APA - Metro Detroit

If you’re old enough to remember the Hagler vs Hearns fight, you would have appreciated this finals match. In the first match, Rashel Noe started out by putting the Mystery Chickens ahead 2-0. Bump & Runs Jack West countered to tie it 2-2, in the second match. In the third match, Matt Fritz put his team back ahead 5-2 and in typical William Osborne fashion, literally dancing and singing his way around the table, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, tying the match back up 5-5.

In the final winner take all match, it was Leo Favaro (SL5) vs Zena Arnett (SL3), with Leo needing four games and Zena needing two. You knew this was going to be a shoot-out since both of these players don’t play very many defensive shots. It was the gunslinger Leo who got out to a 3-0 lead and with only one game left to clinch it, Zena took the fourth game to force the hill-hill game. With each ball being made the anxiety on the sideline kept increasing. With both players down to the 8-Ball, Leo left himself in a tough position on the 8-Ball and his only option was a bank in the side pocket. Without any hesitation, he marked his pocket and fired it in, delivering the knockout!

You can watch the match here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6gbxkyVFuA

See you in Vegas!

After three matches and leading 6-2, it looked like On The Snap was heading for Vegas for a second year in a row. However, Jeff Ciuzicki (The Nail) had other plans as he got three points in the fourth match to tighten the score making it 6-5.

It was sudden death time, and it all came down to one rack; worth two points and both teams fate was in the hands of a SL4 vs SL3! After all the timeouts were used up, it was left to the players to figure it out. All the stripes and solids were off the table. Each player had difficult shots on the eight, and with the intensity and pressure increasing from the oohs and aahs from the sideline, Jessica Reske (SL4) made a table length shot on the eight ball and the thrill of victory went to The Nail …. The prime example of how you can never count yourself out of a match!

Note: The sportsmanship from On The Snap was an example of how to lose with dignity, respect, and appreciation of what a great match they just played in. We appreciate it.

Here is everything you need to know about the Regulators. When it was all over, I went to the player who clinched the set for them to win the trip to congratulate her on how tough she played that last sudden death game. I also made the comment that a certain player on her team owes her a shot for pulling it off and without hesitation, she said "That’s what we do, we pick each other up" …. and that folks is how you win World Qualifiers! No excuses, no pointing fingers, no sulking, just a next up mentality.

The Regulators went undefeated with 8-4, 9-5, 7-5, 8-3, 7-3 victories and although the finals may have looked like their easiest win, it was anything but that. Up 4-1 against a veteran team (Pool Runnings) and in the third match, you could sense the pressure mounting as Camiel Carnahan made it hill-hill by making the 8-Ball on the break and then playing a tough defensive game to win the match and make it 5-3. In sudden death with the one game worth two points, Megan Sauve (SL3) was in a tough spot with her opponent needing to make just one ball and the 8-Ball, with several of her solids still on the table. Six innings later, she pockets the 8-Ball, and her team is going to Vegas!

See you in Vegas!

It’s no secret at this point, if you’re going to represent the Southeast Region in the World Pool Championships in Vegas, you have to go through Out Of Control. Stacy Wiggins teams have proven that they can play some 8-ball and the way they play this game is something teams should be watching and learning from. Having Fun (Ed Smyth Jr) delivered a first round 7-6 blow, but then they went on to win the next four matches in convincing manner. We can guarantee that their 7-days in Vegas will be focused on bringing home some hardware for Metro Detroit APA!

See you in Vegas!

Today we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice 🇺🇸 🙏

Who is that on the left?

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers who sacrifice for their kids, it's well deserved!

People these days have birthday weeks or months ..... Mothers deserve at least a week 😉 of celebration!

Unfortunately, there's too much to get done and the world would collapse if we did that!

Enjoy your day!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms in our APA family! 💐🎱

Thank you for everything you do—whether you’re captaining teams, cheering from the sidelines, keeping score, traveling to tournaments or simply being the heart of your family and community.

We hope your day is filled with love, laughter and maybe even a few runouts ❤️

Phew ..... What a week of pool in Vegas!

We had a deep run by DOUBLE TROUBLE out of the Northeast Region, finishing in 9th place, that was intense!

It's not easy traveling across the country and walking into those tournament rooms and not feel the gravity of this tournament. Yet, our players went out and PROUDLY represented the Metro Detroit APA!

In the singles events, each player received $150 last place money to go along with their travel assistance and hotel accomodations. Nathan Wilkins (NW) made a valient run and took 17th place and a little extra $, to be the top finishing Metro Detroit player this year!

All in all, another fun Poolplayer Championship event. The experiences and memories that each and every person on this list had, will last a lifetime, regardless of how they finished, and that's why we do what we do!

We look forward to see who is willing to TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE, on the Road to Vegas 2027 ..... Will it be you?