Kelly Cavanaugh and Jeannie Seaver
Jeannie Seaver dominated the season-opening stop of the Bay Area Amateur Tour on Saturday, February 11, winning, on average, four out of every five games she played and going (almost needless to say) undefeated to capture the event title. Seaver's 46-game journey took her past 2011's tour champion Kelly Cavanaugh twice. The $300-added event drew 18 entrants to a new venue for the BAAT Tour - Cue-Phoria, in Casselberry, FL.
Seaver and Cavanaugh met first among the winners' side final four, as tour newcomer, Echo Pinkley, was squaring off against Jessica Barnes. Seaver gave up two of her (total tournament) nine racks in a 6-2 victory that sent Cavanaugh west, as Pinkley downed Barnes 5-4 (Barnes needing to reach six games). Seaver then gave up only a single rack in the match that sent Pinkley to the semifinals, and left her sitting in the hot seat.
Cavanaugh moved over and won three straight double hill matches that propelled her into a rematch against Seaver in the finals. First up was Lisa McElroy, who'd been sent over by Pinkley, and then won two straight double hill matches, against Cassidy Mulligan and Alice Parnell. Barnes, in the meantime, drew Michelle Parker, who'd gotten by Chris Fields 3-3 (Fields needing six), and Marci Whitaker, double hill, to reach her. Cavanaugh survived a double hill match versus McElroy (5-2), and in the quarterfinals, faced Barnes, who'd shut out Parker.
In a straight-up race to four, Cavanaugh left Barnes in fourth place with a double hill win, and moved on to face Pinkley. With Pinkley needing to win one less game (5-4), Cavanaugh left Pinkley in third place, double hill, to earn a second chance at Seaver. For nought, however, as Seaver gave up only two racks in the final for a 6-2 win that concluded her undefeated day.
