Cody Francis put up a fight in the finals of the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series stop on Sunday, January 29, but in the ‘double hill’ end, it was Mike Levett who chalked up the undefeated win. The handicapped event, with a total purse of $845, drew 36 entrants to Racks Billiards in Portland, ME.

They met first in the battle for the hot seat. Francis had sent Kristine Brown to the west bracket 7-2, as Levett was doing likewise to Jason D’Angelo 6-1. Levett came out strong again in the hot seat battle that followed. With Francis needing to reach seven games, Levett gave up only two racks in the 5-2 victory that left him in the hot seat.

Brown and D’Angelo moved to the loss  side to pick up two opponents with stronger handicaps, and downed them both to advance to the quarterfinals.  Brown took out Rich Britt 4-5, as D’Angelo was busy putting an end to Gareth Steele‘s day 4-7. It was Brown, with a 5-1 victory over D’Angelo, who advanced to the semifinals versus Francis.

Francis ended Brown’s bid to get into the finals with a 7-2 victory and the finals re-match against Levett was on.  Francis tripled his hot seat effort and at 4-6, forced an eleventh and final game. Levett prevailed to capture the event title.

Kyle Pepin went undefeated to win the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series stop on Sunday, December 11. Pepin faced two separate opponents in his hot seat and finals battle; Nick Conner in the hot seat, and Sean Anderson in the finals. The $300-added event drew 20 entrants to Schemengee’s Bar & Grill in Lewiston, ME.

Pepin’s first opponent among the winners’ side final four was Josh Rupard, whom he shut out to advance to the hot seat match. Conner and Anderson, in the meantime, squared off in the other final four winners’ battle. Anderson needed only four games to win that match, but was stopped at three, advancing Conner to meet Pepin. Pepin gave up only a single rack in advancing to the hot seat, where he waited for Anderson’s return.

Rupard moved over to face Mike Levet, who’d defeated Greg Murray 4-3 and John Regan, double hill to reach him. Anderson picked up James Dunlop, who’d gotten by Mike Olcot 5-3 and shut out Corey Tapley. Anderson dropped Dunlop into the tie for fifth place 4-3, as Levet was busy ending Rupard’s day with a double hill win. In the quarterfinals that followed, Levet ended up on the wrong end of his second straight double hill match, which advanced Anderson to meet Conner, who’d sent him west from among the winners’ side final four.

Anderson came out on top this time 4-2, and stepped up to face Pepin in the finals. Pepin prevailed 6-2 to take top honors.