Elite Cricket 2019 - Week 6

We're back for a new week of Elite cricket. We'll play four games Tuesday and likely eight on Wednesday to complete this week. First up...

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have a somewhat busy week and will sit their captain Easter for rest, while the Prestige do the same for Nicole in the week's opener. Acorn paddled 633 for Lighton at the start, giving the visitors a nice first turn. Ruby pulled Todavía ahead when she tallied 661 on their opening turn, making it a close start. Citrus fired back with a good 572 for the Prestige, easily covering the previous small deficit. Sierra lost only a small portion of the lead with 562 for the Stills, keeping things nearly even at the halfway mark. Spirit answered her sister's turn with 561 for Lighton, once again challenging the hosts. Bells didn't have the pace to keep up, her 352 sticking Todavía behind with a player each to go. Shiny tacked on 500 more for the Prestige at the end, their total sitting at 2266. Prism had a respectable comeback attempt with 487 for the Stills, but they took the loss at 2062. Lighton rises to 4-3, while Todavía dips to 4-5.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: Urban rivals meet, with the Knights sitting Melissa for rest while the Tradewinds have Niki out for rest as well. Tigerette had plenty of pace, but a misplaced swing caused her turn to end with a mild 300 for Commerce. Kiwi showed more discipline for Terrace City, pummeling 740 to get them started with a lead. Solaris answered with 410 for the Tradewinds, unable to cover the deficit facing his team. Jennifer continues to slump, this time with 160 for the Knights to weaken their lead midway through the game. Taylor S. applied pressure with 619 for Commerce, forcing the hosts to up their game in the second half. Oreo regained the lead with 484 for Terrace City, but it's a narrow advantage heading into the final players' turns. Rosemary smacked 595 for the Tradewinds, putting their total at 1924. Quincy fell short at 353 for the Knights, sticking them with a loss at 1737. Commerce is 2-1 against Terrace City this year, rising to 5-5, while Terrace City remains in second place at 10-5.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills take on a Coastal rival in their second game of the week, sitting Bells while the visiting Waves have Celestia resting for only the second time this season. Snuggle slashed 619 for Oceanside to lead things off positively for the visitors. Ruby answered with 467 for Todavía, a slight dip from the earlier performance she gave. Josie erupted for 692 for the Waves on the second attack, giving a large boost to their lead. Sierra couldn't catch up either, her 441 for the Stills causing the deficit to grow a bit at the midway point. Dewey showed little mercy with a massive pace fueling his 546 for Oceanside to grow their lead again. Easter didn't make much of a bounce back with only 274 in her return to the Todavía lineup. Jason V. left the door open with only 119 for the Waves to cap their offense at 1976. Prism scooped 441 for the Stills at the end, which left them short at 1623. Oceanside paces Elite at 9-3, while Todavía sinks to 4-6 after the lack of a breakout attack.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Both teams have easy choices for who to rest, as Boots sits for the hosts while Hannah is on the bench for the visitors. Crystal lacked the proper rhythm to her swing for Queens, ending her turn with a modest 272. Watermelon started slower but attacked well for a long time, piling up to 980 for Pearl to give them a huge initial lead. Violetta bounced back with 603 for the Flames, but they remain behind despite the good turn. Neopolitan racked up another 915 for the Surfers on her turn, nearly doubling their offense in the process. Briana gathered 526 for Queens, trying to mitigate the damage in a challenging game. Bright tailed off at 243 for Pearl, cruising a bit as their lead seems comfortable. Mario hit 484 for the Flames on his turn, giving them 1885 overall in the hard loss. Beth focused on form but still fell out at 176 as the Surfers closed their win with 2314. Both teams move to 5-4 for the season.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Surfers finish a doubleheader with Bright on the bench, while the Tradewinds begin their own doubleheader without Solaris. Watermelon began with 499 for Pearl at the start of this game, giving them a good first attack. Tigerette matched intensity early on for Commerce, grabbing 537 to put the hosts narrowly ahead at the start. Boots returned to the Surfers lineup with 600, escalating the close battle between the teams. Taylor S. didn't keep pace for the Tradewinds, a false start on her first attempt rattling her as she put up 399 on the second try. Neopolitan answered with 582 for Pearl, continuing to keep their offense strong and balanced. Niki made a valiant counterattack with 508 for Commerce, but the hosts continue to trail. Beth had 368 for the Surfers at the end, setting their final score at 2049. Rosemary attacked with pace, but fell short with 504 as the Tradewinds lose with 1948. Pearl survives a tough game to get to 6-4, while Commerce drops to 5-6 after a hard loss.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: Nicole receives a second consecutive game off for the Prestige, while the Tradewinds finish their doubleheader with Taylor S. on the bench. Tigerette dipped to 245 for Commerce, road games beginning to be the captain's struggle. Acorn drilled 669 for Lighton to start the game positively for the hosts. Solaris fired back with a fierce 722 for the Tradewinds, covering the deficit quite nicely. Citrus answered with 643 for the Prestige, recovering most of the damage done against their lead on the second attack. Niki exploded for 840 for Commerce, lashing a massive turn to keep the visitors in the game. Spirit took a step back with 409 for Lighton, causing them to slip behind with a player each to go. Rosemary didn't make it easy for the hosts, helping the Tradewinds with 605 individually for a total of 2412. Shiny fell with 521 for the Prestige, a good performance but not enough to save them from losing with 2242. Commerce willed their way to an even 6-6 record, while Lighton is unlucky to drop to 4-4.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: Jason V.'s performance issues have him on the bench for the Waves, while the visiting Defenders sit their captain Debby for routine rest. Bianca had a strong 567 for Southridge on the opening turn. Snuggle had a dip in production with 339 for Oceanside, putting the hosts surprisingly behind early on. Stephanie looked uncomfortable for the Defenders and quickly fell with 128 to weaken their lead. Celestia took full advantage of the misplay, rallying for 609 for the Waves to give them a lead at the midway mark. Wario had a solid response with 373 for Southridge, but it likely won't hold up against the counterattack. Josie proved that theory correct for Oceanside, unleashing 600 on a pacey turn to boost their lead heading into the final turn. Caitlin collapsed at 160 for the Defenders, leaving them at 1228 in the loss. Dewey maintained good form with 409 for the Waves at the end, capping their win at 1957. Oceanside took care of business to rise to 10-3, while Southridge plummets to 1-12.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Flames will give Crystal another rest to recover from her preseason pool, while the Cascades sit Stinky to close a six-game home stand. Violetta spiked an even 500 for Queens, using excellent pace to establish the visitors' offense quickly. Jasmine melted under pressure at 144 for Freedom, unable to match the opposition's pace or intensity. Briana had a calmer but stronger turn for the Flames, churning her way to 589 on their second attack. Roxy sparked a bit of offense with 472 for the Cascades, but they've got some work to do in the second half. Mario had 373 for Queens, keeping their lead strong despite the uninspired output. Nikolai made a little progress with 410 for Freedom, leaving the rest to the final players to decide. Hannah exited with a mere 176 for the Flames, leaving them a little vulnerable at 1638. Stripes played aggressively and earned 535 for the Cascades, but they still lost at 1561. Queens is a bit lucky to get to 6-4, while Freedom sinks to 4-5 amid concerns about consistency.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns' only game this week sees Cassie get some well-earned rest, while the Tridents sit Lize for regular rest. Precious returned to Pronger's lineup with 478, starting their lone game this week in strong form. Kayla couldn't get a breakout performance when she wanted one, ending with a mild 272 for Royal instead. Spot went off with another 584 for the Tridents on the second attack, giving their lead a significant boost. Jake faded at 185 for the Crowns, allowing the deficit to grow at the halfway mark. Zach didn't do much with 285 for Pronger, causing their lead to stagnate a bit. Nightfur fired off with 497 for Royal, denting the deficit with a player each to go. Potter scattered a game-leading 614 for the Tridents at the end, icing their offense at 1961. Brownie was good with 633 for the Crowns, but the swing-and-miss at the end confirmed the hosts' loss at 1607. Pronger remains strong at 10-5, while Royal is 2-10 on the year.

GE Stadium, Southridge: The Defenders are back in action here, sitting Caitlin, while the visiting Tradewinds begin another doubleheader with their captain Tigerette out of the lineup. Solaris might have had the pace for something special, but a high hit cut him off at 355 for Commerce. Bianca answered with 665 for Southridge, giving them a rare lead early in the game. Taylor S. replied with 451 for the Tradewinds, enough to cover the deficit by a noticeable amount. Debby dropped back despite a good pace for the Defenders, her 295 giving them only a small lead. Niki has found a hot streak for Commerce, pummeling 709 this time to give them a confident lead. Stephanie couldn't break her recent slump, hitting a mediocre 258 for Southridge that fails to cover their deficit. Rosemary collected another 590 for the Tradewinds at the end, finishing their offense with 2105. Wario couldn't come close to catching up, his 162 setting the Defenders with a loss at 1380. Commerce rises to 7-6, while Southridge is just 1-13 on the season.

Nike Field, Commerce: The Tradewinds are riding high as they finish a five-game week with Rosemary taking her turn for rest, while the Stills sit Prism for rest as well. Ruby bowed out on the third swing with only 50 points to her credit, giving Todavía an ugly start. Tigerette returned to action with 410 for Commerce, enough to give the hosts a noticeable lead. Sierra had a big pace but fell at 115 for the Stills, leaving them far behind after their second attack. Solaris belted 813 for the Tradewinds, continuing to be a dangerous force at home. Bells tried to get Todavía on track, but her turned ended early at 337 and they remain far behind. Taylor S. tacked on another 617 for Commerce, who are likely set to win this one easily. Easter took 384 for the Stills, getting them out of a messy game that saw them lose with 886. Niki backed down with 470 for the Tradewinds, icing their win at 2310. Commerce soars to 8-6 now, while Todavía falls to 4-7 as busy weeks go different ways for the two sides.

Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Week 6 finale sees the visiting Surfers sit Beth, while the host Prestige have Spirit resting in the second of a four-game home stand. Watermelon ripped 759 for Pearl on the opening turn, her excellent week on offense continuing. Acorn fired back with 429 for Lighton, a steady turn but not enough to cover the deficit. Boots answered with a strong 550 for the Surfers, adding a bit more power to their lead. Citrus got caught on her backhand, the ball sliding down her bat to end her turn at 289 for the Prestige. Neopolitan continued Pearl's onslaught of scoring, posting another 615 to add to their lead. Nicole nearly cancelled that damage out with 589 for Lighton, making a statement after seeing two straight games on the bench. Bright slipped at 224 for the Surfers, capping their offense at 2148. Shiny fell at only 98 for the Prestige, the quick exit confirming their loss at 1405. Pearl's started their six-game road trip with two wins and now sit at 7-4, while Lighton dips to 4-5.

Premier will begin their week 6 action alongside Qualifiers tomorrow.

Select Cricket 2019 - Week 6

We're gearing up for the final push of the first portion of the season. Select begins this week with...

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Nighthawks begin a three-game road trip with Lionel sitting out, while the Sharks have Cubby on the bench in this one. Peach pushed 594 for North Modernistic on the opening turn, a good performance from the captain. Graham had the right posture but took a high swing and ended with 209 for Eastside in a rough outing. Cheddar added 609 for the Nighthawks on the second attack, doubling their offense with the effort. Chelsea whiffed on a swing, stalling at 290 as the Sharks remain far behind in this one. Gal added a good 545 for North Modernistic, continuing to help their lead grow. Taylor M. melted at 184 for Eastside, unable to push back against the visitors. Luigi topped off the Nighthawks' offense with 685, finishing with a total of 2433. Gizmo did alright with 456 for the Sharks, but it was far too little and too late to help them, as the hosts lost with 1139. North Modernistic is up to 8-4, while Eastside drops to 2-7.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Gems play the second of a three-game road trip without their captain Smokey, while Rudolph finally takes well-earned rest as the Specters close a four-game home stand. Shadow provided a solid 432 for Diamond, still working through the adjustment to his new team. Sydney S. got beat by a slow ball, her early swing causing her to exit with 369 for Harrison. Pedey added 448 for the Gems on the second attack, keeping them in a decent attacking form. Twinkie II had a little bite to her turn, but only scored 388 as the Specters remain behind. Katelynn kept Diamond in control of the offense with 513, extending their lead a bit more. Blizzard had a strong pace, recording 472 as Harrison loses marginal ground for a third straight turn. Leonardo got stuffed on the hands and deflected a ball upward, falling at a measly 80 as the Gems finish vulnerable with 1473 overall. Lexi wrangled 744 for the Specters, emphatically declaring their win at 1973. Harrison's late comeback gets them to 10-5, while Diamond falls to 3-8 in a disappointing loss.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks host the Monarchs in two games this week, sitting Gabe in the first while their visitors have Pounce on the bench. Mams went with 578 for Southern to start the game, hoping they can upset the division leaders at least once this week. Whiskers answered with a big 671 for Maplewood, giving them the initial lead. Panda did well to cover the deficit with 755 for the Monarchs, keeping the hosts on their toes so far. Diddley dipped to 235 for the Lumberjacks, greatly endangering their chances in this game. Dominic covered that damage with 360 for Southern, emboldened by the hosts' struggles. Summer broke free from her slump with a pacey 561 to get Maplewood back into this game with a player each to go. Salmo found a huge pace to tally 464 for the Monarchs, closing their offense at 2157. Bryant couldn't rally for the Lumberjacks, his middling 305 confirming their loss at 1772. Southern's massive upset gets them to 2-9 on the year, while Maplewood is now 7-2.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows need to bounce back after last week and will sit A. Charlton against the Wolves, who have Vladimir on the bench in their only game this week. Juno struck 553 for Stonebridge at the start of the game, a typical outing for the aggressive captain. Sally countered with 518 for Archtown, keeping them close at the start of the game. Cobalt shrugged off 509 before getting overwhelmed for a rather sudden exit on the Wolves' second attack. Sleepy B. answered with 684 for the Arrows, pulling them ahead midway through the game. Hershey got distracted and missed a swing, falling with 192 for Stonebridge to jeopardize their chances. Hoppy had a middling 264 for Archtown in response, but she kept them ahead leading into the final turn. Wild Thing posted 540 against his former team, forcing a response to the Wolves' final score of 1794. Dusky couldn't make the comeback, her 193 leaving the Arrows short at 1659. Stonebridge lucks out to get to 6-6, while Archtown dips to 4-6.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: These teams meet for the third time this season, with the Gems sitting Leonardo for performance while the Spiders give Ted a game for rest. Shadow's second homecoming saw him produce only 291 for Diamond after swinging high to end his turn. Waluigi answered with 416 for Web City, enough to give them a slim lead after the first turn. Smokey returned to the lineup with 411 for the Gems, covering the deficit well enough for now. Jack fell apart with 130 for the Spiders, an unfortunate turn that suggests they should have rested him instead. Pedey gave Diamond a significant lead with 986 on his turn, helping the visitors gain a little confidence. Avril had good pace but a much shorter turn as she produced 475 for Web City. Katelynn stumbled a bit with 146 for the Gems, capping their offense at 1834. Chicky Phil came up short at 326 for the Spiders, leaving them with a total of 1347. Diamond is now 4-8, while Web City drops to 5-7 for the year.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: After a break, Northeastern rivals tangle, with the Spiders sitting Jack this time while the Arrows have Dusky on the bench. Sally slapped 671 for Archtown in a fantastic start to the visitors' attacking efforts. Waluigi only got a little less than half of that damage back with 304 for Web City, giving the hosts an early deficit. Sleepy B. responded with 368 for the Arrows, a decent but unimpressive performance from the usual offensive leader. Ted muscled up for 674 for the Spiders, making it an extremely close game at the midway point. Hoppy faltered at 230 for Archtown as a ball slid up her bat, making their lead quite vulnerable. Avril easily bested her former Monarchs teammate with 589 for Web City, putting the hosts ahead leading into the final turn. A. Charlton fought back with 632 for the Arrows at the end, icing their offense at 1901. Chicky Phil again left the Spiders short, his 242 only getting them to a total of 1809 in another loss. Archtown is back to 5-6, while Web City is down to 5-8.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks will try to get revenge with Bryant on the bench, while the Monarchs choose Dominic to sit out this game. Mams did far less at the start this time, her 311 giving Southern a mild first attack. Whiskers answered with 593 for Maplewood, putting them ahead again with the hopes of getting support from her teammates. Panda fell at 177 for the Monarchs, his long games-played streak appearing to catch up to him. Diddley stashed 467 for the Lumberjacks on their second attack, extending the lead with the positive output. Pounce couldn't get an edge for Southern at all, falling with a mediocre 245. Summer poured on another 708 for Maplewood as it appears they will split the meetings with the Monarchs this week. Salmo came up with 388 for the Monarchs at the end, sealing their loss at 1121. Gabe tapped 300 at the end for the Lumberjacks, wrapping up their win at 2068. Maplewood's revenge win gets them to 8-2, while Southern is 2-10 with the loss.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union face a tough challenge without Sydney C., while the Spurs begin a road doubleheader while sitting Sage, who had a long pool preseason. Spice scattered 451 for Victoria to get the visitors off to a reasonable start. Ms. Puppy had a more aggressive pace, but her high swing cut the turn short at 419 as Modernistic starts slightly behind. Yekaterina fired off another 664 for the Spurs, boosting their lead on the second attack. Daisy tried to rally, finding a high pace to record 464 for the Union at the midway mark. Strawberry had an awful outing with only 85 points for Victoria, leaving them vulnerable. Puff I made progress with 321 for Modernistic, edging them ahead very narrowly with a player each to go. Mitchell tapped 324 for the Spurs at the end, setting their final score at a reachable 1524. Kodiak pushed just enough with 345 for the Union, taking the win on 1549 overall. The week of upsets continues as Modernistic jumps to 4-5, while Victoria slides to 10-4.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders end a three-game home stand with Chicky Phil on the bench, while the Spurs sit Strawberry after she cost them the previous game. Spice cranked out 537 for Victoria, giving them a slightly better start in this game. Waluigi answered with 392 for Web City, keeping them loosely within striking distance. Yekaterina lifted 767 for the Spurs on their second attack, padding the lead quite nicely. Ted popped back with 341 for the Spiders, cooling rapidly from a fiery initial pace. Sage poked 384 for Victoria in her return to the lineup, lacking pace and authority on multiple swings. Jack's bad week persisted with a meager 64 for Web City this time out. Mitchell topped the Spurs offense off with another 490, giving them a total of 2178. Avril had only 208 for the Spiders this time, leaving them with 1005 as they go winless during the home stand. Victoria is up to 11-4, while Web City falls to 5-9.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Spiders are back in action on the road, sitting Avril against her former team, while the host Monarchs bench Panda for his first rest of the season. Waluigi served a modest 353 for Web City, lacking any sort of intensity on his turn. Mams answered with 712 for Southern, putting the hosts ahead while doubling up her opposite player. Ted paddled 482 to pull the Spiders ahead at least temporarily after the second attack. Pounce couldn't shake his awful slump, dropping at 160 for the Monarchs to cause the game to tighten up. Jack got his offense back on track with 547 for Web City, putting pressure on the hosts' depth players. Dominic couldn't keep up against one of his former teams, ending at 195 as Southern slips behind. Chicky Phil left the door open with only 170 for the Spiders, ending their attack at 1552. Salmo scooped up 454 for the Monarchs at the end, making it close but just falling with 1521. Web City's losing streak ends as they jump to 6-9, while Southern is down to 2-11. After the game, the Monarchs assigned Dominic to the Developmental Program for a four-week assignment. He will miss the next three league games and their two-game series in the United Cup's First Round.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs return home and will rest Mitchell due to his struggles at home, while the visiting Sharks sit the rookie Taylor M. for a meeting with a top team. Graham dug in for a big turn, smashing 640 with a high pace for Eastside to open the scoring. Spice got a large chunk of it back with 480 for Victoria, which also snapped her recent home slump. Chelsea had pace on her turn as well, lining 429 before a high swing stalled the Sharks veteran's second attack. Yekaterina sacrificed a bit of pace for more precision, and it worked as she slammed 820 for the Spurs to take the lead. Gizmo didn't let that get him down, as he contributed 426 for Eastside to cover the deficit. Sage let Victoria down a bit with only 130, causing them to slip behind again before the final players' turns. Cubby failed to close out the game for the Sharks, his 164 leaving them vulnerable at 1659 total. Strawberry launched 703 with great pace for the Spurs at the end, her redemption effort securing their win at 2133. Victoria rises again to 12-4, while Eastside sinks to 2-8.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: Dominic is out on his Developmental Program stint for the Monarchs, while the Nighthawks choose to sit Lionel again after their dominant win to start the week. Peach lazily swung her way to 312 for North Modernistic, lacking an incisive pace. Mams went with 619 for Southern, carving out a nice lead for the hosts on the first turn. Cheddar couldn't catch up for the Nighthawks, her 295 leaving the visitors just a bit short. Panda's return to the lineup was a messy one, as he had only 180 for the Monarchs, padding their lead lightly. Gal pushed North Modernistic ahead with her 490, their best turn of the game so far. Pounce took 334 for Southern, keeping things close as the final players come to bat. Luigi had only a moderate 235 for the Nighthawks, leaving them at a final score of 1332. Salmo did enough with 291 to secure the win at 1424 for the Monarchs. Southern's first home win sees them up to 3-11, while North Modernistic is ashamed to drop to 8-5.

That's all for Select Week 6. Elite will play Tuesday and Wednesday, while Premier will likely need through Saturday to complete their Week 6 slate.

Premier Cricket 2019 - Week 5

We're ready to go with a new week of Premier action. First up...

HP Field, Midland: The Predators seek revenge against the Eagles, with the hosts sitting Rainmane while the visitors give Bear the game off. Goldy elevated her pace as the turn went on, finally stopping at 705 for Everton in an excellent start to their offense. Shawn accidentally knocked a ball into his wicket, cutting him off at 529 in a good response for Midland. Cleo got distracted late in her turn, posting 513 for the Eagles to pad their lead a little. Americus tried to keep it close with 464 for the Predators, but they again lose a little ground. Puff III slugged 1388 for Everton on her turn, a massive performance to likely secure a favorable result. Fuchsia duplicated the high pace, but lacked the longevity in scoring 434 for Midland, which did little to change the deficit. Kirstin added 414 for the Eagles at the end, sealing their score at 3020 in a likely victory. Kitty sent a decent 376 for the Predators, confirming their loss at 1803. Everton surges up to 7-5, while Midland is 1-9 with the loss.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades continue to be busy with four games this week, sitting Bandit against the Warriors, who will go without Wings in this one. Twilight had great pace, but an aggressive swing caused her to exit at 405 for Central. Snowball looked sharp with a big 839 for Swordpoint on the first turn, giving the hosts a sizable lead. Dustin scattered 583 for the Warriors, covering the deficit on their second attack. Dreamy slipped up a bit with a middling 285 for the Blades, leaving them a bit exposed at the halfway mark. Andrew had a decent 353 for Central, enough to pull them narrowly ahead again. Stealth covered that damage with 497 for Swordpoint, giving them a little more cushion heading into the final turn. Noelle couldn't make the comeback with 240 for the Warriors, leaving them at a loss with 1581. Sugar sealed the win with 567 for the Blades, putting their final score at 2188. Swordpoint rises to 8-6 after going 3-2 on their home stand, while Central dips to 3-4.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: The Pirates will rest Klaus due to his preseason pool action, while the Torpedoes sit Hughbert in a tough decision. Smudge ripped 560 for Infinity on the opening turn, doing so with an understated swing and good posture. Delila answered with 373 for Atlantic, unable to cover the deficit in an average performance. Fluffina shrugged off another 544 for the Torpedoes, casually building up their lead quite nicely. Isabella lacked punch on her turn, taking 337 as the Pirates lose a bit more ground. Shelley lived up to her potential in this appearance, striking 685 quickly to extend Infinity's lead. Steven had a strong 503 for Atlantic, but it appears they won't catch up this time. Mr. Snowman took a dive at 193 for the Torpedoes, weakening their lead at a final score of 1982. Jason N. flicked 478 for the Pirates at the end, getting them closer but ultimately still losing with 1691. Infinity jumps to 2-6, while Atlantic is down to 4-6 with no time to relax.

McDonald's Pitch at Pirates Park, Atlantic: To complete the doubleheader, the Pirates will sit Isabella, while the visiting Hummingbirds have Sarah on the bench again for rest. Leandra attacked with pace, slapping 504 for Tysini in her second straight game in the lead-off role. Delila replied with 643 for Atlantic on their first turn, carrying the hosts to a slight lead. Charli's inconsistent season continued with a mild 291 here for the Hummingbirds, covering the deficit lightly. Steven boosted the Pirates lead with 631 on the second attack, nearly doubling their output. Vincent posted 410 for Tysini to keep things reasonably close. Atlantic lost a little of their lead when Klaus hit 211, trying to give his all over a short time given his other commitments later in the day. Paps floated 387 for the Hummingbirds at the end, giving them a final score of 1592 to force a response from the hosts. Jason N. didn't do a lot, but his 289 secured the win for the Pirates at 1774. Atlantic is 4-2 at home and 5-6 overall, while Tysini drops to 1-6 on the year.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: The Shores are set to rest Marsell for this one, while the visiting Warriors give their captain Twilight her first game off this season. Dustin belted 847 right at the start for Central, putting immediate pressure on the hosts. Twinkie III fired back with 537 for Whitewater, a solid response to mitigate the damage done. Wings poked 339 for the Warriors, causing their lead to shrink a bit on the second attack. Shaggy made a mess of her turn with only 112 for the Shores, leading to questions that the captaincy may be too much for her. Andrew kept a simple pace at first, but burst forward for 682 for Central by the end of the turn. Katharine didn't come anywhere near that mark with her 245 for Whitewater. Noelle tacked on 388 for the Warriors at the end to put their total at 2256. Rosalina dropped at 211 for the Shores, continuing their mediocrity in a loss with 1105. Central is back to even at 4-4, while Whitewater sinks to 3-4.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are giving Strut rest as he continues in preseason pool, while the Swifts sit Gradley in this Southeastern Sisterhood Derby. Patches went with big pace immediately, slamming 619 for Boston to give them a decent lead. Valencia lacked the same harsh bite on her turn, but she took 521 to keep Golden within striking distance. Puff II did well with 476 for the Swifts, adding a bit more to their lead. Dusty got caught on her backhand, falling with 245 this time on an iffy call by the officials that makes the Pilots' comeback effort much harder. Sweetheart's turn also ended on a backhand, but only after she slugged 1377 after her first attempt was ruled a false start. Boston's lead seems secure. Max provided 642 for Golden, although it seems they will have to take the loss. Ice Cream capped the Swifts offense with 492 individually, for a total of 2964. Sparkles churned 400 for the Pilots, leaving them at a loss with 1808. Boston has two wins over Golden now, with the visitors going to 3-3 and the hosts dropping to 6-3.

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers are at home with Midnight on the bench, while the visiting Blades sit Dreamy in just their third road game all season. Snowball started with 521 for Swordpoint, a strong effort from the ever-dangerous captain. Misty answered with a solid 429 for Westside, keeping the game close initially. Bandit had the pace for something special, but a high hit ended his turn at 280 for the Blades. Slinks bounced 550 for the Rockers to put them ahead midway through the game. Stealth lifted 355 for Swordpoint, going at a high pace but losing his rhythm a bit too quickly for his team's liking. Goatee took no time to make her mark, hammering 665 with pace for Westside to build their lead some more. Sugar took some deep swings but still ended with 337 for the Blades, capping their loss at 1493. Chimpy piled on with 419 for the Rockers at the end, their win resting at 2063. Westside is 12-0 and showing no signs of slowing down, while Swordpoint falls back to 8-7.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors give Noelle a rare game off in this meeting with C-Line Derby rivals, while the visiting Sharpshooters sit Pauline amid fears of her sophomore slump. Chris had the right pace but a few too many awkward swings, ending with 364 for Capital City. Twilight did about the same for Central, chipping 373 with a shaky finish to edge them ahead. Missy had only 240 for the Sharpshooters as this game takes a turn towards mediocrity. Dustin heated the offense up with 548 for the Warriors, putting them more comfortably ahead at the halfway mark. Sprinkles went off with 790 for Capital City, fighting back against a strong host offense. Wings popped 416 for Central to keep things close with a player each to go. Lorde fell apart with just 115 for the Sharpshooters at the end, giving them a total of 1509. Andrew did his part with 391 for the Warriors at the end, capping their win at 1728. Central took a tough win to get to 5-4, passing the now 3-3 Capital City side.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The first of two meetings between these teams this week sees Sugar sit for the hosts, while the visitors bench their captain Shaggy. Marsell got his offense back on track with a crisp 700 for Whitewater to begin the game. Snowball got a large portion of it back with 627 for Swordpoint, leaving just a small deficit early on. Twinkie III brought the Shores' feelings of impending doom to reality with just 108 on her turn. Dreamy made up ground with 314 for the Blades, enough to get the hosts in front at the halfway point. Katharine put some pressure back on the hosts with her 564 for Whitewater. Bandit spiked 933 for Swordpoint in response, helping the hosts to a more confident lead. Rosalina appeared exhausted on her turn with only 80 for the Shores, confirming their loss at 1452. Stealth showed no mercy with 615 for the Blades, which might be remembered in the rematch as the hosts win this one with 2489. Swordpoint rises to 9-7, while Whitewater is 3-5 and looking for answers ahead of the rematch in three games.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots begin a home doubleheader with Dusty taking rest as they appear to knuckle under to the Rockers, who will sit their captain Misty for rest. Slinks started slowly, but found her focus later in the turn to pummel 766 for Westside at the start. Valencia collapsed at 224 for Golden, unable to cut back against the steep attack from the opponents. Goatee's resurgent season continued as she belted 1025 for the Rockers on the second attack. Strut had nothing for the Pilots, potentially still a bit fatigued from preseason pool as he hit only 130. Chimpy took it easy, at least by Westside standards, with 537 on his turn to pad their lead a little more. Max also fell with just 130 for Golden, as the visitors dominate through offense and defense alike this time. Midnight capped the Rockers offense with an even 1000, giving them a total of 3328 in a likely massive win. Sparkles took 506 for the Pilots, mostly as window dressing in a brutal loss at 990. Westside rises to 13-0, an unstoppable juggernaut, while Golden is 6-4 with another game following this.

Amazon Field, Golden: In the second half of their doubleheader, the Pilots sit Max after a bad outing, while the Hummingbirds bench Paps to end their five-game road trip. Sarah started with a big 661 for Tysini, showing a lot of quality as she strengthens her rookie of the year case. Valencia had the pace for a bounce-back effort, but a high swing stalled her at 534 for Golden. Leandra tried to rally for the Hummingbirds, but also took a swing too high to end her turn at 376. Dusty made a slight gain with 470 for the Pilots, bringing them much closer to evening the score at the halfway mark. Charli poked 425 for Tysini, continuing to give their lead solid boosts. Strut lost a tiny amount of ground with 419 for Golden, setting up a close finish between these two teams. Vincent swung and missed at 193 for the Hummingbirds, leaving them vulnerable at a final score of 1655. Sparkles locked it down with 570 for the Pilots at the end, securing their win at 1993. Golden finishes well in a tough week, rising to 7-4, while Tysini sinks to 1-7.

Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: In the return match between these teams, Rosalina sits for the hosts while the visitors give a game off to Dreamy again for performance reasons. Snowball ripped 694 for Swordpoint right at the start, giving them a good chance to double-up on their wins. Marsell had only 176 for Whitewater, continuing a small sample of bad home performance. Bandit dropped at 224 for the Blades, barely covering the damage against their lead. Twinkie III made a little progress with 314 for the Shores, but they've got a way to go. Stealth flipped 579 for Swordpoint on his turn, protecting their lead with the good attack. Shaggy didn't make a convincing counter on her turn, ending with just 214 as it appears Whitewater will fall again. Sugar had just 48 for the Blades at the end, weakening their lead at a final score of 1545. Katharine managed 295 for the Shores, far short of what they needed in their loss with 999. Swordpoint is 10-7, while Whitewater's anemic offense has them down to 3-6.

That's all for Week 5. As pool activities transition to 2019 qualifying, cricket will play a big role early in the next week to fill time.

Heart of the Game 13-ball Tournament - Rounds 6-8

We're onto the final day of the preseason competition, beginning with the Quarterfinals. First up...

Dewey v. Precious. The red cue begins the day with a battle between young and old league players. Precious had a hot start in game 1, but she never aligned her shot at the top right, and Dewey ran it back from there, making a couple of nice runs to set up the 8 at the top left. Dewey converted for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Dewey began with a four-ball run in game 2, but he didn't have a chance to make a shot at the top left. Precious played good defense via positioning before her four-ball run to get onto the 8. Dewey scratched on his next turn, and Precious picked up the win to tie the series at 1. Dewey and Precious had a bit of an awkward race after potting the right pockets fairly quickly. Dewey had the first chance at the 8, but he missed a bad-angled bank, and Precious made a pair of shots to win on the next turn for the 2-1 series lead. Precious didn't have to compete much with Dewey in game 4, as Dewey's multiple scratches put him too far behind. Precious picked up an easy win to seal the series at 3-1. Precious faded late in game 5 after a good start, her strategic scratch backfiring as Dewey made a pair of shots and then the 8 on a separate turn for the win. Precious still won the series 3-2, making her the first player in the Semifinals.

Sage v. Strut. Members of the Prime club meet with the silver cue in this series. Sage started with one of each on the breaking, choosing stripes. It looked like a mistake until Strut potted a defensive blocker Sage put at the top left. Sage had a three-ball run following that, but she missed the 8 and Strut tapped it to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Strut had stripes in game 2, working around the table with ease at first before trying to align his final ball. Sage took a little more time with her attack, but had enough at the end to pull ahead and win on a pair of shots. Sage's win tied the close series at 1. Sage had a good break with one of each in game 3, which allowed Strut to attack well early on. Strut went for positioning when Sage hit a four-ball run, but Sage never made her final ball, and Strut took three shots over his last two turns for the win. Strut's series lead is restored at 2-1. Momentum swung back to Sage in game 4, as Strut's hot start helped Sage with a big run early on. Strut never had a chance to cleanly attack the left corners, as Sage quickly finished the win to retie the series at 2. Strut had five balls down in game 5 before Sage could really react, but she did a good job of blocking the bottom left. Strut took too long to get into position, and then removed Sage's blockers on his last ball and the 8 as he tried to push through. Sage needed just a pair of shots at the end to take the win, which she did, giving her a 3-2 series win. Sage is set to play in the Semifinals.

Kiwi v. Nibbles. The blue cue takes its Quarterfinals appearance between another pair of league veterans. Kiwi made too many mistakes in game 1, and capped off the tough game with an error as well. Nibbles took advantage of this, and used favorable positioning to get his win for a 1-0 series lead. Kiwi played a bit better in game 2, especially on a late three-ball run, but she bricked her shots on the 9 twice, leaving Nibbles to make a pair on his last turn for the win to go up 2-0 in the series. Nibbles did almost everything right in game 3, but he again struggled with last-ball positioning. Kiwi wasn't great at the end either after her hot start, but a strategic scratch paid off late and she blocked Nibbles' last chance at his 9 toward the top left. Kiwi won on the next turn, staying alive despite trailing 2-1 in the series. Kiwi and Nibbles each attacked well early in game 4, with Nibbles taking the early lead. Nibbles probably could have gotten the win if he had positioned better, but a scratch led to Kiwi making a four-ball run-out instead. Kiwi has tied the series at 2, setting up a decisive finale. Kiwi saved her best for last, starting game 5 with a massive five-ball run, and then removing Nibbles' defense on her last shot of the turn. Kiwi played patiently as Nibbles showed some frustration, and Kiwi won on her third turn to take the series 3-2 in a comeback. Kiwi has lived dangerously in recent games, but she will visit Precious in the first Semifinal.

Barasa Contee v. Ruby. The last unaffiliated player meets a league legend with the red cue to end the Quarterfinals. Barasa made two solids on his curveball break in game 1, but it was virtually all Ruby after that, as she made a matching pair, a four-ball run, and then the 8 on a kick to the top left after Barasa scratched. Ruby is up 1-0 in the series. Barasa fought harder early in game 2 with a five-ball run, but his scratch and missed contact later in the game unraveled a good play early. Ruby took over with a six-ball run-out at the end, pushing her series lead to 2-0. Ruby had another good start in game 3, but Barasa kept pace in this one. The two players locked in with defense near the left corners. Ruby got out of it first, but she made illegal contact trying to get onto the 8, and Barasa won with a pair of shots from ball-in-hand. Barasa's win cuts Ruby's series lead down to 2-1. Ruby had almost all of the offense after Barasa scratched on the break, but her bank attempt on the 3 led to the 8 falling prematurely in the top right. Barasa took the gifted win to retie the series at 2 games apiece. Barasa had an ugly break in game 5, but Ruby picked off a few shots early on. Barasa kept it close, but an illegally potted ball at the end caused his downfall. Ruby would not miss on a three-ball run-out of simple shots, giving her the win and 3-2 series win. Ruby will host Sage in the second Semifinal.

Precious v. Kiwi. The first Semifinal is with the silver cue between two longtime league captains. Game 1 started off with a lot of offense, but it turned defensive later on. Precious had the lead for most of the game, with Kiwi threatening before her offense went cold. Precious would surge after Kiwi scratched, earning the win that gives Precious a 1-0 series lead. Precious had a hot start with a three-ball run, and although she had a scratch soon after that, Kiwi could only pull even on her attacks. Kiwi had a chance to kick her last ball to the top right after Precious whiffed on the 8, but Kiwi couldn't convert and Precious made a tap-in for the win. Precious is up 2-0 in the series. Kiwi had her best chance at a win in game 3, quickly getting onto the 8 after executing a brilliant four-ball run. Precious held her ground defensively and got Kiwi to miss the 8 twice before rallying with a three-ball run-out to snag the win. Precious secured the series at 3-0. Precious could have helped her club-mate in Kiwi's push for third place, but Precious instead ripped a three-ball run from the break and took little time to get the win while Kiwi flailed around the table. Precious is now at a 4-0 series lead. Precious and Kiwi battled evenly in game 3, but it looked like Precious backed off at the end, showing some kindness to let Kiwi get the win. Precious takes a 4-1 series win with her to the Final series. Kiwi went 15-12 in the competition, for the purposes of ranking.

Ruby v. Sage. The second Semifinal is played with the blue cue. Ruby had two stripes on the break, but she also scratched, which ruined her strategy. Sage had some good offense early, but she accelerated to a successful finish when Ruby left Sage's final run lined up. Sage converted the three-ball run-out to go up 1-0 in the series. Ruby got a bit confused with her positioning in the middle of game 2, and she accidentally bumped in a ball for Sage as well to make things worse for herself. Sage made three balls over the last two turns for the win, going to a 2-0 series lead. Ruby kept herself in the series after Sage double-potted at the top right on the game 3 break. Sage tried defense late in the game, but Ruby got behind it to take the win, cutting the series back to 2-1. Ruby trailed for most of game 4, but she had good positioning while Sage struggled to get her final ball near the bottom side. Sage never got a good look, and Ruby took a pair of shots at the end for the equalizing win to tie the series at 2. Sage did a lot right in game 5, especially with her positioning, but Ruby showed just a little more grit, disrupting Sage's planned shot pattern at the with a crafty bank. On the next turn, Sage gave Ruby's last ball away, and two turns after that, Ruby put the 8 away after Sage missed a kick on her last strip. Ruby took the series 3-2, setting her up to face her niece Precious in the Final series. Sage's 17-10 record gives her third place in the preseason, while Kiwi ranked fourth.

Ruby v. Precious. The final series pits Enterprise members and relatives against each other with the red cue. Precious had a glaring error in game 1, grabbing ball-in-hand after Ruby made light but legal contact. Ruby made a three-ball run off of that, and took the 8 two turns later for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Ruby had good positioning early in game 2, but she butchered a couple of simple shots to complicate things. Precious pressured as much as she could, but she couldn't get onto the 8 before Ruby converted it after correcting her mistakes well. Ruby is up 2-0 in the series, a win away from the preseason championship. Precious capitalized on Ruby's awful break to start game 3, using a big push late in the game to get her positioning. Ruby had all her shots lined up but not enough time, as Precious won with a pair of shots, making one more game meaningful as Ruby's series lead sits at 2-1. Precious made a late-falling stripe on the game 4 break, but her jam shot on the next play bumped the 8 into the top side, the illegal finish gifting the win, the series at 3-1, and the preseason champion title to Ruby, all without her taking a shot in the decisive game. Ruby completed the series with a sharp win in game 5, holding off a late push from Precious. Ruby took the series 4-1 in the end, and she is the first champion of 13-ball, albeit unofficially from a league perspective.

The intent is to add 13-ball to the mix in Tournament play for 2019. This will cause a realignment in games played per series in the bracket stages and Finals. The first three rounds will now be three-game series (previously, only first two round). The Bracket Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals will all now be five-game series (no change for Bracket Quarterfinals, down from seven-game series for the others), and the Finals will be seven-game series (previously nine-game series). This will allow the third round in particular to progress faster than before with the added event. Qualifying for 2019 will begin Thursday if everything stays to plan.

Heart of the Game 13-ball Tournament - Round 5

We're up to five-game series for the rest of the preseason, which is just the next two days. Today's eight series begin with...

Lucio Adame v. Precious. The best-rated unaffiliated player meets a tough league captain in the first series with the silver cue. Lucio had the bulk of the early offense in game 1, but Precious stayed on track in her shooting. She got positioning late in the game, making the 13 and 8 to the bottom right on consecutive shots for the 1-0 series lead. Lucio got down to the 8 with relative ease in game 2, but a late scratch disrupted his attack. Precious pulled back with a pair of good turns, and then won with the 8 at the top right, an epic comeback propelling her to a 2-0 lead in the series. Precious went straight on offense in game 3, beginning with a three-ball run and needing only a little time at the top side to corral the 9. Lucio never had a chance as Precious stormed her way to a win, securing the series at 3-0. Precious continued to display confidence with a four-ball run in game 4 at the start. She took herself out of position a bit, but Lucio didn't have enough time to counterattack before Precious brought in a long shot on the 8 to the bottom right for the win. Precious' lead extends to 4-0. Lucio finally got lucky in game 5, starting well early and having just enough left at the end to stop Precious from taking the win. Precious will be happy with a 4-1 series win as she is the first to punch her ticket to the Quarterfinals.

Barasa Contee v. Jake. Another unaffiliated player is up with the blue cue against a league veteran. Barasa used his curveball break to get stripes in game 1, and he outplayed Jake in a tough middle section before striking the 8 to the top right for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Jake had the lead for much of game 2, but he took too long on his last solid and the 8. Barasa had set some shots up and converged for a four-ball run-out just in time, tapping the 8 Jake missed into the top right for the win and 2-0 series lead. Barasa had a bad break in game 3, and Jake quickly took the side pockets. Barasa was flustered by Jake's defense and gave away a ball, but Jake would do the rest on his own with a four-ball run-out with masterful precision for the win. Jake cut the series to 2-1. Jake struck first in game 4, challenging Barasa on virtually every shot. Barasa had defense at the top right for awhile, but Jake managed to get by that and rally over a few turns at the end for the win to tie the series at 2. Jake had a decent start in game 5, but too many scratches and a well-positioned final run from Barasa turned the momentum around. Barasa took the series 3-2 with a four-ball run-out, earning his spot in the Quarterfinals.

Smokey v. Strut. Two league veterans from the first year meet with the red cue. Strut had a comically quick loss in game 1, making the 4 to the bottom side but missing a cut on the 1 toward the top side that bumped the 8 off a couple of balls and into the bottom right. Smokey took the gifted win for a 1-0 series lead. Strut's misfortunes in game 2 weren't quite as bad, but he still illegally potted the 8 while trying to create motion with the rack. Interestingly, Smokey has a net total of zero balls potted so far, but he leads the series 2-0, leaving Strut with no margin for error. Strut finally made it safely through a game, although he had plenty of help from Smokey's poor positioning. Strut found the win with a well-made four-ball run-out, cutting the series to 2-1 in the process. Strut continued to live on the edge in game 4, allowing Smokey to get down to his last ball before igniting for a five-ball run-out to just nab the win, tying the series at 2. Smokey again got down to his last ball in a very quick game 5 battle, but Strut had just enough defense to block him before potting a pair of shots himself for the win. Strut cut it as close as he could multiple times but won 3-2, moving himself into the Quarterfinals.

Dewey v. Crystal. We haven't mentioned teams much, but with a Wave facing the Flames captain, the silver cue has arguably the biggest series of the round. Dewey started off well but had to weather a five-ball run by Crystal as she worked a quick mid-game attack. Dewey fired back on the next turn with a four-ball run-out, using good positioning to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Dewey started well again in game 2, but Crystal stayed right on him the entire time, until Dewey blocked her last pocket with the 8. Crystal tried a little defense, but Dewey won with a tap-in on the next turn, moving up to a 2-0 series lead. Dewey found ways to play an annoyingly effective style of defense in game 3, even overcoming Crystal's strategic scratch at the end. Dewey made a pair of shots on his last turn for the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Dewey put in a good performance after making one of each on the break, racing Crystal to the left side of the table. Dewey had an elegant cut on the 8 to the bottom left for the win, moving up to a 4-0 series lead. Game 5 was a mess for something that had no meaning. Neither player easily advanced past two balls to go, until Crystal finally made a slow push for the win. Dewey is happy to defeat a rival with a 4-1 series win that sees him into the Quarterfinals against Precious.

Ruby v. Sarah. One of the league's best-ever players meets a rookie with the blue cue. Ruby took solids after a good break in game 1, and it didn't take her too much time to navigate around Sarah's attempts at defense either. Ruby would surge to the win fairly easily for a 1-0 series lead. Ruby had another positive start in game 2, but Sarah played a bit better this time. Ruby had trouble with positioning late in the game, and Sarah made a pair of shots, including a bank on the 8 to the top side, to pick up the win, retying the series at 1. Sarah quickly got onto the 8 the first time in game 3, but she struggled to pot it and scratched to put a solid back on the table. Ruby was helpless to get an angle on her last two balls, leading to Sarah eventually pushing her way to a win for the 2-1 series lead. Sarah had the advantage in game 4, but her inefficiency on the 8 at the top right would haunt her later. Ruby played a defensive shot and left Sarah with only a kicking angle, which she converted but also scratched on. Ruby took the gifted win to retie the series at 2. Sarah had no offense in game 5 at all, Ruby's awkward break only benefiting herself. Ruby did quite well with sub-par positioning, making a three-ball run-out at the end for the decisive win of a 3-2 series win. Ruby will face Barasa Contee in the Quarterfinals.

Waluigi v. Sage. Two less-experienced league players meet in the red cue's last series of the round. Waluigi started off with stripes in game 1, but Sage made a great push on solids to take the lead. She had some troubles at the end, but quickly solved it with a pair of shots for the win. Sage leads the series 1-0. Sage had one of the most impressive turns of the preseason with eight balls from the break in game 2, making two solids and two stripes initially before adding three more stripes and a solid. Despite getting spotted three balls, Waluigi couldn't complete the game, and Sage made a pair on her second turn to get the win for a 2-0 series lead. Sage started a little cooler in game 3, but she still had a four-ball run abbreviated by a scratch. Waluigi stayed in the game the whole time, benefiting from Sage's later scratch as he finally attacked to get the win. Waluigi's win cut Sage's series lead to 2-1. Waluigi played with an unnecessary risk in game 4, taking stripes and using a tough cut shot on his second turn even with the lead in hand. Sage ended up getting the series-clinching win for free as Waluigi illegally potted the 8 to the bottom side, giving Sage a 3-1 advantage. Waluigi played much better in game 5, getting good positioning and holding off a furious push-back rally from Sage near the end to take the win. Sage will settle for a 3-2 series win as she prepares to play against Strut in the Quarterfinals.

Kiwi v. Natal Badillo. A giant from the league meets a top unaffiliated giant killer with the silver cue. Kiwi made a stripe on the break in game 1, but Natal had an early run on solids and found great success after that. Kiwi was much less enthused, watching as Natal pushed her defense aside to win at the bottom right for his 1-0 series lead. Natal again showed little respect for Kiwi's defensive tactics in game 2, pushing another of her balls out of the way at the top left. Kiwi pushed from there, but she illegally potted the 8 to the bottom right on failed cut shot, gifting a win and 2-0 series lead to Natal. Natal had everything but the finish in game 3, putting Kiwi under immense pressure until he chipped the shot on his last solid. He missed contact on the 8, and Kiwi made the next two shots for the win to stay alive while trailing 2-1 in the series. Kiwi skinned her thumb on the game 4 break, but proceeded to have her best game of the series, running circles around a hapless Natal. Kiwi easily took this win, tying the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. Natal chose solids in game 5 after Kiwi had an empty break. This proved to be a foolish choice, as Kiwi made stripes look very good. Natal had to play defense late while he was out of position, and that didn't work either, as Kiwi buried the 8 on her second try for the win and 3-2 series win. Kiwi had an early scare and her injury will be one to watch, but she's through to the Quarterfinals.

Nibbles v. Azul Mora. The last series is with the blue cue, featuring a third-year from the league and the last Venezuelan unaffiliated player. Nibbles had an efficient game 1 with a three-ball run from the break, and then pairs of shots on the next two turns to utterly dominate over Azul. Nibbles leads the series 1-0. Nibbles made game 2 fast as well in a completely different way, taking solids on the break but then potting the 8 prematurely two shots later. Azul didn't have to take a shot in this game to get the win, tying the series at 1. Azul took a couple of solids from the break in game 3, but he had no answer for a quick attack from Nibbles, who wiped out the top row of pockets quickly. Nibbles cooled until Azul potted his defensive blocker, sparking Nibbles to make a three-ball run-out after a world-class shot on the 14 to the bottom right. Nibbles leads the series again at 2-1. Azul had some trouble with scratching in game 4, buying a little extra time for Nibbles to work with. Nibbles put the fouls to good use, positioning himself well enough to get a comfortable win to seal the series at 3-1. Azul brought a good finishing effort in game 5, starting with the lead and never letting Nibbles catch him. Nibbles will take the 3-2 series win to earn a spot against Kiwi in the Quarterfinals.

Tomorrow, we wrap up the preseason.