We're going to VEGAS!

What a weekend! Friday night found us playing our first match of the 2011 Birmingham APA 8-Ball Cities Championship. We were down 2-0 and feeling very vulnerable. My teammates pulled us back to a 2-2 situation but time ran out before the last match started and now it was time for "Sudden Death". One game for all the marbles and the opposing team put up a SL4(*). The team captain looks at me and asks, "Are you ready?". I was nervous but definitely ready!

My opponent broke and followed up by only running two more balls. I was prepared. I ran six balls straight and had a cut shot on the one in the corner. All I had to do was make the one with the right speed leaving the cue ball in the middle of the table to give me a shot on the eight ball. I leaned down over the shot, took a deep breath .... and stood up. I wasn't feeling it so I walked around and got the chalk, chalked my cue and settled my nerves. I lined up on the shot again and made my stroke. The one ball bobbled in the corner and the cue ball traveled down table and scratched. My heart sank. Not only had I missed the shot but I had given my opponent ball-in-hand.

I stepped away thinking my opponent had a fairly easy run-out and that I was finished. Suddenly they called timeout and the team captain was discussing it with him. I think they were rattled that a SL3 had almost ran the table on them but whatever the reason, I was surprised they called a timeout at that point. My opponent ran two more and then missed but the cue ball ran up behind the eight ball and hooked me. A kick shot was my only option to get to the one at this point so my team captain called a timeout to discuss it. Once I was ready, I got down on my shot and made my stroke only to have the cue ball come off the rail and make contact with the eight ball sending it almost into the side pocket and giving my opponent ball-in-hand AGAIN!

I looked at my opponent's layout and again felt that sinking feeling creeping up on me. He shot his first ball in and got out of shape a bit for his second but it was still make-able. He missed! I had a shot on the one now and only needed to draw it back about 12-18 inches for excellent position on the eight ball. I succeeded in only drawing it back about six inches but I knew it was enough. I knew I could cut it in the side from there. I chalked my cue, took a deep breath and lined up the shot. As I stroked the shot, I knew I had it. The eight ball dropped, the cue ball stopped and we had one our first match! The team went wild.

What an awesome feeling! It's hard to describe but I do believe I am hooked on it now.

I didn't have to play again the entire tournament but I was ready if needed. In the finals, we were up 2-1 and the fourth match was hill-hill(#). I was set to play "closer" but Jennifer Berryhill (SL5) pulled out the win so I was able to leave my cues in their case.

We had our ups and downs but what an awesome finish to a long and stressful day. Our team captain, Damien Davis, had led us to victory! THE "DOUBLE-D's" ARE GOING TO VEGAS!!!!!!! 2011 APA National 8-Ball Championships here we come! If you're in Vegas August 21-27, come by the Riviera Casino and say hello.

* - For those who don't know, the APA (American Poolplayers Association) has 6 skill levels (SL) in the 8-Ball Division ranging from 2-7 with 7 being the best.

# - Being "On the hill" in pool parlance means you only need to win one game to win the match.