing for the league newcomer.

We'll be back to standard coverage during the week, as we are nearly at halfway done with qualifiers for this tournament year.