Shades of Yogi Berra and his musing about ‘Déjà vu all over again.’ On the weekend of June 8-9 at JR Pockets Sports Bar and Grill in Denton, TX, Kelly Jones and Kim Pierce faced each other twice to claim an event title (Stop #4) on the Jerry Olivier Custom Cues Ladies Tour, just as they had on the weekend of April 13-14 (Stop #3) at the Diamond Sports Bar and Grill in Port Arthur, TX. With the same result – Kelly Jones claiming the title, Kim Pierce finishing as runner-up. At this most recent event, however, their first meeting came in the hot seat match (it was in a winners’ side semifinal back in April), while for the second straight time on the tour, they were the event finalists. The $2,000-added event drew 48 entrants to JR Pockets.

 

Jones’ path to the hot seat match was almost derailed at the outset. She was awarded an opening round bye before facing Michelle Cortez in the second round. Cortez battled her to double hill before giving way. Jones advanced to defeat Rachel Hurst and Belinda Lee, to face Angie Payne in one of the winners’ side semifinals. Pierce, in the meantime, without an opening round bye, defeated Ellen Robinson, Glynda Fuller, Tam Trinh, and Orietta Strickland to draw Ashley Nandrasy in the other winners’ side semifinal.

 

Jones got into the hot seat match with a 7-2 win over Payne and was joined by Pierce, who’d survived a double hill match against Nandrasy. Jones claimed the hot seat 7-5 and waited for the second straight time on the tour for the return of Pierce.

 

On the loss side, Payne picked up Tara Williams, who’d been defeated by Belinda Lee in the third winners’ side round and defeated Stacie Putnam 7-2, Rachel Hurst 7-4, picked up a forfeit win from Ricki Lee Casper and downed Kim Sanders 7-5. Nandrasy drew Aryana Lynch, who’d been sent to the loss side by Payne in a winners’ side quarterfinal and downed Michelle Yim 7-3 and Ellen Robinson 7-4 to reach Nandrasy.

 

Nandrasy advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-4 victory over Lynch and was joined by Williams, who’d eliminated Payne 7-2. Williams made it six in a row on the loss side with a 7-2 victory over Nandrasy in those quarterfinals.

 

Pierce stopped Williams’ loss-side run with a 7-4 victory in the semifinals for a second shot (a second time) at Jones in the hot seat. Second verse, same as the first, as they say. Jones took the semifinal match 7-4 to claim her second Jerry Olivier Ladies Tour title.

 

A Best of the Rest event with 11 entrants saw Rachel Hurst take the top prize, with Nicole McDaniel in 2nd place. McDaniel was in the hot seat, but left to get home to her family. Corina Campbell finished 3rd and Melissa Smith came in 4th.

 

Tour representatives thanked the ownership and staff at JR Pockets, as well as title sponsor Jerry Olivier Custom Cues, MzTam.com and a “huge shout out” to Rackem TV for providing a live stream. The next stop (#5) on the Jerry Olivier Custom Cues Ladies Tour, scheduled for the weekend of September 14-15, will be hosted by Slick Willie’s Family Pool Hall in Austin, TX.

Winning TFT Stop #5 was not Stephanie Mitchell’s first win on the Tiger Florida Tour. In fact, this was her second win this year. Winning at her home turf just made it that much sweeter.

 

Mitchell is the owner of The Corner Pocket, host to TFT Stop #5. Despite the distractions of hosting a tournament in your own room, Mitchell was not to be stopped. She started out by defeating Jeri Bouvette 7-5; Cortney Bernard 7-1, before going west thanks to Nicolle Cuellar 7- 3. Mitchell stopped her friend and newcomer to the TFT, Casie Ayrnat, 5-3; and veteran regional tour player but also new to the TFT, Ashley Nandrasy, 7-5, in the semi-finals to match up against Leslee Blaikee.

 

Blaikee got to the finals after losing her first match to Tour Director Mimi McAndrews, 7-3. Leslie came to the tournament to win, though, and got past Julia Spinella and Donna Favors 5-3, won a hill-hill match with Courtney Bernard, and won 5-3 over Jessica Barnes and Michell Monk putting her in the finals against Mitchell.

 

In the final race to 7, however, Mitchell came alive and took the match 7-3 over Blaikee, who played strong all day, to her credit. Mitchell won the tournament and the paid Qualifying spot to Vivian Villareal’s Tornado Open at the Seminole Hardrock Casino at the end of September.

 

Two spots to the Women’s Amateur 9-ball were also up for grabs, won by Ayrnat and Sabra MacArthur Beahn.

 

We thank our title sponsor Tiger Products; Ozone Billiards; Great Lakes Billiards, Ultimate Chalkers, Boynton Billiards, AZ Billiards and Discount Mugs. Of course, thanks to Stephanie Mitchell for being a great host!

Teruko Cucculelli went undefeated through a field of 43 to claim the 2015 Music City Open 9-Ball Ladies title on the weekend of January 16-18. In so doing, she spoiled a loss-side bid by Canada's Brittany Bryant to claim the title for the second year in a row. The $1,000-added event was hosted by JOB Billiards in Madison, TN.

 

Last year, Bryant won eight on the loss side and double dipped Dana Aft to claim the 2014 title. This year, she won five on the loss side, only to be defeated in the finals by Cucculelli. 

 

Bryant was moved to the loss side in this one by Ashley Nandrasy, who'd move on to a winners' side semifinal versus Jessica Human. Cucculelli and Amanda Wilder squared off in the other. Cucculelli got into the hot seat match with a 7-4 victory over Wilder, and faced Human, who sent Nandrasy after Bryant, double hill. Cucculelli claimed the hot seat in a double hill win over Human and waited on Bryant's return.

 

Bryant opened up her loss-side campaign with a 7-3 win over Becca Sullins, and then, defeated 2013's runner-up, Liz Lovely, double hill, to draw Wilder. Nandrasy picked up Grace Nakamura (third place, 2014), who'd defeated Donna Favors 7-4, and April Dobbins 7-5. Nandrasy shut Nakamura out, earning a quarterfinal re-match against Bryant, who'd eliminated Wilder 7-2.

 

Bryant won the re-match 7-2, and with a double hill win over Human in the semifinals, was into the Music City finals for the second year in a row. Cucculelli, though, spoiled Bryant's bid for a second straight title with a single set 7-3 win.

Sport 9 Ladies Tour stop #3 was held at 6 Pockets Billiards this past weekend, May 17th, 2014 drawing 16 players in the women’s and 36 in the men’s open bar table mini.

 

The ladies event began Saturday at noon and was played on 9' Diamond tables. The format was double elimination race to 7 on the winner’s side and race to 5 on the loser’s side. The field was very competitive as Sport 9 welcomed two new players, Tina Hess and Allison Hardwick and newly joined member, Dana Aft.  Sunday the final 8 were brought back to battle for top 4 money spots.  Going undefeated was Betty Lea out of Atlanta, GA.   Dana Aft placed 2nd after defeating Ashley Nandrasy and Janeen Lee.

 

The men’s 9 ball bar table mini event was held in conjunction with the ladies event also producing some great matches with 36 talented players. The format was race to seven, alternate break double elimination. 'Lil D', Daniel McKenney, from Mississippi won the tournament after coming through the losers bracket.  Sam Gilmer placed 2nd and Richard Andrews 3rd.

 

Congratulations to local player Justyn Cone 'Roadman', winner of the the Friday night bar table tournament.

 

Sport 9 would like to thank Paul McClain, owner of 6 Pockets Billiards for hosting another great event and look forward to returning July 26th weekend for the 2nd annual River City Open.

 

Sport 9 would also like to thank all tour sponsors listed below for their continued support and contributions.