UPCL Cricket - Week 12 Part 3

It's the final segment of the Week 12 action. We begin with an intriguing match in...

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige turn to Black Magic in an attempt to sweep the Pirates, who would take over 1st place with a win that would make them perfect on a four-game road trip. Delila didn't get a good start for Atlantic, tallying a measly 21 points to start the game. Acorn found a decent rhythm, but collapsed before finishing with 327 for Lighton to hold the early lead. Isabella showed impressive command and placement on her swings for the Pirates, pulling them ahead with 887. Spirit got a good portion of it back despite a poor pace, grabbing 523 for the Prestige to make it a close game. Americus shot back with 670 for Atlantic on her turn, padding their lead quite nicely. Twinkie I got knocked down by a deflection, scoring only 150 as Lighton appears to be in line for a loss. Klaus ripped another 743 for the Pirates, bringing their final score to 2321. Salmo had only 208 for the Prestige, leaving them at 1208 in the loss. Atlantic will claim first place at 17-7, while Lighton slides to 9-12 in the loss.

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Three Cities Invitational in the eastern region begins with the Tridents opening an eight-game home stand against the Rockers, who are trying to retake first place. Misty was solid in her opening attack for Westside, nabbing 408 to begin. Precious answered by lining 590 for Pronger, giving the hosts a noticeable lead initially. Goatee couldn't cover the deficit, taking only 128 as the Rockers find themselves in trouble. Zach flipped 361 for the Tridents on his turn, adding a bit to their lead at the halfway mark of the game. Midnight tried to be aggressive but ended up bowing out early with a meager 82 for Westside, their slump in danger of continuing. Spot rolled his way to 316 for Pronger, keeping them in the lead without much of a challenge expected late in the game. Slinks gave the Rockers a chance, striking 742 to bring their final to 1360, forcing a response from the hosts. Potter answered with 337 for the Tridents, giving them 1604 in the win. Pronger pulls off an upset to move to 10-9, while shuffling Westside back to bottom of the top tier at 14-7.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles begin a home doubleheader, with the Spurs in first for game 2 of the Invitational. Victoria got going with a modest 329 from Spice, who had an improvement over more recent performances. Goldy couldn't get Everton on track early on, putting them slightly behind with her 281 as their quest to reclaim first starts slowly. Yekaterina tried a double-tap on her backhand, but ended up taking her own wicket out, ending her turn at a decent 337 for the Spurs. Puff III belted 1173 for the Eagles in response, giving them a large lead at the halfway point. B. Chapman mitigated the damage quite well, bashing 1050 back for Victoria to cover the deficit. Kirstin fell apart with a pathetic 33 for Everton, drastically hurting their offense as they're behind with a player each to go. Wario tried to hit two at once and failed miserably, ending at 360 to give the Spurs 2076 overall. Blizzard came up just a bit short, as her 517 put the Eagles at 2004 in the narrow loss. Victoria pulled off a massive upset to get to 9-14, while Everton collapses backwards to 16-8.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles try to salvage this doubleheader, but a fierce Northeast Division rival, the Warriors, don't want to be bumped from the top tier either. Twilight hammed 859 right off the bat for Central, setting the tone in what should be a thriller game. Goldy kept it somewhat close with 490 for Everton, a decent starting point if her team can support her. Dustin shot back with a well-paced 694 for the Warriors, clearly making a statement against his former team about their cutting him three years ago. Puff III fired back with 896 for the Eagles on her turn, shrinking the deficit dramatically at the halfway mark. Mario supplied Central with another 455, a decent output but maybe a bit light in this hard-fought game. Kirstin just about kept up with 441 for Everton, and while they trail with a player each to go, it's anyone's game. Gizmo hit a bit lightly, ending on 295 to give the Warriors a final of 2303, which is certainly not safe. Blizzard was short again, ending on 280 for the Eagles as they lost with 2107. Central earned a statement win to start a six-game road trip, going to 15-7 while Everton drops to 16-9, potentially exiting the top tier based on how the week ends.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The action shifts to Freedom, as they play the middle of a three-game home stand against the Surfers, who are wrapping up a four-game road trip. Watermelon batted a decent 312 for Pearl to open the game. Jasmine had an awkward batting stance after she stopped a ball just before the wicket, but then had to carefully poke her way to 386 for Freedom, giving them a slight edge. Neopolitan kept a very quick turn at a high pace to score 476 for the Surfers, giving them a stronger second lead. Stinky couldn't quite keep up with 397 for the Cascades, but the game remains tight at the halfway point. Boots put up another big road game, cranking out 1060 to put Pearl in a more significant lead. Roxy couldn't match that, ending at 424 as Freedom appears to be falling too far behind in this one. Wings hit a timely 169 to bring the Surfers to 2017, and potentially left them a bit vulnerable. Nikolai managed only 295 for the Cascades, and they ended in a loss with 1502. Pearl rises to 11-10, while Freedom slips to 7-9, slowly losing their grip on this season.

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents play their second of eight straight at home against the Shores, who wrap up a two-game trip in the 5th game of the Three Cities Invitational. Bear led off with a decent mark of 417 for Whitewater, establishing their offense in fine form. Precious countered with a bit 712 for Pronger, giving them the initial lead. Twinkie III shot back with 416 for the Shores, covering the deficit with another solid performance. Zach supplemented the Tridents' offense with another 731, strengthening their lead at the halfway point. Marsell faltered at 112 for Whitewater, failing to cover the deficit as the visitors are now in trouble. Spot went even bigger for Pronger, chopping 879 on his turn to pad their lead in what's looking like a firm win. Shaggy showed strong control skills, but not much pace in scoring 365 for the Shores, which set their losing final score at 1310. Potter capped a big and balanced Tridents win with 616 individually for 2938 overall. Pronger continues to play well in getting to 11-9, while Whitewater falls away at 7-9.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades and Prestige could each use this game to get back on track, as the Prestige start a three-game trip when the Cascades end a three-game home stand to close the Three Cities Invitational. Acorn struck 473 for Lighton at the start of the game, going at a quick pace to get there. Jasmine had a decent response with 336 for Freedom, but the hosts will begin this game behind. Spirit stepped up with 604 for the Prestige, extending the visitors' lead quite nicely in the second attack. Stinky went down with 256 for the Cascades after mishitting a ball, growing the deficit at the halfway mark. Twinkie I slapped another 414 for Lighton, continuing to boost their lead throughout the game. Roxy hit a measly 64 for Freedom, further hurting their chances at a comeback. Salmo padded the Prestige lead with 570 more, giving them their final of 2061 in what should be a win. Nikolai impressed with a double-hit going forward and a perfectly-placed backhand to the back 6s, but his 479 left the Cascades short at 1135. Lighton's win carries them to 10-12, while Freedom is 7-10 after the loss.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores return home just as the neighboring Tradewinds finish a three-game road trip in this Urban Divisional and Industrial Derby. Tigerette began with a big 543 for Commerce, giving them a good start against their rival. Bear unleashed 926 for Whitewater in response, giving them a much stronger initial lead. Ice Cream fired back with 672 for the Tradewinds, covering the deficit to put a bit more pressure on the hosts. Twinkie III kept things solid with 703 for the Shores, maintaining their advantage at the midway mark. Lionel again helped Commerce cover the deficit, gathering 609 in a fairly successful turn. Marsell finally showed a crack in Whitewater's offense, hitting only 258 to barely cover the deficit with a player each to go. Lorde tapped 231 for the Tradewinds, giving them a final of 2055 to force one more response from the hosts. Shaggy stayed true with 382 for the Shores, lifting them to a win on 2269. Whitewater improves to 8-9 with the win, while Commerce is 9-13 now, stunting their comeback.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers try to bounce back from a recent disappointment, facing the Wolves as they start a five-game road trip. Juno got started in strong form for Stonebridge, smacking 520 on the first turn. Misty was a little off-put by a close call at the back 4s, but held on to pick up 423 for Westside, keeping the game close initially. Frosty kept the Wolves in the lead with 377 on her turn, a decent performance from the veteran. Goatee suffered quite a letdown with only 69 for the Rockers, putting them far back at the midway mark. Cobalt faltered with 225 for Stonebridge, failing to add much to the lead when he had the chance. Midnight covered the deficit with 664 for Westside, setting up a close finish between the two teams. Prism gathered 380 for the Wolves on her turn, forcing the hosts into a response as the visitors close with 1502. Slinks showed poise under pressure in the end, smacking 569 to give the Rockers 1725 and the much-needed win to stay in the top-tier fight. Westside improves to 15-7, while Stonebridge drops to 11-17.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks still seek their first home win, but the high-flying Warriors don't want to give it to them. Twilight led things off with 479 for Central, a decent mark that gives the visitors something to build on. Chelsea had a good pace going for Eastside, but she slipped up at 232 and the hosts will play from behind again. Dustin levied another 620 for the Warriors, extending their lead quite a bit in the good game. Taylor put in a strong effort with 408 for the Sharks, but they remain behind halfway through the game. Mario exploded forward for Central, padding their lead with a massive 941 on an excellent turn. Niki countered with a big 739 for Eastside, but they still have failed to put dents in the deficit this late in the game. Gizmo chipped an extra 424 for the Warriors, sealing their offense at 2464 overall. Paps took an optional replay in hopes of making a comeback, but a whiffed backhand attempt ended his turn at 368, and the Sharks lost with 1747. Central is up to 16-7 on the year, getting closer to the top of the stack, while Eastside is down to 7-16.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades look to take sole possession of second place, facing an inconsistent Spiders side. Shadow slapped an even 400 for Web City on his opening turn, a firm start for the visitors. Snowball answered with 470 for Swordpoint, edging the hosts ahead in what's shaping up to be a tough game. Ted added quite a bit of support with 512 for the Spiders, easily covering the deficit this time. Dreamy launched 662 for the Blades, keeping them ahead of her brother's team at the midway point. Shiny got a ball caught behind her bat, which took out her stumps on the backswing, ending her turn at 128 for Web City. Bandit punished the mistake with ruthless precision on his hits, battering 656 for Swordpoint to add a lot to the lead. Dani chipped 310 for the Spiders, leaving them far short of the mark at 1350 in the loss. Stealth iced the Blades win with his 265, giving them a total of 2053. Swordpoint is up to 19-8 for the year, while Web City slides to 10-17. Swordpoint could be in first to close the week depending on the next game's result.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Week 12 finale sees the Rockers start a three-game road trip against the league-leading Pirates, who need to break a four-game skid at home. Misty had only 296 for Westside at the start, a poorer outing for the captain. Delila broke her personal slump a bit, taking 417 to set Atlantic ahead marginally at the start. Goatee got stuck with two balls behind her bat, and sent a third one straight out of bounds, ending at 257 for the struggling Rockers. Isabella ha a terrible appearance, taking a pathetic 16 for the Pirates, who have fallen out of the lead after that. Midnight took advantage of the misstep, paddling 571 for Westside to take a larger lead with for the first time in the game. Americus had a wonderful pace for Atlantic, but didn't last long enough, ending on 329 as they remain in a significant deficit. Slinks ripped another 607 for the Rockers, giving them a final of 1731. Klaus plucked 433 for the Pirates, but they ended up losing with 1195. Westside survives this top-tier battle to get to 16-7, passing the now 17-8 Atlantic side.

A flurry of action this week has repainted the top of the standings, which will be posted shortly, along with the Players of the Week on @UnitedPCL on Twitter.

UPCL Cricket - Week 12 Part 2

We're onto the middle segment of the week. This one begins with...

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors' last home game before a long trip comes against one of the most road-tested teams. Misty was way off target with her turn, taking a poor 64 for Westside as they'll start from a bad position. Twilight asserted Central very early on, smashing 740 on her opening turn to build up a big lead. Goatee tapped 243 for the Rockers, doing very little to help them attack the deficit. Dustin shot back with 386 for the Warriors, doing well enough to add a bit to their lead at the halfway mark. Midnight added to the long line of mediocre efforts from Westside in this game, taking a shaky 160 as they remain in deep trouble. Mario fell with a measly 76, after a backhand attempt didn't have enough to get to safety, with Central maintaining a late lead. Slinks had a paltry 97 for the Rockers, finishing their embarrassing loss at 564 total. Gizmo produced 368 for the Warriors, ending their efforts at 1570 in the win. Central improves to 14-7, just a half-game behind the now 14-6 Westside team. The top of the league could experience significant change.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs open a five-game home stand, while the Tradewinds look to keep rolling in the second of a three-game road trip. Tigerette produced a reasonable output of 295 for Commerce to lead things off. Panda responded much stronger for Southern, swatting 735 to give them a significant lead. Ice Cream had some trouble controlling her swing, and this combined with a deflection to end her turn at only 53 for the Tradewinds. Hoppy pulled her own weight well for the Monarchs, tacking on 472 to extend their lead nicely at the halfway mark. Lionel came up big, slamming his way to 919 as he covered the deficit Commerce had been facing. Pounce continues to find comfort in Southern, collecting 677 this time to restore a slightly smaller lead with the final players up next. Lorde got some of it back with 359 on her turn, but the Tradewinds fell with 1626 total in the loss. Shannon tapped 324 for the Monarchs, giving them the win with 2208. Southern jumps to 8-16, while Commerce slips back to 9-12.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are a team on the rise, and the lowly Specters will try to interfere with that. Sydney did very well for Harrison in the opening turn, carving out 529 to stake out their offense. Patches faltered with 160 for Boston in this game, putting them behind early on. Twinkie II added quite a bit of support for the Specters, tallying 661 in a strong appearance for the captain. Puff II fired back with 586 for the Swifts, keeping them in the game at the midway mark despite a noticeable deficit. Lexi stood her ground for Harrison, batting 423 in a solid performance to maintain the lead. Gradley got a bit distracted on his turn, falling at 361 as Boston lost a bit more ground late in the game. Sugar didn't have the biggest game, ending on 281 individually to put the Specters at 1894 total. Sweetheart took an aggressive pace for the Swifts, but it failed when she fell at 215, giving them 1322 in the loss. Harrison is having a good week, getting up to 6-19, while Boston is slipping to 11-10 on the year.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Meteors return after two weeks off to host the Waves in a Coastal Divisional. Snuggle had quite the pace going for Oceanside before a technical error forced him to stop, and he accepted 584 to lead things off. Mams answered very efficiently for Viewpoint Sound, ripping 665 to put them slightly ahead early on. Caitlin got dinged for a mandatory replay after playing through a technical error, but it all worked out when she ended with 578 for the Waves, covering the deficit with ease. Hoot couldn't cover the deficit the other way, ending on 336 for the Meteors as they fall behind at the midway mark. Celesita picked up a decent 304 for Oceanside, doing what she could to hold the lead steady. Nibbles kept things even as well, gathering 327 for Viewpoint Sound to remain in striking distance late in the game. Dewey stepped up nicely with 487 for the Waves, bringing their final score to 1953. Dominic made a decent rally for the Meteors, but the marginal gains he made with 500 left them at 1828, short of victory. Oceanside improves to 15-13, while Viewpoint Sound drops down to 7-12 in a hard-fought battle.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds play in three of the next four, including a pair of tough home games, the first against the top-tier Pirates. Delila earned an optional replay for a technical error, and she took it, ending on 463 the second time around for a good start for Atlantic. Princess kept things close for Tysini on her turn, scoring 410 for a tight start. Isabella slipped up for the Pirates, hitting only 200 in a weak performance that leaves them vulnerable. Leandra made up the deficit with a quick 449 for the Hummingbirds, giving them the lead at the halfway mark. Her mother, Americus, answered in a big way for Atlantic, pummeling 919 to put them in a much firmer lead. Charli replied with 408 for Tysini, getting some of the damage covered but not enough as the final players come to bat. Klaus provided a nice bit of support for the Pirates, slashing 497 to get them to 2079 overall. Brownie seems to be slumping for the Hummingbirds, taking only 96 to leave them at 1363 in the loss. Atlantic's win keeps the competitive at 16-7 in a tie for second place, while Tysini drops to 7-13.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters return home on a bit of a run, facing a Torpedoes team in the thick of the top-tier fight as they close a four-game road trip. Smudge leaned back too much on her turn, lifting a ball out of play to end with only 51 points for Infinity. Sydney laid the foundations for an upset, slugging 1277 for Harrison to lead off what's shaping up to be another win. Solaris did a massive service for the Torpedoes, blasting 2024 to not only cover the deficit but create a large lead for the visitors. Twinkie II, still a bit awestruck, only had 153 in reply for the Specters, putting them behind. Whiskers rallied for Infinity as well, poking 764 to extend their lead quite nicely. Lexi had a pathetic 33 for Harrison, confirming their inability to keep up after Solaris' counterattack. Mr. Snowman chipped 240 for the Torpedoes, icing their win at 3079. Sugar had only 51 for the Specters, and they fell with a total of 1514. Infinity stays in the fight by going to 15-7, while Harrison falls to 6-20.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds are back, taking on Southwest Division rivals in the Blades, who are another team in the tangle at the top. Snowball got things going in good form, taking 543 for Swordpoint to begin with. Princess just edged ahead, going at a better pace but a shorter time to score 552 for Tysini to take a minor lead on. Dreamy didn't quite match her last road game, but 497 was good enough for the Blades to retake a lead. Leandra went the other way for the Hummingbirds, besting her captain to knock 654 and give the hosts a better lead at the halfway mark. Bandit made quite the impact for Swordpoint, belting 963 to give them a massive lead. Charli got knocked back at 155 for Tysini, with a deflection ending her turn far short of the deficit. Stealth crisply added 511 more for the Blades on his turn, giving them a sturdy final score of 2514. Brownie hit 439 for the Hummingbirds, leaving them at 1800 in the loss. Swordpoint is the latest high-ranked team to win, moving to 17-8, while Tysini drops again to 7-14.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames have a good chance of getting a win against a fatigued and reeling Hummingbirds side. Princess showed the fatigue for Tysini, failing to corral a ball on her backhand that bounced around and ended her turn at 171. Crystal surged forward for Queens, giving them a massive lead with 875 on her opening attack. The Hummingbirds' Leandra flailed in her short appearance, ending on only 69 points as the visitors are in a deep hole early. Paige didn't help Tysini very much with 224 on her turn, a poor outing but enough to maintain the lead for now. Charli managed only a meager 96 for Tysini, slicing a ball a bit too high to end her turn prematurely. Violetta added a little bit more for Queens, picking up 320 on her turn to keep the lead in their favor. Brownie had only 246 for the Hummingbirds, leaving them looking flat in a loss with 582. Max went pretty well for the Flames, collecting 448 to give them 1867 total in the win. Queens improves to 16-11 with the win, while Tysini's season is heading towards being lost at 7-15.

GE Stadium, Southridge. The Defenders look to keep a good season going in the third of a four-game home stand against the well-rested Shores, who are playing only their fifth road game so far. Bear provided a stable opener for Whitewater, chipping his way to 463 to lead off. Bianca crushed 1319 for Southridge in response, with big performance setting the hosts far ahead initially. Twinkie III made a decent cut into the deficit, cobbling together 410 for the Shores. The Defenders answered even stronger, as their captain Debby slammed 607 to extend the lead at the midway mark. Marsell made even more progress for Whitewater, churning out 796 to shrink the deficit. Stephanie contributed 240 for Southridge, leaving their lead a bit smaller with a player each to go. Shaggy stepped up with 552 for the Shores, forcing a response from the hosts as the visitors close with 2221. Hughbert added 449 for the Defenders, carrying them to a win with 2615. Southridge is up to 13-13, passing the now 7-8 Whitewater side.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks look to get closer to the top tier, while the Blades look to ascend through it in a battle of high-scoring teams. Snowball set the tone early in game 1, annihilating with 1295 and a powerful swing to give Swordpoint a huge lead. Peach kept pace for the most part, drilling 1125 for North Modernistic to keep the game close early on. Dreamy helped the Blades to double down, nearly matching her captain with 1216 to extend the lead again. Luigi fell off the pace a bit for the Nighthawks, spiraling for a bit before finishing on a still-strong 766. Bandit washed that out effectively for Swordpoint, striking 874 to keep their lead extremely strong. North Modernistic appears a bit outmatched in this one, as Cheddar bounced a ball to end with 529 in a decent outing. Stealth just helped the Blades reach lofty heights, as his 625 set them at 4010 overall in what should be a win, and also the fourteenth-ever 4K team effort. Bright contributed 554 for the Nighthawks, setting them at 2974 in a high-scoring loss. Swordpoint is up to 18-8, challenging near the top of the league, while North Modernistic is unlucky to fall to 15-10.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills are back in action for their league-leading 30th game, facing the Gems in the second of their three-game road trip. Smokey kept the high pace theme going from the last game, but he only lasted long enough to score 400 for Diamond's first attack. Easter gave Todavía a small lead, poking her way to 505 to set her side ahead. Citrus barely covered the deficit with 128 for the Gems, getting a bit distracted during her turn. Sierra didn't get a lot better, but her 257 added modestly to the Stills lead halfway through the game. Pedey couldn't pull off a double-flick with his backhand, ending at a paltry 36 for Diamond as their game has gone downhill fast. Sparkles took advantage of the mistake, helping lead Todavía to a safer lead as she struck a large 647. Rosalina faltered at 103 for the Gems, and they took a heavy loss with 667 total. Bells rallied with 570 more for the Stills, icing their winning mark at 1979. Todavía dominated to get to 15-15 on the year, while Diamond slips to 10-19 with the poor performance.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: A varying segment ends with two struggling teams squaring off in the Southwest. Chelsea got things going very well for Eastside, rallying for 652 to set them off in the right direction for once. Spice edged Victoria ahead with a similarly strong outing, taking 682 to keep the game close. Taylor replied with 344 for the Sharks, making their second lead about half as strong as their first. Yekaterina countered very well for the Spurs, blasting 1044 to give them quite a lead at the midway point. Niki did well to take 538 for Eastside, but that wasn't enough to cover the deficit they faced. B. Chapman slipped up at 112 for Victoria, making them a bit more vulnerable with a player each to go. Paps put up a big rally with 975 for the Sharks, setting their final at 2509, forcing the hosts into a big response. Wario came up short with 471 for the Spurs, leaving them at 2309 in the loss. Eastside's big rally for the win sends them to 7-15, just a game behind Victoria as they move to 8-14.

That's all for this segment. My hope is to publish the Week 12 finale tonight.

UPCL Cricket - Week 12 Part 1

We're back as the league prepares to reach 1/3 completion of the season this week. We begin with...

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers look to take a chance at first as they close a four-game home stand, while the Monarchs wrap up a five-game road trip here as well. Southern started off slow, as Panda managed only 198 on his turn, a slow-paced effort from the visiting captain. Misty was a bit better for Westside, pulling in 327 in a decent performance to give the hosts an early lead. Hoppy posted 248 for the Monarchs, covering the deficit but not by much in a mediocre outing from the rookie. Goatee unleashed 1255 for the Rockers, a massive outing that put them firmly in the lead at the halfway mark. Pounce responded with only 266 for Southern, far from helpful in attacking the deficit. Midnight swatted another 934 for Westside, padding their lead significantly as it looks like they will take this game. Shannon struggled to find her swing on a cluttered pitch, and her 18 points left the Monarchs at 730 in the loss. Slinks added 941 more for the Rockers, putting their big total output at 3457. Westside improves to 14-5, while Southern is 7-16.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: Southwestern rivals in need of a boost meet, with the Hummingbirds in line to sweep the Prestige this season. Princess set Tysini on a fast track, taking 809 to give them a large lead early on. Acorn couldn't even come close to matching that, ending at 291 for Lighton, who will start from behind this game. Leandra chipped her way to 64 for the Hummingbirds, an erratic and short performance from the usually reliable star. Spirit picked up the slack for the Prestige, ripping 679 to put them ahead at the halfway mark of the game. Charli tried to save her turn for Tysini with a backhand flick and then a spike play, but it all failed and she ended on 170, putting her team in a vulnerable spot. Twinkie I maintained a Lighton lead with a light 202, giving them the slight edge as the final players come to bat. Brownie replied with a massive 829 for the Hummingbirds, giving them some late hope as they close with 1872. Salmo couldn't cover the deficit with 280 for the Prestige, ending their effort at 1452 in a loss. Tysini gets their sweep, going to 7-12 with a 3-2 division record, while Lighton is 9-11 and 1-4 in the division.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades hope to keep a good season going as they end a four-game home stand, while the Crowns want to snap their seven-game skid. Nightfur knocked 445 at the start for Royal, a good opening attack. Swordpoint answered back with a great game from Snowball, who lined 769 to put the hosts in the initial leading position. Jake couldn't get the right angle on his backhand swing, ending up at 28 points after sending it out of bounds for the Crowns. Dreamy didn't add much for the Blades, posting a weak 138 on her turn to add to their lead. Kayla pulled Royal ahead at least temporarily with her 617-point appearance, a good effort. Bandit fought off that attack with 512 himself for Swordpoint, keeping the hosts at a substantial advantage with a player each to go. Hannah put up 336 for the Crowns, but they couldn't cover the deficit, losing with 1426. Stealth tapped 300 to seal the Blades win at 1719. Swordpoint jumps to 16-8, while Royal is down to 6-14 in an eighth-straight loss.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems try to close their three-game home stand well, while the Pirates face a division rival in the second of a four-game road trip. Delila's hot streak for Atlantic came to an abrupt end when she scored a meager 135 this time out. Smokey had a very bad game for Diamond, taking a measly 24 points to start things off. Isabella answered with 402 for the Pirates, giving them a bit more of a lead the second time around. Citrus kept things close, scooping up 503 for the Gems to get them a little closer at the midway point of the game. Americus was not strong for Atlantic, taking only 126 to put their lead in a more vulnerable position. Pedey couldn't recover for Diamond, producing only 122 after trying to triple-hit carefully with a ball behind his bat for added trouble. Klaus cobbled 392 together for the Pirates, putting their final score at 1105, which might be enough in this low-scoring battle. Rosalina put in a challenge with 335 for the Gems, but this left them at 984 in the loss. Atlantic survives a rough game to go to 15-7, while Diamond is 9-18 in a rapidly developing lost season.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts need this game to keep their ascent going, while the Eagles want to retake first place again. Goldy had a fairly strong outing for Everton, leading things off with 426 for the visitors. Patches did not back down for Boston, striking back with 433 to give the hosts a very narrow lead initially. Puff III did better for the Eagles, pounding 624 to give them a bigger lead the second time around. Puff II couldn't be controlled, as the Swifts star bashed 1064 to give them the lead once again at the midway mark. Kirstin couldn't keep up with the escalation in attack, ending at a paltry 110 for Everton as they've fallen behind. Gradley was fairly steady with 376 for Boston, adding a bit to their lead before the final players take their turns. Blizzard couldn't recover the deficit, ending on 112 for the Eagles, which gave them a losing final of 1272 as their road skid hits four games. Sweetheart accepted 330 despite earning an optional replay, and this gave the Swifts 2203 in the win. Boston is up to 11-9, while Everton slips to 16-7, leaving the Rockers alone at the top.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders end a six-game home stand with the Orange and Black Derby, hosting the Knights, who are seeking a season sweep in the first of a road doubleheader in the Northeast. Kiwi got things going favorably for Terrace City, ripping 823 at the start to set them ahead well. Shadow fired back with 539 for Web City, keeping them in range despite a noticeable deficit. Jennifer slipped up with 96 for the Knights, leaving them a bit more vulnerable in the rivalry game. Ted couldn't get his swing aligned, ending on a poor 39 for the Spiders as they remain behind. Oreo chopped back with 752 for Terrace City, extending their lead quite nicely with the good performance. Shiny was taken down by a poor deflection, ending with only 92 as Web City has lost most hope of getting back in this game. Stripes carved out 650 more for the Knights, putting their final at 2321 in what should be a win. Dani fell with 327 for the Spiders, giving them 997 overall in the loss. Terrace City is up to 15-8 for the year, while Web City drops to 10-15 with the loss and the sweep against them.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks try to get back on track this year, hosting the Knights as they finish a road doubleheader in the Northeast. Kiwi opened the scoring very well for Terrace City, supplying them with 562 to stake out an initial lead. Fluffina couldn't produce much of an answer for Maplewood, getting struck down at 92 as the hosts play from behind again. Jennifer tapped 240 in response for the Knights, adding modestly to their lead as the teams settle into the groove of the game. Diddley made up some ground for the Lumberjacks at the halfway mark, putting up 456 in a decent turn. Oreo faltered at 58 for Terrace City, weakening their lead as she couldn't adjust her bat in time to swing at a ball. Bryant nearly covered the deficit in full for Maplewood, tallying 282 in an acceptable turn giving the low-scoring in the game. Stripes drilled 750 for the Knights on her turn, bringing their final to a lofty 1610. Waluigi ended at 264 for the Lumberjacks, and their final fell short at 1094. Terrace City is 16-8 on the year, while Maplewood is 12-16 now.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters start a home doubleheader against another struggling team in the Spurs, who are out for a one-off road game. Spice wasn't sure what went wrong, but she had only 125 for Victoria in a very poor outing. Sydney was a little bit better for Harrison, but her 245 only gives the hosts a moderate lead. Yekaterina couldn't break free of the low scores, but she cancelled out the initial damage, taking 245 for the Spurs to regain a small lead with. Twinkie II blew the game open at the halfway mark with 623 for the Specters, giving them a sizeable lead. B. Chapman made things worse for Victoria, falling with a meager 99 as their comeback hopes take a hit. Lexi kept Harrison going in the right direction, adding 240 to their lead before the final players come to bat. Wario stepped up with a big performance for the Spurs, but his 465, while nearly doubling their offense, left them at 934 in the loss. Sugar capped the Specters win with 294 individually for 1402 overall. Harrison is 5-18 after the win, while Victoria sinks to 8-13 in the loss.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters wrap up the doubleheader with the Pilots coming to town in their short two-game road trip. Valencia had a bit of a down appearance for Golden, collecting only 198 to start off their offensive efforts. Sydney was unable to put up a challenge for Harrison, failing at just 28 points. Dusty got the Pilots going in the right direction, appropriately hitting 737 to pad their lead very nicely. Twinkie II couldn't provide a solid answer for the Specters, giving them only 209 as their offense is weak at the midway point. Strut tapped another 305 to keep Golden on a successful path in what's been a blowout so far. Lexi put up a good fight with 543 for Harrison, trying to get them within range late in the game. A. Charlton cranked out 550 for the Pilots, putting their final score at a strong 1790. Sugar couldn't even get close for the Specters, ending on a mediocre 218 to bring their overall score to 998 in the loss. Golden jumps to 13-8, while Harrison slides back to 5-19.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows kick off a four-game home stand against Northeast Division rivals, the Spiders. Shadow's road slump continued as he played aggressively and paid for it quickly with a measly 39 points to start the Web City offense. Sally answered with a middling 258 for Archtown, enough for a modest lead for now. Ted had only 54 for the Spiders, making it appear to be one of those games where their offense won't leave the ground. Sleepy B. had only 144 for the Arrows, squandering another chance for them to pull farther ahead at the halfway mark. Shiny pulled Web City back into the game with 300 on her turn, shrinking the deficit dramatically in a pitiful game. Ruby lost a bit of ground for Archtown, scoring only 147. Dani couldn't cover the small deficit, hitting a pathetic 48, which is a firm summary of their overall score of 441. Dusky iced the horrendous game with 222 herself for 771 for the Arrows overall. Archtown takes a less-than-earned win to get to 12-17, while Archtown is 10-16 on the year, and both teams have a 2-3 division record.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns have a six-game losing streak at home to snap, but their cold offense faces a challenge from the resurgent Tradewinds. Tigerette pummeled 976 for Commerce right at the start, setting the visitors off on the right foot to begin this battle. Nightfur had her best home game of the year for Royal so far, producing 433 to make a dent in the deficit her side faces. Ice Cream got cut down at 113 by a nasty deflection, weakening the Tradewinds' lead in the process. Jake just about covered the deficit for the Crowns with his 582, making it a close game at the halfway point. Lionel did some remarkable work with his backhand, using it to settle a ball that he eventually pulled back, and then striking twice more to keep the turn going until its end at 569 for Commerce. Kayla got some back for Royal with her 454, keeping them within striking distance late in the game. Lorde blasted 891 for the Tradewinds on her turn, setting their final at 2549, which will be tough for the hosts to match. Hannah had only 387 for the Crowns, leaving them in a loss with 1856. Commerce gets a much-needed win to go to 9-11, while Royal at least showed signs of life in the loss that sent them to 6-15.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The third jerseys are out for this segment's finale, an Eastern Hills Divisional. The Gems open a three-game trip while the Wolves return home for a single game. Smokey got beat by a high bounce on his turn. ending with a small 206 for Diamond to begin with. Juno answered with 300 for Stonebridge, giving them the slight edge initially with a minor lead. Citrus had no trouble in covering the deficit for the Gems, lining a solid 424 on her turn to put them ahead again. Frosty had a terrible turn, taking a measly 32 for the Wolves as they've fallen behind at the halfway mark. Pedey chipped another 395 for Diamond despite poor field conditions, maintaining their lead pretty well. Cobalt stayed pretty level with 376 for Stonebridge, but they are running out of time to make a move on the lead. Rosalina clobbered 976 for the Gems on her turn, icing their total at 2001 in what should be a win. Prism had only 96, unable to come close for the Wolves, as they lost with 804. Diamond rises to 10-18, while Stonebridge falls to 11-16 in the loss.

That's all for this segment, with more to come all week as the Tournament takes a break to give way to Cricket.

Tournament 2017: B-level Finals - Final Round

These eight series will formally close the B-level this year. After today, I plan on taking a break for much of next week to focus on Cricket and equipment maintenance, with the A-level to begin on Friday or Saturday. We begin the Final Round with...

House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: Shannon v. Brownie. The outgoing Monarch hosts the newest Hummingbird in the Rotation final, with the red cue making the start. Tysini's Brownie burst out to an early lead and a mid-game lead, but couldn't make either one stand against Southern's Shannon, who tied the first and went ahead in the end for the 8-7 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Shannon led for most of game 2, but she struggled from ball-in-hand when she missed the 9, and that would be the last offense she saw, as the Hummingbirds' Brownie came from behind to get the win at 8-6, tying the series at 1 and bringing the silver cue to the table. Shannon came out blazing in game 3, and would have won in a rout had Brownie not made a late rally. Brownie was spent trying to catch up, and Shannon made the last two balls to win 8-4 and take the series 2-1 for the gold, while Brownie settles for silver.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Sprinkles. The 10-ball finale is led off by the red cue. Game 1 went back and forth, with Capital City's Sprinkles faring worse early on but getting lucky in the end when Pronger's Zach missed on the 10. Sprinkles tapped in the 10 on her try at it to get the win, putting her ahead 1-0 in the series, which sends the blue cue to the table for a game. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles carried game 2 through its middle stages on a four-ball run, but things were chippy after this. Sprinkles had a good chance at the 10 wiped out by a scratch after Zach had scratched on the ball before the 10. In the end, Zach made his tap-in on the 10 on his second try to get the win, tying the series at 1 and giving the red cue another chance to make the home fans proud. Capital City's Sprinkles had a four-ball run going when she scratched after making the 6, but she thought the cue would come back to her. Instead, Zach made a three-ball run-out for the win and a 2-1 series win, which means he will hoist gold for this event.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Citrus. A Warrior familiar with medaling faces a challenge from the Gems star in the silver cue-led 9-ball final. Diamond's Citrus had the more impressive shots in game 1, and certainly avoided the worst one, which came as Central's Dustin scratched after making the 8. This gave Citrus ball-in-hand on the 9, which she converted for the win, the 1-0 series lead, and a game with the blue cue to follow. Game 2 was a bit more smooth for the players, with the Gems' Citrus scoring a three-ball run that looked like it could benefit the Warriors' Dustin. He missed on the 9, and this left Citrus in position to secure the series at 2-0 as she cut it to the bottom right, the first upset in the Final Round so far. Dustin saved some face in game 3, as Citrus had nothing after her three-ball break. Dustin made the 1-9 combination to the top right for a quick finish. Citrus took the gold with a 2-1 series win that wasn't easy but looked pretty solid.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Spot. Two members of Outcast battle for 7-ball supremacy with the silver cue as Klaus' choice to lead off. Atlantic's Klaus was just a bit soft in banking his shot on the 5, which left the 6 standing to end a three-ball run in game 1. Pronger's Spot saw it out from here, winning with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The red cue will administer game 2. Klaus didn't think he'd have enough for game 2, but the Pirates rookie ended up getting another chance, and he pulled off a two-rail bank on the 7 to the top left for the win, stunning the Tridents' Spot with the unlikely shot to tie the series and bring the silver cue back in play for the deciding game. Game 3 was going very much in favor of Klaus until the 5, where the host scratched after a long-distance shot. With only the 7 left on the table, Spot had a simple route to victory, burying it in the top side for the win and a 2-1 series win to take the gold.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Wario. After a break, the Accuracy final restarts things, with the silver cue leading off. Central's Twilight had the early advantage in game 1, but always seemed to lose it to Victoria's Wario. In the end, Twilight was good enough to force Wario into a late miss, and this paved Twilight's way to a 4-5 victory for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Wario had a much stronger game 2, only missing on the last ball while the Warriors' Twilight flailed throughout the game, with the final score favoring Wario 1-4 as he tied the series at 1. Wario's red cue will play the decisive game. Twilight was nearly perfect in game 3, forcing Wario into an early miss. Things fell apart for Twilight at the end, where two straight misses were successfully countered by Wario to end the game with Wario winning 1-2. Wario took the series 2-1 for the gold.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Marsell. The silver cue retains its opening position for 8-ball, which is also a Rivalry series. Freedom's Roxy surged forward with a four-ball run from the break, but Whitewater's Marsell did well to keep himself in the game, chipping back with short runs until he had a lead. It was short-lived, as Roxy soon ended game 1 with a win for herself and a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy found herself on the wrong end of game 2, and had to assemble a furious four-ball rally just to make things respectable. The Shores' Marsell avoided Roxy's defense easily on the 8, shooting it after having an easy go early on as he took the win and tied the series at 1. The blue cue will be in action for the deciding game. Roxy had the early lead in game 3, but it stood no chance against a seven-ball run from Marsell, whose rally left him with a shot on the 8. Roxy had to counter, but ended up burying herself in the jaws of the top side, and her illegal contact on the 8 gave Marsell ball-in-hand for the final shot, which he made for the win and a 2-1 series win. Marsell came from behind to take gold in the event.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Puff II. The silver cue's last series is in 15-ball, as the back-half of a venue doubleheader. Freedom's Jasmine had all of the possession early on, burying Boston's Puff II in a hole most of the time. Later in the game, Jasmine's cagey style gave way to Puff II's more free-flowing offense, and after Jasmine scratched on a long start, Puff II buried the 15 to win the game and take a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II had two balls on the break, and made a crazy double-pot that included a four-ball chain reaction early in game 2, but it was the 14-15 combination the Cascades' Jasmine unleashed at the end to the top side that provided the equalizing win and brought the silver cue back to the table after a one-game reign for the red cue. In game 3, Jasmine had a lot of the early possession, and things leveled out closer to the end. Puff II couldn't make the 15 on her shot, leaving Jasmine to pull off a lucky three-rail bank to make it in the top side, a token point for her familiarity with the cue. Jasmine won the series 2-1, earning gold in the event.

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Smudge. The red cue will lead off the final series of the B-level, in 12-ball. Infinity's Smudge threw everything she had defensively against Southridge's Stephanie to block her from making her final shot. This led to a drawn-out game with not a lot of action late, and Stephanie ended up winning much later anyway to take the 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge burst out with a three-ball run at the start of game 2, putting the Defenders' Stephanie on the attack immediately. Stephanie managed to make it close, but couldn't line up her final shot, while Smudge did so very well after Stephanie missed contact twice. Smudge buried the final shot, winning to tie the series at 1 and bring the blue cue on for the decisive game. Game 3 saw Smudge establish herself early, but she was unable to get much going with her positioning. Stephanie took a little longer to make some shots, but when she did, she was on-target, rallying to get the win with a three-ball run-out after spinning Smudge around. Stephanie took the gold with a 2-1 series win.

That's all for the B-level. I plan on doing maintenance and a standings update this week, and there won't be a new schedule for the first round of the A-level. The next schedule and standings update should be in May.

Tournament 2017: B-level Finals - Preliminary Round

We're here on B-level Finals Day, with 48 games to grace the schedule. First up is the Preliminary Round of Finals, with the 2 versus 3 seeded finalist battling for the right to play for gold. This begins with...

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Smudge. As the 2-seed, Blizzard picked the silver cue for usage in this 12-ball series. Everton's Blizzard dominated from the start, with an early three-ball run and good positioning helping the cause. She did gave away a wild-card ball to Infinity's Smudge, but she was loose in her shooting and couldn't capitalize on it. Blizzard eventually sealed the win and took a 1-0 series lead with her final shot to the top right. The Torpedoes' Smudge answered with a big win in game 2, countering very effectively against the Eagles' Blizzard's poor shooting with good positioning. Smudge adjusted her final shot away from Blizzard's defense and then made the ball on the next turn for the win, tying the series at 1. In a last minute change, the breaking player determines the cue, allowing the blue cue to administer game 3. Smudge benefited greatly from this league decision, using her more familiar cue to get the win after making a ball on the break and defending against Blizzard, who also surrendered a wild-card ball. Smudge took the series 2-1, and will visit GE Stadium Events Center in Southridge to face Defenders rookie Stephanie in the Final Round.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Sierra. The silver cue will again start the series thanks to Brownie, as the players meet in Rotation. Tysini's Brownie went off in game 1, starting a little slow before unleashing a five-ball run-out for the 8-1 win, which Todavía's Sierra couldn't have seen coming when she scratched after a tough shot to make contact. Brownie leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Sierra answered with a number of short bursts in game 2, which the Hummingbirds' Brownie seemed unable to answer. Sierra sealed the game with a three-ball run-out, winning 8-1 to tie the series at 1. Sierra's win brings the blue cue up for game 3. Sierra got out to a nice lead, but Brownie covered that on her next turn, and then surged forward over two more turns to get the 8-4 win over Sierra. Brownie won the series 2-1, heading off to the House of 10 Windows to met the Southern Monarchs' Shannon for the final series.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Twinkie II. The red cue gets its first look of the day as Spot's choice to lead off the 7-ball series. Pronger's Spot helped his cause greatly, making the 7 to the top side on a late-falling break in game 1, which also saw the 4 fall in the bottom side. Harrison's Twinkie II could only watch as Spot took a 1-0 series lead in a single shot. Game 2 was the opposite of game 1 in terms of quality, as neither player could assemble a run. The Tridents' Spot ran into a particular instance of trouble when he scratched after making the 6 to the top side. The Specters' Twinkie II was true in making the 7 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1 and bringing the blue cue to the table. Spot had the better of play in game 3, but the 7 proved to be elusive to him, as he missed it twice. He played smart, preventing a clean look for Twinkie II at either time, and Twinkie II did make it to the top left on the second shot, but she also scratched. Spot took the series 2-1, and will head off to McDonald's Hall in Atlantic to face club-mate and Pirate Klaus.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Puff II. A Southeast Derby in 15-ball gets going with the blue cue first. Golden's Charlton seemed outmatched from the start of game 1, as evidenced by Boston's Puff II attacking toward the 15 early on a 1-15 combination try. This failed, but set Puff II up for a three-ball run-out later, as she converted the 6-15 combination to the bottom side for the win to make it 1-0 in the series. With the red cue, the Swifts' Puff II had the majority share of possession in game 2, including a four-ball run mid-game and a late three-ball run, but she couldn't quite corral the 15, and the Pilots' Charlton made it on her first try for the win, tying the series at 1. The blue cue ran game 3, which saw a lot of scratching early on. Charlton had the first good look at the 15, but she blocked her own deflection at the bottom side, extending the game. Puff II would later miss a combination on the 15, but it didn't matter to her, as Puff II won with a five-ball run-out in the end. She takes the series 2-1, and heads off to Freedom's Toyota Arena to face Cascades captain Jasmine.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Midnight. This Accuracy series gets underway after lunch, with the red cue going first. Victoria's Wario had a great start to game 1 overshadowed by a dreadful finish. Westside's Midnight buckled down late in the game, forcing overtime as Wario flailed, and his overtime break failed, allowing Midnight to take the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead, which brings the blue cue to the table. The Rockers' Midnight made three balls on the break of game 2 with her preferred cue, but the frenetic pace waned late when she missed the 6 at the bottom side to fall back into a tie. This favored the Spurs' Wario, who made his two shots and left Midnight was a bad leave. Wario converted the final ball to win 1-2, tying the series at 1 and returning the red cue to power. Midnight couldn't gain any traction in game 3, missing early and often as Wario went almost unchallenged in his 2-5 win to march his way to a 2-1 series win. Wario will play in Nestle's Warriors Hall against the Central Warriors captain Twilight for the title.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Lexi. The blue cue begins three straight series of leading off with his 8-ball battle. Game 1 saw runs rule the day, as Whitewater's Marsell burst ahead with a five-ball run before each player had an empty turn. Harrison's Lexi then shot back on a seven-ball run, narrowly missing the 8, which Marsell would make to cap a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell managed to clinch the series with a win in game 2, battling the Specters' Lexi as much as himself in a more chippy game. Marsell had short and choppy runs, but also sank two balls for Lexi as collateral damage. Lexi couldn't make a run, and Marsell closed up with the last three balls potted to make it 2-0 in the series. Lexi made a flurry of shots at the start of game 3 once she picked a suit, but went cold after that. Marsell replied with a six-ball run to get back in the game, which Lexi countered with a three-ball run that ended in missed contact on the 8. Marsell made the final two shots from ball-in-hand for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Marsell is off to Toyota Arena in Freedom to face the Cascades' Roxy in a Rivalry series for the title.

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Sally. The blue cue again plays first in this 9-ball series in the Preliminary Round. Diamond's Citrus opened game 1 with a three-ball run and followed with a four-ball run on the next turn before missing contact on the 8. Archtown's Sally made the 8, but not the 9, and Citrus saved the game with a tap-in for the 1-0 series lead for her win. The Arrows' Sally played a much more defensive style in game 2, constantly leaving the Gems' Citrus without an obviously clear shot. Citrus poked out of this on the 6, successfully burying it on a glancing kick shot. Sally had her chance at the 9 again, missing it short at the top right, and another tap-in gave Citrus the win and the series at 2-0. Sally played a little less intensely in game 3, allowing Citrus to display her skills a bit more. Citrus won the game with her best shot, a kick to make the 9 in the bottom side for the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Citrus heads out to Nestle's Warriors Hall in Central to face the Warriors' Dustin in the final.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Caitlin. The blue gets its last guaranteed games as it will start the 10-ball series that finishes the Preliminary Round. Capital City's Sprinkles got a late jump in game 1, responding much later to a three-ball run by Oceanside's Caitlin with a three-ball run of her own at the end, which sufficed to give Sprinkles the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went very quickly after a poor break by the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles. The Waves' Caitlin tried a 1-10 combination to the top side, but also thought about the 6 at the top right. Neither ball fell, but Sprinkles had a line on the 1-10 combination to the top side and converted to win for a 2-0 series lead. Sprinkles was even more remarkable in bringing game 3 to a similarly quick close. After making the 1, Sprinkles had to split the 2 and 3, and this led to the 2-8 combination at the bottom right, with the 3 deflected to the top right, and the 10 emerging from the mass to fall in the bottom side legally thanks to the called shot on the 3. Sprinkles swept Caitlin out 3-0 in the series, earning herself a visit to Ford Forum in Pronger to oppose the Tridents' Zach.

That's all for this first half of the day. The next post is for the gold and silver contenders as the B-level will formally close.