Newsletter Volume 16 Issue 08
Week 8 of League 27 – Winter 2022:
Table 1: Todd Cook & Tony Parpart vs Keith Nickel & Scott Kroll:
Tony and Todd got off to a great start in the 8 Ball Set, as they took advantage of all the mistakes made by their opponents. Todd continues to improve his game after a layoff from pool. Tony has also been showing some very good pool abilities. Todd and Tony took the first three games, with some fantastic shooting by both players. If Tony wasn’t running the balls to get out, then Todd did. Keith and Scott finally broke through the winless drought with some nice shooting and hooks, to take game 4 and put them on the scoresheet. Scott and Keith just couldn’t contain the good shooting by their opponents and watched them put the final two games of the set on their score sheet to take a 5-1 lead in the match. It looked like it might be Scott and Keith’s turn to get back into the match, as they opened the 9 Ball Set, with some very nice shooting and position play. They found several openings, left by their opponents and pounded out wins in the first three games of the set. Both Keith and Scott contributed with some nice shot making and pinpoint position play, without the use of any combo shot wins. Unfortunately, with two good shooting opponents and a few misses, the door opened up for Tony and Todd. They matched their opponents by taking the final three games in the set. What turned out to be an almost even match at the start of the set, turned into a four-game lead by Todd and Tony. This set ended in a 3-3 tie. Scott and Keith opened the 10 Ball Set with a win, making some nice shots and holding off their opponents from getting into any kind of rhythm, with some nice defensive play. That was short lived though, as Tony and Todd continued to shoot very well along with some great position play. They posted wins in games two thru game five, as both players continued to keep Scott and Keith off the table with some key hooks and multi-ball runs. This allowed them to close out games to control the match in their favor. Keith and Scott made some very nice shots to finish off the final game of the set. It was a very admirable try by Scott and Keith. Very nice shooting by Todd and Tony.
Todd Cook & Tony Parpart (12) – Keith Nickel & Scott Kroll (6)
Table 2: Ray Ressler & Alvin Kelley vs Walter Wnuk & Tracey Krol:
This match got off to a very defensive battle right from the opening break in the 8 Ball Set, as both teams continued to keep anyone from getting into any kind of shooting rhythm with some nice defensive play. But all it takes, is one mistake, and the door opened for Walter and Tracey to take game one. Just like the first game, defense came into play again in game 2. Again, with one mistake, the momentum can shift very rapidly. Alvin got into a nice shooting rhythm and ran 5 and out to put he and Ray on the score sheet with the win in game 2. Too many mistakes by Tracey and Walter continued to keep Alvin and Ray on a winning note. Great defense and very nice shooting put games 3 and 4 in the win column for Ray and Alvin. Alvin broke the rack in game 5 and didn’t stop shooting until he put the 8 ball in the pocket for a break and run win. Alvin and Ray continued to shoot well. Walter ran 5-balls and out in game 6 to close out the set, which ended in a 4-2 set win for Alvin and Ray. Things changed in the 9 Ball Set, even after Ray and Alvin nailed down the first win of the set. Walter and Tracey went to work with some nifty shooting and defensive play. After nailing game 2, Walter broke game 3 and dropped the 9 ball in a pocket on the break to give them game 3. Alvin and Ray took game 4, but that would be the last one they would win in the set. Tracey and Walter posted a win in game 5 and then closed out the set as Walter nailed a 5-9 combo in game 6. This put the match all square at 6 games each heading into the final set. Walter has mentioned that he just doesn’t get along with the 10 Ball Set. As well as he plays the other two sets, ten ball seems to bite him at the most inopportune times. He also seemed to be off his game, just enough that continued to help the opponents. Tracey also made her fair share of errors, that continued to create more momentum for their opponents. Alvin got things going with ball in hand in the first game, allowing him to find a 1-7-10 combo and notch the win. Ray and Alvin put together some good defense in game 2 and were able to post the second win of the set. Everything that could go wrong for Walter and Tracey in the set, did. After a missed shot by the opponents, Alvin was greeted by a makeable 2-10 combo, in which he made, in game 3 to keep the momentum going for his team. Alvin and Ray continued to get more breaks and nailed down the win in rest of the games. They ended the set with three more games, sweeping the set, to win the match. It was a very good effort and try by Walter and Tracey and nice shooting by Alvin and Ray.
Ray Ressler & Alvin Kelley (12) – Walter Wnuk & Tracey Krol (6).
Table 3: Jake Ressler & Linda Kujat vs Kathy Wnuk & Janet Nihls (abs): This tuned out to be the match of the night, as Kathy had to go it alone against Jake and Linda. Janet was attending a Quiz Bowl match with her son, Hunter. His school’s team took first place in the contest. So congratulations goes out to Janet’s son for his schools performance in taking first place. On to the match. Linda and Jake nailed the game winner to take the first game in the 8 Ball Set. This set went back and forth some, Kathy showing some very nice shot making and Linda again showing progress in her game, with some key shots at the right time. Kathy evened up the set as she put away the 8-ball in game 2. Jake and Linda forged ahead taking game three in spite of Kathy having two shots each game. It was a 2-1 advantage for Linda and Jake when Kathy caught fire and nailed three straight wins, not only with some nice shooting, but with some pretty decent safety play. Kathy takes the first set with a 4-2 lead in the match. Kathy continued to shoot well, as she nailed a 6-9 combo to open up the 9 Ball Set. This gave her a four game run. Jake and Linda stopped Kathy’s run at 4, posting a nice win in game 2, with some nice shooting. We already have a ” Combo King”, so its only fitting to also name a ” Combo Queen”. That honor will go to Kathy, who did it all in the nine ball set. In fact, all four of her wins in the set were executed by combination shot wins. Kathy did it with a 6-9 in game 3, another 6-9 in game 4 and a 1-2-9 in game 6. Linda and Jake snuck in a win in game 5, but now trailed in the match by four games. Jake and Linda cut the lead in the match as they nailed back to back wins in games 1 and 2 to start out the 10 Ball Set. There was some nice shooting by both Linda and Jake, as they took advantage of some opportunities when Kathy missed shots, leaving them a chance to get out. Kathy notched game 3, but then went cold as Linda and Jake took control of the set. They made some nice shots along with some timely hooks on Kathy, that continued to keep the door of opportunity open for them. Jake and Linda nailed game four, and then Jake lived up to his name a little bit, as he nailed back to back combination wins in games 5 and 6. Both combos were made using the 2 ball, which shortened both games for a quick finish. What turned out to be a possible rout, turned into a tie match. Good shooting by all in a very competitive match.
Jake Ressler & Linda Kujat (9) – Kathy Wnuk (9)
Table 4: George Sharbo & John Killett vs Eddie McKinley & Matt Ressler:
This turned out to be a very tough match, especially with four accomplished shooters on the same table. Matt and Eddie struck first with some very nice shooting to take game one in the 9 Ball Set. George and John responded as George took an open shot and proceeded to run off the next 5 balls to capture game 2. Eddie and Matt took game 3 and John and George responded with a win in game 4. Matt got hot with a 4 ball run to forge ahead with a win in game 5, and George finished off the set with some great shots and position play. Matt and Eddie take a 2-game lead in the set. Eddie got into combo winning shots in the 9 Ball Set, as he took game one using the 5 ball to pocket the 9. George and John could only muster the 2nd game in the set, making some nice shots but could not contain the shooting of Eddie and Matt. Matt finished the balls on game 3, and Eddie nailed his second combination win with a 1-9 to make quick work of game 4. It was all Matt and Eddie as they continued to keep the control of the games and put games 5 and 6 on their score sheet. This gave them a 6 game lead heading into the 10 Ball Set. George and John got off to a better start in this set, as they slowed down their opponents with some timely safety play. They didn’t give Matt and Eddie very many easy starts, allowing them to post wins in games 1, 2 and 3. This now cut into the lead, and they only trailed by 3 games with three to play. Eddie and Matt assured themselves of the match win as they notched game 4, as both players got back into the groove with nice shot making. The final two games were split, as George and John nailed down the win in game 5, with Matt an Eddie closing out the set winning game 6. George and John take this set with a 4-2 win. This was a very good competitive match between four good shooters. There were some great abilities shown by all four players in this match. Good job by all.
Eddie McKinley & Matt Ressler (11) – George Sharbo & John Killett (7)