I started off playing a good friend (Manager of Rusty's Billiards, Tracie Voelkering) of mine who ran the entire rack after my dry break. "Eeek," I thought to myself as I watched her run the second rack... but she didn't get out that time and I luckily was playing okay enough to win that game and several others to win the match 7-4. At 4-1 me, time seemed to stand completely still and boy did it take a while to get over the hump and win my fifth game. But, eventually, I recognized I wasn't bearing down and finally put my mental toughness hat back on and played well to win.
I then played fellow board member Julie Stephenson who stung me bad the last time we played and so I was on edge wanting to play well this match with her. I also wanted to make it to the next round (badly!) and that didn't help matters. I got some disturbing news right before I played and tried with all my might to not let it affect my game, but I also knew from past experience that the extra adrenaline racing through my veins wasn't necessarily a bad thing (as long as I kept it tempered). I capitalized on her mistakes (she normally doesn't make them) and I won 7-3. Whew!
I then played Belinda Lee and we both struggled so much it was down right embarrassing at times (hope no one videotaped us secretly, LOL!). What should have been a hill-hill match was instead me winning 7-5. I was pretty displeased with this match and the one before because I wasn't playing well and wasn't getting out "when I am suppose to." It was disheartening after all the practice time and weekly tournaments, but it just makes me more determined.
However, this meant I was still on the "winner's side" until Sunday. I wanted to do well in this event to help me in the points race, so this was great news.
I ate Chilli's for dinner but didn't sleep well at all, but knew I would still be okay the next day b/c lack of sleep doesn't affect me until the following next day. I ate my two strawberry yogurts again for breakfast and helped set up the tournament table and at 10am I proceeded to have a chance every game and yet fell on my little face and lost 0-7! WOW. I played bad, bad, bad. But, Lisa Marr played really good and she even ended up winning the tournament!
I then watch my friend Amanda lose a tricky match to Ricki Lee Casper, whom I get to play next. I was pretty numb going into the match (which is a good thing for me), remembering also that Amanda told me to get out of my head that I was playing bad and to my surprise, I played very well. :) I missed one key easy 8ball (and will work on that shot later) but other than that, I played pretty sporty. I lost hill-hill... she ran out the last game, but I also had a break and run in that match and that felt great. It felt really good to rebound from that previous skunking to play well in this match. :)
So, I placed 5th.
I moved up in the points from 7th to 6th. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but it means a lot to little 'ole me.
Amanda and I took photos at the tournament and they are here. Here is one of me, right before I broke, my chalk fell on the floor:
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