UPCL Cricket - Week 8 Part 2

The middle segment of the week is going to seem very centered around two teams that feature heavily. Leading off though is...

Verizon Field, Pacific: The Volcanoes look to sweep the Cascades, as the latter team kicks off a four-game road trip. Jasmine provided a very steady hand for Freedom at the start, even hitting a backhand shot perfectly before finishing with 647 to establish a strong lead early on. Starlight was solid in her response for Pacific, working at a high pace before plateauing a bit, and she ultimately had 528 in a good turn for the hosts. Stinky got tripped up with an errant hit for the Cascades, giving them only 39 as their lead is much weaker now. Ms. Kitty paddled another 584 for the Volcanoes, putting them in front at the halfway mark of the game. Roxy earned a false start replay for Freedom, but didn't take advantage of it, with a measly 48 sending the visitors to a deeper hole. Leonette was reliable for Pacific with 434, padding the lead a bit more before the final players take their turns. Nikolai was a little better with 259 for the Cascades, but they lost with 993 in a harsh defeat. Chicky Phil grabbed another 569 for the Volcanoes to ice their win at 2115. Pacific looks much like their prior versions at 12-7 after this sweep, while Freedom drops to 5-6 on a bit of a skid.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are in the second of a four-game home stand, facing a Flames side embarking on a three-game road trip in this Southeast Divisional game. Crystal began the game with a solid 515 for Queens, giving them a strong foundation with her performance. Valencia pulled Golden fairly close with her effort, taking 469 on the opening turn to make it either side's game. Paige was very productive for the Flames, churning out 1044 on her turn to practically double their initial lead. Dusty countered with 1069 for the Pilots, somewhat miraculously gaining a bit of ground at the halfway mark as her recent scoring binge continues. Violetta picked up 337 for Queens on her turn, giving them less cushion than before. Strut faltered at 112 for Golden, putting them in their most noticeable deficit of the game so far. Max didn't run away with the game, taking only 173 for the Flames to give them 2069 overall. A. Charlton bested that mark but not by enough, with her 178 leaving the Pilots down at 1828 in the loss. Queens proved stronger in this division win, going to 10-10, while Golden falls to 7-6 with the loss.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles have one of their toughest stretches, ending a four-game home stand with three of the next four league games. The Torpedoes are also in the second game of their road trip. Smudge took a replay for a technical error and capitalized with 432 points on her turn, giving Infinity a good start. Goldy recovered from her recent home struggles, taking 487 for Everton to put them slightly ahead in this game. Solaris got beat by a tough deflection, taking a meager 61 for the Torpedoes as they barely covered the deficit. Puff III tapped another 439 for the Eagles, giving their lead a bit of a boost at the halfway mark. Whiskers couldn't do anything for Infinity, producing a paltry 98 as the visitors fall farther behind. Kirstin complained slightly for a technical error when a bad bounce ended her turn, but the Everton sophomore didn't get a judgment, scoring 149 as the lead is a little less safe now. Mr. Snowman dug in for 622 for the Torpedoes, forcing a response by the hosts as the visitors end with 1213. Blizzard effectively washed that out with 813 for the Eagles, giving them 1888 in the win. Everton continues in first place at 11-1, while Infinity drops to 9-6 with a fourth straight road loss.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles finish the doubleheader portion of their week against an upstart Waves side looking to go a perfect 4-0 in the last game of their road trip. Snuggle had a bit of trouble with his pace, ending at 222 for Oceanside despite staying active for quite awhile. Goldy remained strong for Everton, taking 439 on her turn to give them the initial lead. Caitlin had another low-scoring outing for the Waves, with her 235 just barely covering the deficit. Puff III answered with 456 for the Eagles, adding nicely to their lead at the halfway point. Celestia stepped up with 512 for Oceanside on her turn, covering the deficit again. Kirstin stood her ground with 345 for Everton, giving them a slightly weaker lead as the final players get their turns. Dewey struck 464 for the Waves, forcing their hosts into a response as the visitors close at 1433 total. Blizzard was unable to replicate her results, taking 108 as the Eagles will suffer a defeat at 1348. Persistence pays off for Oceanside as they improve to 10-8, while Everton drops to 11-2 with the tough loss.

Amazon Field, Golden: The Pilots are in the third of four straight home games, while the Stills' only game this week sees them start a six-game road trip. Easter did not start so well with 213 for Todavía, putting them in a troublesome position. Valencia shrugged a ball out of bounds early, and it will be Golden starting from behind after her contribution of 179 points. Her sister, the Stills' Sierra, answered with 361 to give the visitors a strong second attack in a low-scoring game. Dusty cooled a bit from her recent scoring pace at home, but only to 795 as the Pilots take another sizeable lead at the halfway mark of a game. Sparkles couldn't answer for Todavía, producing only 171 as the visitors are preparing to take a loss. Strut padded the Golden lead with a firm 400, helping the hosts extend their leading margin. Bells collapsed at 156 for the Stills, leaving them at a loss with 901 overall. A. Charlton knocked another 722 with no pressure, putting the Pilots final score at 2096 in a big win. Golden erased the taste of their last loss by winning here to go to 8-6, while Todavía is down to 11-12.

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Hummingbirds break out their new uniforms after two weeks off, hoping the long rest will get them back on track against the league's top team. Princess stumbled a bit, shaking off the rust with only 234 for Tysini as they'll start slowly again. Goldy had her best home game of the year so far, bashing her way to 877 to establish Everton with a significant lead. Leandra also came up a bit short for the Hummingbirds, crashing out at 256 after a questionable swing. Puff III got a bit greedy and paid for it by falling at 48 for the Eagles, weakening their lead halfway through the game. Charli seemed to have a good turn going until her high swing sailed out of bounds and she scored 291 for Tysini, a mediocre effort. Kirstin dampened the threat of a counterattack with 216 of her own for Everton, a weak game but sufficient for the circumstances. Brownie covered the deficit with a big 552 for the Hummingbirds, showing some value to the team as the hosts will be tasked with a response to the final score of 1333. Blizzard brought the goods this time, taking 321 for the Eagles to claim the win at 1462. Everton is back on track at 12-2 after a tough loss, while Tysini sinks further to 3-9.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: The Spiders will play a tripleheader, with this home game and then two on the road. The Defenders are first up, in the second game of their six-game road trip. Bianca had some struggles in this game, taking only 320 for Southridge after getting hit with a mandatory replay. Shadow showed very well for Web City, crisply batting 559 for the hosts to take the initial lead. Debby popped 327 for the Defenders, doing her part to cover the deficit with her performance. Ted contributed 479 for the Spiders in response, restoring their lead and even letting it grow a bit at the halfway mark. Stephanie gave Southridge a fighting chance, slashing 598 for the visitors to assert them more forcefully. Shiny couldn't produce an answered for Web City, sending them to a slight deficit with her 144 late in the game. Hughbert put the Defenders in a vulnerable position with only 49, giving the 1294 as they are now at the mercy of the hosts. Dani came through, tapping 192 to give them 1374 in a close win for the Spiders. Web City has made it three in a row at home, going to 5-10, while Southridge drops to 10-9 with the tough loss.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Halloween Derby, between these Northeast rivals, commences with the Spiders' second of three games in a row, facing the neighboring Specters. This brings the Specters' four-game home stand to an end. Shadow opened with a reasonable 399 for Web City, a sufficient first attack. Sydney just barely topped it for Harrison, taking 400 as she tried and failed to distribute three balls at once. Ted did fine until a poor swing cut him down at 273 for the Spiders, making them a bit more vulnerable. Twinkie II was unable to capitalize for the Specters, giving them a weak 2014 as they trail at the halfway point. Shiny appeared ready to make a run but cut a ball too high and ended on 231 as Web City has been unable to break free so far. Lexi swung for 311 for Harrison, putting them just slightly ahead late in the game as this one is set to go either way. Dani scored 311 for the Spiders against her first team, setting their final at 1214. Sugar thought she had enough for the Specters, but came up just short with 280, leaving them at 1195 in a hard-fought loss. Web City gets another one to go to 6-10, 1-2 in the division, while Harrison is down to 3-12 with an 0-2 division record.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Spiders complete their whirlwind stretch against the expansion Nighthawks, who begin a three-game home stand with this game. Fatigue appears to have sunk in for Shadow, as the Web City captain fell quickly with 84 points to lead things off. Peach lined 776 for North Modernistic, wasting no time in giving the hosts a big lead at the start of the game. Ted put a nice dent in the deficit for the Spiders, working his way to a strong 535 to lessen the burden. Luigi fired back with only 290 for the Nighthawks, as their lead has weakened a bit at the midway point. Shiny suffered through a slow start for Web City, and she wouldn't have a chance to get back on track, ending with 120. Cheddar hammered 575 for North Modernistic, securing the lead a bit more as each team has a player left to bat. Dani pulled in 339 for the Spiders, but they took the loss with 1078 in a steep defeat. Bright tacked on a big 702 for the Nighthawks, icing the win at 2343. North Modernistic continues to excel, moving to 8-6 while Web City is down to 6-11 with the loss.

Henry Ford Memorial Stadium, Pronger: The Tridents continue a three-game home stand, while the Flames progress in the second of three straight on the road here. Crystal was excellent on her turn, staking out a massive lead for Queens as she drilled 869 in the opening attack. Precious offset some of the damage for Pronger, knocking 471 on a good turn for the hosting captain. Paige answered with 417 for the Flames, keeping their lead fairly steady so far. Zach lost control of his swing a bit for the Tridents, giving them a pathetic 28 as the deficit is quite large halfway through the game. Violetta put together a very strong turn with 719 for Queens, extending their lead quite significantly. Spot tried to make an impact for Pronger, and while he was good with 496, they remain likely too far behind to catch up with a player each to go. Max tacked on 346 to bring the Flames to 2351 in what is likely going to be a win for the visitors. Potter produced just 276, leaving the Tridents in a loss with 1271. Queens is up to 11-10, pulling very close to the now 6-5 Pronger side.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors play their seventh of eight straight at home, facing a Spurs team wrapping up a short trip through the north. Spice launched 742 for Victoria to begin this game, a great mark for the captain in what's expected to be a challenge for the visitors. Twilight answered with 810 for Central, asserting the hosts in a leading position at the start. Yekaterina sharply fired back for the Spurs, collecting 522 to give them a second chance at leading. Dustin didn't cover all of the damage, posting 472 for the Warriors, but he didn't deplete the narrow lead, so the hosts are still in front. B. Chapman kept Victoria's pace very strong, sending in another big challenge to the hosts. Mario tried a chip shot that went a bit too high, ending his turn with 117 for Central as they are now in a deep deficit with a player each to go. Wario looked pretty bad at the end with a swing and miss as two offerings split him, but his 519 put the Spurs at 2406, a very strong position. Gizmo couldn't rally enough, ending at 352 as the Warriors lose with 1751 in an upset. Victoria goes to 7-9, while Central drops to 9-4.

AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: The Waves are at home for a one-off Coastal Division battle against the Volcanoes, who lead off a four-game road trip just a bit to the north of home. Starlight is showing no signs of fatigue despite a busy week, slickly chopping her way to 529 for Pacific as they'll start strong once more. Snuggle was doing quite well for himself until a ball slipped up his bat and out of bounds, ending his turn at 240 for Oceanside. Ms. Kitty pummeled another 544 for the Volcanoes on her turn, padding their lead well. Caitlin stumbled at 208 for the Waves, putting them farther behind at the halfway mark. Leonette contributed another 434 for Pacific, keeping with the theme of balanced offense as the visitors cruise through the game. Celestia got most of that back with her 424 for Oceanside, but that doesn't address the rest of the deficit facing her team. Chicky Phil stayed in range with 578 for the Volcanoes, bringing them to 2085 total in what should be a win. Dewey put in a lot of patience to rally for 735 for the Waves, but they took a loss with 1607 overall. Pacific is up to 13-7 on a six-game win streak, while Oceanside sinks to 10-9, and both are 1-1 in the Coastal Division.

For live updates, check out @UnitedPCL on Twitter. We'll be back for more games of cricket over the weekend, likely to finish the week in style on Sunday.

UPCL Cricket - Week 8 Part 1

We begin a new week of cricket right alongside the start of the new Tournament. Week 8 begins with a big derby match...

Chevrolet Field, Everton: The Eagles look to extend their league lead in the standings at the start of a four-game home stand, facing their British derby rivals, the Prestige, who are finishing a four-game road trip. Acorn worked a slow build to open this game, but he made it work with a long-lasting turn, eventually fading out at 546 for Lighton. Goldy had only 32 for Everton, unable to overcome the cluttered pitch that faced her. Spirit didn't do a lot better for the Prestige, taking just 93 to add to their lead. Puff III answered with 730 for the Eagles, once again propping up their offense as they lead through half of the game. Twinkie I tapped 292 for Lighton on this turn, another weak road effort from the veteran. Kirstin bested that just slightly with her 304 for Everton, giving them a small lead as the final players come to bat. Salmo put in a good turn with 560 for the Prestige, setting their final at 1491 total. Blizzard answered with 471, more than enough to give the Eagles a win with 1537. Everton is now 10-1 on the year, while Lighton drops further to 5-8.

IBM Nighthawks Nest, North Modernistic: The Nighthawks' second ever home game is against the Spurs, who have two in a row on the road. Spice found a fairly fruitful groove to give Victoria 529 at the beginning of the game, a good performance from the captain. Peach stood tall against an onslaught of dangerous offerings against her in the early going, rising her play to 839 for North Modernistic as they take a strong lead. Yekaterina covered the deficit with 345 for the Spurs, but she didn't give them much room to maneuver beyond that. Luigi countered very well for the Nighthawks, bashing his way to 623 to extend their lead at the halfway mark. B. Chapman bailed from a fairly average turn at 304 for Victoria, leaving them at a noticeable deficit. Cheddar left North Modernistic a bit exposed with her 152, certainly within range of the visitors. Wario went on a rally with 681 for the Spurs, giving them a final of 1859, which will force a response from the hosts. Bright rose to the occasion with a quick 320 to give the Nighthawks the win at 1934. North Modernistic is up to 7-5, while Victoria sinks to 6-9.

FedEx Ground, Eastside: The Sharks debut their burnt orange look against the Flames after having the previous two weeks off, while their opponents are wrapping up a short two-game trip. Crystal had no troubles in establishing Queens early in the game, taking 528 on the first turn. Chelsea kept Eastside fairly close with her effort, batting 436 for the hosts as they trail only slightly. Paige followed up for the Flames with a massive 780, extending their lead significantly as the game approaches half-completion. Taylor was taken out by a split offering, which she misdirected out of bounds for 24 points as the Sharks fall far behind. Violetta tacked on another 447 for Queens on her turn, padding their lead nicely as they continue to cruise through the game. Niki cancelled that performance out with 449 for Eastside, but the deficit remains large with a player each to go. Max got beat by a deflection, taking only 164 to give the Flames 1919 overall. Paps fell with 171 for the Sharks, giving them 1080 in the loss. Queens is up to 9-8 with the win, while Eastside has yet to win in their new building, sitting at 3-10 overall with an 0-6 home record.

UPS Ground, Maplewood: The Lumberjacks get a single game at home as their busy schedule continues, hosting the Tradewinds in this one. Tigerette looked very much in form with 591 for Commerce at the start of this one, a good tone-setting play. Fluffina stumbled with 177 for Maplewood at the start, getting their game off to a sluggish start. Ice Cream responded with 385 for the Tradewinds on her turn, strengthening their lead with the performance. Diddley crashed from the high pace he's been setting recently, ending with just 41 on an ill-fated backwards his for the Lumberjacks as their situation becomes dire. Lionel chipped another 245 for Commerce in an acceptable outing. Bryant put on a rally for Maplewood, gathering up 663 to get them back into the fight late in the game. Lorde had a modest 211 for the Tradewinds, putting their final score at 1432, not yet safe. Waluigi couldn't settle down on his turn, ending with 135 as the Lumberjacks lost with 1016 in their first home defeat. Commerce goes to 5-7, while Maplewood is 11-10.

Toyota Pitch, Freedom: The Cascades debut their new look at the end of a three-game home stand, while the Volcanoes make a long trip east before a quick turnaround, as they'll be in the next game too. Starlight got going well with 707 for Pacific, pacing the visitors with a strong initial attack. Jasmine had only 184 for Freedom, putting them behind at the start of the game. Ms. Kitty pulled no punches for the Volcanoes, slugging 1323 to cement their lead in great form. Stinky was solid with 417 for the Cascades, but he was unable to make much of an impact on the large deficit. Leonette answered with 432 for Pacific, keeping their lead stable as the game enters its second half. Roxy couldn't pull a ball off of her backhand, ending any hopes for a Freedom comeback as she added a measly 40 to their offense. Chicky Phil had only 152 for the Volcanoes, but that's expected to be plenty as they close with 2614 overall. Nikolai managed 248 for the Cascades, sending them to the losing total of 889 for the game. Pacific's win takes them to 10-7, while Freedom exits a bye week with a loss to go to 5-5.

Verizon Field, Pacific: The Nighthawks have left home again, making the trip southwest to face a Volcanoes team that has traversed the whole map. Peach popped 641 for North Modernistic, giving them a very strong start to the game. Starlight crushed 1049 in response for Pacific, showing no ill effects from the heavy travel burden. Luigi just barely covered the deficit for the Nighthawks, taking 415 on his solid turn to keep them competitive. Ms. Kitty allowed the Volcanoes lead to weaken a slight bit, as she had 311 on a somewhat low turn for her. Cheddar countered with a strong 506 for North Modernistic, giving them a temporary lead. Leonette belted another 998 for Pacific, giving them a confident lead as the final players step up to bat. Bright put up a good rally with 546 for the Nighthawks, but they will take a loss with 2108 total. Chicky Phil brought the game to a quick end with 176 individually for 2534 total for the Volcanoes in another win. Pacific is now 11-7, while North Modernistic falls to 7-6.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Flames host a doubleheader, first facing the Waves in the their third of four straight road games. Snuggle didn't get the best start with 296 for Oceanside, leaving them a bit lower than they'd like to be. Crystal couldn't find her swing at all, falling with a meager 41 in her first bad home game for Queens. Caitlin couldn't get the Waves on track at all, with her 129 adding only slightly to their unstable lead. Paige made it a very close game at the halfway mark with her 379 bringing the Flames to a hardly noticeable deficit. Celestia replied with 343 for Oceanside on her turn, giving them a better lead. Violetta poked 471 for Queens, giving them the lead late in the game, but either side could end up on top. Dewey produced a reasonable 432 for the Waves, putting them at 1200 even, which is not safe from a counterattack. Max blew it with 96 for the Flames, leaving them with 987 in the loss. Oceanside improves to 9-8, bumping Queens down to 9-9.

Ebay Center, Queens: The Sharks are on the road for the next two games, with their Burnt Orange look facing the Fireball Flames in their back half of a doubleheader. The Sharks are also looking to avenge a loss from earlier in the week. Chelsea did not mess around for Eastside, smashing 1055 to open the scoring very well for the offensively-challenged visitors. Crystal had another dud opening for Queens, taking just 21 this time as the result may already be determined. Taylor supplemented the Sharks offense with her own 483, giving them a very sturdy lead. Paige offered very little resistance for the Flames, taking a poor 135 as they appear set to lose again. Niki unleashed another 1154 for Eastside, practically guaranteeing their victory. Violetta chipped a mere 106 for Queens, with their hopes of a comeback extremely dim. Paps eased up with 169 for the Sharks, giving them a final score of 2861. Max scooped 548 for the Flames to make the loss less embarrassing at 810 total. Eastside is up to 4-10, with all their wins on the road, while Queens drops to 9-10 now.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors continue along through their eight-game home stand (ending later this week), while the Surfers make the trip east for a one-off game. Watermelon was reliable for Pearl with 488 on her turn, ending only when she was caught slightly out of position. Twilight got beat by a high bounce after she had committed to a swing, ending on 206 for Central. Neopolitan added 327 for the Surfers, a reasonable performance from the veteran. Dustin made a dent in the deficit with 495 for the Warriors, bringing them within striking distance at the halfway mark. Boots faltered a bit at 298 for Pearl on her mandatory replay after a mess of a first attempt at her appearance that saw two technical errors in rapid succession. Mario squandered the opportunity for Central, ending with just 82 on one of his worst turns so far. Wings didn't run away with it for the Surfers, taking a meager 96 as they finish with 1209 total. Gizmo went with 353 for the Warriors, falling just short of the mark as the team closed their loss with 1136. Pearl sneaks away with the win to go to 9-7, while Central falls off at 8-3.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights look to break a bit of a slump, while the Crowns have a similar goal after both teams have faded since hot starts. Nightfur slapped 441 for Royal at the start, fighting off tough offerings with a captain's poise. Kiwi answered with a slump-breaking 512 for Terrace City, edging them ahead after the initial attacks. Jake let a good rhythm go to waste as he got greedy, ending at 96 for the Crowns with his wild big swing. Jennifer blasted 1399 on a massive turn, mixing pace and longevity in the best way to give the Knights an impressive lead. Kayla cut back with 775 for Royal, trying to give them a lifeline in a game that quickly turned sour toward the visitors. Oreo couldn't work her way onto a backhand to save her turn, ending with a paltry 52 for Terrace City, but their lead is still strong. Hannah couldn't complete the comeback for the Crowns, taking 225 to send them to a loss with 1537. Stripes was quickly overwhelmed for the Knights, adding 111 to bring them to 2074 in the win. Terrace City jumps to 9-5, while Royal sinks to 6-8 with the loss.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: The Specters look to break a skid in this third game of their four-game home stand, facing a scuffling Swifts side making a one-off trip to the north. Patches put an end to extended road issues with 573 for Boston to lead things off here, establishing a noticeable lead. Sydney didn't get much back with 192 for Harrison. Puff II pounded an extra 736 for the Swifts on her turn, extending their lead very nicely. Twinkie II twice went to her backhand to keep the turn going, but the Specters captain couldn't best her sister, taking 632 as the deficit grew only slightly. Gradley supplied 415 for Boston this time around, keeping their lead fairly steady as the game progresses into its later stages. Lexi fired back with 400 for Harrison, recovering most of the recent damage with her effort. Sweetheart tacked on 551 for the Swifts, icing their big game with 2275. Sugar had virtually no response, taking a pathetic 8 points for the Specters to lose with 1232. Boston gets a much needed win to get their season back on track at 7-8, while Harrison drops to 3-11 with the disappointing result.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors are in the sixth of eight straight at home, while the Wolves embark on a seven-game road trip to end this segment after having a bye week. Juno was quite firm for Stonebridge in this one, taking 647 at the start to put the hosts on alert. Twilight showed strong anticipation and instincts to pick up 750 for Central, giving them a slight lead early on. Frosty answered with 313 for the Wolves, covering the deficit very lightly as the hosts prepare to counter. Dustin matched it with 320 for the Warriors, keeping the lead even at the halfway mark. Cobalt picked up a reasonable 343 for Stonebridge after a technical error replay, a slight bump up from his first effort. Mario flipped his way to 666 for Central, boosting their lead ahead of the final players' turns. Prism had a good double-hit turn bad when she bumped the next ball out of bounds very early in the turn, ending on 16 and sealing the Wolves' loss at 1319. Gizmo had only 314 for the Warriors, but they took the win with 2050. Central is up to 9-3, trying to recover from an earlier loss, while Stonebridge drops to 8-10.

With a current delay in pool Tournament action, Cricket will receive much more attention. For up-to-the-minute UPCL news, follow us @UnitedPCL.

Tournament 2017: B-level 1st Round - Day 1

If you had asked me in August if this Tournament would ever happen, I would have had no certainty in any answer I could give. Now, six months after the UPCL data loss and the Reconstruction of documents, the league is prepared to embark on its seventh Tournament. Much like last year, the games will be played in two tiers. In this first tier, the B-level, all series are three games, with sixteen players per bracket. At the end, the three cue finalists will meet in a ladder finale to determine the final medal results. New this year are two things. The first is game-related, as the Finals in each event will be played with the hosting player's cue, instead of split-cue. This is for efficiency. Also, the UPCL is proud to launch its own Twitter feed, @UnitedPCL. This will feature series by series Tweets, and provide a daily link to game content. In the future, player profile trends may appear at random. Without any further delay, the Tournament kicks off with...

Google Hall, Modernistic: Strawberry v. Sparkles. The first series of the day is with the red cue for 15-ball. Strawberry of Modernistic had a good first impression for the team in competitive play, controlling possession with 11 of 15 balls potted, mostly on a seven-ball run through the middle of the game that shut down Todavía's Sparkles quite effectively for a 1-0 series lead for the host. The Stills' Sparkles stayed alive in game 2, a much grittier battle that saw the Union's Strawberry struggle to keep control. Sparkles ended the game early, playing the cue off the 5 to pot the 15 in the bottom right, tying the series at 1. Sparkles completed the comeback for a 2-1 series win, using an iffy break and Strawberry's own inconsistent shot against her to get the first series win. Sparkles closed with the last two shots after Strawberry missed the 14-15 combination toward the bottom right. Sparkles plays on into the second round.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Dreamy. The next series is in 9-ball with the silver cue as we head to the Northeast. Game 1 was not much to brag about for either side, as Central's Dustin started very slowly and Swordpoint's Dreamy failed to capitalize on any of his mistakes, allowing Dustin to take game 1 and a 1-0 series lead without having to earn it. Dustin was much better for the Warriors in game 2, dictating the pace of play, so it was a bit unlucky for him to lose the game, but his lack of finish on the 9 allowed the Blades' Dreamy to take it. The stolen win tied the series at 1. Dustin highlighted game 3 with a four-ball run in the middle, but it was a slow finish that saw Dreamy miss the 9 twice on bank attempts to the bottom side before Dustin closed the 2-1 series win on his third try. Dustin advances to the second round as he tries to shake off the rust a bit.

Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Caitlin. The game remains 9-ball for today's third series, but the blue cue will make its debut for the year this time. Smudge had this first game under control from the start, making two balls on the break for Infinity. Oceanside's Caitlin provided a late challenge, but her scratch after the making the 8 sealed Smudge's win for a 1-0 lead, as she took the 9 from ball-in-hand. The Waves' Caitlin made just enough improvement in game 2 to tie the series at 1. While she did rattle a couple of shots out early on, she settled in to make the 9 late, and Smudge couldn't do anything about after a second-half collapse for the Torpedoes captain. Caitlin put a scare into Smudge late in game 3, making the 9 but scratching to gift Smudge the win. Smudge set up the play with a miss on the 7 to end her seven-ball run after a slow start, but it all came back around for Smudge to win 2-1 in the series.

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Stripes. The first games with an expansion team are on here, as the silver cue is in for Accuracy in the spacious Urban pool hall. Terrace City's Stripes didn't let the North Modernistic rookie off easily, forcing her into a long shot late in the game. Peach missed, and Stripes was able to bank the 14 to the bottom right to win the game 2-3 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Stripes ended regulation of game 2 with a pair of misses, but the Nighthawks' Peach couldn't dispatch her at the start of overtime, and then lost in the sudden death portion with her miss for a 4-5 win to give Stripes the series at 2-0. Stripes couldn't complete the first sweep of the year, faltering with a scratch to lose 1-3 against Peach in the finale. Stripes still claimed the series at 2-1 to punch her ticket into the second round.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: A. Charlton v. Smudge. The Torpedoes captain is already in her second series, as the blue cue comes on for 12-ball. Infinity's Smudge gave away a wild-card ball very early in the game, but she also blocked a pocket Golden's Charlton wanted to use. Eventually, Charlton returned the favor, allowing Smudge to bank her last shot to the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge had a very quick game 2, making a five-ball run from the break even as she gave up a wild card ball. Charlton tried to challenge her, but her defense was out of position, and Smudge secured the series with a lone ball on her second turn, taking the series 2-0. Charlton wouldn't go out without a fight, and she managed to take a win, keeping Smudge to mostly perimeter shots in this third game. Her win made it a 2-1 series win for Smudge, who is into the second round a second time.

Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Patches. The Generations Derby gets an early appearance, with a battle between two of the biggest stars and captains in the league. Twilight ended game 1 in a highlight after a lackluster battle. The Central captain took a 7-15 bank combination that just edged the 15 to the top right, and it became a double-pot as the 8 was bumped to the top side later, giving her a 1-0 lead over Boston's Patches. The Swifts' Patches quickly answered in game 2, using her second turn to pot the 9-15 combination after glancing the cue off the 2 for a legal shot, tying her series against the Warriors' Twilight at one as they've exchanged stunning closers. Twilight wouldn't be fooled again, taking her punches in game 3 before rattling a kick-combination, sending the 4-15 off the 5 and into the bottom side to clinch the thrilling series at 2-1. Twilight fought hard to get this one into the second round.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Easter. The Predators finally get to put their stamp on the old home of the Sharks, with this 12-ball series with the blue cue. Todavía's Easter had no trouble once she got going, as her slow start against Midland's Rainmane was quickly erased by a six-ball run-out, and she even surrendered a wild-card ball Rainmane never got to enjoy. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter had a wild start to game 2 as well, giving the Predators' Rainmane an early wild-card ball. She gave it back later on a scratch, and while Rainmane looked to be in good shape near the end, running with momentum, her missed contact on her last ball with a defensive stroke cost her. Easter took her last ball from a free shot to clinch the series at 2-0. Easter thought that game 3 would be just as easy after an impressive break, but Rainmane's last-ditch defense saved the game for the host, as she would eventually take it on a three-ball run-out after Easter failed to get set up. Easter took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Princess v. Zach. The Hummingbirds' revolutionary captain opposes a sophomore for the new-look Pronger Tridents in Rotation with the silver cue. Princess had a good start and a good finishing in game 1, as the Tysini captain made a ball on the break and used a three-ball run-out to win 8-4 over Pronger's Zach, who had a short stretch of success in the middle. The Hummingbirds' Princess faced even less resistance in game 2, making two balls from the break and closing effectively for an 8-3 win to take the series at 2-0, while the Tridents Zach gave very little fight to stay in the series. Zach went mostly unchallenged in game 3, only facing a little bit of a challenge from Princess late in the game before he took the win 8-3. The series favored Princess 2-1, sending the star into the second round.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Stinky. The red cue is back for a series of Accuracy. Stinky couldn't control the ball very well, scattering a number of misses as the Freedom veteran found himself unable to keep up with the Pronger rookie Potter, whose sharp shot helped him to win the game 2-4. Potter also claimed a 1-0 series lead with the effort. The Cascades' Stinky saved his defense for late in game 2, but it worked out in the end, as he got the Tridents' Potter to miss on consecutive shots in the end for a 1-2 win, tying the series at 1 with a single game to decide who will go on. Potter's shot absolutely fell apart in game 3, as the rookie went from competitive to easily defeated against Stinky's relentless positioning battle in a 1-6 win for Stinky. He takes the series 2-1 after dropping the first game, advancing to the second round.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Nibbles. Stinky stays busy, returning on a short trip home to play 15-ball with the red cue against another rookie opponent. Game 1 was a bit of a mess for both players, but Nibbles came through, as the Viewpoint Sound rookie used the 12 to direct the cue into the 15, which fell in the bottom right, and was quickly followed by the 13 for a double-pot to take a 1-0 series lead over an ineffective Stinky of Freedom. Stinky couldn't recover any better in the second game, as the Cascades veteran succumbed to many errors as Nibbles secured the series win for the Meteors by making the last four balls over two turns for a 2-0 lead. Stinky saved some face with the win in game 3, leaving the league in search of its first sweep of the season. Stinky shut down a late effort from Nibbles with his own four-ball run-out, making it a 2-1 series win for Nibbles to take with him into the second round.

That's it for a short day of games. Play was a bit mediocre, likely damaged from the length of time between qualifiers and the start of the Tournament proper. If you like, follow @UnitedPCL on Twitter for real-time updates on league activities.

UPCL Cricket - Week 7 Part 3

We're back to finish up the seventh week of the season, and we get this one going with...

Henry Ford Memorial Field, Pronger: The Tridents begin a three-game home stand against the Spiders, who make a one-off trip east for the game. Shadow's crashing road scores continued here, with just 57 to start Web City off on a poor note. Precious did worse, somehow, as she had a ball bounce off the bat's handle and this ended her turn at 49 when it went out of bounds, leaving Pronger frustrated. Ted got the offense going in earnest with 547 for the Spiders, giving them a nice lead for now. Zach had 328 in response for the Tridents, keeping them somewhat in range but behind nonetheless at the halfway mark. Shiny went off for Web City, posting a strong 792 to extend their lead quite nicely with her outburst. Spot stepped up with 1024 for Pronger, giving them the lead with a player each to go. Dani earned an optional replay due to technical error during the game, but she would lose a good portion of her score, ending with 81 as the Spiders are vulnerable at 1477 total. Potted had a shaky start but quite the confident finish as he scored 674 to ice the Tridents win at 2075. Pronger improves to 6-4, while dumping Web City to 4-10 with another slipped-away loss.

The Intel Pitch, Diamond: The Gems debut their new blackout look against the Waves, who are in the second game of four straight on the road. Snuggle wasted no time in setting the tone for Oceanside, ripping 792 to lead off the game. Smokey got just a little less than half back for Diamond, poking a quick 378 for the hosts to begin their comeback attempt. Caitlin countered with 385 for the Waves, restoring the lead to its former margin. Citrus got caught mid-swing on a tough bounce to play, and she sent the ball sky-high to end on 319 for the Gems, allowing the deficit to grow a bit. Celestia crushed 1496 for Oceanside on her, leaving no doubt as to which team plans on taking this result. Pedey's home slump continued to a fourth game, as the sophomore got only 199 back for Diamond. Dewey tacked on 451 more for the Waves, icing their presumptive win at 3124. Rosalina tapped 201 for the Gems to end their loss at 1097, a brutal result for the hosts. Oceanside has pulled even again at 8-8 for the year, while Diamond drops to 5-9 after this, and their week isn't over yet either.

Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have their last home game for awhile, facing a Lumberjacks team that has almost kept up with them in terms of games played. Fluffina popped 579 for Maplewood right at the start, getting things going very well for the visitors. Easter answered with 590 for Todavía, putting them just ahead despite the abrupt end to her turn. Diddley saw a hesitant swing cause an unfortunate deflection to end his turn at 169 for the Lumberjacks. Sierra capitalized on the opportunity for the Stills, slicing her way to 665 to add nicely to their lead halfway through the game. Bryant chipped 198 for Maplewood, unable to make much of a difference in this game as their deficit solidifies. Sparkles tacked on another 616 for Todavía, likely securing the win a bit early. Waluigi gathered 345 for the Lumberjacks, unable to overcome the steep deficit as they lost with a score of 1291. Bells maintained a crazy pace to score 1794 individually in this game, putting an exclamation point on the Stills win at 3665. Todavía improves to 11-11 with the win, while Maplewood still struggles on the road at 11-9 overall but with a five-game road losing streak.

Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: Two of the league's better teams meet here, with the Predators beginning a two-game road trip, while the Torpedoes finish their three-game home stand. Shawn carved out 408 for Midland to open the scoring in this game, a solid performance from the veteran. Smudge tried to make an argument for a false start but lost, an ill-guided argument that resulted in the Infinity captain scoring just 33. Rainmane had a lackluster turn for the Predators, picking up just 168 as their lead is a bit vulnerable now. Solaris pulled up his swing when a technical error was called, and accepted his score of 735 for the Torpedoes, gaining a lead for the hosts. Leonardo covered the deficit with 306 for Midland, not inspiring a lot of confidence for the red-clad visitors. Whiskers added 426 for Infinity, strengthening the lead a bit more before the final players come to bat. Fuchsia picked up 440 for the Predators, forcing a response from the hosts as they close with 1322. Mr. Snowman didn't last long, but his 224 gave the Torpedoes 1418, good enough to win. Infinity jumps to 9-4, while Midland is down to 10-8 after another tough road game.

Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Knights are back home for a pair of games, while the Rockers look to end their five-game road trip in good form against their Urban Division/Suburban Derby rivals. Misty clubbed her way to 615 for Westside, getting her team off to a great start. Kiwi couldn't match it for Terrace City, producing 319 as they'll start from behind once again. Goatee couldn't quite coax a spinning ball down fast enough, as it touched out of bounds and ended her effort at 248 for the Rockers. Jennifer made a dent in the deficit with 400 for the Knights, but they still have work to do in the second half. Midnight misplayed one of her swings, taking only 204 for Westside as their lead weakened again. Oreo got Terrace City a bit closer again with 243 on her turn, ending only due to a deflection. Slinks was held to 136 for the Rockers despite a solid-looking swing, and this left their total at a very exposed 1203. Stripes did well enough with 383 for the Knights to claim the win at 1345 total. Terrace City has their first division win, going to 8-5 on the year, while Westside is at 10-3, two games ahead after a tight loss to their bitterest rival.

Coca-Cola Field, Boston: The Swifts are back home for a Southeast Divisional against their partners in the Second City Derby, the Defenders, who embark on a six-game road trip wearing their Greek uniforms this time. Bianca did well with 527 for Southridge to open the rivalry game. Patches answered with 767 for Boston, giving them a moderate lead early on. Debby kept things interesting for the Defenders, lining 706 on her turn to give them a stronger second effort. Puff II fumbled the lead away, taking only 221 for the Swifts as she played a very slow pace for a short time. Stephanie reopened the door, getting beat on a sinking offering that downed her at 96 for Southridge. Gradley failed to capitalize for Boston, grabbing just 160 for a slight cut into the deficit. Hughbert was solid with 337 for the Defenders, putting them at 1666 overall, which could be caught. Sweetheart went on a rally with 466 for the Swifts, but they took a narrow loss with 1614 total. Southridge survived the late scare to jump to 10-8, while Boston is 6-8 after the loss.

Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The Eagles look to bounce back from their first loss in this one-off trip to the west, while the Meteors end a three-game home stand in their new grays. Goldy managed to make something of a very slow start, reeling in 589 for Everton despite her struggles with finding a reliable swing. Mams put up quite the fight with 543 for Viewpoint Sound in response, keeping the game close early on. Puff III flipped 639 for the Eagles to keep their lead strong as the game approaches halfway. Hoot had a fairly successful turn himself with 575 for the Meteors, but they slipped a bit farther behind. Kirstin slapped another 502 for Everton, keeping their pace up in a competitive game. Nibbles fell at 135 for Viewpoint Sound, unable to navigate the cluttered pitch as the hosts drop off the pace. The Eagles ended at 1977 after Blizzard had just 247, taking a bad swing to end a bit earlier than she meant to. Dominic tried to do a rally for the Meteors, but 304 was not enough for them, producing their losing final of 1557. Everton is 9-1, overcoming their loss nicely, while Viewpoint Sound falls to 5-10 for the season.

Nestle's Warriors Park, Central: The Warriors debut their softer font and trimmed logo against the Gems, who will go back-to-back against Northeastern opponents on a short road trip. Smokey churned out 580 right from the start for Diamond, a good start for the burly captain. Twilight answered with 448 for Central in this appearance, putting them slightly behind in their fourth of an eight-game home stand. Citrus fell out of a solid rhythm rather quickly for the Gems, crashing at 171 in a poor outing. Dustin racked up 467 for the Warriors, covering the deficit with his solid performance. Pedey hammered 650 for Diamond before a rolling ball disrupted his turn and knocked him down. Mario had a very veteran-looking backhand flick to corral an odd bounce, and he cut into the deficit with 416, but Central will be behind as the final players take their swings. Rosalina left the Gems vulnerable with 120 individually for 1521 total. Gizmo served up 475 for the Warriors, sealing their comeback victory at 1806 in a very balanced team effort. Central moves to 8-2, just a game back of the league lead, while Diamond travels on at 5-10.

Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: A bit to the south, the Gems finish the doubleheader against a much weaker Specters team in its second of a four-game home stand. Smokey was very strong with 629 for Diamond in this game, staking out a nice lead. Sydney was too aggressive for Harrison in this game, costing them as she faltered at 168, which will put them behind from the start. Citrus had another iffy outing, allowing a ball to get away from her backhand, ending her turn at 213 when it rolled out of bounds behind the wicket, which leaves the Gems less confident. Twinkie II couldn't capitalize for the Specters, poking 101 with an errant early swing ending her turn. Pedey just missed the mark on his swing for Diamond, ending at 82 as the bold strike didn't hit. Lexi brought Harrison back to a respectable level, levying 560 on her turn to set up a tight finish in a low-scoring game. Rosalina set a fairly high bar with 567 for the Gems, putting the team at 1491 overall. Sugar lost control early on and bailed at 111 for the Specters, giving them a loss with 940. Diamond is up to 6-10 on the year, while Harrison falls to 3-10 with the loss.

Microsoft Pitch, Del Sur: The Monarchs are home for a pair of games, facing a Torpedoes side embarking on a four-game road trip. Smudge had a great pace but not enough longevity for Infinity, ending at 265 with a greedy swing. Panda had a very similar turn, but his more gradual decline allowed him to put Southern ahead with 352 on the initial attack. Solaris helped the Torpedoes cause with 543 on his turn, giving them a stronger second effort. Hoppy was unable to react in time as a ball made its way under her bat, tanking her turn at 155 for the Monarchs. Whiskers collected a very solid 401 for Infinity, extending their lead at an opportune moment with her turn. Pounce made a big dent in the deficit, bashing 608 for Southern against his first former team. Mr. Snowman fell apart with a measly 80 for the Torpedoes, leaving them vulnerable at 1289 at the end. Shannon swooped in with 180 for the Monarchs, doing just enough to give them the win at 1295. Southern's surprise upset carries them to 5-9, while Infinity is 9-5.

Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: Both teams try out third jerseys in this battle between Southwest Division powerhouses. Acorn had an acceptable game going until he chipped a ball up too high, ending at 239 for Lighton in a poorer than expected performance. Snowball countered with 722 for Swordpoint, staking out a sizable lead for the hosts in a strong opener. Spirit pulled in 248 for the Prestige, unable to cover the deficit facing the visitors. Dreamy pounded another 706 for the Blades on her turn, padding the lead very well at the halfway mark. Twinkie I had a modest 192 for Lighton, decreasing their chances of coming back in this game by a large portion. Bandit didn't put up much for Swordpoint, falling at 128 as it seems they have the game thoroughly under control. Salmo tried to rally, but his fierce swings left him at 207 and gave the Prestige only 886 as their final, a deep-cutting loss. Stealth tapped 96 for the Blades to bring the game to a quick end as the hosts closed with 1652 in another home win. Swordpoint is now 11-6 for the year, while Lighton drops to 5-7.

Starbucks Cup, Archtown: The Arrows continue their home stand in the third of its five games, while the Shores make this one-off trip to the Northeast to end the week. Bear has struggled on the road so far, and that continued as he scored only 135 for Whitewater this time. Sally answered with an even 400 for Archtown, giving them the initial lead. Twinkie III was able to cover the deficit on her turn for the Shores, picking up 320 to add to the effort. Sleepy B. replied with 304 for the Arrows, restoring their lead to nearly its former margin at the halfway point of this game. Marsell put in another challenge for Whitewater, batting 407 to cover the deficit once again. Ruby retook the lead for Archtown, but it was much weaker as she scored just 215 on her turn, setting up a close finish. Shaggy showed off some quick hands for the Shores, keeping her turn alive to score 738 as the visitors finish at 1600 even. Dusky couldn't recover it for the Arrows, collapsing with 124 as they lose with 1043. Whitewater is now 6-4 for the year with the comeback win, while Archtown slides to 6-13.

I've been happy to get so much cricket played this week, and probably even more to come over this weekend and into the next week. Standings will be updated after this posts.