Week 5 of League 27 – Winter 2022:

WEEK 6 TABLE SCHEDULE FOLLOWS THIS NEWSLETTER

Table 1:George Sharbo & Matt Ressler vs Walter Wnuk & Janet Nihls:

I put this match as, the match of the week, with some very good shooters squaring off in week 5. This match saw some very nice combination shots as well as some game winning shots from the breaks. Janet continues to show great improvement in her shooting and position play as she was playing with some very good players in week 5. Walter and Janet opened the 8 Ball Set taking game 1 with some very nice shot making. George and Matt put together some very nice hooks and proceeded to take the 2nd game in the set. This set went back and forth on the next two games, as both teams found some great safety play, as well as some very nice runs and split the next two games. Janet was named most improved player in the Fall session, and she showed why as she was a contributing factor in some pivotal play in the final two games. She and Walter continued to find the shots necessary to get out of the games and nailed back to back wins in games 5 & 6. This gave them a 2 game lead in the match heading into the 9 Ball Set. It was Matt and George striking first in the set with some great shooting by both players. It looked like the momentum shifted quickly in game 2, as Walter nailed a 1-9 combo to end the game very fast. He broke the rack in game 3, and had an even better result, nailing a 9 ball on the break and just like that, his team took a 2 to 1 lead in the set. Things cooled down for Janet and Walter in game 4, as George and Matt kept them off the table enough to capture the game. Then it was the Matt Ressler combination show for the next two games. He nailed a 4-9 in game 5 and an even quicker win in game 6, with a 2-9. This match was all tied up going into the final set, the dreaded 10 Ball Set. Walter admits that 10 ball  doesn’t like him too well, or maybe its that he doesn’t like it too well himself. The set got off to rousing start, with Matt continuing to stay focused and pounded in a 10 ball on the break to continue the momentum for his team. They continued to play well, and took games 2 and 3, not only with some good shooting, but continuing to keep Janet and Walter from getting any good starting chances to change the momentum to their side. With George and Matt now on a 5 game run, things needed to change for Walter and Janet. Game four turned the tide for them, as Janet got some great instructions on a safety play, and Walter went to work with a 8 ball run to take the game. Walter and Janet kept Matt and George off the table in game 5, long enough for Walter to nail a 4-10 combination, to get within a game of squaring up the set. That is just what happened, as they charged forward with very nice shooting to take the final game of the set and square it up. It was a very great match, with both teams excelling at times and then not so at other times. The teams finished in a tie after 18 games. Good shooting by all.

George Sharbo & Matt Ressler (9) – Walter Wnuk & Janet Nihls (9)

Table 2: Alvin Kelley & Tracey Krol vs Todd Cook & Keith Nickel:

The leader board changed again in week 5, as Alvin climbed back into the top spot, as he still has a 0 in the loss column in the standings. Tracey and Alvin got things started in the 8 Ball Set taking game 1. Todd’s game has seemed to come around a bit after a 2 year layoff. He and Keith took advantage of some missed opportunities by Alvin and Tracey to take the second game. Alvin finished up the table in game 3 with some very impressive position play, as well as some table safety play by Tracey. It was Alvin pounding in an 8 ball on the break in game 4, giving he and Tracey a 3-1 set lead. Keith and Todd put together some nice runs in games 5 and 6. They continued to keep Tracey and Alvin off the table long enough in both games to even up the set with both teams taking 3 games. Todd and Keith continued to keep momentum on their side as they opened up the 9 Ball Set posting a game one winner, giving them the third game in a row. With some nice shooting by Tracey, and tough leaves for their opponents by Alvin, games 2 and 3 went into the win slots on their score sheet. Alvin continued to show his shooting skills with some very nice runs as they go up by a game in the match after back to back wins. Keith and Todd nailed a game winner in game 4, but then it was all Tracey and Alvin in the final two games of the set. Tracey made some key shots to keep their opponents off the table long enough for Alvin to show his shooting abilities. Winning the final two games gave Alvin & Tracey a 2 game lead in the match. Tracey and Alvin continued to keep the momentum on their side opening the 10 Ball Set with a game 1 win, giving them a 3 game run. Todd and Keith fought hard, with some great shooting and very nice safety play to keep the opponents from building up more of a lead in the match. They pounded out wins in games 2 & 3 and cut their opponents lead to one game in the match. Things then shifted back to Tracey and Alvin, as missed shots by Keith & Todd opened up the doors for them. Every missed shot, gave the advantage back to Alvin and Tracey and they took the next three games with very nice shooting. It was a tough battle, with both teams showing some great shooting techniques, in both shot making and safety play. A few missed opportunities by Todd and Keith, kept this match from ending up closer or even a tie.

Alvin Kelley & Tracey Krol (11) – Todd Cook & Keith Nickel (7).  

Table 3: John Killett & Eddie McKinley vs Ray Ressler & Linda Kujat: Unfortunately, Eddie had to play alone as his partner, John Killett was under the weather in week 5. It is possible that he has contracted covid, so we want to keep him in our prayers for a speedy recovery. Ray and Linda got things going with a win in game one to start the 8 Ball Set. Eddie came storming back in game 2, with some very nice defensive play, and very nice shooting. He continued to shoot well in game 3 and in doing so, Eddie jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the set. Linda and Ray got a chance in game 4, with some untimely misses by Eddie and evened up the set. They continued to take advantage of missed shots by Eddie and squeezed out wins in games 5 and 6 to take a 4-2  lead in the match. Ray broke to start the 9 Ball Set and the cue ball found a pocket to go in, setting up a quick game for Eddie. The 1 ball set up almost perfect for a pretty easy combo, in which Eddie didn’t miss it. Trailing by a game in the match, Eddie broke the rack in game 2, made a ball and then proceeded to run the remaining 8 balls for a great break and run. He made some very nice shots along with some great position play to square up the match. After a few misses back and forth in game 3, Linda was able to pocket the 9 ball to help her team win the game, to go back up a game in the match. Eddie rebounded with a very nice 5 ball run to take game 4. After a few back and forth misses by both teams, Eddie scratched to give the opponents ball in hand. Ray was able to finish off a 4 ball run to take game 5. With Linda and Ray trailing by a game in the set, it was a combination that would end the set. This combo was done by Ray posting a 1-9 winner. This win gave Ray and Linda a 2 game lead in the match heading into the 10 Ball Set. Eddie again got things started with a win in the opening game, playing some very nice safeties and pocketing balls when he got to the table. It was a pretty quick second game, as Eddie found another opportunity for a combination shot. This was a 2-10 combo that put him all even in the match. Linda and Ray were able to take game 3 with some nice safety play against a very good shooter. Eddie lost game 4, as he got bit by the three foul rule. Some well played safeties did the trick for Ray and Linda, keeping Eddie from making good hits on the object ball. Game 5, clinched the win in the match for Linda and Ray as they took advantage of some missed opportunities by Eddie and were able to win the game. Eddie finished off the set with nice shooting to even up the set at 3 games each, but he loses the match by 2 games. It was a good contest with some great shooting and safety play by both teams in a seesaw battle.

Linda Kujat & Ray Ressler (10) – Eddie McKinley & John Killett (8).

Table 4: Jacob Ressler & Kathy Wnuk vs Tony Parpart & Scott Kroll: This match could have gone either way as four good shooters matched up in week 5. Jake and Kathy got things rolling as the posted the opening win in the 8 Ball Set. Things quickly turned around for them, as Tony and Scott punished them for every missed shot they made. Kathy and Jake just could not finish the games and before they knew it, Scott and Tony had posted 5 straight wins, capturing the set with a 4 game lead in the match. Both Tony and Scott played some very nice pool with decent runs and finishes by both players. It just seemed like any mistakes made by Jake and Kathy cost them game after game. Kathy and Jake stopped the 5 game run by the opponents as Jake was able to nail a 1-9 combination to start the 9 Ball Set. Scott and Tony took game 2 and then watched Jake and Kathy take advantage of some missed shots, leading to their win in game 3. It wasn’t very pretty after that, as Tony and Scott seemed to build on their opponents misses and the momentum shifted back into their corner. They posted some very decent runs and took the next three games as Jake and Kathy could not seem to get the pendulum swinging their way. At this point, the match had Scott and Tony with a 6 game lead. Kathy and Jake again got off to a positive start, taking game one in the 10 Ball Set. With some nice safety play, and nice shot making, Scott and Tony took game 2. The set went back and forth as both teams took advantage of missed shots and opportunities throughout the set. Jake and Kathy taking game 3, with Tony and Scott posting the win in game 4. The teams split the final two games that end the set with each team winning three games each. Scott and Tony maintained the 6 game lead in the match with the split in the final set. It was a very valiant effort by Jake and Kathy. Good shooting by Tony and Scott. 

Tony Parpart & Scott Kroll (12) – Jacob Ressler & Kathy Wnuk (6).

WEEK 6 MATCHES AND TABLE ASSIGNMENTS:

   TABLE 1: Tony & Janet vs Keith & Ray

TABLE 2: John & Todd vs Jacob & George

TABLE 3: Tracey & Scott vs Linda & Matt

TABLE 4: Walter & Alvin vs Eddie & Kathy