Players include (L-R) PebbleCreek’s Mike Finnegan, Lynn Warren, Rene Lefebvre, and Dan Harris; and CantaMia’s Ted Armstrong, Kelly Strieby, Dean Miller, and James Fogerty.
Dan Harris, Travel Team Coordinator
On July 24, the PebbleCreek Billiards Club (PCBC) and CantaMia (CM) Billiards Club delivered another action-packed afternoon of high-level 8-ball competition. PCBC brought four players to take on four from CM. CM won all three matches and 26 games to 18, capturing bragging rights (for now) in a tightly contested rivalry.
In the first match, each PCBC player faced each CM player once (round-robin style) for a total of 16 games. The teams traded racks throughout, but CM pulled ahead and clinched the match by the slimmest of margins, 9-7.
In the second match with the same format as the first, CM maintained their momentum and took advantage of a couple of unforced errors by PCBC to win 10-6.
CM’s James Fogerty was the standout performer for the first two matches, winning seven of his eight games. Lynn Warren and Rene Lefebvre led PCBC, each winning four of their eight games.
The final match shifted to a ranked heads-up format. Players were paired according to their earlier results and played three games within the remaining time. Once again, the score stayed tight, but CantaMia prevailed 7-5. PCBC’s Dan Harris delivered a perfect 3-0 performance to lead his team, while CantaMia answered with flawless 3-0 records from Ted Armstrong and Dean Miller.
Beyond the scoreboard, both clubs exemplified the best qualities of the game—sharp skill, respectful sportsmanship, and genuine camaraderie (including lengthy discussions about shot-making after the contest was over). Laughter between racks and handshakes/fist bumps after every game underscored the friendly yet fiercely competitive spirit exhibited by both clubs.