On May 17th, 2018 we are in the finals playing against a decent team that took 4th place overall in the season. There actually was a two way tie for 3rd at the end of the season but because we beat them during the regular season we ended up taking 3rd for the regular season. We played the 2nd place team the week before and were able to beat them to advance to this final match. The team we played against has a 6, a couple of 5's, three 4's, and a 2. They won the coin toss so they opted to put up first. They put up a 5 so I answered with Mike who is one of my 5's so it was a 4 to 4 race.

Mike started off strong by winning the first couple of games but his opponent decided to pick his game up and won the next couple. In the 5th game the opponent was left a tough shot on the 8 but made a beautiful bank first kick shot and made the 8 ball in the pocket he called to get to the hill. The next game Mike's opponent had a chance for the run out but got down to the 8 and stitched himself giving Mike a chance to run the rest of his balls and made the 8 to bring it to the hill. In the final game Mike played a nice safe shot but his opponent made a great hit but gave Mike the chance. Mike then ran 4 balls to the 8 and pulled out a victory starting us off with a big victory.

Second match I put up Dave who is a 5 and they match with one of their 5's making it a 4 to 4 race again. Dave rattled an easy shot in the beginning but was given another chance to win with a 2 ball run out for the win in the first game. He dry breaks but his opponent gives it right back to him and was able to pull out another win. His opponent is getting frustrated which never helps anyone's game as he is now down 2 games. Dave wins the 3rd but loses the 4th game. But being on the hill when your opponent needs 3 games does allow you to get comfortable. Dave pulls a victory in the 4th game to put us 2 up in the overall score needing just one more match win to take first place for the session.

They put up their top shooter who is a 6, on any normal league night I would of put myself up against him but I really wanted the team win so I put up Andrew my 3. He is shooting well and after the 2nd game it is almost like Andrew is just going through the motions of shooting and doesn't really expect to win a game. Andrew's opponent proceeds to win the next 2 games putting himself on the hill. In this 5th game he gets down to the 8 and it looks like a pretty routine corner pocket cut shot with needing to put just a little bit of follow on the cue ball to ensure he doesn't scratch on the 8 but for some reason he decides to put draw on the cue pulling it right into the side picket bringing Andrew to the hill. This puts a little life back in Andrews game but unfortunately he wasn't able to clinch the victory for us.

I then put up Fred who is a 5 and they put up a 4 making it a 4 to 3 race. Fred lost the first game but won the second. In the next game Fred tries cutting his last ball the side pocket but he puts the 8 in out of turns putting his opponent on the hill. While Fred tried coming back his opponent was shooting well and pulled out the win bringing the series to a tie 2-2.

I have already decided that I was going to be playing the final match up but since they put up first it was their turn to put up a player. They put up one of their 4's and I put myself up. My opponent is a great shooter and he ends up winning the first game. At this point because I mistakenly thought he was a three I thought he was on the hill and shooting lights out. In this 2nd game even though he is shooting well makes enough mistakes to allow me to pull out a victory in that game but I am still a little rattled because I think he is on the hill. I go to get my break stick and my teammate tells me that it is a 4 to 2 race which kind of wakes me up a little realizing that he is actually a 4. Now that I am calming down a little I am able to just focus on my game knowing I have a little more leeway that I originally thought. I then proceed to shoot well enough to win the next 4 games making the final score for my match 5 to 1 clinching first place in playoffs for our team.

This is the 3rd time in a year that we have taken 1st and the other time we took 2nd. Overall I am happy with how we shot as a team. This victory also means that we are going to be going to the 2019 TAP Dream Team Event that is held every year at the Super Billiard Expo at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. This past year we made it to the 2nd round but we got bumped out by a decent team from the south. I believe my team is a good mix of skill levels and we just need to find our groove. It just seems that we are all not on the same page when we play in the elimination rounds. Hoping that changes this coming year.

Till next time, I will always be…..

On May 17th, 2018 we are in the finals playing against a decent team that took 4th place overall in the season. There actually was a two way tie for 3rd at the end of the season but because we beat them during the regular season we ended up taking 3rd for the regular season. We played the 2nd place team the week before and were able to beat them to advance to this final match. The team we played against has a 6, a couple of 5's, three 4's, and a 2. They won the coin toss so they opted to put up first. They put up a 5 so I answered with Mike who is one of my 5's so it was a 4 to 4 race.

Mike started off strong by winning the first couple of games but his opponent decided to pick his game up and won the next couple. In the 5th game the opponent was left a tough shot on the 8 but made a beautiful bank first kick shot and made the 8 ball in the pocket he called to get to the hill. The next game Mike's opponent had a change for the run out but got down to the 8 and stitched himself giving Mike a chance to run the rest of his balls and made the 8 to bring it to the hill. In the final game Mike played a nice safe shot but his opponent made a great hit but gave Mike the chance. Mike then ran 4 balls to the 8 and pulled out a victory starting us off with a big victory.

Second match I put up Dave who is a 5 and they match with one of their 5's making it a 4 to 4 race again. Dave rattled an easy shot in the beginning but was given another change to win with a 2 ball run out for the win in the first game. He dry breaks but his opponent gives it right back to him and was able to pull out another win. His opponent is getting frustrated which never helps anyone's game as he is now down 2 games. Dave wins the 3rd but loses the 4th game. But being on the hill when your opponent needs 3 games does allow you to get comfortable. Dave pulls a victory in the 4th game to put us 2 up in the overall score needing just one more match win to take first place for the session.

They put up their top shooter who is a 6, on any normal league night I would of put myself up against him but I really wanted the team win so I put up Andrew my 3. He is shooting well and after the 2nd game it is almost like Andrew is just going through the motions of shooting and doesn't really expect to win a game. Andrew's opponent proceeds to win the next 2 games putting himself on the hill. In this 5th game he gets down to the 8 and it looks like a pretty routine corner pocket cut shot with needing to put just a little bit of follow on the cue ball to ensure he doesn't scratch on the 8 but for some reason he decides to put draw on the cue pulling it right into the side picket bringing Andrew to the hill. This puts a little life back in Andrews game but unfortunately he wasn't able to clinch the victory for us.

I then put up Fred who is a 5 and they put up a 4 making it a 4 to 3 race. Fred lost the first game but won the second. In the next game Fred tries cutting his last ball the side pocket but he puts the 8 in out of turns putting his opponent on the hill. While Fred tried coming back his opponent was shooting well and pulled out the win bringing the series to a tie 2-2.

I have already decided that I was going to be playing the final match up but since they put up first it was their turn to put up a player. They put up one of their 4's and I put myself up. My opponent is a great shooter and he ends up winning the first game. At this point because I mistakenly thought he was a three I thought he was on the hill and shooting lights out. In this 2nd game even though he is shooting well makes enough mistakes to allow me to pull out a victory in that game but I am still a little rattled because I think he is on the hill. I go to get my break stick and my teammate tells me that it is a 4 to 2 race which kind of wakes me up a little realizing that he is actually a 4. Now that I am calming down a little I am able to just focus on my game knowing I have a little more leeway that I originally thought. I then proceed to shoot well enough to win the next 4 games making the final score for my match 5 to 1 clinching first place in playoffs for our team. This is the 3rd time in a year that we have taken 1st and the other time we took 2nd. Overall I am happy with how we shot as a team.