Sweeps Week: Mannino Takes Planet Pool Stop

By Bill Rosenberger

Just after midnight o­n Monday, November 15, Nick Mannino completed his long tournament with a two-set finals sweep of Brett Stottlemyer to win Planet Pool's first tour stop at Hagerstown Billiards and Café.  The 77-player weekend field filled up the poolroom in Hagerstown, MD, which will become a regular stop for the tour next year.

"This was our first time here because of the distance," said assistant tournament director Andy Lincoln.  "They have eighteen tables with new cloth put o­n just for our event.  We've already said we're going to have two stops here next year."  The poolroom is owned by the Carbaugh brothers, who also played in the event.  Gary Carbaugh finished a respectable fourth place after falling to tour sensation Mike Davis.

In the hot seat, it was Stottlemyer and Mannino, and it looked like it could be anyone's game.  Mannino jumped out first and built a strong lead at 5-2, but Stottlemyer bounced back to tie at 5.  The two traded a couple games, but Stottlemyer finished the match off with a 9-6 win.

Mannino then had to face Davis, who is a threat to beat anyone at any time.  He was also in defense of his Planet Pool victory from the October 23-24 tour stop.  Mannino, though, had the hot hand and cruised to a 7-4 victory to set up the rematch with Stottlemyer in the finals.

The two players were both playing extremely well, and the double-elimination finals set up to be long and grueling.  In the first set, Stottlemyer went up 7-4, but Mannino battled back to win the next four racks for a o­ne-game lead.  After Stottlemyer put the match o­n the hill, he appeared to be in control.  He broke and ran the last rack up until he o­nly had a few balls left o­n the table, but he hooked himself, leaving Mannino the opportunity to run out and take the first set 9-8.

The second set was more of the same from the two talented players.  Neither of them could grab a substantial lead, and they battled until the match went to hill-hill.  Mannino made every shot count in the final rack and completed his sweep to earn the top spot of the event 9-8.

Results:

1st Nick Mannino $1,100

2nd Brett Stottlemyer $750

3rd Mike Davis $500

4th Gary Carbaugh $300

5th Dickie Utez, Danny Mullhollen $200

7th R.T. Wengerd, Wayne Collins $130

9th Chip Klein, Jim McAdams, Rob Perry, Chester Taylor $100