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Low and behold, today marks the closing of the Tournament of Pizza's first round. After today's battles the bracket will officially be down to only 32 area pizza joints, and the competitions are getting fiercer by the minute. Honestly, if it gets any more exciting we'll start to understand why Dick Vitale is always yelling. Plus we'll have serious heartburn.

Without wasting anyone's time with pepperoni related basketball innuendo, on to today's Weekly Volcano Tournament of Pizza action, which comes from the Downtown Tacoma Region.

Yesterday's Results

Aversano's vs. Big Nick's Pizza & Pasta

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Pizza "instant classics" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, the third seeded Aversano's and the 14th seeded Big Nick's were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Back at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, Tournament of Pizza officials frantically discussed what to do in the case of a tie? Overtime? Coin flip? See which establishment could deliver a pizza to our Lakewood office the fastest? Luckily, after a late social media push on our part (we were checking our Facebook anyway ...) Aversano's edged out the win, securing exactly 52.2 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the history books.

Big Wheel Steakhouse vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

Honestly, if you haven't had a little bit too much to drink during a construction business related lunch meeting at Puyallup's Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery, well, my friend, you've never lived. The landscaping can wait. Mixing dank-ass beer (that's a good thing, older readers) with pizzas with kick like "the Overload" is just so right in so many ways. The Powerhouse emerges victorious, having secured roughly 61 percent of the vote in a first round battle with Big Wheel Steakhouse.

Flying Tomato Italian Grill vs. Vince's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Honestly, we're not sure why Vince's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria was the only Federal Way restaurant nominated by readers in this year's Tournament of Pizza (other than the obvious reason that our readership is largely based in Tacoma, Olympia and the closely surrounding areas), but what we do understand is Vince's has a following - so strong of a following, in fact, that the longtime pizza player was able to easily defeat Flying Tomato Italian Grill in Graham in yesterday's action in what amounted to a blowout. Vince's, after scoring 71 percent of the vote yesterday in a resounding victory, moves on to the second round ... still the only Federal Way establishment in the competition (here's lookin' at you, Federal Way comment section guy from yesterday).

Rollies Tavern vs. Right Spot

Rollies Tavern quickly comes to the lips of many when discussing the best South Sound pizzas. So, perhaps it's no surprise that the bar frequented by military types and pie-lovers alike did serious damage in yesterday's action, kicking Fife's Right Spot to the curb while garnering a staggering 74 percent of the vote. The final score included a late surge by the Right Spot in what basically amounted to Tournament of Pizza garbage time - with Rollies rolling with almost 85 percent of the vote for most of the day. Rollies moves on as a pizza to reckon with in later rounds of Tournament of Pizza action.

The following four pizza joints will advance to the next round:

• Aversano's
• Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery
  
• Vince's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
  
• Rollies Tavern
  

Today's Competition

Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine

OK, time to move on to today's pizza battles. 

>>> CONTEST CLOSED. CHECK FRIDAY'S SPEW POSTS FOR THE RESULTS OF THE BATTLES LISTED BELOW AND THE NEXT PIZZA BATTLES.

Katie Downs vs. Alfred's Café & Bubble Room

Katie Downs bills its pizza as "award winning," and it's no lie. The Ruston Way destination for stiff drinks and good hangs boasts one of the more well known pizzas in town. With unique creations like the Mariner and the Rainier, it's easy to understand why word has spread. And word has spread plenty since Katie Downs opened in the early '80s. Facing this storied past will be underdog Alfred's Café & Bubble Room, not necessarily known for its pizza, but a Tacoma institution nonetheless. Which Tacoma landmark will advance?

• Katie Downs (3211 Ruston Way, Tacoma)
• Alfred's Cafe & Bubble Room (402 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma)

Engine House No. 9 vs. Abella Pizzeria

Whoever wins this contest, you can't deny both have business savy. Engine House No. 9 has staked a claim in this city by providing a fun and relaxing atmosphere for college kids from nearby UPS to come drink beer and eat quintessential bar food - the pizza high on that list. On the other end, Abella Pizzeria knew enough to open its storefront smack-dab in the center of all the University of Tacoma Washington action - knowing damn well college kids love their pizza. Understandably, both intuitions have amassed strong followings. The Tournament of Pizza is the only logical way to handle this. ...

• Engine House No. 9 (611 N. Pine St., Tacoma)
• Abella Pizzeria (1946 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza vs. The Harmon Hub

Earlier in the Volcano's Tournament of Pizza, the DuPont Farrelli's location showed its dominance - advancing to second round action. Now it's time for the Farrelli's Tacoma location to see if it can duplicate that success. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere as its well-stocked bar area built well enough and stocked with enough fire water to contain the revelers, Farrelli's on Sixth Avenue is very rarely empty. But will it be up to the massive test of facing Pat Nagle's The Harmon Hub? Part of the Harmon collective of T-Town restaurants (see: The Harmon and The Harmon Tap Room), readers chose pizza from the Hub as the best of any Harmon enterprise has to offer. This one should be close.

• Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza (3518 S. Sixth Ave., Tacoma)
• The Harmon Hub (203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma)

Puget Sound Pizza vs. Sidebar Bistro

Whenever we pick up a pie from Puget Sound Pizza we always feel the need to tip heavily; we fear we'll come off as "uncool" otherwise. But the truth of that statement lies in the fact we keep coming back despite this - the pie is that good. Throw in some drunken karaoke and you've got yourself the perfect Grit City night on the town. Will the lawyer type hangout and relative newbie that calls the former Red Kelly's spot home, the Sidebar Bistro, be up to the challenge of taking on Tacoma's "coolest" pizza joint? Again, only the votes will decide. ...

• Puget Sound Pizza (317 S. Seventh St., Tacoma)
• Sidebar Bistro (1101 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma)

Tomorrow's Pizza Battles: SECOND ROUND BABY!

Game 1: Cloverleaf Pizza (6430 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante (2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma)

Game 2: Delbrocco's Philly Style Pizza (3908 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Pizza Casa (12924 Pacific Hwy. SW, Lakewood)

Game 3: Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza (1590 Wilmington Dr., DuPont) vs. Ricardo's Restaurant (5211 Lacey Blvd. S, Lacey)

Game 4: Casa Mia (716 Plum St., Olympia) vs. Vic's Pizzeria (233 Division St. NW, Olympia)

LINK: What's up with this pizza tournament?

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