BCAPL 2010 Scotch Doubles

Well, the Master Scotch Doubles tourney came and went. I wrote about it enough before the event, huh? lol: practicing with your partner for hours IMO is not a must, I was nervous about playing with my partner, I was anxious to play, etc.

Background: Master Scotch Doubles with Sylver Ochoa, 8Ball, BCAPL 8Ball Nationals, Race to 5/4, Riviera, Las Vegas, Nevada.

After I landed in Las Vegas (my favorite city) Thursday afternoon, I checked in and unpacked, then contacted Sylver so we could hit some balls together. He informed me he was to go to the local Vegas pool rooms soon with a friend to try and get in action. I appreciated the info so that I knew how long to expect our practice session to last. As we walked to the tournament room, he mentioned to me that a few people in Houston had asked who he was playing scotch doubles with and when he said my name, they returned with, "you two will make a strong team." Wow! That meant a lot, especially since everyone in the Dallas-area were wowed I was playing with a pro. So, I felt a little proud peeps mentioned to him I was a strong partner, too. :)

We grabbed some coins, double checked our match time for the following day, and grabbed a table toward the middle back of the huge room. I told him we would need to figure out who would break - I have a good break and I felt he could pick the balls well for us, even though I was good at that, also.

We played about ten games or so, and because he played the previous whole day in the 9ball event on the awesome Diamond 7foot tables, he knew them well. He stressed that the team who stroked the balls the smoothest would win. He showed me how he barely had to hit the ball to get it around the table. We also talked about run outs, options, etc. He saw the runouts immediately, while I stood there, still looking around, lol. We both had the same philosophy about run outs - we were aggressive if the run was there but played safes if needed. We agreed that if a breakout was needed, we would try to leave that to him - being a top onepocket player, he knows exactly where and at what speed to hit the clusters.

I admit I tried too hard to impress him when we practiced and therefore missed a lot of balls. To watch him right in front of me play so well, so smooth, so crisp, admittedly made me smile to myself. It was awesome to witness such great play and fundamentals.

We then ate (for the life of me I can't remember where now) and then he went to the pool room for action as promised. Instead of gambling in the casino or resting, I went BACK to the convection center to hit more balls. I wanted to get that smooth stroke down on the tables, as Sylver stressed; barely hit the ball. I wanted more time at the table and felt really good I decided to do that.

Check out the tournament room!!

We got a bye and played at 11am on Friday. The extra sleep-in was awesome and needed, especially since I was on Texas time still and playing at 9am would have been tougher than the gracious 11am. :)

Let me step back a minute. I read Phil Capelle's Play Your Best Pool and Play Your Best Eighball before the tourney - reviewed the table graphics in the books of all the 8ball options. I also re-read the back of the books - each book has a mental toughness section to it. I hadn't read those in years! It was a great refresher and one particular reminder helped me with my concern of nervousness. Phil reminded me (yes, me, specifically, lol) that if you are worried about playing a better player, you already are hurting yourself. He also said, if you are nervous, then you aren't fully into playing pool. Yes, I already know this, but gentle reminders sometimes become MORE prominent in our minds during certain times in our pool careers. So, right then and there, a few days before Vegas, I decided I would NOT let my nervousness of an opponent get in MY way of playing P O O L. I did NOT want to miss out on an opportunity to play my BEST with stupid nervousness of a person or situation getting in the way.

The first team we play I do not know the names of. The Lipsky's were next to us (they were playing good!), and Cristina DeLa Garza and her partner David Henson, Tina Pawloski and her partner, James Davis Jr and Ming Ng - all good teams/known names. But the team in front of us I did not know. We beat them 5-1. Sylver told me, "you are hitting the ball much better today - last night you were poking the ball." I confided to him I snuck back to the tables after he left and hit several racks to feel that "smooth stroke" he stressed. He also said I carried him in this match, lol. Okay, I did. It was the only one, but I will take it!

We figured out that even though I break well, he breaks REAL good using the second ball. We started to use his break and then I would choose the balls. That worked well for us the rest of the tourney. He also always shot first when it was our turn at the table as a team. I just sat there with the "your shot" look on my face when we had the option, lol.

Sylver and I - Scotch Doubles Partners

We played good our second match at 1pm and won 5-2. We played much better, both of us. He also started to say "good shot" as he was walked up to shoot after me. The affirmation was awesome and very helpful to know the shape I left him was okay or that it was the correct shot. I loved that part. :)

Then we played at 3pm and were on the big board! Unfortunately, we both played bad. :( We SO could have won the match if we each played a tad better. Ugh! Actually, we should have won. :( I can still remember those two shots I had where I tried to bounce off the rail with stun but instead I stopped the ball and left Sylver bad. :( We tried to come back, but I made an 8ball out of turn, he missed a couple of shots, and I got bad shape to get us on the hill. :( The guy of the opposing team says after the match, "you had plenty of chances." THANKS.

We then play on the one-loss side, still have yet to run into known-names, but, like I said - I would have been ready to test the nerves!

I told Sylver to make sure to make me laugh if I start to play bad again - that always helps me and could have possibly helped me in the previous game?

We won our next match pretty square 4-2 and again we played well. We meshed really well together the whole tournament, actually. Sylver played an amazing safe at one point. I would have just hid the ball behind the solid, instead he FROZE the cueball against our solid. I almost wet my pants, lol. He said afterwards he opted for the safe because the shot he would have left for me would have been super tough. He was thinking perfectly as a scotch doubles partner (of course, lol).

We then played Anna Kostanian and Nick Tafoya. I wasn't nervous at all; I was ready to keep winning. Sylver breaks dry, they get out. Anna breaks dry, we get out. The next game I screw up a shot, they get out. Next game the cueball goes off the table on the break, they get out. We are down 3-1 but we win the next game well again, but they win the last game and take the match 4-2. They played beautiful runs. But that meant we were now out of the tournament.

However!!

We placed 13th out of 82 teams! I was SO happy and proud how well we did! So, so happy! We played well together, meshed well together, I didn't fall on my face, I played well, I learned things, and he was a great partner. And we finished well! :)

Tourney Description: Ecstatic!

BTW, Sylver went on to place 9th in the Grand Master Singles the next two days. I think a full day of Scotch Doubles 8ball didn't hurt him -> he was up 5-0 in his first match against Rafael Martinez, lol. He won 4 matches in a row on the winner's side before running into eventual winner Chris Melling.

Oh, and I placed 49th outta 402 players in the women's open singles. Read the long blog entry here, lol.

If you are still reading this, here is a funny pic of Sylver and I celebrating with Smirnoff Ice, lol:

BCAPL 2010 Singles

From my phone - pretty cool, huh?

Background: Women's Open Singles, 8Ball, BCAPL 8Ball Nationals, Race to 4, Riviera, Las Vegas, Nevada.

I started off with a bye at 730 pm on Saturday - well, turned out to be a bye. It was a LONG process to get the forfeit because the score sheet disappeared! My opponent didn't have it - she was stuck in Houston - I didn't have it and it wasn't in the score sheet holder thingy. I guess I should have checked the lost and found? It was a nightmare getting this resolved, but eventually, my 730pm match was a forfeit at 815pm.

I played my next match at 9pm that night. I was feeling good going into the match, but as would be the norm for this trip, I was tired. In the very first game, I missed my very first shot - I opted for stripes and had to go for a very long first shot - and then she proceeds to take stripes and runs out super well to a tough 8ball (but missed it). I have THREE more chances at the run and I dog shape and the out... each time! She is up 0-1. My two friends watching left - I don't blame them, lol. I then decided I was going to P L A Y P O O L. I started to bear down, and really focus on a smooth stroke (which forces me to stay down well) and next thing you know, she plays safe on the 8 ball in the next game but leaves me a long rail bank - which I nailed nicely, confidently. :) She started to not get out, made bad choices on safes and shots, and I was playing better and better. I could feel that I had the mental edge - it is so very obvious and felt so good! I was more confident, she was struggling and missing shots. She even said to her friends, "I can't make my balls." I soon was up 3-1. Then, however, over-confidence took over my body and mind. :( I felt good running out on the hill game, but underhit the 8ball badly because I was thinking of my great play and about my English options all the while I was down on the shot. Stupid, I know.

She played safe a few times and got out. The next game I missed my outs - had to go for the wrong pattern due to bad shape. Then on the 8th game, I get ball in hand, but four balls are on the same rail - my worst fear came true as I have a bad leave on a combo. Instead of playing safe, I go for the backcut hero shot, and barely miss it. :( She gets out. Hill-Hill action. We go back and forth playing safe but I see her start a run but I know she can't get out. But she keeps picking off the stripes and picking them off - she's very good at barely moving the cue ball. She gets down to the last three balls - I still don't understand why she's making balls when she can't get out - and yet she makes each ball nicely and actually has a makeable, but tough shot on the 8ball in the side.... and she makes it. It was an impressive out. I shake her hand and promptly, quietly, walk the hall of shame without my score sheet. I check the bracket, put my pool cue up, and go play one of my favorite games in the casino called Let It Ride. :(

I then play Sunday at 6pm. I go to lunch with my buddy Rebecca Sunday afternoon and I am miserable, lol. I drank too much the night before, but she indulged me the previous day at the AWESOME Mirage Buffet and she wanted to go to the Bellagio Buffet this day so she could have their creme brulee. I needed to get back to take a nap, figured I would have enough time, but this is how the lunch went: no taxi, so had to start to walk; taxi finally caught down the street, but then traffic; line for the buffet: an HOUR wait! I was hung over, tired, miserable. lol. It took all I could not to bitch and moan (and for the record, I didn't at all and she wont know I was miserable until she reads this, lol), but I wanted to enjoy our time together - Rebecca is a good friend. We finally hit the dessert bar for her creme brulee and after looking around she finally says matter-of-factly, "well, I guess it was the Harrahs buffet that had the creme brulee." LMAO!

Here is Rebecca and I at the awesome Mirage Buffet!

I get back and only have a couple of hours to rest, but I know that is enough time. I ask her to check the chart for me - I assume I only have the 6pm match so if that's the case, I can manage one exhausted match and then continue play on Monday. Since she was checking on things in the tourney room, she graciously texted me, while I lay in bed, and it simply had these numbers: "6, 730, 9, 1030." Wow, Really? You may think I would be upset - instead I was GRATEFUL. Grateful to know this info. It's so much better to be aware of the possible schedule of a grueling night ahead. It allowed me to rest in a more effective way - preparing my mind and body for the long night ahead of me.

I deliberately walked by my mental coach, Joe Salazar, on the way to my first match. He has a cue booth near the front entrance of the convention room. We talked a little bit and I joked with him that I was disappointed with his advice from April - no secret, special tip to overcome being tired?! - lol. Instead, whoever has more heart and desire will win. I told him that is what I was going to do tonight, as I walked exhausted to my first match, but wide awake, if that makes sense.

I play super good and win 4-0. Yesss! Three matches more to go! I go into the bathroom to do some jumping jacks to get my blood flowing for my next match. I am shooting really well in the second match - staying down well, patterns so pretty and correct, but a few missed shots allowed my opponent to get ahead 3-1 in the still race to 4. Each of her wins is because of my missed shots. :( Amanda is watching me and she confirms I am shooting the correct shots (I love affirmation). I never give up. I continue to play and my desire to win is there and I feel HEART. I seal the score up 3-3. The last game is crazy! It was a safety battle from hell - I would not relinquish, though and played the chess match like it was the world cup. She had a few chances to break things up, but would miss the break out while making her balls. After 100 innings, I finally got ball in hand and broke out some balls, but of course they landed funny. I played a safe back but she missed the shot and I ran out for the win!

It felt so good to win that match - to come back full of heart - just like Joe and I talked about! Exhaustion!? Hmpf!

My opponent for my next match was watching that marathon match - and she came up to me right away and warns me, "we are on table 70." Ok. I go all the way over to the table and then tell her I have to wash my hands. Sorry - had to wash my hands! I also had do more jumping jacks. :) Still exhausted! The first game is real funny - she plays bad! She plays funny safes but kind of effective because I overestimate her ability AND at the same time I am not playing confident. I am all of a sudden second guessing my choices! WTH?! She is up on me 3-1 and yet I play so much better and smarter. I tell myself to hang in there - start to play confident; BE confident! She misses a simple shot on the hill and I run out. The next game I get out super well and she's only up 2-3. I win again to make it hill-hill. The guy watching, who needs the table next after we are finished, tells me "good out." Whew - I was playing well again! I never gave up, heart prevailed again. I win on the hill and she tells me, "you deserved that match." I didn't reply, but said in my head, "yea, I did!" I told the guy "sorry - I knew you two were waiting for the table, but I wasn't giving up even at 1-3" and he replied, "Good! And good luck in my next match."

I then play my FOURTH match of the night but it's way past the scheduled 10:00pm time - the matches are behind. I play real good though and win 4-1. :) There were many friends watching like Tina, Tyler, Amanda and Heather. I heard snapping behind me but wouldn't look to see who they were until the match was complete (another tidbit from Joe).

I did it - I won all four matches even while tired! I couldn't wait to tell Joe the net day! And, I was in the money, too. :)

When I saw Joe the next day, I simply declared as I walked by, "hey Joe, look, my cue is on my shoulders." He smiled at me and knew that meant I was still in and I told him I was winning more today!

I went to my 3pm Monday match, feeling again a little tired, but ready to play. The girl I played played very good safes, but she had a lot of unfortunate rolls - the whole match could have been different if she hadn't scratched those 2-3 times. I won 4-0, including one back long rail bank shot on the 7ball before the 8ball that was capture by NYC Grind and I may be able to show you on video some day! :) My new friend Jerry Tarantola of NYCGrind was taping. Him and his awesome girlfriend, Alison Fischer of the Kiss of Death team, turned out to be who I hung out with at times either at the bar in the Riv or club XS at Encore.

Me during my first Monday match.

In my next match I was now on the big board! I played a girl who I had been noticing the last couple of days beside me that played really really well. I had some friends watching and was very cognisant of them. Oh, and her friends would all clap loudly when she won. I didn't let it get to me though, and being down 0-1, she missed a tough cut in the side and I got out super nicely to return the favor of tying the score 1-1. She even complimented me on my out. I felt good the rest of the match and had some opportunities, but a few times I didn't get good shape by literally less than an inch and it cost me dearly. Further, I wasn't staying down on my shots toward the end of the match. I lost 1-4, and felt badly b/c I had some chances to at least win a few more games and put more pressure on her, but I did place 49th out of 402 players! I won $200, too!

I was pretty proud when someone would ask how I did in the tourney, "49th out of 400" I would reply with a big smile on my face. :)

I am MOST proud of my learning experiences. Recognizing the mental game in the first match, feeling HEART all those matches on the second grueling night, and realizing that a little more heart and stronger fundamentals on Monday might have pushed me past that one really great player. I enjoyed the journey in the women's open singles division!

Tourney Description: Happy!

(sorry for the long, detailed post!)

Don't Mess With Texas

"We've Got the Runs," Monica, Christy, Amanda, Tori and Corina

I had to leave my women's team from last year because of the new BCAPL rules - can't have 2 Team Masters and a Master on the team. Since I lived the furthest away, I thought it would be the honorable thing for me to step away and let them keep the team back in Dallas while I tried to find a team closer to home in Fort Worth.

The Dallas team stayed together throughout the league season, but come Vegas time for BCAPL, many things came up that almost prevented them from even having a team at all in Vegas. Family illness, money concerns, lost jobs, and moving almost hampered the team from having enough players to compete in the 2010 BCAPL 8Ball Nationals. At one point, only 3 of the 5 players could go, and yet it's a 4-person team! However, at the very last minute, all 5 players were able to make their way to Vegas to compete in the Women's Open Team event together.

The team, We've Got the Runs, consisted of Christy, Amanda, Monica, Tori and Corina. My new team, What The Heck, consisted of Ashley, Julie, Connie and myself. Our 5th could not go at the last minute (we missed you Nina!) and we had 4 players instead of 5.

"What The Heck," Connie, Julie, Me and Ashley, after our first match win, eating breakfast at Kady's.

Each of our teams won our first 4 matches in three days and then the inevitable happened - we met up! We are all professionals, though, and it was a great, well-played match. What The Heck was up 7-4 in a race to 9 and then we lose hill-hill. It was a great match, though!

What the Heck plays at 9am the next day and too many freaky things happen and we lose. However, we place 5th!! I am so happy how well we did out of 133 open women's teams!

Team Tourney Description: Yay!

We've Got the Runs then goes on to play for the hotseat against a really good team from Wisconsin and WGTR are ahead 7-3. I step away from the hotseat match, as they clearly have the set won, and then I get a text from Amanda almost an hour later that said they won hill-hill. Hill-hill? My goodness! You were up 7-3? lol. Amanda had a hell of an out to win it for the team I heard!

Then WGTR play the finals later on Saturday evening. While playing on Saturday means you are VERY far in the tourney, hardly anyone is left to watch, the concessions are closed, vendors close up shop, drinks are no longer served, the stands are empty - it's a dismal atmosphere compared to what is really happening on the tables - champions are titled!

I was taking a much-needed nap in the late afternoon, thinking the finals was at 7pm, but they started at 6pm! I quickly got ready and flew downstairs to support my chicas! They were up 5-3 when I arrived, playing the same good team from Wisconsin they played in the hotseat. I sat with fellow Dallas-area friends (Robert and Andy) while we watched only one loss and then Monica, Tori, and Christy win games! Up 8-4 in a race to 9. Yay!

We've Got the Runs proved it was no fluke they were to be in Vegas in the finals!

Amanda was running out at her turn at the table, and this win would win whole the tournament for them! However, the cueball stopped short behind the 10ball and she could not see enough of the 8ball to make it. Ugh! While this happened, a player of the team that placed 3rd was standing with the opposing team and says out loud "get in the game 10ball." Amanda eyed her and the girl simply said, "well, I better go" and walked away, thankfully. lol.

I grabbed my camera and set it to "video" but I only captured the end of the kick attempt at the 8ball. It almost went in! Her opponent played safe and I again tried to capture the winning 8ball shot on video, but Amanda didn't have a full shot at the ball. I turned off my camera as her opponent was running some balls. Then instead of playing safe, she missed a shot and left Amanda straight-in on the 8ball for the title! I grabbed my camera, turned it on and instead of the video option being on still, the PHOTO option was reset with the flash ON! So, I took a pic of her shooting the 8ball WITH a FLASH on shooting the winning ball! Yikes! The ref immediately comes over and tells me to turn off my flash. Eeek - SO embarrassed! OMG, how stupid can I be?!

Check out the opponents' look on her face (in blue), knowing she left that easy 8ball shot! Eeeek. And Amanda Lampert, shooting the winning shot!

Luckily Amanda ignored my idiot flash and made the winning shot! It turned out to not be a very outpouring of emotions to have been captured on video like I had imagined anyway, though - they simply shook hands with the other team and there was no hooping or hollering or rudeness to their win - simple class!

The new champs then posed for a pic for Andy and I took a pic too. Again my flash was on! I didn't think anything of it - it was OVER! But this time TWO refs came running up to me and again I was embarrassed. Ugh! I didn't realize other matches were going on in the other rows.

Group hug!

I then put my camera on VIDEO again and captured emotions! Hugs, some "Wha Wha" and lots of crying and hugging! First Place Team, Baby! 2010 Women's Team Open Champs! So proud of them!!

Congrat's ladies - I love you all and and am SO happy for you! Much deserved - CHAMPS!

Here is a pic of them after the first day of wins.

Official BCAPL Photo!!
! I am SO happy and proud of the Dallas team, We've Got the Runs!

Don't Mess with Texas!!

Me, toasting with Tori and Amanda