UPCL Cricket - Week 14 Part 2

We're back for the week's middle segment, beginning with an underwhelming battle in...

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The stagnant Union host the upstart Specters to get this segment going. Sydney had no troubles getting started, churning out a quick 572 for Harrison to lead things off positively. Ms. Puppy has hit a bit of a slump for Modernistic, a worst-case scenario for the team, and she had only 160 this game as they're quickly behind. Twinkie II just missed her mark, finishing with 292 as her last swing went out of bounds for the Specters in an abrupt end. Daisy fired back with 682 for the Union, a big effort to keep the game close at the midway mark. Lexi did alright for Harrison, keeping them in the lead with 336, but that lead isn't a very confident one. Puff I slugged 1055 for Modernistic on her turn, covering the deficit and then some as the hosts build up a huge lead with a player each to go. Sugar collected 414 for the Specters, but it was far from enough, and they took the loss with 1614 after suffering the big counterattack. Strawberry made it a quick ending with 88 for the Union, giving them 1985. Modernistic proudly goes to 9-17, while Harrison drops to 9-21.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots end their six-game home stand against an inconsistent Waves side. Snuggle had an unfortunate deflection very early in his turn, and he managed 144 for Oceanside before he was knocked out of the game. Valencia showed no mercy for Golden, bashing 1145 to give the hosts a massive lead early on. Caitlin tried to fight off the trouble on her turn, but ended up with only 179 for the Waves as their deficit grows. Dusty didn't have a great turn, showing a little fatigue from the busy schedule, but she had 233 for the Pilots to keep their lead steady. Celestia lost control of her bat after a big swing, ending abruptly at 320 on the next offering as Oceanside seems unable to catch up. Strut unleashed another 826 for Golden, mostly as confirmation of their impending blowout win. The Waves never had a chance in this one, and Dewey's 12 left them with 655 in a brutal loss. A. Charlton produced 280 for the Pilots, icing their win at 2484 overall. Golden jumps up to 18-10, while Oceanside slips to 16-15, just on the edge of the playoff bubble.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs begin a four-game home stand against their Southwest Division rivals, the Torpedoes, who have a chance to take first as they end a three-game road trip. Smudge jetted off to a hot start with 737 for Infinity on the opening attack. Spice got about half of it back for Victoria, scoring 368 in a decent appearance for the captain. Solaris supplied another 560 for the Torpedoes, standing firm to pad their lead well. Yekaterina kept a decent pace with 520 for the Spurs, keeping them in range at the halfway mark despite a noticeable deficit. Whiskers readily accepted 862 for Infinity despite earning a technical error replay, which she rejected to allow the lead to grow again. B. Chapman shot back with 311 for Victoria, unable to keep them on pace as their deficit grows late in the game. Mr. Snowman brought pace but not a long turn, producing 472 to give the Torpedoes a final of 2631 for the game. Wario put in a valiant effort for the Spurs with 570, but they lost with 1769 total. Infinity takes over first place with the win, going to 19-7 with a 5-0 division record, while Victoria is 9-16 and 0-3 in the division.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters are on the rise, but the Prestige need this to keep their season from taking a nasty turn. Acorn slapped a crisp 466 for Lighton, falling late in the game as his pace decreased before he bowed out. Sydney didn't seem to take on any particular form, but she splattered 1138 for Harrison to give them a huge lead early on. Spirit did well for the Prestige, collecting 543 on her turn, but she failed to cover the deficit. Twinkie II fired back with 659 for the Specters, covering the damage and boosting their lead at the halfway mark. Twinkie I managed 401 for Lighton in response, but they are not keeping up with the pace currently. Lexi accepted 353 for Harrison despite earning an optional replay, acknowledging their strong lead with a player each to go as the reason for her decision. Salmo teed up 631 for the Prestige, but they ended with 2041 despite the strong rally, taking a loss in the process. Sugar chipped in with 317 for the Specters, giving them 2467 in the win, a strong character win for the team. Harrison lifts up to 10-21, while Lighton is 10-14 with the loss.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights look to stay on the top tier as they close a three-game home stand, while the Blades would retake first with a win. Snowball opened with 646 for Swordpoint, setting the visitors on the right foot to begin the game. Kiwi showed a bit better in pace, but didn't last as long, posting 425 as Terrace City starts with a deficit in their third jerseys. Dreamy showed up with great support for the Blades, pounding out another 688 to strengthen their lead. Jennifer couldn't cover the damage or the deficit, scoring 562 as the Knights lose a bit more ground halfway into the game. Bandit went a bit stronger for Swordpoint on his turn, carving out 713 to extend their lead once again. Oreo cratered the Terrace City pursuit against her former team, cracking at 239 as the deficit looks insurmountable. Stealth only had 155 for the Blades, icing their score at 2202. Stripes tried a rally with 619 for the Knights, but they fell with 1845 total in the loss. Swordpoint retakes first place at 22-8, while Terrace City slips to 18-9 with the loss despite a good performance.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers look to keep their good season going against Urban Division rivals, the Tradewinds, who play their third in a four-game road trip. Tigerette earned an optional replay after a technical error, and used it to great effect, scoring 600 for Commerce at the start. Misty really set the tone for Westside, slugging 1303 in response to give the hosts a big lead. Ice Cream fired back with 626 for the Tradewinds, nearly covering the deficit with such a performance. Goatee ripped another 837 for the Rockers, easily undoing the damage as the hosts show great skill at the midway point. Lionel tried to put up a fight for Commerce with 441, but they remain significantly behind after that. Midnight took only 314 for Westside against her former team, weakening the lead just slightly before the final players take their turns. Lorde poked only 265 for the Tradewinds, giving them a losing final of 1932. Slinks struck 843 for the Rockers, capping their huge win at 3297. Westside improves to 18-8, while Commerce sinks to 10-16 after the brutal loss.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems are back home for a game, while the Volcanoes make a quick two-game road trip with their eyes set on third place. Starlight struggled with pace later in her turn, ending on 380 for Pacific in a decent first effort. Smokey replied with 561 for Diamond on his turn, giving them a slight lead. Ms. Kitty countered with 663 for the Volcanoes, covering the deficit with confidence on her turn. Citrus tripped up at 36 for the Gems, putting them at a deficit as the game reaches its midway point. Leonette wasted the opportunity to boost the Pacific lead, barely besting her daughter as she posted 48. Pedey knew his turn was going south when he chipped a ball up and the spin took it back over his head, but he sent a ball out of bounds faster to end on just 211 as Diamond is in a precarious position late in the game. Chicky Phil ended with just 304 for the Volcanoes, giving them a final of 1395, far from a safe mark in this crazy game. Rosalina got distracted by a high-arcing ball and ended up with 391 for the Gems, short of the mark as they lost with 1199. Pacific jumps to 21-9 with the sloppy win, while Diamond falls to 10-21.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks haven't been good at home, but the Pirates struggle against fellow Eastern Hills opponents. Something will give this time around. Delila proved the latter point for Atlantic, bumbling her swing to give them 219 to build upon, a weak base. Chelsea answered with 650 for Eastside, showing a stronger offense than they've recently been known for. Isabella might have recently hit a slump, as her 272 for the Pirates didn't cover the deficit. Taylor smacked another 677 for the Sharks, a big turn from the star that puts them comfortably ahead at the halfway point. Americus plucked only 256 for Atlantic on her turn, and they remain in a deep deficit with lackluster offensive efforts. Niki didn't have the greatest pace for Eastside, but she made it work, tallying 481 to keep their lead strong. Klaus knocked 648 for the Pirates on a late rally, but they closed with 1395, still far behind in another division loss. Paps made a statement with 991 at the finish for the Sharks, giving them 2799 as their home offense has sparked to life. Eastside is up to 11-17 on the year, while Atlantic is 17-11 after the loss.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Pilots wear yellow in a rare one-off on the road, while the Spurs are in the second of a four-game home stand. Valencia had a tough position with her wicket, but she made the best of it, blasting 1199 to give Golden a massive starting lead. Spice had a painfully poor first turn for Victoria, taking a measly 36 as the hosts will start from far behind. Dusty came in a bit light by her standards, but the 447 she scored was welcome to the Pilots as a boost to the lead. Yekaterina undid some of the damage for the Spurs, lining 665 in a good turn, but they are still far back. Strut pummeled another 983 for Golden, reasserting their lead in a suddenly charged game. B. Chapman unleashed 910 in response for Victoria, trying to keep the deficit steady in a high-scoring battle. A. Charlton flipped another 443 to give the Pilots 3072 overall in the game. Wario tried to make a rally with 817 for the Spurs, but they fell short at 2428 in a big game. Golden survives the high-scoring blitz in the Southwest, going to 19-10, while Victoria is now 9-17 after a valiant effort in the loss.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Knights begin a five-game road trip while the Shores end a three-game home stand in this Urban Divisional. Kiwi played the role of steady captain for Terrace City, beginning their offense at 520 after her steady turn. Bear's attempt at picking a corner failed, as he went too high and ended with 144 for Whitewater in a disappointing start. Jennifer came up nicely in support with 480 for the Knights to pad their lead against her former team. Twinkie III fired back with 774 for the Shores, putting them within striking distance at the midway mark. Oreo failed to solidify the lead for Terrace City, adding only 328 in an acceptable turn. Marsell cut a little deeper into the deficit with 352 for Whitewater, setting the teams up for a close finish. Stripes managed only 259 for the Knights on her turn, bringing their final to 1587, a total that might not hold up. Shaggy tried to attack with pace but failed for the Shores, producing only 202 as they lost with 1472. A nervy finish favors Terrace City as they move to 19-9, while Whitewater drops to 8-11 with the tight loss.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns just broke a long losing streak, and look to reverse their home fortunes, while the Wolves try to avoid going winless in their five-game road trip. Stonebridge didn't have the best start out of Juno, as she produced 272 in a middling performance. Nightfur broke out with 627 for Royal, besting her club-mate in a strong opener. Frosty put up 639 for the Wolves against her former team, much better than in their previous meeting. Jake tallied 481 for the Crowns on his turn, giving them a slightly smaller lead at the halfway mark. Cobalt kept Stonebridge in the fight with 519 on his turn, covering the deficit easily. Kayla fired back with 420 for Royal, and their lead shrunk a little more with a player each to go in what's been a surprisingly exciting game. Prism had incredible pace for the Wolves in striking 534, giving them a final of 1964 that forces a significant response from the hosts. Hannah couldn't do it, ending on 130 for the Crowns to give them a loss with 1658. Stonebridge improves to 12-20, while Royal is 7-18, falling farther into last place.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: This game ends the segment, and it's a Generations Derby, as the Swifts return home to face the Warriors in their third of six straight on the road. Twilight set a high bar on the opening turn, hammering 691 for Central to begin with a nice lead. Patches couldn't keep up for Boston, ending on 313 as the hosts will play from behind here. Dustin claimed he was legal for a false start replay, but was judged out at 24 for the Warriors, and he put up a firm but respectful protest before leaving. Puff II failed to cash in on this opportunity, taking a pathetic 96 for the Swifts as they remain behind halfway through the game. Mario chipped a decent 367 for Central on his turn, padding their lead a little bit. Gradley made a dent in the deficit with 575 for Boston, getting them within striking distance late in the game. Gizmo added a small boost for the Warriors with 330, putting their final at 1412. Sweetheart had a hard tap for the Swifts that ended her turn at a weak 113, giving them the loss with 1097. Central sneaks away with the win to get to 17-7, reclaiming third place, while Boston is down to 14-12 with the loss.

That's all for this segment. Follow along on Twitter @UnitedPCL for live updates, including tomorrow's second half of a pool game day after poor play derailed today's efforts.

UPCL Cricket - Week 14 Part 1

We're back to the week that will bring the league to 40% completion this season. We begin in...

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents continue with the fifth of their eight game home stand, facing the well-rested Stills, who are back from their first bye week. Todavía's Easter made her turn count really well, taking 672 for the visitors on her technical error replay. Precious didn't get as much back as she would have liked, ending on 266 for Pronger in a rough start. Sierra had a quick exit for the Stills after an unlucky bounce, ending with 96 in a poor turn. Zach just covered the deficit for the Tridents, lining 504 on his turn to put the hosts very narrowly in front. Sparkles shot back for Todavía with 662 on her turn, restoring a bold lead for them. Spot dropped Pronger behind a little bit, hitting a good 471 but not enough to cover the deficit. Bells went with 312 for the Stills, a bit weak as they close with 1741 overall. Potter tried to rescue his turn with a backhand, but ended with 217, and the Tridents suffer defeat at 1458. Todavía is up to 16-15, while Pronger gets bumped back to 12-11.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Pirates return from a bye week against the last place Specters, who did well to create chaos last week. Sydney tapped 306 for Harrison in a middling start to the game. Delila was better for Atlantic, striking a solid 433 to give the hosts the initial lead. Twinkie II reversed fortunes for the Specters, crushing 1118 on her turn to put the visitors far ahead in the second attack. Isabella tried to spike a ball up but ended up sending it back toward her wicket, and it ended her turn at 289 as the Pirates are behind halfway through the game. Lexi left the door a bit more open with only 112 on her pathetic turn for Harrison. Americus carved into the deficit in a big way, rallying for 652 for Atlantic to get them within striking distance late in the game. Sugar made it a nightmarish finish for the Specters, with only 39 points to put their final at a vulnerable 1575. Klaus came up short with 171 for the Pirates, leaving the hosts in heartbreak with a loss at 1545. Harrison continues to wreak havoc from below, going to 9-20, while Atlantic drops out of the first tier at 17-9.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Pirates are back in action for the first of two straight road games, facing a Swifts team finally overcoming their championship hangover. Delila got off to a decent start in the opening attack for Atlantic, lifting a strong 448. Patches got close for Boston, but wasn't able to match it, ending with 387 as the hosts will play from behind. Isabella faltered after her backhand draw didn't quite work out, and she bounced the next ball out of play to finish with 133 for the Pirates. Puff II answered with 650 for the Swifts, easily covering the deficit to give them the lead midway through. Americus couldn't cover the deficit for Atlantic with 376 on her turn, leaving them a bit behind in a troublesome battle. Gradley took a seat at 177 as a high-arcing ball landed directly on his wicket, stunting his efforts for Boston. Klaus came up with 558 for the Pirates, forcing a response from the hosts as the visitors close on 1515. Sweetheart made it very easy for the Swifts, rallying for 808 to give them a final of 2022. Boston improves to 14-10 with the win, while Atlantic slips further to 17-10.

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents are in the sixth of eight straight at home, while the Cascades begin a seven-game road trip against their Eastern Hills Division rivals. Jasmine got things off to a rousing start for Freedom with her 575, a good effort from the captain. Precious brought a ridiculous pace to the rivalry game, lashing out with 617 to put Pronger ahead initially. Stinky had no trouble in covering the deficit, taking a solid 392 for the Cascades. Zach has been at his best during this Tridents home stand, and he came up big again with 602 to give them a halftime lead. Roxy did cover the deficit by hitting 311 for Freedom, but it's a very small margin. Spot tacked on another 557 for Pronger in a strong outing from the reliable rookie. Nikolai collapsed with 39 for the Cascades, and they suffered another loss at 1317 after the poor finish. Potter contributed 572 for the Tridents on his turn, making it a very balanced attack in the big win with 2348. Pronger is up to 13-11, and 4-0 in the division, while Freedom is 8-12 and 1-1 in the division after this loss.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights begin a three-game home stand, while the Prestige return from a bye for the second of three straight on the road. Acorn had a fairly reasonable 384 for Lighton on his turn, giving them a solid start. Kiwi laced a stronger 575 for Terrace City on her turn, putting the hosts in front early on. Spirit slapped a crisp 532 in response for the Prestige, covering the deficit to keep the game tight. Jennifer effectively cancelled Spirit out on her turn, as the Knights second swinger posted 517 to restore a lead to the hosts at the midway mark. Twinkie I had only 64 for Lighton, failing very early on in a poor outing that makes a comeback all the more difficult. Oreo provided a solid 458 for Terrace City on her turn, keeping their lead strong as the final players prepare to bat. Salmo had only 90 for the Prestige on his turn, leaving them at 1070 in a brutal loss. Stripes clobbered another 980 for the Knights, icing their big win at 2530. Terrace City jumps to 18-8, good for fourth in the league, while Lighton is down to 10-13.

House of 10 Windows, Del Sur: The Monarchs are in the second of five straight at home, hosting the Spurs as both teams return to action after a week off. Spice got overwhelmed fairly early for Victoria, taking only 119 in a meager effort. Panda stepped up pretty well with 513 for Southern, giving them a nice advantage in the early stages. Yekaterina came through with 417 for the Spurs, covering the deficit in a decent turn from the sophomore. Hoppy maintained the Monarchs lead effectively, matching her mark with 423 for the hosts as they lead at the halfway point. B. Chapman fired back with 497 for Victoria, keeping them in the game despite the slow start from their captain. Pounce had a great pace but couldn't make it last for Southern, finishing with 410 to give them a slightly smaller lead with a player each to go. Wario chipped 371 for the Spurs, bringing their final to 1404, which will force a small response from the hosts. Shannon did her part with 324 for the Monarchs, putting their winning total at 1670. Southern is up to 9-16, closing in on the 9-15 Victoria side.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots and Nighthawks both are about to get busy, with the Pilots in the third of a six-game home stand, while the Nighthawks will be home in the next league game. Peach had some troubles tracking a ball that got behind her bat, ending her turn at 328 for North Modernistic. Valencia poked a high-arcing ball a bit too hard, which went out of bounds to stall her at 108 for Golden. Luigi answered with a big 753 for the Nighthawks, doing a good job to pad their lead in the second attack. Dusty crashed hard with 33 for the Pilots, mistiming a swing as she tried and failed to get in rhythm. Cheddar only had 225 for North Modernistic, not exactly the big supporting turn she's been known for this year. Strut made a small dent in the deficit with his 400 for Golden, but they are still far behind with little time to correct that. Bright flicked 321 for the Nighthawks, bringing them to a final of 1627. A. Charlton grabbed 592 for the Pilots, but her late rally was not enough, and they lost with 1133. North Modernistic's surprise win lifts them to 18-15, while Golden drops to 16-9 with the loss.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks lead off a four-game home stand against their expansion companions, the Predators. Shawn drilled 829 for Midland to open the scoring in this rivalry match. Peach countered with 742 for North Modernistic, keeping the game close early on with a competitive scoring environment established. Rainmane had a bit of an early exit on 209 for the Predators, leaving their lead a bit vulnerable. Luigi shot back with 557 for the Nighthawks on his turn, giving them the lead at the halfway point with a strong surge. Leonardo countered with 449 for Midland, covering the deficit this time around to keep the visitors in the fight. Cheddar ripped 746 for North Modernistic on her turn, extending their lead before the final players come to bat. Fuchsia did cover the deficit with 582 for the Predators, giving them 2069 as their final, which forces a small response from the hosts. For the good of the Nighthawks, Bright accepted 90 despite earning an optional replay, and the hosts won with 2135 in a big game. North Modernistic ascends to 19-15 with the win, while Midland drops to 16-15.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots' fourth of six straight at home is against their bitter rivals, the Swifts, in a Southeast Divisional, Generations Derby, and Doubles Derby. Patches struck 550 for Boston on the first attack, but ended with an errant backhand flip. Valencia's pace cratered after an odd bounce, and she would quickly fall with 455 as Golden starts a bit behind. Puff II earned an optional replay after a technical error, and improved slightly to take 312 for the Swifts. Dusty launched 1042 for the Pilots, recovering from her last outing quite nicely to give the hosts a lead. Gradley didn't do very well for Boston, crashing with 75 as they are in a deep hole now. Strut couldn't make much progress for Golden, as a series of deflections cut him down at 171, enough to maintain the lead. Sweetheart picked up a decent 416 for the Swifts, but they would suffer a loss with a final of 1353. A. Charlton tacked on 542 more for the Pilots in a good outing, capping their win at 2240. Golden is recovered from their recent loss, going to 17-9, while Boston slides to 14-11 in the loss.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots make it a doubleheader against another Southeast Division rival, as the Defenders come to finish their home-and-home. Bianca came up big for Southridge, crushing 1025 on the opening turn to set the tone in the rematch. Valencia only got 416 back for Golden, unable to even halve the deficit. Debby didn't have much of a swing for the Defenders, bailing at a poor 84 as the lead weakens. Dusty showed very little worry about the course of the game, swinging her way to 561 for the Pilots as they are back within striking distance at the halfway mark. Stephanie answered with 602 for Southridge, boosting their lead once again to bring it back to a strong mark. Strut chose to accept 574 for his turn instead of risking it for the chance to score better on an optional replay, meaning Golden lost a bit of ground. Hughbert put the Defenders in a spot of trouble with 153, leaving their final at 1864. A. Charlton managed only 225 for the Pilots, losing her pace just before her turn ended, and the Pilots took the loss on 1776. Southridge jumps to 15-15, while Golden drops back to 17-10.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles hope to hang onto top-tier status against the Tradewinds, who play the second of a four-game road trip here. Tigerette opened well for Commerce, slicing 600 to pace their attack early on. Goldy tripped up early for Everton, producing only 150 as she accidentally hit a ball too high to end her turn. Ice Cream paddled another 486 for the Tradewinds, padding their lead nicely. Puff III countered effectively for the Eagles, tallying 807 to bring them closer at the halfway mark of the game. Lionel didn't get his swing just right on the hit that ended his turn at 288 for Commerce, lifting it just a bit too much as the visitors' lead is a bit weaker. Kirstin chopped back with 312 for Everton, cutting a bit deeper into the deficit before the final players take their turns at bat. Lorde fired back with 373 for the Tradewinds, setting up an interesting finish as they close with 1747 overall. Blizzard got out of rhythm and ended with only 177 for the Eagles, blowing the game as they lost with 1446. Commerce improves to 10-15, while Everton drops to 18-10, redrawing the boundary line of first tier status.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks are back home for a game, while the Defenders wrap up a two-game road trip in the segment finale. Bianca executed a decent backhand flick, but the next ball was spiked and she ended at 259 for Southridge in a middling effort. Chelsea fired back with a simple 450 for Eastside, giving them the initial lead in her solid outing. Debby countered with 631 for the Defenders, giving them a lead as they continue to play well in their third jerseys. Taylor topped that in a hard-fought effort for the Sharks, restoring their lead with 650 on her turn. Stephanie couldn't keep up for Southridge, crashing at 182 as they've fallen firmly behind again. Niki had a mild 272 for Eastside, keeping their lead up in the later stages of the game. Hughbert had only 128 for the Defenders, showing a bit of fatigue as the young team fell with an even 1200 in the loss. Paps added another 635 for the Sharks, bringing their winning total up to 2007. Eastside is showing more confidence, going to 10-17, while Southridge slips back under even at 15-16.

That's all for this segment, but more live updates are going on @UnitedPCL on Twitter.

Tournament 2017: A-level First Round - Day 4

We're back for another day of games, although the quality of play will have to be better than yesterday. We begin with...

Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Mams. The Gems rookie hosts a rising Meteors star in 15-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Rosalina came in hot at the end of game 1 after Viewpoint Sound's Mams had started better in her season debut. Rosalina's five-ball run gave way to a tense ending that saw Mams disappoint with a miss on the 15, and Rosalina made it to win for a 1-0 series lead on her second try. The Gems' Rosalina continues to finish strong, producing another five-ball run late in game 2. She did give possession away to the Meteors' Mams, but Mams missed on the 12, and Rosalina made the final two shots to win, sealing the series at 2-0. Mams made sure to get a win in game 3, going crazy with a four-ball run and a five-ball run-out on consecutive turns, bridged only by a scratch from Rosalina, who still won the series 2-1 to head to the second round.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Nibbles. Another Meteor is in the east, facing a Cascade in Rotation with the red cue. Freedom's Stinky had a good game 1, making two separate three-ball runs early on. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles had a couple of nice shots, but no runs, and Stinky closed out an 8-2 win on his third turn for the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, things started a bit more slowly, and this didn't favor the Cascades' Stinky at all. He struggled early on, but gained a lead at mid-game, only to see the Meteors' Nibbles assemble a four-ball run to get close to a win. On his next turn, Nibbles made the last ball to win 8-5, tying the series at 1. Stinky had some issues in game 3, as the play dropped for both players, but Nibbles only briefly held a tie. Stinky finished with a three-ball run-out to win 8-5, taking the series at 2-1 to advance to the second round.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Luigi. It's an Urban Division battle in 10-ball with the red cue. North Modernistic's Luigi took advantage of Westside's Slinks scratching on the break, as he used ball-in-hand for a five-ball run that was nearly more. Instead, Slinks answered with a four-ball run, narrowly missing the 10, which Luigi tapped in at the top left to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much slower than game 1, as neither player could assemble much of a run. The Rockers' Slinks had an illegally potted ball that the Nighthawks' Luigi deferred shooting from. In the end, Slinks ended with a draw off the 9 to sink the 10 in the top right, and the force sent the 9 to the bottom left for a double-pot to win the game, tying the series at 1. Game 3 played more like game 2, with slightly better pace thanks to Slinks making shots in pairs. Luigi had a chance late, but couldn't convert on the 8, and Slinks made the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series win. Slinks is into the second round.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. An All-Spurs match greets us after the lunch break, as the teammates face off in 9-ball with the blue cue. Wario started off pretty well in game 1, but he couldn't hold on in the end, and Yekaterina stormed to the finish with a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 got off to a slower pace, and Wario was particularly out of condition for his shooting. Yekaterina played a stronger game, with a three-ball run in the middle and a short stretch of bad shooting before a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Wario made sure game 3 went by quickly, making the 1-9 combination with an extra deflection off the 3 to the top right on his third turn of the game. Yekaterina was a bit shocked by the trick play, but she still took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Shiny. The red cue is back for a series of 12-ball. Pearl's Boots had some struggles early on in game 1 as Web City's Shiny asserted herself quickly. Shiny got stuck with the last ball, and Boots defended with positioning, eventually earning a chance to make her last two balls. Boots converted just in time, winning for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots had a three-ball run early in game 2, and while the Spiders' Shiny fought back with force late in the game, her set-up work on her last ball was too slow. Boots made her final shot after just one set-up play, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit of a challenge, as Boots gave away a wild-card ball but defended hard against Shiny, who would break through when both players got close on their final shots. Shiny's win made it a 2-1 series win favoring Boots, who is through to the second round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Twinkie III. The silver cue makes its first appearance of the day for 8-ball. Midland's Fuchsia began with a four-ball run, and ended on a three-ball run-out for the game 1, running easily around Whitewater's Twinkie III, as the more experienced player couldn't calibrate her shots. Fuchsia leads 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw the Predators' Fuchsia have another early run on the break, going four balls again. The Shores' Twinkie III was a bit better in this game, but a late scratch as she tried to position for a long run allowing Fuchsia to make the 8 from the kitchen for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Fuchsia run the table on her second turn after an empty break and Twinkie III's only turn ending in illegal contact. Fuchsia's big finish wrapped up her 3-0 series sweep as she advances to the second round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Juno. The silver cue remains in action as a rookie and a sophomore meet in 10-ball. Stonebridge's Juno dominated in game 1, but mostly because Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles looked unprepared to play. Juno had a three-ball run at the start and closed with a three-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Nibbles had a better game 2, working an early three-ball run and then cashing in at the end when the Wolves' Juno left the 10 at the bottom right after an errant bank attempt. Nibbles had a tap-in to win, tying the series at 1 with the easy shot. Game 3 went at a quick pace, with Nibbles trying an early 1-2-10 combination that went wide. Juno replied on a four-ball run, and Nibbles made the next three before leaving the 7 short. Juno used this to set up on the 10, and she made it as well to get the win and a 2-1 series win to take to the second round.

FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Sydney Sierota. The blue cue is back for more 15-ball between these big-time players. Harrison's Sydney didn't have the best of play in game 1, but it was fairly even near the middle of the game. Eastside's Chelsea made a critical error when she tried to hop the 15 to get on the 8, and it ended up banking into the top right illegally, gifting Sydney the win for a 1-0 series lead. Tensions rose a bit in a difficult game 2, as neither player had a run in the game. The Specters' Sydney ended up with the win after the Sharks' Chelsea made a mistake in shooting the 15, and Sydney cleaned it up for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Chelsea absolutely dominated possession in game 3, especially late with her six-ball run, but she missed the 14-15 combination, and Sydney made each of those balls individually to take the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep. Sydney advances to the second round.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Smokey. The Spurs sophomore remains at home, facing the Gems captain in her second series of the day, Rotation with the silver cue. Things started well in game 1, but got tense in the middle. Diamond's Smokey lost his early lead, and barely managed to hold off Victoria's Yekaterina, who was fuming after a miss from ball-in-hand led to Smokey's 8-6 win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey didn't have to steal game 2, as the Spurs' Yekaterina never got close enough to make it interesting. Smokey took a four-ball run from the break, and won two turns later by an 8-4 scored, securing the series at 2-0 as Yekaterina quietly falls despite an early three-ball run. Yekaterina had a quick opener in game 3, but slowly faded until Smokey had passed her in scoring. She woke up with a three-ball run, and when Smokey didn't counter, she finished off an 8-6 win to avoid the sweep. Smokey takes a 2-1 series win to the second round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Solaris. Youth Movement members meet in 8-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus had a slow start after scratching on the break, but she had a later four-ball run that Infinity's Solaris answered cleanly in game 1. Solaris just couldn't make contact on the last solid, and Citrus took the 8 from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Torpedoes' Solaris played much better in game 2, with a four-ball run early on and enough congestion to halt the Gems' Citrus on a number of shots. When things cleared up, Solaris rallied with a four-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 went very poorly, as Solaris scratched on a terrible break. Citrus couldn't locate her shot, and Solaris stormed ahead to a lead, but Citrus pulled back and made it close at the end. Citrus' big mistake was leaving the 8 short at the top right, which Solaris tapped in to win for a 2-1 series win that carries him into the second round.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Sierra. The silver cue gets another series, playing Accuracy this time between stalwarts of their teams. Todavía's Sierra had an unmemorable game, as she missed about half of her shots. Lighton's Twinkie I was tasked to make more than her fair share, and came through, only missing once late in a 1-7 win for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't go as well for the Prestige's Twinkie I, but the Stills' Sierra barely made an improvement. Twinkie I was able to hold on despite some late floundering to get a 3-6 win as Sierra is happy to be out of one of her worst efforts. Twinkie I leads the series 2-0. Twinkie I gave her all in game 3 just to force overtime, but Sierra pulled off the rare successful overtime break, and this gave her a 4-5 win when Twinkie I missed from what remained. Twinkie I still took the series 2-1 to move into the second round.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Spice. The last series of the day is Accuracy with the red cue between two of Reality's club members. Golden's Dusty had a perfect game 1, and she frequently forced Victoria's Spice into bad shots, leading to the lopsided 5-0 score line that gives Dusty a 1-0 series lead with the great performance. Game 2 went very differently early on, as the Pilots' Dusty briefly fell behind before forcing the Spurs' Spice into a second miss. After some close exchanges, Dusty forced Spice to miss again, and then missed one more time herself, but Dusty held on for the 2-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dusty continued with an excellent game 3 as well, winning 1-4 as Spice missed four in a row and Dusty was just shy of being perfect with a late miss. Dusty took the series in a 3-0 sweep.

We're done with pool today, but there should be cricket later in the day.

Tournament 2017: A-level First Round - Day 3

We're back for the first weekday of the A-level, where we will begin to establish a schedule of morning and afternoon sessions for pool, and more nighttime cricket play. We begin the morning today with...

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Paige. Today's first series is on the busiest bracket, 7-ball with the blue cue. Pearl's Neopolitan had a strong game 1, doing most of the offensive heavy-lifting while Queens' Paige couldn't get a shot established. Neopolitan had a four-ball run in the middle of the game, but won a turn later with the 7 to the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Neopolitan had a good start to game 2, but it appeared the Flames' Paige would close it out. Instead, Paige ended a three-ball run with a miss on the 7 after banking the 5 cleanly to the bottom right, and Neopolitan made the 7 on her only chance to get the win for a 2-0 lead in the series. Paige had a decent run in game 3, making three in a row, but a late game collapse and another short leave on the 7 gave Neopolitan the win and the 3-0 series sweep to take into the second round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Misty. These two Solid Core colleagues face off in 8-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 went poorly for both sides, with no runs materializing and frequent exchanges of possession due to errors. Archtown's Sleepy B. just edged Westside's Misty in the end, making the 8 after Misty made illegal contact, giving Sleepy B. the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't start so well either, but the Rockers' Misty corrected herself in the end, making a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after illegal contact by the Arrows' Sleepy B. on a kick attempt toward the 9. Misty's win tied the series at 1. Sleepy B.'s struggles disappeared in game 3, as she developed a six-ball run-out to take the win against a shocked Misty, who went unrewarded for a good break and solid shooting afterward. Sleepy B. took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Salmo v. Cobalt. Two of Outcast's rookies clash in a series of 12-ball, also with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Cobalt had some struggles early in the game, as Lighton's Salmo got established at the start of game 1. Cobalt had a scratch, but his next turn saw him take all six balls in a row for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Salmo received a wild-card ball after a bit of frustration in the middle of game 2 for the Wolves' Cobalt, who saw his run stagnated by a few rattled shots. Salmo used the extra flexibility to leave Cobalt in bad positions until an error gave Salmo ball-in-hand for the final shot to win, tying the series at 1. Cobalt had the jump in game 3, building up a nice lead before Salmo could make a shot. Salmo was resilient, working around the table and beating Cobalt to the bottom side on his final shot, giving Salmo a 2-1 series win and a ticket to the second round.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Taylor Swift. Bigger names meet in Rotation as the blue cue takes another series. Game 1 started with Boston's Sweetheart making a ball off an otherwise bad break, allowing her and Eastside's Taylor to operate in close quarters. Near the end, Taylor unlocked the table a bit, but Sweetheart reaped the reward with a four-ball run-out to win 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart had a better break in game 2, but the Sharks' Taylor benefited most from it, building an early lead. After a struggle, Sweetheart pulled even, only to see Taylor gain the lead again. Sweetheart stayed strong, rallying at the end with a deflected shot to make the 15 to tie it, and then a tap-in on the 13 for the 8-7 win to secure the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sweetheart was playing a very slow game, and Taylor chipped back at times, but neither player could make a run develop with their poor play, and Sweetheart won 8-5 to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Sweetheart is into the second round.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Twinkie I. The silver cue comes on for a series of 8-ball here. Golden's Dusty thought game 1 would be easy after opening with a six-ball run from the break, but Lighton's Twinkie I made a seven-ball run-out on her second turn for the win after some excellent shooting, giving the visitor a 1-0 series lead. In game 3, the Prestige's Twinkie I applied pressure with a late five-ball run that ended in a scratch. The Pilots' Dusty thought she had to take a big shot, and accidentally turned in a 2-8 combination to the bottom right, an illegal finish that gave Twinkie I the series with a win to make it 2-0. Game 3 played out a bit closer, with Dusty challenging late before Twinkie I rattled off a three-ball run-out for the win, making it a 3-0 series sweep she will use to get to the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Stealth. The silver cue remains at the table for this 15-ball series. Oceanside's Celestia showed confidence in game 1, working a four-ball run in the middle of the game to set Swordpoint's Stealth on the defensive. This change in strategy failed, as Celestia won with a three-ball run-out, giving the rookie a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia started off well in game 2 as well, making an early six-ball run before falling off a bit. The Blades' Stealth picked up the slack with a four-ball run, and then made the 14-15 combination when Celestia had missed contact on her final shot. Stealth's win tied the series at 1. Stealth started game 3 with two balls on the break, but couldn't gather much momentum after that. Celestia kept things close until the end, where she burst forward with a six-ball run-out to take the win, and she also won the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Twinkie II. It's an All-Specters match in Harrison, with the captain and the star facing off in Rotation with the blue cue. Game 1 started poorly, and Twinkie II lost her cool a bit, sending the 5 off the table. This is where Sydney took over, gaining a lead and then working a three-ball run-out for the 8-3 win to take a 1-0 series lead. Sydney didn't look back, starting game 2 on a five-ball run to take a quick lead. Twinkie II never figured out the table in this game, and a scratch set up Sydney for a three-ball run-out in her 8-0 win to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Twinkie II had an early lead that Sydney recovered from before the two exchanged short runs in a close game. Twinkie II prevailed when Sydney missed the 15, making it to the bottom left for the 8-7 win. Sydney still advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Precious. The silver cue is back for more 15-ball. Game 1 started off alright for Capital City's Missy, but her quality of play dipped late in the game. Pronger's Precious had a breakthrough, nearly completing a three-ball run-out, but the cue drifted into the bottom side, gifting the win to Missy as she takes a 1-0 series lead on the lucky bounce from her perspective. Game 2 was a mess on both side, particularly for the Sharpshooters' Missy, who had no good fortune. The Tridents' Precious at least had a chance to win, making the last two shots after the first good positioning shot of the game to get the win and a tied series at 1-1. Precious had the game on her stick at the end of game 3, and came up short on the 15, leaving Missy to tap it in to end a slightly better but still poorly conducted game. Missy took the sloppy series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dominic v. B. Chapman. The blue cue is in for this 12-ball series. Viewpoint Sound's Dominic had good positioning from the start of game 1 for his shots, and while he did give Victoria's Chapman a wild-card ball, she couldn't make anything of it. Dominic ended on a three-ball run-out to take the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Chapman didn't get much going in game 2 either, and she had a wild-card ball to work with until the very end. The Meteors' Dominic played a smart game, patiently setting himself up and converting his last shot on a bank to the top left for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. In game 3, Dominic had plenty of opportunities to challenge Chapman, but he couldn't do it. Chapman had an early four-ball run, but a scratch offset the gains a bit, and Dominic gave away a late wild-card ball, helping Chapman to secure the win. Dominic still won the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Sierra. A friendly battle between Youth Movement members is up in 7-ball with the red cue. Diamond's Citrus started off well, and Todavía's Sierra helped her opponent more than herself with an early miss. Citrus converted a four-ball run-out on her second turn for the win, giving Citrus the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, things were a bit tighter early on, but the Stills' Sierra still struggled to convert on her shots, and this allowed the Gems' Citrus to close the game in a similar fashion, with a well-struck four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Citrus played a decent game 3, but Sierra was at her best in the series in this battle, and she came out on top with a late run that ended on the 7. Citrus took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round, as well as earn bragging rights over Sierra.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Pounce. Once again, club-mates compete as a pair of Empyre players engage in 15-ball with the red cue. Game 1 started with some of the troubles of the day, as neither player could establish much of a shot. By the end, Archtown's Sally was better off than Southern's Pounce, as Sally closed the win with a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 lead in the series. If there was a run to be had in game 2, it belonged to the Arrows' Sally, who had the better of play until she illegally contacted the 15. The Monarchs' Pounce, recognizing the tilt of the game, made the 5-15 combination from ball-in-hand to the bottom side to win, tying the series at 1 to keep himself alive. Sally picked up where she left off, and appeared primed for a big run in game 3, going six balls before it ended. Pounce didn't let Sally back to the table, winning on a three-ball run-out to take the game and the 2-1 series. Pounce's savvy shooting earned him a trip to the second round.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Spot. A stingy veteran faces a bold rookie in the last series of the day, 9-ball with the blue cue. Westside's Goatee had the strongest play in game 1, while Pronger's Spot had to get shots where he could. Goatee ended the game with a well-played three-ball run-out, ending on a 6-9 combination to the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Goatee opened game 2 with a three-ball run as well, but the game stagnated from here, and the next moment of brilliance came from ball-in-hand, as the Tridents' Spot saved his series with a 4-9 combination to the top right to tie the series at 1 with his win. Spot rallied back in a poor game 3 effort, just barely saving the game by making the 9 after Goatee's four-ball run left it standing. Spot won the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

I expect to play cricket tonight, but I doubt a post will be made. Follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter to keep up with the latest.

Tournament 2017: A-level First Round - Day 2

We're back on day two of the main event. We begin with...

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Tigerette. These two competitive captains lead us off in 8-ball with the silver cue. Oceanside's Snuggle was the first to put up a run in game 1, working five straight before illegal contact nearly saw the 8 potted in the top left. Commerce's Tigerette came out blazing from here, winning on a seven-ball run-out full of nifty positioning to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette saw a strong six-ball run go to waste in game 2, as she couldn't calibrate her shot on the 8, and the Waves' Snuggle calmly got back in the mix and made it on his first try to tie the series at 1 with his win. In game 3, Snuggle did a little too much collateral damage on his late run, allowing Tigerette a fairly easy path to victory after Snuggle couldn't stretch the play. Tigerette took the win and a 2-1 series to head to the second round.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Crystal. The game is still 8-ball, but the red cue is up for this series. Commerce's Lorde assembled a five-ball run in game 1, but couldn't build upon that at all in the later stages, and Queens' Crystal roared back to take the win and a 1-0 series lead with short runs on her turns. The short run theme persisted in game 2, as the Flames' Crystal burst out to a lead with a pair of decent turns. The Tradewinds' Lorde countered with a couple of short runs, and then prevailed with a three-ball run-out after the 8 eluded Crystal. Lorde's win tied the series at 1. Lorde seemed to have the advantage in game 3, but she chipped a shot, and Crystal took over, bumping out Lorde insurance shot in the midst of making it irrelevant, as Crystal ran out six balls for the win and a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round with.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Valencia. The silver cue returns to action in this 7-ball series. Golden's Valencia did all the work for none of the reward in game 1, making a pair of three-ball runs after Capital City's Missy missed contact on her second shot. Valencia lost when the cue fell in the bottom side as she made the 7, gifting Missy a win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 played much tighter for both sides, but the Pilots' Valencia again ended up making it too easy for the Sharpshooters' Missy. Valencia left the 7 at the bottom left after a failed bank, and Missy converted with an easy tap-in for the win and 2-0 series lead. Valencia had another possession edge in game 3, but couldn't convert on the 7 along the top rail, and Missy made a shorter-range shot to make it a 3-0 series sweep, with Missy heading to the second round.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Puff I. Savvy veterans collide in this series of 9-ball featuring the red cue. Web City's Shadow had the bulk of possession in game 1 due to Modernistic's Puff I having a scratching problem. Puff I still had a chance to win, but left the 9 short, and Shadow buried it to take a 1-0 series lead for himself. The Union's Puff I still lacked control in game 2, missing a few shots and taking another scratch, while the Spiders' Shadow also experienced a quality drop-off. Shadow still won, recovering with a nice cut on the 9 at the end to get the win and clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 was over very quickly, as Shadow scratched on the break, Puff I made a four-ball run from ball-in-hand, and Shadow fired back with a five-ball run-out to win and make it a 3-0 series sweep that will carry him to the second round.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Ted. The silver cue gets a look at 12-ball now. Boston's Puff II had a fortunate bounce on the break, and she made her early shots count. Web City's Ted flailed a bit more, and lost when he couldn't penetrate her defense, as Puff II rallied with a three-ball run-out from there for the 1-0 series lead on her win. The Swifts' Puff II had another good break in game 2, but faced more resistance from the Spiders' Ted late in the game. Puff II delayed her win with a scratch, but missed contact from Ted gave Puff II a line on her final shot, and she secured the series at 2-0. Puff II got even more help in game 3, as Ted gave away a wild-card ball early, and his defense ended up being useless, as Puff II shot around it with the added flexibility to get the win and a 3-0 series sweep. Puff II is through to the second round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Dusty. The blue cue's daily debut is a big one, as two all-time greats meet in 10-ball. Golden's Dusty prevailed in game 1, but it was a close battle that saw plenty of errors and tough shots. Archtown's Ruby couldn't keep possession after the 8, and Dusty came in to make the final two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was downright sloppy between the players, as neither could make a run. The Pilots' Dusty had a late scratch, which set the Arrows' Ruby up at the end, but she rattled the 10 out, and Dusty's best shot was her strike to take the 10 at the bottom left for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Dusty's best performance came in game 3, as she started with a four-ball run and added a late three-ball run, but she left the 10 standing, and Ruby tapped it in to steal the win. Dusty still claimed the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Hughbert. The Knights' captain faces a Defenders rookie in Accuracy with the silver cue. Terrace City's Kiwi cruised until about halfway through game 1, where a case of the yips struck her, and Southridge's Hughbert took a commanding lead. Kiwi recovered late, but five misses in a row made it an easy 2-5 win for Hughbert to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi gained an early lead after a pair of misses from the Defenders' Hughbert in game 2, and she was able to make it last in a frenetic finish. Kiwi won 1-2, tying the series at 1 game apiece as the decisive game is up next. Kiwi ended up on the right side of the possession in game 3, as she was able to make Hughbert miss his final two shots after playing an even game to that point. Kiwi took the win 2-4, and the series 2-1, to advance to the second round.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Acorn v. Jake. The red cue takes its turn in as we get another series of Accuracy. Royal's Jake brought his shooting hands in game 1, while Lighton's Acorn was clearly not prepared for the challenge. Jake had a dominant game, helped greatly by Acorn's poor shooting and decision-making, with Jake winning 1-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake didn't have it as easy in game 2, as he briefly fell into a tie near the end when the Prestige's Acorn recovered from an early sputter, but Acorn couldn't hold onto the draw, and Jake made the final ball for a 2-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Acorn had a great game 3, finally putting Jake in the tough positions for a bit. Jake still did well, but ultimately took the loss 1-2 as Acorn salvaged a game from the series. Jake heads to the second round after a 2-1 series win.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Jake. The Crowns veteran makes a quick trip to face the Predators captain in 15-ball with the silver cue. Midland's Shawn showed a clear advantage in play with a couple of three-ball runs, while Royal's Jake struggled to the travel and different game style. Shawn won with a pair of shots from ball-in-hand, leading to a 5-15 combination at the top right to give him the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a much better game 2, stringing together three separate runs, including two that made it to four shots. The latter of those saw him double-pot the 10 and 12 to the bottom left and bottom side on a kick. However, it was the Predators' Shawn who would win after a cold start, taking a four-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 was the least interesting in the series, until a hot finish from Jake, which saw him attack the 15 with a six-ball run in the bank. He missed on the 15, and Shawn came up to steal another win away, sweeping the series 3-0 as he moves into the second round.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Smokey. The silver cue administers a 7-ball series before the dinner break. Diamond's Smokey showed some inspired shots in game 1, but not many of them worked out, and Everton's Blizzard provided solid results with a three-ball run-out for the win, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Eagles' Blizzard had only the break shot, which resulted in her scratching. The Gems' Smokey got a critical equalizer when he converted the 1-7 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 1. Blizzard had the better of play in game 3, but while Smokey was open to experimenting early, he closed the game with brutal efficiency after Blizzard's last scratch, giving him the win and a 2-1 series win to move into the second round.

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Bright v. Rosalina. A veteran on a new team faces a rookie on an old one in 7-ball with the silver cue, one of two post-dinner series. North Modernistic's Bright struggled to keep control in game 1, and in the end, Diamond's Rosalina surged ahead with a three-ball run-out to get the win as the 7 banked to the top left, giving her a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Gems' Rosalina seemed to have the better of the shooting, but she was a bit unlucky in the end. Rosalina tried a 6-7 kick combination to the bottom left that almost made the 6 in the top side. Instead, the Nighthawks' Bright had easy shots for the last two balls to get the win, tying the series at 1. Bright stepped up his game in game 3, making a five-ball run-out to close out Rosalina and get the 2-1 series win in the end. Bright heads to the second round with a good performance.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Stinky. The highly hyped Meteors rookie takes on a Cascades veteran in 8-ball with the red cue for today's finale. Freedom's Stinky thought a six-ball run would carry him in game 1, but a scratch and no clear shots afterward gave time for Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles to make a six-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Despite having some good looks for runs in game 2, the Cascades' Stinky couldn't get anything going positively for himself, and this allowed the Meteors' Nibbles to stay in the game and end up with another win when he made the last two shots. Nibbles secured the series at 2-0. Nibbles capped it with a hot start in game 3, a weak middle portion that saw Stinky pull back into the game, and then a four-ball run-out from Nibbles to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Nibbles advances to the second round.

We'll be getting into a normal schedule of pool in the morning and afternoon, with approximately two hours of cricket at nights, starting on Tuesday at the latest. Follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter for live updates.

Tournament 2017: A-level First Round - Day 1

We're into the main event of the Tournament, in what's expected to be about 32 game-days long. The first round of the A-level begins now, with...

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Sydney Sierota. The blue cue leads things off in 7-ball to get the round started. Everton's Goldy had a good start to game 1, but missed on the 5, which could have been trouble. Harrison's Sydney made a 5-7 combination to the bottom right, but also scratched, gifting Goldy the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured a bit of back and forth after the Eagles' Goldy scratched on the break. Sydney had the good plays early on for the Specters, but Goldy recovered, winning on a soft bank of the 7 to the bottom right to clinch the series at 2-0. Goldy made a big impact in game 3, taking the win on a five-ball run-out to secure a 3-0 series sweep over a helpless Sydney. Goldy is the first one to punch her ticket to the second round.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Stripes v. Hoot. The blue cue gets another 7-ball series, the first Rivalry match of the round. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot needed only two turns to make an impact in the series, getting ball-in-hand after Terrace City's Stripes made illegal contact. Hoot churned out a seven-ball run-out, going start to finish for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit closer, as Stripes made a three-ball run for the Knights early on, but the Meteors' Hoot also worked a pair of shots. Stripes made the last two balls, rattling the 7 in at the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Stripes had the bulk of possession in game 3, using a five-ball run to get close to the finish before a scratch ruined the effort. Hoot won with a shot on the 7 from ball-in-hand, taking the series 2-1 as well.

Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Roxy. One of the better from the B-level takes on a star in 12-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Roxy overcame a strong break from Todavía's Sierra with her own four-ball run early on. This made Sierra defensive, and while she nearly took the game anyway, her last shot left Roxy set up on her final ball for the winning shot. Roxy leads the series 1-0. Roxy asserted herself early in game 2 for the Cascades, making a four-ball run from the break despite giving the Stills' Sierra a wild-card ball. Sierra had to act fast, and did make a three-ball run late in the game, but her last shot, a deflection attempt, did not time itself well, and Roxy made her last ball in the bottom side for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit sloppier for both players, but Roxy had the better of play, with a good break leading to a quick game. Sierra's struggles came from unforced errors, showing discomfort with the clean equipment and playing surface. Roxy took the series in a 3-0 sweep to advance to the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Caitlin v. Bandit. The silver cue joins in on the fun, getting Rotation started for the round. Oceanside's Caitlin was hot from the start of game 1, pacing herself much fast than Swordpoint's Bandit as she charged her way to an 8-3 win, with a bit of help on errors by Bandit. Caitlin leads the series 1-0. Game 2 went in a very similar pattern to game 1, with a slow start seeing the Waves' Caitlin ahead. The Blades' Bandit offered more of a challenge in the middle this time, but Caitlin recovered by the end, taking the game 8-5 to seal the series at 2-0 when she capped the win with a good shot on the 12. Caitlin was on the brink of making it a sweep in game 3, but Bandit had a three-ball run followed by the last two balls on the next turn to salvage an 8-7 win. Caitlin still took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Mario. The silver cue stays in action for 8-ball here. Capital City's Nicole had some struggles with precision in game 1, which cost her late. Central's Mario won the game, highlighted by a four-ball run in the middle after dominating the right side of the table. Mario's win takes him to a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mario again had a four-ball run in the middle of game 2, but the Sharpshooters' Nicole answered with a three-ball run to make it close at the end. Mario was able to recover, bouncing the 8 off Nicole's 4 and into the top side to win and make it 2-0 in the series. Nicole had a great start in game 3, putting Mario behind early, and while he rallied back into the game, he couldn't get a clean look at the 8, and Nicole buried the final two shots to win. Mario still ended up with a 2-1 series win to take with him into the second round.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lorde v. Twinkie II. The red cue is back for a series of 15-ball, the first in that event. Harrison's Twinkie II started with a rattled shot on the 1 to lead off game 1, and ended with a more confident three-ball run-out after Commerce's Lorde couldn't corral the 13, giving Twinkie II a hard-fought 1-0 series lead with the win. The Tradewinds' Lorde had an uninspiring start in game 2, but a bunch of scratches from the Specters' Twinkie II kept her in the game. Lorde eventually made a four-ball run, but Twinkie II countered two turns later with the last two balls, narrowly avoiding a scratch to get the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 ended in frenzy, as Twinkie II had a five-ball run, fueled mostly on luck, end with a scratch, and Lorde countered with a three-ball run-out to pick up the win. Twinkie II settled for a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Bells. The red cue gets another series, playing 9-ball this time. Stonebridge's Prism didn't even give Todavía's Bells a shot in game 1, as Prism buried the 9 on the break to the bottom right corner, giving the rookie a 1-0 series lead in the battle between members of clubs that have sparked an intense sub-Rivalry. In game 2, the Stills' Bells did get a chance to shoot, making a three-ball run that looked good to keep going until a scratch stalled her. This opened up a three-ball run-out for the Wolves' Prism, who used the ball-in-hand advantageously to get the clinching win, making it a 2-0 series. Game 3 looked a lot like game 2, although a bit slower. In the end, Bells prevailed with a three-ball run-out after Prism struggled late. Prism took the series in a 2-1 win to move into the second round.

Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Mario. The Stills captain and the Warriors rookie meet in Accuracy, another red cue series. Todavía's Easter had a taste of early greed, which led to later heartbreak as Central's Mario buckled down after his only miss on his first shot, playing well to earn a 1-3 win and a 1-0 series lead after Easter didn't take advantage. The Stills' Easter held a lead during the middle of game 2, but she let it fall into disrepair, and at the end, she took a 4-5 loss after the Warriors' Mario forced her into a pair of late misses with his positioning. Mario's win secured the series at 2-0 for him. Both players squandered leads in game 3, as Easter held the early lead, but Mario couldn't keep the game in regulation. Easter's overtime was a nightmare, with two misses, the latter on a scratch that allowed Mario the final shot from ball-in-hand for a 4-5 win. Mario took the series in a 3-0 sweep, advancing to the second round.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Debby Ryan. The blue cue returns in a series of 7-ball. Everton's Puff III made five balls in three shots before a scratch ended the fast-paced run, and Southridge's Debby took it from there, making the last two balls to get the win and a 1-0 series lead from ball-in-hand. Game 2 went a bit slower, as the Defenders' Debby interrupted a couple of her own runs. This game the Eagles' Puff III a few more chances, and at the end, she made it count, making the last two balls to get the win to tie the series at 1. Puff III saw a three-ball run in game 3 end in a scratch, leaving her fearful that Debby would rally back from ball-in-hand. Debby tried, but missed on the 7, and Puff III sank it to get the win, earning a 2-1 series win to take into the second round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Jennifer Livilotti. The red cue returns to action for a series of Rotation. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot never seemed to get a grip on game 1, briefly tying with Terrace City's Jennifer before she stormed ahead and eventually won 8-3 for the 1-0 series lead after shooting well for herself. Game 2 went a bit back-and-forth in the early going, as the Meteors' Hoot frequently found himself deadlocked with the Knights' Jennifer. Hoot eventually made a breakthrough, making the final three shots in two turns for the 8-5 win, tying the series at 1 with the effort. Game 3 initially favored Hoot by a decent margin, but Jennifer did well to pull even, and then used her next turn to get ahead. Stunned, Hoot couldn't convert, and Jennifer ended up winning 8-4 to make it a 2-1 series win. Jennifer heads into the second round.

FedEx Arena, Eastside: Niki v. Bells. The blue cue gets a crack at Rotation in this series. Eastside's Niki struggled at first in game 1, but Todavía's Bells was no better, making for a slow start. Niki eventually gained a lead, and Bells made a small counter before Niki wrapped up the 8-3 win that gave her a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharks' Niki fell behind to the Stills' Bells early in game 2, but Niki came back with a five-ball run, only to see Bells produce a crazy three-ball run with the 13 going in the top side after a deflection. Bells would close the 8-6 win on her next turn with a shot on the 14, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Bells set the tone in game 3 with a five-ball run on her second turn. Niki had to make a carefully measured comeback effort, but fell short as Bells took the 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-1. Bells moves into the second round.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Dominic. Old faces in new places wrap up the opening day of the round with 8-ball and the blue cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a small advantage early in game 1, but a three-ball run flipped things to favor Viewpoint Sound's Dominic. On the next turn, Dominic made his last stripe, and just avoided scratching, converting on the 8 from great position to take a 1-0 series lead in this Coastal Division battle. Game 2 started with a frenetic exchange, as the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil made a four-ball run and the Meteors' Dominic answered with a five-ball run. Things got tense in the end, but Chicky Phil broke the tension with his three-ball run-out, earning the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 provided a bit more tension, as neither player wanted to make a mistake. Dominic was a bit more aggressive earlier, while Chicky Phil saved it for a nearly perfect finish. Chicky Phil banked in the last two stripes, but couldn't do the same to the 8 at the bottom left, and Dominic made a three-ball run-out of tap-ins for the win and a 2-1 series win that carries him to the second round.

That's all for this opening day of the round. Expect most posts to be similar to this, with a handful a bit longer.