Select Cricket 2018 - Week 8

We're set for a new week of Select cricket action after the week off for the United Cup first round. Leading off...

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs will be without Spice in this game, but the visiting Cascades sit Jasmine as both captains take rest. Stinky had a decent pace at first, but he crumbled at 136 for Freedom, as the well-rested team will need to shake off the rust. Yekaterina couldn't get off her backhand, falling under siege at 384 for Victoria as the hosts take the early lead. Roxy got beat on a brutal deflection at 144 for the Cascades, unable to cover the deficit. Sage stood tall for the Spurs, clobbering 752 at the midway point to extend their lead nicely. Nikolai answered with 545 for Freedom, trying to bring them back into the game with a good turn. Wario washed that out nicely for Victoria, his 591 restoring their lead to its prior strength with a player each to go. Stripes crashed out at 186 for the Cascades, leaving them at a loss with 1011. Strawberry capped the Spurs win with 772 individually for a total of 2499. Victoria confidently rises to 7-9, while Freedom's five-game losing streak has them down to 9-7.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters look to put their United Cup effort behind them, resting Mitchell, while Waluigi sits again for the Prestige here. Acorn knocked 503 for Lighton right at the start, establishing their offense well early on. Sydney just got Harrison ahead, flailing to reach 519 for the very thin lead. Spirit shot back with an even better effort for the Prestige, hammering 989 to create quite a second attempt at a lead. Twinkie II couldn't muster enough of a response for the Specters, her 177 leaving them far behind halfway through the game. Katelynn butchered her turn with only 45 for Lighton, weakening their newfound lead. Lexi made a small gain with 208 for Harrison, but they are still far back with little time to correct course. Nicole padded the Prestige lead with 439 at the end, putting their final score at 1976. Rudolph tried a rally for the Specters, but he fell short at 424, leaving them with a total of 1328. Lighton's win sets them up to 7-5, while Harrison gets pushed back to 6-9.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks sit Cubby in this Eastern Hills Derby match, while the Cascades bench Stripes as they try to crack their losing streak. Jasmine put in a solid effort with 418 for Freedom, giving them a stable start to build on. Graham couldn't get his pace established, falling with a paltry 69 for Eastside on their opening turn. Stinky put in a good effort with 599 for the Cascades, extending their lead nicely with the second attack. Chelsea answered with 248 for the Sharks, not enough to recover much of the deficit. Roxy tapped another 384 to keep the Freedom attack well-balanced and effective through her turn. Gizmo made a push for Eastside, smashing 858 on his turn to close the gap a bit late in the game. Nikolai fought off the danger with 441 for the Cascades, putting their final score at 1842 with the solid performance. Salmo misplayed a deflected ball, falling with 224 as the Sharks take the loss at 1399. Freedom is back on track again at 10-7, while Eastside drops to 7-10.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades return home to complete their doubleheader, with Stinky resting, while the visiting Monarchs sit their captain Panda for rest. Avril did well in lead off for Southern this time, grabbing a solid 424 to get the visitors going. Jasmine answered with 328 for Freedom on their first turn, keeping it close initially. Hoppy got taken out on a deflection at just 69 points for the Monarchs, weakening their lead dramatically. Roxy made sure to capitalize on the opportunity, drilling 796 to give the Cascades a large lead in the middle of the game. Pounce had a tough time developing pace for Southern, bailing out at 243 as a deflection ended his effort. Nikolai offered a little more padding with 384 for Freedom, putting them in a good position toward the end of the game. Dominic found himself in deflection land for the Monarchs, crashing out at 110 as the visitors lose with 846. Stripes picked up another 536 for the Cascades, icing their win at 2044. Freedom is on the rise again at 11-7, while Southern buckles to 9-7.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The first of four Castle Derby meetings this year sees the Crowns rest Jake in the fourth of an eight-game road trip, while Hughbert rests for the Defenders. Kayla had a decent 368 for Royal on the opening turn. Bianca answered with 388 for Southridge, enough to give the hosts a marginal lead after the first turn. Jeremias had only 177 for the Crowns, their second attack leaving them vulnerable. Debby replied with 608 for the Defenders, launching them forward to a sizable lead at the halfway mark of the game. Nightfur broke free with 1130 for Royal, her punishing attack covering the deficit thoroughly. Stephanie lost her focus for Southridge, and fell at 267, unable to come anywhere near the deficit the hosts now face. Cassie had only 151 for the Crowns, far from securing their final score at 1826. Caitlin fired back with 897, capping a comeback for the Defenders at 2160. Southridge had to claw their way to 12-2, while Royal takes an unlucky loss to 6-7.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves try to replicate their United Cup results against the rival Sharks. Chelsea rests for the visitors, while Vladimir is on the bench for the hosts. Graham swatted a pacey 519 for Eastside at the start, giving the visitors a nice start in this game. Juno fell off a pacey attack of her own at 161 for Stonebridge, leaving them behind early on. Gizmo tacked on another 583 for the Sharks in a productive appearance by the veteran. Frosty grabbed 432 in response for the Wolves, but they lost ground at the midway mark. Cubby pieced together 526 on his attack for Eastside, their balanced and potent offense serving a strong effort so far. Hershey had a decent 395 for Stonebridge, but they are still far behind with a player each to go. Salmo chipped 339 for the Sharks at the end, setting their final score at 1967. Cobalt made a late push with 591 for the Wolves, but they still took the loss at 1579. Eastside gets some vengeance from the United Cup, rising in league play to 8-10, on level terms with Stonebridge.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: These Northeastern rivals have two games this week, this being the first. Gabe gets rest for the visitors, while Sydney takes this game off for the hosts. Whiskers had a perfect backward flick to keep her turn going until she stopped at 686 for Maplewood to start the game. Twinkie II had a pacey counterattack for Harrison with 517 in response, keeping them in range. Diddley answered with only 76 for the Lumberjacks, deeply undermining their lead. Lexi provided 400 for the Specters, enough to put them ahead at the midway mark. Bryant pulled in 425 for Maplewood, keeping things competitive at this point in the game. Rudolph slipped up at 185 for Harrison, setting up a close finish between the teams. Summer had a middling 274 for the Lumberjacks at the end, giving them a final of 1461. Mitchell did enough with 444 for the Specters, claiming the win at 1546. Harrison gets a boost to 7-9, while Maplewood remains narrowly ahead at 7-8.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Lumberjacks will sit their captain Diddley to finish this road doubleheader, while the Monarchs are set to rest Hoppy as they start a five-game home stand. Whiskers had another strong start with 535 for Maplewood to set the tone this time. Avril answered with 433 for Southern after a replay for a false start, which keeps the game close initially. Bryant looked fairly comfortable with 527 for the Lumberjacks this time, adding nicely to their lead. Panda couldn't clear a ball right near his bat, eventually knocking it out of play to end with 280 for the Monarchs. Gabe slipped up at 115 for Maplewood, weakening their lead with the poor outing. Pounce countered with 560 for Southern, pulling them ahead with the strong appearance. Summer countered with 538 for the Lumberjacks, setting their final at 1715. Dominic shut that down with 745 for the Monarchs, securing their win at 2018. Southern jumps to 10-7, while Maplewood slides down to 7-9 at the end of their road trip.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Crowns begin a road doubleheader with Cassie resting, while the Cascades sit their captain Jasmine for more rest. Kayla got knocked back at 128 for Royal, a promising turn cut short to create a poor result. Stinky slammed 520 for Freedom in response, his big swings raking in a noticeable lead for the hosts early on. Jake bounced 416 for the Crowns on his turn, covering the deficit lightly in the process. Roxy replied with 567 for the Cascades, bolstering their previous lead for a hefty advantage at the midway mark. Jeremias kept Royal in the fight with his 504, but their grip on the game is tenuous at best. Nikolai lost a bit of the Freedom lead when he bailed out at 375 after an awkward swing, but they still have the edge late in the game. Nightfur covered the deficit one more time with 509 for the Crowns, giving them a total of 1557. Stripes had a disappointing 177 for the Cascades, but it was enough to secure their win at 1639. Freedom has erased the damage of their losing streak in getting to 12-7, while Royal drops to 6-8 with the loss.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks return home and rest Gabe again, partly for performance, while Kayla takes a game off for the Crowns in their fifth of eight straight on the road. Jake had a shaky start for Royal, but recovered to score 633 in a productive start. Whiskers had only 272 for Maplewood at the start, showing a little fatigue from the busy schedule. Jeremias fell a bit out of form with only 217 for the Crowns this time, but they remain distinctly ahead. Diddley fell with a paltry 51 for the Lumberjacks, wasting an opportunity for them to dent the deficit. Nightfur added a modest 288 to the Royal lead, keeping them in control of the game. Bryant covered that damage with 319, but it doesn't look promising for Maplewood with a player each to go. Cassie stormed back with 506 for the Crowns, giving them a total of 1644 in what's likely to be a win. Summer bowed out at 129 for the Lumberjacks, leaving them far short at 771 as the team succumbs to fatigue. Royal is back to 7-8, while Maplewood drops to 7-10 with another loss.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks complete the home doubleheader by sitting Summer, while Rudolph gets this one off for the Specters. Sydney slugged 1275 for Harrison, creating a massive deficit for the hosts right away. Whiskers fired back with a decent 423 for Maplewood, cutting the deficit by about a third. Twinkie II didn't have a good swing, but a deflection hurt her more by downing her at 105 for the Specters. Diddley made another dent in the deficit with 375 for the Lumberjacks, hoping to help them rally back. Lexi rebuffed the attack with 619 for Harrison, padding their lead significantly and harming the hosts' comeback chances. Bryant couldn't undo that for Maplewood, his 314 leaving them pretty far behind with little time to fix it. Mitchell capped the Specters offense with 650 individually for a total of 2649. Gabe had 384 for the Lumberjacks, but they took another hard loss at 1496. Harrison has taken two and will seek another against their rivals in the week 9 opener, rising to 8-9 for now, while Maplewood drops all the way to 7-11.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Meteors will give Hoot his first game off against the lowly Gems, who sit Rosalina in their only game this week. Citrus had a solid start with 400 for Diamond this time, putting them in a solid opening position. Mams answered quite well with 519 for Viewpoint Sound, giving the hosts the initial lead with her performance. Pedey answered with 487 for the Gems this time, covering the deficit quite nicely. Nibbles lost ground for the Meteors with 384, making it a close game at the halfway mark. Smokey faltered with 244 for Diamond, putting them in a vulnerable position. Vincent countered with a big 562 for Viewpoint Sound, restrengthening their lead late in the game. Cassandra dished out 455 for the Gems at the end, sealing their score at 1586 and forcing the hosts to make a response. Dani secured the win for the Meteors with her 396, giving them a total of 1861. Viewpoint Sound jumps up to 7-4, while Diamond is 3-14.

That's all for this week's games in Select. Elite starts tomorrow, hopefully with Day 3 of Tournament play following after today's cancellation.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 2

We're back for the second day of the new Tournament. Leading off today...

Google Hall, Modernistic: Kodiak v. Juno. The blue cue will get the first series today in 15-ball. Stonebridge's Juno seemed to pick up the pace late in game 1 after a contested start, using a four-ball run to make her move, but a miss on the 14 allowed Modernistic's Kodiak to pick up the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Union's Kodiak made a ball on the break but missed on the 1, allowing Juno a chance, but the Wolves captain scratched. Kodiak took over with ball-in-hand and made a 4-15 combination on his second shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Kodiak had a fair share of possession in game 3, but Juno took the win despite early sloppiness, converting a 4-12-15 combination to the top right. Kodiak still advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Paps v. Waluigi. The blue cue remains in action with 7-ball in this series featuring players on new teams. Tysini's Paps went back-and-forth with Lighton's Waluigi for most of the game, but the host got the edge late, making the last two balls to win for a 1-0 series lead. Paps had a highlight in game 2, as the Hummingbirds veteran kicked the 2 to the bottom side. The Prestige's Waluigi had a chance for a late run, but he rattled the 7 out of the bottom right, and Paps converted to clinch the series at 2-0 with his win. Waluigi finally broke through in game 3, controlling play and winning on a four-ball run-out after Paps took a bit too much of a fade. Paps advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win anyway.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Kirstin. The silver cue makes an appearance in this series of Rotation. Golden's Valencia was unprepared for the game 1 attack Everton's Kirstin launched, which included a quick four-ball run with a double-pot of the 2 and 12. Kirstin had to fight for the last ball, but she did win 8-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia held a more stable start in game 2, but she peaked mid-game and couldn't recover against a hard charge from the Eagles' Kirstin, who rallied late to win 8-6, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Kirstin jump out to a nice lead, only for Valencia to pull back and tie the game over two turns before Kirstin won 8-7 with a cut on the 15 to the bottom left. Kirstin swept the series 3-0 to go to the second round.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Daisy. A venue doubleheader sees the silver cue take a shot in 9-ball. Dusty had a five-ball run early in game 1, but the Golden veteran fell apart with a whiff on the 7 that allowed Modernistic's Daisy to win with the last two shots for a 1-0 lead. The Union's Daisy ended up regretting a mid-game scratch in game 2, which ignited a four-ball run-out from the Pilots' Dusty that started with ball-in-hand on the 6. Dusty's late surge tied the series at 1. Dusty started game 3 with a three-ball run, but it was two misses on the 4 by Daisy that turned things to Dusty in the end, as she made a 6-9 combination to the top right after burying the 4. Dusty won the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Bandit. The silver cue remains in play for this 8-ball series between a rookie and a sophomore. Royal's Cassie tried to make waves with solids in game 1, but her defense-fighting three-ball run didn't hold up against a three-ball run-out from Swordpoint's Bandit, as the visitor took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit had better runs in game 2 than did the Crowns' Cassie, but a choice to call a deflected shot on the 8 to the bottom right doomed him, as he sank it clean in the top right, gifting the win to Cassie to tie the series at 1. Cassie had an early five-ball run in game 3, but Bandit countered with a pair of three-ball runs, the latter sealing the win after Cassie couldn't quite bank the 8 to the top side. Bandit won the series 2-1 to get into the second round.

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: B. Chapman v. Slinks. The blue cue returns to action for some 12-ball. North Modernistic's Chapman did pretty well in game 1, allowing Westside's Slinks to clear out some of the obstructions before setting up and burying her final pair of shots. Chapman leads the series 1-0. The Nighthawks' Chapman had an empty break in game 2, sparking a four-ball run from the Rockers' Slinks, but after a lull, Chapman struck back on a five-ball run-out to take the win and the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Chapman rip a four-ball run from a successful break, which also saw her give Slinks a wild-card ball. Slinks tried to bunker for defense, but Chapman worked around it, winning on a cut from the kitchen after Slinks scratched. Chapman swept the series 3-0 to advance to the second round.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Wings. Northeastern rivals clash in another 12-ball series with the blue cue. Everton's Cleo got a four-ball run right from the break in game 1, but the advantage was offset by a four-ball run from Central's Wings. Wings made a push on turn two, but his illegal contact while shooting his last ball led Cleo to win from ball-in-hand with a pair of simple shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Wings had a number of chances to take the win in game 2, but he wasted them all, allowing the Eagles' Cleo to surge forward on a four-ball run-out despite a flawed effort of her own. Cleo's win secured the series at 2-0 for her. Wings made a four-ball run at the start of game 3, trying to get some leverage against Cleo, who made two balls early on and a three-ball run before capitalizing on Wings' last miss to get the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Cleo is into the second round.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Hughbert. The blue cue stays in action for some 10-ball. Commerce's Niki seemed to have the better of play in game 1, but a scratch ended her five-ball run on the 9, and Southridge's Hughbert buried the 10 from ball-in-hand for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Hughbert had a highlight in game 2, with his 3-4 combination to the bottom side at a bad angle becoming a double-pot as the 5 ran to the bottom left. It was too early to benefit him, and the Tradewinds' Niki made the last two shots to win the game and tie the series at 1. Game 3 went back-and-forth, as neither player developed control until Niki missed contact on the 10 and scratched on the same shot, gifting a tap-in to Hughbert, who won the series 2-1 with the play. Hughbert will take the trip to the second round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Wild Thing v. Mr. Snowman. The blue cue gets another series, with Accuracy between veterans. Archtown's Wild Thing didn't look rusty at all in game 1, making all of his shots and forcing Infinity's Mr. Snowman into a late miss for the 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman came back with renewed strength in game 2, holding off the Arrows' Wild Thing early. A near scratch kept Mr. Snowman in control, and Wild Thing never caught up, with his 1-4 loss tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw another competitive start, but Wild Thing had a scratch and fell too far behind, losing the game 1-2 to Mr. Snowman, whose patient style worked out for a 2-1 series win. Mr. Snowman heads to the second round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Oreo. Two talented veterans clash in 10-ball with the red cue, its first series of the day. Stonebridge's Juno made quick work of game 1, winning on her second turn after Terrace City's Oreo missed on the 1. Juno potted the 1 and cut the cue off the 2 to deflect the 10 to the top right as called for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Juno almost wasted her slightly stronger full-game effort in game 2, as the Knights' Oreo just mishit her one attempt at the 10 after Juno's miss. Juno banked it to the top left at the end to secure the series at 2-0 after the close call. Game 3 saw Oreo produce a nice run at one point, but Juno took the last two shots to secure the 3-0 series sweep and head into the second round with momentum.

Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Gabe. More 10-ball is on the way, but it will be the blue cue in hand for this series. Todavía's Bells made a ball on the break, but missed contact on her second shot led to a three-ball run-out by Maplewood's Gabe, who cut the 4-10 combination to the bottom right to pull ahead 1-0 in the series with his win. The Stills' Bells had flashes of potential in game 2, but a scratch while potting the 8-9 combination to the bottom side killed her series. The Lumberjacks' Gabe mopped up the 8 and 10 for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Gabe had two scratches in game 3, the lack of control polishing over Bells' one scratch, as she had a four-ball run-out on her next turn to grab the win. Gabe took the series 2-1 to get to the second round.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Cowzart v. Misty. An all-Rockers series in 10-ball will be played with the silver cue as today's finale. Game 1 saw Cowzart produce a five-ball run on his second turn and then drop off completely, while Misty fought back late and got the win after Cowzart's ugly miss on the 10 at the bottom right. Misty holds a 1-0 series lead. Misty had the better of play in game 2, but it didn't work out in the end, as her impressive makes on the 8 and 9 were wasted when she missed the 10. Cowzart followed Misty's four-ball run with a tap-in to get the win, tying the series at 1. Cowzart had a surge with a three-ball run in game 3, but he missed on the 9, and Misty made the last two shots to advance on a 2-1 series win.

That's all for today's games. We'll be back with a similar output tomorrow.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 1

The Tournament is finally ready to begin with the first day being January 7, 2018. I expect the first round will last upwards of three months, with approximately 60 game days. First up...

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Snowball v. Wings. A Rivalry series with the silver cue in 7-ball will be the debut series of this year's Tournament. Swordpoint's Snowball made the first four balls over two turns, but her three-ball run was met by a three-ball run-out from Central's Wings, who took a 1-0 series lead with the play. The Warriors' Wings tried to keep his momentum up for game 2, but after an early three-ball run, he had to settle for a tight battle. The Blades' Snowball prevailed in this one, a 6-7 combination to the top left earning her the equalizing win. Game 3 went very quickly, with Wings' four-ball run including the 2 and 4 double-potted to the right corners, followed by Snowball's three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win. Snowball is the first player to win her way into the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Shaggy. The silver cue plays 7-ball in another Rivalry series. Oceanside's Snuggle dominated the pace in game 1, as Whitewater's Shaggy had trouble with control. An early error just affirmed Snuggle's control, which he held to earn a 1-0 series lead on his win. The Waves' Snuggle didn't ease up at all in game 2, potting a five-ball run-out after another scratch from the Shores' Shaggy. Snuggle's big run clinched the series for him at 2-0. Shaggy had a cleaner performance in game 3, but she still couldn't match the quality of even a reduced effort from Snuggle. His five-ball run and sweep-clinching finish a turn later made it 3-0, giving Snuggle passage to the second round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Peach. We've got another 7-ball series, but the blue cue steps in now. Midland's Americus had the better of play early on, but a gritty finish to game 1 saw North Modernistic's Peach close out a win for a 1-0 lead in the series. Each player started slow and then picked it up with a three-ball run in game 2. It came down to the Nighthawks' Peach leaving the 7 short at the bottom right, an easy tap-in for the Predators' Americus, who tied the series at 1 with her win. Americus had a ball on the break but also a scratch, leaving Peach to work her way to the win on back-to-back three-ball runs. Peach's push gave her a 2-1 series win and a ride to the second round officially.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Mitchell. The red cue dips in for 7-ball now, with the first rookie appearance of the year as well. Westside's Midnight had a couple of errors in game 1, scratching and then a false start as she tried for the 7. Harrison's Mitchell wasted the first free possession, but tapped the 7 in for a win and 1-0 series lead when given a second chance after a dominant first game in his career. The Specters' Mitchell made game 2 a lot less painful, striking the 7 into the top side on the break to secure the series at 2-0, leaving the Rockers' Midnight without a chance to get even. Mitchell kept Midnight from the table again in game 3, winning on the break again with the 7 in the top left this time. Mitchell swept the series 3-0 to get to the second round.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Precious. Another 7-ball series with the red cue keeps the streak going. Harrison's Sydney had the better of play in an ugly game 1, and she got the win over Pronger's Precious with a bank of the 6 to the bottom side that sent the cue into the 7 at the bottom right for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney still had a majority share in possession, but her late flailing opened the door for the Tridents' Precious to pot the 6 and 7 to grab the win, tying the series at 1. A five-ball run in game 3 did Sydney no good, as she missed a bank on the 7 that lined up a straight shot for Precious to win the game and take the series 2-1 on. Precious punches her ticket to the second round.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Bryant. The red cue stays up for Rotation in this series between veterans. Maplewood's Bryant jumped out to an early lead and extended it incrementally during the game, leaving Whitewater's Marsell frustrated and ineffective for most of the game. Bryant took the win 8-4 on a 12-15 combination to the top side for the 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell replied with a big effort in game 2, making a five-ball run on his first turn. The Lumberjacks' Bryant answered with a three-ball run, but Marsell closed things down at 8-3 shortly after that, tying the series at 1. Bryant and Marsell had a tense start, with Marsell taking a lead on a four-ball run, but a pair of errors slowed him down, and Bryant recovered to win 8-4 over those free possessions, taking the series 2-1 as he advances to the second round.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Charli XCX. The blue cue returns to the table in the east for some 8-ball action. Tysini's Charli erupted for a six-ball run on her first turn, but Pronger's Zach countered with a five-ball run and enough defense to hold her off. Zach would win a couple of turns later, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 remained competitive, with the Hummingbirds' Charli ripping a four-ball run on her first turn. The Tridents' Zach answered with a six-ball run that was almost more, but Charli fought him off with a four-ball run-out to win the game and tie the series. Game 3 saw Charli go on a five-ball run from the break, but Zach countered on his second turn with a six-ball run to stall her. Charli couldn't get favorable positioning, and Zach made his last ball and the 8 a turn after that for the 2-1 series win. Zach heads on to the second round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Josie. The blue cue gets another look in an 8-ball Rivalry series. Archtown's Sleepy B. had an empty break, but an early miss from Oceanside's Josie sparked Sleepy B. to a five-ball run, an attack Josie could not recover from. Sleepy B. cruised to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. managed a five-ball from the break in game 2, but the Waves' Josie kept it close over the next few turns. Sleepy B. did get a chance to win when Josie rattled the 1 out of the bottom right, but she couldn't connect on the 8, and Josie took the win with a pair of straight shots to tie the series at 1. Josie managed a five-ball run from the break, but almost wasted it as Sleepy B. rallied back on a six-ball run. Josie held her off long enough to pot the final two shots for the win and 2-1 series win, giving the rookie a trip to the second round.

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Cowzart. The red cue is back in play with 7-ball again in this Rivalry between players on new league teams. Maplewood's Whiskers had a glimmering debut with her new team, winning game 1 on the break as the 7 in the bottom left, as well as the 6 in the top right and 4 in the bottom right, prevent Cowzart from getting a shot in his first game for Westside. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers put the 7 a bit too close to the bottom right in game 2, as it hung on the edge for the Rockers' Cowzart to pot as the cue deflected off the 1 perfectly. Cowzart's designed trick play reties the series at 1 game apiece. Whiskers did enough in game 3 to set Cowzart off track late, wasting his five-ball run as Whiskers drilled a cut on the 7 to the top right to win the series 2-1 for her advancement to the second round.

Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Bells. Another Rivalry match pits veterans against each other in 15-ball with the blue cue. Todavía's Bells struggled a lot in game 1, but despite her many early errors, it was Infinity's Mr. Snowman who failed late, allowing Bells to double-pot the 14 and 15 in the bottom side and bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Bells didn't improve her early play at all in game 2, but the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman dropped off quite a bit. He still had four of the last five balls, but not the one that mattered, as Bells took another late win for a 2-0 lead in the series. Bells had a decent effort in game 3, the cleanest of the series, but her late three-ball run was overwhelmed by a four-ball run-out from Mr. Snowman to make it a 2-1 series in the end. Bells heads to the second round.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Strut. The red cue does yet another 7-ball series this time. Capital City's Chris had a lively break, but his success faltered with a scratch on a contact play for the 3. Golden's Strut used the ball-in-hand to spark a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut didn't have much on his game 2 break, allowing the Sharpshooters' Chris to take a three-ball run. Strut fired back with a three-ball run, but he missed on the 7, and Chris put it down in the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Chris dominated in game 3, taking the first two and last four balls to get the win, with the finish a sublime double-kiss that just corrected the course of the 7 enough to drain it at the top side. Chris takes the series 2-1 to get to the second round.

Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Hoot. The last series today is a Rivalry in 9-ball with the silver cue. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy couldn't string her shots together in game 1, leaving Viewpoint Sound's Hoot to take two separate three-ball runs sandwiched around a scratch. Hoot won the game on the latter run with simple cuts for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Ms. Puppy had better fortunes in game 2, keeping the Meteors' Hoot to the perimeter with bad angles before making the 5-9 combination herself on her second try at the bottom right, tying the series at 1. Hoot had all the makings of a good rally at the end of game 3, but he missed the 9 on a five-ball run and Ms. Puppy tapped it in for the 2-1 series win to put herself in the second round.

That's all for day one of the Tournament. I want to have at least 12 series a day in Rounds 1 and 2, with more as time permits. The estimate at the start of this post may be excessive.

United Cup 2018 - Round 1 Part 2

We're back today with the second legs of the United Cup first round fixtures. We begin with...

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks have an uphill climb awaiting them today, as the Wolves look to secure advancement to the next round. Hershey sits for the visitors while Cubby is on the bench for the hosts. Juno had a somewhat weak 217 at the start for Stonebridge, but not enough to put her team in a panic yet. Graham couldn't get any control on his turn, falling at a pathetic 32 for Eastside as their task continues to get more difficult. Frosty pulled a ball into her wicket on her back swing, ending at 32 for the Wolves as well. Chelsea had only 207 for the Sharks, mitigating the damage in this game but unable to approach the deficit from leg one. Vladimir tapped a measly 51 for Stonebridge, maintaining a small lead. Gizmo covered the deficit with 108 for Eastside, but they trail in the series with a player each to go. Cobalt showed up strong with 679 to give the Wolves 979 in the game and 2459 overall. Salmo made a push with 563, but the Sharks lost both the game with 910 and the series with 1469. The Wolves await other results to determine their next opponent.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Crowns sit Kayla, hoping they did enough yesterday to advance, while the Specters sit Mitchell in hopes of a comeback. Jake set the pace with 511 for Royal, making the hosts' tasks all the more difficult. Sydney countered with 464 for Harrison in response, keeping the game close and the overall deficit steady. Jeremias ignited a massive surge with 814 for the Crowns, using a snake-like strike on a backhand to save the effort early on. Twinkie II tried a similar play late in her turn, but it backfired, ending her scoring at 399 for the Specters. Nightfur had a calm 211 for Royal, putting their game lead in a bit of danger. Lexi covered the deficit in the game with 570 for Harrison, but they have very little time to catch up in the series. Cassie tacked on 300 for the Crowns, giving them 1836 in the game and 4126 total for the series. Rudolph crashed out at 185 for the Specters, leaving them with a total of 1618 in the losing game and 2427 for the series. The Crowns have advanced to a yet-to-be determined second round opponent.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs have a slight edge and home-field advantage against the Lumberjacks. Diddley and Sage sit in this one, as both teams rest their highest scorers from leg one. Whiskers led off with a simple 279 for Maplewood, not doing anything to help establish their attack. Spice melted at 57 for Victoria, surrendering the series lead currently. Bryant added 349 for the Lumberjacks, helping them to extend the lead. Yekaterina made up some of the deficit with 393 for the Spurs, but they need a bit more as they remain behind halfway through the game. Gabe picked up 307 for Maplewood, maintaining a precarious game and series lead with his contribution. Wario pushed with 367 for Victoria, making everything neck-and-neck as the final players come to bat. Summer had a solid 346 for the Lumberjacks, giving them 1281 in the game and 2828 total. Strawberry answered with 329 for the Spurs, putting their final score at 1146 in the game and 2781 overall. The Lumberjacks go through with a second leg comeback to advance to the second round.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Prestige wasted home-field in leg one, but they sit Waluigi in leg two, while the Gems are without co-scoring leader Cassandra in their home game. Acorn immediately turned things upside down with a punishing 1596 to give Lighton a massive early lead. Rosalina tried to keep up but failed miserably with 279 for Diamond, putting them in a deep hole. Spirit got out of an early jam with a clever backhand play, but the success was short lived as she fell at 211 for the Prestige. Citrus just covered that round of damage with 215 for the Gems in a sloppy second attack. Katelynn picked up 745 for Lighton in another firm attack that should see the visitors cruise to the series win. Pedey picked up 328 as Diamond succumbs to a harsh impending loss in the second leg. Nicole tacked on 618 to give the Prestige a final score of 3170 in the game and 4992 overall. Smokey tapped 519 for the Gems, but they bowed out at 1341 in the game and 3404 overall. All the favored teams advanced, so no reseeding will be necessary on the Select part of the bracket.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: Isabella sits as the Pirates try to catch up with the Surfers, who bench Beth as they try to defend their lead on the road. Boots had a decent 304 for Pearl at the start of this game, keeping them well ahead in the series. Delila managed 220 for Atlantic in a weak response, her team's overall deficit continuing to grow. Watermelon added a substantial attack of 968 for the Surfers, all but assuring their advancement. Steven picked up 520 for the Pirates, offsetting some of the damage done to their comeback hopes. Neopolitan countered that with 544 for Pearl, pushing the visitors farther ahead again. Klaus had only 167 in a difficult turn for Atlantic, dashing their last hopes of a comeback. Bright iced the Surfers' efforts with 506, giving them totals of 2322 in the game and 4302 overall, both of which should be wins. Max took a good 584 for the Pirates, but they fell far short at 1491 in the game and 2572 in the series. The Surfers get the ticket to the second round.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union hold a slight advantage over the Tradewinds, but both captains, Ms. Puppy and Tigerette, sit out this meeting. Taylor slashed 642 for Commerce on the opening turn, giving her side a nice lead. Daisy chipped in with 429 for Modernistic, keeping the series and the game close. Lionel kept up the pace for the Tradewinds with 656, growing their lead quite nicely on the second attack. Puff I couldn't get anything going, her 5 points a dismal low for the now endangered Modernistic side. Rosemary added on with 407 for Commerce this time, their lead growing again as they hurtle towards victory. The Union got some back with 581 from Kodiak, but his heroics still have them at a deficit with a player each to go. Niki capped the Tradewinds with her 355 for totals of 2060 in the game and 4138 overall. Chimpy dribbled a ball into a dangerous path, cutting him down at 320 as the Union lose both the game and the series at marks of 1335 in the game and 3062 in the series. The Tradewinds overcome not being favored to advance to the second round

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: Luigi sits for the Nighthawks as they try to overcome a small deficit against the Flames, who bench Briana for this one. Crystal wasted no time in extending the Queens lead, belting 1191 for the visitors in a critically acclaimed opening turn. Peach had a mediocre 235 for North Modernistic, the first signs of trouble for the hosts coming early. Violetta didn't have as much pace as her captain, but she still wrangled 617 to pad the Flames' leads again. Cheddar tried to make a push for the Nighthawks, but a double-tap cut her short at 344. Kyle produced another 569 for Queens, extending their substantial lead once again. Gal poked 352 for North Modernistic, their counterattacking efforts getting consistently thwarted. Hannah finished the scoring with 324 for the Flames, putting them at 2701 in the game and 4583 in the series, both of which should go in their favor. B. Chapman had only 297 for the Nighthawks, leaving them at a loss with 1228 in the game and 2919 overall. Queens' convincing sweep puts them into the second round.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The United Cup first round ends with the Arrows looking to finish off the Spiders, with Ted sitting for the visitors while Ruby rides the bench for the hosts. Shadow couldn't establish himself in the game, taking a pitiful 32 for Web City on a faltering first turn. Sally clubbed a strong 512 for Archtown at the start, building a strong lead in the game. Sugar ended at 54 for the Spiders, who are almost assuredly done for this competition. Sleepy B. added on with 417 for the Arrows, continuing to extend their leads with a good performance. Jack had a premature swing that caused him to backhand a ball into his wickets to end at 231 for Web City, all on a technical error replay. Dusky took 273 for Archtown, adding a slight bit more to their lead. Shiny put a disappointing lid on the Spiders' United Cup with 117, for losing totals of 434 and 1313 in the game and series, respectively. Wild Thing finished with 262 for the Arrows, putting their winning marks at 1464 and 3018. The Arrows, despite being the worst seed, advance into the second round.

We'll have United Cup Round 1 wrap-up coverage on Twitter @UnitedPCL in a few minutes.

United Cup 2018 Round 1 - Part 1

The United Cup, established as an inter-division cricket competition, begins now. Teams will play a home-and-home series, with cumulative points as the deciding factor. First up...

Subway Field, Stonebridge: The Wolves take on the Sharks in an Eastern Hills Derby series. Vladimir and Salmo sit out this game, but both are expected to participate tomorrow. Graham had a dud start with only 39 for Eastside on the opening turn. Juno answered with a firm 480 for Stonebridge, giving the hosts the early lead. Chelsea struggled with only 126 for the Sharks, unable to cover the deficit. Frosty lost a bit of ground with only 99 for the Wolves this time, but they remain ahead halfway through the game. Gizmo took a replay for a technical error, but managed only 90 on the second attempt, unable to get Eastside going. Hershey made a small gain with 179 for Stonebridge, adding to their lead late in an ugly opening game for the side competition. Cubby had 304 for the Sharks at the end, giving them a final score of 559 in the loss. Cobalt shut things down with 722 with the Wolves at the end, sealing this win at 1480 for a 921-point advantage going into the second leg.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The two red-clad sides face off in their first taste of United Cup play. Both teams are sitting their captains in the first leg, with Nightfur and Twinkie II on the bench. Sydney had a mediocre 135 for Harrison to lead off this game. Kayla got beat on a deflection at only 46 for Royal, an even worse start for the hosts as quality of play begins to become concerning. Lexi countered with 312 for the Specters, building on their start with a better second effort. Jake countered with a massive 1143 for the Crowns, putting them far ahead at the midway mark of the game. Rudolph couldn't counter for Harrison, falling on a lousy 82 as they appear set to lose. Jeremias added another 414 for Royal to support the lead late in the game. Mitchell chipped 280 for the Specters, but they took a hard loss at 809. Cassie smashed another 687 for the Crowns, capping their win at 2290. The Crowns lead by 1481 heading into the second leg.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks sit Summer in leg 1, while Yekaterina gets some time to clear her head for the visiting Spurs. Spice couldn't react to a ball that bumped into her bat handle, falling at 259 for Victoria in a middling start to the game. Whiskers answered with a solid 402 for Maplewood, putting them ahead initially. Sage answered with 921 for the Spurs this time, putting them ahead by a much larger margin than their first turn produced. Diddley shot back with 464 for the Lumberjacks, denting the deficit a bit halfway through the game. Wario got distracted at times for Victoria, slipping at 158 as their lead weakens. Bryant countered with 359 for Maplewood, making more progress toward catching up. Strawberry did alright with 297 for the Spurs, giving them a total of 1635 for the game. Gabe poked 322 for the Lumberjacks, leaving their balanced offense at 1547 overall. The 88-point deficit means it could go either way in the second leg in Victoria.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Gems have a big battle ahead as they face the Prestige on the road in leg 1. Katelynn sits for the hosts, while Citrus sits this one out for the visitors. Rosalina crumbled at 267 for Diamond despite taking a pacey start that didn't hold up. Acorn didn't have the prettiest of games, but he hauled in 561 for Lighton despite the difficulties he experienced with his form. Pedey hit 615 in response for the Gems, doing enough to give them the lead again. Spirit fired back with 575 for the Prestige, fighting off the danger to restore a lead for the hosts. Smokey kept Diamond in the fight with 566 this time, pressuring the hosts to keep up their established pace. Nicole did fairly well with 449 for Lighton, restoring a slightly smaller lead ahead of the final players' turns. Cassandra set a firm tone at the end with 615 for the Gems, putting their final at 2063. Waluigi managed only 237 for the Prestige at the end, setting them back at 1822. The Prestige travel behind by 241 points.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers sit Bright as Elite teams begin their United Cup adventures, while Steven gets a rare off day for the Pirates. Delila started a bit slow with 248 for Atlantic this time, not the most confident appearance from the captain. Boots answered with a sturdier 377 for Pearl, giving the hosts a slight edge after the first turn. Isabella didn't do much for the Pirates, falling with 184 with only a thin covering over the deficit. Watermelon answered with 912 for the Surfers this time, strengthening their lead on the second attack. Klaus replied with only 208 for Atlantic, unable to impact the game positively for the visitors. Neopolitan countered with 562 for Pearl, giving the hosts an even larger advantage with a player each to go. Max made a push with 441, but the Pirates will head home behind after a final score of 1018 in this loss. Beth tapped 229 to ice the Surfers win at 2080. The Surfers travel with a lead of 1062 points.

Nike Field, Commerce: Rosemary sits out the first leg of this Urban Derby for the Tradewinds, while Kodiak does the same for the Union. Ms. Puppy took a decent 409 for Modernistic to lead the attack in this game. Tigerette answered with 870 for Commerce on her turn, giving the hosts a large initial lead. Daisy answered with 480 for the Union, covering the deficit by a very slight margin with the firm second attack. Taylor picked up 363 to regain a weaker lead for the Tradewinds halfway through the game. Puff I wasted the chance to get Modernistic back in the game, her meager 80 points failing to make much impact at all. Lionel added on with 448 for Commerce, continuing their push to stake out a big lead ahead of the second leg. Chimpy made a huge push with 758 for the Union, bringing their final score to 1727. Niki tacked on 397 for the Tradewinds at the end to give them a total of 2078. Commerce travels with a 351-point lead.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames sit Hannah this time, while the Nighthawks give their star Cheddar some needed rest during this league competition break. Peach had a performance reminiscent of last year, cobbling together 679 for North Modernistic on the opening turn. Crystal got 407 back for Queens in a somewhat sloppy turn after some tough deflections. Gal replied with 592 for the Nighthawks, extending their lead with her good performance. Violetta cleared upwards of five balls at once, but a high bounce a few offerings later cut her down at 503 for the Flames. B. Chapman had only 281 for North Modernistic, weakening their lead a bit after her turn. Briana had a technical error wipe out her first effort, but only 269 for Queens on the second try didn't allow her to capitalize on the visitors' moment of weakness. Luigi weakened the Nighthawks again with a poor 139, leaving their final score at 1691. Kyle pushed the Flames ahead at the end, surging with 703 to cover the deficit for a narrow win at 1882. The Flames lead by 191 points heading into the second leg.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders and Arrows meet in a bitter Northeastern rivalry, with Sally sitting for the visitors while Shiny is on the bench for the hosts. Ruby missed an offering completely at the end, falling with 285 for Archtown on the opening turn. Shadow crashed out with 171 for Web City, providing a disappointing start as both captains falter. Sleepy B. got things on track with 602 for the Arrows, giving them a more stable lead now. Ted couldn't do the same for the Spiders, bowing out at 235 as the hosts fall farther behind. Dusky tacked on 391 for Archtown on her turn, pushing them a bit farther ahead. Sugar had 273 for Web City this time, unable to solve their scoring woes as the deficit grows again. Wild Thing posted 276 to give the Arrows a total of 1554. Jack had a weak 200 for the Spiders, leaving them at 879. Archtown leads by 675 heading into the second leg, which they get at home.

Tomorrow, all eight second legs will be played to determine which eight teams face off against the eight teams receiving byes this round.