Elite Cricket 2018 - Week 15

We're back after multiple delays in commencing the week 15 slate for Elite teams. We begin with...

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: Week 15 gets going with the Flames in a doubleheader, resting their captain Crystal this time while the host Union squad benches Daisy. Violetta took awhile to develop her pace, but she slashed 818 right away for Queens to set them up well. Ms. Puppy had promise initially, but she lifted her third swing too high and ended on a measly 25 for Modernistic. Briana went on a surge, smashing 1450 on the Flames second attack to give them a nearly untouchable lead. Puff I had all the makings of a good turn, but an errant hit ended her efforts at 208 for the Union. Kyle missed a swing for Queens to end with a poor 128, but their lead is not in any danger. Kodiak chipped back with 474 for Modernistic, a respectable effort from the rookie. Hannah tapped 202 to put the Flames at a total of 2598 in the presumed win. Chimpy fired off 419 for the Union at the end, their losing final score resting at 1126. Queens rises to 17-14 with the win, into third place, while Modernistic sinks to 11-19.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames return home to take on the Waves, rivals from last week's United Cup meeting. Briana sits as scheduled for the Flames, while the Waves rest Josie this time. Snuggle fought off the dangers of a cluttered pitch to tally 524 for Oceanside on the opening turn. Crystal shot back with 672 for Queens on their first turn, putting them ahead by a small margin. Celestia showed less patience than her teammate, and she fell with 145 on a deflection for the Waves. Violetta lashed 839 on the second attack for the Flames, extending their lead greatly with the effort. Dewey couldn't corral a deflected ball that bounced over his bat, ending his turn with only 141 for Oceanside. Kyle eased up a bit with 246 for Queens this time, continuing to push their lead farther. Jason V. rallied with 637 for the Waves at the end, but his push ended short as they lost with 1447. Hannah answered that with 592 for the Flames, capping another big win at 2349. Queens gets revenge from their United Cup loss, moving up to 18-14 now, while Oceanside's hard road gets tougher as they drop to 16-16.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds are without Charli, who begins her two-game suspension, while the Pirates have Steven resting from a pool appearance. Delila scooped out 377 for Atlantic on the opening turn, lacking a bit in pace as she gets things going. Princess just put Tysini ahead with 384 this time, the narrow advantage not likely to matter by the end of the game. Isabella smacked 695 for the Pirates to give them a more confident lead the second time around. Leandra countered with 419 for the Hummingbirds, but they've fallen behind halfway through the game. Klaus covered the latest damage with a strong 519 for Atlantic, boosting their lead. Brownie couldn't gain ground for Tysini with 343 this time, leaving them farther behind with a player each to go. Max flicked another 405 for the Pirates at the end, bringing their total to 1996. Paps fell far short with 274 for the Hummingbirds, and they took the loss at 1420. Atlantic jumps to 16-13, while Tysini is now 13-12 and fading.

Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: Another United Cup grudge match surfaces, with the Torpedoes sitting Solaris while the Tradewinds give Niki a rare game off in hopes of exacting some revenge. Tigerette had a good backhand, but she failed to clear the ball and bumped it into her wicket later, falling at only 71 for Commerce. Smudge didn't take full advantage of this for Infinity, but her 345 gives them a decent lead. Taylor made a more imposing attack with 647 for the Tradewinds, pulling them ahead. Fluffina fought off 427 for the Torpedoes, covering the deficit as the game is close halfway done. Lionel kept things interesting with 415 to restore a lead for Commerce after his turn. Shelley wasted her counterattack with only 120 for Infinity, putting them behind late in the game. Rosemary tacked on another 487 for the Tradewinds, capping their offense at 1620. Mr. Snowman went on an epic rally with 723 for the Torpedoes, but he fell short as they ended on 1615 total. The five-point win gets Commerce up to 13-14 in their fight to retain Elite status, while Infinity sinks to 19-8.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds are without Charli to begin their Urban hosting doubleheader, while the visiting Nighthawks have Gal resting from a pool appearance. Peach put up a solid 337 for North Modernistic, an antsy swing causing her to exit a bit earlier than expected. Princess countered with a much larger 1076 for Tysini, giving them a distinct advantage early on. Cheddar faltered at 177 for the Nighthawks, unable to impact the deficit much on her turn. Leandra launched a supportive 743 for the Hummingbirds, building their lead much higher. B. Chapman tried a rally with 567 for North Modernistic, but the visitors remain far behind even with her good outing. Brownie pounded 821 more for Tysini in a productive outing, extending their lead significantly again. Luigi poked 178 for the Nighthawks, who never really stood a chance in losing with 1259. Paps went low with 264 for the Hummingbirds, still plenty for them to win with 2904 in the game. Tysini bounces back to 14-12, while North Modernistic sinks to 9-21.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds close the doubleheader, their third of an eight-game home stand, with Paps taking a game off, while Chimpy rests for the visiting Union. Ms. Puppy led off with 322 for Modernistic in an acceptable but not overwhelming turn. Princess answered with 407 for Tysini on their first turn, giving the hosts a slight advantage early on. Daisy shot back with 627 for the Union on the second attack, putting them much farther ahead. Leandra kept things close with 529 for the Hummingbirds, but they will fall slightly behind at the midway point. Puff I tried to play a deflected ball, but it went out of play at 176 as Modernistic's lead weakens this time. Charli replied quite well with 640 for Tysini, her return from suspension giving the hosts a lead with a player each to go. Kodiak picked up 376 for the Union this time, their final score sitting at 1501 in the loss. Brownie had an ugly turn with 24 points for the Hummingbirds, but they won with 1600 even. Tysini jumps to 15-12, while Modernistic is down to 11-20 on the year.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union and Arrows meet for the first of a home-and-home this week. Wild Thing sits for the visitors while Puff I takes the bench for the hosts. Sally led off with 390 for Archtown this time, a solid opener for the visitors. Ms. Puppy replied with 695 for Modernistic, giving the hosts a noticeable lead after the first turn. Ruby fired back with 550 for the Arrows, helping them to regain a smaller lead on the second attack. Daisy slugged 1191 in response for the Union, the massive performance strengthening the hosts' lead at the midway mark. Sleepy B. answered with 679 for Archtown, trying to keep them competitive in the game. Kodiak knocked 416 for Modernistic, steadying their lead late in the game with the appearance. Dusky had only 264 on the final turn for the Arrows, leaving them in a loss at 1883. Chimpy fell with 196 for the Union, but this sealed their winning score at 2498 total. Modernistic jumps to 12-20, while Archtown is down to 8-20 on the year.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers are back at home for a game, sitting Watermelon for rest, while the Torpedoes put Shelley on the bench after an earlier disappointment. Smudge hit 400 for Infinity, a reasonable opening turn to pace the visitors' early attack. Boots ripped 802 for Pearl on the counterattack, doubling up the opponents right from the start. Fluffina picked up 656 for the Torpedoes, refusing to let her team go quietly in a high-scoring game. Neopolitan didn't get as much on her turn with 354 for the Surfers, but they retain the lead for now. Solaris slipped up with 227 for Infinity this time, weakening their comeback attempt. Bright took advantage of the situation with 519 for Pearl, his burst extending the hosts' lead late in the game. Mr. Snowman couldn't force a response with 263 for the Torpedoes, and they fall again at 1546. Beth fumbled her way to 48 for the Surfers, capping their win at 1723. Pearl jumps to 15-16, while Infinity slides to 19-9.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Sharpshooters will give Lorde rest in this game, while the Spiders owe Jack a game off after his recent pool appearance. Chris tallied a mediocre 249 for Capital City to lead things off in questionable form. Shadow didn't do as much damage as he could have, ending on 407 to give Web City a small lead after the initial turn. Missy struck 322 for the Sharpshooters, pulling them ahead in the challenging start to the game. Ted added mildly to the Spiders lead with 345, but there's still plenty to play for in the second half of the game. Sprinkles suffered a deflection that ended her turn at only 60 for Capital City, making a comeback even less likely now. Sugar posted 224 for Web City, marginally boosting their lead one more time. Pauline smashed 1012 for the Sharpshooters this time, bringing their final up to 1643 to force a large response from the hosts. Shiny couldn't do it, her 199 leaving the Spiders stunned to lose with 1175. Capital City salvaged this one, rising to 23-5, while Web City is now 13-17 with the loss.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames go all-in for a critical match, benching a struggling Kyle, while the Torpedoes sit Mr. Snowman as they try to break their recent cold spell. Smudge took 313 for Infinity in this one, not a great start from the bewildered visiting captain. Crystal shot back with 472 for Queens, besting her close friend to give the hosts a slight lead initially. Fluffina picked up 520 for the Torpedoes on the second attack, covering the deficit with ease. Violetta picked the wrong time for a poor turn, her 272 leaving the Flames at a deficit halfway through the game. Solaris kept Infinity in control with 662 this time, giving them a more stable lead. Briana couldn't make the response for Queens, falling at 112 to make the deficit more permanent for the hosts. Shelley tacked on 636 for the Torpedoes at the end of the game, giving them a final score of 2131. Hannah absolutely butchered her turn with only 28 for the Flames, leaving them with the loss at 884. Infinity jumps to 20-9, while Queens' hot streak hits a grinding halt at 18-15 with the loss.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Union begin a week-ending doubleheader on the road, with Kodiak taking his turn on the bench, while the Arrows sit Dusky for rest in this one. Ms. Puppy went off with 731 for Modernistic in another good start for the busiest team this week. Sally had 328 in response for Archtown, unable to meet the deficit on the first turn. Daisy produced another 511 to supplement the Union lead on her secondary attack. Ruby made a remarkable push with 624 for the Arrows, finally seeming to put her home slump behind her. Puff I didn't have much for pace on this turn for Modernistic, adding 240 to their slightly more fragile lead. Sleepy B. did not bend for Archtown, attacking with 512 to make it a close game on the final players' turns. Chimpy put up a middling 263 for the Union, their final score resting at 1745. Wild Thing made it incredible close with 289 for the Arrows, giving them a total of 1753 to win by eight points. Archtown's surprisingly rally gets them up to 9-20, while Modernistic dips to 12-21 with the disappointing loss.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union complete the doubleheader at home with Chimpy on the bench, while the Spiders elect to give Sugar the game off this time. Shadow fumbled his opening turn for Web City, taking a measly 80 points this time. Ms. Puppy, showing a bit of fatigue, hit only 266 for Modernistic to give them a small initial lead. Ted responded with 371 for the Spiders, trying to give them a bit more of a lead on the second attack. Daisy didn't do much on the counterattack for the Union, her 138 leaving them in a fairly weak position. Jack went off with 558 for Web City, a potent attack to extend their lead once again. Puff I went with a pacey attack for Modernistic, but 292 wasn't enough to impact the deficit, and they trail with a player each to go. Shiny had just 51 for the Spiders, leaving them vulnerable at 1060 overall. Kodiak had 176 for the Union, falling short of the mark as they end with 872 in total. Web City staves off the danger, rising to 14-17, while Modernistic sinks to 12-22.

That's all for Elite this week. We'll try to do all of the Premier Week 15 schedule tomorrow in lieu of Tournament action, which should return on Sunday.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 39

We're back after a single day off. We begin this session with...

FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Panda. The red cue gets today's first series, playing 15-ball between these veterans. Eastside's Cubby had a slight early edge in possession, but the advantage withered in a choppy finish to game 1 that saw Southern's Panda pull out the win by making the last two balls. Panda leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Cubby managed to recover well in game 2, using a pair of three-ball runs to sandwich a four-ball run by the Monarchs' Panda. Cubby's latter run earned him the win, with the 15 rattling out of the top right but falling in the bottom side to tie the series at 1. Cubby and Panda both struggled with maintaining possession in game 3, no moment more obvious than Cubby's scratch on his lone attempt at the 15. Panda buried it from ball-in-hand to take the win and 2-1 series win, and Panda will visit the Midland Predators' Americus in the second round.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Jack. The red cue stays in action for a series of 12-ball. Boston's Ice Cream had a fine start with a four-ball run and some positioning work on her break turn in game 1, but Web City's Jack pulled off a remarkable six-ball run-out to win in a single turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack had a slower start in game 2, while the Swifts' Ice Cream did better to keep up her pace with an early three-ball run. Ice Cream did give Jack two wild-card balls, but Ice Cream's offense was strong enough to overcome those as she won the game to tie the series at 1. Jack rallied with an early four-ball run in game 3, putting pressure on Ice Cream, but his next two turns stalled out. Ice Cream had near perfect defense, and built a four-ball run-out on her third turn to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Ice Cream will host the Oceanside Waves' Dewey in round two.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Slinks. The blue cue picks up a series here in 9-ball between tough veterans. Royal's Jake had a three-ball run early in game 1 and added short bursts later on, but Westside's Slinks managed to take a pair of shots at the end to earn the win. Slinks leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Slinks had an early scratch in game 2, giving the Crowns' Jake a chance to win early. Jake made the 1 but missed the 2-9 combination to the top right, and Slinks shot back with a 2-5-9 combination to the top right for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw more frenetic offense from the two players, as neither was particularly in form this time. Slinks had a chance to win late, but scratched on the 9, and Jake tapped it in from ball-in-hand. Slinks took the series 2-1 and will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the second round.

Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Crystal. The silver cue now gets a crack at 9-ball in another series between veterans. Queens' Crystal had a remarkable run after an incredibly slow start by both her and Southern's Dominic. Crystal pulled off a six-ball run-out to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic picked up a three-ball run in game 2 at one point, and while the Flames' Crystal tried to counter, she failed. Dominic took the win this time on a 6-9 combination to the top right, tying the series at 1 in the process. Dominic pulled together a bit more offense for this game, although he staggered his successful shots. Crystal tried to build runs at times, but came up short, and Dominic took the win for a 2-1 series win to host the Pacific Volcanoes' Twinkie I in the second round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Precious. The red cue is back in action for 8-ball between stars. Midland's Rainmane had the slower start in game 1, but once Pronger's Precious plateaued her offense, Rainmane took over and found a five-ball run-out to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious again found a strong start in game 2, pacing the offense well, but a four-ball run by the Predators' Rainmane turned the game around. Rainmane would need one more turn to get the 8 in the top right, but Precious let her have it when she couldn't form a counterattack. Rainmane clinched the series at 2-0. Rainmane had a five-ball run from the break this time, and ended up winning only a few turns later, as Precious didn't make a ball in the entire game. Rainmane swept the series 3-0 to earn the right to host the Commerce Tradewinds' Taylor in the second round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Sweetheart. The red cue remains in action again, administering a big series of 10-ball. Diamond's Citrus pulled off a three-ball run early in game 1, which Boston's Sweetheart later answered on a three-ball run of her own. Citrus then picked up the final pair of balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart kept herself in the fight in game 2, countering an early surge from the Gems' Citrus, who then missed a kick attempt on the 3. Sweetheart took over from where the cue rested, tapping in the 3 and making the 4-10 combination to the top right for the win to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart took over late in game 3 with a five-ball run, although she did leave the 10 in a doable spot. Citrus was unable to convert, her cut missing contact, and Sweetheart struck it into the bottom side to clinch the 2-1 series win. Sweetheart will visit the Midland Predators' Shawn in the second round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Solaris. Back in the southeast and back in 9-ball we go as the silver cue takes this series. Midland's Americus and Infinity's Solaris had a rough game 1, chasing the 6 more than anything else. Americus eventually moved along and picked up the win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Predators' Americus continued to have a better showing on offense, including a late three-ball run, but her bank attempt on the the 8 in game 2 set up a pair of shots for the Torpedoes' Solaris to make for the win. Solaris came through well, tying the series at 1. Americus tried to stay competitive in game 3, but Solaris had a decent attack early on before developing a five-ball run-out to easily take the game. Solaris won the series 2-1, and will visit the Victoria Spurs' Wario in the second round. Americus is even in all ways, advancing four bids despite losing this series.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli XCX v. Wild Thing. The red cue returns for another 10-ball series. Tysini's Charli had a couple of three-ball runs later in game 1, while Archtown's Wild Thing couldn't quite make any response. He had a chance to win but missed on the 10, and Charli tapped it in for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli showed some weakness with numerous errors in game 2 early on, but the Arrows' Wild Thing frequently deferred possession and didn't effectively use what he had. Charli stepped up late with a five-ball run-out to get the win, securing the series for herself at 2-0. Charli didn't find a late surge in game 3, allowing Wild Thing to develop his own offense this time. Wild Thing stepped up and won with a three-ball run-out at the end, making it a 2-1 series win that puts Charli into the second round, where she hosts the Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Cobalt. Wild Thing will play five bids in the second round.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Crystal: The blue cue finally returns to play for a series of 12-ball. Archtown's Ruby led the way on offense for most of game 1, but she made an aggressive play to disrupt Queens' Crystal at the bottom right. The play backfired, and Crystal made her last three balls before Ruby could pot one, giving Crystal the 1-0 series lead with the win. The Arrows' Ruby had a better distribution on the game 2 break, but she couldn't capitalize on the good positioning. The Flames' Crystal held on defensively for awhile, weathering a storm from Ruby, and then Crystal made her last ball to win the game and seal the series at 2-0. Ruby took her sweet time in winning game 3, battling constantly with Crystal for better positioning. Ruby just barely knocked in her final ball first, making it a 2-1 series win to put Crystal into the second round, where she'll visit Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette. Ruby moves on with three bids in the second round overall.

Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Steven: The blue cue gets another 12-ball series right away. Queens' Briana started well on a three-ball run, but Atlantic's Steven answered that on his first turn. Briana scratched on her second turn, and Steven came through with a three-ball run-out, avoiding dangerous shots and getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Steven had a three-ball run from the game 2 break, but he also gave the Flames' Briana a wild-card ball. Positioning was good for both players, although Briana had the edge at the top left, and with her two advantages, she earned the win to tie the series at 1. Briana had two balls on the break in game 3, but she also gave Steven a wild-card ball. Briana didn't anticipate Steven finding a four-ball run and good positioning for his last shot, which rushed her failed second turn. Steven made a final tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win as he earns a trip to Central to face the Warriors' Noelle in the second round. Briana has only two series going to the next round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Gal Gadot. The blue cue will play again, in 7-ball this time. North Modernistic's Gal used a softer touch in game 1 than did Diamond's Smokey, and this paid off for the rookie. Smokey scratched on his first turn and couldn't corral the 6 on his second turn. Gal capitalized on both mistakes, picking up the win on the latter for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal didn't have the smoothest game 2, with a much slower pace allowing the Gems' Smokey to pressure his visitor. Smokey was unable to make the 6 later in the game though, and Gal made it before banking the 7 to the bottom left for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Gal had troubles corralling the 4 after Smokey failed on an earlier shot on the 3 at short-range. Smokey would end up taking the 4 to ignite a three-ball run-out for the win. Gal still won the series 2-1, and will visit Todavía Stills captain Easter in the second round.

Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Hoppy v. Kiwi. A strong sophomore meets a talented captain in Accuracy with the silver cue in today's last series. Southern's Hoppy had a fantastic game 1 effort, making mostly easy shots. Terrace City's Kiwi faltered a few times, while Hoppy persisted perfectly late in the game to win 0-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Hoppy tried to maintain that standard in game 2, but a cluster kept getting in her way, and she faded hard toward the end of the game. The Knights' Kiwi maintained her performance, and that was enough to win 3-5, tying the series at 1. Game 3 started with five misses over the first six shots, and Kiwi was trailing through a fast middle section of the game. Hoppy then fell even before another pair of misses were exchanged. It came down to the last ball, which Hoppy missed and Kiwi kicked into the top left for the 4-5 win and a 2-1 series win to put the visitor in the second round.

That's all for today. We should get back to the normal schedule tomorrow.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 38

We're back for another day of games, isolated by yesterday's day off and a planned off day tomorrow. We begin the standard set with...

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Goldy. The blue cue gets the first series today, playing 9-ball. Central's Dustin had a good start in game 1 with a three-ball run, but the second half of the game didn't go his way, and Everton's Goldy willingly picked up the slack to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy kept herself strong throughout game 2, weathering an early storm of offense from the Warriors' Dustin before countering on a three-ball run-out to take the win and the series at 2-0. Goldy smashed an eight-ball run from the break in game 3, stunning Dustin, who missed his only shot on the 9. Goldy then put the 9 down on her second turn, earning the win for a 3-0 series sweep that puts her into the second round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Vincent Sullivan v. Kodiak. Rookies duke it out in 7-ball as the blue cue remains in play. Modernistic's Kodiak had some good shots early in game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Vincent found his shot later and picked up the win on a nice cut for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Kodiak got off to a similar start in game 2, but this time illegal contact doomed his initial offense. The Meteors' Vincent took full advantage, making a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Vincent didn't allow game 3 to drag on, smashing the 7 to the top left on the break for the automatic win. Vincent swept Kodiak 3-0 in this series to earn a hosting position in a second round Purple Derby with the Todavía Stills star Sierra. This is one of five bids Vincent will play in the second round.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Paps. The captain and the newcomer for the Hummingbirds clash in this series of 10-ball focused more on club rivalry. Princess didn't have her best at first, but Paps kept it even early on. Eventually, Princess found her shot more confidently and made a four-ball run-out to take the game 1 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a more even performance from Princess, but it wouldn't end up mattering when she scratched on her attempt on the 8. Paps took over from here for a three-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Paps had a pair of three-ball runs at the start of game 3, and while Princess made an effort to counter that, she fell short on the 10 and Paps tapped it in for the win. Paps took the series 2-1 and will visit a Southwestern rival in the Victoria Spurs' Sage in round two.

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Valencia. The silver cue gets a look at 10-ball now, with a rookie hosting a captain. Golden's Valencia came out on top in a brutal game 1. Swordpoint's Jason didn't have the best break, and many early shots were off-target for both players until Valencia made a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia had a better start in game 2, finding a five-ball run fairly early on, but the 6 caused havoc for both players. When Valencia erred, the Blades' Jason took over and made a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, including banks on the 9 and 10 to the sides to get the win and tie the series at 1. Jason had a four-ball run from the break in game 3, but Valencia stopped him when he missed on the 3. Valencia turned a 3-10 combination to the top right on her only shot, taking the win and a 2-1 series win to earn a trip to Archtown for a second round series with the Arrows' Sally.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Tigerette. The red cue returns to play for a series of 8-ball between experienced veterans. Westside's Goatee had a few ebbs and flows in game 1, losing her edge late in game 1 as Commerce's Tigerette rallied. Goatee had a scratch that worked out, and she would pick up the win at the top left when Tigerette couldn't make her last stripe. Goatee leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Goatee came out hot with a four-ball run from the break in game 2, but her lack of extending the run likely hurt her. The Tradewinds' Tigerette had a three-ball run, followed by Goatee making a pair before a dead zone. Tigerette came out of the slow part of the game with a five-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Goatee had a nice four-ball run at one point in game 3, but she couldn't pot her final solid, and Tigerette roared back with five balls over two turns to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Tigerette will visit Infinity Torpedoes star Fluffina in the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Smokey. Staying on the red cue's 8-ball bracket, a rookie takes on a captain in this series. Oceanside's Jason had some chances to make runs in game 1, but he came up short in the end, and Diamond's Smokey pieced together a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead after keeping close early on. The Waves' Jason established himself much better in game 2, and while the game remained close over much of its duration, Jason used a four-ball run-out to separate himself from the Gems' Smokey this time. Jason's win tied the series at 1, setting up what should be a good finale. Smokey charged forward with an early five-ball run in game 3, and while Jason made some progress against that deficit, he couldn't hold off Smokey's three-ball run-out for the win. Smokey took the series 2-1, and will visit the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Gal in the second round.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Jack. The Black-and-Orange Derby takes a Rotation twist, with the silver cue in play for this series. Game 1 went back-and-forth for quite awhile before Web City's Jack pulled away late. Terrace City's Quincy gave pursuit, but a scratch on the 13 stalled him, and Jack made it to win 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 also started a bit slowly, but the Knights' Quincy changed that with three particular turns. The first gave him a lead over the Spiders' Jack, and the next two included five balls to get the win by an 8-2 score as Quincy pulled away easily. This tied the series at 1 game apiece. Quincy had a three-ball run at the start and the end of game 3, pulling together another dominant effort as Jack never had a chance to get going this time in the 8-1 game. Quincy won the series 2-1, and will host Central Warriors captain Twilight in the second round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Katharine McPhee. Rookies go at it in 7-ball with the silver cue. Stonebridge's Hershey employed some heavy shooting tactics in game 1, and while it worked early on, it led to a scratch that gave Whitewater's Katharine ball-in-hand on the 7, which she made for the win. Katharine owns a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine led off game 2 on a three-ball run from the break, but the Wolves' Hershey answered it with a three-ball run of his own. Katharine missed her chance at the 7, and Hershey made it on his second try for the win to tie the series at 1. Katharine had her chances in game 3, but Hershey kept himself in the game with a nice mix between his previous two efforts. Hershey picked up the win after Katharine missed on the 5, taking the last two shots for a 2-1 series win. Hershey will host the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the second round. Katharine will settle for three bids in the second round of her rookie campaign.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Puff III. The blue cue is back for another 9-ball series. Victoria's Yekaterina had the better of the offense in game 1, but she couldn't stop a late three-ball run by Everton's Puff III, who cut in the 7 and 8 before doing a two-rail bank to put the 9 in the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina avoided total disaster, doing just enough to hold up the Eagles' Puff III in game 2. Puff III missed contact on a tough cut on the 8, and Yekaterina made the final two shots for the win, tying the series at 1 with the close win. Yekaterina and Puff III tangled again in game 3, with errors on both sides shifting the balance of power. Yekaterina had her breakthrough with a cut on the 8 to the top side, and she slammed the 9 to the bottom left for the win. Yekaterina took the series 2-1 and will host Puff III's Everton Eagles teammate Goldy in the second round.

Sprint Hall, Victoria: Strawberry v. Sally. The silver cue will play the second half of the 9-ball doubleheader in the Southwest city. Victoria's Strawberry started with a three-ball run, and while Archtown's Sally had the better of play in the middle of game 1, Strawberry still made the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw some gritty play after a decent break by the Spurs' Strawberry. The Arrows' Sally had the edge at the end, finding her way onto the 9 eventually to make it on her third try after a bit of a chase. Sally's win tied the series at 1. Sally nearly poached the game 3 win, but Strawberry's luck came to couple with her high-offense in the finale of the series. Sally left the 9 at the bottom right, and Strawberry tapped it in for the 2-1 series win that will let her host the Southridge Defenders captain Debby in the second round.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Cheddar. Longtime teammates are now Urban regional rivals meeting in Accuracy with the blue cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III missed only once in game 1, playing aggressively to hold off North Modernistic's Cheddar, who saw a scratch end her hopes of a win. Twinkie III's 1-3 win gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Twinkie III tried a similar break in game 2, but that was the only thing that stayed the same. The Nighthawks' Cheddar put Twinkie III behind early this time, and Cheddar made it stand for a 2-3 win despite a few close calls late in the game, tying the series at 1 in the process. Cheddar asserted herself early on in game 3, and while Twinkie III tried to catch up later, she couldn't make a comeback, and Cheddar won 1-3. Cheddar's 2-1 series win pits her against the Tysini Hummingbirds' Leandra on the road in the second round.

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Luigi v. A. Charlton. The silver cue closes the day for the league in 7-ball. North Modernistic's Luigi attacked with a six-ball run from the break in game 1, but he barely made contact as he tried to finesse his shot on the 7. Golden's Charlton took her one shot, loading a heavy hit on the 7 that sent it caroming to the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Charlton started game 2 with a three-ball run, but she slipped up after that, and her second turn ended in an error, allowing the Nighthawks' Luigi to cultivate a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to tie the series at 1 with his win. Luigi had a good push late in game 3 on a three-ball run, but the play fell short when he couldn't cut in the 7. Charlton instead made it, winning the series 2-1 and earning the opportunity to visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman in the second round. Luigi still advanced four bids into the second round.

That's all for today. League activities will resume on Thursday.

Select Cricket 2018 - Week 15

After the United Cup break, the regular divisions get back to work in Week 15. Select leads off with...

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Monarchs have a week-opening tripleheader, playing the first of two road games against the Specters. Twinkie II sits for the hosts, while the visitors rest Panda this time. Avril bounced 304 for Southern at the start of this game, a good start undone by a cluttered pitch. Sydney shot back with 694 for Harrison on the opening turn, giving them a nice lead. Hoppy faltered at 105 for the Monarchs, unable to approach the deficit positively for the visitors. Lexi covered that damage with 304 for the Specters, keeping them in control of the game halfway through. Pounce couldn't make a save on his backhand for Southern, ending with a tough 225 as they continue to slip. Rudolph watched a good pacey performance end on a technical error, but he did replay the turn for 449 to add to the Harrison lead. Dominic poked 320 for the Monarchs, but the break apparently did not serve them well as they lose here with 954. Mitchell tacked on 480 as the Specters won with a total of 1927. Harrison is up to 12-18, while Southern drops to 16-12 and will need to recover quickly.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Meteors will rest their captain Mams after a recent pool appearance, while the Monarchs put Hoppy on the bench as they try to sweep their Coastal rivals. Avril crumbled with 63 for Southern in a difficult start to the game. Hoot couldn't stop a deflected ball on his backhand, falling with a middling 240 as Viewpoint Sound takes a small initial lead. Panda gave the Monarchs a bit more strength with 529 on the second attack to take the lead. Nibbles fought it off with 544 for the Meteors, restoring their lead midway through the game. Pounce covered the deficit with 292 for Southern, but the visitors do not hold a strong lead right now. Vincent added a little more with 353 for Viewpoint Sound, although this one will be close right to the end. Dominic made a nice attack with 503 for the Monarchs, putting their final score at 1387. Dani found herself under pressure almost immediately, but a lot of good blocks helped her score 289, as the Meteors picked up the win with 1426. Viewpoint Sound is up to 12-16, while Southern slips again to 16-13.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs return home now, with Pounce taking the bench this time, while the visiting Sharks sit Gizmo for a spell of rest. Graham set the tone with a strong 656 for Eastside, giving the visitors a hefty first attack. Avril couldn't keep her swing under control for long, falling with 128 when she prematurely hit a ball into the boundary. Chelsea added 475 in a productive second attack, keeping the Sharks confidently ahead. Hoppy couldn't make a breakout attack for the Monarchs, her pitiful 69 disheartening the team even more. Cubby got bumped back at 79 for Eastside, showing their first moment of weakness in the game. Panda fell at 63 for Southern, wasting their first chance to get a grip on the game. Salmo didn't make much offense for the Sharks, but 273 ices their performance at 1483, which is looking good for a win. Dominic made a rally with 707 for the Monarchs, but they still ended up short at 967. Eastside gets a boost to 15-16, nipping at the heels of the free-falling Southern squad sitting at 16-14 now.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders choose to sit Hughbert in this game, while the Lumberjacks have Bryant resting in the first game of a road doubleheader. Whiskers couldn't clear a deflected ball for Maplewood, ending her turn on a solid 392 to lead off the scoring. Bianca fired back with 611 for Southridge on the opening turn for the hosts, giving them a slight lead early on. Diddley fought back with 359 for the Lumberjacks, but they are not meeting the pace of the hosts. Debby matched that damage exactly with 359 for the Defenders, keeping their lead steady at the halfway mark. Gabe gave Maplewood a massive boost with 759 on his turn, covering the deficit and putting the hosts in an uncomfortable position. Stephanie botched her turn with a poor 40 for the Defenders, causing them to fall far behind late in the game. Summer launched another 682 for the Lumberjacks at the end, their final score sitting high at 2192. Caitlin tried to rally with 597 for the Defenders, but they suffered the loss at 1607. Maplewood pulled off a big upset this time, rising to 15-16, while Southridge drops to 22-7 with the loss.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Lumberjacks complete their road doubleheader against the Sharks. The visitors rest Whiskers this time, while the hosts have Cubby on the bench. Diddley had a decent 305 for Maplewood on the opening turn, getting things going with a mild pace. Graham didn't have much in response for Eastside, taking a poor 155 as they'll trail initially. Bryant countered with a massive 1087 for the Lumberjacks on the second attack, giving them a huge lead. Chelsea shot back on 784 for the Sharks, but they are now more significantly behind at the midway mark. Gabe weakened Maplewood's lead when he only contributed 241 to their offense. Gizmo had a measly 37 for Eastside in response, unable to help the hosts at all. Summer tacked on 338 for the Lumberjacks, their final score sitting at 1971 after the decent showing. Salmo made a push with 408 for the Sharks, but they took the loss at 1384. Maplewood gets to an even 16-16 record, while Eastside drops back to 15-17 in the pivotal meeting.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: A well-rested Gems team sits Cassandra this time, while the Prestige pull no punches in benching Waluigi for this meeting. Acorn provided a strong opening turn of 481 for Lighton this time, giving them something to build on later in the game. Rosalina answered with 495 for Diamond, keeping them in the game on the thinnest of leading margins. Spirit opted for a high-pace attack for the Prestige, and she corralled 856 on a fantastic second attack. The Gems only got 112 from a stunned Citrus, leaving them in a deep deficit at the halfway point. Katelynn didn't help Lighton's cause with only 42 on her turn, destabilizing their lead. Pedey dented the deficit with a good 408 for Diamond, but they'll need quite a bit more with a player each to go. Nicole paddled 551 for the Prestige at the end to give them a total of 1930. Smokey ended on 384 for the Gems, leaving them short at 1399. Lighton rises to 13-8 with the win, while Diamond sinks to 8-24.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige return home to face a Sharks team hungry for a win. Katelynn will sit for the hosts this time, while Salmo is on the bench against his former team. Graham couldn't get his pace up at all in the game, taking a poor 166 for Eastside on the first turn. Acorn struggled a bit early on as well, but with a handful of fortunate deflections, he recorded 799 for Lighton to put them ahead. Chelsea tried to make a rally, ending up with 405 as the Sharks shrink the deficit. Spirit answered that with 447 for the Prestige, maintaining their lead well at the halfway mark. Gizmo countered with 513 for Eastside, a strong outing to keep them in the fight. Nicole remains in form for Lighton, tallying 776 here to extend the hosts' lead once again. Cubby managed 359 for the Sharks at the end, leaving them in a loss with 1443 overall. Waluigi added 405 for the Prestige at the end, icing their winning total at 2427. Lighton gets a bump up to 14-8 on the year, while Eastside sinks back to 15-18.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders will rest their captain Debby for this S-Line Derby meeting, while the Wolves give their rookie Hershey a game off. Juno knocked a solid 408 on the first turn for Stonebridge, offering a mild challenge to the hosts initially. Bianca had a rough turn, ending at 152 for Southridge as they'll start this game at a deficit. Frosty kept the Wolves offense healthy with 521 on the second attack, pressuring the hosts even more. Stephanie pushed forward with 790 for the Defenders this time, making it a much closer game halfway through. Vladimir kept Stonebridge in the lead with 352 this time, but their lead lacks its prior strength. Caitlin answered with 432 for Southridge this time, pulling them ahead with a player each to go. Cobalt failed the Wolves, an early swing getting tipped back and out of play to stall him with just 9 points as they lose with a total of 1290. Hughbert tapped 263 to secure the Defenders win at a final score of 1637. Southridge is up to 23-7 on the year, while Stonebridge collapses to 12-21 with the loss.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The hosting Crowns will sit Jeremias for this meeting against a fellow surging team, while the Lumberjacks bench Gabe as they close a four-game road trip. Whiskers effortlessly struck 560 for Maplewood on the opening turn, giving them a strong initial lead. Kayla responded with 647 for Royal this time, putting them ahead by a small margin on the first turn. Diddley countered with 376 for the Lumberjacks, covering the deficit well enough. Jake had 349 for the Crowns on their second attack, weakening their lead in a close game halfway done. Bryant popped 363 for Maplewood, regaining the lead as he covers the deficit again. Nightfur strengthened the Royal position with 478 on her turn, making their lead a bit bigger with the final players coming to bat. Summer couldn't muster much on the final turn, her 136 leaving the Lumberjacks at a weak 1435 in the loss. Cassie tallied 487 in a no-pressure turn for the Crowns, icing their win at 1961. Royal's win streak hits ten games as they move to 17-10, while Maplewood dips to 16-17.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The top two teams in Select clash in this game, with the Defenders sitting Bianca for rest, while the Cascades rest Stinky this time. Debby left Southridge weak at the start, never really finding her swing as she ended with a poor 147 when she missed a ball. Jasmine sprayed 472 for Freedom in a chaotic turn that gives the hosts a decent initial lead. Stephanie had a smooth backhand to keep her turn going for the Defenders before ending with 609 to cover the deficit. Roxy couldn't keep control for the Cascades, ending with 195 after a bad swing. Caitlin kept Southridge on track pretty well, slicing 670 to make a big contribution to their lead. Nikolai couldn't answer that for Freedom, a mediocre 208 making their hopes of a comeback less likely. Hughbert showed good pace, although his 320 was a bit light on points as the Defenders close with 1746. Stripes wouldn't go quietly for the Cascades, but her 495 couldn't change the result as they lost with 1370. Southridge jumps to 24-7, while Freedom sinks to 19-10 with the loss.

Subway Field, Stonebridge: Cobalt's recent blunder earns him a bench spot as the Wolves begin a four-game home stand against a Crowns team resting their captain Nightfur this time out. Kayla gave Royal a strong first turn with 447 at a good pace, challenging the hosts immediately. Juno couldn't match it, flipping 274 for Stonebridge on the opening turn. Jake went with a spectacular pace in his appearance for the Crowns, posting 634 when it was complete. Frosty made up a lot of that ground for the Wolves, but her 590 did allow the deficit to grow a bit midway through the game. Jeremias fell with 324 when he couldn't get contact on a fast offering, weakening Royal's lead a bit. Hershey recovered a bit with 348 for Stonebridge, but they'll need more on the final turn. Cassie put up 307 for the Crowns at the end, their final score sitting at a vulnerable 1712. Vladimir couldn't attack the deficit, ending at 193 as the Wolves come up short at 1405. Royal staves off the danger to get to 18-10, while Stonebridge sinks again to 12-22.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks make one stop at home before a long road trip, ending the week with Graham on the bench against the Specters, who sit their rookie Rudolph for this one. Sydney provided a massive opening turn of 714 for Harrison, setting them up well early on. Chelsea answered with 800 for Eastside, pulling them ahead in an energetic start to the week finale. Twinkie II had a great pace going for the Specters, but impatience caused her to end with 292 on a bad swing. Gizmo capitalized on the visitors' weakness, scoring 467 to boost the Sharks' lead. Lexi had only 248 for Harrison, unable to meet the deficit this time as the visitors struggle. Cubby poked 287 for Eastside on his turn, protecting their lead without extending it much. Mitchell tried to rally for the Specters, but a tough swing ended his turn at 264, and his team lost with 1518 total. Salmo iced the Sharks win with 361 individually for a final team score of 1915 in the win. Eastside jumps to 16-18, while Harrison drops back to 12-19.

That's all for this week in Select. Elite action will likely begin on Thursday, while Tournament play will resume today after an unscheduled day off yesterday.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 37

We return to action on what could be a busy Sunday schedule. First up...

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Mams. Captains collide in the first series today, playing 10-ball with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Peach had a slow start in a defensive game 1, but when Viewpoint Sound's Mams couldn't make the 2, Peach used it to deflect the cue into the 10, potting the winner at the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams countered in a similar style in game 2, making a four-ball run-out with a deflected shot off the 3 to pot the 10 at the bottom left. This shot left the Nighthawks' Peach stunned as Mams tied the series at 1 with the quick win. Peach and Mams engaged in a tougher game 3, striking evenly with choppy turns until Peach banked the 10 into the bottom left for the win and a 2-1 series win. Peach will host the Maplewood Lumberjacks rookie Summer in the second round.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Chicky Phil. Veterans going in different directions meet in 10-ball, this time with the red cue. Pearl's Boots had a decent start in game 1, but it would be a hot ending from Pacific's Chicky Phil, in the form of a six-ball run-out, that earned the visitor the win and 1-0 series lead after using banks to keep the turn going. Game 2 took more patience, and the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil lost his after taking a foot injury in the arena. He scratched on his last shot, and the Surfers' Boots calmly tapped the 10 in for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a mix of the first two games, with Boots playing a little better and getting a late three-ball run before missing the 10 wide of the top left. Chicky Phil made it on a tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win, and he will visit the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai in the second round.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Mams. Another captains' battle commences in 8-ball with the red cue. Atlantic's Delila had a better game 1 than did Viewpoint Sound's Mams, making short but effective runs. Delila was slowed by a scratch, but still managed to take the win before Mams got anywhere near the 8, good for a 1-0 series lead to Delila. The Pirates' Delila kept her slow-starting tendencies for game 2, allowing the Meteors' Mams to grab a couple of shots early on. Delila then broke out with a six-ball run-out, an amazing construction of shot sequencing that clinched the series for the host at 2-0. Mams had a big six-ball run early in game 3, but Delila wouldn't let her get a clear shot on her last stripe. Delila then charged back with a six-ball run-out, stealing the win away in a wave of shots to make it a 3-0 series sweep that puts her through to hosting the Midland Predators' Leonardo in round two.

Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Vincent Sullivan. The Purple Derby takes a 10-ball twist with the red cue in this series. Todavía's Easter had a significant share of possession in game 1, although Viewpoint Sound's Vincent did take a three-ball run early. Easter made five of the last six balls over three turns to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter kept her attack strong in game 2 as well, making three-ball runs at the start and end of the game, but she left the 10 standing after that last run, and the Meteors' Vincent cut it to the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a back-and-forth battle between the players, with Vincent growing in strength as it progressed. Vincent ended up with the win when Easter couldn't corral the 9, allowing him to make the last two shots. Vincent won the series 2-1, and will travel to Web City to face the Spiders' Ted in the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Easter. The last host travels up the coast to visit a rookie in 9-ball with the silver cue after the lunch break. Oceanside's Jason had a productive first game, keeping pace with a more rushed attack from Todavía's Easter before striking for the last two balls and the win. Jason holds a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Jason kept a similar style in game 2, battling with the Stills' Easter, who looked to have a run at the end before she missed on the 8. This mistake left it open for Jason to pot the last two shots, winning the game and clinching the series at 2-0. Jason couldn't continue his success in game 3, as Easter pressed him with a three-ball run late. Jason whiffed on the 9, and Easter struck it to the top right for the win, leaving Jason to advance on a 2-1 series win, setting him up to host Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.

Ebay Center, Queens: Kyle v. Twinkie II. The blue cue finally gets a look, playing 7-ball for a veteran and a captain. Queens' Kyle didn't have anything on his game 1 break, but he left the ball in a bad position for Harrison's Twinkie II, and she erred. Kyle then made a three-ball run-out, with a 2-5 combination and a 2-7 bank combination to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Kyle dominated in game 2 as well, forcing the Specters' Twinkie II into another error, and sandwiching it with a three-ball run and a four-ball run-out for the win. Kyle secured the series at 2-0. Game 3 also went to Kyle, but Twinkie II made improvements, making a couple of shots and playing defensively to frustrate the host. Kyle still took the last two shots for the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep, but the finale was a little test to put him through to the second round, one of four of his bids to make it.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Bryant. The silver cue is back in action now with a series of 12-ball. Tysini's Leandra had a good start in game 1, but her late positioning was lacking, and Maplewood's Bryant established strong defense. After awhile, Bryant had his breakthrough, making a late pair of shots to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra pulled back in game 2, striking early to give herself a big advantage. The Lumberjacks' Bryant went on a four-ball run to make it close, but Leandra had defended well, and he only had a strategic scratch play. Leandra made her final ball from the kitchen to the top right, winning to tie the series at 1. Leandra had an interesting game 3 break, and then Bryant missed the 11 at the top side. Leandra capitalized in a perfect manner on her second turn, making six balls in six shots to six different pockets for the win. Leandra took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.

Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Cheddar. The Urban Derby is renewed in 8-ball with the blue cue between two of the strongest players for their respective teams. Modernistic's Puff I held the lead for much of game 1, although North Modernistic's Cheddar stayed in close range, pulling even later on. Puff I then cut the 8 to the bottom right for the win, earning a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I looked to make a move with a six-ball run from the break in game 2, intimidating the Nighthawks' Cheddar briefly. Cheddar responded well in the end, finding a five-ball run-out on her second turn to snatch the win and tie the series at 1, adding a little fuel to the bitter rivalry's fire. Cheddar made only one ball in game 3 after Puff I stuck her in a tough position to shoot from, and that ball was the 8 to the bottom side on an accidental kick. The brutal error gifted Puff I the game and the 2-1 series win, and the host will return in that role against the Diamond Gems' Citrus in the second round.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Ms. Kitty. Big-names stars and club-mates on the Coast clash in 10-ball as the blue cue remains in action. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had a strong appearance in game 1, overcoming a slow start on both sides to blow by Oceanside's Snuggle with a six-ball run-out. Ms. Kitty's great finish gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Snuggle had a better performance in another patient battle in game 2. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty took some early offense, but Snuggle fired back at the end, winning on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 after Ms. Kitty had a brutal miss on the 7. Game 3 saw Snuggle try to pace play early on, only to fall off that pace later on. Ms. Kitty took over at the end, making five balls over her last two turns, Snuggle's miss on the 9 sealing Ms. Kitty's win and 2-1 series win. Ms. Kitty will visit Southridge Defenders captain Debby for a second round series.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Solaris. The silver cue comes into action for Rotation. Infinity's Solaris jumped out to a big lead in game 1, only to see Pacific's Chicky Phil roar back on a four-ball run to tie it. Solaris held Chicky Phil off with his second lead, eventually wining 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil held the lead from the middle of game 2 this time, although a stick violation allowed the Torpedoes' Solaris to tighten the score a bit. Chicky Phil staved off the danger with a kick on the 14 to win 8-6, tying the series at 1 with the bold performance. Solaris had a good start in game 3, and then added a four-ball run to get on the brink of a win before trying and missing on a trick shot. The seemingly innocuous mistake would cost Solaris, as Chicky Phil rallied with a seven-ball run-out to take the 8-7 win and the 2-1 series, putting the home fans into pandemonium as their current hero earns the right to host Boston Swifts superstar Patches in the second round.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Paps v. Ted. The red cue now gets a taste of Rotation as a veteran meets a sophomore. Web City's Ted came out on the right side of a back-and-forth battle in game 1 with Tysini's Paps. Ted held various leads throughout the game, the most important being his 8-6 winning score for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Paps fired back in better form in game 2, notching an 8-3 win as the Spiders' Ted couldn't get his offense started. The game turned to Paps when Ted scratched from ball-in-hand after an error by Paps, who then rallied for the win to tie the series at 1. Paps made game 3 a fairly quick battle, taking a seven-ball run from the break. Ted got some of it back, but not enough, and Paps cut the 9 to the top right to win 8-2 for the 2-1 series win. Paps will host Roxy of the Freedom Cascades in the second round.

Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Leonardo. The silver cue takes a look at 15-ball this time, in a minor Southeastern derby. Queens' Briana had some troubles keeping her shots legal in game 1, but Midland's Leonardo was not free from fault either. Briana took a stab at the 7 that missed, leading Leonardo to his winning 7-15 combination to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo had flashier shots in game 2, including an elegant kick on the 7 to the top left in the middle of the game, but by the end, the Flames' Briana was able to pick up a hard-fought win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Briana had a bit more offense in game 3, making her presence known, but when three-ball runs were exchanged at the end of the game, Leonardo came out on top for a 2-1 series win. Leonardo will play on into the second round.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Roxy. Two savvy veterans meet in a series of 7-ball with the blue cue. Central's Dustin weathered a game 1 storm as Freedom's Roxy assembled a four-ball run before missing on the 5. Dustin made sure the game didn't get past his second turn, as he won with a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Dustin lost his strong touch in game 2, which saw much shorter turns for both players. The Cascades' Roxy eventually rediscovered her shot, potting the last two balls for the win to tie the series at 1 on the confident ending. Roxy had a decent start to game 3, but Dustin launched the 2 to the top left, and added a pair at the end when Roxy's chance at a late run fell short. Dustin took the series 2-1 with this win, and he'll host the Queens Flames' Kyle in the second round. This is the only bid Roxy couldn't advance, the other seven playing on.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Gizmo. The blue cue stays up for a series of 15-ball between solid foes. Neither player could find a remarkable run in game 1, but Eastside's Gizmo had a bit more of the possession against Pronger's Zach. This helped Gizmo late when he made a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach improved greatly in game 2, getting quite a bit of offense with a late six-ball run, but a turn later saw him miss the 15 at the top right, and the Sharks' Gizmo erased all that hard work with one tap-in. Gizmo secured the series at 2-0 with the poached win. Zach couldn't figure anything out in a throw-away game 3 performance, showing a little promise late only to miss on the 15. Gizmo's tap-in made it a 3-0 series sweep in his favor, and he'll travel to Freedom to face the Cascades captain Jasmine in the second round.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Twinkie III. The host completes a home doubleheader against a stronger opponent in 10-ball with the red cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III applied good pressure early in game 1, but Pronger's Zach popped up with a five-ball run-out over the last half of the rack, taking the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach had a productive game 2, allowing the Shores' Twinkie III some early offense before he played a little defense and turned that into offense late. Zach made the last two shots of the game to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Twinkie III erupted for a seven-ball run in game 3, the massive attack nearly giving her the win until she chipped the shot on the 10. Zach cleaned it up to the top side to poach a win, sweeping the series 3-0 and earning the right to host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Lorde in the second round.

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Tigerette. The end of the day brings about the end of the first bracket page, as the blue cue plays its last 10-ball series of the first round. Game 1 lived up to the billing as a battle of stars, with Maplewood's Whiskers cranking a four-ball run from the break but never seeing the table again, as Commerce's Tigerette won with a six-ball run-out. Tigerette leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a more delayed start to the action, but when the Lumberjacks' Whiskers got on a run, she wouldn't stop, making nine straight shots to take the win and tie the series at 1 against a stunned Tradewinds' Tigerette. Game 3 saw Whiskers try a lot of shots early on, but Tigerette made a four-ball run and a pair on the next turn to get the win, taking the exciting series 2-1. Tigerette will visit the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette in the second round.

The first extended day of Tournament 2018 is in the books. Tomorrow may follow suit should the proper pace develop.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 36

We're back for another full day of games, cramped in among other things. We begin with...

Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Cassie. The blue cue has the first series today, playing in Rotation. Diamond's Rosalina had a fantastic start to game 1, but she couldn't sustain her attack later on, and Royal's Cassie went unchallenged once she grabbed the lead. Cassie cruised to an 8-4 win for a 1-0 series lead with confidence. The Crowns' Cassie worked out a nice couple of runs after forcing the Gems' Rosalina into misses in game 2. Cassie completed the impressive win by double-potting the 8 to the bottom side on a bank and the 12 to the top right on the carom for a 9-1 win and 2-0 series lead. Cassie made three balls on the break of game 3, and while Rosalina stayed close, she never evened the score. Cassie won 8-6, completing the 3-0 series sweep to earn her spot in the second round.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Katharine McPhee. The blue cue remains in action with this 10-ball series. Freedom's Jasmine thought she started well in game 1, but Whitewater's Katharine picked up a seven-ball run-out, double-potting the 4 and 8 to the right corners to set up her final push for the win. Katharine's impressive run gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine kept things going with three balls on the game 2 break to ignite a seven-ball run. The Cascades' Jasmine countered well but missed the 10 twice, and Katharine deposited it at the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Katharine continued to attack well in game 3, keeping her offense high with a three-ball run late in the game. She rattled the 10 out, and this gave Jasmine the chance to pick up the win with a tap-in to make it a 2-1 series. Katharine will travel to Central to face the Warriors' Noelle in the second round.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Brownie. Two veterans are set to go at it in 8-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Brownie controlled game 1 early on, but after a nice run of her own, Web City's Shadow provided a five-ball run as a counterattack, including an incredibly double-pot of the 6 and 7 to the top side. Brownie faltered, and Shadow poked a pair of shots to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow used the delayed attack technique again in game 2, answering a four-ball run from the Hummingbirds' Brownie with his own five-ball run. Brownie played better defense this time, obstructing Shadow until she could poke the last two shots down to win it herself, tying the series at 1. Shadow had a four-ball run early in game 3, but Brownie had a late four-ball run to get onto the 8. Brownie couldn't bank it in, and Shadow closed with a three-ball run-out, committing collateral damage to avoid the scratch as he picked up the win and a 2-1 series win. Shadow's nervy finish gets him into the second round.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Frosty. Two sturdy veterans clash in Rotation with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Frosty had the early lead in game 1, but a slow-moving start allowed Capital City's Chris to stay in the game. Chris found a breakthrough on the 8-13 combination, and soared to the win at 8-3 with a double-pot of the 9 and 12 at the bottom right. Chris leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Chris started game 2 with a three-ball run, giving himself a nice lead, but the Wolves' Frosty stayed close in the middle of the game. Chris committed a late scratch, and Frosty used the ball-in-hand to find a three-ball run-out for an 8-6 win, tying the series at 1. Chris and Frosty went back and forth in a thrilling game 3. Frosty had the game tied after a long struggle late, but Chris made the final two shots to win 8-6, good for a 2-1 series win. Chris will host the Royal Crowns' Cassie in the second round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Diddley. The silver cue gets its first action today, also playing Rotation. Maplewood's Diddley carried the early lead for most of game 1 until Stonebridge's Hershey tied it late. The slower second half of the game eventually went to Diddley, who made the 15 for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley pounded a four-ball run from the break in game 2, immediately pressuring the Wolves' Hershey. The host rallied partially back later on, but Diddley shut the door, winning 8-5 to secure the series at 2-0 in a dominant second game. Diddley tried to hold on in a close game 3, but it didn't work out. Hershey made four balls over his last two turns to win 8-5, salvaging a game in Diddley's 2-1 series win. Diddley will visit the Viewpoint Sound Meteors rookie Vincent in the second round.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Stealth. A venue doubleheader concludes with the silver cue staying around for 9-ball. Stonebridge's Juno had some creative shots early in game 1, but she lost her touch late, and Swordpoint's Stealth made a move late, tapping the 9 in at the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a few missed shots leading to frustration for both players, but nothing worse than the Blades' Stealth rattling the 4 out of the bottom side to hit the 9 into the top right, only to scratch at the bottom left. This massive mistake gifted the win to the Wolves' Juno, who has the series tied at 1. Stealth had chances in game 3, but his last attempt at the 9 left it aligned with the top side, and Juno converted on a tap-in to take the series 2-1. Juno will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Valencia. A returning veteran meets a strong captain in 7-ball with the red cue. Golden's Valencia had a couple of early pairs of shots in game 1, but her offense faded late, and Central's Noelle picked up the slack with a three-ball run-out for the win. Noelle holds a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia looked to be in trouble in game 2, as the Warriors' Noelle charged forward with two on the break as part of a five-ball run, but Valencia countered it with a pair on her first turn to get the win. The series heads into the decisive game tied at 1. Valencia had control of game 3 for almost the entire time, but she missed on the 7 after a three-ball run, and Noelle didn't give her another chance. Noelle won the series 2-1, and will host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round, one of her five bids to get there.

Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Missy. The red cue remains in action for this series of 8-ball. Capital City's Missy didn't mess around early in game 1, striking quickly, and her next turn was a four-ball run-out to counter Infinity's Mr. Snowman quite well. Missy did give up some collateral damage, but it didn't prevent her from taking a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy kept her offense up into the middle of game 2, but the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman provided a more significant defensive effort. Mr. Snowman dismantled his defense in two turns, a four-ball run followed by a three-ball run-out to earn the win and tie the series at 1. Missy had a five-ball run in game 3, but she'll regret the collateral damage on the way, as she couldn't hold off Mr. Snowman in the end. Mr. Snowman used a slower pace, but he struck quickly once he got to the 8, taking the win and the 2-1 series win as he advances to host the Web City Spiders' Shadow in the second round.

Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Strawberry. The Yellow Derby takes a 12-ball twist, with the red cue still in action. Victoria's Strawberry received a wild-card ball from the game 1 break, and Diamond's Smokey erred twice more in the game, eventually leading Strawberry to a three-ball run-out for the win. Strawberry holds a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players quickly strike at the right corners before a long battle on the rest of the table. The Spurs' Strawberry gave away a wild-card ball, but the Gems' Smokey couldn't pot his last ball in time, and Strawberry put a pair away at the end to take the win and the 2-0 series. Smokey tried to play smart in game 3, but he gave away two wild-card balls, one before and one after his five-ball run. He had a later scratch to add some defense, but Strawberry jumped to pot her final ball at the top right for the win. Strawberry swept the series 3-0, and will visit the Pearl Surfers' Watermelon in the second round.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Max v. Smudge. The silver cue is back for another dip into the 9-ball pool. Infinity's Smudge attacked well in game 1, a four-ball run highlighting her offense. Atlantic's Max, on the other hand, saw his last two turns end in scratches, helping Smudge late in the game as she picked up a dominant win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge took a bit longer to develop her offense in game 2, as the Pirates' Max played better defensively, but by the end, Max couldn't keep his shots legal. Smudge took over and tapped the 9 in on her second try after Max missed far wide of the top left. Smudge clinched the series at 2-0. Max picked up a bit of offense late in game 3 after Smudge dominated the start, but Smudge still made the last two balls, just tapping the 9 to the top side to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Smudge will visit the Diamond Gems' Rosalina in the second round.

Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Nicole. After dinner, the blue cue is in play for some 12-ball. Lighton's Nicole had the first offense in game 1, and while she gave away a wild-card ball, Whitewater's Bear couldn't beat her defense. Nicole picked off the last pair of shots at the right corners to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Nicole couldn't get her offense going quickly in game 2, but the Shores' Bear struggled even more. This led to a sloppy game, until frustration afflicted Bear too much, and Nicole tapped in her last shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 followed the pattern of game 2, with Bear earning and then giving back a wild-card ball, allowing Nicole enough time to correct her early struggles for the win. Nicole swept the series 3-0, and travels to Pronger to face the Tridents' Potter in the second round.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Waluigi v. Midnight. The blue cue brings the day to an end in 8-ball. Lighton's Waluigi did all he could in game 1, starting with a five-ball run with some collateral damage. He had a lead for awhile, but he couldn't hold off a six-ball run-out from Westside's Midnight, the collateral damage likely helping her pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 turned out to be one of the best games of 8-ball in league history. The Rockers' Midnight began with a six-ball run from the break, but the Prestige's Waluigi would not be outdone, running the table on eight straight shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Waluigi started slowly in game 3, allowing Midnight to build up a lead, but he pulled even at the 8 with a five-ball run. Waluigi missed on the 8, and Midnight buried it for the win and the 2-1 series win, sending her to visit the Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the second round.

That's all for today's games. Tomorrow will be, at a minimum, a standard set of games.

Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 35

We're back for a Friday of Tournament play. We begin the standard slate with...

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Chicky Phil. A rookie hosts a veteran in 15-ball with the silver cue for the first series. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a clear advantage in shot quality in game 1, running circles around Stonebridge's Hershey. Chicky Phil won quickly, positioning and hitting the 5 to deflect the cue into the 15, which fell in the top right for the visitor to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil dominated possession in game 2, but despite three balls on the break and a late push toward the 15, he missed the cut on his last shot. The Wolves' Hershey countered, banking the 15 to the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Chicky Phil remained strong in game 3, and he put in a good effort at the end, battling evenly and just edging Hershey out for the series win, 2-1. Chicky Phil is into the second round.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Leonardo. The red cue is in action now, playing 8-ball. Midland's Leonardo took advantage of generosity from Pacific's Starlight in game 1, as the host played weakly early on. Leonardo finished a strong game with a three-ball run-out for the win, giving him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit more competitive, as the Volcanoes' Starlight tightened up her shooting. The Predators' Leonardo had to beat her without help, and he did fine, with a late three-ball run followed by a strong pair of shots to get the win with Starlight applying pressure. Leonardo secured the series at 2-0. Leonardo couldn't get the same grip on game 3, allowing Starlight to attack well initially. Starlight faltered later as Leonardo caught up, but Starlight found a three-ball run-out for the win to put Leonardo through to the second round on only a 2-1 series win.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Puff III. The red cue remains in action after lunch, playing 12-ball. Atlantic's Klaus chose stripes on the game 1 break after making one of each suit, and it led to an exciting game. Everton's Puff III would return her wild-card ball, and then give one away that Klaus returned. Klaus got the win at the end, banking the 10 to the bottom side for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus gave away a wild-card ball on the game 2 break as well, and while the Eagles' Puff III briefly made an attack in the middle of the game, a couple of scratches erased her advantage, and Klaus was the first to finish at the top right. Klaus clinched the series at 2-0 with the dramatic finish. Puff III started with a good run in game 3, but she couldn't attack quickly enough after that, and Klaus again dragged his way back into the game for the win. Klaus swept the series 3-0 and will host the Pronger Tridents rookie Lize in the second round.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Lionel. The red cue gets another series between a rookie and a veteran in 10-ball. Royal's Cassie had a good middle of game 1 after a somewhat slow start, highlighted by a four-ball run, but she got too fancy on the 9. Commerce's Lionel brought a simple finish on the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Cassie kept up the dominant possession with a four-ball run in game 2 before illegally potting the 6. The Tradewinds' Lionel tried to make a trick play, but he failed, and Cassie potted the 10 with a deflection off the 9 later for the win to tie the series at 1. Both players lacked the basic clean play needed for success in game 3, but Cassie would regret her shot choices the most. One of her fouls led Lionel to apply the logical shot doctrine as he made the 2-10 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand to win the series 2-1. Lionel will travel to Midland to face the Predators' Leonardo in the second round.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Missy. Two longtime Reality veterans clash in 15-ball, another red cue series. Capital City's Missy played very well in game 1, with a pair of big runs to pressure Boston's Patches. Missy nearly gave the game away, but Patches couldn't make the 14, and Missy used it in a bank combination to pot the 15 at the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy again found a couple of strong runs in game 2, including a late six-ball run. Missy couldn't corral the 13 on a bank attempt, and the Swifts' Patches took over, a counterattack of two balls earning her the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was as even as it could be, with both players pulling a pair of three-ball runs. Patches got the late advantage, making the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series win, setting her up to face the Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy in the second round.

Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Dreamy. Solid Core club-mates clash in a high-profile Rotation series as the red cue continues its tour of events. Swordpoint's Dreamy held the lead for much of game 1, although Infinity's Smudge provided a challenge here and there to keep it close. The ending saw both players slow down, and Dreamy crawled to an 8-6 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw struggles by both players initially. The Torpedoes' Smudge came out of that with a lead, and while the Blades' Dreamy made a brief push back, Smudge held on to win 8-4 to tie the series at 1 with a confident win. Smudge broke out with good defense leading to better offense in game 3. Smudge left Dreamy with impossible shots on three occasions to spur her attack, and Smudge took the win 8-1 to secure the series at 2-1. Smudge will host the Boston Swifts' Gradley in the second round.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Paps. The blue cue makes it debut for the day in 9-ball between veterans. Capital City's Missy had a scratch after making two balls on the break, and the back-and-forth game saw Tysini's Paps control most of the possession. Paps would get the win after Missy went for a contact play and Paps took the last two balls for the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Paps made two balls on the break in game 2, and took the 9 on a deflection to the bottom right on his second shot, but he also scratched. The Sharpshooters' Missy tied the series at 1 without taking a single shot in the middle game. Game 3 saw a few choppy exchanges early on before missed contact by Paps led Missy to a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. No qualms could be made about Missy earning this win, and it gave her a 2-1 series win to make the second round.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Rainmane. The red cue is back in action now, playing 7-ball between two strong opponents. Web City's Jack had a majority of the possession in game 1, playing well until his weak attempt on the 7. Midland's Rainmane had played a subdued game, but struck the 7 in with ease for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane looked to have something going with an early four-ball run and another pair on her next turn in game 2, but she left the 7 short at the top right, and the Spiders' Jack tied the series at 1 on a tap-in to claim the win. Jack and Rainmane combined for a dramatic game 3, with no big runs involved this time. Rainmane grabbed the win late after Jack's bank attempt on it failed. Rainmane tapped it to the bottom side, winning the series 2-1 in her old stomping grounds to earn a trip to the second round.

Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Shaggy. A rookie hosts a veteran in 9-ball, with the silver cue finally coming back into action. Whitewater's Shaggy didn't start all that well in game 1, but she pulled even in possession with Todavía's Anton by the end, and made the 9 when he couldn't for the win. Shaggy leads the series 1-0 after her good finish. The Shores' Shaggy remained dominant into game 2, where an early five-ball run and a later three-ball run-out effectively silenced any offense from the Stills' Anton. Shaggy's overwhelming effort gave her the series at 2-0. Shaggy couldn't sustain her offense all the way through game 3, losing control on the 3 and eventually succumbing as Anton tapped the 9 in at the top right to salvage a win from the series. Shaggy's 2-1 series win is enough to put her against the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the second round. Anton advances five other bids to the second round as he finishes up his initial series.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Goldy. The red cue gets another look at 10-ball with this series. Everton's Goldy had a lot of possession in game 1, and her pressure on Viewpoint Sound's Dani late in the game paid off. Dani missed the 10 on a short shot, and Goldy tapped it in to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani didn't have a fantastic game 2, but she made the 4-10 kick combination to the top side to stun the Eagles' Goldy after a difficult start for both players. Dani tied the series at 1 with the surprising win. Game 3 went back and forth with choppy play on both sides again, neither player finding a game-tipping run. Goldy had a couple of late chances to make an impact, but she left the 10 for Dani to cut in the bottom right for the win and 2-1 series win. Dani will host a Coastal rival, the Pacific Volcanoes' Starlight, in the second round.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Ice Cream. Completing the venue doubleheader, two veterans go at it in 7-ball with the red cue. Boston's Ice Cream had a relatively large portion of possession in game 1, but a bad miss on the 7 allowed Viewpoint Sound's Mams to take the win on a kick to the bottom right, the show of flair giving the host a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams kept the momentum going in game 2, carrying most of the play this time, but she missed a bank on the 7, and the Swifts' Ice Cream took the win, tying the series at 1 with split results so far. Ice Cream decimated Mams' hopes, tearing the hearts out of the home fans by making the 7 on a double-kiss to the top side on the break. Ice Cream then brought the series to fever pitch, leaving the cue on the edge of the top left, just outside enough to take the 2-1 series win and the ticket to the second round.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Sydney Sierota. The red cue wraps up the day in 12-ball. Royal's Nightfur had a bit too much on the game 1 break, potting solids in the same pocket as well as a stripe she claimed for herself. Harrison's Sydney took advantage of having two wild-card balls, and won the game within a few turns for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney had a much less exciting break to start game 2, and neither player had a particularly good effort. Sydney took over at the end, pulling away from the Crowns' Nightfur to grab the win and secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw no desire to continue from Nightfur, who rolled over and let Sydney take the win in a shutout for a 3-0 series sweep. Sydney is headed to the second round, where a Halloween Derby with the Web City Spiders captain Shadow awaits.

We'll be back for more games tomorrow throughout the afternoon.