UPCL Cricket - Week 21 Part 2

We're back for the middle segment of the cricket week. Leading off this batch...

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights look to keep their rebound going against an inconsistent Specters team wrapping up a two-game road trip. Harrison's Sydney had a wholly disappointing effort with just 75 on the opening turn, unable to build her pace up. Kiwi didn't have much of a reply for Terrace City, falling at 324 to give them a modest opening lead. Twinkie II just kept swinging for the Specters, smashing 1186 despite not having a remarkable pace. Jennifer shot back with 672 for the Knights, cutting into the deficit to keep the hosts in range at the halfway mark. Lexi shot back by belting 1144 for Harrison on her turn, doing a great job to extend their lead. Oreo tried to play with a similar pace, but lasted only long enough to earn 353 for Terrace City, who are hopelessly behind. Sugar hit only 206, but it should be enough for the Specters as they close with 2611. Stripes didn't get very far on the comeback trail, falling at 166 to leave the Knights with 1515. Harrison's outburst carries them to 18-28, while Terrace City drops to 24-19.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors hope to regain sole possession of first place, while the Sharks try to play the spoiler. Chelsea had a great start for Eastside, smacking 647 to pace their attack in the early going. Twilight fired right back with 991 for Central, carving out enough points to give her side the initial lead. Taylor answered with 705 for the Sharks, keeping the scoring high in an intense game so far. Dustin chipped back with 455 for the Warriors, enough to keep the in the lead as the game reaches its halfway point. Niki covered the deficit with 545 for Eastside, pulling them ahead again as the game continues along its crazy scoring path. Mario couldn't get Central back in the lead with his 162, poking a ball off the handle of his bat to bring his turn to an abrupt end. Paps shored up the lead for the Sharks with 431, giving them a final of 2328 in a great team effort. Gizmo made a late push that came up short at 495 for the Warriors, sealing their third straight home loss at 2103. Eastside pulled off quite the surprising win to get to 17-23, while Central falls into a tie for second place at 26-13.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders are hoping they can end their four-game home stand well, hosting the Tridents for the third of their four-game road trip. Precious collapsed almost immediately, falling with 39 for Pronger in an awful start. Shadow didn't exactly dazzle for Web City, but his 306 does give the hosts the lead for now. Zach suffered an unfortunate deflection on his turn for the Tridents, getting stalled at 259 with the bounce. Ted kept the Spiders up to their habit of wasting chances to bury opponents, picking up a poor 150 this time. Spot at least covered the deficit for Pronger this time, but only with 208 on his weak turn, leaving the visitors in a vulnerable position. Shiny got out of the rut plaguing both teams, crushing 1090 for Web City to give them a likely insurmountable lead. Potter put in a good attempt at a rally for the Tridents, but his 436 left them short at 942 in the loss. Dani picked up 376 for the Spiders to ice their win at 1922 overall. Web City is very proud of this win, going to 16-22, while Pronger slips again to 20-18.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers prepare for a doubleheader that could greatly influence the standings; the Flames come in on their second of five straight on the road for the first game. Queens' Crystal had a good game going, but sent a ball too high and ended at 162 in a frustrating finish. Misty failed to get a good pace going, but she lasted long enough to score 294 to give Westside a small lead. Paige barely covered the deficit with 133 for the Flames, keeping the scoring low in another poor game across the league. Right on cue, the Rockers' Goatee slapped 570 to boost the hosts' lead. Violetta could at least blame a deflection for her misfortune, ending at 235 with the awkward hit. Midnight went even bigger for Westside, lashing out with 1144 to pad the lead quite significantly near the end of the game. Max had only 128, adding onto the meager offense for the Flames which ended at 658 total. Slinks tapped 126 for the Rockers, icing their score at 2134. Westside is on the rise once again, moving up to 28-15 while leaving Queens at 23-17.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Rockers are now on the road, making the trip south to face the last-place Crowns and hoping the quick travel won't offset their skill advantage. Westside got off to a great start with Misty crashing her way to 1065 to set the tone in this game. Royal answered with 313 from Nightfur, not a bad effort but not enough from the captain to offset the damage already done. Goatee chipped 220 for the Rockers, a mediocre effort that keeps their lead somewhat steady. Jake made quite the rally for the Crowns with 692, cutting deep into the deficit at the midway mark. Midnight mostly washed out that previous effort with 671 for Westside, keeping their lead fairly sturdy with her appearance. Kayla didn't succumb to that attack, answering with 641 to keep Royal in striking distance with a player each to go. Slinks might have left the Rockers vulnerable after hitting 231, putting their final at 2187. Hannah let a ball get away from her, stalling her turn at 351 for the Crowns, who lose with 1997, their seventh straight home loss. Westside rises again to 29-15, while Royal slides to 12-30 in the spirited game.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs look to end their seven-game home stand on good terms, while the Wolves are looking to pull off a minor upset. Juno shrugged her way to 370 for Stonebridge, ending when a ball popped off her bat handle and out of bounds. Victoria answered with only 148 from Spice in an unusually poor outing from their captain. Frosty plucked 465 more for the Wolves to pad their lead in the second attack, a stronger performance. Yekaterina answered with only 233 for the Spurs, weakening their offense again as the deficit grows at the midway mark. Cobalt provided quite a bit of padding for Stonebridge, making a deep rally with 714 to boost their lead once again. B. Chapman couldn't get Victoria on track, faltering with 231 as the hosts seem destined for defeat in this game. Prism grabbed another 256 for the Wolves, not the strongest attack, but probably enough as they finish with 1805 total. Wario hauled in 367 for the Spurs, leaving their final score at 979 in the loss. Stonebridge gets a somewhat surprising win to go to 18-22, while Victoria is 21-22 after the defeat.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharpshooters begin a two game swing through the east, facing the Sharks in the first of them. Chris made a critical error in double-hitting a ball early in his turn, ending at only 72 for Capital City in a terrible scoring start. Chelsea fired back in a big way with 582 for Eastside, giving them a noticeable early lead. Missy couldn't get her swing under control either for the Sharpshooters, bailing with a paltry 113 as the deficit looms large. Taylor couldn't get anything out of her backhand for the Sharks, but she closed her turn at 423, a strong effort. Sprinkles made an improbable rally with 964 for Capital City, covering the deficit to add a layer of intrigue to the game. Niki countered with 441 to restore a smaller Eastside lead before the final players come to bat. Nicole did her part with 408 for the Sharpshooters, forcing the hosts to reply as the visitors close with 1557. Paps was up to the task with 384 for the Sharks, bringing their final score to 1830 in the victory. Eastside is out of their recent results slump, going to 18-23, while Capital City drops off at 22-23.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks get an Urban Divisional against the Shores, who are on the rise and in great road form. Bear crushed 1095 for Whitewater right at the start of the game, giving the visitors a powerful lead immediately. Peach tried to make a rally, but fell at 348 for North Modernistic, barely making a dent in the deficit. Twinkie III failed to provide the Shores with an extension of the lead, adding a measly 113 on her turn. Luigi made minor progress for the Nighthawks, batting 314 to get them a bit closer halfway through the game. Marsell pounded another 519 for Whitewater on his turn, doing well to extend the lead before the hosts could mount a rally. Cheddar made a bit more progress with 643 for North Modernistic, trying to keep them in the game with a good performance against her old team. Shaggy pummeled 671 in response for the Shores, giving them a final of 2398. Bright couldn't recover enough with 376 for the Nighthawks, leaving them in a loss with 1681. Whitewater gets another boost to 18-13, while North Modernistic falls to 25-24 on the year.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers need to get back on track if they have any hope of catching teams like the Arrows, who come in trying to extend recent runs. Sally had an unfortunate deflection early in her turn, ending with 233 in a middling performance for Archtown. Watermelon did great in response for Pearl, bashing her way to 822 to give the hosts a significant lead. Sleepy B. also saw an early departure for the Arrows, with an unlucky bounce stalling her at 280. Neopolitan helped the Surfers to extend their lead, lining 519 on her turn to give them a mid-game boost. Ruby undid that damage effectively for Archtown, striking 567 in an attempt to keep them competitive in the game. Boots found a nice groove to rally within, picking up 860 for Pearl to give their lead another boost. Dusky couldn't quite cover the deficit with her 626, giving the Arrows a losing final of 1706 despite the late surge. Wings iced the Surfers win with 320 individually for a total of 2521. Pearl needed that win badly, improving to 19-21, while Archtown suffers a setback to 24-21.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills hope to rise through the standings a bit when they host a Tradewinds team lacking in consistency. Tigerette got Commerce going with a decent appearance, flicking 463 to give her team a solid foundation. Easter started a bit slow for Todavía thanks to an odd deflection, but she played on, giving the hosts 745 and the initial lead when she was done. Ice Cream provided a solid 439 for the Tradewinds, covering the deficit with this effort. Sierra came up narrowly short of restoring a lead for the Stills, hitting a weak 152 that sees the game very close at the midway mark. Lionel had only a measly 36 for Commerce on his turn, his brief lapse in concentrations proving quite costly to the visitors. Sparkles spiked 592 for Todavía on her turn, giving the hosts a lead with the final players coming up to bat. Lorde made a mess of her turn with only 102 for the Tradewinds, leaving them far short of the mark at 1040 in the loss. Bells did well until she shouldered a ball out of bounds, but her 427 gave the Stills 1917 in the win. Todavía rises to 21-18, while Commerce slides to 17-24.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers face a more daunting opponent this time, as the first-place Pilots hope to extend their league lead. Valencia's reaction time was a bit late on her backhand flick attempt, cutting her offense off at 281 for Golden. Watermelon countered with 529 for Pearl in response to give them the opening lead. Dusty also saw a backhand go to waste for the Pilots, as the ball slipped off the end of her bat and ended her turn with 176. Neopolitan checked out a bit on a deflection, and then accepted 414 for the Surfers, forgoing the technical error replay she was offered. Strut made an honest effort to get Golden back in the game, but he fell with 384, and they remain behind late in the game. Boots continued her recent surge for Pearl, hammering 890 to extend their lead with the great effort. A. Charlton couldn't corral a ball on her backhand, ending at 135 for the Pilots to give them a final of 976 in the loss. Wings capped the big Surfers win with 569 to give them 2402 overall. Pearl is on the rise with a lethal home offense, going to 20-21, while Golden drops into a three-way tie for first at 26-13. That battle also has a three-way tie for fourth right behind them.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks have improved at home, but the Eagles are in great road form as they begin a four-game road trip to end this segment. Goldy got shut down very quickly with 133 for Everton, ending with a rough deflection. Chelsea didn't pull away as much as she'd have liked, but 408 gives Eastside a decent first lead. Puff III answered with 582 for the Eagles, showing poise under pressure when the pitch got cluttered in front of her. Taylor slapped 391 for the Sharks on her counterattack, restoring a lead for the hosts at the halfway mark. Kirstin kept the pressure high in favor of Everton, covering the deficit and giving the visitors a nice lead with her 737. Niki reclaimed 357 for Eastside, but she couldn't fully offset her friend, and the hosts now trail with a player each to go. Blizzard got antsy and hit a ball too high, ending at 178 to give the Eagles an even 1600. Paps fumbled the opportunity to catch up, ending at 159 for the Sharks, who lost with 1315 total. Everton survives a close road game to get to 25-18, while Eastside falls to 18-24 with the loss.

That's it for this segment. We're continuing the games tonight live on Twitter @UnitedPCL.

Tournament 2017: A-level Second Round - Day 5

I'm almost certain there will be only 40 games today and tomorrow due to personal commitments. We begin with...

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Waluigi v. Bryant. The first series today pits Lumberjacks teammates against each other in Rotation with the blue cue. Bryant made the first impact in game 1, running three balls early on. Waluigi fought back, but Bryant got a four-ball run to pad his lead, and then coasted, holding off Waluigi's three-ball run in the end for an 8-5 win by Bryant, who leads the series 1-0. Bryant showed off a more dominant style in game 2, making a pair of balls on the break as an opening three-ball run. He missed the 2, but left Waluigi with no choice but a jump, which never got off the table. Bryant replied with a five-ball run-out to win 8-0, making it a 2-0 series lead. The start of game 3 was highly contested, as the players exchanged shots evenly throughout the first half. This gave way in the end to a three-ball run-out by Waluigi, who took the win 8-4 to make it a 2-1 series. Waluigi looked to break out again in game 4, but he never got the chance, giving up his lead late to Bryant's three-ball run. Bryant held steady for a bit before making the last two shots for an 8-5 win to secure the series at 3-1. Waluigi had another early burst in game 5, but Bryant saw it out and took a nice lead. Waluigi rallied with a four-ball run to take the late lead, but Bryant managed to come up with the 8-7 win for a 4-1 series win. Bryant will be the true host in this venue for his bracket quarterfinals series.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Lorde. A rookie takes on a sophomore in 10-ball with the blue cue next. Stonebridge's Prism had an interesting game 1, getting tricked into a scratch on the 6 by Commerce's Lorde, who then flubbed her 7-10 combination attempt. Lorde looked to control the late game, but her scratch on the 9 gave Prism ball-in-hand for the 10, which she made to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw an awkward break from the Wolves' Prism, which made things more difficult for the Tradewinds' Lorde early on. Lorde had an alright game, but she called the 8 directly to the bottom right instead of an 8-9 combination, and the illegal shot allow Prism to take possession for the last two balls, which she made to win and take a 2-0 series lead. Prism pulled off a remarkable run in game 3, dominating the late stage of the game with a seven-ball run-out. Lorde could only watch as Prism assembled the run through dynamic shooting and positioning, showing her chops as a pure shooter to clinch the series at 3-0. Lorde had her time to shine in game 4, making a seven-ball run-out with the help of Prism allowing her to continue after an uncalled shot on the 5 went off of two rails and into the top side. Prism probably regrets not getting possession, but Lorde was happy to make it a 3-1 series. In game 4, neither player found a long run like they had before. The shooting was chippy, but Prism prevailed after Lorde couldn't pot the 8. Prism cleaned it up, and then took a tough angle 9-10 combination to the bottom left to end the series ahead 4-1. Prism is into the bracket quarterfinals.

Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Puff I. After lunch, the red cue comes on for 10-ball in its first of five straight series. Diamond's Pedey took some time before he really got his shot going in game 1. Modernistic's Puff I did well at the start, but Pedey negated that with his six-ball run-out in the end, positioning himself well in the win to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I couldn't make a shot in game 2 at all, even missing from ball-in-hand at one point. This left the entire offense to the Gems' Pedey, who followed up an early six-ball run with a three-ball run-out at the end to move into a 2-0 series lead. Pedey didn't play as dominant in game 3, but he still did more than his fair share of shot-making, as Puff I's miss on the 6 left Pedey lined up for a five-ball run-out. Pedey's big run clinched the series at 3-0 in his favor. Puff I found her offense a game too late, winning game 4 with easy on an opening four-ball run and a five-ball run-out in the counterattack after a letdown from Pedey's mid-game shooting. Puff I's win cut the series to 3-1. Game 5 was likely the most balanced game of the series, with Puff I tangling a few shots in to match Pedey early, but Pedey broke away on short runs at the end to win and take the series 4-1. Pedey will host the Terrace City Knights captain, Kiwi, in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Salmo. A well-respected veteran takes on a rookie with the red cue in Accuracy. Lighton's Salmo didn't play as poorly as the game 1 score would suggest, but Royal's Jake was every bit as good in his 0-4 win, playing to perfection throughout the game to get the 1-0 series lead after a dominant performance. The Crowns' Jake emerged with the win in game 2 as well, but it was far from as nice as the first. Both he and the Prestige's Salmo struggled greatly in this game, and it saw Salmo choke up three different leads before finally falling 6-7 to Jake, who leads the series 2-0 after getting wins in near-opposite ways. Game 3 saw a continuation of the shaky play from Jake, who held on for awhile before completely falling apart. Salmo didn't let Jake back into the game this time, winning 3-6 to cut the host's series lead to 2-1. Jake played better in game 4, keeping even with Salmo for much of the game until a late swoon caused him to fall behind for good. Salmo stayed composed to pick up a 2-4 win, pulling the series into a tie at 2 games apiece. Salmo kept in game 5, a tough battle for both sides as the break from Salmo was poor. Jake had the advantage for much of the game, but a senseless double-pot changed things, putting Jake on the overtime break, where his miss and Salmo's make gave Salmo the 4-5 win. Salmo advances to a road series in the bracket quarterfinals with a 3-2 series win.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Spirit. The red cue continues its binge with a series of 7-ball. Capital City's Nicole had to hold on tight in game 1 of this Southwestern series, as Lighton's Spirit looked very good while shooting a four-ball run. Spirit flubbed her shot on the 7, allowing Nicole to tap it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. The Sharpshooters' Nicole left no doubt about the winner in game 2, making the 7 on the break to the bottom right with a thundering shot, giving her a 2-0 series lead over the Prestige's Spirit, who rues her miss on the 7 more and more. Spirit answered with authority under desperation in game 3, as Nicole had a three-ball run in the middle of the game that Spirit countered by making the final two balls. Spirit's bold win cut the series to 2-1, but she has a long way to go still. Nicole needed just one shot in game 4 to get the win after Spirit's break left the play lined up. Nicole made the 1 to the top side, with the proper spin to drive the 7 to the bottom left for the double-pot victory that clinched the series at 3-1. Game 5 went a bit slower than expected, with Nicole driving possession as much as she could. Nicole defeated Spirit once again for a 4-1 series lead, and she will host the winner of the next series at this venue in the bracket quarterfinals.

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Shaggy. The next series is also 7-ball, continuing with the red cue once again. Diamond's Citrus didn't let Whitewater's Shaggy get a shot in game 1. Citrus took no time to win, making the 4 to the top right and the 7 to the bottom left on the break for a 1-0 series lead with the impressive shot. The Gems' Citrus shut the Shores' Shaggy out again in game 2, making the 7 to the bottom side this time to go ahead 2-0 in the series with another one-shot winner from the star, who is getting massive applause from her home crowd. Citrus couldn't keep up the epic pace in game 3, missing on the 2. Shaggy showed what she could do given a shot, making the 2 and 3 and then working a three-ball run-out on her next turn for the win to cut the series to 2-1, still very much up for grabs. Shaggy continued to be a dangerous threat to Citrus, making a five-ball run in the middle of game 4 to really intimidate her host. Citrus buried her only chance on the 7 for the win, securing the series at 3-1 despite being badly outmatched this time. Citrus' break in game 5 proved very favorable for Shaggy, who won two shots later with the 1 and then the 2-7 combination going to the top right. Citrus still won the series 3-2 on the strength of her early play, and she will visit Capital City SuperCenter, hosted by the Sharpshooters' Nicole in the bracket quarterfinals.

Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Bianca. Two club-mates meet, with the star hosting the rookie, in 15-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Sierra seemed to have the better of the shooting early, but not by much as Southridge's Bianca stayed with her pretty well. Sierra had a three-ball run going late when she missed the 8, and Bianca converted a four-ball run-out ending in the 13-15 combination to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 showed a sloppier side of play from both players, but particularly for the Defenders' Bianca. Her late game shooting was not strong, and when she had ball-in-hand on the 14, she scratched while making it to give the Stills' Sierra ball-in-hand for the 15, which she converted for the win to tie the series at 1. Bianca made a four-ball run early in game 3, putting Sierra on her back foot as she tried to keep up. Sierra later scratched, and Bianca used the obvious combination doctrine as she made the 8-15 to the top right from ball-in-hand to get the win, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Sierra was not deterred, fighting hard in game 4 with a lot of good shots early on. Bianca wasted little time in countering, and the game remained even right up to the end, where Bianca's weak miss on the 14 opened the door for Sierra to make the last two balls for the win, tying the series again at 2. Sierra had all the momentum late in game 5, doubling up a three-ball run and a four-ball run near the end after a decent start, but Sierra missed a tough bank on the 15. Bianca made it to the top side for the win and a 3-2 series win. Bianca will travel to Pacific's Verizon Field Events Center to face the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty in the bracket quarterfinals.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Dani v. Sprinkles. A former Sharpshooter faces a current one in 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Sprinkles got off to a great start with a four-ball run in game 1, but she stalled at this point. Sprinkles' sudden cessation of skill allowed Web City's Dani to pick up the slack, winning on a 6-9 combination to the top right that gave Dani the 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Dani had a decent start in game 2, but she couldn't sustain her play throughout the game. Lucky for Dani, the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles also struggled, and while she was better late, her scratch on the 8 gave Dani ball-in-hand at the 9, which she made to take a 2-0 series lead. Dani couldn't keep control of the series in game 3, watching her possession crumble as she missed shots early on. Around the middle of the game, Sprinkles took over by making a four-ball run-out for the win, getting herself back into things with the 2-1 series deficit. Sprinkles kept up the good play with a three-ball run in the middle of game 4, but her miss on the 7 proved to be the last mistake she could make, as Dani made the final two balls to clinch the series at 3-1. Sprinkles couldn't be bothered to do much in game 5, seeing as the series was out of reach, which allowed Dani to pace the play pretty well. Dani got the win on the last two balls, taking the series 4-1 as well. Dani will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

That will be all for pool today. We'll be back tomorrow with the intention of playing 40 more games.

Tournament 2017: A-level Second Round - Day 4

We're back for a new day of games. We intend to play 40 games, but there's a chance it could become 50 if time and quality permit. First up...

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Puff I. The silver cue is in line for the first, and maybe its only series today in 15-ball. Maplewood's Bryant was happy with his break, and he shot well early in the game, but he did fade toward the end. Modernistic's Puff I struggled early, then surged at the end for the win, playing even to Bryant but taking the 1-0 series lead over him. Game 2 mirrored the first, with the Union's Puff I breaking out at a dominant pace to start the game. Closer to the end, she started to falter, and the Lumberjacks' Bryant took advantage with a three-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Bryant executed a surprising trick shot in game 3, holding even in play until he deflected the 4 into the 15, which banked to the top left diagonally, stunning Puff I. Bryant's quick and tricky win gives him a 2-1 series lead. Bryant and Puff I had a crazy start in game 4, with Puff I running five balls only to be answered on a four-ball run from Bryant. They settled down after this, exchanging single shots until Puff I made the last two balls to win and tie the series again at 2. Puff I pulled in an excellent effort in game 5, allowing Bryant to work well at the start before Puff I shut the game down late for the win and a 3-2 series win. Puff I will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Lionel: A rookie and a veteran will meet in 9-ball with the blue cue for this series. Commerce's Lionel had a slight edge in game 1, which proved to be a challenge as both players struggled with possession. Atlantic's Klaus did make a nice kick on the 7 to the top side, but Lionel potted the 9 for a gritty win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lionel dominated in game 2, making five balls over two turns before committing a critical mistake. His attempt at the 7-9 combination to the top left was errant, and allowed the Pirates' Klaus to tap the 7 in before making the 8-9 combination to the top side. Klaus' win tied the series at 1. Lionel didn't seem to want the win in game 3, making an early three-ball run but proving unable to produce after that. Klaus had his share of struggles throughout the game, but he made the last two balls after Lionel scratched on the 8, giving Klaus the 2-1 lead in the series. Lionel dominated possession in game 4 as well, making an early three-ball run and a four-ball run late in the game that ended with the 9 on the edge of the bottom right. Klaus made the tap-in for the win, clinching the series at 3-1. Klaus had a better game in shooting terms in game 5, making a four-ball run, which was quickly answered by Lionel's three-ball run-out for the win. Klaus takes the series at 3-2, and he will host a bracket quarterfinals series.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Goldy. Two talented veterans tangle in a Northeastern battle in 15-ball with the red cue. Everton's Goldy did not make game 1 easy on herself, giving up a lot of possession in the middle of the game. Archtown's Sleepy B. eventually made a three-ball run, but Goldy still had a chance to win that went to waste. Sleepy B. tapped the 15 in for the win and a 1-0 series lead in the messy game. Game 2 went much better for the Eagles' Goldy, as another slow start gave way to a five-ball run. Still, when it came time to strike the 15, she left it wide of the bottom right, and the Arrows' Sleepy B. survived being outplayed with a tap-in for the win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw a more balanced attack for each side, matching each others' shots fairly evenly. In the end, Sleepy B. had a four-ball run that ended with a kick on the 13 that didn't fall. Goldy replied on a three-ball run-out for the win, making it a 2-1 series. Game 4 had a very ugly start to things, with the struggles beginning around the 2. Things cleared up later in the game, thanks to Sleepy B. assembling a couple of runs, including her three-ball run-out that ended with a bank of the 15 to the bottom side. This gave her the win and a 3-1 series lead to clinch advancement over Goldy. Game 5 saw a better effort for both players, but Goldy still lacked her usual command. Sleepy B. continued to take advantage of Goldy's weakness, making a three-ball run-out to cap the successful game and 4-1 series. Sleepy B. will be hosting a bracket quarterfinals series.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Ted. An experienced veteran takes on a rookie in more 15-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had very few problems in game 1, easily working around Web City's Ted. Ms. Kitty had a five-ball run followed by a three-ball run late, but she missed the 15 multiple times, and Ted eventually stole the win away for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted continued to bleed possession to the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty early in game 2, as the host scored a five-ball run early on. Ted countered late with a five-ball run, and then the last two balls on the next turn when Ms. Kitty stumbled. Ted did his part in earning this win, going ahead 2-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty, desperate to save her series in game 3, pulled off a remarkable 4-15 combination through traffic to get the early win, stunning Ted. Ms. Kitty's wonder shot cut the series to 2-1 in the short game. Ms. Kitty kept game 4 short as well, controlling possession for the early portion until she converted the 2-15 bank combination to the top right for the win. With two stunners in a row, Ms. Kitty has tied the series at 2, once again putting Ted under pressure. Game 5 showed the tension between the two players. Each ended a three-ball run with a scratch, but the decisive moment was Ted's miss on the 14 on a kick. Ms. Kitty tapped it in and sank the 15 as well, winning the series 3-2 in a stunning comeback. Ms. Kitty moves on to the bracket quarterfinals.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Starlight. The rookie faces his own captain's sister in Accuracy with the red cue. Pacific's Starlight had a good first game early on, holding off Central's Mario when he made a couple of mistakes. Starlight began to slip late the in the game, but Mario couldn't hold on either, and Starlight took the 3-4 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Mario showed a ton of improvement in game 2, and it helped quite a bit that the Volcanoes' Starlight made a mess of the game, missing shots from all ranges. Mario took the 2-6 win without much challenge, tying the series at 1. Starlight played game 3 to near-perfection, while Mario was doomed from the start when his shatter-break resulted in a scratch. Mario would scratch again later, en route to Starlight winning 1-4, with her only miss a light shot at the end of the game that came up short. Starlight retakes the series lead at 2-1. Starlight had an atrocious game, but the start didn't suggest she would be on the losing end, as Mario trailed for the first half of the game. Starlight fell apart in the second half, and Mario had enough shots to win 4-7, tying the series again at 2. Game 5 lived up to the legacy of the series itself, a close affair that saw Starlight waste a late lead to push the game into overtime. Mario had the overtime break and missed, but well enough to block Starlight. About halfway through the extra rack, Mario tripped up and Starlight won 4-5 to take the series 3-2. Starlight will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Bright. The two old brothers meet again for 9-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Wings had a strong game 1, making a pair of balls on the break to set a fast tone for the game. North Modernistic's Bright made a couple of shots, but couldn't do anything about a tough 6-9 combination that Wings converted to the bottom side to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Wings had a less dominant edge in game 2, but still did well enough to keep the Nighthawks' Bright at bay. Wings scattered his shots early, but Bright couldn't pick up the slack, and Wings cut the 9 to the top side for the win in the end, making it a 2-0 series. Wings was pretty close to dominant in game 3, but one mistake would cost him the game. Wings was on a three-ball run late, but he left the 9 short at the bottom right, allowing Bright to nab the win on a tap-in to cut the series to 2-1. Bright blossomed a bit in game 4, making a four-ball run that ended as he expected it would, with a scratch after a risky shot on the 8. Wings, who hadn't had a great game, made the 9 from ball-in-hand to seal the series at 3-1 with his win. Wings controlled the early part of game 5, but allowed a three-ball run near the end to Bright, who once again left the 9 standing. Wings made his tap-in for the win, taking the series 4-1, and Wings will travel for his bracket quarterfinals series.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Nikolai. The red cue remains in action for this 9-ball series between stars of varying skill levels. Web City's Shadow made two balls on the break and added a three-ball run later, but he still needed Freedom's Nikolai to miss the 9 wide at the top side to get the win. Shadow tapped in the leftovers for a 1-0 series lead in a dominant outing. The Spiders' Shadow showed a resilient side in a tougher game 2. The Cascades' Nikolai faced similar circumstances, but missed a couple of cuts and had a scratch, allowing Shadow to pad his possession numbers before long strikes on the 7 and 9 for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Shadow didn't even give Nikolai a chance to use game 3 as the catalyst for a comeback. Shadow instead bashed the break that sent the 9 to the bottom right for the instant win and a clincher as the series moves to 3-0 Shadow. Game 4 went very fast for a full-rack effort, as Shadow made a three-ball run from the break, which Nikolai countered with a four-ball run. They each made a ball late, but it was Nikolai who took the 9 for a consolation win to cut the series to 3-1. Shadow battled hard in game 5, keeping Nikolai honest despite the visitor striking a three-ball run in the middle of the game. Shadow got a look at the 9 after Nikolai missed, and Shadow converted to win, making it a 4-1 series win. Shadow advances to the bracket quarterfinals after an impressive series.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Sierra. The blue cue plays its last series today in 8-ball between veterans. Tysini's Brownie had a highly unconventional break in game 1, just clipping the lead ball. Todavía's Sierra rallied off of this with a four-ball run, putting Brownie under pressure. Brownie responded well, chipping away while Sierra floundered, and then Brownie won with a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, taking a 1-0 series lead thanks to Sierra's missed contact. Game 2 saw the Hummingbirds' Brownie employ a more standard break, to the detriment of both players. The game moved much slower, and it took a minor breakthrough at the end for the Stills' Sierra to get the 8 for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Sierra scratch on the break and on her first turn after it, making it a fairly easy path to the lead for Brownie. Disaster nearly struck Brownie when the 8 came dangerously close to falling after illegal contact, but it stayed up until she tapped it in legally after Sierra cleared her defense. Brownie leads the series 2-1 now. Sierra kept her series alive with a big comeback in game 4, working a five-ball run-out after Brownie missed both of her chances at the 8. Brownie's misses left the 8 at tap-in range for Sierra, whose win ties the series at 2. Game 5 saw Sierra break out for a big lead early on. Brownie did pull herself back into the game, but Sierra's lead was too strong, and the visitor got the win and a 3-2 series win. Sierra will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Lionel. The red cue returns to action for this 10-ball series between above-average players. Commerce's Lionel had more of the possession in game 1, but it all went to waste with his errant shot on the 8 at the end. Terrace City's Kiwi took over from there with a three-ball run-out to earn the 1-0 series lead with her win. The Knights' Kiwi had a similar finish in game 2, winning once more with a three-ball run-out, but this time she got to that point with a lot more possession against the Tradewinds' Lionel, who seems a bit disheartened by his effort so far. Kiwi didn't have a finishing run in game 3, but she still got the win, owning her largest possession share in the game with a well-supporting five-ball run. Lionel had a chance for the win, but couldn't line up the 10 properly, and Kiwi made the shot that was left to clinch the series at 3-0. Game 4 saw Kiwi make an impressive double-rail kick on the 6 to the top side that led to her second of two three-ball runs in the game, but it wouldn't last, as Lionel popped up to make the final two balls in the win, cutting the series to 3-1 in the process. With nothing to play for in game 5, both players took it slow and tried some creative shots. Kiwi wound up getting the win after Lionel tried to bank the 10 to the bottom left, and Kiwi mopped it up on a straight shot. Kiwi took the series 4-1 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Dani. The final series of the day is in 7-ball with the silver cue. Boston's Gradley wasted little time battling with Web City's Dani in game 1, as he made the 1 and then converted the 2-5 combination to the bottom right and the 2-7 kick combination to the top right for a stunning win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley had a strong game 2, driving possession for the game until an odd sequence on the 6. Gradley missed it from distance, and the Spiders' Dani went too lightly to try to pin it into the bottom left. Gradley overcompensated, giving Dani ball-in-hand on the 7 after scratching, and Dani converted to tie the series at 1. Gradley continued to fade from the dominant series opener, battling even with Dani in game 3 until he missed a 4-7 combination and Dani used the 4 to deflect the cue into the 7 to the bottom right for the win. Dani leads the series 2-1 after her savvy shooting. Gradley just barely held on long enough in game 4, as Dani charged with a four-ball run but couldn't quite corral the 6. Gradley made the last two balls to get the win, retying the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. Gradley had a great start with a four-ball run in game 5, but that would be all he got. The game stagnated for a couple of turns until Dani's wonder-shot on the 5 led to two deflections that sent the 6 perfectly to the bottom left, and lined up her 5-7 combination to the bottom right. Dani's win gave her the 3-2 series win, and she will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

That's it for today's games, and we'll be back with the standard 40-50 games tomorrow.

Tournament 2017: A-level Second Round - Day 3

Today could be a bigger than normal day. We will definitely do eight series, but we may extend to ten if time and energy permit. We begin with...

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Twilight. Two big-name cats meet in 7-ball with the blue cue in the first series of the day. Central's Twilight had a great response to a three-ball run by Southridge's Bianca in game 1, pulling in a four-ball run-out that gave Twilight the 1-0 series lead with her impressive win. Game 2 took a slower pace on both sides, although the Defenders' Bianca did make a three-ball run at one point. The Warriors' Twilight tried to counter it shot for shot, but missed a kick on the 7, and Bianca tapped it in to win, tying the series at 1. Twilight shot back with a perfect game 3, executing a seven-ball run-out to run the table after Bianca's break came up narrowly empty. Twilight's stretch of shooting regained the series lead for her at 2-1. Twilight sealed the series at 3-1 with a fortunate win in game 4. Bianca had a couple of turns interrupted by errors, and the second time, Twilight made a three-ball run-out to get the clinching win. In game 5, fortune again favored Twilight, as a scratch from Bianca set Twilight up on a four-ball run-out for another win. Twilight advances to the bracket quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win, and she will be hosting that series.

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Fluffina v. Chris. Two tough and experienced captains clash in this series of 9-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Chris had a great game 1, making a six-ball run after Maplewood's Fluffina scratched. Chris' game soured on the 7, which eventually Fluffina sank en route to stealing the win on the 9 for a 1-0 series lead despite being outplayed. In game 2, the Sharpshooters' Chris didn't manufacture a big run like before, but he still seemed to have the pace of play. Nonetheless, the Lumberjacks' Fluffina did enough to make the 9 on her second try for the win to give her a 2-0 series lead. Fluffina dominated in game 3, making a three-ball run from the break and a four-ball run-out in the end to put Chris away for good. Fluffina leads the series at 3-0. Fluffina kept up the dominant play in game 4, making a pair of three-ball runs before Chris interjected to make the 7. Fluffina then made the 8 and 9 when Chris got called for illegal contact on his attempt toward the 8. Chris did enough in game 5 to take the win, making a 2-9 combination to the top side after Fluffina missed on the 1. This made it a 4-1 series win for Fluffina, who is set to host her bracket quarterfinals series.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Valencia. Two feistier opponents meet in Accuracy using the silver cue. Capital City's Missy maintained a good effort for much of game 1, only slipping up a little after halfway. Golden's Valencia was poised to take the game, but two misses gave it away to Missy, whose 1-2 win puts her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Valencia couldn't regain her form in game 2, flailing about for much of the game. This made it a very easy path to victory for the Sharpshooters' Missy, who took the 2-6 win to make it a 2-0 series. Valencia again fell behind in game 3, allowing the deficit to grow a bit too much. Missy had a pair of scratches at one point, but Valencia couldn't do enough to force Missy into one more miss, instead missing herself to drop the game 2-4 as Missy clinched the series at 3-0. Missy and Valencia each saw a drop in the quality of their play in game 4, with Missy just prevailing in the back and forth game by a 5-6 score to make it a 4-0 series lead for herself despite the poor play. Missy made a wonderful effort in game 5, rebounding to get a nice 1-4 win to close out her series sweep at 5-0. Valencia just didn't have her shot together throughout the series, and Missy took advantage. Missy will host a bracket quarterfinals series in the next round.

Ebay Center, Queens: Crystal v. Violetta. The Flames captain plays host to her rookie teammate in this 12-ball series, the red cue's only appearance of the day. Violetta played well under pressure, as she got through her suit faster than Crystal, who had to apply defense late. Violetta gave away a wild-card ball to remove the defense, and won a turn later when Crystal couldn't finish the game. Violetta leads the series 1-0. Violetta was much quicker in game 2, running four balls from the break. Crystal had a couple of empty turns as she tried to counter, but Violetta's third turn saw her last two balls go in, and she won for a 2-0 series lead. Violetta played a bit more recklessly in game 3, pushing herself into a good position on her last ball, but doing so by giving Crystal two wild-card balls. Crystal used the immense flexibility to eventually gain a defensive position on Violetta, and then make her last ball for a much narrower than necessary win to make it a 2-1 series. Game 4 was easily the series' most competitive, with Crystal getting onto her final ball amid Violetta's defensive posture in the middle of the table. Crystal twice missed contact on a set-up shot for her last ball, and Violetta rallied to a five-ball run-out after that from ball-in-hand, securing the series at 3-1. Violetta didn't have the most favorable break in game 5, but she made it work, pulling even with Crystal late in the game. Crystal took on a defensive shape again, but she couldn't hold position, and Violetta made her last two shots to win for a 4-1 series win. Violetta will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Sugar. Sisters who don't typically command the spotlight meet in this Rotation series with the blue cue. Victoria's Spice had an awful break in game 1, but still controlled the early part of the game. This all changed when Harrison's Sugar broke out for a five-ball run. Spice scratched on her next turn, and Sugar ended with an 8-4 to take a surprising 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sugar took over at the start of game 2, continuing her late dominance, but she slipped near the end of the game. The Spurs' Spice picked up a lot of ground, tying the game, and winning 8-7 when Sugar missed the 15 on a tap-in. Spice made it on her second try to tie the series at 1. Spice kept up the good work with two balls on the break in game 3. Sugar stayed competitive for awhile, but another double-pot of the 5 deflected off the 8 to the top right and the 8 banking to the top side helped Spice get a bigger lead. Sugar stormed back, but Spice won 8-4 on a three-ball run-out, putting her ahead 2-1 in the series. Spice got by with lucky bounces on the break, two double-pots, and a couple of standard shots to win game 4 by an 8-0 score with the run from the break. Sugar never got to shoot, with Spice drilling the 5 to the top right and the 12 to the bottom right for the winning shot, giving Spice a 3-1 series lead. Spice thought game 5 would be easy as well, but Sugar made a respectable four-ball run to tie the game, and then the last two shots for an 8-7 win to make it a 3-2 series. Spice advances to host a bracket quarterfinals series.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Hughbert. A veteran meets a rookie this time in 12-ball, with the blue cue continuing along. Archtown's Sally had good positioning in game 1 despite getting the less-preferred suit on the break. Southridge's Hughbert didn't much care, making a four-ball run and earning position on his last ball before Sally missed contact to gift him the win on a tap-in. Hughbert leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Hughbert started game 2 by giving the Arrows' Sally a wild-card ball to work a run. The game was choppy in the middle until Sally returned the wild-card ball favor. With each player getting flexibility, Sally surrendered her wild-card ball to play positional defense, a strategy that flustered Hughbert long enough for Sally to make her two shots and win, tying the series at 1. Hughbert had a good game 3, but it took awhile to develop. Sally dominated the early going, and after a four-ball run, she was down to her last ball. Sally's mistake was to give away a wild-card ball, which Hughbert used to avoid her defense when he completed a three-ball run-out for the win, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Hughbert had an excellent break in game 4, making two on the break, and then positioning his remaining shots near the pockets he needed. Sally tried to follow suit, but she lost the race when Hughbert made his last four balls in two later turns, clinching the series at 3-1 with his win. Sally charged back after Hughbert got a bad distribution from his break, even spotting him a wild-card ball before making her last two shots to get the win. Hughbert took the series 3-2, advancing to host a bracket quarterfinals series.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Blizzard. The silver cue gets another look in 8-ball for this series. Game 1 played out very evenly, with Midland's Fuchsia and Everton's Blizzard exchanging their shots closely. Blizzard blew open after stalling a bit, making a four-ball run to put Fuchsia on guard, and Blizzard made the 8 on her next shot for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Blizzard showed a more dominant edge in game 2, making a three-ball run on the break. The Predators' Fuchsia pulled back into the game, but her effort didn't sustain, and Blizzard would make a five-ball run-out two turns later for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Blizzard needed only three turns to make magic in game 3, highlighted by the middle five-ball run turn. Fuchsia was able to counter on a three-ball run, but Blizzard had great positioning skill to get onto the 8 and get the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Fuchsia had an excellent start to game 4 with a six-ball run after Blizzard went empty on the break. Blizzard stayed in the game though, as Fuchsia had trouble wrapping it up, and Blizzard struck with a well-played four-ball run-out to nab the win and a 4-0 series lead. Fuchsia didn't let Blizzard catch up in game 5, executing the previous game plan with a bit more urgency as the rookie avoided getting swept in the 4-1 series. Blizzard will be on the road for the bracket quarterfinals after advancing here.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Taylor Swift. The blue cue is back for Accuracy in this series, which might be followed by a break. Eastside's Taylor had a good game 1, dominating to a point until Oceanside's Celestia was on the edge. Taylor let off a bit, but not too much, clamping down for the 2-5 win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Sharks' Taylor was extremely close to making the middle ball on the break, but that would be the highlight of her game, as she lost her grip on the series through a bad performance. The Waves' Celestia held even until the end, when she pushed Taylor around to win 3-5, tying the series at 1. Celestia used the same strategy to the same result in game 3, keeping pace despite falling behind initially. Taylor couldn't maintain the tie when the game got late, and Celestia made her shots to win 3-5 again, earning a 2-1 series lead with the performance. Celestia couldn't get any traction in game 4 after scratching on the break for the second consecutive game. Taylor was much better, playing perfectly in the 0-4 win to retie the series at 2 and setting up a decisive game. Taylor nearly went back-to-back on the perfect games, but a late miss ruined that dream. Still, Taylor defeated Celestia 1-3 for the 3-2 series win, which probably could have been more favorable to Taylor had she not had that swoon. Taylor will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Hughbert. The blue cue will remain in play after a break, playing 10-ball. Pacific's Leonette had the better of play in game 1, going empty on the break but making a three-ball run-out to support her four-ball run mid-game. Southridge's Hughbert had a couple of good looks, but not enough to prevent Leonette's win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a much improved effort from the Defenders' Hughbert, who had an early four-ball run. The Volcanoes' Leonette replied later with a three-ball run, but it was Hughbert who cost himself the game by missing wide on the 10. Leonette tapped it in for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Leonette clinched the series at 3-0 with a much grittier game 3 win. Neither player was able to develop much of a run in the game, and the 10 required a chase, as Leonette and Hughbert each missed it a few times before Leonette finally corralled it for the win. Leonette had the better of play in game 4 again, but a late three-ball run saw her end on a scratch while making the 9, and this gave Hughbert a gift of a win, as he made the 10 from ball-in-hand to cut the series to 3-1. Leonette had a couple of nice runs again in game 5, including an early four-ball run, but she left the 10 to Hughbert. He tried a bank but left it short at the bottom left, and Leonette tapped it in for the 4-1 series win. Leonette advances to the bracket quarterfinals with a decisive series win.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue gets the last series in this expanded day, playing 10-ball. Freedom's Nikolai had a bad break in game 1, and he never really got his shot calibrated either. Infinity's Mr. Snowman also struggled at the start, but he pulled in a four-ball run-out at the end to pick up the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman decided to abandon the angled break in game 2, shooting head-on with great results. The scatter was nice, and when the Cascades' Nikolai missed the 1, Mr. Snowman got a line on the 1-10 combination to the top right, which he made for the win and the 2-0 series lead.  Mr. Snowman put in a dominant effort from start to finish in game 3, making two balls on the break and ending on a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-0 against a frustrated and stubborn Nikolai. Game 4 went much better for Nikolai, as Mr. Snowman couldn't produce much offense after his break. Nikolai filled the void with a pair of three-ball runs, the latter winning the game to cut the series to 3-1. Nikolai continued his surge into game 5 as well, doing well on the break and ending the game on a five-ball run-out to top Mr. Snowman again. The series ended 3-2 for Mr. Snowman, who is into the bracket quarterfinals with the effort.

That's it for this set of games. We'll be back with more tomorrow in a standard 40-game set.

UPCL Cricket - Week 21 Part 1

We're back after a short break to lead off week 21, which will have the season 60% done by its end. We begin in...

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union begin a four-game home stand against the Prestige, who are on the road for a pair of games. Acorn had practically no pace in a poor start for Lighton, scoring 257 for the visitors. Ms. Puppy answered quite well for Modernistic, giving them the lead with her 678 in a good turn. Spirit did enough to cover the deficit with 519 for the Prestige, but it's not a confident lead they hold. Daisy provided a lot more padding for the Union lead, slapping 816 on her turn that included a full-stretch backhand to keep it going. Twinkie I couldn't keep up for Lighton, falling at 401 as they succumb to the deficit for now. Puff I had a stumble for Modernistic, ending on 231 in a poorer turn. Salmo couldn't bring the Prestige back from this deficit, ending at 288 to give them a final of 1465 in the loss. Strawberry picked up only 202 to give the Union 1927 in the win. Modernistic continues a high-powered ascent to 18-20, while Lighton drops back to 18-27.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems end a three-game homestand looking to spoil the fortunes of the Eastern Hills Division rivals, the Tridents, in their second of a four-game road trip. Precious produced a remarkably sturdy swing for Pronger, hitting 665 to set them off well. Smokey answered with 480 for Diamond on his turn, cutting into the deficit well. Zach knocked another 767 for the Tridents, extending their lead with a strong outing. Citrus struggled with unusual spin on her turn, and she let the deficit grow with only 229 at the midway mark for the Gems. Spot weakened the Pronger lead after a brutal deflection cut him down at 144. Pedey capitalized on the mistakes from the visitors, rallying with 630 to make it a much closer game for Diamond with a player each to go. Potter lasted for awhile for the Tridents before getting overwhelmed, ending on 497 to give them a total of 2073 for the game. Rosalina misplayed a high-arcing ball, as it fell behind her bat to end her turn at 304. The Gems lost with 1643. Pronger may have just found traction out of their recent skid, going to 20-17 and 5-0 in the division, while Diamond is 16-37 and 2-7 in the division.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nest is now fully finished, and the Nighthawks will use it a lot in their march to finish the season, beginning in this game versus the Specters. Sydney looked shakier than she had during Harrison's home stand, pulling in 326 on a sloppy turn. Peach put North Modernistic ahead by a modest amount with 423 on her opening turn for the hosts. Twinkie II showed a bit of a wild side on her turn, gathering 384 with the collection of swings she had for the Specters. Luigi countered very well with 599 for the Nighthawks, padding their lead at the halfway point. Lexi shot back with 489 for Harrison, finding a way to cover the deficit again. Cheddar drilled 784 for North Modernistic in response, restoring a stronger lead late in the game with the effort. Sugar didn't have much for pace for the Specters, closing at 284 to give them 1483 in a losing performance. Bright tapped a light 113 to bring the Nighthawks to 1919 in the win. North Modernistic rises to 25-23, while Harrison falls off at 17-28.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores are back home to host the Pirates, who end a successful seven-game road trip in this game. Delila put in a fairly sturdy effort for Atlantic, although a late backhand failed, giving her 526 in a strong start to the game. Bear got beat on a deflection, scoring a paltry 76 for Whitewater with the early exit. Isabella's road slump continued for the Pirates, with the rookie adding only 169 to the now-weakened lead for the visitors. Twinkie III put a bit too much on a late double-tap, skying the ball to end at 289 in an alright turn for the Shores. Americus kept it simple for Atlantic on her turn, adding a modest 321 to their lead as the game progresses. Marsell made some progress for Whitewater, chipping 369 to get them a bit closer with a player each to go. Klaus went a bit bigger for the Pirates, batting 480 to bring their final score to 1496 in a somewhat low-scoring game. Shaggy took everyone by surprise, erupting for 957 for the Shores to lift them to a win with 1691. Whitewater continues to rise, going to 17-13 with the win, while Atlantic is stunned to go down to 26-16 from that rally.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Pirates get no time to stew about the loss, immediately going home to face the similarly-ranked Knights. Kiwi had her worst road start in a long time for Terrace City, hitting only 102 in this end to their four-game road trip. Delila couldn't break out either, responding with a mild 246 that gives Atlantic a small lead. Jennifer countered with a much more respectable second attack of 706 to propel the Knights into the lead. Isabella replied with 596 for the Pirates, covering the deficit to give the hosts a tiny lead at the midway point. Oreo kept Terrace City on the right track, striking 504 to give them another chance at the lead. Americus produced 313 for Atlantic, going at a great pace but for too short a time as the hosts have fallen noticeably behind. Stripes tapped only 225 for the Knights at the end, bringing their final to a vulnerable 1537. Klaus hauled in 343 for the Pirates, coming up short as they finished with 1498 in the loss. Terrace City improves to 24-18, while bumping Atlantic down again to 26-17.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union play their second of four straight at home, while the Swifts are making a one-off trip for this road game. Patches left the field frustrated for Boston, ending on 83 after a bounce off dead balls caught her off guard. Ms. Puppy had a decent 411 for Modernistic at the start, including a light bump backhand to keep her turn going early on. Puff II chipped in with 360 for the Swifts, enough to lightly cover the original deficit her team faced. Daisy couldn't replicate the effort from her last game, ending at 128 for the Union, who have a weaker lead now. Gradley got knocked back on a deflection, stalling his offense at 263 for Boston in another frustrating setback. Puff I absolutely cratered at 16 for Modernistic, putting them in a deficit that is rather large in the context of this game. Sweetheart hit 290 for the Swifts, bringing them to 996 total in the game. Strawberry bailed too early from a high-pace effort, taking 350 as the Union lose with 905. Boston sneaks away with a hideous win to get to 27-14, while Modernistic drops to 18-21 in an even worse loss.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers are looking for a season sweep a week after beating the Blades in their own home, starting their recent descent down the table. Snowball didn't have the best of turns, churning out a simple 286 for Swordpoint to get things started. Her friend, the Westside captain Misty, had an awful start with just 51, putting the hosts in an early hole. Dreamy didn't connect very well in the second attack for the Blades, ending early at 199 with a badly aimed swing. Goatee kept her turn going with a floated backhand, allowing her to pick up 838 for the Rockers. Bandit couldn't cover the deficit with his 283 for Swordpoint, leaving them in a dangerous position. Midnight tapped 319 for Westside, keeping the lead steady before the final players come to bat. Stealth lacked both patience and placement for the Blades, putting up just 204 as they fell with a total of 972. Slinks didn't really make it convincing, but her 263 was enough for the Rockers to seal the win at 1471. Westside gets their desired sweep to go to 27-15, while Swordpoint drops to 32-16 and into fourth place.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks want to snap their run of home misfortune in this game, but the Arrows hope the start of their five-game road trip will continue a recent surge. Sally had a pretty steady swing for Archtown, blasting 1046 to get them going in great form. Chelsea shot back with a stronger pace but less time at bat, ending with a great 852 on a deflection to keep Eastside in the game. Sleepy B. had a good breakout with 662 for the Arrows, doing well to pad her side's lead. Taylor got tangled up on her swing, losing ground with a decent 352 for the Sharks. Ruby weakened the Archtown lead badly with a measly 39 after a devastating deflection ended her turn quite early. Niki made a large dent in the deficit for Eastside, cutting in with 497 to make it close late in the game. Dusky replied with 346 for the Arrows, a solid turn that still leaves them vulnerable at 2093. Paps played an aggressive style and failed for the Sharks at 152, leaving them with another loss at 1853. Archtown sneaks away with the win to go to 24-20, while Eastside drops to 16-23.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union host this M-Line Derby as their third of four straight at home, while the Lumberjacks are in the second of a four-game road trip. Fluffina served up a good opener for Maplewood, hitting 481 in the game's first turn. Ms. Puppy nearly got it all back for Modernistic, taking in 455 to keep things close initially. Diddley shot back even better for the Lumberjacks, slashing 711 to give them a confident lead once again. Daisy got beat on a deflection for the Union, falling quickly at 101 as their situation is dire at the halfway mark. Bryant answered with 487 for Maplewood, extending their lead with the solid performance. Puff I experienced a brutal deflection for Modernistic as well, but later in her turn, as she collected 388 before the bounce took her out. Waluigi had his best road performance of the year with 450 for the Lumberjacks to see their offense end at 2129. Strawberry put in a good try for the Union, but her 566 left them short at 1510 in the loss. Maplewood gets up to 13-28, while Modernistic falls to 18-22.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders return after a week off to play the third of their four-game home stand against the Meteors. Mams had her first truly bad road game for Viewpoint Sound, losing control of a swing to end on just 51 this time out. Shadow punished the mistake greatly, smashing 908 for Web City to take a massive lead early in the game. Hoot clipped back well for the Meteors with 624, dramatically closing down the deficit with his effort. Ted mitigated the damage of that attack with 368 for the Spiders, helping them retain a strong lead at the midway mark. Nibbles had a good turn going until a low offering came in, causing him to bobble the swing and end at 352 for Viewpoint Sound, hurting their comeback chances. Shiny couldn't quite pull off a bat trick at the end, but she closed at 463 to slightly pad the Web City lead with the finals players coming to bat. Dominic couldn't complete the comeback with 336 for the Meteors, bringing their losing score to 1363. Dani chopped another 515 for the Spiders, giving them 2254 in a big win. Web City rises to 15-22, while Viewpoint Sound drops to 14-19.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Pirates need to bounce back from a pair of defeats earlier this week, while the Surfers just need to bounce back at all. Watermelon could only watch as a ball deflected over her bat and out of play to stall her at 249 for Pearl. Delila ripped 737 for Atlantic in response, setting the hosts well ahead after the first attacks for each team. Neopolitan did well for the Surfers, gathering 504 to cover the deficit by a small margin this time. Isabella didn't get a whole lot back for the Pirates with her 224, giving them a weak lead at the halfway mark. Boots had a couple of false starts for Pearl, and lacked pace at first before settling in for 415 to give her side the lead. Americus restored the previous lead for Atlantic with her 425, keeping things steady and in favor of the hosts with a player each to go. Wings couldn't cover the deficit for the Surfers with 207, ending at a final of 1375 in the loss. Klaus iced the Pirates win with 336 individually for 1722 overall. Atlantic gets their bounce-back win to go to 27-17, while Pearl falls off at 18-21, making a deep divide for the playoff bubble.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots and Volcanoes tangle, with the chance to infringe on first place's breathing room the prize in this Generations Derby. Starlight drilled 688 for Pacific right at the start, giving them a very good first attack. Valencia tried her best to keep going amid the chaotic finish to her turn, recouping 496 for Golden to keep the deficit small enough to overcome. Ms. Kitty stayed calm and collected 384 for the Volcanoes, adding a bit to their lead with the appearance. Dusty went on a rally for the Pilots in response, slicing 731 to give them the lead at the halfway mark. Leonette managed to cover the deficit for Pacific, but her swing got too fancy and ended her turn at 288, leaving the visitors vulnerable. Strut kept a lead for Golden with his 344, but they do not feel like it is enough on its own. Chicky Phil picked up 271 for the Volcanoes, forcing a response from the hosts as his team ends at 1631. A. Charlton looked overwhelmed despite facing a tiny deficit, and she hit only 96, enough for the Pilots to win with 1667 in the gritty rivalry game. Golden will enter a tie for first at 26-12, while Pacific drops down to 29-15 as their road slide continues.

That's all for this segment. There should be more in the coming days as we try to match league weeks to calendar weeks while pool is being played.

Tournament 2017: A-level Second Round - Day 2

After yesterday's opening of the new round, we get into the groove of standard play. We'll have another eight series today before taking at least one day off, potentially two. Let's begin in...

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Cobalt. This match between a veteran and a rookie is in 9-ball with the silver cue. Boston's Sweetheart didn't have a clean game 1, playing poorly in the early going as Stonebridge's Cobalt paced play. Sweetheart caught a break later when Cobalt stumbled on the 8. Sweetheart made the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart established herself with a luck-based three-ball run in game 2, double-tapping two balls in. The Wolves' Cobalt shot well to get back in the game, but Sweetheart finished the game with a cut on the 9 to the bottom right to earn a 2-0 series lead with her win. Sweetheart had a slower start in game 3, but found her shot on a four-ball run that nearly went farther. Instead, her miss on the 7 set up a three-ball run-out for Cobalt, who kept his series alive by winning to cut it to 2-1. Game 4 saw neither player form a run. Cobalt had the best chance at a win, but he missed the 9 twice, and Sweetheart was able to make it on her second try after a spate of bad shots to get the win and clinch the series at 3-1. Sweetheart dominated in game 5, winning with a three-ball run-out a turn after another three-ball run. Cobalt had his chances but got outplayed by Sweetheart, who won the series 4-1 and will travel for her bracket quarterfinals series.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Bells. The blue cue comes on for the other pre-lunch series today, in 10-ball. Whitewater's Bear got the best of a bad game 1, making enough shots at the right times to get around an even poorer performance from Todavía's Bells. Bear leads the series 1-0 after the sloppy win. Game 2 went much better for both sides. The Shores' Bear made two balls from the break, but was answered by a three-ball run from the Stills' Bells, who could have had more except for her kick that left the 6 standing. Bear countered with a four-ball run-out from here, getting positioning and a 9-10 combination to the top right for the win, giving him the 2-0 series lead. Bear had trouble with legally potting balls in game 3, leaving things wide open for Bells, who picked up the slack on a five-ball run. Each player missed the 10 twice before Bells could make it on her third attempt after Bear cut it too thin at the bottom right. The win by Bells makes it a 2-1 series. Bells had the best run of play in game 4 as well, right at the end with a three-ball run-out after she had battled with Bear to clean up a poor break. Bells' finishing run was enough to tie the series at 2. Bear figured out his game just in time in game 5, as Bells dominated with a four-ball run but couldn't corral the 8. Bear made the 8 and the 10 on tap-ins for the win and a 3-2 series win. Bear advances to the bracket quarterfinals.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Kirstin. After lunch, the blue cue gets to play Accuracy. Viewpoint Sound's Mams couldn't quite make her lead hold up against Everton's Kirstin. She fell into a tie, which forced overtime, and there Mams had two misses, allowing Kirstin to gain the 3-4 win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Eagles' Kirstin made two balls on the break and continued to play well from there, missing only once in the middle. The Meteors' Mams had a chance to make it interesting late in the game, but a pair of misses to finish left Kirstin with a 1-4 win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 was played much tighter, as Mams brought her best to meet Kirstin this time. A late miss put the game into a tie, and Mams missed on the overtime break, giving Kirstin an easy shot for the 1-2 win and the 3-0 clincher. Mams had a much stronger outing in game 4, coinciding nicely with a swoon from Kirstin, who never recovered from an early miss. Mams took advantage of Kirstin's poor play to earn a 2-5 win, cutting the series to 3-1. Game 5, a lame-duck game, saw both players ease off their shots a bit, resulting in a sloppy 4-5 win favoring Kirstin to give her a 4-1 series win over Mams. Kirstin will be on the road for her bracket quarterfinals series.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Wario. The red cue's only series of the day pits a veteran against a rookie in Rotation. Freedom's Stinky saved himself a lot of trouble by building up an early lead against Victoria's Wario, which helped when the visiting rookie made a late push. Stinky weathered the attack, then won 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead when he made two shots in a row. The Cascades' Stinky took a different approach in game 2, watching as the Spurs' Wario gained the early lead. Stinky then charged back with a five-ball run, and the two scrapped for the lead after that, with Stinky emerging in the end ahead 8-6 for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Wario won game 3 based on Stinky's inability to capitalize on Wario's shaky play. Wario did well to build a nice lead early on, but he was inefficient despite the 8-3 win which kept him going in the 2-1 series still favoring Stinky. In game 4, Wario had some of the same struggles, but Stinky was not as forgiving this time. He had a nice three-ball run to gain the lead in the middle of the game, and then ended with a pair of nice shots, but none beat his curved shot on the 3 that helped him get on the board. Stinky won 8-4, taking the series at 3-1 with the confident bounce-back game. Stinky made quick work of game 5, bursting out to a massive lead in two turns. Wario got a couple of balls back, but Stinky shut things down with an 8-2 win to walk off with a 4-1 series win. Stinky is in line to host a bracket quarterfinals series.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Gradley. Southeast Division players spar in Accuracy with the blue cue in this series. Golden's Charlton nearly played a perfect game 1, and while Boston's Gradley was not bad, he couldn't match that shooting proficiency. Charlton cruised to a 1-3 win for a 1-0 series lead after her good game. The Swifts' Gradley flipped the script in game 2, playing a very strong game himself while the Pilots' Charlton faltered numerous times early in the game. Gradley held his ground, and Charlton had no chance to catch up his Gradley's 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Charlton continued to slip in a weak game 3, struggling near the start of the game. She still almost had a chance to win, as Gradley fell hard at the end of the game, but held on for a 4-5 win to make it a 2-1 series lead in his favor. Game 4 saw both players squander chances late to gain control of the game, which resulted in a trip to overtime. Charlton had the break and elected to shoot soft given her poor angle, but she got no drawback, and Gradley hammered the rack, sinking a ball to secure a 3-4 win and 3-1 series win in one shot. Game 5 saw more wasted opportunities for Gradley, and this time it would cost him in regulation, as Charlton gained a late upper hand and pushed him around until she won 3-4. Gradley still took the series 3-2, and will head to Subway Arena in Stonebridge to face the Wolves rookie Prism in the bracket quarterfinals.

Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Lionel. It's a match between best friends in 7-ball with the silver cue. Both players seemed evenly matched this time, but Commerce's Lionel had a slight edge of Diamond's Smokey. Lionel was able to make the 7 after Smokey missed it, giving the visitor a 1-0 series lead for the winning shot. Game 2 was more of the same for the Tradewinds' Lionel, who only differentiated himself from the Gems' Smokey by making the 7 when Smokey couldn't pull off the medium-range shot. Lionel now leads the series 2-0, but it could easily have gone the other way. Game 3 went more favorably for Smokey, as he picked up the win in a strong outing. Lionel had a scratch in the middle of the game, and this turned the tables for Smokey to make a few shots, earning the win with possession to cut the series to 2-1. Lionel made sure game 4 lasted only two shots, as Smokey scratched on the break and Lionel used ball-in-hand to secure the series at 3-1 with a 1-7 combination to the bottom side. Lionel finished off the series with a dominant game 5, making five of the seven balls with a four-ball run early and the 7 at the end for the win. Lionel defeated Smokey 4-1, and Lionel will travel again in the bracket quarterfinals.

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Salmo. It's a battle between rookies as the blue cue returns for some 12-ball. Swordpoint's Bandit got two balls on the break of game 1, putting Lighton's Salmo on the spot immediately. Salmo did well to get himself in position on his final shots, but Bandit was quicker, and used ball-in-hand from Salmo's missed contact to make his last two balls. Bandit leads the series 1-0 with the win. The Blades' Bandit avoided any single long run in game 2, but he was forced to pick up the pace when the Prestige's Salmo made a three-ball run to get onto his last ball. Bandit got lucky he didn't scratch when shooting his own final ball, but Salmo pulled off an unlikely kick on the 4 to the top left to win anyway, tying the series at 1. Salmo made a deep five-ball run from the break in game 3, but his error was to give Bandit a wild-card ball. Bandit made him pay in two turns, making all five of his remaining balls for the win and restoring his series lead at 2-1 in the process. Game 4 saw a lousy break from Bandit, making things difficult for both players. Salmo's problems reached a head when he potted a ball for Bandit, a wild-card ball Bandit used for flexibility as he made his final two shots to win and secure the series at 3-1. Salmo did better to control his shot in game 5, and a couple of rookie mistakes from Bandit made it even easier for Salmo to get the win with his final two shots coming from ball-in-hand. Bandit still won the series 3-2, and will host his bracket quarterfinals series as well.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Panda. Today's final series is also with the blue cue, in Rotation. Stonebridge's Prism certainly had the more creative and highlight-worthy shots in game 1, making a double-pot of the 4 and 11 to the top left at one point. Southern's Panda, while less flashy, played a more practical game, working his way to an 8-5 win and a 1-0 series lead in the comeback. Game 2 went far less smoothly for either player. The Monarchs' Panda had an awful break, and this led to short runs and choppy shooting. The Wolves' Prism held a brief lead early on, but Panda took over and retained the lead to the end in an 8-5 win to put himself ahead 2-0 in the series. Panda started with a hot break, earning a three-ball run pretty quickly. Prism recovered by the middle of the game to tie it, but Panda pulled away to an 8-4 win with his four-ball run-out, clinching the series at 3-0 with the nice finish. Panda hit the highlight reel on a double-pot in game 4, making the 5 on a spinning cut to the top side from a terrible angle. The spin then took the cue to the 12-9 combination at the bottom right to complete the stunning play. Panda followed it up with another double-pot, cutting the 6 to the top side and then hitting two rails before the cue drove the 15 to the top right, leading off a three-ball run-out that clinched his pretty 8-3 win over Prism to make it a 4-0 series. Prism redeemed herself a bit in a dominant game 5, capitalizing on a fairly nonchalant effort by Panda to win 8-1. Panda still took the series 4-1, and he will host a bracket quarterfinals series for his troubles.

That's all for today's series. We'll be back on Monday at the latest, with a half-chance at Sunday being the return to action this weekend.

Tournament 2017: A-level Second Round - Day 1

Today, we begin the Second Round of the A-level portion of this Tournament. You can find the full schedule on the website. We plan to play eight series per day, which amounts to 40 games a day. Leading off...

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Oreo. The blue cue gets a look in 12-ball to begin the day and the round. Maplewood's Bryant couldn't get onto his shots very well in game 1, leaving a lot on the table despite receiving a wild card ball from Terrace City's Oreo early on. Oreo had a better time getting in position, and patient play earned her the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Knights' Oreo started well, but she couldn't make her defense hold up against a firm attack from the Lumberjacks' Bryant, who managed to get by at the end on the last two shots, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was a lot like game 1, as Oreo held onto an early lead amid the adversity of bad position and a scratch. Bryant tried to make a late push, but Oreo paced her final shot well enough to win, taking the series lead back at 2-1. Game 4 went pretty even for the most part. Oreo got off to a slightly better start than Bryant, but she lacked positioning. Bryant nearly made a late run, but a scratch set him up for an even better set of shots. He couldn't convert this time either, and Oreo finished the game a couple of turns later, securing the series at 3-1. Game 5 saw an anticlimactic ending, as Oreo gave a wild card ball away to Bryant, who missed from ball-in-hand on his last ball. Oreo couldn't make her final two balls, and Bryant tapped in to win, making it a 3-2 series. Oreo advances to the bracket quarterfinals, the first player to do so.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Citrus. Two bright stars for the league clash in 15-ball, also with the blue cue. Harrison's Sydney had a quiet start in game 1, allowing Diamond's Citrus to pace play a bit more. The 15 remained near the bottom right for most of the game, and each player missed a combination chance before Sydney won on the 7-15 combination for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 also ended at the 7, as the Specters' Sydney put the 15 into a cluster near the 7 when shots were difficult to make. The Gems' Citrus kicked the cue and received a favorable judgement from the referee that the 7 was contacted before the 8, which bumped the 15 into the top right. Citrus' iffy win tied the series at 1. Citrus kept up the aggressive shooting early in game 3, making a couple of nice runs, including a three-ball stretch near the middle. Sydney pulled back into the game with a four-ball run near the end, but her miss on the 14 allowed Citrus to make the last two balls, putting her ahead 2-1 in the series with the win. Game 4 saw some of Citrus' patented possession play for the series, including a late four-ball run, but Citrus couldn't corral the 15 on two attempts, and it took Sydney three tries before she potted it to the top right on a kick, retying the series at 2. Game 5 saw Sydney start strong, Citrus make a late rally that fell short when she missed the 14 on a three-ball run, and then Sydney made the 15 on a cut to the bottom side for the 3-2 series win. Sydney will be on the road in her bracket quarterfinals series.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Twinkie I. After lunch, the silver cue makes its round debut in 8-ball. Game 1 started off with good shooting from Lighton's Twinkie I, but a late rally saw Everton's Puff III get first dibs on the 8. She left it short at the top side, and Twinkie I recovered to finish on a three-ball run-out for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead after Puff III couldn't close the game. The Eagles' Puff III took advantage of a weak break from the Prestige's Twinkie I, making a four-ball run early on. Twinkie I got a few shots back, but Puff III can thank a couple of lucky bounces for making it a convincing game 2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a much quicker exchange of shots, as each player had an early four-ball run. Twinkie I became discouraged when her defensive shape prevented another run, and Puff III broke through a few turns later on a three-ball run-out to win, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 went even better for Puff III, who got what she wanted from her break with a three-ball run that ended in a scratch. Twinkie I made a small counterattack, but Puff III would win on a six-ball run-out, clinching the series at 3-1 with the great positioning plays. Game 5 also favored Puff III, who took a bit more time to develop her shot, but closed with a five-ball run-out using good positioning again to get the win and a 4-1 series win. Puff III will host a bracket quarterfinals series.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Fluffina. Two feisty veterans clash in 10-ball with the blue cue as these teams develop a short-term rivalry. Maplewood's Fluffina had a clear edge in possession in game 1, scrapping with Terrace City's Oreo early on before making the last six balls in two turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo didn't do much better in game 2, weathering a firm attack from the Lumberjacks' Fluffina at first. Just as Oreo got her offense going, she scratched, and Fluffina converted a six-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, moving into a 2-0 series lead. Fluffina lost her dominant edge in game 3, looking vulnerable from break to finish. In fact, Oreo's better possession resulted in a well-earned win, as Fluffina missed on the 10 and Oreo put a spinning cut on it to the top right to cut the series to 2-1. Fluffina made the most of game 4 after the 4, making five of six balls to strike back at Oreo. The weak break disheartened Oreo, and Fluffina charged with her late rally to win, securing the series at 3-1. Fluffina had a lot of possession late in game 5 as well, but Oreo did better this time, pulling herself to victory on a cut after Fluffina missed her only chance at the 10. The series favored Fluffina 3-2, who will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Brownie. We're back to 12-ball for the blue cue in this series between players on new teams. Pronger's Zach got a ball on the break, but didn't have much to work with from there. Tysini's Brownie also had trouble producing offense, making it a close and slow game 1, until Brownie was judged to make illegal contact. Zach made his last two balls from ball-in-hand, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Hummingbirds' Brownie held on in game 2, avoiding a critical deficit by making her shots quickly and leaving the Tridents' Zach with bad positions. Zach had to turn to defense for awhile, and he nearly rallied back, but Brownie finished in time to get the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 looked to be favoring Brownie as well, but she couldn't get positioning on her final ball, and Zach established a smothering defense, enough to hold her off until he could tap in the defending ball for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 had Zach on the edge of clinching after Brownie removed his defense to give him a wild-card ball. Zach just missed on the 15 to the top left, and Brownie made her last two shots, tying the series again at 2 with her desperate win. In game 5, both players had a chance to win, but Brownie couldn't get positioned quickly enough, letting Zach off the hook for doubling on a pocket as he made his final ball. Zach got the win and a 3-2 series win, and he'll host the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the bracket quarterfinals.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Stealth. The silver cue comes back to play Rotation in this series. Golden's Charlton had to weather an early storm from Swordpoint's Stealth, who made a three-ball run on his first turn. Charlton swiftly replied, and then chipped her way to an 8-5 win as game 1 progressed, capitalizing on Stealth's mistakes to gain a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Blades' Stealth learn from his mistakes. Instead of letting up after an early burst, Stealth doubled down to bury the Pilots' Charlton with a massive lead. When Charlton missed on the 8, Stealth ended the game in an 8-2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 didn't allow for Stealth to maintain his initial lead, as Charlton pulled even before the two players tangled to the finish. Charlton ended up getting the better of it with an 8-7 win, giving her the 2-1 series lead. Stealth seemed entranced by his two straight miscues in game 4, allowing Charlton to pull ahead until she scratched. Stealth rallied back on a five-ball run, but couldn't finish the job, and Charlton sealed up the series at 3-1 with another 8-7 win. Game 5 saw Charlton dominate early on, amid a spate of scratches from Stealth, who would later rally twice to tie the game. Charlton got by on making the last ball for an 8-7 win and a 4-1 series win, and she advances to the bracket quarterfinals.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Prism v. Cobalt. It's an All-Wolves series in this Accuracy battle, guaranteeing the team a spot in the next round. Prism got away with a bold break that made two balls, as Cobalt hung on for awhile before missing three in a row late in the game. Prism stayed true to win 1-4, missing only once in the middle for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Prism didn't have as great a beak or a game in general in game 2, but Cobalt couldn't take advantage, trading misses early on. By the time Cobalt fell behind, there wasn't enough time for him to rally back, and Prism locked her shot in for a 2-3 win and 2-0 series lead. For a player facing a knockout, Cobalt didn't play very well in game 3. His early misses stacked up when he got desperate late in the game, and Prism was able to hold him off and win 2-6 to secure the series at 3-0. Prism had a much tougher battle in game 4, as Cobalt held close even after a late scratch, instead of letting his misses balloon. Prism had a late miss that forced the game into overtime, but Cobalt couldn't get anything on the break and Prism converted to the top left for a 2-3 win and 4-0 series lead. Prism dominated in game 5, keeping it clean in an 0-2 shutout to complete the 5-0 sweep on Cobalt. Prism advances to the bracket quarterfinals with a massive head of steam.

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. B. Chapman. The day closes where it started, with the red cue making its only appearance today in Accuracy. Victoria's Chapman held a bit steadier in game 1 than did Maplewood's Bryant, who stayed even at first only to suffer a late collapse. Chapman brought the game to an end with a 3-6 win, good for her to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit better for the Lumberjacks' Bryant, as he controlled the pace of the game after an early miss from the Spurs' Chapman. Bryant briefly fell into a tie, but Chapman couldn't hold her ground, and Bryant would ride off with a 3-5 win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Bryant took a turn toward perfection, leaving Chapman behind as she spread a few misses in the game. Bryant made a couple of tough shots to keep the game going, winning 0-3 to earn a 2-1 series lead and the late-series advantage. Chapman followed up with a much better game 4, keeping Bryant at bay long enough to grab the 1-2 win and tie the series at 2 after a very competitive stanza of play. Bryant had a tough battle in game 5, as Chapman held the lead for much of the game. In desperation, Bryant left Chapman with poor shots late, and it worked, forcing overtime, where Chapman had one more miss to gift Bryant a 6-7 win. Bryant took the series 3-2, and will host his bracket quarterfinals series.

That's it for the first day of the round, a general but not overwhelming success. We'll be back with more tomorrow, commentated live on Twitter @UnitedPCL.