The Sniper Takes Out Seminole Pro Field
Seminole Pro Tour / Spring Hill, FL
by Lea Andrews
After play on Sunday eliminated such names as Mike Davis, Steve Moore, Landon Shuffett, and Buddy “The Rifleman” Hall, the final four players of the Seminole Pro Tour Stop returned to Capone’s in Spring Hill, FL, Memorial Day. Remaining in the field was the name big enough to take the entire event, and after three days of undefeated play, Tony “The Sniper” Crosby did just that.
Joining Crosby in the race-to-8 match for the hot seat on Sunday afternoon was Ronnie Wiseman. Wiseman got up to a quick 2-0 lead, but after some long racks that included more than a few safety battles, Crosby got on top 5-2. A scratch on the 6 ball by Crosby in the eighth rack put the score at 5-3, but it was 6-3 after he got out of a Wiseman snooker with a fantastic one-rail kick on the 8. The men traded games to get the score to 7-5, and after yet another safety battle, rack thirteen and the set went to Crosby, and Wiseman was sent to the left side of the bracket.
Meanwhile, John DiToro and Hunter Lombardo, both of whom had fallen victim to Wiseman on Saturday, were engaged in their own battle. DiToro took the first three games, but Lombardo fought back, managing to get the score within one at 5-4. That was close enough for “The Bull,” though, who saw enough red to take the remaining games, earning his rematch with Wiseman and finishing up at 8-4.
The semifinals were surprisingly lopsided as DiToro used the momentum he’d had in his last match to carry him through to the finals. The score was 6-0 before Wiseman pocketed his first 10 ball, which turned out to be his last. DiToro avenged his earlier loss to Wiseman with a final score of 8-1.
View the Seminole Tournament Brackets from Capone’s Billiards
The finals, a single race to 9, demonstrated the skill and humanity of both players. Great shots and safety play abounded, but Crosby took a 2-2 match to 6-2 in his favor. Crosby’s safety on the 9 in the ninth rack led to misses by both men, but DiToro managed the win and took the next game as well. Crosby took the next two racks, putting the score at 8-4, but a miss on the 9 in the next gave DiToro one more game. Although it seemed as though he’d take the next rack, an 8 ball left hanging in the pocket gave Crosby exactly the opportunity he needed. “The Sniper” had his sights on his first Seminole Pro Tour win, and he pulled the trigger.
Remaining in the field was the name big enough to take the entire event, and after three days of undefeated play, Tony “The Sniper” Crosby did just that.
Results:
1st Tony Crosby $2,700
2nd John DiToro $2,000
3rd Ronnie Wiseman $1,500
4th Hunter Lombardo $1,000
5th Mike Davis $750
Josh Lewis
7th Landon Shuffett $550
Jimmy Dempsey
9th Tracie Hines $350
Richie Richeson
Matt Krah
Steve Moore
13th Jerry Calderon $250
Justin Hall
Stoney Stone
Neil Fujiwara