Dan Harris, travel team coordinator
On July 11, the PebbleCreek Billiards Club (PCBC) welcomed CantaMia (CM) to the Salerno Billiards Room for a gripping 8-ball competition that, at the end, kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The event featured two distinct matches. In the first, four players from each club faced off in one-on-one 8-ball games, with each player competing against every opponent twice, resulting in 32 total games. CantaMia emerged victorious, claiming a 20-12 win. PCBC’s Lynn Warren shone, securing five of his eight games, while CM’s James Fogerty stole the show, dominating with seven wins out of eight.
The second match adopted a ranked head-to-head 8-ball format, pairing players based on their first-match performance for five games. PCBC surged to an early 6-2 lead, but CantaMia mounted a fierce comeback, leveling the score at 10-10.
The tiebreaker boiled down to a single-game playoff between the two best shooters of the day: PCBC’s Lynn Warren and CM’s James Fogerty. Lynn won the opening lag with a near-perfect shot, the cue ball stopping just a millimeter from the foot rail without contact. Lynn broke, and the two traded shots in a tense battle. James narrowly missed a critical 8-ball cut into the side pocket, giving Lynn the chance to seal the match. With precision, Lynn pocketed three object balls and the 8-ball, clinching the victory for PCBC.
Both clubs relished the spirited competition and camaraderie. The rivalry continued as PCBC visited CantaMia for a rematch on July 18.