UPCL Cricket - Week 2 Part 3

We're back for the final portion of the second week of the season. While UPCL Cricket has taken a hit with scheduling recently, we remain adamant that the season will be completed without issue. We begin this segment with...

BMW RockDome, Westside: The Rockers will debut their new third-jersey look while making their home debut against the Pilots. Valencia looked solid in leading off this game with 495 for Golden, establishing a nice mark early on. Misty worked at a very quick pace, but burned out a bit fast, as she took 339 for Westside. Dusty had some issues with placement early on, but held on after two false starts to wrangle 463 for the Pilots. Goatee stumbled to 247 for the Rockers, and they'll need to make a rally in the second half. Strut had only 112 for Golden, leaving the team a bit vulnerable. Midnight recovered with 724 for Westside, twice using a backhand to keep her turn alive as a cluttered pitch occasionally brought moments of panic. A. Charlton posted a meager 60 for the Pilots, leaving them at a loss with 1130 total. Slinks posted 371 for the Rockers, forgoing her optional replay to ice the win at 1681. Westside needed a big performance to stay undefeated, and they got it, rising to 4-0 while sending Golden to 1-1.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles start a five-game home stand against the Specters in this Northeast Divisional match. Sydney suffered a bad deflection on her turn, scoring only 90 for Harrison in the process. Goldy saw a similar thing happen, cutting her down with only 103 points to put Everton narrowly ahead. Twinkie II looked stronger for the Specters, pounding 416, but getting caught on a big swing and miss and ending at that point after a bad backward touch. Puff III kept the Eagles narrowly ahead with 415, a virtual wash with her opposite player. Lexi let another 464 rip for Harrison, giving them a stronger lead this time as the game has been a tight battle thus far. Kirstin shot right back with 679 to give Everton a more confident lead with a player each to go. Sugar tapped 208 for the Specters, leaving them at 1178, too little to win with. Blizzard kept the finish simple with 96, putting the Eagles at 1293. Everton remains undefeated at 3-0, while Harrison's search for a win will continue at 0-2.

Nike Field, Commerce: Two historically strong teams off to middling starts get a chance to fight it out in this game. Valencia appears recovered from last season's struggles, as she collected 407 to pace Golden well despite an unfortunate finish to her turn. Tigerette fired back in near-perfect form until she lifted a ball too high to end her turn at 436, giving Commerce a slight advantage. Dusty countered with 480 for the Pilots, giving them a stronger second attack. Ice Cream took a stuttering swing at the end of her turn, and this was the difference, as she fell on 433, leaving the Tradewinds just slightly behind. Strut hammered 544 for Golden, extending their lead pretty well. Lionel failed to keep pace for Commerce, scoring just 120 on his turn as they face a steep deficit with little time to overcome it. A. Charlton chopped another 466 of insurance points for the Pilots, ending their offense at 1897. Lorde showed well with 402 for the Tradewinds, but it wasn't enough to avoid a loss with 1391. Golden is now 2-1, while Commerce slips to 1-2 for the season.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Waves face a tall task to close out their first home stand, with the highly-regarded Surfers meeting them in this Coastal Divisional and Aquatic Derby game. Watermelon couldn't quite get a straight hit going consistently, ending on 151 for Pearl. Snuggle failed to match it, posting only 148 for Oceanside as the game starts tight. Neopolitan had a bit more solid of a performance with 382 for the Surfers, giving them a more noticeable lead. Caitlin fired back with a strong 575 for the Waves, giving them the lead at the halfway mark. Boots tried to get crafty with her swing, but it failed, and she produced a measly 69 for Pearl, failing to cover the deficit. Celestia clubbed another 584 for Oceanside, likely confirming their lead at this stage. Wings smacked 490 for the Surfers in a solid outing, but they lost with 1092 overall. Dewey tacked on another 383 for the Waves, icing their win at 1690 total. Oceanside's division win puts them at 3-2, just a half game back of the 4-2 Pearl side.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters make a short trip home for their home opener, while the Rockers are back on the road for a pair of games. Misty hauled in 399 for Westside on her turn, choosing to skip the optional replay she earned after a technical error. Sydney couldn't manage much in response, taking only 144 for Harrison as they'll start from behind. Goatee supplied another 371 for the Rockers, adding sufficiently to their lead. Twinkie II let an offering get away from on the swing, and this ended her turn at 267 for the Specters, allowing the deficit to grow. Midnight had a dreadful turn, scoring just 6 points after a couple of bad swings and one critically poor decision. Lexi chipped 367 for Harrison, putting them just a nose ahead of their visitors, with a player each to go. Slinks got tangled up on her turn, and a cluttered pitch didn't help. She tried to two-touch her final hit, but got too much and ended at 221, leaving the Rockers with 997 in total, a very low mark for the high-flying team. Sugar flubbed her turn, going big when she should have held up. She scored 162, and the 940 total for the Specters sent them to a brutal loss. Westside lucked out to stay undefeated at 5-0, although they are showing fatigue, while Harrison drops to 0-3 in heartbreaking fashion.

GE Stadium, Southridge: Two premier franchises off to slow starts get a look in this match, with the return coming about halfway into week 3. Fluffina had a poor turn for Maplewood, scoring just 63 points without finding any rhythm. Bianca countered with 663 for Southridge, as the rookie's best game to date sets the tone for this game. Diddley had his first try wiped out by a mandatory replay, but it set him up to hit for 6 on thirteen consecutive swings to open the turn, and while he couldn't sustain the pace, his 484 brought the Lumberjacks back into the game. Debby took much of it back with 441 for the Defenders, keeping their lead in solid form. Bryant floundered at 144 for Maplewood, weakening their comeback efforts. Stephanie also struggled with form, and her 176 for Southridge was grudgingly accepted by the team as they continue to lead comfortably. Waluigi put in a reasonable appearance with 353 for the Lumberjacks, but they took the loss with a final of 1044. Hughbert had an embarrassing finish with only 20 points for the Defenders, but they won with 1300 for their first home win of the year. Southridge stands at 2-3 after the game, while Maplewood is 1-2.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The winless Sharks close their season-opening home stand against a fatigued Volcanoes team traveling a long way for this game. Starlight looked to be in full energy, swatting 527 and only ending with a deflection that landed on her wicket, staking out a good lead for Pacific. Chelsea didn't form much of a reply for Eastside, taking just 208 as they'll play from behind once again. Ms. Kitty used her backhand well to keep her turn alive, but her settle-and-hit went too high, cutting her off at 162 for the Volcanoes. Taylor shot back with 471 for the Sharks, cutting into the deficit with her solid outing. Leonette had a questionable decision in form, leaving her bat extended too long as she fell with 240 for a floundering Pacific team. Niki capitalized for Eastside, pummeling 478 to put them ahead late in the game. Chicky Phil slugged 799 for the Volcanoes, twice deflecting balls to the back 4s as he showed masterful control to bring his team to a final of 1728, forcing a response from the hosts. Paps nearly pulled off an equally impressive series of hits, but his jittery hit that went too high stalled him at 399, and the Sharks lost with 1556. Pacific is up to 4-3 with the gutsy win, while Eastside is 0-4 in their new building before finally hitting the road.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames look to get above even, while the Warriors finish their first road trip of the year. Twilight did alright in her opening performance, scoring 297 for Central in a decent outing. Crystal answered with a more reliable 455 for Queens, establishing the initial lead in favor of the hosts. Dustin faltered again, hitting a measly 78 for the Warriors as he's had a nightmarish start to his third year with the team. Paige saw a bit of an unlucky bounce, with the ball going vertical as she struck it to stop her turn at 231 for the Flames, but they retain the lead. Mario hammered 711 for Central, pulling them back into the game as the rookie appears to be the real deal. Violetta countered with 432 for Queens, keeping the game close as they take a small lead into the final players' turns. Gizmo answered with 487 for the Warriors, easily covering the deficit as he finished their offensive efforts at 1573. Max lifted 364 for the Flames, but it wasn't enough, as they suffered defeat on a final of 1482. Central stays undefeated at 2-0 through a light schedule, while Queens drops to 2-3 after letting Mario do too much damage.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The exhausted Surfers have trouble ahead, playing three of the last four games of the week. This Coastal Divisional sees them challenge the Meteors as they try to shake their division-game funk. Watermelon sliced 392 for Pearl to lead off this game. Mams didn't do too poorly, striking 289 for Viewpoint Sound to keep them in range. Neopolitan shot back with 357 for the Surfers, keeping their lead relatively stable so far. Hoot misplayed an angle on his turn, and scored only 88 as the Meteors fall farther behind halfway through the game. Boots tried to go big, but the fatigue caught her, and she produced only 128 for Pearl. Nibbles put a large dent in the deficit with his 448 for Viewpoint Sound, making it anyone's game in the later stages. Wings hoped 311 would be enough for the Surfers, as that's all he had to leave them at 1188 overall, with the team's fatigue readily apparent. Dominic played the hero for the Meteors, rallying with 475 to give them 1300 overall in the win, their second upset of the young season. Viewpoint Sound goes to 2-4 with their first division win, while Pearl is 4-3, with all their losses to division opponents.

Henry Ford Memorial Field, Pronger: The Tridents will wear their throwback grays as they host the Sharks in the first of five straight on the road for the latter squad. Chelsea seemed to be off to a good start for Eastside, but that quickly turned bad as she mishit a ball and ended at 218 in an early fault. Precious belted 767 for Pronger in response, staking out a significant early lead for the rebuilt team. Taylor failed to capitalize on a flimsy false start call, ending up with a poor 87 for the Sharks as they remain far behind. Zach didn't help the Tridents much at all with a measly 45 on his turn. Niki tried to get Eastside on track, and found moderate success on that mission, as her 304 reduced the deficit a bit. Spot managed an escape for Pronger, taking 362 to restore their lead to its former strength with a player each to go. Paps looked motivated, smacking 590 for the Sharks against his former team to bring them to 1199 overall and force a response from the hosts. Potter managed the reply with 199 for the Tridents, giving them a win on 1373 total. Pronger is 1-1 on the young season, while Eastside continues its fall to 0-5.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The fatigued Surfers now play a doubleheader against elite teams struggling out of the blocks for the year. First up is a home fixture with the defending champion Swifts. Patches churned out a solid 432 for Boston on the opening turn, a fairly standard outing for the captain. Watermelon wavered with 129 for Pearl, a product of the fatigue plaguing the busiest team in the league. Puff II had no issues carving up the offerings for 471 for the Swifts, giving them a strong lead nearly halfway through. Neopolitan couldn't tee up a tough hit just right, ending on 274 for the Surfers as they appear set to take a loss in this game. Gradley kept the Boston attack in form with his 560, solidifying their lead with ease. Boots managed 391 for Pearl in a decent outing, but they're likely too far behind to win. Sweetheart knocked 375 for the Swifts, giving them a final score of 1838 in the probable win. Wings collapsed quickly on his turn, with his 96 leaving the Surfers at 890 in the loss. Boston is back to level at 2-2, while dumping Pearl down to 4-4 in the process.

Nike Field, Commerce: The week ends with the Surfers making a short trip southeast to Nike Field, where a comfortable Tradewinds team awaits their chance to inflict a little more pain. Watermelon did well to stave off some potential trouble, but couldn't hold on too long, taking 312 for Pearl in a shaky start to the game. Tigerette crushed 948 for Commerce in response, indicating the hosts don't plan on letting their guests off easy. Neopolitan drained herself to grab 750 for the Surfers, covering the deficit against her sister's bowling. Ice Cream tried a combination, but her sister had caught her, and she managed just 177 for the Tradewinds as the game tightened. Boots couldn't keep Pearl going, dropping down with 66 as they're back to being in trouble. Lionel couldn't recover much for Commerce, regaining the lead with his 177 but not doing much to make it secure. Wings secured the defeat with only 128 for the Surfers, sending them to another loss with 1256. Lorde didn't do well with only 57, but she ended the game for the Tradewinds at 1359 in a solid win. Commerce pulls up to 2-2, while Pearl's collapse has them under .500 at 4-5.

That's all for this second week of cricket. We'll have more in the next couple of weeks for sure, and I'll update the standings momentarily.

Heart of the Game Doubles Tournament - Round 1 Part 1

This is the largest round of this special event tournament, featuring 64 dynamic duos as they compete head-to-head in five-game series for the right to be called Doubles 8-ball champions. We begin with eight series today, the first seeing...

Max and Ruby, the Siblings, against Wario and Waluigi, the Wah Brothers. The red cue gets the appearance for this series. The Wah Brothers seemed to dominate game 1, including Wario's four-ball run near the end, but Max kept the Siblings in charge and used a five-ball run-out, including some gutsy positioning and a pinch shot on the 8 to the top left to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit more of the game, with the Wah Brothers connecting early on, but Waluigi couldn't make anything of what Wario set up, choking the game away on a three-ball run that could have been longer. Ruby played the hero for the Siblings this time, making the last two shots for a solid 2-0 series lead. Controversy sprung in game 3 as both Waluigi and Wario took consecutive shots on the 12 at the top left pocket. Both were rejected due to pocket capacity, which is not legislated under these tournament rules beyond the rules of the game. Since the ball didn't occupy the pocket, both turns were ended. Max and Ruby combined to set up and score the 8 in the top right, sealing the series at 3-0 after Wario's shot sent the 12 off the table. Game 4 was forgettable for both sides, save for Wario's six-ball run from the start. It ended up turning into a gritty battle, as Max and Ruby held off the Wah Brothers with strategic scratches and their own poor shooting. In the end, Waluigi and Ruby took chances at the 8, with Ruby cutting it to the top right for the win, and a 4-0 lead in the series. Wario helped save some face for the Wah Brothers, connecting on a four-ball run-out to bring game 5 to a close after Waluigi's poor shooting. The series still favored the Siblings 4-1, and they advance to the second round.

In series two, another pair of rookies, the Star Twins Celestia and Solaris, face off against the Angel Bears, Bright and Wings. The blue cue has control for this series. The Star Twins had a rough start, getting chipped at by the Sun Bears during the first two rounds. Bright and Wings took the shots one and two at a time, but their pace was overwhelmed by Celestia's five-ball run-out in the end. Celestia took a heady approach, positioning well for a 1-0 series lead when she completed the run. Game 2 followed a similar pattern, as Celestia came up empty on the break and Bright and Wings took deep runs to get themselves down to just the 8. Solaris countered with a four-ball run in the end, but left Wings open for a long cut on the 8, which he made to help the Angel Bears tie the series at 1. Game 3 took very little time to complete, with Bright and Celestia exchanging four-ball runs. Celestia surrendered an extra ball to Wings, who made the next two shots. Solaris challenged, but couldn't hold up for the Star Twins, and Bright knocked the 8 in for a 2-1 series lead. In game 4, Bright continued to intimidate at the start, making a three-ball run. Wings followed up with most of the heavy lifting after that, and while Celestia did a four-ball run, she couldn't draw a strong set-up to the 8, and Wings buried it instead to clinch the series at 3-1. The Star Twins collapsed a bit more in game 5, pushing the Angel Bears to the limit before fading off, allowing Bright and Wings one last push to the finish, which they succeeded on for a win and a 4-1 series result in their favor to take into the second round.

The theme continued in series three, as the veteran Doggy Duo of Americus and Princess plays the hosting role against Outcast Leaders Hoppy and Nibbles, a pair of rookies. The silver cue gets this appearance. The Doggy Duo took game 1 with relative ease, as Princess had good turns and made the winning shot, sandwiched around Americus setting the 8 up nicely. Hoppy was unable to come up in big moments, and Nibbles didn't make an impact as the Outcast Leaders fell behind 1-0 in the series. The Doggy Duo pressed the pace again in game 2, with Americus making a deep cutting run early in the game after an empty turn from Nibbles. After Hoppy's miss, Princess stepped up with an odd but effective three-ball run-out, making the 14 on a kick that poked off the bottom side corner and straight down the rail to the bottom left. She potted the 8 and put her team up 2-0. The Doggy Duo got a bit too showy in game 3, and it cost them in the end, as Hoppy roared back from way down to make a six-ball run-out full of well-executed shots, ending on a tap-in with the 8 to the bottom right. This cut the series to 2-1. Princess made a highlight in the early part of game 4, scoring the 10-13-15-14 combination to the bottom left. She followed it up on the next turn with a 9-11 combination to the bottom right that turned into a double-pot as the 9 caromed to the top side. None of the other players could keep up, and when Americus set Princess up on the 8, she knocked it down on her third to, securing the series at 3-1 with a highlight-filled game. Nibbles had a highlight in game 5, making the 15-12-14 combination to the bottom left corner as part of a six-ball run-out to steal another game, making it a 3-2 final for the series. The Doggy Duo advances to the second round with their win.

In series four, Crystal and Sleepy B, the Silent Core, face off with Mario and Luigi, the Italians, playing with the red cue in this series. Mario needed just a single turn to run the table for the Italians after a good but not great three-ball run from Silent Core's Crystal. Mario showed excellent shot selection and execution in lifting his team ahead 1-0 in the series. Mario didn't give the Italians a good break for game 2, leaving things open to a three-ball run for Crystal. Sleepy B. lacked in her turns, and this allowed Luigi to do the heavy lifting before Mario finished off the game and made it a 2-0 series lead for his side. Mario struggled again from the break in game 3, but Luigi kept the Italians in the game. It wouldn't matter, as Sleepy B. showed a much stronger pace for Silent Core, finishing off the game when Luigi missed his chance on the 8. Sleepy B. potted the last two shots, and this win cut the series to 2-1. Mario didn't let the slip up have an effect for the Italians, as they came back with pace in game 4. Crystal ended up responsible for the downfall of Silent Core, as she failed to make contact on the 11, and Mario ran out three balls for the win from ball-in-hand, which doubled as a series clincher, the first by an all-rookie duo in the first round. Sleepy B. nearly looked to make a highlight reel in the meaningless game 5, but she couldn't quite double-cut the 8 to the bottom side, ending a good four-ball run. Mario came through with a three-ball run-out for the Italians, ending the series at 4-1 for the team. Mario and Luigi will compete in the second round.

Over halfway for this portion of the round, we have the Oriental Kids Shiny and Sparkles against the Tall Blondes, Taylor Swift and Rosalina. The red cue also features in this series. The Oriental Kids took charge from the break of game 1, with Shiny making a couple of shots. Sparkles had a good turn in the middle of the game, making a pair of ridiculous banks to deflate the Tall Blondes. Taylor had a chance to counter in short order, but she couldn't manage, and Sparkles finished the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Tall Blondes kept themselves in it, with Rosalina pushing late in the game against a shakier appearance by Sparkles, and then Taylor capitalizing on a scratch by Shiny to pot the 8 in the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Taylor set the tone for the Tall Blondes in game 3, rocketing a seven-ball run from the break that sent them to the verge of victory. Only Shiny got to the table, and she pulled off a three-ball run before failing on a defensive attempt that allowed Rosalina to tap the 8 home off of Taylor's set-up shot and give the Tall Blondes a 2-1 series lead over the Oriental Kids. Taylor set a similar tone for the Tall Blondes in game 4, scoring a five-ball run from the break. Rosalina got nothing on her turn, which made the matching three-ball runs from Shiny and Sparkles, plus a conceded ball by Taylor look more dangerous. In the end, it was Rosalina icing the game with a three-ball run-out after a miss from Shiny, and the Tall Blondes claimed the series at 3-1. Shiny got a game back, mostly through her own effort and Taylor's scratch on the break to start game 5. Shiny ran a six-ball run at the start, and the Tall Blondes never caught up. They did, however, take the series 3-2 over the Oriental Kids, and Taylor and Rosalina will see time in the second round.

In series six, Davidson's Conquest, made up of Kirstin and Niki, goes against the Next Generation of Starlight and Twilight in a major battle of veteran teams. The silver cue has the honors for this series. Davidson's Conquest appeared to be in line for a major upset, despite being the better seeded team, as Niki made a six-ball run to threaten the Next Generation. Kirstin couldn't finish it off though, and Twilight cleared the way for Starlight to ice the game and give the Next Generation a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 came out to be a bit grittier than the previous game, as neither team really established themselves well. It went back and forth for much of the game, and right down to the wire, where a miss by Kirstin set up Starlight for a long and sharp cut on the 8, executed to near perfection as the Next Generation took another win for a 2-0 series lead. Starlight proved unable to keep up with the pace of game 3, as she wasted a four-ball run by Twilight and failed to answer Kirstin's five-ball run, aided by a surrendered ball by Twilight. Davidson's Conquest got bold in the end, but another miss from Starlight allowed Niki to put the 8 in the bottom left on a long cut, which made the series 2-1. Game 4 slowed things down again, with the players on both teams proving able to make short and choppy runs but without much intent on the longer runs. In the end, everyone took a shot at the elusive 8, and Niki made sure there wouldn't be a second go-around with it, potting it to the bottom side after Starlight's missed attempt, tying the series at 2 in the process. Davidson's Conquest completed the comeback in game 5, as Niki made a critical late run against Twilight, and then Kirstin potted the 8 to the bottom side on the bank to seal the win and a 3-2 series win. Kirstin and Niki continue their campaign in the second round.

For the seventh series, stalwarts Goldy and Stealth form Team Korea, facing off against the Muscle Bros, Lionel and Smokey. The red cue takes this series on its docket. Despite a good break from Goldy, Team Korea struggled, mostly due to Stealth's short runs. Smokey struggled a bit for the Muscle Bros, but he came up good enough, and Lionel was firm in earning the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Muscle Bros held up well against Team Korea in game 2, allowing Goldy to carve up a deep run, but then icing the game through a two-ball run-out by Lionel, ending with a bank of the 8 to the top side for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Goldy was nearly perfect in game 3, answering Lionel's empty break with an eight-ball run that was just an inch away from victory, as the cue rolled slowly into the bottom left, negating the amazing sequence of shots and handing the Muscle Bros the series at 3-0. Motivation seemed low in game 4 for either team, as they let their secondary players play first. Smokey and Stealth battled to a null result, and it was Goldy topping Lionel to give Team Korea a win with a three-ball run-out iced by a bank of the 8 to the top left corner, cutting the series to 3-1. The Muscle Bros bounced back just fine in a more competitive game 5, as Goldy surged for Team Korea but Lionel held it off in the end and snagged the win with a three-ball run-out. The strong performance from the Muscle Bros sends them to the second round on a 4-1 series win.

The final series of this segment is the Woodelands, Lexi and Caitlin, against the Old Ladies, Ms. Kitty and Ms. Puppy. Once again, the red cue is in control of the series. Both Caitlin and Ms. Kitty had misses on the 8 after a fairly balanced game 1, and when Ms. Puppy couldn't cut it to the bottom right, Lexi buried her chance in the top right to give the Woodelands a 1-0 series lead over the Old Ladies. Game 2 seemed unspectacular until the end, where Ms. Kitty lifted the Old Ladies into a series tied at 1 with her six-ball run-out to answer Lexi's defensive try. Ms. Kitty hit the highlights with the 14 going off the 4 and then getting double-kissed into the top right corner while leaving Ms. Kitty lined up for the 8 in the bottom right. She converted with ease to equalize the series. Ms. Kitty and Ms. Puppy couldn't get anything after a booming break shot, allowing Lexi and Caitlin to pick their shots at will. It took Lexi two tries to get the 8, but she had plenty of time to work with it and the Woodelands retook the series lead at 2-1. Ms. Kitty and Lexi did almost all of the work for game 4, and in the end, it came down to a bold and ultimately unsuccessful show from Ms. Kitty that sent the Old Ladies packing, as she illegally potted the 8, gifting Lexi and Caitlin the series at 3-1. Game 5 went at a pretty good pace for both sides, with Lexi unable to hold off a late four-ball run-out from Ms. Puppy after much of the early work was done by Ms. Kitty. This made it a 3-2 series win for the Woodelands, who advance to the second round.

We're a quarter of the way through this round already. We'll continue this in the near future.

UPCL Cricket - Week 2 Part 2

We're back for the middle segment of the week, with the hopes that we can get through this without excessive delay. We begin with...

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The highly-ranked Surfers face off with a winless Spiders side to start this segment. Shadow set a very strong precedent with his 696 to open the scoring favorably for Web City. Watermelon proved to be undeterred by the attack, replying with 603 for Pearl to keep the margin fairly close. Ted's road struggles continued for the Spiders, as he ended with 240 in his turn this time. Neopolitan couldn't swipe at a high-arcing ball that took an odd bounce, and it took out her wicket to stall her at 213 for the Surfers. Shiny pulled Web City to a greater level of safety with her 534 to extend their lead. Boots countered with 599 for Pearl, giving them a smaller deficit to overcome in the final stages of the game. Dani showed occasional wildness, but pulled in 348 to bring the Spiders to 1818 overall. Wings was very motivated and carried the Surfers to a win with 720 individually for 2135 in total. Pearl is up to 4-1 on the year with their balanced offense, while Web City plummets to 0-5.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: A bit of an under-card match here, as part of the large Expansion Derby between a first-gen and third-gen side. Juno set Stonebridge on the right path with 618 this time, a much improved effort from what she had in week 1. Mams didn't get a lot back, scoring 281 for Viewpoint Sound, leaving them with an uphill battle. Frosty added a solid 345 for the Wolves, keeping their lead in good shape. Hoot had an unlucky deflection responsible for the end of his turn at 289 for the Meteors, only after he played his optional replay from a technical error. Cobalt hauled in 399 for Stonebridge, keeping their solid performance going in the second half of the game. Nibbles got split by two offerings, and managed only 156 as it appears Viewpoint Sound is barreling toward a loss. Prism slipped up a bit with 223 for the Wolves, but they finished with 1585, which looks good for a win. Dominic scooped a strong 441 for the Meteors, but a late swing cost him in the end, and they lost with 1167. Both teams are now at 1-3.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks get their home opener against their M-Line Derby rivals, the Union. One of these teams will get back to level by the end of this game. Ms. Puppy did well for Modernistic at the start, establishing a lead with 439 in the first turn. Fluffina covered the deficit, grinding her way to 499 and a small lead for Maplewood. The Union rookie Daisy had struggles with placement for her hits, resulting in only 200 on her turn as the lead is retaken but unstable. Diddley had a much better pace, but took a bad swing, and gained 224 for the Lumberjacks as their lead grows marginally at the halfway point. Puff I couldn't cover the deficit for Modernistic, hitting a meager 36. Bryant clobbered 887 for Maplewood, almost guaranteeing them the victory. Strawberry tried to stage a comeback for the Union with 578, but they ended up losing with 1253. Waluigi provided little resistance, taking 184 to ice the Lumberjacks win at 1794. Maplewood is 1-1, while dropping Modernistic to 1-3.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights have their second of four straight at home, while the Arrows embark on a four-game road trip in this match between high-powered offenses. Sally led off with 256 for Archtown at the start of the game. Kiwi smacked 816 for Terrace City, establishing a large lead for the hosts at the start. Sleepy B. couldn't make much of an impact for the Arrows, taking only 139. Jennifer struggled for the Knights, but she managed 240 to keep the lead intact. Ruby carved into the deficit for Archtown, slicing 520 to shrink the deficit drastically. Oreo shot back with 824 for Terrace City, solidifying their lead. Dusky faltered any hopes of a comeback away with 168, leaving the Arrows at 1083 in a brutal loss. Stripes tapped only 144 to ice the Knights win at 2024. Terrace City is up to 2-1 on the strength of home play, while Archtown slides to 2-3.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: This big game features the Swifts' home opener, the Pilots' first game of the year, and a Southeast Divisional, a Generations Derby match, and the first match in the Doubles Derby in one of the league's fiercest rivalries. Valencia looked plenty comfortable in starting Golden's season with a big 524 points. Patches had a decent reply for Boston, taking 332 in a low-pace performance. Dusty kept the Pilots in the lead well with 256, but she could have done a bit better, as she failed to match her sister. Puff II had no trouble covering the deficit for the Swifts, swatting a crisp 784 to pull them ahead at the halfway mark. Strut covered the deficit on 360 for Golden, but only by a slim margin, as the visitors will need a strong finish. Gradley accidentally hit a ball backward, ending his turn at 176 for Boston, setting up a close ending to the game. A. Charlton cobbled 408 together for the Pilots, icing their offense at 1548. Sweetheart showed veteran poise to save a ball from hitting the wicket, but she couldn't settle down afterwards and fell with 150, giving the Swifts a loss with 1442. Golden's surprise win over the defending champions paces them at 1-0 to start the year, while Boston drops to 1-1 in a disappointing home opener.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: This Expansion Derby match sees the Knights continue their home stand, while the Cascades try to keep an undefeated start going on the road. Jasmine supplied 543 for Freedom at the start of the game, a solid opener for the experienced captain. The ever-strong Kiwi replied with 600 for Terrace City, pulling them slightly ahead initially. Stinky had only 238 for the Cascades, getting wiped out by a stray ball on the pitch as they look vulnerable so far. Jennifer lined 465 to really establish the Knights lead midway through the game. Roxy had a bad angle with her big swing, and she had a meager 49 for Freedom, hurting their chances to come back in the game. Oreo struggled with angles but stuck around long enough for 332 for Terrace City, firming their lead once more. Nikolai posted 328 for the Cascades, but this was short of the target, and they closed at 1158 in their first loss of the year. Stripes had only 77 for the Knights, but iced their win at 1474 anyway. Terrace City jumps to 3-1, while Freedom is down to 2-1 after a low-scoring battle.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The high-flying Swifts look to overcome a recent setback against the Pilots by facing the last-place Spiders. Shadow continued his career resurgence with 566 for Web City to lead things off. Patches managed only 204, and had plenty of complaints to voice as Boston will start from far behind. Ted couldn't grow the Spiders lead at all, falling at 122 as the quality of the field comes into question. Puff II lifted the Swifts ahead with 608, giving them a noticeable lead at the halfway mark. Shiny replied with 521 for Web City, restoring their lead. Gradley took only 160, and the Boston squad is livid over field concerns, having taken an unfair brunt of the punishment in this game. Dani brought in another 344 for the Spiders, and they'll close at 1553 total in what might be a win. Sweetheart made a big rally attempt with 551, but the Swifts came up short at 1523. Web City's first win of the year is as unlikely as they come, improving to 1-5 while pushing the Swifts down to 1-2 for a horrible start to their home slate.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames end their opening home stand against a Monarchs team trying to shed the struggles of the last two seasons. Panda didn't do so well at the start for Southern, claiming only 153 points to lead things off. Crystal continued her growth for Queens early in the year, slapping 639 to send them to a large early lead. Hoppy played a firm game for the Monarchs and cut deeply into the deficit with her 416. Paige got frozen by a strange bounce and couldn't react to the next offering in time, ending at only 110 for the Flames as the game tightens. Pounce covered the deficit with 296 for Southern, making things interesting later in the game. Violetta maintained a lead for Queens, but her 240 made that lead shrink a bit ahead of the final players' turns. Shannon tapped 128 for the Monarchs, leaving them at 993 in what's likely to be a loss. Max swung for 405, putting the Flames at 1394 in a comfortable win. Queens is up to 2-1, while Southern slides to 0-2 in another rough start to the season.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs continue their opening home stand, while the Rockers are closing up their first road trip of the year. Misty got tabbed for a mandatory replay, and this didn't suit her much, as she scored a weak 139 for Westside. Spice struggled worse for Victoria, managing only 49 points to start the offense for her tired team. Goatee gave the Rockers a little more breathing room with her 328 points. Yekaterina cut into the deficit for the Spurs, producing 375 on her turn to bring the teams closer at the halfway mark. Midnight couldn't handle a ball that came in at the base of her bat, flicking it over and out for a score of 153 to add to Westside's mark. B. Chapman barely made an impact, taking in 155 for Victoria to cut the deficit by the slimmest of margins. Slinks pulled the Rockers away with 408, giving them a final of 1028, which might just be enough in this game. Wario tried to go big for the Spurs, but his 180 left them at 759 in an ugly loss. Westside is now 3-0, while Victoria is 3-3 through a heavy slate so far.

HP Field, Midland: Another busy squad in the Predators continues a long home stand against the still-undefeated Torpedoes, who play the last game of their road trip here. Smudge tried an aggressive approach and ended with 63 for Infinity in an embarrassing start against the expansion team. Shawn didn't do much better, taking 101 for Midland after spiking one ball off of another one too close to the wicket. Solaris brought the road fans to life with a three-part acrobatic stunt with his bat, looping around a ball and then making a double-hit after a backhand, extending his turn to score 330 for the Torpedoes as offense remains suppressed. Rainmane could only take 137 for the Predators after more dead balls on the pitch ruined her turn. Whiskers appeared to break the scoring curse, hitting an even 700 for Infinity to pad their lead sufficiently. Leonardo cut back with 424 for Midland, but they still have a long way to go. Mr. Snowman gathered 540 himself for the Torpedoes, also performing a couple of big saves to extend his game, and the team finished with 1633 overall. Fuchsia made a huge rally for the Predators, tallying 832 to bring them to 1494 in what still stood as a loss. Infinity improves to 3-0 on the year, while Midland slips to 4-2.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: This Coastal Division game features the Monarchs in the last game of their road trip visiting the Meteors in the second of four straight at home for the hosts. Panda got unsettled about midway through his turn for Southern, but a backhand extension and a couple of spiked hits saved him, allowing a rally to 637 for a big lead for the visitors early on. Mams had a horrendous 16 for Viewpoint Sound, putting them far behind. Hoppy essentially doubled the Monarchs lead, pounding 651 to keep the offense high. Hoot took a vicious hit off the wrist and ended at 152 for the Meteors after the deflection went out of bounds. Pounce accepted 267 for Southern despite the offer of an optional replay, adding a slight bit of maintenance to their lead. Nibbles, the Viewpoint Sound rookie, flipped a ball behind himself and couldn't attack it a second time as it landed square on the wicket, ending the hosts' hopes to make a comeback as he added only 46 points. Shannon slapped 505 more for the Monarchs, finishing their total game with 2060. Dominic swung and missed at 75 points, leaving the Meteors with 289 overall in a massive loss. Southern is 1-2 with the division win, while Viewpoint Sound is 1-4, losing all their games since an upset victory over the Hummingbirds in their home opener.

Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: This segment ends with the Torpedoes home opener, their first of three straight at home, while the Flames make their first road appearance. Crystal tried to maintain a patient approach, taking her time in accruing 335 for Queens to lead things off. Smudge showed much better longevity, rocketing 730 for Infinity once she found her groove in the game. Paige had a respectable outing with 355, but she couldn't bring the Flames onto level terms. Solaris didn't have a good home opener, taking just 54 for the Torpedoes. Violetta had a modest 274 for Queens, but the rookie did cover the deficit to break the game open. Whiskers regained the lead for Infinity, contributing 320 to the cause and leaving the game to the final players. Max struck 338 for the Flames, putting them at 1302 and forcing a response from their hosts. Mr. Snowman carried the Torpedoes to a win with 414 individually, and 1518 overall in the win. Infinity continues to impress early on, holding a 4-0 record, while Queens isn't gelling well at 2-2.

That's all for this segment. More to come by the end of the week if all goes well.

UPCL Cricket - Week 2 Part 1

We're back to lead off a brand new week of games, beginning with...

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems have been busy so far this year, and they'll meet up with a much fresher Torpedoes side. Smudge faltered with 153 for Infinity, far from a solid start for the visitors. Smokey's home form remains extremely poor, as he had only 69 for Diamond in this appearance as well. Solaris bolstered the Torpedoes attack with 357 in a fairly solid turn for the rookie. Citrus couldn't get comfortable on the ball for the Gems, going with only 128 as they fall farther behind in this game. Whiskers added another 441 for Infinity, keeping them on the right track toward victory. Pedey scooped 500 for Diamond, bringing them to a bit more of a respectable level despite their team-wide struggles. Mr. Snowman clubbed 471 for the Torpedoes, giving them a final score of 1422. Rosalina did well for the Gems, as the rookie scored 490, but they took the loss with 1187. Infinity remains undefeated at 2-0, while Diamond slides to 1-3 with some serious issues at the top of the lineup.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators face a tough task against the high-powered Hummingbirds offense. Princess did better in this game than the season debut, compiling 399 for Tysini for a solid opening attack. Shawn kept Midland in range with a reasonable 344, a much better effort than he put forth in week 1. Leandra launched another 599 for the Hummingbirds, solidifying their lead quite nicely. Rainmane answered by hammering 624 for the Predators, cutting into the deficit to create a very close game at the midway mark. Charli slipped up at 239 for Tysini, leaving them vulnerable at this stage. Leonardo pounded 525 to pull Midland into the lead with a player each to go. Brownie made a big move with 494 for the Hummingbirds, putting them at 1731 overall and forcing a response from the hosts. Fuchsia covered the deficit with 370 for the Predators, sealing their win at 1863. Midland is 2-1, while Tysini is left shaking their heads at 0-2.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows and Spurs have a meeting of the minds in this game. The week has been fairly stagnant so far for play, as the league is not meeting its schedule well. Spice struggled in her opening attack in this game, taking 160 for Victoria after league officials tested the field. Sally made good use of her response, smacking 594 for Archtown for the early lead. Yekaterina covered the deficit with her 576 for the Spurs, a solid effort from the sophomore. Sleepy B. faltered with 176 for the Arrows, leaving them just slightly ahead at the halfway mark. B. Chapman picked up 199 for Victoria, keeping the game a bit tight. Ruby had her finest performance of the young season with 480 for Archtown, strengthening their lead late in the game. Wario's 375 for the Spurs forced a small response from their hosts, as the visitors close on 1310 overall. Dusky carried the Arrows to a win with 357 individually for a final score of 1607. Archtown improves to 2-2, while Victoria falls to 2-1 on the year.

Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: These two glamor franchises meet with the Eagles hoping to extend the Union's home woes. The venerable Everton captain Goldy made a good start for her side, scoring 512 with some crisp hits. Ms. Puppy proved able to shrug off some trouble, but a bad angle ended her contribution at 264 for Modernistic. Puff III muscled up for 714 points for the Eagles, extending their lead quite a bit. Daisy tried to get a bit showy at the end of her turn, and the rookie learned a lesson when it backfired to stall her at 424 for the Union. Kirstin took patience over pace for Everton, and she was rewarded with a hard-earned 473 to keep their lead in fine form. Puff I lost a bit more ground with only 416 for Modernistic, as their hopes begin to fade for this game. Blizzard had a poor outing with 127 for the Eagles, leaving them at 1826, which they'll have to hope stands up to one last test. Strawberry was unable to make an impact for the Union, with her 144 sealing their loss at 1248. Everton is 2-0 on the new season, looking to challenge for the title again, while Modernistic drops to 1-2 with another home loss.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Spurs are back at it again, playing another road game in this Southwest Divisional against the Sharpshooters. It's the last game of the Spurs' opening road trip, and the third of four games in the Sharpshooters' home stand. The road has made Spice a bit weary, as she falls with 149 for Victoria to lead this game off. Chris whacked 610 in response for Capital City, giving them a substantial first lead. Yekaterina had a solid outing with her 320 for the Spurs, but they remain behind. Missy hammered another 883 for the Sharpshooters, leaving no doubt in their control of the game. B. Chapman couldn't get a lot of it back, but her 384 represents a good outing for Victoria. Sprinkles slipped with 115 for Capital City, but their lead remains solid. Wario managed 266 for the Spurs, resulting in them taking a loss on 1119 total. Nicole lined 466 for the Sharpshooters, finishing their win at 2074. Capital City is up to 2-1 for the season, while passing the now 2-2 Victoria.

HP Field, Midland: The first M-Line Derby of the year features the expansion Predators hosting the Lumberjacks in the latter's first game of the year. Fluffina looked shaky at times and this cost her points, as she posted 249 for Maplewood in her season debut. Shawn slipped up at 175 for Midland, leaving them a bit behind initially. Diddley tried to stay in front of the ball as much as he could, but he broke form and put up 271 for the Lumberjacks to boost their lead slightly. Rainmane continued her hot start to the year with 863 for the Predators, giving them a very stable lead at the midway point. Bryant looked similarly rusty as the rest of Maplewood, falling at 215 as their plight gets more severe. Leonardo had to deal with a cluttered pitch and struggled, ending at 72 for Midland to destabilize their lead. Lumberjacks rookie Waluigi had a weak start to his career, with only 60 points putting his team at a loss with 795. Predators rookie Fuchsia had a strong closing appearance, with her 391 lifting the Predators to 1501 in their big win over a well-established franchise. Midland is up to 3-1 on the year as the premier new franchise so far, while Maplewood will begin from 0-1.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: The Sharpshooters will embark on a road trip after meeting the Nighthawks in their second game of ten straight on the road. Peach came down from her lofty career debut, but her 535 for North Modernistic still sends a strong message. Chris stayed steady for Capital City, pulling them ahead with his big 552 from the lead off position. Luigi struggled with pace at first, but rallied his way back to 405 for the Nighthawks in a strong second attack. Missy kept it close, but the Sharpshooters fell behind a bit when she submitted 365 as her score. Cheddar showed some veteran savvy to extend her turn with a save, eventually finishing it off at 551 for North Modernistic to pad their lead nicely. Sprinkles kept the exchange fairly even, slicing her way to 586 for Capital City as it'll come down to the final players in this one. Bright left the Nighthawks a bit vulnerable with his 281, ending their offense at 1772. Nicole stepped up with just enough for the Sharpshooters, posting 311 to give them the win on 1814. Capital City is 3-1 now, while North Modernistic's first loss takes them to 1-1.

HP Field, Midland: The Predators continue their seven-game home stand while the Stills enter the first game of a road doubleheader. Easter looked comfortable from the start for Todavía, posting 424 for them. Shawn answered with 480 for Midland as he finally appears to be getting comfortable with his new team. Sierra had a very strong counter for the Stills, churning out 547 to regain the lead in stronger form. Rainmane erased that deficit with her 557 for the Predators, keeping the pace of the game quite high halfway through. Sparkles scored 280 for Todavía in this appearance, covering the deficit but not by much. Leonardo got tangled up while trying to make an impact against his former team, and this proved detrimental to Midland, as his 173 sees them fall behind with a player each to go. Bells may have choked it away for the Stills, hitting a meager 49 to put them at 1300 even. Fuchsia did more than enough in a cautious outing, hitting 257 to ice the Predators' fourth straight home win at 1467. Midland is now 4-1, while Todavía drops to 1-3.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: The Stills return to the west for a Coastal Division game with the undefeated Surfers. Easter looked even better this time out, clobbering 695 for Todavía to pressure the high-octane opposition early on. Pearl's Watermelon struggled with the task of catching up, scoring just 160 for the hosts. Sierra tacked on 274 for the Stills to keep their lead fairly strong. Neopolitan dug into the deficit a bit, racking up 457 for the Surfers to pull them closer at the halfway mark. Sparkles put Todavía in a vulnerable position with her measly 6 points. Boots capitalized on the opening with 401 for Pearl, giving them a late lead. Bells went out on a swing and miss, but only after collecting 393 for the Stills, forcing a response from the hosts as the Stills finish on 1368. Wings did all he could for the Surfers, but his 345 left them just five points shy of even, and they've lost with 1363. Todavía gets a critical division win to get back to 2-3, while Pearl is down to 3-1 after the heartbreaking home loss ends their undefeated run.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: It's the Volcanoes turn to be the Coastal team playing on the road twice in a row, facing a Spiders team in desperate search of their first win. Starlight produced a solid 343 for Pacific in the opening attack from the visitors. Shadow had an inexplicable swing and miss to cut his turn short at 147 for Web City, setting them up to play from behind once again. Ms. Kitty slugged a massive 829 for the Volcanoes, solidifying their lead quite early against their hapless hosts. Ted clubbed 752 for the Spiders in response, keeping them somewhat in the game. Leonette may have opened the door a bit, as she faltered with 215 for Pacific. Shiny gained grounded with 355 for Web City, including a clever flip to the back 6s to keep her turn alive early on in the process. Chicky Phil closed well with 472 for the Volcanoes, giving them a total of 1859 that should stand for a win. Dani poked 246 for the Spiders, sending them to a loss with 1500 even. Pacific improves to 3-2 as they continue a seven-game road trip, while Web City is 0-4 before heading out on a six-game trip themselves.

Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The Spurs make their home opener against the traveling Volcanoes, who may be a bit weary for this game. Starlight wasted no time in establishing the Pacific attack as a strong one, pounding 511 points in the opening turn. Spice came back even better with 614 for Victoria, getting their home schedule off to a nice start. Ms. Kitty had a bit of a choppy turn, ending with her posting a weak 81 for the Volcanoes as they slip behind. Yekaterina didn't make the most graceful finish, but her 417 keeps the Spurs in control of the game at the halfway mark. Leonette managed 281 for Pacific, a decent score, but not enough to cover the deficit. B. Chapman destabilized the Victoria lead, hitting only 80 points on her turn as they become a bit vulnerable. Chicky Phil hit 253 for the Volcanoes, giving them 1126 and forcing a small response out of the hosts. Wario literally spiked his way to 348 for the Spurs, doing more than enough to secure their win at a final of 1459 with the bold performance. Victoria is up to 3-2 now, passing the 3-3 Pacific squad they just dispatched.

Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The Crowns get their season started just as this segment comes to an end, and they'll host a low-expectations Meteors team that's on the road for the first time this year. Mams salvaged a good effort out of a near-mess, clearing three balls at once to score 401 later on for Viewpoint Sound. Nightfur had a bit a of poor game, taking just 66 for Royal in this appearance as they'll play from behind. Hoot added another 400 for the Meteors in his appearance, strengthening their lead. Jake suffered an unlucky deflection that ended his offense at 88 for the Crowns, making this a very bad season debut so far. Nibbles had a very messy pitch for Viewpoint Sound, and he was able to produce only 153 from it. Royal got a bit more involved in the game when their free-agent acquisition Kayla slammed 684 to make it a close game with the final players left to bat. Dominic tallied 249 to bring the Meteors to 1203 total. Hannah carried Royal to victory with 459 in her career debut, giving the Crowns 1297 overall. Royal is 1-0 on the year, while Viewpoint Sound slides to 1-2.

That's all for this segment. An update: I have redoubled my efforts in Reconstructing documents that were lost in the data loss issue in August. Three months in, and I am comfortable with saying that approximately 70% of the work is done. However, most of this has come in the last four weeks or so, and I expect to finish the work by the end of the month. Once that is complete, UPCL cricket should return to an appropriate pace, which I look forward to starting very soon.