We're back for the last game day of the week, with a regular twelve series to be played. We begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Acorn. A strong veteran and a captain meet in Accuracy with the silver cue. Lighton's Acorn missed first in game 1, but Capital City's Missy soon followed with a pair of misses to fall behind. Acorn flirted with danger at times, but maintained the lead until the end, winning 3-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. Both players made improvements in game 2, but by the same rate, as the Prestige's Acorn missed only one shot after building a big lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy had three misses, leading to Acorn's 1-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Acorn didn't have much left in him for game 3, making a mess of his later shots in particular as Missy would also falter before winning 3-6. Acorn took the series 2-1, and will play on the road against the Pronger Tridents' Zach in the second round, one of his five advancing bids. Missy takes four bids into the next round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Twinkie II. Quiet captains battle in 8-ball, also using the silver cue. Terrace City's Kiwi chunked a six-ball run on her second turn, while Harrison's Twinkie II preferred a pair of three-ball runs to get onto the 8. Twinkie II ended up being a turn late, as she left the 8 aligned at the top side, and Kiwi made it for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi had a three-ball run on the break, which the Specters' Twinkie II answered with a three-ball run of her own for a quick start to game 2. Kiwi then made another three-ball run, but also illegally potted the 8, gifting the win to Twinkie II, which tied the series at 1. Kiwi started with a five-ball run that ended in a scratch on her first turn. Twinkie II made small attacks here and there while Kiwi scuffled, but Kiwi shut things down, winning game 3 on a four-ball run-out. Kiwi took the series 2-1, and will host the Victoria Spurs' Yekaterina in the second round, one of her five bids to continue.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Spice. Another pair of captains goes at it in 12-ball with the silver cue. Maplewood's Diddley had a three-ball run from the game 1 break, and when Victoria's Spice let her defense slip, he positioned his last ball at the bottom side. Diddley won a couple of turns later, taking an easy 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a sloppier break in game 2, making one of each suit. This gave the Spurs' Spice some extra flexibility, and she used it to defend the last pocket Diddley needed until she could line up and convert her last ball for the win. Spice's savvy two-way play tied the series at 1. Spice got nothing on the game 3 break, allowing Diddley an early burst of offense. Diddley later had a scratch while trying to position himself, and he never recovered, watching Spice take her corner shots over three turns for the win to clinch the series at 2-1. Spice will visit a club-mate in the Eastside Sharks' Gizmo in the second round. Both players move forward with five bids intact.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Juno v. Avril Lavigne. The blue cue pops in for a turn in Accuracy. It wasn't easy for either player in game 1, with clean shots difficult to come by. Southern's Avril fell far behind initially, only to see Stonebridge's Juno nearly tie it twice towards the end. Juno held on for a 5-6 win, barely managing to take a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Juno had a worse start to game 2, falling far behind, but she managed to make the Monarchs' Avril miss five of her last six shots. Juno picked up the pieces each time Avril missed, marching on to a 3-6 win to secure the series at 2-0. Juno played a much better game 3, missing only a single shot this time. Avril also made improvements, but not enough, falling by a 1-3 score as Juno earned the 3-0 series sweep. Juno will host the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the second round, one of her six bids to advance, while Avril has three bids moving on.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Kodiak. Back in 12-ball, a third-year faces a rookie with the silver cue returning to action. Capital City's Lorde had Modernistic's Kodiak dead to rights in game 1 after the latter illegally potted a ball. Lorde made one shot to the top left, but twice missed contact on her last ball, allowing Kodiak two turns from ball-in-hand, during which he made five shots for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Union's Kodiak made a pair of solids and one stripe on the break of game 2, electing to keep the solids. Lorde had to take a couple of positioning turns, but she would eventually end the game on a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Lorde had a strong break in game 3, and didn't have to do too much to get in position later on. She had a three-ball run to get onto her last ball, but nearly let Kodiak back in the game when he got down to his last ball as well. Lorde made a defensive kick, and it blocked just enough of the shot to see Kodiak miss contact. Lorde took the win from ball-in-hand, claiming the series at 2-1 and earning the right to host the Diamond Gems' Pedey in round two. Kodiak has four bids going forward.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Patches. An enigmatic veteran meets a superstar captain in 8-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 saw Boston's Patches strike first on offense, but she also scratched. Todavía's Bells played a sloppy style early on as well. Patches was the first to find her form, and she picked up the win later with a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Bells continued to have difficulty creating and sustaining offense in game 2, holding even with the Swifts' Patches for awhile but falling off the pace at the end. Patches broke through shortly after that with another three-ball run-out, securing the series at 2-0 with this win. Game 3 saw some better starting offense from Bells, but it didn't last throughout the game. Patches was onto the 8 after two productive turns, and then made the 8 despite Bells' attempt to play defense. Patches took the series in a 3-0 sweep, and she'll visit the Southern Monarchs' Dominic in round two. Bells has only two bids in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Stealth. More 8-ball is on the way, but this time with the red cue. Westside's Misty had a decent effort in game 1, especially early on, but she slackened her pace near the end, and Swordpoint's Stealth gathered a five-ball run-out to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty recovered in a tight game 2, doing enough to block a similar run from the Blades' Stealth this time. Misty then nearly took the 8 on one turn before making it on the next one, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Misty had nothing on the game 3, and Stealth sparked to life with a seven-ball run, leaving Misty in a frenzy. Misty missed on her second turn as well, and Stealth cut the 8 to the top left for the win and a 2-1 series win. Stealth will visit the Victoria Spurs' Sage in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Waluigi v. Twinkie III. The silver cue returns to action here in another series of 12-ball. Lighton's Waluigi had a good break and managed to get down to his last ball in game 1, but Whitewater's Twinkie III built a stiff defense at the top right. Waluigi tried to tap the last ball into position, but potted it illegally, and Twinkie III went on a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went at a slower pace, but still saw the Prestige's Waluigi work on an early lead. Waluigi couldn't avoid scratching a couple of times, derailing his offense, and allowing the Shores' Twinkie III to pick up her last two balls from the kitchen the latter time. Twinkie III banked the 3 to the bottom left, then cut the 7 to the top left to seal the series at 2-0 with her win. Twinkie III got the short end of the stick in game 3, as Waluigi made a three-ball run early on and patiently waited for his chance to pot his last ball at the end. The moment came when Twinkie III missed contact on her shot, and Waluigi won from ball-in-hand. Twinkie III still won the series 2-1, and she will visit the Golden Pilots' Dusty in the second round. Twinkie III has four bids going forward, while Waluigi has just one of his own.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Lorde. The red cue ends its Accuracy series for the round in this Southwestern Derby. Infinity's Fluffina quickly fell behind in game 1, scratching on the break, and it took about half the game for Capital City's Lorde to miss. Fluffina tried to bait Lorde into misses from here, but it backfired, and the slow finish gave Lorde a 2-6 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Lorde made a ball on the break of game 2, but her positive play would dwindle as the game went on. The Torpedoes' Fluffina twice dropped into a tie with Lorde, but the visitor's third miss sealed the game at 2-3 for Fluffina, tying the series at 1. Fluffina again dipped into laziness with some of her shots, directly costing her the game with poorly-timed misses. Lorde played a near-perfect game anyway, winning 1-5 to take the series 2-1. Lorde will travel to Golden to face the Pilots star Dusty in the second round. Fluffina takes three bids to the next round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. A. Charlton. A rookie takes on a veteran as Accuracy is again the game, but this time with the silver cue. Stonebridge's Hershey gained an early lead when Golden's Charlton had a brutal miss on her first turn of game 1, and that would be the difference in an otherwise even game, as Hershey took a 2-3 win in the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Charlton went off in game 2, doing a double-pot at one point and then regaining the last shot advantage when the Wolves' Hershey scratched. Hershey wouldn't be able to keep it close, missing twice more as Charlton stayed perfect in a 0-3 win to tie the series at 1. Charlton kept up her status in game 3, missing only once early to drop into a tie with Hershey. Charlton wouldn't miss again, while Hershey ran up quite the deficit in this one, giving Charlton a 1-6 win and 2-1 series win by the end. Charlton will visit Atlantic Pirates sophomore Isabella in the second round, one of her four bids to advance, while Hershey's rookie campaign has just one bid remaining.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Strut. A captain fallen on hard times opposes a veteran strong as ever in 8-ball with the red cue. Tysini's Princess had the lead from the start of game 1, never getting shaken even as Golden's Strut made a short rally near the end of the game. Princess remained ahead until she could pot the 8 at the top left for the win, putting her up 1-0 in the series. The Hummingbirds' Princess had a worse break in game 2, leaving two main clusters behind. The Pilots' Strut eventually broke through with a four-ball run, and then added a nice kick on the 8 at the end to the top left for the win. Strut's tricky play helped him to tie the series at 1. Princess struck first with stripes in game 3, and Strut's early scratch nearly led to him getting shut out. Princess played around too much trying to get onto the 8, and Strut made her pay for it with an eight-ball run-out, coming all the way back to take the game and the 2-1 series win. Strut visits the Westside Rockers' Slinks for a second round series, one of five bids he'll advance.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Puff II. Teammates for the Boston Swifts as well as club-mates for Reality, these two stars clash in 10-ball with the silver cue to end the day. Patches made the 10 on the game 1 break, but struggled after that, twice missing contact. Puff II capitalized on the later moment, making the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Puff II had the series in her hands late in game 2, making a four-ball run after alternating pairs of shots with Patches for most of the game. Puff II made the 10 to the top right, but scratched, and Patches made it cleanly on the next shot for the win to tie the series at 1. Patches had the better of play in game 3, but a tense and sloppy ending mixed everything up. Patches scratched while potting the 9, but Puff II missed the 10 from ball-in-hand, and then Patches rattled it into the bottom left for the win. Patches' narrow win gives her a 2-1 series win, and she will host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in the second round, one of her six advancing bids.
We'll return with United Cup and Tournament action on Monday after taking the weekend off.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Premier Cricket 2018 - Week 21
The highest level of cricket is here for its penultimate week of the regular season. We begin with...
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Generations Derby is first this week, with the Swifts sitting Puff II for rest, while the Warriors finally give Mario a game off with his hot streak over. Twilight served up a solid 400 for Central at the start, a productive opener from the captain. Patches got split by a pair of offerings, falling at only 156 for Boston on their first turn. Dustin saw a deflection end his turn at 138 for the Warriors, wasting a chance to provide his side with a stronger lead. Gradley countered with 384 for the Swifts this time, making it a close game at the halfway mark. Wings pounded 846 for Central, putting them much farther ahead with the pacey attack. Sweetheart got a good portion of the damage back with 646 for Boston, showing a nimbleness in attack to keep her turn going. Noelle slipped up at 208 for the Warriors, leaving their final score at 1592. Ice Cream did enough at the end with 554 to give the Swifts a comeback win at 1740. Boston finds ways to win again at 34-7, while Central dips to 17-20 with the loss.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers begin a home-and-home with the Predators as the hosts, sitting Midnight for standard rest, while the Predators do the same for an out-of-form Americus. Shawn began with a modest 270 for Midland, a reasonable performance on the opening turn. Misty had an ugly 57 for Westside, getting beat by a distraction and a deflection at the same time. Rainmane's deflected ball on the second attack stopped her at 242, limiting the benefit to the Predators. Goatee hauled in 544 after a slow start for the Rockers, closing the deficit well at the halfway mark. Leonardo had his own pace issues for Midland, but managed to cover the deficit anyway with a middling 264. Slinks had an awful 54 for Westside, causing them to fall behind again with a player each to go. Fuchsia had a good 431 for the Predators at the end, capping their low-scoring offense at 1207. Cowzart had nothing for a spinning offering that dipped under his bat and took him out at 176, leaving the Rockers in a loss at 831. Midland is now 21-20 on the year, while Westside drops to 18-24.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are taking it easy in their final week of the season, resting Valencia ahead of United Cup play, while the visiting Knights start a road doubleheader without Quincy. Kiwi looked a little shaky at times, but managed to produce 442 for Terrace City to lead things off. Dusty showed no mercy with 761 for Golden in response, giving the hosts a noticeable lead. Jennifer shot back with 875 for the Knights, keeping them competitive and energetic on the attack. Strut crushed 1094 for the Pilots, restoring their lead in a fiery first half of the game. Oreo kept Terrace City in the fight with 830 on another great attack in a game filled with them. Sparkles restored a lead with 712 for Golden, maintaining an excellent run of home form in recent games. Melissa had 433 for the Knights at the end, putting their final at 2580 to force a tiny response from the hosts. A. Charlton scooped 562 for the Pilots at the end, icing the big win at 3129. Golden soars to 29-14, while Terrace City drops to 14-23 with the tough loss.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors return home to face the Knights, with the visitors sitting their captain Kiwi and the hosts benching a star in Dustin for a recent slump. Jennifer had a simple 304 for Terrace City, lacking offense early in the game. Twilight belted 1305 for Central to give them a massive lead on the first turn. Oreo made a huge rally with great pace for the Knights with 927 on the second attack, mitigating the damage pretty well. Mario slapped 600 for the Warriors, keeping a high pace throughout before a slow swing caused his exit. Melissa challenged the hosts with 709 for Terrace City this time, barely covering the deficit. Wings had only 279 for Central, greatly weakening their lead late in the game. Quincy had just 144 for the Knights, leaving them in a loss at 2084, continuing their season-long bad luck. Noelle had only 111 for the Warriors at the end, but they claimed the win at 2295. Central rises to 18-20 with the victory, while Terrace city is down to 14-24 now.
HP Field, Midland: Both captains will sit in the second half of a home-and-home series, as the Rockers give Misty the game off while Shawn is out for the Predators. Goatee had a solid 375 for Westside to open the scoring here, a bit weaker than her effort in their previous meeting. Rainmane fired back with 287 for Midland, their scoring slump continuing a bit back at home. Slinks popped 472 for the Rockers on the second attack, extending their lead nicely with the effort. Leonardo muffed his turn, taking a pitiful 96 for the Predators to make the deficit grow at the halfway mark. Midnight tacked on 498 for Westside, another extension to their lead. Americus pulled midland back into the fight with a fierce 659 on her turn, cutting into the deficit a bit. Cowzart shut that down with 766 for the Rockers at the end, capping their offense at 2111. Fuchsia took 162 for the Predators in a weak finish, sticking them with a loss at 1204. Westside is up to 19-24 now, while Midland drops to 21-21.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors now host the Tridents, with the visitors sitting Spot due to a recent pool appearance and the hosts benching Noelle for performance. Precious clubbed 642 for Pronger to open the scoring, a firm attack that gives the visitors something to build on. A brutal deflection ended Twilight's counterattack before it could really get going at just 36 points, putting Central far back. Zach replied with another great performance, adding 664 to the Tridents lead. Dustin gained 344 for the Warriors, a minor dent in the deficit facing them at the midway point. Potter kept Pronger's attack in form with 527 on his turn, boosting their lead once again. Mario's big swing after clearing a cluttered pitch went high, ending the Central sophomore's turn at just 138. Lize had only 122 for the Tridents, but they finished at a total of 1955 in a likely victory. Wings hit a deflected ball too high and ended at 263 as the Warriors take a hard loss at 781. Central is fishtailing in the middle of the table at 18-21, while Pronger improves to 16-24 with the convincing win.
Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes begin a home-and-home with the Eagles that will end the former's season. The hosts rest Ms. Kitty while the visitors have Puff III on the bench, both for rest. Goldy had no consistency in her swing for Everton, falling at a mediocre 248 on the opening turn. Starlight answered with 523 for Pacific, better than doubling the visitors' offense for the early lead. Cleo answered with 494 for the Eagles, covering the deficit with her good outing. Twinkie I shot back well with 504 for the Volcanoes, keeping them ahead by a similar margin at the midway mark. Kirstin bowed out at 289 for Everton, a weaker attack putting the visitors in a tough position. Leonette drilled 977 for Pacific, taking the chance to extend their lead greatly ahead of the final players' turns. Blizzard made a push with 504 for the Eagles, but they took the loss at 1535. Chicky Phil kept the Volcanoes strong and steady with 512, icing their win at 2516. Pacific is now 17-26 on the year, and 10-12 at home, while Everton drops to 18-22.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts end a recent stay at home with Puff II on the bench for a recent pool appearance, while the Knights return Quincy to the bench for performance concerns. Kiwi chopped a crisp 530 for Terrace City from the lead-off role, a good appearance for the captain. Patches stumbled at 208 as a ball jumped her bat to take her wicket, putting Boston behind early. Jennifer smashed 985 for the Knights on the second attack, padding their lead significantly. Gradley scraped away at the deficit with 1149 for the Swifts, closing the gap a little at the halfway point. Oreo knocked 641 for Terrace City, restoring a smaller lead with another potent attack. Sweetheart unleashed 873 for Boston, pulling them ahead with a player each to go in the high-scoring game. Melissa tapped 456 for the Knights at the end, putting their final score at 2612. Ice Cream launched 784 for the Swifts at the end, carrying them to the win with 3014 overall. Boston slugged their way to a 35-7 record, while Terrace City drops to 14-25 with another unfortunate defeat.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots end their regular season at home resting A. Charlton, while the visiting Stills put Anton on the bench for a critical fourth game in a five-game road trip. Easter popped 692 right away for Todavía, the near effortless turn establishing a strong offense. Golden took the lead by a narrow margin as Valencia shot back with a fierce 720 on their first turn. Sierra managed only 246 for the Stills, a downturn in offense that could prove costly. Dusty poked 327 for the Pilots to add a little bit to their lead in a slower second turn. Bells tried to make a play on her backhand, but it failed, and she ended at 627 when she took out her own wicket, sending Todavía ahead again. Strut fired back with 863 for Golden, regaining the lead once more. Prism couldn't make the comeback for the Stills, falling at 259 as they lost with 1824. Sparkles had a failed spike play, ending at 487 to cap a Pilots win on a total of 2397. Golden went 16-6 at home and 30-14 overall, while Todavía sinks to 17-25, getting dangerously close to the point of no return.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers end their season at home with a first-choice lineup that has Cowzart on the bench, while the visiting Shores rest their captain Bear due to his pool appearance. Twinkie III had no rhythm for Whitewater, collapsing at a weak 60 points on the first turn. Misty flipped 502 for Westside to get them going in good form, in hopes of avenging recent losses. Marsell got beat with some sloppy bat-work, but he ended at 762 to put the Shores ahead temporarily. Goatee restored the lead with 416 for the Rockers, although the margin is smaller than before. Katharine kept up the attack with 668 for Whitewater, pressuring the hosts more intensely. Slinks chipped in with 400 for Westside, unable to meet the deficit as they trail heading into the final turn. Shaggy left the Shores vulnerable with her 256, giving them a final score of 1746. Midnight carried the Rockers to the win with 511, with their overall total being 1829. Westside is now 20-24, ending 12-10 at home, while Whitewater dips to 19-23 and 9-13 on the road.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles bench Kirstin in the first game of their home doubleheader as she tries to solve her slump, while the Tridents give Lize rest. Precious accepted an optional replay for Pronger, churning out 423 on the second try after a technical error halted her first attempt. Goldy cranked out 981 for Everton in a pacey counterattack to give the hosts a sizable lead. Zach had 328 for the Tridents on the second attack, unable to meet the deficit. Puff III swung high on a rolling offering, which took her down at 209 to weaken the Eagles' lead. Spot made some progress with 306 for Pronger, but their mild attacks are holding the visitors back a bit. Cleo answered with a solid 395 for Everton, keeping their lead steady heading into the final turn. Potter couldn't force a response with 345 for the Tridents, leaving them to lose at 1402. Blizzard piled on with 681 for the Eagles, giving them a total of 2266. Everton rebounds to 19-22, while Pronger drops to 16-25.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles complete the doubleheader with Cleo resting up for the United Cup, while the Volcanoes end their season on the road with Twinkie I on the bench for well-earned rest. Starlight ripped 748 for Pacific to get things going, pressuring the hosts right at the start. Goldy fired back with 501 for Everton, going at a similar pace but for a shorter time. Ms. Kitty had only 25 for the Volcanoes on a second attempt after a false start, the ugly turn hurting their lead. Puff III made a push with 224 for the Eagles, her scoring issues persisting despite getting the hosts closer. Leonette fumbled her turn away with just 58 for Pacific, leaving them highly vulnerable. Kirstin popped 538 for Everton on her turn, giving the hosts a lead with a player each to go. Chicky Phil forced a small response with 458 for the Volcanoes, leaving them at 1289 total. Blizzard batted 423 for the Eagles, capping their win at 1686. Everton rises to 20-22, while Pacific ends the year at 17-27, with a road record of 7-15.
That's all for this week's action. United Cup play begins with the first knockout round first legs on Monday and Tuesday.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Generations Derby is first this week, with the Swifts sitting Puff II for rest, while the Warriors finally give Mario a game off with his hot streak over. Twilight served up a solid 400 for Central at the start, a productive opener from the captain. Patches got split by a pair of offerings, falling at only 156 for Boston on their first turn. Dustin saw a deflection end his turn at 138 for the Warriors, wasting a chance to provide his side with a stronger lead. Gradley countered with 384 for the Swifts this time, making it a close game at the halfway mark. Wings pounded 846 for Central, putting them much farther ahead with the pacey attack. Sweetheart got a good portion of the damage back with 646 for Boston, showing a nimbleness in attack to keep her turn going. Noelle slipped up at 208 for the Warriors, leaving their final score at 1592. Ice Cream did enough at the end with 554 to give the Swifts a comeback win at 1740. Boston finds ways to win again at 34-7, while Central dips to 17-20 with the loss.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers begin a home-and-home with the Predators as the hosts, sitting Midnight for standard rest, while the Predators do the same for an out-of-form Americus. Shawn began with a modest 270 for Midland, a reasonable performance on the opening turn. Misty had an ugly 57 for Westside, getting beat by a distraction and a deflection at the same time. Rainmane's deflected ball on the second attack stopped her at 242, limiting the benefit to the Predators. Goatee hauled in 544 after a slow start for the Rockers, closing the deficit well at the halfway mark. Leonardo had his own pace issues for Midland, but managed to cover the deficit anyway with a middling 264. Slinks had an awful 54 for Westside, causing them to fall behind again with a player each to go. Fuchsia had a good 431 for the Predators at the end, capping their low-scoring offense at 1207. Cowzart had nothing for a spinning offering that dipped under his bat and took him out at 176, leaving the Rockers in a loss at 831. Midland is now 21-20 on the year, while Westside drops to 18-24.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are taking it easy in their final week of the season, resting Valencia ahead of United Cup play, while the visiting Knights start a road doubleheader without Quincy. Kiwi looked a little shaky at times, but managed to produce 442 for Terrace City to lead things off. Dusty showed no mercy with 761 for Golden in response, giving the hosts a noticeable lead. Jennifer shot back with 875 for the Knights, keeping them competitive and energetic on the attack. Strut crushed 1094 for the Pilots, restoring their lead in a fiery first half of the game. Oreo kept Terrace City in the fight with 830 on another great attack in a game filled with them. Sparkles restored a lead with 712 for Golden, maintaining an excellent run of home form in recent games. Melissa had 433 for the Knights at the end, putting their final at 2580 to force a tiny response from the hosts. A. Charlton scooped 562 for the Pilots at the end, icing the big win at 3129. Golden soars to 29-14, while Terrace City drops to 14-23 with the tough loss.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors return home to face the Knights, with the visitors sitting their captain Kiwi and the hosts benching a star in Dustin for a recent slump. Jennifer had a simple 304 for Terrace City, lacking offense early in the game. Twilight belted 1305 for Central to give them a massive lead on the first turn. Oreo made a huge rally with great pace for the Knights with 927 on the second attack, mitigating the damage pretty well. Mario slapped 600 for the Warriors, keeping a high pace throughout before a slow swing caused his exit. Melissa challenged the hosts with 709 for Terrace City this time, barely covering the deficit. Wings had only 279 for Central, greatly weakening their lead late in the game. Quincy had just 144 for the Knights, leaving them in a loss at 2084, continuing their season-long bad luck. Noelle had only 111 for the Warriors at the end, but they claimed the win at 2295. Central rises to 18-20 with the victory, while Terrace city is down to 14-24 now.
HP Field, Midland: Both captains will sit in the second half of a home-and-home series, as the Rockers give Misty the game off while Shawn is out for the Predators. Goatee had a solid 375 for Westside to open the scoring here, a bit weaker than her effort in their previous meeting. Rainmane fired back with 287 for Midland, their scoring slump continuing a bit back at home. Slinks popped 472 for the Rockers on the second attack, extending their lead nicely with the effort. Leonardo muffed his turn, taking a pitiful 96 for the Predators to make the deficit grow at the halfway mark. Midnight tacked on 498 for Westside, another extension to their lead. Americus pulled midland back into the fight with a fierce 659 on her turn, cutting into the deficit a bit. Cowzart shut that down with 766 for the Rockers at the end, capping their offense at 2111. Fuchsia took 162 for the Predators in a weak finish, sticking them with a loss at 1204. Westside is up to 19-24 now, while Midland drops to 21-21.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors now host the Tridents, with the visitors sitting Spot due to a recent pool appearance and the hosts benching Noelle for performance. Precious clubbed 642 for Pronger to open the scoring, a firm attack that gives the visitors something to build on. A brutal deflection ended Twilight's counterattack before it could really get going at just 36 points, putting Central far back. Zach replied with another great performance, adding 664 to the Tridents lead. Dustin gained 344 for the Warriors, a minor dent in the deficit facing them at the midway point. Potter kept Pronger's attack in form with 527 on his turn, boosting their lead once again. Mario's big swing after clearing a cluttered pitch went high, ending the Central sophomore's turn at just 138. Lize had only 122 for the Tridents, but they finished at a total of 1955 in a likely victory. Wings hit a deflected ball too high and ended at 263 as the Warriors take a hard loss at 781. Central is fishtailing in the middle of the table at 18-21, while Pronger improves to 16-24 with the convincing win.
Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes begin a home-and-home with the Eagles that will end the former's season. The hosts rest Ms. Kitty while the visitors have Puff III on the bench, both for rest. Goldy had no consistency in her swing for Everton, falling at a mediocre 248 on the opening turn. Starlight answered with 523 for Pacific, better than doubling the visitors' offense for the early lead. Cleo answered with 494 for the Eagles, covering the deficit with her good outing. Twinkie I shot back well with 504 for the Volcanoes, keeping them ahead by a similar margin at the midway mark. Kirstin bowed out at 289 for Everton, a weaker attack putting the visitors in a tough position. Leonette drilled 977 for Pacific, taking the chance to extend their lead greatly ahead of the final players' turns. Blizzard made a push with 504 for the Eagles, but they took the loss at 1535. Chicky Phil kept the Volcanoes strong and steady with 512, icing their win at 2516. Pacific is now 17-26 on the year, and 10-12 at home, while Everton drops to 18-22.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts end a recent stay at home with Puff II on the bench for a recent pool appearance, while the Knights return Quincy to the bench for performance concerns. Kiwi chopped a crisp 530 for Terrace City from the lead-off role, a good appearance for the captain. Patches stumbled at 208 as a ball jumped her bat to take her wicket, putting Boston behind early. Jennifer smashed 985 for the Knights on the second attack, padding their lead significantly. Gradley scraped away at the deficit with 1149 for the Swifts, closing the gap a little at the halfway point. Oreo knocked 641 for Terrace City, restoring a smaller lead with another potent attack. Sweetheart unleashed 873 for Boston, pulling them ahead with a player each to go in the high-scoring game. Melissa tapped 456 for the Knights at the end, putting their final score at 2612. Ice Cream launched 784 for the Swifts at the end, carrying them to the win with 3014 overall. Boston slugged their way to a 35-7 record, while Terrace City drops to 14-25 with another unfortunate defeat.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots end their regular season at home resting A. Charlton, while the visiting Stills put Anton on the bench for a critical fourth game in a five-game road trip. Easter popped 692 right away for Todavía, the near effortless turn establishing a strong offense. Golden took the lead by a narrow margin as Valencia shot back with a fierce 720 on their first turn. Sierra managed only 246 for the Stills, a downturn in offense that could prove costly. Dusty poked 327 for the Pilots to add a little bit to their lead in a slower second turn. Bells tried to make a play on her backhand, but it failed, and she ended at 627 when she took out her own wicket, sending Todavía ahead again. Strut fired back with 863 for Golden, regaining the lead once more. Prism couldn't make the comeback for the Stills, falling at 259 as they lost with 1824. Sparkles had a failed spike play, ending at 487 to cap a Pilots win on a total of 2397. Golden went 16-6 at home and 30-14 overall, while Todavía sinks to 17-25, getting dangerously close to the point of no return.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers end their season at home with a first-choice lineup that has Cowzart on the bench, while the visiting Shores rest their captain Bear due to his pool appearance. Twinkie III had no rhythm for Whitewater, collapsing at a weak 60 points on the first turn. Misty flipped 502 for Westside to get them going in good form, in hopes of avenging recent losses. Marsell got beat with some sloppy bat-work, but he ended at 762 to put the Shores ahead temporarily. Goatee restored the lead with 416 for the Rockers, although the margin is smaller than before. Katharine kept up the attack with 668 for Whitewater, pressuring the hosts more intensely. Slinks chipped in with 400 for Westside, unable to meet the deficit as they trail heading into the final turn. Shaggy left the Shores vulnerable with her 256, giving them a final score of 1746. Midnight carried the Rockers to the win with 511, with their overall total being 1829. Westside is now 20-24, ending 12-10 at home, while Whitewater dips to 19-23 and 9-13 on the road.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles bench Kirstin in the first game of their home doubleheader as she tries to solve her slump, while the Tridents give Lize rest. Precious accepted an optional replay for Pronger, churning out 423 on the second try after a technical error halted her first attempt. Goldy cranked out 981 for Everton in a pacey counterattack to give the hosts a sizable lead. Zach had 328 for the Tridents on the second attack, unable to meet the deficit. Puff III swung high on a rolling offering, which took her down at 209 to weaken the Eagles' lead. Spot made some progress with 306 for Pronger, but their mild attacks are holding the visitors back a bit. Cleo answered with a solid 395 for Everton, keeping their lead steady heading into the final turn. Potter couldn't force a response with 345 for the Tridents, leaving them to lose at 1402. Blizzard piled on with 681 for the Eagles, giving them a total of 2266. Everton rebounds to 19-22, while Pronger drops to 16-25.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles complete the doubleheader with Cleo resting up for the United Cup, while the Volcanoes end their season on the road with Twinkie I on the bench for well-earned rest. Starlight ripped 748 for Pacific to get things going, pressuring the hosts right at the start. Goldy fired back with 501 for Everton, going at a similar pace but for a shorter time. Ms. Kitty had only 25 for the Volcanoes on a second attempt after a false start, the ugly turn hurting their lead. Puff III made a push with 224 for the Eagles, her scoring issues persisting despite getting the hosts closer. Leonette fumbled her turn away with just 58 for Pacific, leaving them highly vulnerable. Kirstin popped 538 for Everton on her turn, giving the hosts a lead with a player each to go. Chicky Phil forced a small response with 458 for the Volcanoes, leaving them at 1289 total. Blizzard batted 423 for the Eagles, capping their win at 1686. Everton rises to 20-22, while Pacific ends the year at 17-27, with a road record of 7-15.
That's all for this week's action. United Cup play begins with the first knockout round first legs on Monday and Tuesday.
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 52
We're back for another standard day of games, beginning with...
Ebay Center, Queens: Hannah v. Isabella. The red cue will get the first series today, playing 7-ball. Queens' Hannah missed on the break and on her next turn, leading Atlantic's Isabella to success. Isabella took a surprising win, double-potting the 2 and the 7 via a deflection to the left corners to go up 1-0 in the series. The Pirates' Isabella picked up where she left off with a three-ball run in game 2, but she missed on her next turn, and the Flames' Hannah ended up winning on a four-ball run-out on her second turn, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Hannah shot forward with a five-ball run early in game 3, looking dominant during the run, but she snookered herself on the 6. Isabella mopped it up and then took the 7 for the win, clinching the series for herself at 2-1. Isabella will visit the Terrace City Knights' Jennifer in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Caitlin Woode. The blue cue finishes its Rotation for the first round right here. Midland's Fuchsia had a good game 1 performance, making a couple pairs of shots early on before Southridge's Caitlin got on the board. Caitlin made a late rally, but a scratch cut her off, and Fuchsia won 8-5 from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Caitlin counterattacked twice in game 2, with a four-ball run to take the lead for the first time and a three-ball run-out to secure an 8-6 win after the Predators' Fuchsia briefly retook the lead with a four-ball run of her own. Caitlin's good play tied the series at 1. Fuchsia took the initial lead in game 3 pretty well, holding off an early attack from Caitlin. After a battle on the 4, Fuchsia took two pairs of shots after Caitlin's late errors, and Fuchsia won 8-2 to claim the series at 2-1. Fuchsia will host Lighton Prestige captain Acorn in the second round. Caitlin advances only two bids to the next round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sleepy B. A big-time Northeastern Derby goes in 15-ball with the silver cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. made a three-ball run and a four-ball run on consecutive turns, but couldn't stop Everton's Puff III from a light spinning deflection off the 10 to pot the 15 in the bottom right for the win. Puff III has a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. did not let up in game 2, making two separate four-ball runs during the game. The Eagles' Puff III tried to get some offense going, but Sleepy B. made the last two balls anyway, winning the game and tying the series at 1. Sleepy B. needed only two shots to win in game 3, burying the 1 on the break to the bottom side and then making the 2 deflected off the 15 to the bottom right, which sent the 15 into the top side. Sleepy B.'s miracle shot stunned Puff III, and won the 2-1 series for Sleepy B. as well, as she is set to face the Pacific Volcanoes' Chicky Phil on the road in the second round, one of her four advancing bids. Puff III moves on with three bids herself.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Frosty. Veterans in the midst of rough years meet for an Accuracy series with the silver cue. Whitewater's Bear had a good game 1 performance, making almost all of his shots save for one early miss. Stonebridge's Frosty faltered in the middle of the game, and again late, allowing Bear to walk away with the 1-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Bear tried to follow it up in game 2, but he struggled late in the game, surrendering his lead with three misses, and the Wolves' Frosty stayed true on her shots to win 2-4, tying the series at 1. Bear started out alright in game 3, but Frosty held the lead, and even as she fell into a tie, Bear couldn't maintain his shooting at the end. Frosty would take the 2-1 series with a 3-5 win as Bear missed his last two shots. Frosty will visit the Todavía Stills' Bells in the second round. Bear has three bids going forward.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Smokey. The silver cue takes another Accuracy series, between captains this time. Diamond's Smokey didn't initially have a lead in game 1, but a scratch by North Modernistic's Peach early on and then a miss on the last ball with a chance to force overtime helped Smokey to take the 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach again had the last shot advantage in game 2, but squandered it with errors and misses throughout the game. The Gems' Smokey lost his lead briefly with three balls left, but Peach missed her next shot to give Smokey the eventual 3-4 win that helped him secure the series at 2-0. Smokey scratched on the break in game 3, briefly falling behind, but Peach proceeded to miss two shots at the top right and then scratch near the end of the game, allowing Smokey to win 1-3 for a 3-0 series sweep. Smokey will visit the Southern Monarchs' Dominic in the second round, one of his five bids to continue, while Peach takes four bids of her own to the next round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Puff II. A struggling veteran visits a sophomore as the red cue gets another series of 7-ball today. Web City's Ted didn't get a lot of offense in game 1, but his untimely error near the end helped confirm a win for Boston's Puff II, who cut in two shots to take the 1-0 lead in the series. The Spiders' Ted put in a much stronger effort on offense in game 2, making a couple of early shots to keep the Swifts' Puff II at bay before unleashing his four-ball run-out for the win. Ted's big finish tied the series at 1. Ted kept up his newfound offense in game 3 with a three-ball run from the break and a four-ball run-out on the next turn, completely shutting down Puff II to earn the 2-1 series win. Ted will host the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe for a second round series, one of his four advancing bids.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Nightfur. The silver cue returns to action as two strong players meet in 8-ball. Royal's Nightfur weathered an early attack in game 1 from Lighton's Spirit, but quickly countered on a five-ball run. This put Spirit under pressure she couldn't break out of, and Nightfur soon took her last solid and the 8 to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit made the most out of the Crowns' Nightfur doing a bad break in game 2. Nightfur had the riskier shots in the game, sneaking two balls behind the 8 at the bottom right, but she missed on her last stripe, and Spirit assembled a three-ball run-out of tap-ins to get the win, tying the series at 1. Nightfur made a big surge after a narrow miss on the break from Spirit. Nightfur had most of the stripes down initially, but Spirit pulled all the way back on a well-executed five-ball run-out to take the win and the 2-1 series win. Spirit will play the host role against her Prestige teammate and captain, Acorn, in the second round. Spirit has three bids to play in the next round, while Nightfur advanced four of hers.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Sprinkles. Another silver cue 8-ball series goes with a hotshot sophomore against a sneaky-good veteran. Queens' Violetta burst out to a big lead in game 1, but missed the 8 a few times, allowing Capital City's Sprinkles a three-ball run to pull even. Sprinkles then missed contact with the 8, and Violetta buried it for the win and a 1-0 series lead after the minor drama. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles had the controlling interest in game 2, making a lot of early shots to get onto the 8, but she missed her only chance at it. The Flames' Violetta stormed back to take the win on a six-ball run-out, clinching the series at 2-0 in the process. Sprinkles managed to finish the job in game 3, taking a large lead early on, and following it up with a good finish on the 8 after prying it away from the defense established by Violetta. The series went to Violetta by a 2-1 score, and she'll host the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Dani in the second round, one of her six advancing bids.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Shaggy. The silver cue plays again, this time in 15-ball between tenured veterans. Whitewater's Shaggy had a few too many errors in game 1, allowing Freedom's Stripes to pick up free possession. Stripes cashed in after Shaggy's last scratch, making a five-ball run-out to cap a dominant win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes took a step back in game 2, just as the Shores' Shaggy stepped forward to cover the space. Shaggy made a better contribution in the game, and picked up the win with a three-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 after a tough battle. Game 3 dragged on for quite some time as both players struggled to find longer runs of offense. Stripes had better luck in this regard, picking up the win with a four-ball run-out after a long battle with Shaggy on the 12. Stripes won the series 2-1, and will host the Archtown Arrows' Ruby in the second round. Both players have four bids going forward.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Max v. Frosty. A series between veterans goes before the dinner break in 7-ball with the red cue. Atlantic's Max cranked two balls in on his first turn, and then watched the game go flat until Stonebridge's Frosty scratched a few turns later. Max made a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Frosty got more involved in game 2, but the game didn't move much faster. The Pirates' Max scratched late, giving Frosty ball-in-hand on the 6, but she would miss the 7 on the next shot, and Max kicked it to the top left for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Frosty still lacked the necessary attacking prowess for reliable success in game 3, but a late scratch by Max allowed Frosty a clean and easy shot on the 7 for the win. Max took the series 2-1, and will host the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the second round, one of his two bids to survive a tough first round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Ms. Kitty. After the break, a Coastal battle takes place in 9-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Beth had a decent start in game 1, but some shaky offense in the middle and only a three-ball run on her final turn left the door open for Pacific's Ms. Kitty to win on the last two shots. Ms. Kitty leads the series 1-0. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty let her offense slip a bit early in game 2, allowing the Surfers' Beth a bit more space, but Ms. Kitty roared back with a five-ball run-out in the end, sealing the series at 2-0 with her win. Ms. Kitty lucked her way into the win in game 3, making a 4-9 combination to the bottom right after failing on the intended deflection shot, stunning Beth. Ms. Kitty's 3-0 series sweep will give her a road series in the second round against Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine. Ms. Kitty has seven bids going forward, one ahead of the six Beth takes with her to the next round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Twilight. A struggling rookie meets a strong captain for 7-ball with the red cue in today's final series. Stonebridge's Vladimir made a critical intervention by winning game 1 on the break, sending the 7 to the top side to take a 1-0 series lead over an ever-dangerous Twilight of Central. The Wolves' Vladimir held his own pretty well in game 2, making a lot of shots, but he missed a tough bank attempt on the 7, and the Warriors' Twilight was there to poach the win. Twilight put the 7 in the bottom right, tying the series at 1 with the timely successful shot. Vladimir and Twilight battled fairly evenly at the start of game 3, but Vladimir pulled away at the end with a three-ball run-out, giving himself a 2-1 series win. Vladimir will host the Tysini Hummingbirds star Leandra in the second round. Vladimir advanced with five bids, while Twilight plays six bids in the next round.
That's all for today. Tomorrow, we wrap up Premier Week 21 to send cricket into the United Cup break for the third and final time, and then play Day 53 of Tournament action.
Ebay Center, Queens: Hannah v. Isabella. The red cue will get the first series today, playing 7-ball. Queens' Hannah missed on the break and on her next turn, leading Atlantic's Isabella to success. Isabella took a surprising win, double-potting the 2 and the 7 via a deflection to the left corners to go up 1-0 in the series. The Pirates' Isabella picked up where she left off with a three-ball run in game 2, but she missed on her next turn, and the Flames' Hannah ended up winning on a four-ball run-out on her second turn, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Hannah shot forward with a five-ball run early in game 3, looking dominant during the run, but she snookered herself on the 6. Isabella mopped it up and then took the 7 for the win, clinching the series for herself at 2-1. Isabella will visit the Terrace City Knights' Jennifer in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Caitlin Woode. The blue cue finishes its Rotation for the first round right here. Midland's Fuchsia had a good game 1 performance, making a couple pairs of shots early on before Southridge's Caitlin got on the board. Caitlin made a late rally, but a scratch cut her off, and Fuchsia won 8-5 from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Caitlin counterattacked twice in game 2, with a four-ball run to take the lead for the first time and a three-ball run-out to secure an 8-6 win after the Predators' Fuchsia briefly retook the lead with a four-ball run of her own. Caitlin's good play tied the series at 1. Fuchsia took the initial lead in game 3 pretty well, holding off an early attack from Caitlin. After a battle on the 4, Fuchsia took two pairs of shots after Caitlin's late errors, and Fuchsia won 8-2 to claim the series at 2-1. Fuchsia will host Lighton Prestige captain Acorn in the second round. Caitlin advances only two bids to the next round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sleepy B. A big-time Northeastern Derby goes in 15-ball with the silver cue. Archtown's Sleepy B. made a three-ball run and a four-ball run on consecutive turns, but couldn't stop Everton's Puff III from a light spinning deflection off the 10 to pot the 15 in the bottom right for the win. Puff III has a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. did not let up in game 2, making two separate four-ball runs during the game. The Eagles' Puff III tried to get some offense going, but Sleepy B. made the last two balls anyway, winning the game and tying the series at 1. Sleepy B. needed only two shots to win in game 3, burying the 1 on the break to the bottom side and then making the 2 deflected off the 15 to the bottom right, which sent the 15 into the top side. Sleepy B.'s miracle shot stunned Puff III, and won the 2-1 series for Sleepy B. as well, as she is set to face the Pacific Volcanoes' Chicky Phil on the road in the second round, one of her four advancing bids. Puff III moves on with three bids herself.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Frosty. Veterans in the midst of rough years meet for an Accuracy series with the silver cue. Whitewater's Bear had a good game 1 performance, making almost all of his shots save for one early miss. Stonebridge's Frosty faltered in the middle of the game, and again late, allowing Bear to walk away with the 1-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Bear tried to follow it up in game 2, but he struggled late in the game, surrendering his lead with three misses, and the Wolves' Frosty stayed true on her shots to win 2-4, tying the series at 1. Bear started out alright in game 3, but Frosty held the lead, and even as she fell into a tie, Bear couldn't maintain his shooting at the end. Frosty would take the 2-1 series with a 3-5 win as Bear missed his last two shots. Frosty will visit the Todavía Stills' Bells in the second round. Bear has three bids going forward.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Smokey. The silver cue takes another Accuracy series, between captains this time. Diamond's Smokey didn't initially have a lead in game 1, but a scratch by North Modernistic's Peach early on and then a miss on the last ball with a chance to force overtime helped Smokey to take the 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Peach again had the last shot advantage in game 2, but squandered it with errors and misses throughout the game. The Gems' Smokey lost his lead briefly with three balls left, but Peach missed her next shot to give Smokey the eventual 3-4 win that helped him secure the series at 2-0. Smokey scratched on the break in game 3, briefly falling behind, but Peach proceeded to miss two shots at the top right and then scratch near the end of the game, allowing Smokey to win 1-3 for a 3-0 series sweep. Smokey will visit the Southern Monarchs' Dominic in the second round, one of his five bids to continue, while Peach takes four bids of her own to the next round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Puff II. A struggling veteran visits a sophomore as the red cue gets another series of 7-ball today. Web City's Ted didn't get a lot of offense in game 1, but his untimely error near the end helped confirm a win for Boston's Puff II, who cut in two shots to take the 1-0 lead in the series. The Spiders' Ted put in a much stronger effort on offense in game 2, making a couple of early shots to keep the Swifts' Puff II at bay before unleashing his four-ball run-out for the win. Ted's big finish tied the series at 1. Ted kept up his newfound offense in game 3 with a three-ball run from the break and a four-ball run-out on the next turn, completely shutting down Puff II to earn the 2-1 series win. Ted will host the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe for a second round series, one of his four advancing bids.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Nightfur. The silver cue returns to action as two strong players meet in 8-ball. Royal's Nightfur weathered an early attack in game 1 from Lighton's Spirit, but quickly countered on a five-ball run. This put Spirit under pressure she couldn't break out of, and Nightfur soon took her last solid and the 8 to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit made the most out of the Crowns' Nightfur doing a bad break in game 2. Nightfur had the riskier shots in the game, sneaking two balls behind the 8 at the bottom right, but she missed on her last stripe, and Spirit assembled a three-ball run-out of tap-ins to get the win, tying the series at 1. Nightfur made a big surge after a narrow miss on the break from Spirit. Nightfur had most of the stripes down initially, but Spirit pulled all the way back on a well-executed five-ball run-out to take the win and the 2-1 series win. Spirit will play the host role against her Prestige teammate and captain, Acorn, in the second round. Spirit has three bids to play in the next round, while Nightfur advanced four of hers.
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Sprinkles. Another silver cue 8-ball series goes with a hotshot sophomore against a sneaky-good veteran. Queens' Violetta burst out to a big lead in game 1, but missed the 8 a few times, allowing Capital City's Sprinkles a three-ball run to pull even. Sprinkles then missed contact with the 8, and Violetta buried it for the win and a 1-0 series lead after the minor drama. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles had the controlling interest in game 2, making a lot of early shots to get onto the 8, but she missed her only chance at it. The Flames' Violetta stormed back to take the win on a six-ball run-out, clinching the series at 2-0 in the process. Sprinkles managed to finish the job in game 3, taking a large lead early on, and following it up with a good finish on the 8 after prying it away from the defense established by Violetta. The series went to Violetta by a 2-1 score, and she'll host the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Dani in the second round, one of her six advancing bids.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Shaggy. The silver cue plays again, this time in 15-ball between tenured veterans. Whitewater's Shaggy had a few too many errors in game 1, allowing Freedom's Stripes to pick up free possession. Stripes cashed in after Shaggy's last scratch, making a five-ball run-out to cap a dominant win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes took a step back in game 2, just as the Shores' Shaggy stepped forward to cover the space. Shaggy made a better contribution in the game, and picked up the win with a three-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 after a tough battle. Game 3 dragged on for quite some time as both players struggled to find longer runs of offense. Stripes had better luck in this regard, picking up the win with a four-ball run-out after a long battle with Shaggy on the 12. Stripes won the series 2-1, and will host the Archtown Arrows' Ruby in the second round. Both players have four bids going forward.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Max v. Frosty. A series between veterans goes before the dinner break in 7-ball with the red cue. Atlantic's Max cranked two balls in on his first turn, and then watched the game go flat until Stonebridge's Frosty scratched a few turns later. Max made a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Frosty got more involved in game 2, but the game didn't move much faster. The Pirates' Max scratched late, giving Frosty ball-in-hand on the 6, but she would miss the 7 on the next shot, and Max kicked it to the top left for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Frosty still lacked the necessary attacking prowess for reliable success in game 3, but a late scratch by Max allowed Frosty a clean and easy shot on the 7 for the win. Max took the series 2-1, and will host the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the second round, one of his two bids to survive a tough first round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Ms. Kitty. After the break, a Coastal battle takes place in 9-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Beth had a decent start in game 1, but some shaky offense in the middle and only a three-ball run on her final turn left the door open for Pacific's Ms. Kitty to win on the last two shots. Ms. Kitty leads the series 1-0. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty let her offense slip a bit early in game 2, allowing the Surfers' Beth a bit more space, but Ms. Kitty roared back with a five-ball run-out in the end, sealing the series at 2-0 with her win. Ms. Kitty lucked her way into the win in game 3, making a 4-9 combination to the bottom right after failing on the intended deflection shot, stunning Beth. Ms. Kitty's 3-0 series sweep will give her a road series in the second round against Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine. Ms. Kitty has seven bids going forward, one ahead of the six Beth takes with her to the next round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Twilight. A struggling rookie meets a strong captain for 7-ball with the red cue in today's final series. Stonebridge's Vladimir made a critical intervention by winning game 1 on the break, sending the 7 to the top side to take a 1-0 series lead over an ever-dangerous Twilight of Central. The Wolves' Vladimir held his own pretty well in game 2, making a lot of shots, but he missed a tough bank attempt on the 7, and the Warriors' Twilight was there to poach the win. Twilight put the 7 in the bottom right, tying the series at 1 with the timely successful shot. Vladimir and Twilight battled fairly evenly at the start of game 3, but Vladimir pulled away at the end with a three-ball run-out, giving himself a 2-1 series win. Vladimir will host the Tysini Hummingbirds star Leandra in the second round. Vladimir advanced with five bids, while Twilight plays six bids in the next round.
That's all for today. Tomorrow, we wrap up Premier Week 21 to send cricket into the United Cup break for the third and final time, and then play Day 53 of Tournament action.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 51
Tournament play returns today even with the round wrapping up soon. First up today...
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Avril Lavigne. The silver cue gets the start today, playing 8-ball. Pearl's Bright held the lead for virtually all of game 1, making a solid on the break and adding a four-ball run on the next turn. Southern's Avril had some offense, but never caught up to Bright, whose win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright had some good moments in game 2, but too many scratches prevented him from breaking away. The Monarchs' Avril played defensively and it paid off, as Bright would miss the 8 at the end, allowing Avril to win on a tap-in while tying the series at 1. Bright had another scratch after a four-ball run in game 3, allowing Avril to get onto the 8 with a pair of pacey turns. Bright shut the door from here with a four-ball run-out, snatching the game and the 2-1 series when he put the 8 in the bottom left. Bright will host Capital City Sharpshooters rookie Pauline in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Snowball. A veteran meets a legend in 12-ball, also using the silver cue. Freedom's Stinky had a ball on the game 1 break to pick up the stripes, and finished the game two turns later with a well-made three-ball run-out to get by Swordpoint's Snowball, whose lack of offense has her in a 1-0 hole in the series. The Cascades' Stinky made a three-ball run from the break in game 2, but the Blades' Snowball quickly fired back with her own three-ball run to pull even. In the ensuing battle for positioning, Snowball managed to get the better of Stinky at the top left, and that helped her take the win a few turns later, tying the series at 1. Stinky had a little offense in game 3, but he scratched twice to go back to the beginning. Snowball, meanwhile, used the extra time to set herself up, and then just barely took the win as Stinky mounted a furious comeback. Snowball took the series 2-1, and will visit the Eastside Sharks' Chelsea in the second round. Snowball advances five bids, while Stinky has only two going forward.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Tigerette. Captains of Urban regional rivals meet in an epic Accuracy series with the red cue. Commerce's Tigerette fell behind early in game 1, but Westside's Misty would join her for a tie in the middle of the game. Tigerette's second miss led to her setting a trap for Misty, who didn't fall for it. Misty banked the 6 from near the bottom side to the top right to secure the 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty played a perfect game 2, with many of her shots very simple compared to tougher angles for the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Misty took the win by a score of 0-3, with Tigerette's misses coming early and late, and Misty secured the series at 2-0. Tigerette had a better game 3 performance, keeping Misty honest throughout. Tigerette then left Misty a tough shot late in the game, and Misty missed, allowing Tigerette to win 2-3. Misty took the series 2-1, and will host the Victoria Spurs' Wario in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Boots. The blue cue takes its turn in Accuracy in an all-Surfers series. Beth and Boots went a long time before either player missed, working together for a fast game 1. Boots fell first, and missed again on the last ball. Beth also couldn't pot the last ball, resulting in her win being 1-2 as Boots finished the game. Beth leads the series 1-0. Beth made a ball on the break in game 2 as well, and amid the chaos of a stretch of misses in the middle of the game, she held onto the last shot advantage. Boots couldn't grab the lead from Beth during this stretch, and then missed on her second-to-last shot as Beth took the 4-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Beth tried to show kindness to her teammate in game 3, but Boots couldn't maintain a lead at any stage of the game. Boots missed her last two shots, and Beth claimed the 3-5 win for a 3-0 series sweep. Beth will host the Todavía Stills' Anton in round two.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal Gadot v. Stripes. The silver cue returns to action in 10-ball between a rookie and a veteran. North Modernistic's Gal had a lackluster break in game 1, causing some difficulty early on. Freedom's Stripes benefited later on, making a seven-ball run-out to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes made two balls on the break, and then had to battle with the Nighthawks' Gal in the middle of the game. Stripes had a four-ball run, but her illegal potting of the 10 gave Gal the option to defer back to Stripes, which she did. Stripes missed, but Gal did as well, and Stripes took game 2 on her third attempt at the 10. Stripes sealed the series at 2-0 with the crazy finish. Stripes didn't dominate in game 3, but when Gal missed contact with the 9 late in the game, Stripes had an easy time making the last two balls for the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Stripes is off to a road series against the Pacific Volcanoes' Twinkie I in the second round. Gal still advances with six bids in the next round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Whiskers. The silver cue remains in play for 12-ball now between players on the rise. Pronger's Spot had a three-ball run from the break, but took a scratch soon after to alleviate a cluster of his stripes at the bottom right. Maplewood's Whiskers controlled the middle of the game, but her late scratch paved the way for Spot to get better positioning and the win in a race to the top left. Spot leads the series 1-0. The Tridents' Spot sank one of each suit on the break in game 2, but chose solids. This worked out well, as the Lumberjacks' Whiskers had only a three-ball run on her final turn, followed by Spot tapping in his last two balls for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Spot couldn't find his offense in full force in game 3, allowing Whiskers to dictate more of the pace on her own. Whiskers started well, faded a bit in the middle, and then rallied to win on a vicious kick of the 6 to the top right. Spot took the series at 2-1, and will host the Atlantic Pirates' Max in the second round. Whiskers will carry five bids in the next round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Watermelon. A Coastal captains' battle awaits in 7-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Starlight sacrificed precision for aggression in game 1, and it didn't work out so well. Pearl's Watermelon put up a lucky three-ball run-out, getting the 4 and 5 to bounce just right to send the 4 to the top side. Watermelon made the next two shots easily for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon made a four-ball run in game 2 off the break, and then made the 5 and 7 to the left corners after the Volcanoes' Starlight scratched on her only shot. Watermelon's tricky finish secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Watermelon had a three-ball run on her second turn and a nice piece of defense to stop Starlight. Watermelon then made a four-ball run-out on the next turn, earning the 3-0 series sweep by doing so. Watermelon will visit the Diamond Gems' Cassandra in the second round, one of her four advancing bids, while Starlight moves on with three bids.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Kodiak. Two young players go at it in Rotation with the blue cue. Victoria's Yekaterina struck first in game 1, but Modernistic's Kodiak fired back with force eventually, taking a massive lead. Yekaterina recovered some of it, but another three-ball run put Kodiak well ahead, and he won 8-4 at the end with a tap-in after Yekaterina's illegal contact. Kodiak leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Yekaterina answered with a quick four-ball run in game 2, and added a later three-ball run. The Union's Kodiak tried to provide a counterattack, but he scratched twice in the game, and Yekaterina went on to win 8-3, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went back and forth between the two players, ultimately favoring Yekaterina by an 8-6 margin when she went on a late surge to beat Kodiak. Yekaterina will host Queens Flames rookie Briana in the second round.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shiny. The host completes a home doubleheader in 10-ball with the silver cue against a more experienced foe. Victoria's Yekaterina made a ball on the game 1 break, but watched as Web City's Shiny made six balls over two turns to get onto the 10. Shiny somehow missed it at the bottom side, and Yekaterina poached the win on a tap-in for a 1-0 series lead. Luck was on the side of the Spurs' Yekaterina in game 2 as well, after some sloppy play early on. The Spiders' Shiny tried to make a run but faltered quickly, and Yekaterina won on a three-ball run-out that ended with a two-rail 6-10 kick combination to the top side to clinch the series at 2-0. Yekaterina had a great break in game 3, leading to a quick battle between the players. Short runs were the key, and Yekaterina's miss on the 9 allowed Shiny to make two balls at the end for a close win. Yekaterina took the series 2-1, and will host the Midland Predators' Americus in the second round, one of her six advancing bids, while Shiny continues with five bids left.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Shaggy. Two veterans meet in 12-ball as the silver cue takes another turn. Whitewater's Shaggy had some work to do after Boston's Puff II made a three-ball run from the game 1 break. Shaggy met the challenge with a four-ball run, and patiently waited to attack the top right, eventually picking up the win with a tap-in for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy scratched but claimed solids on the game 2 break, leaving the Swifts' Puff II to deal with an ugly spread on stripes. Shaggy would make a five-ball run on her second turn, pressuring Puff II, who managed to sink four balls but no more than that. Shaggy eventually tapped the last solid to the bottom left for the win and the series at 2-0. Puff II had an aggressive attack in game 3, making a number of shots early on. Shaggy tried to build a counterattack, but it was no use, and Puff II ultimately made a pair of shots on her final turn to get the win. Shaggy moves on with a 2-1 series win, visiting Todavía Stills sophomore Prism in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jeremias v. Valencia. The red cue returns now to wrap up its obligations in 15-ball for the first round. Golden's Valencia had a lot to like about game 1, with a four-ball run and a lot of luck on her side. Royal's Jeremias made sure to get his share, chipping in here and there before curving the cue off the 5 to pot the 15 in the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia saw things go more her way in the second round, lacing run after run to keep the Crowns' Jeremias pinned. Jeremias had a few chances to break out, but those died when Valencia potted a five-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 brought the pace down to a crawl, as both players exercised a load of caution with their shots. Valencia opened up on a three-ball run, and Jeremias took a pair after that, only to lose when he rattled the 15 out of the top right. Valencia put it in the bottom right to take the series 2-1, and she will visit the Southern Monarchs' Hoppy in round two. Valencia will play four bids in the next round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Spot. The silver cue will wrap up the day in 8-ball between a captain and a sophomore. Whitewater's Bear had a nice start in game 1, but Pronger's Spot kept things interesting with occasional bursts of offense. They both got down to the 8 at about the same time, and Spot called a bank to the top side, but the 8 fell in the bottom side, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Bear. The Shores' Bear took a bit more control of the offense in game 2, answering a pair of three-ball runs by the Tridents' Spot with four-ball runs of his own creation. Bear's second run saw him position very well, cutting the 8 to the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead at the end. Bear started slowly in game 3, but it didn't bother him much. Spot got a few balls out of the way, and then Bear stormed in with a five-ball run-out to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Bear will host the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the second round. Spot will have four bids to play in the next round.
That's all for today, with more pool on the way tomorrow after Premier begins their Week 21 schedule on Twitter @UnitedPCL.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Avril Lavigne. The silver cue gets the start today, playing 8-ball. Pearl's Bright held the lead for virtually all of game 1, making a solid on the break and adding a four-ball run on the next turn. Southern's Avril had some offense, but never caught up to Bright, whose win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright had some good moments in game 2, but too many scratches prevented him from breaking away. The Monarchs' Avril played defensively and it paid off, as Bright would miss the 8 at the end, allowing Avril to win on a tap-in while tying the series at 1. Bright had another scratch after a four-ball run in game 3, allowing Avril to get onto the 8 with a pair of pacey turns. Bright shut the door from here with a four-ball run-out, snatching the game and the 2-1 series when he put the 8 in the bottom left. Bright will host Capital City Sharpshooters rookie Pauline in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Snowball. A veteran meets a legend in 12-ball, also using the silver cue. Freedom's Stinky had a ball on the game 1 break to pick up the stripes, and finished the game two turns later with a well-made three-ball run-out to get by Swordpoint's Snowball, whose lack of offense has her in a 1-0 hole in the series. The Cascades' Stinky made a three-ball run from the break in game 2, but the Blades' Snowball quickly fired back with her own three-ball run to pull even. In the ensuing battle for positioning, Snowball managed to get the better of Stinky at the top left, and that helped her take the win a few turns later, tying the series at 1. Stinky had a little offense in game 3, but he scratched twice to go back to the beginning. Snowball, meanwhile, used the extra time to set herself up, and then just barely took the win as Stinky mounted a furious comeback. Snowball took the series 2-1, and will visit the Eastside Sharks' Chelsea in the second round. Snowball advances five bids, while Stinky has only two going forward.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Tigerette. Captains of Urban regional rivals meet in an epic Accuracy series with the red cue. Commerce's Tigerette fell behind early in game 1, but Westside's Misty would join her for a tie in the middle of the game. Tigerette's second miss led to her setting a trap for Misty, who didn't fall for it. Misty banked the 6 from near the bottom side to the top right to secure the 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty played a perfect game 2, with many of her shots very simple compared to tougher angles for the Tradewinds' Tigerette. Misty took the win by a score of 0-3, with Tigerette's misses coming early and late, and Misty secured the series at 2-0. Tigerette had a better game 3 performance, keeping Misty honest throughout. Tigerette then left Misty a tough shot late in the game, and Misty missed, allowing Tigerette to win 2-3. Misty took the series 2-1, and will host the Victoria Spurs' Wario in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Boots. The blue cue takes its turn in Accuracy in an all-Surfers series. Beth and Boots went a long time before either player missed, working together for a fast game 1. Boots fell first, and missed again on the last ball. Beth also couldn't pot the last ball, resulting in her win being 1-2 as Boots finished the game. Beth leads the series 1-0. Beth made a ball on the break in game 2 as well, and amid the chaos of a stretch of misses in the middle of the game, she held onto the last shot advantage. Boots couldn't grab the lead from Beth during this stretch, and then missed on her second-to-last shot as Beth took the 4-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Beth tried to show kindness to her teammate in game 3, but Boots couldn't maintain a lead at any stage of the game. Boots missed her last two shots, and Beth claimed the 3-5 win for a 3-0 series sweep. Beth will host the Todavía Stills' Anton in round two.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal Gadot v. Stripes. The silver cue returns to action in 10-ball between a rookie and a veteran. North Modernistic's Gal had a lackluster break in game 1, causing some difficulty early on. Freedom's Stripes benefited later on, making a seven-ball run-out to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stripes made two balls on the break, and then had to battle with the Nighthawks' Gal in the middle of the game. Stripes had a four-ball run, but her illegal potting of the 10 gave Gal the option to defer back to Stripes, which she did. Stripes missed, but Gal did as well, and Stripes took game 2 on her third attempt at the 10. Stripes sealed the series at 2-0 with the crazy finish. Stripes didn't dominate in game 3, but when Gal missed contact with the 9 late in the game, Stripes had an easy time making the last two balls for the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Stripes is off to a road series against the Pacific Volcanoes' Twinkie I in the second round. Gal still advances with six bids in the next round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Whiskers. The silver cue remains in play for 12-ball now between players on the rise. Pronger's Spot had a three-ball run from the break, but took a scratch soon after to alleviate a cluster of his stripes at the bottom right. Maplewood's Whiskers controlled the middle of the game, but her late scratch paved the way for Spot to get better positioning and the win in a race to the top left. Spot leads the series 1-0. The Tridents' Spot sank one of each suit on the break in game 2, but chose solids. This worked out well, as the Lumberjacks' Whiskers had only a three-ball run on her final turn, followed by Spot tapping in his last two balls for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Spot couldn't find his offense in full force in game 3, allowing Whiskers to dictate more of the pace on her own. Whiskers started well, faded a bit in the middle, and then rallied to win on a vicious kick of the 6 to the top right. Spot took the series at 2-1, and will host the Atlantic Pirates' Max in the second round. Whiskers will carry five bids in the next round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Watermelon. A Coastal captains' battle awaits in 7-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Starlight sacrificed precision for aggression in game 1, and it didn't work out so well. Pearl's Watermelon put up a lucky three-ball run-out, getting the 4 and 5 to bounce just right to send the 4 to the top side. Watermelon made the next two shots easily for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon made a four-ball run in game 2 off the break, and then made the 5 and 7 to the left corners after the Volcanoes' Starlight scratched on her only shot. Watermelon's tricky finish secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Watermelon had a three-ball run on her second turn and a nice piece of defense to stop Starlight. Watermelon then made a four-ball run-out on the next turn, earning the 3-0 series sweep by doing so. Watermelon will visit the Diamond Gems' Cassandra in the second round, one of her four advancing bids, while Starlight moves on with three bids.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Kodiak. Two young players go at it in Rotation with the blue cue. Victoria's Yekaterina struck first in game 1, but Modernistic's Kodiak fired back with force eventually, taking a massive lead. Yekaterina recovered some of it, but another three-ball run put Kodiak well ahead, and he won 8-4 at the end with a tap-in after Yekaterina's illegal contact. Kodiak leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Yekaterina answered with a quick four-ball run in game 2, and added a later three-ball run. The Union's Kodiak tried to provide a counterattack, but he scratched twice in the game, and Yekaterina went on to win 8-3, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went back and forth between the two players, ultimately favoring Yekaterina by an 8-6 margin when she went on a late surge to beat Kodiak. Yekaterina will host Queens Flames rookie Briana in the second round.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shiny. The host completes a home doubleheader in 10-ball with the silver cue against a more experienced foe. Victoria's Yekaterina made a ball on the game 1 break, but watched as Web City's Shiny made six balls over two turns to get onto the 10. Shiny somehow missed it at the bottom side, and Yekaterina poached the win on a tap-in for a 1-0 series lead. Luck was on the side of the Spurs' Yekaterina in game 2 as well, after some sloppy play early on. The Spiders' Shiny tried to make a run but faltered quickly, and Yekaterina won on a three-ball run-out that ended with a two-rail 6-10 kick combination to the top side to clinch the series at 2-0. Yekaterina had a great break in game 3, leading to a quick battle between the players. Short runs were the key, and Yekaterina's miss on the 9 allowed Shiny to make two balls at the end for a close win. Yekaterina took the series 2-1, and will host the Midland Predators' Americus in the second round, one of her six advancing bids, while Shiny continues with five bids left.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Shaggy. Two veterans meet in 12-ball as the silver cue takes another turn. Whitewater's Shaggy had some work to do after Boston's Puff II made a three-ball run from the game 1 break. Shaggy met the challenge with a four-ball run, and patiently waited to attack the top right, eventually picking up the win with a tap-in for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy scratched but claimed solids on the game 2 break, leaving the Swifts' Puff II to deal with an ugly spread on stripes. Shaggy would make a five-ball run on her second turn, pressuring Puff II, who managed to sink four balls but no more than that. Shaggy eventually tapped the last solid to the bottom left for the win and the series at 2-0. Puff II had an aggressive attack in game 3, making a number of shots early on. Shaggy tried to build a counterattack, but it was no use, and Puff II ultimately made a pair of shots on her final turn to get the win. Shaggy moves on with a 2-1 series win, visiting Todavía Stills sophomore Prism in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jeremias v. Valencia. The red cue returns now to wrap up its obligations in 15-ball for the first round. Golden's Valencia had a lot to like about game 1, with a four-ball run and a lot of luck on her side. Royal's Jeremias made sure to get his share, chipping in here and there before curving the cue off the 5 to pot the 15 in the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia saw things go more her way in the second round, lacing run after run to keep the Crowns' Jeremias pinned. Jeremias had a few chances to break out, but those died when Valencia potted a five-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 brought the pace down to a crawl, as both players exercised a load of caution with their shots. Valencia opened up on a three-ball run, and Jeremias took a pair after that, only to lose when he rattled the 15 out of the top right. Valencia put it in the bottom right to take the series 2-1, and she will visit the Southern Monarchs' Hoppy in round two. Valencia will play four bids in the next round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Bear v. Spot. The silver cue will wrap up the day in 8-ball between a captain and a sophomore. Whitewater's Bear had a nice start in game 1, but Pronger's Spot kept things interesting with occasional bursts of offense. They both got down to the 8 at about the same time, and Spot called a bank to the top side, but the 8 fell in the bottom side, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Bear. The Shores' Bear took a bit more control of the offense in game 2, answering a pair of three-ball runs by the Tridents' Spot with four-ball runs of his own creation. Bear's second run saw him position very well, cutting the 8 to the bottom right for the win and 2-0 series lead at the end. Bear started slowly in game 3, but it didn't bother him much. Spot got a few balls out of the way, and then Bear stormed in with a five-ball run-out to secure the 3-0 series sweep. Bear will host the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the second round. Spot will have four bids to play in the next round.
That's all for today, with more pool on the way tomorrow after Premier begins their Week 21 schedule on Twitter @UnitedPCL.
Elite Cricket 2018 - Week 21
We're back in Elite, with position battles at both the promotion and relegation spots heating up. We begin with...
Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds enter a critical part of their season, hosting the Nighthawks and hoping to reverse a recent collapse. B. Chapman sits for the visitors, while the hosts bench their captain Tigerette. Peach had troubles on her first two attempts, and then hit only 180 for North Modernistic on the third try. Taylor replied with 483 for Commerce, giving them a decent initial lead. Cheddar picked up 250 for the Nighthawks on the second attack, but they remain behind with a lack of offense. Lionel shot back with 456 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead with the strong turn. Gal had just 113 for North Modernistic, causing them to fall farther behind as the game progresses. Rosemary settled a ball on her backhand for Commerce, but it took her too long to get moving again, and she was stopped at 117. Luigi made a move with 487 for the Nighthawks, but they suffered the loss at 1030 anyway. Niki shoved 719 for the Tradewinds to make it look more convincing as they win with 1775. Commerce is up to 18-24, while North Modernistic is at 12-30 and finishes 6-16 on the road.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders end the season on a six-game home stand, sitting Ted as they look to protect their position against the Union, who are without Puff I to begin a four-game road trip to end their year. Ms. Puppy lined 503 right away for Modernistic, giving them a confident start. Shadow had an ugly 96 for Web City, giving them an early deficit in this game. Daisy faltered at only 80 for the Union, leaving them vulnerable instead of providing an extension to their lead. Sugar got some of the deficit back with 307 for the Spiders, but they've got more to do at the halfway mark. Kodiak slugged 1218 for Modernistic, boosting their lead greatly with a massive attack. Jack pulled back with 575 for Web City, but this only made a dent in the large deficit. Chimpy provided 519 more for the Union at the end, capping their offense at 2320. Shiny fell at 298 for the Spiders, their comeback falling far short at 1276. Modernistic looks like a lock for 11th now, rising to 13-28, while Web City slips to 17-22 on the year.
IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks return home for their last two games, sitting Cheddar in this one, while the Arrows bench Dusky for rest in their road finale. Sally batted 319 for Archtown in an unremarkable start to a very important game. Peach made a couple of plays on her backhand, but couldn't make a third as she fell with 682 for North Modernistic to lead off with. Ruby shot back with 768 for the Arrows, covering the deficit quite nicely. Gal picked up 449 for the Nighthawks here, making things very close at the midway point. Sleepy B. had just 128 for Archtown, a disappointing end to her full road schedule. B. Chapman crushed 1383 for North Modernistic in response, almost guaranteeing a win for the hosts at this late stage. Wild Thing managed 583 for the Arrows, but they'll suffer a loss they can't afford at 1798. Luigi served up another 759, giving the Nighthawks an exciting win at 3273. North Modernistic is up to 13-30, while Archtown slips to 17-24, as well as 10-12 on the road.
Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames have their home finale to start a doubleheader, sitting Hannah this time, while the visiting Hummingbirds bench Brownie for performance reasons. Princess slapped 391 for Tysini, only stopping there due to a deflection on an otherwise good turn. Crystal shot back with 448 for Queens, giving them a narrow lead after a close first turn. Leandra fired back with a steady 396 for the Hummingbirds, keeping the scoring pace on track. Violetta countered quite well with 527 for the Flames, making a small extension to their lead at the halfway mark of the game. Charli went off with 799 for Tysini, giving the visitors a big lead this time around. Briana offset a lot of the damage with her 652, keeping Queens in the fight as the final players step up to bat. Paps had an ugly 51 for the Hummingbirds, barely forcing a response as they finish with 1637. Kyle stepped up with 525, securing the Flames win at 2152 to make them 14-8 at home. Queens is 22-20, and Tysini drops to 21-18, making the battle for promotion a little tighter.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders will have Shiny on the bench now, while the Flames enter their last road trip of the year with Briana on the bench. Crystal showed no mercy to the hosts, belting 1090 for Queens on the opening turn as the visitors set their sights on ascension. Shadow answered with a strong 635 for Web City, refusing to let his team go quietly. Violetta supplied 457 for the Flames on the second attack, giving their lead a little padding. Ted poked 305 for the Spiders on his turn, a great pace going to waste without longevity. Kyle shelved 575 for Queens, giving their lead another boost on a confident attack from the in-form veteran. Sugar confirmed Web City's collapse in this one with only 96 points on her turn, making a comeback highly unlikely. Hannah tapped 454 for the Flames at the end, icing their offense at 2576. Jack picked up 362 for the Spiders, unable to rally the team, as they took the loss at 1398. Queens rallies to 23-20 on the year, while Web City is down to 17-23.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows give Sleepy B. rest from a pool appearance, while the Tradewinds elect to bench Lionel for their statistically strongest road lineup in a massive game. Tigerette sliced 602 for Commerce on the opening turn, putting pressure on the hosts early. Sally had only 243 on the counterattack for Archtown, a bad swing cutting her down in mediocre territory. Taylor accepted 269 rather than taking an optional replay for the Tradewinds, keeping their lead steady. Ruby failed to make much progress with 288 for the Arrows, who still trail at the midway mark. Rosemary gathered 344 for Commerce, adding another marginal gain to their lead. Dusky made a rally with 568 for Archtown, closing the gap a lot ahead of the final players' turns. Niki left the Tradewinds exposed, falling at a measly 25 after trying to get too fancy, which gives them a final of 1240. Wild Thing made the fans happy with 379 for the Arrows, icing their comeback win at 1478. Archtown moves up to 18-24, passing the 18-25 Commerce side, including 9-13 on the road.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds go without their star Leandra for rest from her pool appearance, while the Union have Kodiak on the bench for the same reason. Ms. Puppy slammed 809 right away for Modernistic, an energetic start for the team just playing out their schedule. Princess didn't have the same swinging accuracy, ending at 200 for Tysini as they fall behind early. Daisy tried to get fancy on her swing for the Union, but ended up with only 39 points on a disappointing turn. Charli saw a high-arcing ball ruin her comeback attempt, bouncing off her wicket to stop her at 169 for the Hummingbirds. Puff I couldn't stop a ball on her backhand, which cut her down at 128 as Modernistic limps toward the finish of the game. Brownie plowed 714 for Tysini in response, making it a much closer game in which they lead. Chimpy forced a response with 336 for the Union, but their final rests at 1312. Paps secured the win for the Hummingbirds with 515 on his turn, lifting their total to 1598. Tysini moves up to 22-18, while Modernistic drops to 13-29.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows keep fighting for eighth, resting Sally from a pool appearance, while the Pirates close a six-game road trip and their road schedule by resting Delila. Isabella started with a solid 504 for Atlantic, putting pressure on the hosts to keep up. Ruby picked a bad time for her struggles to reappear, managing just 82 points for Archtown. Steven added 285 for the Pirates on the second attack, keeping their lead fairly strong. Sleepy B. replied with a big 1013 for the Arrows, carrying them to a lead in the middle of the game. Klaus fired back with 1059 for Atlantic, a massive counterattack to restore all of the lead for the visitors. Dusky cut into the deficit with 619 for Archtown, closing the gap and leaving plenty to play for on the final turn. Max supplied 535 for the Pirates at the end, putting their final score at 2383. Wild Thing made a fast-paced push but fell with 361 for the Arrows, taking the loss at 2075. Atlantic keeps moving up at 26-16, securing a Hutton Cup spot while ending 16-6 on the road, while Archtown is 18-25 and quickly losing ground.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders, desperate to hang onto eighth place, sit Sugar in the first half of a home doubleheader, while the visiting Waves sit their captain Snuggle. Celestia lined 720 for Oceanside to get things going favorably for the visitors on the first turn. Shadow had just 90 for Web City in response, hurting their offense right off the bat. Josie went off with another 647 for the Waves, extending their lead greatly with an active second attack. Ted had to make a play with his backhand, and it backfired to stop him at 344 as the Spiders lose ground again. Dewey did alright with 346 for Oceanside, offsetting the most recent damage. Jack couldn't make a move for Web City, his 312 causing them to slip once again. Jason V. stalled at 320 for the Waves, hitting a ball high out of play to give them a final score of 2033. Shiny made a rally with 740 for the Spiders, but it wasn't enough to save them from losing with 1486. Oceanside rises to 21-19, confirming that Web City, at 17-24, will be one of three teams fighting for the last safe spot.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders will sit a fatigued Shadow in a tough-enough game, while the Torpedoes try to fight for second place with Solaris on the bench ahead of United Cup action. Smudge pushed 728 for Infinity, giving them a hefty lead to begin the game. Ted fired back with 351 for Web City, staying in his recent form pattern and reclaiming about half of the deficit. Fluffina churned out 817 for the Torpedoes on the second attack, extending their lead greatly. Sugar had a respectable 324 for the Spiders, but they continue to cede chunks of offense. Shelley accepted 402 despite earning an optional replay for a technical error, satisfied with her contribution to Infinity's attack. Jack picked up 487 for Web City, but it's not likely to be of much use given the current deficit. Mr. Snowman poked 666 for the Torpedoes at the end, icing their fiery offense at 2613 in a likely victory. Shiny didn't put up much of a fight with 304 for the Spiders, leaving them to lose at 1466. Infinity rejoins a tie for second at 26-16, with a road record of 15-7, while Web City slips again to 17-25, a seven-game losing streak dragging them down into a brutal fight to retain Elite status.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters and Waves finish the week with a home-and-home series. In the first match, Missy sits for the hosts and Celestia does the same for the visitors. Snuggle tapped 248 for Oceanside, an over-aggressive swing responsible for his early exit. Chris had an ugly 138 for Capital City this time out, a low hit deflecting out of play at the end. Josie fired back with 441 for the Waves, a little lower than her usual output but enough to pad the lead. Sprinkles had a deflection to end her turn at 207 for the Sharpshooters, making the deficit grow. Dewey sprayed 412 for Oceanside, playing through an eye irritant for awhile in a good outing. Lorde had only 218 for Capital City, seemingly letting this game escape them. Jason V. posted 585 for the Waves at the end, capping their offense at 1686. Pauline stayed in line with her team at 235, giving the Sharpshooters a tough loss at 798, easily their worst game of the year. Oceanside gets to 22-19, while Capital City dips to 31-8.
AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: After a quick trip north, the Sharpshooters will sit Lorde, while the Waves put Josie on the bench for their home finale and the week 21 finale. Chris had an unlucky offering to bring him down at 641, showing a reinvigorated Capital City offense early on. Snuggle had just 36 when forced onto his backhand early in the turn for Oceanside. Missy slapped another 463 for the Sharpshooters on the second attack, protecting their lead well. Celestia managed a meager 69 for the Waves this time, unable to positively impact the deficit. Sprinkles tipped a ball backwards on her turn, the unfortunate swing causing her to drop at 235 for Capital City. Dewey had only 58 for Oceanside this time, clearly trying to get his side out of the game as quickly as possible. Pauline lifted 240 for the Sharpshooters, capping their offense at 1579. Jason V. had 208 for the Waves, bringing their pitiful final score to 371. Capital City is now 32-8, while Oceanside is 22-20, including 10-12 at home for the year.
We'll be doing Tournament action after lunch today. Premier will begin tomorrow morning.
Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds enter a critical part of their season, hosting the Nighthawks and hoping to reverse a recent collapse. B. Chapman sits for the visitors, while the hosts bench their captain Tigerette. Peach had troubles on her first two attempts, and then hit only 180 for North Modernistic on the third try. Taylor replied with 483 for Commerce, giving them a decent initial lead. Cheddar picked up 250 for the Nighthawks on the second attack, but they remain behind with a lack of offense. Lionel shot back with 456 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead with the strong turn. Gal had just 113 for North Modernistic, causing them to fall farther behind as the game progresses. Rosemary settled a ball on her backhand for Commerce, but it took her too long to get moving again, and she was stopped at 117. Luigi made a move with 487 for the Nighthawks, but they suffered the loss at 1030 anyway. Niki shoved 719 for the Tradewinds to make it look more convincing as they win with 1775. Commerce is up to 18-24, while North Modernistic is at 12-30 and finishes 6-16 on the road.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders end the season on a six-game home stand, sitting Ted as they look to protect their position against the Union, who are without Puff I to begin a four-game road trip to end their year. Ms. Puppy lined 503 right away for Modernistic, giving them a confident start. Shadow had an ugly 96 for Web City, giving them an early deficit in this game. Daisy faltered at only 80 for the Union, leaving them vulnerable instead of providing an extension to their lead. Sugar got some of the deficit back with 307 for the Spiders, but they've got more to do at the halfway mark. Kodiak slugged 1218 for Modernistic, boosting their lead greatly with a massive attack. Jack pulled back with 575 for Web City, but this only made a dent in the large deficit. Chimpy provided 519 more for the Union at the end, capping their offense at 2320. Shiny fell at 298 for the Spiders, their comeback falling far short at 1276. Modernistic looks like a lock for 11th now, rising to 13-28, while Web City slips to 17-22 on the year.
IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks return home for their last two games, sitting Cheddar in this one, while the Arrows bench Dusky for rest in their road finale. Sally batted 319 for Archtown in an unremarkable start to a very important game. Peach made a couple of plays on her backhand, but couldn't make a third as she fell with 682 for North Modernistic to lead off with. Ruby shot back with 768 for the Arrows, covering the deficit quite nicely. Gal picked up 449 for the Nighthawks here, making things very close at the midway point. Sleepy B. had just 128 for Archtown, a disappointing end to her full road schedule. B. Chapman crushed 1383 for North Modernistic in response, almost guaranteeing a win for the hosts at this late stage. Wild Thing managed 583 for the Arrows, but they'll suffer a loss they can't afford at 1798. Luigi served up another 759, giving the Nighthawks an exciting win at 3273. North Modernistic is up to 13-30, while Archtown slips to 17-24, as well as 10-12 on the road.
Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames have their home finale to start a doubleheader, sitting Hannah this time, while the visiting Hummingbirds bench Brownie for performance reasons. Princess slapped 391 for Tysini, only stopping there due to a deflection on an otherwise good turn. Crystal shot back with 448 for Queens, giving them a narrow lead after a close first turn. Leandra fired back with a steady 396 for the Hummingbirds, keeping the scoring pace on track. Violetta countered quite well with 527 for the Flames, making a small extension to their lead at the halfway mark of the game. Charli went off with 799 for Tysini, giving the visitors a big lead this time around. Briana offset a lot of the damage with her 652, keeping Queens in the fight as the final players step up to bat. Paps had an ugly 51 for the Hummingbirds, barely forcing a response as they finish with 1637. Kyle stepped up with 525, securing the Flames win at 2152 to make them 14-8 at home. Queens is 22-20, and Tysini drops to 21-18, making the battle for promotion a little tighter.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders will have Shiny on the bench now, while the Flames enter their last road trip of the year with Briana on the bench. Crystal showed no mercy to the hosts, belting 1090 for Queens on the opening turn as the visitors set their sights on ascension. Shadow answered with a strong 635 for Web City, refusing to let his team go quietly. Violetta supplied 457 for the Flames on the second attack, giving their lead a little padding. Ted poked 305 for the Spiders on his turn, a great pace going to waste without longevity. Kyle shelved 575 for Queens, giving their lead another boost on a confident attack from the in-form veteran. Sugar confirmed Web City's collapse in this one with only 96 points on her turn, making a comeback highly unlikely. Hannah tapped 454 for the Flames at the end, icing their offense at 2576. Jack picked up 362 for the Spiders, unable to rally the team, as they took the loss at 1398. Queens rallies to 23-20 on the year, while Web City is down to 17-23.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows give Sleepy B. rest from a pool appearance, while the Tradewinds elect to bench Lionel for their statistically strongest road lineup in a massive game. Tigerette sliced 602 for Commerce on the opening turn, putting pressure on the hosts early. Sally had only 243 on the counterattack for Archtown, a bad swing cutting her down in mediocre territory. Taylor accepted 269 rather than taking an optional replay for the Tradewinds, keeping their lead steady. Ruby failed to make much progress with 288 for the Arrows, who still trail at the midway mark. Rosemary gathered 344 for Commerce, adding another marginal gain to their lead. Dusky made a rally with 568 for Archtown, closing the gap a lot ahead of the final players' turns. Niki left the Tradewinds exposed, falling at a measly 25 after trying to get too fancy, which gives them a final of 1240. Wild Thing made the fans happy with 379 for the Arrows, icing their comeback win at 1478. Archtown moves up to 18-24, passing the 18-25 Commerce side, including 9-13 on the road.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds go without their star Leandra for rest from her pool appearance, while the Union have Kodiak on the bench for the same reason. Ms. Puppy slammed 809 right away for Modernistic, an energetic start for the team just playing out their schedule. Princess didn't have the same swinging accuracy, ending at 200 for Tysini as they fall behind early. Daisy tried to get fancy on her swing for the Union, but ended up with only 39 points on a disappointing turn. Charli saw a high-arcing ball ruin her comeback attempt, bouncing off her wicket to stop her at 169 for the Hummingbirds. Puff I couldn't stop a ball on her backhand, which cut her down at 128 as Modernistic limps toward the finish of the game. Brownie plowed 714 for Tysini in response, making it a much closer game in which they lead. Chimpy forced a response with 336 for the Union, but their final rests at 1312. Paps secured the win for the Hummingbirds with 515 on his turn, lifting their total to 1598. Tysini moves up to 22-18, while Modernistic drops to 13-29.
Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows keep fighting for eighth, resting Sally from a pool appearance, while the Pirates close a six-game road trip and their road schedule by resting Delila. Isabella started with a solid 504 for Atlantic, putting pressure on the hosts to keep up. Ruby picked a bad time for her struggles to reappear, managing just 82 points for Archtown. Steven added 285 for the Pirates on the second attack, keeping their lead fairly strong. Sleepy B. replied with a big 1013 for the Arrows, carrying them to a lead in the middle of the game. Klaus fired back with 1059 for Atlantic, a massive counterattack to restore all of the lead for the visitors. Dusky cut into the deficit with 619 for Archtown, closing the gap and leaving plenty to play for on the final turn. Max supplied 535 for the Pirates at the end, putting their final score at 2383. Wild Thing made a fast-paced push but fell with 361 for the Arrows, taking the loss at 2075. Atlantic keeps moving up at 26-16, securing a Hutton Cup spot while ending 16-6 on the road, while Archtown is 18-25 and quickly losing ground.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders, desperate to hang onto eighth place, sit Sugar in the first half of a home doubleheader, while the visiting Waves sit their captain Snuggle. Celestia lined 720 for Oceanside to get things going favorably for the visitors on the first turn. Shadow had just 90 for Web City in response, hurting their offense right off the bat. Josie went off with another 647 for the Waves, extending their lead greatly with an active second attack. Ted had to make a play with his backhand, and it backfired to stop him at 344 as the Spiders lose ground again. Dewey did alright with 346 for Oceanside, offsetting the most recent damage. Jack couldn't make a move for Web City, his 312 causing them to slip once again. Jason V. stalled at 320 for the Waves, hitting a ball high out of play to give them a final score of 2033. Shiny made a rally with 740 for the Spiders, but it wasn't enough to save them from losing with 1486. Oceanside rises to 21-19, confirming that Web City, at 17-24, will be one of three teams fighting for the last safe spot.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders will sit a fatigued Shadow in a tough-enough game, while the Torpedoes try to fight for second place with Solaris on the bench ahead of United Cup action. Smudge pushed 728 for Infinity, giving them a hefty lead to begin the game. Ted fired back with 351 for Web City, staying in his recent form pattern and reclaiming about half of the deficit. Fluffina churned out 817 for the Torpedoes on the second attack, extending their lead greatly. Sugar had a respectable 324 for the Spiders, but they continue to cede chunks of offense. Shelley accepted 402 despite earning an optional replay for a technical error, satisfied with her contribution to Infinity's attack. Jack picked up 487 for Web City, but it's not likely to be of much use given the current deficit. Mr. Snowman poked 666 for the Torpedoes at the end, icing their fiery offense at 2613 in a likely victory. Shiny didn't put up much of a fight with 304 for the Spiders, leaving them to lose at 1466. Infinity rejoins a tie for second at 26-16, with a road record of 15-7, while Web City slips again to 17-25, a seven-game losing streak dragging them down into a brutal fight to retain Elite status.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters and Waves finish the week with a home-and-home series. In the first match, Missy sits for the hosts and Celestia does the same for the visitors. Snuggle tapped 248 for Oceanside, an over-aggressive swing responsible for his early exit. Chris had an ugly 138 for Capital City this time out, a low hit deflecting out of play at the end. Josie fired back with 441 for the Waves, a little lower than her usual output but enough to pad the lead. Sprinkles had a deflection to end her turn at 207 for the Sharpshooters, making the deficit grow. Dewey sprayed 412 for Oceanside, playing through an eye irritant for awhile in a good outing. Lorde had only 218 for Capital City, seemingly letting this game escape them. Jason V. posted 585 for the Waves at the end, capping their offense at 1686. Pauline stayed in line with her team at 235, giving the Sharpshooters a tough loss at 798, easily their worst game of the year. Oceanside gets to 22-19, while Capital City dips to 31-8.
AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: After a quick trip north, the Sharpshooters will sit Lorde, while the Waves put Josie on the bench for their home finale and the week 21 finale. Chris had an unlucky offering to bring him down at 641, showing a reinvigorated Capital City offense early on. Snuggle had just 36 when forced onto his backhand early in the turn for Oceanside. Missy slapped another 463 for the Sharpshooters on the second attack, protecting their lead well. Celestia managed a meager 69 for the Waves this time, unable to positively impact the deficit. Sprinkles tipped a ball backwards on her turn, the unfortunate swing causing her to drop at 235 for Capital City. Dewey had only 58 for Oceanside this time, clearly trying to get his side out of the game as quickly as possible. Pauline lifted 240 for the Sharpshooters, capping their offense at 1579. Jason V. had 208 for the Waves, bringing their pitiful final score to 371. Capital City is now 32-8, while Oceanside is 22-20, including 10-12 at home for the year.
We'll be doing Tournament action after lunch today. Premier will begin tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 1 Day 50
We're back for the 50th day of pool in the Tournament. We begin this one with...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Debby Ryan. The blue cue makes an increasingly rare appearance, this time in Rotation. Westside's Slinks started with a three-ball run from the break in game 1, and then added sufficient offense to hold off Southridge's Debby for the rest of the game. Slinks won 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Debby started stronger in game 2, but this one was more of a back-and-forth battle. The Rockers' Slinks gained the lead in the middle of the game, but let it slip later on, and Debby would close out an 8-6 win with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Slinks rallied back with a big start in game 3, and while Debby tied it at one point, Slinks double-potted the 9 and 10 to the right corners to rebuild her lead. Slinks would take the game 8-5, winning the series 2-1, and she will host Anton of the Todavía Stills in the second round. Slinks has six bids advancing.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Gizmo. The host finishes a doubleheader in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Debby had no issues with her offense in game 1, although she did have to weather a five-ball run from Eastside's Gizmo before making the final pair of shots. Debby held on for a 1-0 series lead with her win. The Defenders' Debby made four balls on her first turn, but only two were hers. The Sharks' Gizmo took the lead with a short run before scratching, but Debby pulled back on a five-ball run to get on the 8, only to put it in the wrong pocket two turns later. Gizmo had set up good defense, and it paid off to get him the win, tying the series at 1. Gizmo started on a four-ball run in game 3, and while Debby matched it later in the game, she missed contact on her last ball, and Gizmo took a pair of shots from ball-in-hand for the win. Gizmo took the series 2-1, and will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the second round, one of seven bids to advance for the early MVP candidate, while Debby takes four bids to the next round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Citrus. Two tenured veterans clash in 12-ball with the red cue, the last series for that combination in this round. Oceanside's Snuggle pulled off quite the feat in game 1, giving away a wild-card ball to Diamond's Citrus and still managing to hold her off when she had only one ball left. Snuggle made four balls over his last two turns to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus made five balls over three turns, but chipped her shot on the 10 to the top left late in game 2, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to play off his earlier scratch as strategy. Snuggle made a three-ball run-out, pulling off a remarkable comeback for the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Citrus again had an edge in game 3, taking an early lead, but she failed to position her final shot, and Snuggle rallied back one more time to get the win, this time earning the 3-0 series sweep as well. Snuggle's comeback skills have him into the second round against the Modernistic Union's Chimpy at this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Cowzart. Club-mates meet in another 12-ball series, this one with the silver cue. Westside's Cowzart had a decent game 1, but got a lot of help when Royal's Jake had a scratch that disrupted his momentum. When it came down to the final ball for each player, Cowzart's better positioning gave him the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Cowzart started a bit slow in game 2, but he managed to pick up the pace later on after the Crowns' Jake hit a slow part of the game. At the end, Cowzart made the 13-10 combination to the top side, setting up his last two shots in the process for the win. Cowzart secured the series at 2-0. Cowzart had a decent start in game 3, but he couldn't maintain his offense, allowing Jake to pick up the win after missing contact with his last ball. Jake took the win from ball-in-hand, cutting the series to a 2-1 for Cowzart. The returnee Cowzart will visit Harrison Specters rookie Rudolph in the second round, one of only two of his bids to advance.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Jake. The Crowns star takes on another club-mate, this time in Accuracy with the red cue. Southern's Pounce made three balls on the break, and Royal's Jake played poorly early on, but by the end, both players were off their game. Pounce had multiple chances to secure a win, but only made the last ball to preserve his 6-7 lead for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a much cleaner performance in game 2, falling behind initially, but then pushing the Monarchs' Pounce behind late in the game before taking the 2-3 win. Jake's strong late play tied the series at 1. Jake and Pounce kept things close initially in game 3, but Jake fell behind as the game progressed, and Pounce stayed steady for the 2-4 win to clinch the series at 2-1. Pounce will move on to host the Harrison Specters' Rudolph in the second round, one of his three bids to move on.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Mitchell v. B. Chapman. The silver cue comes back to the table for 8-ball. Harrison's Mitchell started out strong in game 1, and while he did fade a little in the middle, allowing North Modernistic's Chapman to get closer, he shut the door in the end for the win. Mitchell's tap-in on the 8 confirmed a 1-0 series lead in his favor. The Nighthawks' Chapman had the first big attack in game 2, but it didn't hold up long-term, as the Specters' Mitchell roared back on a couple of turns later in the game, picking up the win on a short run to secure the series at 2-0. Chapman had the worst possible finish to the series, trying to cut the 5 to the top side on her first shot of game 3, but ending up putting the 8 in the top right while scratching. This gifted the 3-0 sweep to Mitchell, who will host a Northeastern rival in the Everton Eagles' Kirstin in the second round. Both players have five bids going forward.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Rosemary. The silver cue stays on this time, playing 12-ball now. Viewpoint Sound's Mams started off slowly in game 1, allowing Commerce's Rosemary to pick up a lot of offense. Rosemary couldn't finish the game, and Mams did her entire suit at once with a six-ball run-out for an impressive win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams gave away a wild-card ball on the break of game 2, but managed to earn it back when the Tradewinds' Rosemary scratched. Rosemary then gave Mams a wild-card ball, making it even easier for the host to complete the game victorious for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Mams scratched while making one of each suit on the break. She kept solids for herself, but Rosemary made quick work of stripes with a five-ball run-out for the win. Mams still won the series 2-1, and will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Leandra in the second round. Mams has three bids in the second round, while Rosemary advances four.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Kodiak. A sophomore hosts a rookie as the blue cue comes on for Accuracy. Southridge's Bianca made a ball on the game 1 break, and while she trailed for most of the game, Modernistic's Kodiak fell apart late and ended up tied at the end of the rack. Kodiak did make a ball on the overtime break, but missed his second shot, allowing a little luck to give Bianca the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a similar pattern of play, although it was the Union's Kodiak surrendering a late lead. The Defenders' Bianca played a soft break in overtime, and it worked for awhile, but upon her second miss, Kodiak busted the rack apart for the 5-6 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a dramatic improvement on the part of Kodiak, who missed only once to defeat Bianca by a 1-3 score. Kodiak's sudden boost in play earned him a 2-1 series win and a trip to Midland to meet the Predators captain Shawn in the second round. Bianca does have six bids of her own in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Cheddar. Former teammates clash in an extra-tense 9-ball series with the red cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III lived dangerously at times in game 1, and while it paid off early on, North Modernistic's Cheddar made the 9 by deflecting the cue off the 5 for the win and a 1-0 series lead against her former teammate. The Nighthawks' Cheddar put game 2 away in two shots, burying the 2 on the break and then converting a long-range 1-9 combination to the bottom right, securing the series at 2-0 over a stunned Shores' Twinkie III. Game 3 saw Twinkie III salvage something from the series, ending on a four-ball run-out to get the win over Cheddar this time. Cheddar still claimed the revenge series at 2-1, and will head to Freedom to meet the Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Cheddar has four bids going into the next round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sally. The silver cue comes back in action for this Accuracy series. Everton's Puff III made a ball on the break in game 1, but Archtown's Sally retained last shot advantage with a double-pot. This came in handy when Sally missed late to make it a tied game, and while Puff III held her own for awhile in overtime, Sally won 2-3 when she faltered. Sally leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Sally made a ball on the break in game 2, but struggled later in the game, watching her deficit inflate while the Eagles' Puff III toyed around with her Northeastern rival. Puff III would walk away with the 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a less exciting break, and Sally stayed even with Puff III in a strong game for both sides for much of the rack. Puff III slipped up late, missing her last two shots to give Sally the 1-3 win and 2-1 series win. Sally will travel to Terrace City to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Vladimir Vasilyev. The blue cue gets one more look today, playing Rotation. Pearl's Watermelon had a four-ball run at the start of game 1, giving herself a large lead. Stonebridge's Vladimir pulled back as Watermelon had some unlucky bounces, but Watermelon won 8-3 with a three-ball run-out, putting her up 1-0 in the series. The Surfers' Watermelon had a slower start in game 2, unable to get a big early run. She did pull ahead of the Wolves' Vladimir, but he tied it in the middle of the game. Vladimir never assembled a second attack, and Watermelon cruised to the 8-4 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Watermelon started slowly again in game 3, and the game was tied when Vladimir made a highlight shot, doing a left-handed jump to cleanly make the 7 at the top right. Watermelon applied pressure after this, but Vladimir pulled back with a three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win. Watermelon settles for a 2-1 series win to get her in a hosting position against the North Modernistic Nighthawks' B. Chapman in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Dusty. A very good player meets an all-time great in 15-ball with the red cue for today's last series. Golden's Dusty broke open a tight game 1 with a six-ball run that ended in a scratch. Tysini's Leandra made a pair of shots from there, but Dusty made the last pair for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty produced a much slower game 2 from her break, as both players had narrow misses on some of their shots. The Hummingbirds' Leandra opted for defensive positioning when it came to the 14, but Dusty got a perfect kick on it and then made the 15 to the top right for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Dusty took it easy for most of game 3, satisfied to try low-percentage shots, and Leandra didn't give it much either. Dusty still got the win, making a remarkable 10-15 bank combination to the bottom left to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Dusty will visit the Central Warriors' Dustin in the second round. Leandra will still take six bids to second round.
That's all for league activity today. Tomorrow will feature an early start for Elite cricket, followed by Day 51 slightly earlier than normal if all goes to plan.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Debby Ryan. The blue cue makes an increasingly rare appearance, this time in Rotation. Westside's Slinks started with a three-ball run from the break in game 1, and then added sufficient offense to hold off Southridge's Debby for the rest of the game. Slinks won 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Debby started stronger in game 2, but this one was more of a back-and-forth battle. The Rockers' Slinks gained the lead in the middle of the game, but let it slip later on, and Debby would close out an 8-6 win with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Slinks rallied back with a big start in game 3, and while Debby tied it at one point, Slinks double-potted the 9 and 10 to the right corners to rebuild her lead. Slinks would take the game 8-5, winning the series 2-1, and she will host Anton of the Todavía Stills in the second round. Slinks has six bids advancing.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Gizmo. The host finishes a doubleheader in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Debby had no issues with her offense in game 1, although she did have to weather a five-ball run from Eastside's Gizmo before making the final pair of shots. Debby held on for a 1-0 series lead with her win. The Defenders' Debby made four balls on her first turn, but only two were hers. The Sharks' Gizmo took the lead with a short run before scratching, but Debby pulled back on a five-ball run to get on the 8, only to put it in the wrong pocket two turns later. Gizmo had set up good defense, and it paid off to get him the win, tying the series at 1. Gizmo started on a four-ball run in game 3, and while Debby matched it later in the game, she missed contact on her last ball, and Gizmo took a pair of shots from ball-in-hand for the win. Gizmo took the series 2-1, and will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the second round, one of seven bids to advance for the early MVP candidate, while Debby takes four bids to the next round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Citrus. Two tenured veterans clash in 12-ball with the red cue, the last series for that combination in this round. Oceanside's Snuggle pulled off quite the feat in game 1, giving away a wild-card ball to Diamond's Citrus and still managing to hold her off when she had only one ball left. Snuggle made four balls over his last two turns to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus made five balls over three turns, but chipped her shot on the 10 to the top left late in game 2, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to play off his earlier scratch as strategy. Snuggle made a three-ball run-out, pulling off a remarkable comeback for the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Citrus again had an edge in game 3, taking an early lead, but she failed to position her final shot, and Snuggle rallied back one more time to get the win, this time earning the 3-0 series sweep as well. Snuggle's comeback skills have him into the second round against the Modernistic Union's Chimpy at this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Cowzart. Club-mates meet in another 12-ball series, this one with the silver cue. Westside's Cowzart had a decent game 1, but got a lot of help when Royal's Jake had a scratch that disrupted his momentum. When it came down to the final ball for each player, Cowzart's better positioning gave him the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Cowzart started a bit slow in game 2, but he managed to pick up the pace later on after the Crowns' Jake hit a slow part of the game. At the end, Cowzart made the 13-10 combination to the top side, setting up his last two shots in the process for the win. Cowzart secured the series at 2-0. Cowzart had a decent start in game 3, but he couldn't maintain his offense, allowing Jake to pick up the win after missing contact with his last ball. Jake took the win from ball-in-hand, cutting the series to a 2-1 for Cowzart. The returnee Cowzart will visit Harrison Specters rookie Rudolph in the second round, one of only two of his bids to advance.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Jake. The Crowns star takes on another club-mate, this time in Accuracy with the red cue. Southern's Pounce made three balls on the break, and Royal's Jake played poorly early on, but by the end, both players were off their game. Pounce had multiple chances to secure a win, but only made the last ball to preserve his 6-7 lead for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a much cleaner performance in game 2, falling behind initially, but then pushing the Monarchs' Pounce behind late in the game before taking the 2-3 win. Jake's strong late play tied the series at 1. Jake and Pounce kept things close initially in game 3, but Jake fell behind as the game progressed, and Pounce stayed steady for the 2-4 win to clinch the series at 2-1. Pounce will move on to host the Harrison Specters' Rudolph in the second round, one of his three bids to move on.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Mitchell v. B. Chapman. The silver cue comes back to the table for 8-ball. Harrison's Mitchell started out strong in game 1, and while he did fade a little in the middle, allowing North Modernistic's Chapman to get closer, he shut the door in the end for the win. Mitchell's tap-in on the 8 confirmed a 1-0 series lead in his favor. The Nighthawks' Chapman had the first big attack in game 2, but it didn't hold up long-term, as the Specters' Mitchell roared back on a couple of turns later in the game, picking up the win on a short run to secure the series at 2-0. Chapman had the worst possible finish to the series, trying to cut the 5 to the top side on her first shot of game 3, but ending up putting the 8 in the top right while scratching. This gifted the 3-0 sweep to Mitchell, who will host a Northeastern rival in the Everton Eagles' Kirstin in the second round. Both players have five bids going forward.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Rosemary. The silver cue stays on this time, playing 12-ball now. Viewpoint Sound's Mams started off slowly in game 1, allowing Commerce's Rosemary to pick up a lot of offense. Rosemary couldn't finish the game, and Mams did her entire suit at once with a six-ball run-out for an impressive win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams gave away a wild-card ball on the break of game 2, but managed to earn it back when the Tradewinds' Rosemary scratched. Rosemary then gave Mams a wild-card ball, making it even easier for the host to complete the game victorious for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Mams scratched while making one of each suit on the break. She kept solids for herself, but Rosemary made quick work of stripes with a five-ball run-out for the win. Mams still won the series 2-1, and will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Leandra in the second round. Mams has three bids in the second round, while Rosemary advances four.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Kodiak. A sophomore hosts a rookie as the blue cue comes on for Accuracy. Southridge's Bianca made a ball on the game 1 break, and while she trailed for most of the game, Modernistic's Kodiak fell apart late and ended up tied at the end of the rack. Kodiak did make a ball on the overtime break, but missed his second shot, allowing a little luck to give Bianca the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a similar pattern of play, although it was the Union's Kodiak surrendering a late lead. The Defenders' Bianca played a soft break in overtime, and it worked for awhile, but upon her second miss, Kodiak busted the rack apart for the 5-6 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a dramatic improvement on the part of Kodiak, who missed only once to defeat Bianca by a 1-3 score. Kodiak's sudden boost in play earned him a 2-1 series win and a trip to Midland to meet the Predators captain Shawn in the second round. Bianca does have six bids of her own in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Cheddar. Former teammates clash in an extra-tense 9-ball series with the red cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III lived dangerously at times in game 1, and while it paid off early on, North Modernistic's Cheddar made the 9 by deflecting the cue off the 5 for the win and a 1-0 series lead against her former teammate. The Nighthawks' Cheddar put game 2 away in two shots, burying the 2 on the break and then converting a long-range 1-9 combination to the bottom right, securing the series at 2-0 over a stunned Shores' Twinkie III. Game 3 saw Twinkie III salvage something from the series, ending on a four-ball run-out to get the win over Cheddar this time. Cheddar still claimed the revenge series at 2-1, and will head to Freedom to meet the Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Cheddar has four bids going into the next round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sally. The silver cue comes back in action for this Accuracy series. Everton's Puff III made a ball on the break in game 1, but Archtown's Sally retained last shot advantage with a double-pot. This came in handy when Sally missed late to make it a tied game, and while Puff III held her own for awhile in overtime, Sally won 2-3 when she faltered. Sally leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Sally made a ball on the break in game 2, but struggled later in the game, watching her deficit inflate while the Eagles' Puff III toyed around with her Northeastern rival. Puff III would walk away with the 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a less exciting break, and Sally stayed even with Puff III in a strong game for both sides for much of the rack. Puff III slipped up late, missing her last two shots to give Sally the 1-3 win and 2-1 series win. Sally will travel to Terrace City to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Vladimir Vasilyev. The blue cue gets one more look today, playing Rotation. Pearl's Watermelon had a four-ball run at the start of game 1, giving herself a large lead. Stonebridge's Vladimir pulled back as Watermelon had some unlucky bounces, but Watermelon won 8-3 with a three-ball run-out, putting her up 1-0 in the series. The Surfers' Watermelon had a slower start in game 2, unable to get a big early run. She did pull ahead of the Wolves' Vladimir, but he tied it in the middle of the game. Vladimir never assembled a second attack, and Watermelon cruised to the 8-4 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Watermelon started slowly again in game 3, and the game was tied when Vladimir made a highlight shot, doing a left-handed jump to cleanly make the 7 at the top right. Watermelon applied pressure after this, but Vladimir pulled back with a three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win. Watermelon settles for a 2-1 series win to get her in a hosting position against the North Modernistic Nighthawks' B. Chapman in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Dusty. A very good player meets an all-time great in 15-ball with the red cue for today's last series. Golden's Dusty broke open a tight game 1 with a six-ball run that ended in a scratch. Tysini's Leandra made a pair of shots from there, but Dusty made the last pair for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty produced a much slower game 2 from her break, as both players had narrow misses on some of their shots. The Hummingbirds' Leandra opted for defensive positioning when it came to the 14, but Dusty got a perfect kick on it and then made the 15 to the top right for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Dusty took it easy for most of game 3, satisfied to try low-percentage shots, and Leandra didn't give it much either. Dusty still got the win, making a remarkable 10-15 bank combination to the bottom left to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Dusty will visit the Central Warriors' Dustin in the second round. Leandra will still take six bids to second round.
That's all for league activity today. Tomorrow will feature an early start for Elite cricket, followed by Day 51 slightly earlier than normal if all goes to plan.
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