JennBarretta
Pro Player
Hey All,
I just wanted to share some of my experiences with you from the tournament this past weekend.
First of all I would definitely recommend that you all go check out the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. The place was amazing...it could rival any of the top Las Vegas resorts! We all felt like rock stars while we were there.
Now, about the tournament. My first round I drew Val Finnie who is an awesome player who (lucky for me) got off to a slow start. I was leading early when she whipped out her "A" game and made it a tight 9-7. Next I had to play Tracy Hines who was also on the comeback trail until at least 1 bad call by the shot clock operator. The final score was 9-5. My next match, my favorite one maybe in my WPBA career, was against fellow forum girl, Melissa Herndon. I played nearly flawless...and lost. She played absolutely awesome and kicked in no less than 3 balls and ran out (not easy kicks, either). I left that match feeling so good about my game that it fueled me through my next 2 rounds! If you're wondering how you can leave a match that you lose feeling great about yourself I will tell you. I did everything in my power to win that match. I never dogged it, and I fought like a lion and played my heart out. Melissa was just the better player in that one.
My next match was against Gerda, and I don't remember much except that the table was not breaking well at all, and even though we were making balls on the break there weren't many runout opportunities. We had a couple of really long games with lots of safety/kicking battles and I pulled out of that one with a 9-7 win.
The final match before TV was against Helena Thornfeldt and the table was breaking really well and I caught a second wind and started running out from everywhere getting up to a 5-0 lead. We had some racking difficulties after that and I didn't get out of a few racks that I should have and the score almost tied up, but I took my break, got my head straight and finished it 9-5.
That earned me the right to play Karen Corr on ESPN! My dream since I first started playing pool! I couldn't sleep at all the night before, but I wasn't tired. I was nervous until I hit the practice table, and I realized that it didn't matter that I was playing Karen and it didn't matter that ESPN was taping it. It's still the same game I play every day of my life. And that's exactly how I played. I won't tell you too many of the details because this is getting long and you will see it on TV.
The next day I had to play Julie Kelly, and I wasn't nervous at all. I played an awesome set, breaking and running 2 racks and running out when she scratched in one, and didn't pocket a ball in the other. She broke and ran a few, too, and was playing great. At 5-5 the pool gods intervened, and she broke, made the 2 and had to play safe on the 3 which accidentaly pushed the 9 (which was not near the pocket) in to go 6-5. On my break I get a little too excited and miscue (I still want to kick myself) and she gets the break, makes a ball, tries to pocket a tough 2 ball, misses, and makes the 4 by mistake, then tries to bank the 2, but misses badly and and makes another 9 ball that is REALLY nowhere near the pocket. And that's how I lost. But once again, I did the best that I could and I don't feel bad about it. I know I'll be there again.
I love all of you for the support and kind words that you've given me and thanks for listening,
Jenn
I just wanted to share some of my experiences with you from the tournament this past weekend.
First of all I would definitely recommend that you all go check out the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. The place was amazing...it could rival any of the top Las Vegas resorts! We all felt like rock stars while we were there.
Now, about the tournament. My first round I drew Val Finnie who is an awesome player who (lucky for me) got off to a slow start. I was leading early when she whipped out her "A" game and made it a tight 9-7. Next I had to play Tracy Hines who was also on the comeback trail until at least 1 bad call by the shot clock operator. The final score was 9-5. My next match, my favorite one maybe in my WPBA career, was against fellow forum girl, Melissa Herndon. I played nearly flawless...and lost. She played absolutely awesome and kicked in no less than 3 balls and ran out (not easy kicks, either). I left that match feeling so good about my game that it fueled me through my next 2 rounds! If you're wondering how you can leave a match that you lose feeling great about yourself I will tell you. I did everything in my power to win that match. I never dogged it, and I fought like a lion and played my heart out. Melissa was just the better player in that one.
My next match was against Gerda, and I don't remember much except that the table was not breaking well at all, and even though we were making balls on the break there weren't many runout opportunities. We had a couple of really long games with lots of safety/kicking battles and I pulled out of that one with a 9-7 win.
The final match before TV was against Helena Thornfeldt and the table was breaking really well and I caught a second wind and started running out from everywhere getting up to a 5-0 lead. We had some racking difficulties after that and I didn't get out of a few racks that I should have and the score almost tied up, but I took my break, got my head straight and finished it 9-5.
That earned me the right to play Karen Corr on ESPN! My dream since I first started playing pool! I couldn't sleep at all the night before, but I wasn't tired. I was nervous until I hit the practice table, and I realized that it didn't matter that I was playing Karen and it didn't matter that ESPN was taping it. It's still the same game I play every day of my life. And that's exactly how I played. I won't tell you too many of the details because this is getting long and you will see it on TV.
The next day I had to play Julie Kelly, and I wasn't nervous at all. I played an awesome set, breaking and running 2 racks and running out when she scratched in one, and didn't pocket a ball in the other. She broke and ran a few, too, and was playing great. At 5-5 the pool gods intervened, and she broke, made the 2 and had to play safe on the 3 which accidentaly pushed the 9 (which was not near the pocket) in to go 6-5. On my break I get a little too excited and miscue (I still want to kick myself) and she gets the break, makes a ball, tries to pocket a tough 2 ball, misses, and makes the 4 by mistake, then tries to bank the 2, but misses badly and and makes another 9 ball that is REALLY nowhere near the pocket. And that's how I lost. But once again, I did the best that I could and I don't feel bad about it. I know I'll be there again.
I love all of you for the support and kind words that you've given me and thanks for listening,
Jenn
