Premier Cricket 2019 - Week 1

The top division of UPCL cricket is ready to start their season today, beginning with...

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots have Sparkles on the bench for the home opener, while the Pirates start their first season in Premier with newcomer sophomore Jason N. sitting out game 1. Delila opened with 418 for Atlantic, the captain doing just fine in her first turn of the year. Valencia replied with 670 for Golden, showing great power with her swings to put the hosts ahead. Isabella fell at 337 for the Pirates, her pace going well until she took an awkward and late swing. Dusty kept the Pilots attack dangerously effective, smashing 708 to boost their lead at the midway mark. Steven butchered his turn badly for Atlantic, scoring only 12 points in an awful debut to the season. Strut went with a fantastic pace as he launched 729 for Golden, who are looking very confident in their home opener. Klaus had the right pace but the wrong swinging angle, collapsing at 230 as the Pirates take a loss with 997. Max did alright with 330 against his former team, capping the Pilots' win at 2437. Golden proved themselves well to start the year 1-0, while Atlantic has a lot of work to do after beginning 0-1.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators are the next original Premier side to host a promoted club. Americus will sit for the hosts, while the visiting Torpedoes sit their newcomer Hughbert. Smudge didn't waste time for Infinity, her 665 setting the tone right from the start of the game. Shawn couldn't match the intensity with only 270 for Midland, a disappointing first appearance of the year. Fluffina looked good at first, but the Torpedoes' new regular #2 hitter ended with 245 after a bad swing. Rainmane cut into the deficit with 544 for the Predators, keeping things close in the middle of the game. Shelley stumbled at 80 points for Infinity, flicking a ball too high that leave the visitors vulnerable. Fuchsia did her part well for Midland, contributing 391 to pull them ahead with a player each to go. Mr. Snowman found a good groove with 586 for the Torpedoes, setting their final score at 1576. Kitty couldn't get the Predators positive again, as the rookie's 202 cost them the game with a losing total of 1407. Infinity escapes with an exciting 1-0 record, while Midland starts at 0-1.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Pirates' second game of the year sees them sit Steven after his bad first game, while the Blades open the season sitting Stealth, who they want active at home. Snowball didn't get off to a great start for Swordpoint, hitting a mild 272 on the first turn. Delila lacked pace as well for Atlantic, posting 256 to keep things close initially. Dreamy produced a meager 81 for the Blades, keeping the low-scoring theme going. Isabella went in the other direction, poking 441 to give the Pirates a noticeable advantage. Bandit had 295 for Swordpoint on his turn, which wasn't enough to cover the deficit against the visitors. Klaus matched the performance with 297 for Atlantic, an unimpressive but sufficient response. Sugar forced a response with 535 for the Blades, making a good first impression on her new team to bring their final to 1183. Jason N. did fine with 405 for the Pirates against his former team, giving the hosts a win at 1399. Atlantic didn't play the cleanest game, but they improve to 1-1 while Swordpoint heads home with an 0-1 record.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades return home to complete this two-game set, sitting Dreamy to kick off a seven-game home stand, while the Pirates sit Klaus for performance. Delila rounded a bit more into form with 456 for Atlantic to lead off the rematch. Snowball answered with 519 for Swordpoint, as both captains look much better on this pitch. Isabella remains very strong this season, covering the deficit easily with her 497 for the Pirates. Bandit covered that damage with 518, helping the Blades maintain a thin lead at the halfway point. Steven tried to bounce back for Atlantic, but his 160 didn't do the visitors any favors in this game. Stealth proved why he is such a good depth attacker, belting 894 for Swordpoint to give them a massive lead. Jason N. couldn't save the Pirates this time, scoring only 144 as they take the road loss at 1257. Sugar provided another big turn with 605 for the Blades, their winning total resting at 2536. Swordpoint gets back to an even record at 1-1, while Atlantic slips back to 1-2.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades will sit Dreamy again after success in the last game, while Kirstin rests for the Eagles team with a dramatically altered lineup. Goldy still leads off for Everton, and she did well to take 550 on the first turn in their opening game of the year. Snowball got most of it back with 511 for Swordpoint, a strong response from the hosting captain. Bear made a mess of the second attack for his new Eagles team, hitting only 144 as their lead becomes vulnerable. Bandit countered with 480 for the Blades, an excellent answer to put the hosts ahead. Cleo ripped 782 for Everton this time, forcing the hosts to keep their guard up. Stealth got most of it back with 711 for Swordpoint, a fantastic response to maintain their lead. Puff III's first turn at a 3/4 role ended with a poor 80 points, leaving the Eagles at a loss with 1556. Sugar tacked on 321 for the Blades at the end, capping their win at 2023. Swordpoint rises to 2-1, looking quite formidable already, while Everton starts the year at 0-1 as they try to find some team chemistry.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles will sit Puff III after her rough first appearance, while the Shores' season opener sees sophomore Katharine take a seat in the first game. Marsell crushed 936 for Whitewater in his first-ever turn as their lead-off hitter. Goldy did well with 577, recovering well over half of the deficit. Twinkie III returned to her usual spot and hit 441 for the Shores, supplementing their lead fairly well. Bear shot back with 472 for the Eagles, performing well against the team he captained for six years. Shaggy had an acceptable 366 for Whitewater, causing the visitors' lead to lose a little steam on a second consecutive turn. Cleo tried to make a push, but scooped only 376 for Everton, which barely shrinks the deficit late in the game. Rosalina hit 329 for the Shores at the end, giving them a total of 2072. Kirstin came up drastically short, hitting a pathetic 50 as the Eagles lose with 1475. Whitewater wins the emotional match to get to 1-0, while Everton's still got questions to answer at 0-2.

Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Shores continue their early road trip, sitting Rosalina as they face a new-look Hummingbirds team that will have Paps on the bench for their home opener. Marsell had a much weaker second game, hitting only 115 for Whitewater in an ugly start this time. Tysini looked justified in trying their rookie Sarah at lead-off, as she hit 376 to give them the initial lead. Twinkie III gave the Shores a more threatening offense with 631 on the second attack. Leandra lost some of the lead for the Hummingbirds, but her 527 keeps them ahead halfway through the game. Shaggy forced the hosts to stay sharp, providing 434 for Whitewater to cover the deficit again. Charli didn't meet the challenge well, her 274 for Tysini leaving them at a deficit of three points as the final players come to bat. Katharine showed some resentment for being benched in the first game, hammering 828 for the Shores to secure a spot in the lineup going forward, with their final score sitting at 2008. Vincent didn't go quietly for the Hummingbirds, his rally falling short at 607 to leave the hosts at 1784. The exciting game sees Whitewater rise to 2-0, while Tysini starts the year 0-1.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades will give Sugar a hard-earned rest in this meeting, while the Predators sit rookie Kitty after a lackluster first game. Shawn had a fantastic pace ruined by one high swing, ending at 228 as the Midland captain scuffles again. Snowball answered with 589 for Swordpoint, showing grace and force on the home team's opening attack. Rainmane missed a swing and ended at 300 for the Predators, who failed to cover the deficit. Dreamy lined another 572 for the Blades, making her return to the lineup count positively for her team. Americus got distracted for Midland, falling with a paltry 33 points as the visitors have shown almost no fight from the start of the game. Bandit didn't do so well with only 209 for Swordpoint in this appearance, but their lead is not in immediate danger. Fuchsia served up 285 to finish a weak game from the Predators at a losing total of 846. Stealth had a pacey but short 216 for the Blades to cap their win at 1586, which shows a bit of fatigue for them. Swordpoint is now 3-1, while Midland sinks to 0-2.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The first Generations Derby of the year sees the Warriors sit their rookie Andrew while the Pilots bench newcomer Max for the vicious rivalry match. Valencia started a bit slow, but picked up the pace later in the turn to record 692 for Golden in a strong outing. Twilight answered with 567 for Central, keeping things close on the first turn. Dusty wiped that out with 584 for the Pilots, her excellent pace creating the positive turn. Dustin tried a similar strategy, but fell at 484 for the Warriors, losing a critical bit of ground at the halfway mark. Strut took more conservative swings to compile his 544 for Golden, keeping the visitors in charge for another turn. Wings kept it close with 506, but Central has been unable to win a turn so far. Sparkles did alright with 441 for the Pilots, icing their offense at 2261. Noelle made a push with 541 for the Warriors, but came up short as they lost with 2098. The exciting game sees Golden up to 2-0, while Central starts the year 0-1.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators return home with their captain Shawn on the bench, while Kirstin sits again for the second time on the road this season for the Eagles. Goldy tipped a swing backward, ending her turn at 684 for Everton, a strong and pacey start from the visiting captain. Rainmane made a rare lead-off appearance, hitting 450 for Midland for a respectable response. Bear shot back with 384 for the Eagles, weakening their lead a little bit in the process. Americus couldn't get it together for the Predators here, taking just 164 as the hosts slip farther behind. Cleo blasted 1417 for Everton on her turn, a merciless attack that almost guarantees the visitors a win. Fuchsia crumbled at 130 for Midland, erasing any hope of a realistic comeback. Puff III capped the Eagles' likely win with 606 individually, for a total of 3091. Kitty popped a good 523 for the Predators, assuring herself a starting spot in their next game after this loss at 1267. Everton rises to 1-2, while Midland has looked lost in a 0-3 start.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades sit Bandit for rest in the last game of their five-game week, while the Swifts' season debut sees Puff II on the bench. Patches picked up right where she left off last season, pummeling 779 for Boston on the opening turn. Snowball held her ground well with 561 for Swordpoint, but they will start this game behind. Gradley looked as good as his captain, piling on with 764 as the Swifts assert themselves quite well. Dreamy couldn't handle the pressure, falling at 195 for the Blades as the hosts can't handle their visitors after a long week. Sweetheart supplied another 635 for Boston, showing no mercy to an overwhelmed opponent. Stealth dropped at 225, the beginnings of a slump a point of concern for Swordpoint. Ice Cream exploded with 900 for the Swifts at the end, finishing a massive win at 3078. Sugar took 260 for the Blades, exiting the game quickly as they lost with 1241. Boston looks every bit of a champion team in starting 1-0, while Swordpoint is happy at 3-2 after a busy opening week to the season.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators host the Rockers for the final game of Week 1, with the hosts sitting Americus while the visitors put their newcomer Chimpy on the bench. Misty kept a steady pace, clobbering 782 for Westside as the visitors get off to a good start. Shawn finally snapped out of his slump with 579 for Midland, attempting to keep the score close after the first turn. Slinks did not protect the Rockers lead well, a mediocre 232 all she could manage from her new 1/2 hitting position. Rainmane took advantage with 620 for the Predators, the firm attack pulling them ahead in the game. Goatee kept the pressure on the hosts with 677 for Westside, her shuffle back to a 2/3 position doing well as she covers the deficit. Fuchsia responded with 426 for Midland in her first truly good appearance of the year, although the hosts trail again slightly. Midnight lost her touch as the turn went on, causing her to exit at 346 as the Rockers close with 2037. Kitty came up just short at 392 for the Predators, sending them to another loss at 2017. Midland's 0-4 start is a cause for concern, while Westside feels thankful to escape a challenging game at 1-0.

That's all for Week 1 in UPCL cricket 2019. We will return with games likely on Sunday, while I am expecting the beginning of the Heart of the Game 13-ball Tournament on Monday. This preseason pool event should run at least through the end of the month.

Elite Cricket 2019 - Week 1

As promised, the first week of the Elite season is here, played on January 2. We begin with...

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The promoted Crowns will sit Cassie in their first Elite game, while the demoted Knights have Quincy on the bench to start his sophomore season. Kiwi wasted no time in challenging the hosts, paddling 550 for Terrace City on the opening turn. Kayla answered with a solid 429 for Royal on their first turn, keeping them within striking distance. Jennifer put up 392 for the Knights, faltering on her pace at times as she let some swings drop. Jake had a good turn going, but he sent a ball sky-high, ending at 314 as the Crowns slip farther behind. Oreo provided a steady hand in the middle of Terrace City's lineup, recording 503 to add nicely to their lead. Nightfur missed a low swing, watching it slip under her bat to end her turn at 177 in a disappointing start to the year for Royal's captain. Melissa piled on with 624 for the Knights, setting them on track to win with 2069. Brownie had an alright 274 in her Crowns debut, leaving them in a loss with 1194. Terrace City goes to 1-0 in their first game at a lower division, while Royal is 0-1 and realizing the challenges Elite presents that Select did not.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades also have their home opener against the Knights, with Stinky sitting for the hosts while Jennifer takes a turn on the bench for the visitors. Kiwi matched her last performance, taking 550 and only ending when a ball hopped over her bat to take the wicket. Jasmine had the pace to threaten the visitors, but a high swing cut her off at 487 as Freedom starts from behind. Oreo fired back with 472 for the Knights, looking very comfortable in the second hitting position. Roxy showed no fear, carrying the Cascades ahead with her 603 to bring the game to half-completion. Quincy shot back with 589 for Terrace City, emboldened by his pool success and a desire to be a more complete player this year. Nikolai busted at 180 for Freedom, the strongman unable to keep his swing down, which cost his team dearly. Melissa tacked on 379 at the end, a weaker turn that gives the Knights a final score of 1990. Stripes just covered that damage with 382, unable to push on as the Cascades take the loss with 1652. Terrace City looks like a dangerous road team with a 2-0 record, while Freedom starts the year at 0-1 before heading on the road to finish a doubleheader.

Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes have taken a step down to Elite, sitting their newcomer Cowzart against the promoted Cascades, who test the road with Nikolai sitting here. Jasmine exploded for 874 for Freedom on the opening turn, as the former Select team is having no trouble scoring in Elite. Starlight couldn't settle a ball on her backhand, falling at 336 as Pacific will have a lot of work to do here. Roxy added a supporting 625 for the Cascades on their second attack, boosting their lead nicely. Ms. Kitty managed 305 after a false start, lacking a higher pace for the Volcanoes. Stripes scattered another 569 for Freedom, her unconventional swing working wonders to support her team's lead. Twinkie I fell in line with the rest of Pacific, collecting 312 points in an acceptable turn. Stinky provided 700 for the Cascades, a menacing finish that ices their final score at 2768. Leonette looked sharper than the rest of her Volcanoes teammates, scoring 376 to cap their loss at 1329. Freedom evens their record at 1-1, while Pacific starts at a poor 0-1 with little to be happy about.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds also begin the year with a doubleheader, sitting Taylor S. against the Defenders, who put their newcomer Wario on the bench in their first road game. Bianca had a good pace going for Southridge before a high hit cut her off at 256. Tigerette tried to play aggressive, but ended up with only 130 when she sent a ball out of play, giving Commerce a weak start. Debby swung too early for the Defenders, wasting her turn with just 96 points as this game starts off slow. Solaris impressed for the Tradewinds in his first game since being traded by the Torpedoes, racking up 820 to give the hosts a distinct mid-game lead. Stephanie tried to answer that, but ended up at 214 after a poor swing ended her turn early for Southridge. Niki anchored the other half of the game for Commerce, rallying with 702 to extend their lead greatly. Caitlin managed 324 for the Defenders at the end, but they suffered a hard loss at 890. Rosemary supplied another 564 for the Tradewinds at the end, bringing their winning total to 2216. Commerce looked fantastic in getting to 1-0, while Southridge is also finding it difficult being promoted from Select, starting 0-1 on the year.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Waves have their home opener with Jason V. on the bench against a Tradewinds team sitting Tigerette but looking much improved from last year. Solaris looked good with 447 for Commerce in a rare lead-off appearance. Snuggle replied with 514 for Oceanside, beginning with a high pace but fading later in the turn. Taylor S. started off alright but ended at 353 for the Tradewinds, unable to build a stronger turn. Celestia covered that with 361 for the Waves, maintaining their mild lead at the midway mark. Niki charged forward with 509 for Commerce, trying to help the visitor fight back in the second half. Josie matched it with 506 for Oceanside, keeping them ahead by the thin margin again. Rosemary fell at just 80 points for the Tradewinds, leaving them at 1389, which forces only a tiny response from the hosts. Dewey did plenty with 755 for the Waves, capping their win at 2136. Oceanside looks good at 1-0 to start the year, while Commerce slips back to 1-1 with the road loss.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights' last game of the week sees them sit Melissa for their home opener, while the Defenders bench Debby after a disappointing first game. Bianca was better for Southridge this time, leading off with 425 in an even-keeled performance. Kiwi crushed an even 1200 in response for Terrace City, the highest score of the season across the league. Stephanie fired back with 605 for the Defenders, using great pace to build her attack. Her older sister, Jennifer, took a nosedive with only 150 for the Knights, continuing her rough start to the year. Wario threatened the hosts' lead with 370 in his first appearance for Southridge, a respectable effort for the newcomer. Oreo bounced back with 564 for Terrace City, protecting their lead heading into the final turn of the game. Caitlin couldn't cover the deficit for the Defenders, her 408 leaving them short at 1808. Quincy went with 267 to finish off the Knights' win, ending with a total of 2181 as a team. Terrace City is a strong 3-0 and looks formidable, while Southridge drops to 0-2 despite a better showing here.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: Celestia will sit in the second Waves home game for rest, while the Tridents start the year with Potter on the bench. Precious drilled a quick 540 for Pronger, looking as fit as ever in her seventh year with the organization. Snuggle had 388 in response for Oceanside, a decent turn but not enough to take the early lead. Spot added another 525 for the Tridents in a good second attack for the visitors. Josie picked up 371 for the Waves on their second attack, losing a bit more ground at the halfway point. Zach appeared to enjoy his first game playing as a 2/3, clobbering 845 for Pronger to boost their lead again. Dewey made a mess of his turn for Oceanside, taking a measly 32 points as their hopes of a comeback shatter. Lize put up a decent 352 for the Tridents at the end, icing their attack at 2262. Jason V. put in a middling 256 for the Waves, leaving their losing total at 1047. Pronger starts off 1-0 with the convincing win, while Oceanside dips to 1-1.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Waves take their show on the road, sitting Dewey in their third game of the year, while the hosting Crowns have their captain Nightfur on the bench after a bad game earlier. Snuggle had to make a save late in his turn, but it ruined his pace before he exited with 627 for Oceanside. Kayla edged Royal ahead with 678 on their opening turn, which keeps things close initially. Celestia struck a ball high and out of play, ending at 310 on the Waves' second attack. Jake answered with 387 for the Crowns, giving their lead a little more cushion in a close game. Josie played at a critically high pace for Oceanside, slamming 806 to put them far ahead. Brownie had a similar energy in her attack, but she dropped the pace late and ended with 429, giving Royal a noticeable deficit. Jason V. ruined the Waves' offense with a meager 60 points, putting them in a vulnerable spot at 1803. Cassie had only 128 for the Crowns, unable to make the necessary attack to save them from a loss, which came on their total score of 1622. Oceanside escapes at 2-1, while Royal is frustrated to be 0-2 after this game.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige take their first look in Elite against a Tridents team that has already proven themselves once. Nicole sits for the hosts, while Lize's on the bench for the visitors. Precious bowed out at 32 for Pronger, an unusually poor effort from the captain. Acorn didn't punish the mistake as much as he could have, but his 534 gives Lighton a strong initial lead. Spot picked up 370 for the Tridents, which isn't enough to cover the deficit. Citrus washed that damage out with 391 for the Prestige, doing fairly well in her first game since being traded from the Diamond Gems. Zach got jammed on the hands, leading to him hitting a pathetic 32 for Pronger as well. Spirit showed no mercy with 544 for Lighton, the longtime second-hitter fine in her new role as a 2/3. Potter closed with 422 for the Tridents, but two wasted turns stuck them with a loss at 856, raising questions about their consistency. Shiny showed good pace and form, hitting 385 to finish off a Prestige win at 1854. Lighton starts the year at 1-0, while Pronger is 1-1 and remains an interesting team.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Surfers have their home opener with Bright on the bench, while the Crowns begin a seven-game road trip by sitting Jake. Kayla showed a bit of pop in her swings before skying a ball to end with 425 for Royal. Pearl's lead-off hitting co-captain Watermelon replied with 590, giving the hosts a slight edge after the first turn. Nightfur continues to scuffle early in the year for the Crowns, managing a paltry 81 in this appearance. Boots responded with 487 for the Surfers, building a bit more strength in their lead at the midway point. Brownie knocked a respectable 397 for Royal this time, which did little to fight back against a growing deficit. Neopolitan swatted 1064 for Pearl in response, showing much more comfort in the 2/3 position after Pearl's lineup reshuffle for 2019. Cassie missed a mark on her swing, skying it to end at 168 as the Crowns' woes continue with this loss at 1071. Beth tapped 407 for the Surfers at the end, sealing their win at 2548. Pearl starts the year 1-0, while a long road-trip starts badly as Royal sinks to 0-3.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders return home in search of a win, with Caitlin taking a turn on the bench, while the Stills sit their offseason trade acquisition Ruby in this first game. Sierra took an unusual turn at lead-off for Todavía, and made the most of it, producing 699 to start the game. Bianca couldn't get much back with 225 for Southridge, putting the hosts in a deep hole early on. Bells was sharp with her swings for the Stills, crashing her way to 556 on the second attack. Debby began with good pace for the Defenders, but some questionable swings left her with only 177 when she missed a swing. Easter missed a low offering, but had already assembled 509 points for Todavía in her first turn as a 3/4 hitter. Stephanie made a lunging save at one point, but still had only 361 for Southridge, who are looking overwhelmed in this game. Prism led the way for the Stills, clubbing 714 to give them a final score of 2478. Wario angled a swing upward after approaching the ball early, ending at 407 in a decent turn that ends the Defenders' loss at 1170. Todavía can feel good after a dominant win gets them to 1-0, while Southridge has regressed in falling to 0-3.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds have Rosemary on the bench, hoping to extend the Crowns' misery; the visitors sit an under-performing Cassie in the second of a seven-game road trip. Royal's Kayla made an awkward early swing and couldn't pull back to stop the fast offering, ending her turn at only 247. Tigerette answered with a confident 581 for Commerce, erasing the memory of her early struggles. Jake missed a swing and then missed his chance to make a save as well, as the Crowns' second hitter fell with a weak 49 points. Solaris continued to enjoy his new team's home park, driving his way to 726 for the Tradewinds. Nightfur had great pace but a short turn that ended at 270 as Royal's offensive struggles seem to be permeating deep into the lineup. Taylor S. covered the damage with 292 on her turn, which is fine for a Commerce team comfortably ahead in this game. Brownie did alright with 328, unable to rally for the Crowns as they lose with 894. Niki stayed good with 517 for the Tradewinds at the end, icing their win at 2116. Commerce stays strong at home, going to 2-1 overall, while Royal sinks to 0-4 on the year.

That's all for Elite Week 1. Tomorrow, we will let Premier take the stage for the first time in 2019.

Select Cricket 2019 - Week 1

It's New Year's Day and we're celebrating by kicking off the new cricket season. Select will play its entire Week 1 schedule today, with Elite and Premier following over the rest of the week. First up...

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison. The first game of the Select season sees the Specters sit their sophomore Rudolph, while newcomer Wild Thing sits for the visiting Wolves. Juno started with 337 for Stonebridge in their road opener, a respectable effort for the captain. Sydney S. provided a much stronger 571 for Harrison, poising her for breakout season. Cobalt jerked 193 for the Wolves, the weak second attack unable to offset the deficit. Twinkie II posted 456 for the Specters, boosting their lead with a strong outing of her own. Hershey crumbled at 146 for Stonebridge here, hardly offering resistance with his turn. Blizzard slammed 736 for Harrison, her first appearance for her new team going exceptionally well. Vladimir did alright with 392 for the Wolves, but their season starts with a loss at 1068. Lexi picked up 308 for the Specters, icing their win at 2071. Harrison goes to 1-0 while Stonebridge is 0-1 after the year's first game.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters continue their opening day festivities with Lexi on the bench, while the Meteors sit Frosty as they unleash a dramatically redesigned roster. Princess opened with 326 for Viewpoint Sound, her first game since being traded going in a mixed fashion. Sydney S. didn't do as well for Harrison as before, but her 451 gives them another initial lead. Hoot cancelled that out, as one of two holdovers from last season gave the Meteors 457 on the second turn. Twinkie II smashed 874 for the Specters, regaining the lead with force at the midway mark. Nibbles showed good dexterity early on, but a high hit ended his effort at 384 as Viewpoint Sound's other returnee can't overcome a large deficit. Blizzard bopped 537 for Harrison this time, continuing to forge goodwill with her new team and fans. Dani tried to rally for the Meteors, her 523 getting them close but proving to be too little as they lose with 1690. Rudolph only had 80 for the Specters at the end, capping their win at 1942. Harrison stays perfect at 2-0 to start the year, while Viewpoint Sound falls to 0-1 despite showing up well on offense.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Specters take the show on the road, but leave Rudolph on the bench again, while the new-look Gems sit Leonardo in their home opener. Sydney S. contributed another 476 for Harrison, showing excellent pace in her first road appearance of the year. The much-anticipated Diamond debut for Shadow ended with mixed feelings as he hit 357 at lead-off for his new team. Twinkie II slipped up at 202 for the Specters, the aging captain showing signs of fatigue after traveling. The Gems captain Smokey had an even worse 33 on his turn, letting the visitors off the hook. Blizzard took a dip to 357 for Harrison, who remain ahead in their low-scoring road debut. Pedey makes Diamond proud, as his fourth season starts with 576 to get his side back in the game. Lexi served up a solid 422 for the Specters at the end, capping their offense at 1457, which isn't all that safe. Katelynn's first cricket game for the Gems (having played for them in 2012 before the cricket competition started) saw her take only 290, falling short in a loss at 1256. Harrison cruises to 3-0 in a busy start to the season, while Diamond starts at 0-1.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks will set their third-year player Luigi in the home opener, while the Meteors put Nibbles on the bench in their second game of the year. Princess' rough acclimation to Viewpoint Sound continued with a poor 184. Peach pummeled 771 for North Modernistic to begin the game well for the hosts. Hoot had a much more respectable 539 for the Meteors on his turn, but it wasn't enough to pull them ahead. Cheddar tried to play patient, but she exited with 279 for the Nighthawks when a high hit clipped the boundary. Frosty looked strong for Viewpoint Sound, recording 460 to cover the deficit this time in a close game. Gal's sophomore season started in great form with 520 for North Modernistic. Dani added 470 for the Meteors at the end, bringing their total to 1653 to force a response from the hosts. Lionel offered great offense with 619, his Nighthawks debut functioning to secure their win at 2189. North Modernistic's quest to return to Elite begins at 1-0, while Viewpoint Sound has gotten unlucky to start 0-2.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs will sit their offseason signing Mitchell in the home opener, while the Sharks have a veteran on the bench in Cubby for their road debut. Graham led off with 243 for Eastside, a middling first turn of the year for the visiting captain. Spice failed harder for Victoria, her meager 65 putting the hosts behind in a low-scoring start. Chelsea did a bit better with 312 for the Sharks, but their lead is still far from comfortable. Yekaterina proved this point, outscoring everyone else combined with 684 for the Spurs to put them in the lead at the halfway point. Taylor M. had a debut to forget with only 177 for Eastside, as the rookie failed to help their cause much. Sage covered it with 209 for Victoria, leaving a lot of offense on the board as the final players come to bat. Gizmo gave the Sharks plenty to question with a measly 65 points, giving them a losing total of just 797. Strawberry iced the Spurs win with 414 individually for a total of 1372. Neither team can be happy, but Victoria is better at 1-0 than Eastside's 0-1 start.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: Big names are on the bench, as the Meteors bench their trade acquisition Princess, while the Gems sit their captain Smokey. Shadow had a more vintage effort in his second game with Diamond, starting their attack with 472. Hoot answered with an energetic 576 for Viewpoint Sound in his first spot start at lead-off. Pedey put a focus on pace for his turn, contributing 686 for the Gems to restore a big lead. Frosty answered with 460 for the Meteors, a good turn but not enough to retake the lead. Katelynn's road debut for Diamond saw her end at a mild 164, putting their lead in danger. Nibbles fired back with 553 for Viewpoint Sound, lifting them ahead with a player each to go. Leonardo hit 286 for the Gems, giving them 1608, which forces the hosts to provide a small response. Dani obliged with a decent 330, giving the Meteors a win at 1919. Viewpoint Sound is 1-2 but has looked good so far, while Diamond drops to 0-2.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The first derby match of the year has the Lumberjacks sitting a veteran in Gabe against their Northeastern rivals, the Arrows, who sit newcomer A. Charlton in their road debut. Sally made her debut as Archtown captain with 339, a solid performance for the longtime member. Whiskers blasted 668 with pace for Maplewood, continuing her ascent as a star in the league. Sleepy B. responded with 466 for the Arrows, enough to cover the previous deficit. Diddley countered with 410 for the Lumberjacks, maintaining their lead fairly well. Hoppy kept Archtown on the attack with 486, the former Southern Monarch showing real quality in her debut with her new team. Summer shot back with 414 for Maplewood, again causing their lead to shrink slightly. Dusky got off to an awful start this year with only 18 points for the Arrows, costing them a comeback chance as they lose with 1309. Bryant kept the Lumberjacks steady with 439 here, closing their win at 1931 overall. Maplewood begins the year 1-0 while Archtown will shake things up to correct their 0-1 start.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The new-look Spiders begin the post-Shadow era with Jack sitting out their home opener, while the Nighthawks bench Cheddar for performance in their first road game. Peach teed off with 748 for North Modernistic, a devastating attack against the hosts early on. Waluigi replied with 280 for Web City, as he adjusts into a lead-off hitter for this season. Gal missed a swing and ended with a mediocre 211 for the Nighthawks, weakening their lead. Ted muscled up with 476 for the Spiders, cutting deep into the deficit halfway through the game. Lionel stumbled at 230 for North Modernistic, further weakening their lead. Avril matched that with 258 for Web City, keeping the deficit steady with a player each to go. Luigi roared on with 643 for the Nighthawks, giving them a final score of 1832. Chicky Phil's journeyman career continued as he scored 587 in his Spiders debut, which left them short at 1601. North Modernistic goes to 2-0, while Web City starts the year 0-1 despite showing up well for their home opener.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs kick off their season with their draft signing Salmo sitting on the bench, while the Spurs sit their captain Spice after her bad performance in their home opener. Yekaterina swatted a crisp 600 for Victoria to start the scoring, clearly enjoying her chance to lead off. Mams did well with 451 for Southern, a solid debut for her son's team after being signed at the draft from Viewpoint Sound. Sage scooped up 329 for the Spurs, a bit of a slow turn for the crafty sophomore. Panda dropped off at 295, the Monarchs captain wasting a chance to help his team catch up in this game. Strawberry supported the Victoria attack with 619, boosting their lead in the process. Pounce sliced a swing high, ending with only 177 as Southern slips further behind late in the game. Mitchell tapped 280 in his Spurs debut, finishing their offense at 1828 in what should be a win. Dominic provided 519 for the Monarchs at the end, but they still lost with 1442. Victoria looked better here, going to 2-0 while starting Southern off at 0-1.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks host another Northeastern rival as they sit Summer; the visiting Specters bench their captain Twinkie II for rest in their fourth game of the year. Sydney S. stayed in form with 429 for Harrison to begin this game after showing fatigue from the early tripleheader. Whiskers answered with 636 for Maplewood here, carrying the hosts to a lead. Blizzard countered with 472 for the Specters, covering the deficit nicely. Diddley kept in line for the Lumberjacks, lifting 656 to extend their lead midway through the game. Lexi faded with only 80 for Harrison this time, deepening the deficit significantly with her bad turn. Bryant went off with 790 for Maplewood, extending their lead again. Rudolph did better with 486 in his second game of the year, but the Specters took the loss at 1467 against a dangerous rival. Gabe blended right in with 606 for the Lumberjacks finishing a fantastic win at 2688. Maplewood stays perfect at 2-0, while Harrison drops to 3-1, a good start for a busy week.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: Dusky will sit out the Arrows' home opener after a bad first appearance, while the Meteors rotate through their lineup by sitting Dani in their fourth and final game this week. Princess continued to disappoint with only 193 for Viewpoint Sound, who have been plagued by slow starts. Sally popped 806 for Archtown on a strong opening attack for the hosts. Hoot dropped off at 232 for the Meteors, the heavy schedule catching up with him in this game. Sleepy B. ripped 639 for the Arrows, adding a significant score to their lead at the game's midpoint. Frosty gave Viewpoint Sound 609, continuing to impress on her new team during the opening week of the season. Hoppy crashed out at 152 for Archtown, suddenly putting their big lead in danger on the final turn. Nibbles couldn't quite do enough for the Meteors, his 405 putting them at 1439 in the loss. A. Charlton provided a modest 272 for the Arrows in her first appearance, enough to secure a win at 1869. Archtown is 1-1 with a successful home opener, while Viewpoint Sound's road struggles pin them at 1-3.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Week 1 finale sees the Spurs rest Sage as they return home, while the Nighthawks give Gal this game off. Peach missed a swing early on, and lacked pace as well, falling at 288 for North Modernistic. Spice shot back with 429 for Victoria, a much better second appearance of the year for the hosting captain. Cheddar answered with 544 for the Nighthawks, a strong outing that pulls them ahead for now. Yekaterina cobbled 445 together on her turn for the Spurs, enough to regain the lead at the halfway mark. Lionel bowed out with only 192 for North Modernistic this time, an underwhelming turn that puts his team in a dangerous position. Strawberry got beat on a sinking offering, ending her turn at only 186 as Victoria fails to run away with the lead. Luigi tried to go big and clipped the boundary, falling with just 100 as the Nighthawks close at a disappointing 1124. Mitchell didn't look good, but his 200 was enough for the Spurs to win with 1260 total. Victoria stays perfect at 3-0, dumping North Modernistic to 2-1.

Tomorrow, the Elite division begins its season, and Premier is set to follow on Thursday.