We're back as the second round hits its second half. A standard day of games awaits, beginning with...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Precious. Club-mates battle in 7-ball with the red cue in the first series. Possession flip-flopped throughout game 1, with Pacific's Ms. Kitty strong early and late but giving the game away with a bad shot on the 4. Pronger's Precious answered with a 4-7 combination to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty played better in game 2, making a four-ball run early on and then potting the last two balls after the Tridents' Precious couldn't do a run. Ms. Kitty tied the series at 1 with this win. Ms. Kitty made three balls on the break and another on her next shot, but she scratched on the 4, and Precious took over for a three-ball run-out to take the win. Precious won the series 2-1 to get into the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Noelle. A Generations Derby meeting occurs in Rotation with the silver cue to finish a venue doubleheader. Pacific's Starlight went to great care in game 1 to keep her shots legal when she obtained the lead, but Central's Noelle pulled off a remarkable four-ball run to get ahead immediately after that. Noelle would take the 12 on the next turn, securing an 8-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle struck much faster in game 2, with a pair on the break and a later three-ball run as well. The Volcanoes' Starlight couldn't break the defensive positioning Noelle left, and Noelle soon won the game 8-0 to clinch the series at 2-0. Noelle had another hot start in game 2, building another large lead, but Starlight fired back to at least look competitive. Noelle held her off, winning 8-4 for the 3-0 series sweep. Noelle will visit North Modernistic Nighthawks rookie Gal in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Twilight. The silver cue remains in action with another Rotation series. Terrace City's Quincy got off to a positive start in game 1, building a nice lead before Central's Twilight cut into it. Quincy and Twilight tangled evenly over the back half of the game, with Quincy claiming the win at 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy saw offense develop slower in game 2, but the Warriors' Twilight couldn't get anything going until it was too late for her to catch up. Quincy took his time in finishing, and still ended with an 8-2 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Quincy couldn't do it again in game 3, dropping an 8-5 result to Twilight, who had a lot of positive play on offense in the throw-away game. Quincy did win the series 2-1, and will host the Pacific Volcanoes' Chicky Phil in the third round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Klaus. The red cue gets back to playing in 8-ball. Atlantic's Klaus had a good performance in game 1, a four-ball run that ended in some collateral damage, which helped to spark Sydney's offense for Harrison. Sydney pulled even near the end of the game, but Klaus took the last two shots to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney had a four-ball run and a three-ball run on consecutive turns, but the Pirates' Klaus saved game 2 with a six-ball run-out that gave him the win. Klaus secured the series at 2-0. Klaus had a spirited effort in game 3, rallying on a late run to cover some of Sydney's damage but unable to catch up fully. Sydney would make a couple of shots after that to get the win, making it a 2-1 series win for Klaus, who will visit the Todavía Stills' Prism in the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Kayla. The blue cue makes its debut for the day in a 9-ball series between stars. Tysini's Leandra had some troubles in game 1, and Royal's Kayla applied pressure with a three-ball run in the middle, but Leandra popped up to get the win with two shots at the end. Leandra leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Kayla had a four-ball run early in game 2, a great effort that she didn't sustain all that well later in the game. The Hummingbirds' Leandra slowed things down in the second half of the game, but she couldn't find a clear shot on the 9, and Kayla took it from ball-in-hand after Leandra missed contact. Kayla's win ties the series at 1. Kayla again struck with a four-ball run early in game 3, putting pressure on Leandra right from the start. Leandra bounced back a bit, but Kayla's miss on the 8 helped Leandra make a pair of late shots to secure the win and the 2-1 series win. Leandra will host the Westside Rockers' Cowzart in round three.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. A. Charlton. The silver cue's last series of the day is in Accuracy with the silver cue. Golden's Charlton showed up well in game 1, nearly maintaining a perfect performance. Atlantic's Isabella hung around for awhile, but her late misses put the game firmly in Charlton's control with the 1-5 win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Pilots' Charlton did manage to remain perfect, which she had to do to hold off the Pirates' Isabella, who had only one early miss. Charlton's fantastic effort secured a 0-1 win and 2-0 series lead. Charlton took a step back in game 3, missing a couple of shots after making a pair on the break, but she still got the win, as Isabella couldn't keep things close at the end. Charlton's 2-4 win made it 3-0 series sweep that puts her into the third round on the road against the Midland Predators' Leonardo in a Southeastern Derby.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Vincent Sullivan v. Sierra. A rookie hosts a star in 7-ball with the blue cue. Viewpoint Sound's Vincent had a perfect game 1, making the 6 on the break and executing six more shots to perfection after that for the win. Todavía's Sierra never got a shot as Vincent gained a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra didn't shoot in game 2 either, but this time it was because the Meteors' Vincent scratched while sinking the 1 and 7 on the break. Vincent's folly gifted the win to Sierra, tying the series at 1 and giving the visitor a potentially huge advantage. Sierra took full advantage of the game 3 break, draining the 7 to the top side to grab the win and a 2-1 series win over a heartbroken Vincent. Sierra will go through to the third round despite taking a single shot in the whole series.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Twinkie II. Experienced veterans clash in 9-ball with the blue cue. Neither player performed up their full ability in game 1, with no runs developing. Swordpoint's Dreamy seemed to slowly pace the play, and eventually potted the 9 after Harrison's Twinkie II couldn't, giving Dreamy the 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Dreamy did better in game 2, bringing a faster pace and a little more quality to the shots early on. She wasn't dominant enough to outright deserve the win, but the Specters' Twinkie II couldn't stop Dreamy after missing on the 8 herself. Dreamy took the win, securing the series at 2-0. Dreamy had some moments in game 3, but offense again was hard to come by for the host, and Twinkie II eventually picked up the slack at the end to earn a win. Dreamy took the series 2-1, and will host North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the third round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi Woode v. Bryant. A bitter Northeastern rivalry match is set to be played in 15-ball with the red cue. Harrison's Lexi chipped a few short runs together in game 1 to take a majority of the offense, but she ran out of power too soon, and Maplewood's Bryant was there to make the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi had an intimidating amount of offense in game 2, stepping up her pace a bit to pressure the Lumberjacks' Bryant. It didn't matter at the end, as Bryant converted a tough bank on the 15 to the bottom left to grab the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Lexi refused to go without a win in the series, fighting her hardest in game 3. Bryant plugged up a lot of her attempts early on, but she made a four-ball run and then ignited a three-ball run with a textbook masse shot on the 13, swerving around the 14 before finishing the run on the 15 for the win. Bryant took the series 2-1, and will be on the road in round three.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Hannah. The blue cue takes its turn in 15-ball now. Golden's Sparkles had a four-ball run to open game 1, before scratching to end it. Queens' Hannah answered on a three-ball run, and would take a late four-ball run as well before she missed on the 15. Sparkles stepped up from here, cutting the 15 to get the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Flames' Hannah mounted a bit of a counterattack in game 2, battling with the Pilots' Sparkles during a slow start to the game, and then rallying on her own with a five-ball run-out for the win. Hannah's late burst tied the series at 1. Hannah had a strong attack in game 3, keeping Sparkles to short turns and perimeter shots. Sparkles made a move late in the game, but missed on the 15 to the top left, and Hannah converted it to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Hannah will be a visitor in her third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Goldy. A rising star meets an established captain in 9-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Yekaterina picked up a ball on the break in game 1, and then added a four-ball run-out at the end to defeat Everton's Goldy in a fairly strong looking first appearance. Yekaterina has a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina made a pair of balls on the break in game 2, but she had a couple of scratches in the middle of the game. The Eagles' Goldy made some shots, but couldn't find the 6-9 combination when called upon. Yekaterina bounced back with a three-ball run-out from here, clinching the series at 2-0 with the hot finish. Yekaterina went empty on the break in game 3, and left a messy start for Goldy. Yekaterina gradually built her pace back up, eventually ending on a three-ball run-out again to take the series in a 3-0 sweep. Yekaterina will visit one of Goldy's Eagles teammates, Cleo, in the third round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Slinks. Ending the day, Brute Force club-mates collide in a 10-ball series with the blue cue. Diamond's Smokey forgot to remove his hand from the table on the break, causing some discomfort when the 7 ran into his finger. Westside's Slinks bossed possession throughout the game, and made a 7-10 combination after Smokey scratched, putting the winning shot in the bottom side for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks had a dominant seven-ball run in game 2, and then capitalized later when the Gems' Smokey couldn't get anything to fall his way. Slinks won two turns later with an easy shot on the 10, securing the series at 2-0. Smokey had a four-ball run in game 3, one of his better performances of the series, but he illegally potted the 10 right after it, and Slinks took over for a pair of shots to win the series in a 3-0 sweep. Slinks will be the host in her third round series.
We're done for this day, and we'll continue playing tomorrow. Hutton Cup action will be up next on Twitter @UnitedPCL.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Monday, June 4, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 2 Day 16
We're back for another day of games, which will bring us to halfway through the round by its end. We begin with...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Katelynn v. Dusty. A returning veteran hosts a legend in 7-ball with the red cue. Golden's Dusty had a four-ball run in game 1 to answer a pair of balls falling on the break for Lighton's Katelynn. The 7 proved difficult, but Katelynn missed a cut on it and Dusty made the short-range shot to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty scuffled early in game 2, missing a number of shots as the Prestige's Katelynn paced the play. Katelynn would scratch on the 3, leaving Dusty to make a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to seal the series at 2-0 in her favor. Dusty again had a four-ball run in game 3, scratching to end it but getting the win anyway after Katelynn flubbed her shot on the 7. Dusty took the series in an impressive 3-0 sweep to earn a visitor spot in the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Patches. A pair of veterans go at it in Rotation with the silver cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a fantastic start in game 1, building up a large lead before a late scratch. After that moment, Boston's Patches rallied all the way back on a pair of three-ball runs for an 8-7 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil used a six-ball run to build his lead in game 2, but nearly gave the game away again with some lazy shooting late in the game. The Swifts' Patches closed the gap well, but Chicky Phil cut her off to win 8-5, tying the series at 1. Patches and Chicky Phil dueled closely throughout game 3, but Chicky Phil maintained a lead nearly the entire time, winning 8-6 to take the series 2-1. Chicky Phil awaits his opponent for the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Sleepy B. The silver cue remains in action for this 10-ball series. Pearl's Beth had a strong game 1, battling early on with Archtown's Sleepy B. as they both looked for a stretch of shots. Beth found hers at the end, a three-ball run-out with a bank of the 10 to the top right to give her a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Arrows' Sleepy B. scratched on the 5 in game 2, and nearly set up the Surfers' Beth for a finish. Beth made a three-ball run, but scratched as she potted the 9, and this gave Sleepy B. a clean look at the 10, which she made for the win to tie the series at 1. Beth looked very comfortable for game 3, while Sleepy B. tried a bit too much to force her shots. Beth got the results in the end, winning on a three-ball run-out to take the series in a 2-1 win. Beth is set to play in round three.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Charli XCX. The blue cue comes on to end a venue doubleheader with Accuracy. Tysini's Charli had a couple of early misses in game 1, derailing her efforts to keep up. Pearl's Bright made sure there would be no challenge to his win, staying perfect in a 0-2 victory for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright had a rougher game 2 performance, which saw her gain, lose, and gain again the last shot advantage. The Hummingbirds' Charli had a late lead, but she let it go, and then fell behind on the last ball, which Bright expertly banked to the bottom right to win 4-5, clinching the series at 2-0. Bright faltered early in game 3, but managed to right the ship in plenty of time. Charli collapsed by the end, missing a bunch of late shots as Bright cruised to a 2-6 win for the 3-0 series sweep. Bright will host the Southridge Defenders captain Debby in the third round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Wild Thing v. Hannah. The blue cue gets another look in 12-ball. Archtown's Wild Thing began game 1 on a three-ball run from the break, but also gave Queens' Hannah a wild-card ball. Hannah would later use a three-ball run to get positioning, and she bumped Wild Thing out of place before striking on from ball-in-hand to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah had a positive start in game 2, but she struggled with positioning. The Arrows' Wild Thing fired back with a four-ball run and surrendered a wild-card ball, but Hannah couldn't make her last ball. Wild Thing tapped in the 5 at the top right, securing the win to tie the series at 1. Hannah struck efficiently in game 3, making sure to always have position while playing defense at the top right. Wild Thing made some shots, but couldn't outpace Hannah, as the visitor made a pair of shots on her last turn for the win and a 2-1 series win. Hannah will be the visitor in her third round series.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Twinkie II. A veteran and a captain are set to meet in 10-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Sprinkles started well in game 1, but ceded control as Harrison's Twinkie II had a nice run in the middle. Twinkie II picked up steam after Sprinkles deferred possession, but Twinkie II scratched on the 10, and Sprinkles capitalized for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Twinkie illegally potted the 10 early in game 2, although the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles again deferred possession. Later in the game, Twinkie II showed a lot of composure to make a four-ball run-out, with the legal finish on the 10 giving her the win and tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a little bit of back-and-forth, and it took awhile to corral the 10 before Sprinkles finally put it away to earn the 2-1 series win. Sprinkles will be the host again in her third round series.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Acorn. The silver cue returns in this series, administering some Accuracy. Pronger's Zach had the lead early in game 1, but couldn't sustain the effort, falling behind by the middle. Lighton's Acorn faded a bit later in the game, but held on to take the 3-6 win, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn scratched on the break in game 2, a moment of misfortune that would prevent him from have any chance to win the game. The Tridents' Zach made massive improvements, while Acorn's performance stayed level, giving Zach a 0-3 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Acorn slip up first, but the game spent most of the time tied as Zach couldn't hold a lead for long. Acorn finally succumbed at the end, missing a late shot and allowing Zach to take the 5-6 win for the 2-1 series win. Zach will visit the Southridge Defenders' Caitlin in the third round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Snuggle. A Coastal Derby gets underway in 7-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 remained close until Viewpoint Sound's Dani put the 7 away on a bank to the bottom side to prevent another counterattack from Oceanside's Snuggle. Dani leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Dani left far less doubt in game 2, nearly potting the 7 to the top left on the break while the 4 actually fell in the top right. Six shots later, Dani deposited the 7 to the top left, having run the table for the win to clinch a 2-0 series over the Waves' Snuggle. Game 3 saw Dani make a pair of balls on the break before scratching while potting the 1, leaving a fairly simple four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for Snuggle. This made it a 2-1 series win for Dani, who is set to host a third round series.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Marsell. The silver cue gets its last series today in 15-ball. Whitewater's Marsell appeared to have the better possession in game 1, making a lot of shots to move the game along. Midland's Leonardo had a chance to win on a run, but missed the 15, and Marsell made it to the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell had a productive start in game 2, but ceded some ground to the Predators' Leonardo in the middle. Leonardo nearly won with a kick on the 6 that pushed the 15 to the top right. Marsell took over from here, building an easy-looking eight-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Marsell showed some skill in game 3, bringing the series to a quicker end by making the 2-15 combination to the bottom side on his second turn. Marsell swept Leonardo 3-0 to earn a visitor position again in the third round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Kyle. A superstar and a returnee clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. Central's Dustin made a ball on the break, sparking a six-ball run, but he rattled the 7 out of the bottom right. Queens' Kyle made no such mistake, converting a single shot for a 1-0 series lead on his win. The Flames' Kyle had a ball on the break in game 2, a positive play before he scratched. The Warriors' Dustin proceeded to make a pair of shots before turning over possession. Kyle then rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Game 3 didn't go as well for Kyle, as he struggled to string shots together. This opened the door at the end for Dustin to make a pair of shots to earn a win. Kyle still had a 2-1 series win, and will return home to host the North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in round three.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Acorn. The visitor plays his second series of the day in Rotation with the blue cue. Lighton's Acorn immediately proved how good he can be in game 1, taking the early lead. Midland's Fuchsia got on the board, but Acorn won on a five-ball run-out on the next turn, giving him an 8-1 victory and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn had some trouble getting going in game 2, but the Predators' Fuchsia couldn't sink him in a deficit either. Acorn made a six-ball run-out to win 8-1 again, including a double-pot of the 4 to the top right and the 6 to the bottom right during the run. Acorn clinched the series at 2-0. Acorn didn't have anything left in the tank for game 3, falling behind early and only mustering half of a comeback as Fuchsia emerged with an 8-4 win this time. Acorn did take the series 2-1, and will be on the road again in the third round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Sally. The red cue brings the day to a close with a 15-ball series. Offense was hard to come by early in game 1, but Archtown's Sally got a bit lucky when Westside's Goatee left the 1-15 combination aligned. Sally converted it perfectly to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally intimidated the Rockers' Goatee a bit in game 2, making a lucky five-ball run from the break. Goatee hounded the 15, looking for a combination, but Sally got the win on a 5-15 combination to the top right later in the game to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sally started off well, but she couldn't haul in the 15 later in the game, crumbling under pressure from Goatee's late positive attack. Sally took the series 2-1, and she will host a series in the third round.
Tomorrow will look a lot like today, but probably slightly later in starting with cricket.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Katelynn v. Dusty. A returning veteran hosts a legend in 7-ball with the red cue. Golden's Dusty had a four-ball run in game 1 to answer a pair of balls falling on the break for Lighton's Katelynn. The 7 proved difficult, but Katelynn missed a cut on it and Dusty made the short-range shot to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty scuffled early in game 2, missing a number of shots as the Prestige's Katelynn paced the play. Katelynn would scratch on the 3, leaving Dusty to make a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to seal the series at 2-0 in her favor. Dusty again had a four-ball run in game 3, scratching to end it but getting the win anyway after Katelynn flubbed her shot on the 7. Dusty took the series in an impressive 3-0 sweep to earn a visitor spot in the third round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Patches. A pair of veterans go at it in Rotation with the silver cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a fantastic start in game 1, building up a large lead before a late scratch. After that moment, Boston's Patches rallied all the way back on a pair of three-ball runs for an 8-7 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil used a six-ball run to build his lead in game 2, but nearly gave the game away again with some lazy shooting late in the game. The Swifts' Patches closed the gap well, but Chicky Phil cut her off to win 8-5, tying the series at 1. Patches and Chicky Phil dueled closely throughout game 3, but Chicky Phil maintained a lead nearly the entire time, winning 8-6 to take the series 2-1. Chicky Phil awaits his opponent for the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Sleepy B. The silver cue remains in action for this 10-ball series. Pearl's Beth had a strong game 1, battling early on with Archtown's Sleepy B. as they both looked for a stretch of shots. Beth found hers at the end, a three-ball run-out with a bank of the 10 to the top right to give her a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Arrows' Sleepy B. scratched on the 5 in game 2, and nearly set up the Surfers' Beth for a finish. Beth made a three-ball run, but scratched as she potted the 9, and this gave Sleepy B. a clean look at the 10, which she made for the win to tie the series at 1. Beth looked very comfortable for game 3, while Sleepy B. tried a bit too much to force her shots. Beth got the results in the end, winning on a three-ball run-out to take the series in a 2-1 win. Beth is set to play in round three.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Charli XCX. The blue cue comes on to end a venue doubleheader with Accuracy. Tysini's Charli had a couple of early misses in game 1, derailing her efforts to keep up. Pearl's Bright made sure there would be no challenge to his win, staying perfect in a 0-2 victory for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright had a rougher game 2 performance, which saw her gain, lose, and gain again the last shot advantage. The Hummingbirds' Charli had a late lead, but she let it go, and then fell behind on the last ball, which Bright expertly banked to the bottom right to win 4-5, clinching the series at 2-0. Bright faltered early in game 3, but managed to right the ship in plenty of time. Charli collapsed by the end, missing a bunch of late shots as Bright cruised to a 2-6 win for the 3-0 series sweep. Bright will host the Southridge Defenders captain Debby in the third round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Wild Thing v. Hannah. The blue cue gets another look in 12-ball. Archtown's Wild Thing began game 1 on a three-ball run from the break, but also gave Queens' Hannah a wild-card ball. Hannah would later use a three-ball run to get positioning, and she bumped Wild Thing out of place before striking on from ball-in-hand to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Hannah had a positive start in game 2, but she struggled with positioning. The Arrows' Wild Thing fired back with a four-ball run and surrendered a wild-card ball, but Hannah couldn't make her last ball. Wild Thing tapped in the 5 at the top right, securing the win to tie the series at 1. Hannah struck efficiently in game 3, making sure to always have position while playing defense at the top right. Wild Thing made some shots, but couldn't outpace Hannah, as the visitor made a pair of shots on her last turn for the win and a 2-1 series win. Hannah will be the visitor in her third round series.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Twinkie II. A veteran and a captain are set to meet in 10-ball with the blue cue. Capital City's Sprinkles started well in game 1, but ceded control as Harrison's Twinkie II had a nice run in the middle. Twinkie II picked up steam after Sprinkles deferred possession, but Twinkie II scratched on the 10, and Sprinkles capitalized for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Twinkie illegally potted the 10 early in game 2, although the Sharpshooters' Sprinkles again deferred possession. Later in the game, Twinkie II showed a lot of composure to make a four-ball run-out, with the legal finish on the 10 giving her the win and tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a little bit of back-and-forth, and it took awhile to corral the 10 before Sprinkles finally put it away to earn the 2-1 series win. Sprinkles will be the host again in her third round series.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Acorn. The silver cue returns in this series, administering some Accuracy. Pronger's Zach had the lead early in game 1, but couldn't sustain the effort, falling behind by the middle. Lighton's Acorn faded a bit later in the game, but held on to take the 3-6 win, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn scratched on the break in game 2, a moment of misfortune that would prevent him from have any chance to win the game. The Tridents' Zach made massive improvements, while Acorn's performance stayed level, giving Zach a 0-3 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Acorn slip up first, but the game spent most of the time tied as Zach couldn't hold a lead for long. Acorn finally succumbed at the end, missing a late shot and allowing Zach to take the 5-6 win for the 2-1 series win. Zach will visit the Southridge Defenders' Caitlin in the third round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Snuggle. A Coastal Derby gets underway in 7-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 remained close until Viewpoint Sound's Dani put the 7 away on a bank to the bottom side to prevent another counterattack from Oceanside's Snuggle. Dani leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Dani left far less doubt in game 2, nearly potting the 7 to the top left on the break while the 4 actually fell in the top right. Six shots later, Dani deposited the 7 to the top left, having run the table for the win to clinch a 2-0 series over the Waves' Snuggle. Game 3 saw Dani make a pair of balls on the break before scratching while potting the 1, leaving a fairly simple four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for Snuggle. This made it a 2-1 series win for Dani, who is set to host a third round series.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Marsell. The silver cue gets its last series today in 15-ball. Whitewater's Marsell appeared to have the better possession in game 1, making a lot of shots to move the game along. Midland's Leonardo had a chance to win on a run, but missed the 15, and Marsell made it to the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell had a productive start in game 2, but ceded some ground to the Predators' Leonardo in the middle. Leonardo nearly won with a kick on the 6 that pushed the 15 to the top right. Marsell took over from here, building an easy-looking eight-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Marsell showed some skill in game 3, bringing the series to a quicker end by making the 2-15 combination to the bottom side on his second turn. Marsell swept Leonardo 3-0 to earn a visitor position again in the third round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Kyle. A superstar and a returnee clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. Central's Dustin made a ball on the break, sparking a six-ball run, but he rattled the 7 out of the bottom right. Queens' Kyle made no such mistake, converting a single shot for a 1-0 series lead on his win. The Flames' Kyle had a ball on the break in game 2, a positive play before he scratched. The Warriors' Dustin proceeded to make a pair of shots before turning over possession. Kyle then rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Game 3 didn't go as well for Kyle, as he struggled to string shots together. This opened the door at the end for Dustin to make a pair of shots to earn a win. Kyle still had a 2-1 series win, and will return home to host the North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in round three.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Acorn. The visitor plays his second series of the day in Rotation with the blue cue. Lighton's Acorn immediately proved how good he can be in game 1, taking the early lead. Midland's Fuchsia got on the board, but Acorn won on a five-ball run-out on the next turn, giving him an 8-1 victory and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn had some trouble getting going in game 2, but the Predators' Fuchsia couldn't sink him in a deficit either. Acorn made a six-ball run-out to win 8-1 again, including a double-pot of the 4 to the top right and the 6 to the bottom right during the run. Acorn clinched the series at 2-0. Acorn didn't have anything left in the tank for game 3, falling behind early and only mustering half of a comeback as Fuchsia emerged with an 8-4 win this time. Acorn did take the series 2-1, and will be on the road again in the third round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Sally. The red cue brings the day to a close with a 15-ball series. Offense was hard to come by early in game 1, but Archtown's Sally got a bit lucky when Westside's Goatee left the 1-15 combination aligned. Sally converted it perfectly to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally intimidated the Rockers' Goatee a bit in game 2, making a lucky five-ball run from the break. Goatee hounded the 15, looking for a combination, but Sally got the win on a 5-15 combination to the top right later in the game to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Sally started off well, but she couldn't haul in the 15 later in the game, crumbling under pressure from Goatee's late positive attack. Sally took the series 2-1, and she will host a series in the third round.
Tomorrow will look a lot like today, but probably slightly later in starting with cricket.
Hutton Cup - Quarterfinals, Game 1
We're onto the Quarterfinals in Hutton Cup play. We begin with...
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Stealth sits out for the hosts to lead off a Southwestern Derby series, while the visiting Torpedoes bench Mr. Snowman in the first game. Smudge gathered 453 for Infinity on the opening turn, a positive attack from the captain. Snowball faltered early on with just 99 for Swordpoint, giving the hosts a bit of a deficit. Fluffina fell at 310 as she mistimed her swing and couldn't block a ball that quickly took out her wicket. Dreamy got beat on a subtle deflection that caused her to send the ball high, making progress with 391 for the Blades. Solaris tried to prove his worth for Infinity, but he recorded a mild 220 as their lead weakens. Bandit took advantage of the weakness with 592 for Swordpoint, only ending after getting one of his swings tangled up. Shelley had only 162 for the Torpedoes at the end, leaving them with a poor final score of 1145. Jason N. secured the win with 447 for the Blades, giving them a total of 1529. Swordpoint is up 1-0 in the series after a solid win.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: Brownie takes the bench in game 1 for the Hummingbirds, while the Crowns have Jake sitting out for rest as the Select champions continue their cup campaign. Kayla had a false start and a technical error before recording 615 for Royal on the opening turn. Princess fired back with 400 for Tysini, cutting into the deficit well without coming too close to meeting it. Jeremias stayed in form quite well with 585 for the Crowns, making a good addition to their lead. Leandra busted out a massive performance with 1196 for the Hummingbirds, covering the deficit to give the hosts a mid-game lead. Nightfur edged Royal back into the lead with 433 on her turn, keeping them competitive. Charli attacked with great pace to claim 611 for Tysini on her turn, regaining a good lead. Cassie couldn't do much with 247 for the Crowns, leaving them in a loss at 1880. Paps kept it simple with 246 for the Hummingbirds, icing their win at 2453. Tysini holds a 1-0 series lead after the high-scoring game.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots rest Dusty in game 1 against Elite's Pirates, who are resting Max for the series opener in what promises to be a competitive battle. Delila lined 543 for Atlantic on their first turn, a good start from the visiting captain. Valencia struggled with only 64 for Golden in response, causing the hosts to fall far behind after the initial turn. Isabella slugged 1376 for the Pirates on the second attack, likely securing a result already with the fantastic turn. Strut answered with 432 for the Pilots this time, a good turn but far from helpful to their current situation. Steven showed no mercy with 545 for Atlantic, boosting their massive lead again. Sparkles picked up 448 for Golden on her turn, trying to keep their performance respectable. Klaus had a weak 138 for the Pirates, icing their likely victorious total at 2602. A. Charlton had only 49 for the Pilots at the end, sticking them with a loss at 993. Atlantic's offense is cruising as they take a 1-0 series lead.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are well-rested and sit Ice Cream out for this game, while the Sharpshooters have Sprinkles resting as Missy is ready to return from her finger injury. Chris led off with 432 for Capital City as the Elite champions establish themselves early on. Patches nearly doubled that with 840 for Boston, giving the hosts a large lead as usual. Missy returned with 304 for the Sharpshooters, unable to cover the deficit on their second attack. Puff II had an unusually low 267 for the Swifts, causing their lead to buckle a bit. Lorde tried but failed to take advantage of the opportunity, showing too much caution in hitting 182 for Capital City. Gradley surged with 876 for Boston, growing their lead significantly ahead of the final players' turns. Pauline couldn't fight off a deflection, ending at 160 as the Sharpshooters lose with 1078. Sweetheart flipped 314 for the Swifts, capping their win at 2297. Boston leads the series 1-0 with another dominant effort.
That's all for the Game 1 play in the Hutton Cup Quarterfinals. We will play once each day this week, either before or after Tournament action each day.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Stealth sits out for the hosts to lead off a Southwestern Derby series, while the visiting Torpedoes bench Mr. Snowman in the first game. Smudge gathered 453 for Infinity on the opening turn, a positive attack from the captain. Snowball faltered early on with just 99 for Swordpoint, giving the hosts a bit of a deficit. Fluffina fell at 310 as she mistimed her swing and couldn't block a ball that quickly took out her wicket. Dreamy got beat on a subtle deflection that caused her to send the ball high, making progress with 391 for the Blades. Solaris tried to prove his worth for Infinity, but he recorded a mild 220 as their lead weakens. Bandit took advantage of the weakness with 592 for Swordpoint, only ending after getting one of his swings tangled up. Shelley had only 162 for the Torpedoes at the end, leaving them with a poor final score of 1145. Jason N. secured the win with 447 for the Blades, giving them a total of 1529. Swordpoint is up 1-0 in the series after a solid win.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: Brownie takes the bench in game 1 for the Hummingbirds, while the Crowns have Jake sitting out for rest as the Select champions continue their cup campaign. Kayla had a false start and a technical error before recording 615 for Royal on the opening turn. Princess fired back with 400 for Tysini, cutting into the deficit well without coming too close to meeting it. Jeremias stayed in form quite well with 585 for the Crowns, making a good addition to their lead. Leandra busted out a massive performance with 1196 for the Hummingbirds, covering the deficit to give the hosts a mid-game lead. Nightfur edged Royal back into the lead with 433 on her turn, keeping them competitive. Charli attacked with great pace to claim 611 for Tysini on her turn, regaining a good lead. Cassie couldn't do much with 247 for the Crowns, leaving them in a loss at 1880. Paps kept it simple with 246 for the Hummingbirds, icing their win at 2453. Tysini holds a 1-0 series lead after the high-scoring game.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots rest Dusty in game 1 against Elite's Pirates, who are resting Max for the series opener in what promises to be a competitive battle. Delila lined 543 for Atlantic on their first turn, a good start from the visiting captain. Valencia struggled with only 64 for Golden in response, causing the hosts to fall far behind after the initial turn. Isabella slugged 1376 for the Pirates on the second attack, likely securing a result already with the fantastic turn. Strut answered with 432 for the Pilots this time, a good turn but far from helpful to their current situation. Steven showed no mercy with 545 for Atlantic, boosting their massive lead again. Sparkles picked up 448 for Golden on her turn, trying to keep their performance respectable. Klaus had a weak 138 for the Pirates, icing their likely victorious total at 2602. A. Charlton had only 49 for the Pilots at the end, sticking them with a loss at 993. Atlantic's offense is cruising as they take a 1-0 series lead.
Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are well-rested and sit Ice Cream out for this game, while the Sharpshooters have Sprinkles resting as Missy is ready to return from her finger injury. Chris led off with 432 for Capital City as the Elite champions establish themselves early on. Patches nearly doubled that with 840 for Boston, giving the hosts a large lead as usual. Missy returned with 304 for the Sharpshooters, unable to cover the deficit on their second attack. Puff II had an unusually low 267 for the Swifts, causing their lead to buckle a bit. Lorde tried but failed to take advantage of the opportunity, showing too much caution in hitting 182 for Capital City. Gradley surged with 876 for Boston, growing their lead significantly ahead of the final players' turns. Pauline couldn't fight off a deflection, ending at 160 as the Sharpshooters lose with 1078. Sweetheart flipped 314 for the Swifts, capping their win at 2297. Boston leads the series 1-0 with another dominant effort.
That's all for the Game 1 play in the Hutton Cup Quarterfinals. We will play once each day this week, either before or after Tournament action each day.
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 2 Day 15
We've got a special weekend edition of Tournament play, a full day for this Sunday action. We begin with...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Dusty. Two strong competitors duke it out in 8-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Nikolai put up a good effort in game 1, coming back from a poor break to easily beat Golden's Dusty, as the visitors couldn't make much offense during the game. Nikolai leads the series 1-0. Offense didn't get any better in game 2, with another slow start from the Pilots' Dusty. The Cascades' Nikolai got onto the 8 first but couldn't convert, and Dusty pieced together a three-ball run and then a pair of shots at the end to cut the 8 into the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Nikolai had a four-ball run in the middle of game 3 to pull himself ahead of Dusty in the game, and he then made a couple of shots at the end to pick up the win and a 2-1 series win. Nikolai advances to the third round, where he will be a host again.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Rosemary. The blue cue is on for Rotation in today's second series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had an easy time in game 1, making a pair of balls on the break and shooting circles around Commerce's Rosemary. Even with some tough turns, Mr. Snowman emerged with an 8-1 win after a glancing hit off the 8 to pot the 12-10 combination at the top right. Mr. Snowman owns a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break again in game 2, and had a relatively easy time, although the Tradewinds' Rosemary offered far more pressure this time. Rosemary nearly sparked a late run herself, but the 10 refused to fall for her, and Mr. Snowman made a pair of shots to ice his 8-5 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman utterly dominated game 3 as well, his highlight coming on a simple jump to pot the 4 at the top side before he cruised to an 8-2 win to sweep Rosemary. Mr. Snowman will be on the road in his third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Dusky. The red cue is back in action now to play some 10-ball. Archtown's Dusky showed off some sweet skill in game 1 on an early three-ball run-out, pulling a deflection off the 3 to slip the 10 into the top right for the win, stunning Oceanside's Josie. Dusky's highlight-worthy shot gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky made a pair of balls on the break in game 2, then watched as the Waves' Josie scratched on her only shot. Dusky took the 2 from ball-in-hand, setting up a 3-10 combination tap-in to the top right to secure another win. Dusky sealed the series at 2-0 without much challenge. Dusky had a five-ball run early in game 3 after Josie scratched, but that would be the extent of her offense, as Josie assembled a later three-ball run-out to snag a win. Dusky took the series 2-1 to earn a visitor spot in a third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Stealth. Southwestern rivals tangle in 8-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Victoria's Sage put up a four-ball run in game 1 at one point, but Swordpoint's Stealth broke out of his cold start with an eight-ball run-out, taking all of his shots in a single turn for the 1-0 series lead with his win. The Spurs' Sage struck a bit faster in game 2, finding a six-ball run to really put the Blades' Stealth under pressure. Stealth tried to rally back, but he had a scratch, and Sage took the 8 to the bottom side from the kitchen for the win. Sage's bounce-back game tied the series at 1. Stealth then returned to his initial form in game 3, making a five-ball run before a scratch. Sage tried to fight back, but Stealth soon found a three-ball run-out to grab the win, taking the series with him at 2-1. Stealth will continue into the third round, visiting the Westside Rockers' Slinks.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Dustin. The silver cue is set to debut for the day in Accuracy between future club-mates. Central's Dustin had a couple of misses in the middle of the game, but Web City's Jack failed to capitalize, and then Jack missed twice late in the game to give Dustin the 2-4 win. Dustin leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Jack took a steep decline in game 2, missing a bunch of shots early and late in the game. The Warriors' Dustin pushed Jack down by cleaning up many of the host's misses, which led to Dustin taking the 1-7 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dustin fired off a perfect performance in game 3, taking the lead early after Jack had a miss and never looking back again. Dustin's 0-3 victory made it 3-0 series sweep in his favor, and he'll visit another Northeastern rival in the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Cheddar. The silver cue takes another series, this one an Urban Derby in Rotation. North Modernistic's Cheddar used a couple of short runs in game 1 to build a large lead, and while her late scratch allowed Terrace City's Jennifer to avoid the shutout, Cheddar soon capped her win at 8-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer had a three-stage attack in game 2, a smart strategy as the Nighthawks' Cheddar had enough to cancel out the first two bursts. Jennifer made a pair of shots at the end to protect her lead, winning 8-5 to tie the series at 1. Jennifer scuffled a little at the start of game 3, but managed to hold a lead and then take two pairs of shots on her final two turns to secure an 8-5 win over Cheddar for the 2-1 series win. Jennifer will be the visitor in her round three series.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Smudge. A sophomore meets a seasoned captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Rosalina wasted no time in taking a 1-0 series lead, bringing the home crowd to its feet when she made the 9 on the game 1 break, stunning Infinity's Smudge as it tailed the 5 to the bottom right. The Gems' Rosalina took a pair of balls from the break, allowing the Torpedoes' Smudge to shoot. Smudge missed her first shot, and she wouldn't get another chance, as Rosalina assembled a seven-ball run-out to earn another win, clinching the series at 2-0 with the dominant effort. Rosalina went empty on the break in game 3, but Smudge also missed her first shot, and Rosalina returned to form quickly with a nine-ball run-out on her second turn, making it a 3-0 series sweep filled with utter dominance. Rosalina will visit her friend and the North Modernistic Nighthawks sophomore Luigi in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Kiwi. More 9-ball with the silver cue sees a rookie hosting a captain this time. Terrace City's Kiwi came out on top in game 1 after a gritty battle that saw many failed trick plays and a short-range miss on the 9 by Oceanside's Jason. Kiwi cleaned this one up to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi started game 2 in positive fashion, but she missed a glancing shot later on, and the Waves' Jason took over. Jason made a couple of shots, and then applied a light touch off the 2 to deflect the 9 to the bottom right for a win, tying the series at 1 with the smart play. Jason and Kiwi each had their looks in game 3, trying to find a way to get into the mix. Jason had a chance at the win late, tapping in the 8 that Kiwi missed, but he whiffed on the 9, and Kiwi ultimately got the win for a 2-1 series win. Kiwi will play on into the third round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Juno. The winner of this series will play the winner of the previous red cue 10-ball series. Eastside's Cubby had a slow start in game 1, allowing Stonebridge's Juno a fair amount of possession, but Cubby took one look at the 5 and glanced the cue off of it just right to push the 10 into the top right for the win. Cubby leads the series 1-0 after the good trick play. Game 2 started even more slowly on both sides, but the Sharks' Cubby picked up the pace, taking five of the last six balls for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Wolves' Juno had tried a 9-10 kick after making the 8, but it failed, and Cubby cut both the 9 and 10 in with force to earn his win. Cubby didn't have much left in the tank in game 3, which almost worked out anyway as Juno also struggled. Juno had enough poise to pick up the 10 at the top right to finish the game, cutting Cubby's series win to 2-1. Cubby will host a club-mate, the Archtown Arrows' Dusky, in round three.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Melissa Benoist. The red cue takes its last series of the day in 9-ball. Terrace City's Melissa looked best in the middle of game 1, pressuring Golden's Valencia until the visitor missed on the 8. Valencia cut the 8 in, and then made a better cut on the 9 to the bottom right to earn the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia battled with the Knights' Melissa in a close first half of game 2, but Valencia easily pulled away in the end. Valencia missed the 5 on her first try, but Melissa left it in a good spot, and it ignited a four-ball run-out by Valencia, which clinched the series at 2-0 in her favor. Valencia had no trouble in game 3, spinning a shot off the 3 to drive the 9 cleanly to the top right, sweeping Melissa 3-0 as she picked up this win on a four-ball run-out. Valencia easily made it to the third round, and earned her first kill as Melissa's rookie season ends with her as the fourth player eliminated.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Nicole. The silver cue gets the next series of 9-ball right now. Lighton's Nicole took game 1 on a late run, impressively besting Terrace City's Jennifer with a three-ball run and then a tap-in on the 9 when Jennifer couldn't convert her chance. Nicole leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Nicole had pairs of shots on her first two turns in game 2, keeping her pace on offense going. This ended when the Knights' Jennifer took over to make a five-ball run-out all at once on her third turn. Jennifer's massive run was good enough to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Jennifer try to pace play early on and then again with a late three-ball run, but she snookered herself behind the 8. Nicole took over to make the last two shots of the game for the win and a 2-1 series win. Nicole will be back in this venue to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the third round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Max. The silver cue wraps up the day with a series of 12-ball. Pronger's Spot showed a lack of regard for the rules in game 1 when he intentionally had illegal contact in an effort to get positioning. Atlantic's Max made him pay for it, constructing a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Max made a pair of balls on the break, and then patiently waited for another chance to strike. The Tridents' Spot made a three-ball run at one point, but couldn't sink the 4 at the top side, and Max made a three-ball run before flubbing a shot on his last ball. Max would convert a turn later to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Max had one of each on the break and claimed stripes, which ended up being a mistake as Spot assembled a four-ball run from his first turn. Max couldn't defend enough to stop Spot, who kicked the 7 to the top left a few turns later for the win. Max took the series 2-1, and will be the visitor in his third round series.
That's all for today's action. With the Hutton Cup now in the second round, staying on schedule for it and the Tournament should be easier in the coming weeks.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Dusty. Two strong competitors duke it out in 8-ball with the red cue. Freedom's Nikolai put up a good effort in game 1, coming back from a poor break to easily beat Golden's Dusty, as the visitors couldn't make much offense during the game. Nikolai leads the series 1-0. Offense didn't get any better in game 2, with another slow start from the Pilots' Dusty. The Cascades' Nikolai got onto the 8 first but couldn't convert, and Dusty pieced together a three-ball run and then a pair of shots at the end to cut the 8 into the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Nikolai had a four-ball run in the middle of game 3 to pull himself ahead of Dusty in the game, and he then made a couple of shots at the end to pick up the win and a 2-1 series win. Nikolai advances to the third round, where he will be a host again.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Rosemary. The blue cue is on for Rotation in today's second series. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had an easy time in game 1, making a pair of balls on the break and shooting circles around Commerce's Rosemary. Even with some tough turns, Mr. Snowman emerged with an 8-1 win after a glancing hit off the 8 to pot the 12-10 combination at the top right. Mr. Snowman owns a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break again in game 2, and had a relatively easy time, although the Tradewinds' Rosemary offered far more pressure this time. Rosemary nearly sparked a late run herself, but the 10 refused to fall for her, and Mr. Snowman made a pair of shots to ice his 8-5 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman utterly dominated game 3 as well, his highlight coming on a simple jump to pot the 4 at the top side before he cruised to an 8-2 win to sweep Rosemary. Mr. Snowman will be on the road in his third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Dusky. The red cue is back in action now to play some 10-ball. Archtown's Dusky showed off some sweet skill in game 1 on an early three-ball run-out, pulling a deflection off the 3 to slip the 10 into the top right for the win, stunning Oceanside's Josie. Dusky's highlight-worthy shot gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Dusky made a pair of balls on the break in game 2, then watched as the Waves' Josie scratched on her only shot. Dusky took the 2 from ball-in-hand, setting up a 3-10 combination tap-in to the top right to secure another win. Dusky sealed the series at 2-0 without much challenge. Dusky had a five-ball run early in game 3 after Josie scratched, but that would be the extent of her offense, as Josie assembled a later three-ball run-out to snag a win. Dusky took the series 2-1 to earn a visitor spot in a third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Stealth. Southwestern rivals tangle in 8-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Victoria's Sage put up a four-ball run in game 1 at one point, but Swordpoint's Stealth broke out of his cold start with an eight-ball run-out, taking all of his shots in a single turn for the 1-0 series lead with his win. The Spurs' Sage struck a bit faster in game 2, finding a six-ball run to really put the Blades' Stealth under pressure. Stealth tried to rally back, but he had a scratch, and Sage took the 8 to the bottom side from the kitchen for the win. Sage's bounce-back game tied the series at 1. Stealth then returned to his initial form in game 3, making a five-ball run before a scratch. Sage tried to fight back, but Stealth soon found a three-ball run-out to grab the win, taking the series with him at 2-1. Stealth will continue into the third round, visiting the Westside Rockers' Slinks.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Dustin. The silver cue is set to debut for the day in Accuracy between future club-mates. Central's Dustin had a couple of misses in the middle of the game, but Web City's Jack failed to capitalize, and then Jack missed twice late in the game to give Dustin the 2-4 win. Dustin leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Jack took a steep decline in game 2, missing a bunch of shots early and late in the game. The Warriors' Dustin pushed Jack down by cleaning up many of the host's misses, which led to Dustin taking the 1-7 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dustin fired off a perfect performance in game 3, taking the lead early after Jack had a miss and never looking back again. Dustin's 0-3 victory made it 3-0 series sweep in his favor, and he'll visit another Northeastern rival in the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the third round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Cheddar. The silver cue takes another series, this one an Urban Derby in Rotation. North Modernistic's Cheddar used a couple of short runs in game 1 to build a large lead, and while her late scratch allowed Terrace City's Jennifer to avoid the shutout, Cheddar soon capped her win at 8-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Jennifer had a three-stage attack in game 2, a smart strategy as the Nighthawks' Cheddar had enough to cancel out the first two bursts. Jennifer made a pair of shots at the end to protect her lead, winning 8-5 to tie the series at 1. Jennifer scuffled a little at the start of game 3, but managed to hold a lead and then take two pairs of shots on her final two turns to secure an 8-5 win over Cheddar for the 2-1 series win. Jennifer will be the visitor in her round three series.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Smudge. A sophomore meets a seasoned captain in 9-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Rosalina wasted no time in taking a 1-0 series lead, bringing the home crowd to its feet when she made the 9 on the game 1 break, stunning Infinity's Smudge as it tailed the 5 to the bottom right. The Gems' Rosalina took a pair of balls from the break, allowing the Torpedoes' Smudge to shoot. Smudge missed her first shot, and she wouldn't get another chance, as Rosalina assembled a seven-ball run-out to earn another win, clinching the series at 2-0 with the dominant effort. Rosalina went empty on the break in game 3, but Smudge also missed her first shot, and Rosalina returned to form quickly with a nine-ball run-out on her second turn, making it a 3-0 series sweep filled with utter dominance. Rosalina will visit her friend and the North Modernistic Nighthawks sophomore Luigi in the third round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Kiwi. More 9-ball with the silver cue sees a rookie hosting a captain this time. Terrace City's Kiwi came out on top in game 1 after a gritty battle that saw many failed trick plays and a short-range miss on the 9 by Oceanside's Jason. Kiwi cleaned this one up to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi started game 2 in positive fashion, but she missed a glancing shot later on, and the Waves' Jason took over. Jason made a couple of shots, and then applied a light touch off the 2 to deflect the 9 to the bottom right for a win, tying the series at 1 with the smart play. Jason and Kiwi each had their looks in game 3, trying to find a way to get into the mix. Jason had a chance at the win late, tapping in the 8 that Kiwi missed, but he whiffed on the 9, and Kiwi ultimately got the win for a 2-1 series win. Kiwi will play on into the third round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Juno. The winner of this series will play the winner of the previous red cue 10-ball series. Eastside's Cubby had a slow start in game 1, allowing Stonebridge's Juno a fair amount of possession, but Cubby took one look at the 5 and glanced the cue off of it just right to push the 10 into the top right for the win. Cubby leads the series 1-0 after the good trick play. Game 2 started even more slowly on both sides, but the Sharks' Cubby picked up the pace, taking five of the last six balls for the win and a 2-0 lead in the series. The Wolves' Juno had tried a 9-10 kick after making the 8, but it failed, and Cubby cut both the 9 and 10 in with force to earn his win. Cubby didn't have much left in the tank in game 3, which almost worked out anyway as Juno also struggled. Juno had enough poise to pick up the 10 at the top right to finish the game, cutting Cubby's series win to 2-1. Cubby will host a club-mate, the Archtown Arrows' Dusky, in round three.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Melissa Benoist. The red cue takes its last series of the day in 9-ball. Terrace City's Melissa looked best in the middle of game 1, pressuring Golden's Valencia until the visitor missed on the 8. Valencia cut the 8 in, and then made a better cut on the 9 to the bottom right to earn the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pilots' Valencia battled with the Knights' Melissa in a close first half of game 2, but Valencia easily pulled away in the end. Valencia missed the 5 on her first try, but Melissa left it in a good spot, and it ignited a four-ball run-out by Valencia, which clinched the series at 2-0 in her favor. Valencia had no trouble in game 3, spinning a shot off the 3 to drive the 9 cleanly to the top right, sweeping Melissa 3-0 as she picked up this win on a four-ball run-out. Valencia easily made it to the third round, and earned her first kill as Melissa's rookie season ends with her as the fourth player eliminated.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Nicole. The silver cue gets the next series of 9-ball right now. Lighton's Nicole took game 1 on a late run, impressively besting Terrace City's Jennifer with a three-ball run and then a tap-in on the 9 when Jennifer couldn't convert her chance. Nicole leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Nicole had pairs of shots on her first two turns in game 2, keeping her pace on offense going. This ended when the Knights' Jennifer took over to make a five-ball run-out all at once on her third turn. Jennifer's massive run was good enough to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Jennifer try to pace play early on and then again with a late three-ball run, but she snookered herself behind the 8. Nicole took over to make the last two shots of the game for the win and a 2-1 series win. Nicole will be back in this venue to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the third round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Max. The silver cue wraps up the day with a series of 12-ball. Pronger's Spot showed a lack of regard for the rules in game 1 when he intentionally had illegal contact in an effort to get positioning. Atlantic's Max made him pay for it, constructing a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Max made a pair of balls on the break, and then patiently waited for another chance to strike. The Tridents' Spot made a three-ball run at one point, but couldn't sink the 4 at the top side, and Max made a three-ball run before flubbing a shot on his last ball. Max would convert a turn later to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Max had one of each on the break and claimed stripes, which ended up being a mistake as Spot assembled a four-ball run from his first turn. Max couldn't defend enough to stop Spot, who kicked the 7 to the top left a few turns later for the win. Max took the series 2-1, and will be the visitor in his third round series.
That's all for today's action. With the Hutton Cup now in the second round, staying on schedule for it and the Tournament should be easier in the coming weeks.
Hutton Cup - First Round, Games 6 and 7
This post will see the first round of this year's Hutton Cup come to an end. Leading off the game 6s...
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: The Torpedoes need to strike back at home, and will have Shelley resting on the bench, while the Warriors go without Noelle in their preferred lineup. Twilight hammered 614 for Central to get things going positively for the visitors. Smudge made a motion with 617 for Infinity, pulling the hosts very narrowly ahead after the first turn. Dustin chipped 211 for the Warriors on the second attack, giving them a much weaker lead this time. Fluffina gathered 376 for the Torpedoes this time, giving them a more noticeable lead at the halfway point. Mario stumbled with 69 for Central in his return to action, unable to cover the deficit with the poor outing. Solaris had a middling 279 for Infinity in response, not doing much to build their lead up. Wings fell at 69 for the Warriors, leaving them in a pathetic loss with 963. Mr. Snowman hit a solid 379 to cap the Torpedoes win at 1651. The series heads to Central one more time, tied at 3.
GE Stadium, Southridge: Both teams break out their third jerseys for game 6, with Stealth resting for the visitors while Bianca is on the bench for the hosts. Snowball licked 578 for Swordpoint right at the start, giving them a good attack to build upon throughout the game. Debby answered with 464 for Southridge after starting a bit slow, keeping the hosts in close range. Dreamy kept the Blades lead steady with 480 on the second attack, a good performance from the star. Stephanie stumbled at 183 for the Defenders, causing the deficit to grow a bit more at the midway mark. Bandit lacked pace but still managed to rake 319 for Swordpoint, giving them a little more padding on their lead. Caitlin returned to the lineup with an impact for Southridge, swatting 567 to cut the deficit significantly ahead of the final players' turns. Jason N. left the Blades a bit exposed with only 211, their final score resting at a vulnerable 1588. Hughbert didn't have the form for the Defenders, falling at a measly 69 to stick the hosts with a loss at 1283. Swordpoint has forced game 7 with a pair of wins, tying the series at 3.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy is out again as the Sharpshooters try to close out the series in game 6, while the Rockers are resting their captain Misty in this one. Goatee tried to get a good pace going, but a cluttered pitch knocked her out at 222 for Westside. Chris fired back with 783 for Capital City, exciting the fans to cheer on their team in their potential advancing game. Slinks chunked 176 for the Rockers on her turn, unable to even halve the deficit. Sprinkles turned her bat too much on an early swing, causing her to exit at just 12 points for the Sharpshooters. Midnight sliced 643 for Westside in response, cutting deeply into the deficit as the visitors make their push. Lorde had 324 for Capital City, just about covering the deficit to set up a close finish between the final players. Cowzart put up a fight with 417 for the Rockers, capping their offense at 1458. Pauline hauled in 562 for the Sharpshooters, securing their win at 1681 and giving them a spot in the Quarterfinals on a 4-2 series win. Chris is the series MVP, with honorable mention for Misty and Midnight of the Rockers, as the Sharpshooters prepare for the Boston Swifts.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds sit Paps in their first chance to advance, while the Americus takes the bench as the Predators show desperation ahead of game 6. Shawn went with great pace to tally 576 for Midland, giving them a strong start in a must-win game. Princess had 375 for Tysini in response, keeping them within striking distance but not particularly close. Rainmane produced another good attack with 543 for the Predators, padding their lead well. Leandra struck 439 for the Hummingbirds, unable to make any progress against the deficit. Leonardo got beat on a deflection that rolled down his backhand, ending his turn at 298 for Midland. Charli had her worst game of the series with only 160 for Tysini, unable to capitalize on the visitors' moment of weakness. Fuchsia pulled in 504 for the Predators, determined to keep them alive in this series as they finish at 1921. Brownie went big on pace, but short on time, crashing out at 379 for the Hummingbirds in their loss with 1353. Midland overcame last game's setback, retying the series at 3 to send it back to their place for the decisive game 7.
Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades give Roxy her first rest of the series in game 6, while the Pilots fight for their lives with A. Charlton taking the bench this time. Valencia pulled in 289 for Golden to start things off, a somewhat troubling beginning for the desperate visitors. Jasmine looked calm in hitting 401 for Freedom to begin the game, putting the hosts ahead initially. Dusty had only 305 for the Pilots on the second attack, their offense getting suppressed by the bowling from the hosts. Stinky faltered with only 128 for the Cascades, causing them to fall behind halfway through the game. Strut showed up big with 535 for Golden, planting seeds of hope in the visitors that they will get another game. Nikolai tried to catch up with 376 for Freedom, but they remain behind with a player each to go. Sparkles fought well with 512 for the Pilots, icing their offense at a total of 1641. Stripes went off with 610 for the Cascades at the end, leaving them at 1515 in the loss as the comeback comes up short. Golden has forced a game 7 here, tying the series at 3 with the win.
Game 7s are now, with four of them to decide the remaining series.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors will try to keep the home dominance going without Wings, while the Torpedoes return Solaris to the bench in game 7. Smudge put in a good effort with 486 for Infinity to lead things off for the visitors. Twilight fell at 288 for Central on their first turn, putting the visitors in a trailing position at home early on. Fluffina turned a false start replay into 687 for the Torpedoes on the second attack, building their lead significantly. Dustin crumbled at 319 for the Warriors, causing the deficit to grow a bit more with his failed counterattack. Shelley didn't have a great turn with 311, but Infinity remains firmly ahead. Mario answered with 320 for Central, making a tiny gain when they needed a game-changing effort. Mr. Snowman swung 559 for the Torpedoes at the end, icing their offense at a lofty 2043. Noelle didn't even come close with 176 for the Warriors, ending their season on a loss with 1103. Infinity comes up clutch for the 4-3 series win, led by Fluffina in the round.
HP Field, Midland: The Predators fought hard to get here, and now sit Leonardo, while the Hummingbirds choose to rest Charli in a must-win game on the road, a curious decision. Princess put up 487 for Tysini to get things going, a positive attack from the visiting captain. Shawn couldn't get the ball in a groove, ending at 277 for Midland after a sloppy first turn. Leandra belted 726 for the Hummingbirds on the second attack, extending their lead greatly to apply more pressure on the hosts. Rainmane picked up 305 for the Predators, but they are scuffling at the midway mark. Brownie dropped at 289 for Tysini, taking some of the pace out of their frantic attacks. Americus couldn't get Midland any closer, managing just 295 as the hosts are in definite trouble with a player each to go. Paps poked 424 more for the Hummingbirds at the end, setting their final score at 1926. Fuchsia tried to clear two balls at once, sending one too high as she fell with 367, giving the Predators a losing total of 1244. Tysini moves on with a 4-3 series win thanks to the efforts of Leandra, with home field advantage and the Royal Crowns awaiting them in the Quarterfinals.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots have been shaky so far, but will keep the same lineup from a victorious game 6 as A. Charlton sits again, while Stinky is out for the Cascades in game 7. Jasmine popped 755 for Freedom on the first turn, an aggressive start to pace the visitors' early attack. Valencia got beat on a deflection at 216, causing a panic among the Golden fans. Roxy had a simple 376 for the Cascades, potentially leaving them a bit more vulnerable. Dusty tried to rally for the Pilots, but her conservative pace failed her on a bad swing, downing her turn at 274. Nikolai didn't help the Freedom cause at all with his 147, keeping their supporting attacks sloppy. Strut fell at 248 for Golden, making up a little ground, but they will need a massive effort to steal the win on the last turn. Stripes fell at just 69 for the Cascades, leaving them at a total of 1347. Sparkles did everything asked of her and then some with 970 for the Pilots, making the comeback by herself to take the win on a total of 1708. Golden's fans storm the pitch to celebrate the 4-3 series win that has them set to face the Atlantic Pirates in the Quarterfinals, all thanks to Sparkles.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades return to Jason N. sitting out in game 7, while the Defenders leave Hughbert on the bench in the last game of the first round. Bianca showed off some strong batting with 527 for Southridge to begin the scoring. Snowball found an explosive attack for Swordpoint to get them in front with 1053 after the first turn. Debby wouldn't go quietly, taking 476 to keep the Defenders close without covering the deficit outright. Dreamy fired back with 546 for the Blades on their second attack, padding the lead a bit more in the process. Stephanie did alright with 385 for Southridge, but she looked gassed at the end and the visitors remain behind. Bandit likely confirmed series MVP status with 575 for Swordpoint to provide another extension on their lead. Caitlin fell with 467 for the Defenders, a big swing leaving her vulnerable to a low offering that ended her team's season at a loss with 1855. Stealth exited with 223 for the Blades, leaving them to celebrate a third straight win and 4-3 series win at 2397. Swordpoint will have home field advantage against the Infinity Torpedoes in the Quarterfinals.
That's all for the first round. There's no off time, as we'll be back sometime tomorrow with game 1 in the Quarterfinals series. Tournament play follows right now.
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: The Torpedoes need to strike back at home, and will have Shelley resting on the bench, while the Warriors go without Noelle in their preferred lineup. Twilight hammered 614 for Central to get things going positively for the visitors. Smudge made a motion with 617 for Infinity, pulling the hosts very narrowly ahead after the first turn. Dustin chipped 211 for the Warriors on the second attack, giving them a much weaker lead this time. Fluffina gathered 376 for the Torpedoes this time, giving them a more noticeable lead at the halfway point. Mario stumbled with 69 for Central in his return to action, unable to cover the deficit with the poor outing. Solaris had a middling 279 for Infinity in response, not doing much to build their lead up. Wings fell at 69 for the Warriors, leaving them in a pathetic loss with 963. Mr. Snowman hit a solid 379 to cap the Torpedoes win at 1651. The series heads to Central one more time, tied at 3.
GE Stadium, Southridge: Both teams break out their third jerseys for game 6, with Stealth resting for the visitors while Bianca is on the bench for the hosts. Snowball licked 578 for Swordpoint right at the start, giving them a good attack to build upon throughout the game. Debby answered with 464 for Southridge after starting a bit slow, keeping the hosts in close range. Dreamy kept the Blades lead steady with 480 on the second attack, a good performance from the star. Stephanie stumbled at 183 for the Defenders, causing the deficit to grow a bit more at the midway mark. Bandit lacked pace but still managed to rake 319 for Swordpoint, giving them a little more padding on their lead. Caitlin returned to the lineup with an impact for Southridge, swatting 567 to cut the deficit significantly ahead of the final players' turns. Jason N. left the Blades a bit exposed with only 211, their final score resting at a vulnerable 1588. Hughbert didn't have the form for the Defenders, falling at a measly 69 to stick the hosts with a loss at 1283. Swordpoint has forced game 7 with a pair of wins, tying the series at 3.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy is out again as the Sharpshooters try to close out the series in game 6, while the Rockers are resting their captain Misty in this one. Goatee tried to get a good pace going, but a cluttered pitch knocked her out at 222 for Westside. Chris fired back with 783 for Capital City, exciting the fans to cheer on their team in their potential advancing game. Slinks chunked 176 for the Rockers on her turn, unable to even halve the deficit. Sprinkles turned her bat too much on an early swing, causing her to exit at just 12 points for the Sharpshooters. Midnight sliced 643 for Westside in response, cutting deeply into the deficit as the visitors make their push. Lorde had 324 for Capital City, just about covering the deficit to set up a close finish between the final players. Cowzart put up a fight with 417 for the Rockers, capping their offense at 1458. Pauline hauled in 562 for the Sharpshooters, securing their win at 1681 and giving them a spot in the Quarterfinals on a 4-2 series win. Chris is the series MVP, with honorable mention for Misty and Midnight of the Rockers, as the Sharpshooters prepare for the Boston Swifts.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds sit Paps in their first chance to advance, while the Americus takes the bench as the Predators show desperation ahead of game 6. Shawn went with great pace to tally 576 for Midland, giving them a strong start in a must-win game. Princess had 375 for Tysini in response, keeping them within striking distance but not particularly close. Rainmane produced another good attack with 543 for the Predators, padding their lead well. Leandra struck 439 for the Hummingbirds, unable to make any progress against the deficit. Leonardo got beat on a deflection that rolled down his backhand, ending his turn at 298 for Midland. Charli had her worst game of the series with only 160 for Tysini, unable to capitalize on the visitors' moment of weakness. Fuchsia pulled in 504 for the Predators, determined to keep them alive in this series as they finish at 1921. Brownie went big on pace, but short on time, crashing out at 379 for the Hummingbirds in their loss with 1353. Midland overcame last game's setback, retying the series at 3 to send it back to their place for the decisive game 7.
Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades give Roxy her first rest of the series in game 6, while the Pilots fight for their lives with A. Charlton taking the bench this time. Valencia pulled in 289 for Golden to start things off, a somewhat troubling beginning for the desperate visitors. Jasmine looked calm in hitting 401 for Freedom to begin the game, putting the hosts ahead initially. Dusty had only 305 for the Pilots on the second attack, their offense getting suppressed by the bowling from the hosts. Stinky faltered with only 128 for the Cascades, causing them to fall behind halfway through the game. Strut showed up big with 535 for Golden, planting seeds of hope in the visitors that they will get another game. Nikolai tried to catch up with 376 for Freedom, but they remain behind with a player each to go. Sparkles fought well with 512 for the Pilots, icing their offense at a total of 1641. Stripes went off with 610 for the Cascades at the end, leaving them at 1515 in the loss as the comeback comes up short. Golden has forced a game 7 here, tying the series at 3 with the win.
Game 7s are now, with four of them to decide the remaining series.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors will try to keep the home dominance going without Wings, while the Torpedoes return Solaris to the bench in game 7. Smudge put in a good effort with 486 for Infinity to lead things off for the visitors. Twilight fell at 288 for Central on their first turn, putting the visitors in a trailing position at home early on. Fluffina turned a false start replay into 687 for the Torpedoes on the second attack, building their lead significantly. Dustin crumbled at 319 for the Warriors, causing the deficit to grow a bit more with his failed counterattack. Shelley didn't have a great turn with 311, but Infinity remains firmly ahead. Mario answered with 320 for Central, making a tiny gain when they needed a game-changing effort. Mr. Snowman swung 559 for the Torpedoes at the end, icing their offense at a lofty 2043. Noelle didn't even come close with 176 for the Warriors, ending their season on a loss with 1103. Infinity comes up clutch for the 4-3 series win, led by Fluffina in the round.
HP Field, Midland: The Predators fought hard to get here, and now sit Leonardo, while the Hummingbirds choose to rest Charli in a must-win game on the road, a curious decision. Princess put up 487 for Tysini to get things going, a positive attack from the visiting captain. Shawn couldn't get the ball in a groove, ending at 277 for Midland after a sloppy first turn. Leandra belted 726 for the Hummingbirds on the second attack, extending their lead greatly to apply more pressure on the hosts. Rainmane picked up 305 for the Predators, but they are scuffling at the midway mark. Brownie dropped at 289 for Tysini, taking some of the pace out of their frantic attacks. Americus couldn't get Midland any closer, managing just 295 as the hosts are in definite trouble with a player each to go. Paps poked 424 more for the Hummingbirds at the end, setting their final score at 1926. Fuchsia tried to clear two balls at once, sending one too high as she fell with 367, giving the Predators a losing total of 1244. Tysini moves on with a 4-3 series win thanks to the efforts of Leandra, with home field advantage and the Royal Crowns awaiting them in the Quarterfinals.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots have been shaky so far, but will keep the same lineup from a victorious game 6 as A. Charlton sits again, while Stinky is out for the Cascades in game 7. Jasmine popped 755 for Freedom on the first turn, an aggressive start to pace the visitors' early attack. Valencia got beat on a deflection at 216, causing a panic among the Golden fans. Roxy had a simple 376 for the Cascades, potentially leaving them a bit more vulnerable. Dusty tried to rally for the Pilots, but her conservative pace failed her on a bad swing, downing her turn at 274. Nikolai didn't help the Freedom cause at all with his 147, keeping their supporting attacks sloppy. Strut fell at 248 for Golden, making up a little ground, but they will need a massive effort to steal the win on the last turn. Stripes fell at just 69 for the Cascades, leaving them at a total of 1347. Sparkles did everything asked of her and then some with 970 for the Pilots, making the comeback by herself to take the win on a total of 1708. Golden's fans storm the pitch to celebrate the 4-3 series win that has them set to face the Atlantic Pirates in the Quarterfinals, all thanks to Sparkles.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades return to Jason N. sitting out in game 7, while the Defenders leave Hughbert on the bench in the last game of the first round. Bianca showed off some strong batting with 527 for Southridge to begin the scoring. Snowball found an explosive attack for Swordpoint to get them in front with 1053 after the first turn. Debby wouldn't go quietly, taking 476 to keep the Defenders close without covering the deficit outright. Dreamy fired back with 546 for the Blades on their second attack, padding the lead a bit more in the process. Stephanie did alright with 385 for Southridge, but she looked gassed at the end and the visitors remain behind. Bandit likely confirmed series MVP status with 575 for Swordpoint to provide another extension on their lead. Caitlin fell with 467 for the Defenders, a big swing leaving her vulnerable to a low offering that ended her team's season at a loss with 1855. Stealth exited with 223 for the Blades, leaving them to celebrate a third straight win and 4-3 series win at 2397. Swordpoint will have home field advantage against the Infinity Torpedoes in the Quarterfinals.
That's all for the first round. There's no off time, as we'll be back sometime tomorrow with game 1 in the Quarterfinals series. Tournament play follows right now.
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Hutton Cup - First Round, Game 5
Seven series continue to this stage, with a few of them eligible to end here. We begin with...
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles' season is on the line, with their slumping star Puff III sitting out, while the Crowns sit Cassie with a chance to advance. Kayla posted 312 for Royal on the opening turn, a jittery start to the game from the visitors. Goldy answered with 463 for Everton, putting them ahead after the first turn. Jake missed a swing that dipped under his bat, ending at 338 for the Crowns to cover the deficit for now. Cleo had a good pace at first, but she fell apart and ended with 171 for the Eagles, ruining their advantage halfway through the game. Jeremias slugged 1300 for the Crowns, taking advantage of the hosts' weakness to establish a massive lead. Kirstin got beat on a deflection at 155 for Everton, a terrible counterattack outing. Nightfur struck another 407 for the Crowns at the end, capping their offense at 2357. Blizzard tapped 314 for the Eagles, unable to get close as they fall at 1103. Royal takes the series 4-1, but will still lack home-field advantage in the Quarterfinals. Jeremias was the series MVP.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors look to regroup at home with Mario taking rest, while the Torpedoes keep Solaris pinned to the bench after doing well without him. Smudge fell at 171 for Infinity, looking good initially but unable to keep her pace up throughout the turn. Twilight smashed 631 for Central on their first turn, pacing the hosts to a significant lead. Fluffina countered with 504 on the second attack for the Torpedoes, managing to cover the deficit. Dustin offset that damage with 503 for the Warriors, keeping them in control of the game for now. Shelley answered with 504 again for Infinity, putting them narrowly ahead once more. Wings held his own pretty well with 384 for Central, retaining a smaller lead late in the game. Mr. Snowman had 253 for the Torpedoes, leaving them short at 1432 in the loss. Noelle accepted 165 for the Warriors to end the game quickly despite a technical error, giving them a winning total of 1683. Central has the edge 3-2 in the series as they leave home again.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: Elite's Pirates are on the verge of advancing, with Klaus sitting out for rest again, while the Shores have their captain Bear on the bench again. Delila posted 584 for Atlantic right at the start, putting immediate pressure on the hosts. Twinkie III kept things close with 552 for Whitewater, not letting her team go down easily. Isabella managed only 297 for the Pirates on this attack, leaving their lead a bit vulnerable. Marsell matched it with 297 for the Shores, wasting a chance to put them ahead at the midway mark. Steven stepped up with 640 for Atlantic, rebuilding a larger lead for the visitors. Katharine tried to keep up for Whitewater, but fell out at 460 after a couple of awkward swings. Max showed off with 691 for the Pirates, a clutch performance from the veteran to ice their offense at 2212, potentially to help them advance. Shaggy managed 355 for the Shores, falling far short of the mark as they lose with 1664. Atlantic heads off to the Quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win, with the captain Delila doing the largest part.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots and Cascades grapple for control of the series, with the visitors sitting Stripes for rest while the hosts bench Sparkles for performance. Jasmine pulled out of a backhand touch too soon, falling at 367 as Freedom starts off with acceptable form. Valencia looked much better in her return to action with 570 for Golden to give them an early lead. Stinky covered the damage with 433 for the Cascades, but they are far from safe at this point. Dusty accepted 375 rather than push her luck on a technical error replay, keeping the Pilots ahead by a small margin. Roxy contributed 352 for Freedom to cover the deficit this time. Strut covered that with 354 for Golden, keeping things uncomfortably close heading into the final players' turns. Nikolai hauled in 495 for the Cascades at the end, a positive attack to finish their offense at 1647. A. Charlton faltered at 235 for the Pilots, leaving them with a total of 1534 in a stunning home loss. Freedom heads home on the brink of advancing with their 3-2 series lead.
HP Field, Midland: The Predators have Leonardo on the bench for rest, while the Hummingbirds do the same to Brownie in a pivotal game 5 meeting. Princess found an early groove to score 629 for Tysini on the opening turn, a great look from the visiting captain. Shawn got some of it back with 441 for Midland, but they trail early in the game. Leandra covered that with 443 for the Hummingbirds, keeping their lead stable after the second attack. Rainmane couldn't catch up for the Predators, her 304 causing the deficit to grow a little bit midway through the game. Charli flipped 762 more for Tysini, marching their lead higher as the game progresses well for the visitors. Americus collapsed at 272 for Midland, showing some fatigue from her heavy schedule this year. Paps took 276 for the Hummingbirds, their offense resting on 2110 overall. Fuchsia did not challenge the deficit with 311 for the Predators, leaving them to lose with 1328. Tysini takes a 3-2 series lead with them back home, as well as holding all of the momentum.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Jason N. takes the bench for the Blades, while the Defenders are stuck resting Caitlin again on the verge of going through. Bianca had a good pace at first, but fell with 215 for Southridge by the end of the turn. Snowball answered with only 201 for Swordpoint, keeping things close but low-scoring early in the game. Debby took 582 from a technical error replay for the Defenders, boosting their lead a lot on the second attack. Dreamy pounded 811 for the Blades in response, putting the hosts ahead at the halfway mark. Stephanie had only 159 for Southridge on her turn, making a comeback much less likely for them. Bandit churned 386 for Swordpoint, extending their lead a little more before the final players' turns. Hughbert made a push with 424 for the Defenders, leaving them at a total of 1380 in a currently narrow loss. Stealth one-upped his mark with 425 for the Blades, capping their win at 1823 to force another game. Southridge will have to try again at home, currently leading the series 3-2.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers finally rest Midnight after postponing for two games, while the Sharpshooters are shorthanded due to Missy picking up an injury to her finger. Chris had a strong pace to start with, but faltered later on to end at 393 for Capital City. Missy slugged a cool 1004 for Westside on their opening turn to establish a large lead for the hosts. Sprinkles did reasonably well with 377 for the Sharpshooters, but they remain behind at this stage. Goatee showed a relentless attack with 557 for the Rockers, adding nicely to their lead. Lorde faltered with 167 for Capital City on her attack, making a comeback unlikely for them. Slinks did enough with 345 for Westside, maintaining their lead effectively at this point. Pauline's 177 for the Sharpshooters indicates some trouble in depth, leaving them at a losing total of 1114. Cowzart iced the Rockers win with his 136, their total resting at 2042 as their offense continues to grow. Westside has cut the deficit to 3-2, but will face their toughest test in the next game.
That's all for the game 5s. We'll begin the game 6s today on Twitter @UnitedPCL, and any game 7s that come from these will be played on Sunday morning.
Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles' season is on the line, with their slumping star Puff III sitting out, while the Crowns sit Cassie with a chance to advance. Kayla posted 312 for Royal on the opening turn, a jittery start to the game from the visitors. Goldy answered with 463 for Everton, putting them ahead after the first turn. Jake missed a swing that dipped under his bat, ending at 338 for the Crowns to cover the deficit for now. Cleo had a good pace at first, but she fell apart and ended with 171 for the Eagles, ruining their advantage halfway through the game. Jeremias slugged 1300 for the Crowns, taking advantage of the hosts' weakness to establish a massive lead. Kirstin got beat on a deflection at 155 for Everton, a terrible counterattack outing. Nightfur struck another 407 for the Crowns at the end, capping their offense at 2357. Blizzard tapped 314 for the Eagles, unable to get close as they fall at 1103. Royal takes the series 4-1, but will still lack home-field advantage in the Quarterfinals. Jeremias was the series MVP.
Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors look to regroup at home with Mario taking rest, while the Torpedoes keep Solaris pinned to the bench after doing well without him. Smudge fell at 171 for Infinity, looking good initially but unable to keep her pace up throughout the turn. Twilight smashed 631 for Central on their first turn, pacing the hosts to a significant lead. Fluffina countered with 504 on the second attack for the Torpedoes, managing to cover the deficit. Dustin offset that damage with 503 for the Warriors, keeping them in control of the game for now. Shelley answered with 504 again for Infinity, putting them narrowly ahead once more. Wings held his own pretty well with 384 for Central, retaining a smaller lead late in the game. Mr. Snowman had 253 for the Torpedoes, leaving them short at 1432 in the loss. Noelle accepted 165 for the Warriors to end the game quickly despite a technical error, giving them a winning total of 1683. Central has the edge 3-2 in the series as they leave home again.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: Elite's Pirates are on the verge of advancing, with Klaus sitting out for rest again, while the Shores have their captain Bear on the bench again. Delila posted 584 for Atlantic right at the start, putting immediate pressure on the hosts. Twinkie III kept things close with 552 for Whitewater, not letting her team go down easily. Isabella managed only 297 for the Pirates on this attack, leaving their lead a bit vulnerable. Marsell matched it with 297 for the Shores, wasting a chance to put them ahead at the midway mark. Steven stepped up with 640 for Atlantic, rebuilding a larger lead for the visitors. Katharine tried to keep up for Whitewater, but fell out at 460 after a couple of awkward swings. Max showed off with 691 for the Pirates, a clutch performance from the veteran to ice their offense at 2212, potentially to help them advance. Shaggy managed 355 for the Shores, falling far short of the mark as they lose with 1664. Atlantic heads off to the Quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win, with the captain Delila doing the largest part.
Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots and Cascades grapple for control of the series, with the visitors sitting Stripes for rest while the hosts bench Sparkles for performance. Jasmine pulled out of a backhand touch too soon, falling at 367 as Freedom starts off with acceptable form. Valencia looked much better in her return to action with 570 for Golden to give them an early lead. Stinky covered the damage with 433 for the Cascades, but they are far from safe at this point. Dusty accepted 375 rather than push her luck on a technical error replay, keeping the Pilots ahead by a small margin. Roxy contributed 352 for Freedom to cover the deficit this time. Strut covered that with 354 for Golden, keeping things uncomfortably close heading into the final players' turns. Nikolai hauled in 495 for the Cascades at the end, a positive attack to finish their offense at 1647. A. Charlton faltered at 235 for the Pilots, leaving them with a total of 1534 in a stunning home loss. Freedom heads home on the brink of advancing with their 3-2 series lead.
HP Field, Midland: The Predators have Leonardo on the bench for rest, while the Hummingbirds do the same to Brownie in a pivotal game 5 meeting. Princess found an early groove to score 629 for Tysini on the opening turn, a great look from the visiting captain. Shawn got some of it back with 441 for Midland, but they trail early in the game. Leandra covered that with 443 for the Hummingbirds, keeping their lead stable after the second attack. Rainmane couldn't catch up for the Predators, her 304 causing the deficit to grow a little bit midway through the game. Charli flipped 762 more for Tysini, marching their lead higher as the game progresses well for the visitors. Americus collapsed at 272 for Midland, showing some fatigue from her heavy schedule this year. Paps took 276 for the Hummingbirds, their offense resting on 2110 overall. Fuchsia did not challenge the deficit with 311 for the Predators, leaving them to lose with 1328. Tysini takes a 3-2 series lead with them back home, as well as holding all of the momentum.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Jason N. takes the bench for the Blades, while the Defenders are stuck resting Caitlin again on the verge of going through. Bianca had a good pace at first, but fell with 215 for Southridge by the end of the turn. Snowball answered with only 201 for Swordpoint, keeping things close but low-scoring early in the game. Debby took 582 from a technical error replay for the Defenders, boosting their lead a lot on the second attack. Dreamy pounded 811 for the Blades in response, putting the hosts ahead at the halfway mark. Stephanie had only 159 for Southridge on her turn, making a comeback much less likely for them. Bandit churned 386 for Swordpoint, extending their lead a little more before the final players' turns. Hughbert made a push with 424 for the Defenders, leaving them at a total of 1380 in a currently narrow loss. Stealth one-upped his mark with 425 for the Blades, capping their win at 1823 to force another game. Southridge will have to try again at home, currently leading the series 3-2.
BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers finally rest Midnight after postponing for two games, while the Sharpshooters are shorthanded due to Missy picking up an injury to her finger. Chris had a strong pace to start with, but faltered later on to end at 393 for Capital City. Missy slugged a cool 1004 for Westside on their opening turn to establish a large lead for the hosts. Sprinkles did reasonably well with 377 for the Sharpshooters, but they remain behind at this stage. Goatee showed a relentless attack with 557 for the Rockers, adding nicely to their lead. Lorde faltered with 167 for Capital City on her attack, making a comeback unlikely for them. Slinks did enough with 345 for Westside, maintaining their lead effectively at this point. Pauline's 177 for the Sharpshooters indicates some trouble in depth, leaving them at a losing total of 1114. Cowzart iced the Rockers win with his 136, their total resting at 2042 as their offense continues to grow. Westside has cut the deficit to 3-2, but will face their toughest test in the next game.
That's all for the game 5s. We'll begin the game 6s today on Twitter @UnitedPCL, and any game 7s that come from these will be played on Sunday morning.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Tournament 2018 - Round 2 Day 14
We've got another standard set of games for today's action, beginning with...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Luigi. The blue cue is up for a series of 8-ball to lead off the day. Swordpoint's Jason had the better start in game 1, building up a sizable lead before sparring with North Modernistic's Luigi over the later turns. Luigi made a three-ball run to get closer, but Jason eventually corralled the 8 to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi struck first in game 2, but also made two balls for the Blades' Jason before Jason potted anything. Luigi got on track later in the game, winning with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 before Jason could counterattack. Game 3 saw another slow start, albeit with better breaks than the first two games. Jason and Luigi kept things close until the end, where Jason's three-ball run and subsequent potting of the 8 closed Luigi out. Jason won the series 2-1 to get into the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Anton. The host begins a personal doubleheader with this Accuracy series using the blue cue. Todavía's Anton went to great lengths to overcome an early deficit in game 1, forcing Pearl's Beth into two misses late in the game. Anton then undid his hard work with a miss on the last ball, which Beth made to win 3-4, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth had another solid break in game 2, and she managed to stay a step ahead of the Stills' Anton throughout the game. Beth only briefly fell into a tie with a bad miss, and Anton missed his next shot to restore her lead. Beth took the win on another 3-4 result to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a similar pace of play, but Anton held on when Beth tripped up late in the game, forcing overtime. Beth's overtime break was empty, and Anton converted a shot to win 2-3. Beth takes the series 2-1, and will host her third round series.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Beth. The visitor completes her doubleheader against a captain in 7-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Misty made two balls on the break, but saw a close game after that, with Pearl's Beth picking up the last two shots to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth wasted no time in securing the series, winning game 2 on the break as the 4 went to the bottom right and the 7 soared to the top left for the win. Beth leads the Rockers' Misty 2-0 in the series now. Beth brought game 3 to an early end again, capitalizing on a scratch from Misty to make the 3-7 combination from ball-in-hand. The home fans were displeased, but Beth walked away with a 3-0 sweep to earn a visitor spot in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Citrus. Two veterans meet after the lunch break in 8-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus had a couple of short bursts of offense to propel her to the game 1 win, holding off a flatter effort from Modernistic's Puff I toward the end of the game. Citrus leads the series 1-0. The Union's Puff I came back stronger in game 2, running circles around the Gems' Citrus for most of the game. Puff I even had a scratch during her performance, still getting the win on a short run at the end to tie the series at 1. Puff I and Citrus combined for a close game 3, with both players showing their skills at various times. A scratch near the end cost Puff I her chance at the win, as Citrus made the last two shots right after that to take the series win at 2-1. Citrus will host Stonebridge Wolves rookie Vladimir in the third round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Slinks. Quiet veterans meet in 9-ball, also using the blue cue. Westside's Slinks had a great turn in game 1, and seemed to have an edge throughout, topping Capital City's Missy at the end with a well-crafted four-ball run-out. Slinks holds a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks tried to deflect a shot off the 2 to drive the 9 to the top right early in the game, but it failed. The Sharpshooters' Missy would be the next to take a look, making the 3-9 combination to the top right but also scratching to gift the win and the 2-0 series lead to Slinks. Game 3 saw an even bigger performance by Slinks, who did well early on and then unleashed a five-ball run-out at the end to claim the win against an ailing Missy. Slinks swept the series 3-0, and will visit the Golden Pilots' A. Charlton in round three.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Bear. A star meets a struggling captain for 10-ball with the red cue. This Industrial Derby series started heavily in favor of Commerce's Taylor, who scratched on the break but also had a run and won on a 9-10 combination after Whitewater's Bear couldn't sustain any offense late in the game. Taylor is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Taylor remained strong on offense early in game 2, but she did let the Shores' Bear make an attack. Bear's plays fizzled out on the 4, leading to Taylor making a difficult spinning kick combination that sent the 4-10 to the top right for the win as called. Taylor's dazzling highlight clinched the series for her at 2-0. Taylor did not have her best effort in game 3, allowing a lot more possession for Bear. This culminated in Bear making two shots at the end to grab the win. Taylor won the series 2-1 and will host the Midland Predators' Leonardo in the third round. Bear is officially out of the Tournament, the third player to fall, with the new Taylor striking for her first kill.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Zach. Now the Eastern Hills gets the spotlight, with another 8-ball series using the blue cue. Pronger's Zach had a strong start with a four-ball run in game 1, but he faded later on with a scratch, allowing Eastside's Graham to take the win on a three-ball run-out. Graham has a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Graham had a couple of scratches in game 2, and the Tridents' Zach had a strong defensive presence, but Graham still assembled a timely four-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Graham sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Graham showed off a bit in the middle of game 3, but had trouble approaching the finish. Zach had an aggressive attempt at making a late run, but it ended with him illegally potting the 8 to gift a win to Graham, who took the series in a 3-0 sweep. Graham will be the host in his third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shiny. The red cue steps in again for some Accuracy. Game 1 started with a ball on the break from Victoria's Yekaterina, who suffered some late misses. Web City's Shiny gained and gave away the last shot advantage, eventually winning 4-5 after each player missed twice on the last ball. The Spiders' Shiny put together a solid performance in game 2 after a rough start, watching as the Spurs' Yekaterina crumbled later in the game. Yekaterina missed on the last ball, and Shiny potted it on her first try, securing the 4-5 win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went much faster and cleaner than the previous two, with Yekaterina nearly playing a perfect effort. Shiny had a couple of tough misses, giving Yekaterina the 1-2 win to make it a 2-1 series. Shiny will return home and host the Swordpoint Blades' Dreamy in round three.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Klaus. A rising veteran meets a hotshot sophomore when the blue cue gets a look in 10-ball. Atlantic's Klaus had a pair of three-ball runs during game 1, giving him a distinct edge in possession and helping him to defeat Tysini's Brownie pretty handily. Klaus owns a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus looked to be on the hunt for another win in game 2 until his glancing kick combination attempt on the 4-10 failed. The Hummingbirds' Brownie soon took over the pace, winning with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Brownie had a good break in game 3, dangling the 10 near the top right. Klaus had a couple of attempts toward it, but Brownie took the win controversially on a 3-10 combination to the top right that detractors say clipped the 9 before the 3. Brownie nonetheless won the series 2-1, and will host the Oceanside Waves' Celestia in their third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Chimpy. The red cue takes its last appearance of the day in 12-ball. Modernistic's Chimpy had a four-ball run at one stage of game 1, and established defense later on, but Oceanside's Snuggle made a cut after Chimpy couldn't convert his last ball with a wild-card ball advantage. Snuggle's good cut earned him a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy thought he had another good performance going in game 2, but he faltered late again, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to rally back in better position. Snuggle used this advantage well, picking up the win and securing the series at 2-0. Snuggle started with a three-ball run from the break in game 3, and while Chimpy made some progress, Snuggle finished the game just after Chimpy covered the initial run. Snuggle swept the series 3-0, and will host his third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Avril Lavigne v. Ted. The day ends with a venue doubleheader, the first half of that being 15-ball with the blue cue. Southern's Avril had a slightly sharper game 1 performance than Web City's Ted, besting the visitor in the end with a three-ball run-out after holding a slight possession edge. Avril is up 1-0 in the series. The Monarchs' Avril looked good again in game 2, but the Spiders' Ted intervened with a near make on the 2-15 combination to the top right. Rattled, Avril missed on the 2, and Ted made the 2-3-15 combination to the top right with a helpful deflection off the 11. Ted's winning shot tied the series at 1. The 15 found itself under siege right from Ted's game 3 break, which put it near the bottom right. Both players had plenty of chances to pot it, until the chase ended on Avril's deflected shot off the 12 that sank the 15 in the top right while narrowly missing a double-pot. Avril claimed the series 2-1, and will visit a Coastal rival, the Oceanside Waves' Celestia, in the third round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Stealth. The blue cue ends the day with a series of 12-ball. Southern's Pounce had a four-ball run from the break in game 1, and then took two balls on his last turn despite Swordpoint's Stealth spending some time to play defense. Pounce's fast win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce brought fire on the game 2 break, but he couldn't get positioning on his last ball, forcing him to take a strategic scratch. The strategy failed, as the Blades' Stealth roared back on a three-ball run-out to claim the win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Game 3 brought plenty of energy on both sides, with Pounce prevailing after a close battle saw an opening for him to make a three-ball run-out. Pounce's strong conversions there gave him a 2-1 series win to propel this bid to the third round.
That's it for this session of games. We will return with Tournament play on Monday, while the weekend will see us close out the Hutton Cup first round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Luigi. The blue cue is up for a series of 8-ball to lead off the day. Swordpoint's Jason had the better start in game 1, building up a sizable lead before sparring with North Modernistic's Luigi over the later turns. Luigi made a three-ball run to get closer, but Jason eventually corralled the 8 to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi struck first in game 2, but also made two balls for the Blades' Jason before Jason potted anything. Luigi got on track later in the game, winning with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 before Jason could counterattack. Game 3 saw another slow start, albeit with better breaks than the first two games. Jason and Luigi kept things close until the end, where Jason's three-ball run and subsequent potting of the 8 closed Luigi out. Jason won the series 2-1 to get into the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Anton. The host begins a personal doubleheader with this Accuracy series using the blue cue. Todavía's Anton went to great lengths to overcome an early deficit in game 1, forcing Pearl's Beth into two misses late in the game. Anton then undid his hard work with a miss on the last ball, which Beth made to win 3-4, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth had another solid break in game 2, and she managed to stay a step ahead of the Stills' Anton throughout the game. Beth only briefly fell into a tie with a bad miss, and Anton missed his next shot to restore her lead. Beth took the win on another 3-4 result to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a similar pace of play, but Anton held on when Beth tripped up late in the game, forcing overtime. Beth's overtime break was empty, and Anton converted a shot to win 2-3. Beth takes the series 2-1, and will host her third round series.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Beth. The visitor completes her doubleheader against a captain in 7-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Misty made two balls on the break, but saw a close game after that, with Pearl's Beth picking up the last two shots to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth wasted no time in securing the series, winning game 2 on the break as the 4 went to the bottom right and the 7 soared to the top left for the win. Beth leads the Rockers' Misty 2-0 in the series now. Beth brought game 3 to an early end again, capitalizing on a scratch from Misty to make the 3-7 combination from ball-in-hand. The home fans were displeased, but Beth walked away with a 3-0 sweep to earn a visitor spot in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Citrus. Two veterans meet after the lunch break in 8-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus had a couple of short bursts of offense to propel her to the game 1 win, holding off a flatter effort from Modernistic's Puff I toward the end of the game. Citrus leads the series 1-0. The Union's Puff I came back stronger in game 2, running circles around the Gems' Citrus for most of the game. Puff I even had a scratch during her performance, still getting the win on a short run at the end to tie the series at 1. Puff I and Citrus combined for a close game 3, with both players showing their skills at various times. A scratch near the end cost Puff I her chance at the win, as Citrus made the last two shots right after that to take the series win at 2-1. Citrus will host Stonebridge Wolves rookie Vladimir in the third round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Slinks. Quiet veterans meet in 9-ball, also using the blue cue. Westside's Slinks had a great turn in game 1, and seemed to have an edge throughout, topping Capital City's Missy at the end with a well-crafted four-ball run-out. Slinks holds a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks tried to deflect a shot off the 2 to drive the 9 to the top right early in the game, but it failed. The Sharpshooters' Missy would be the next to take a look, making the 3-9 combination to the top right but also scratching to gift the win and the 2-0 series lead to Slinks. Game 3 saw an even bigger performance by Slinks, who did well early on and then unleashed a five-ball run-out at the end to claim the win against an ailing Missy. Slinks swept the series 3-0, and will visit the Golden Pilots' A. Charlton in round three.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Bear. A star meets a struggling captain for 10-ball with the red cue. This Industrial Derby series started heavily in favor of Commerce's Taylor, who scratched on the break but also had a run and won on a 9-10 combination after Whitewater's Bear couldn't sustain any offense late in the game. Taylor is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Taylor remained strong on offense early in game 2, but she did let the Shores' Bear make an attack. Bear's plays fizzled out on the 4, leading to Taylor making a difficult spinning kick combination that sent the 4-10 to the top right for the win as called. Taylor's dazzling highlight clinched the series for her at 2-0. Taylor did not have her best effort in game 3, allowing a lot more possession for Bear. This culminated in Bear making two shots at the end to grab the win. Taylor won the series 2-1 and will host the Midland Predators' Leonardo in the third round. Bear is officially out of the Tournament, the third player to fall, with the new Taylor striking for her first kill.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Zach. Now the Eastern Hills gets the spotlight, with another 8-ball series using the blue cue. Pronger's Zach had a strong start with a four-ball run in game 1, but he faded later on with a scratch, allowing Eastside's Graham to take the win on a three-ball run-out. Graham has a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Graham had a couple of scratches in game 2, and the Tridents' Zach had a strong defensive presence, but Graham still assembled a timely four-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Graham sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Graham showed off a bit in the middle of game 3, but had trouble approaching the finish. Zach had an aggressive attempt at making a late run, but it ended with him illegally potting the 8 to gift a win to Graham, who took the series in a 3-0 sweep. Graham will be the host in his third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shiny. The red cue steps in again for some Accuracy. Game 1 started with a ball on the break from Victoria's Yekaterina, who suffered some late misses. Web City's Shiny gained and gave away the last shot advantage, eventually winning 4-5 after each player missed twice on the last ball. The Spiders' Shiny put together a solid performance in game 2 after a rough start, watching as the Spurs' Yekaterina crumbled later in the game. Yekaterina missed on the last ball, and Shiny potted it on her first try, securing the 4-5 win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went much faster and cleaner than the previous two, with Yekaterina nearly playing a perfect effort. Shiny had a couple of tough misses, giving Yekaterina the 1-2 win to make it a 2-1 series. Shiny will return home and host the Swordpoint Blades' Dreamy in round three.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Klaus. A rising veteran meets a hotshot sophomore when the blue cue gets a look in 10-ball. Atlantic's Klaus had a pair of three-ball runs during game 1, giving him a distinct edge in possession and helping him to defeat Tysini's Brownie pretty handily. Klaus owns a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus looked to be on the hunt for another win in game 2 until his glancing kick combination attempt on the 4-10 failed. The Hummingbirds' Brownie soon took over the pace, winning with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Brownie had a good break in game 3, dangling the 10 near the top right. Klaus had a couple of attempts toward it, but Brownie took the win controversially on a 3-10 combination to the top right that detractors say clipped the 9 before the 3. Brownie nonetheless won the series 2-1, and will host the Oceanside Waves' Celestia in their third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Chimpy. The red cue takes its last appearance of the day in 12-ball. Modernistic's Chimpy had a four-ball run at one stage of game 1, and established defense later on, but Oceanside's Snuggle made a cut after Chimpy couldn't convert his last ball with a wild-card ball advantage. Snuggle's good cut earned him a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy thought he had another good performance going in game 2, but he faltered late again, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to rally back in better position. Snuggle used this advantage well, picking up the win and securing the series at 2-0. Snuggle started with a three-ball run from the break in game 3, and while Chimpy made some progress, Snuggle finished the game just after Chimpy covered the initial run. Snuggle swept the series 3-0, and will host his third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Avril Lavigne v. Ted. The day ends with a venue doubleheader, the first half of that being 15-ball with the blue cue. Southern's Avril had a slightly sharper game 1 performance than Web City's Ted, besting the visitor in the end with a three-ball run-out after holding a slight possession edge. Avril is up 1-0 in the series. The Monarchs' Avril looked good again in game 2, but the Spiders' Ted intervened with a near make on the 2-15 combination to the top right. Rattled, Avril missed on the 2, and Ted made the 2-3-15 combination to the top right with a helpful deflection off the 11. Ted's winning shot tied the series at 1. The 15 found itself under siege right from Ted's game 3 break, which put it near the bottom right. Both players had plenty of chances to pot it, until the chase ended on Avril's deflected shot off the 12 that sank the 15 in the top right while narrowly missing a double-pot. Avril claimed the series 2-1, and will visit a Coastal rival, the Oceanside Waves' Celestia, in the third round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Stealth. The blue cue ends the day with a series of 12-ball. Southern's Pounce had a four-ball run from the break in game 1, and then took two balls on his last turn despite Swordpoint's Stealth spending some time to play defense. Pounce's fast win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce brought fire on the game 2 break, but he couldn't get positioning on his last ball, forcing him to take a strategic scratch. The strategy failed, as the Blades' Stealth roared back on a three-ball run-out to claim the win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Game 3 brought plenty of energy on both sides, with Pounce prevailing after a close battle saw an opening for him to make a three-ball run-out. Pounce's strong conversions there gave him a 2-1 series win to propel this bid to the third round.
That's it for this session of games. We will return with Tournament play on Monday, while the weekend will see us close out the Hutton Cup first round.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)