TUESDAY, MARCH 29: STUFFED 16 BEGINS >>>

For the last two weeks we presented you with a compelling question: Who makes the best pizza in the South Sound? And you have responded in droves. Sick days have been used. Friendships have fallen apart. Pizza delivery boys and girls living together - mass hysteria!

The competition has been whittled down to the Stuffed 16. Yes, 16 South Sound pizza joints are poised to make the final push to the Final Four, which will begin Friday.

So, read up on yesterday's action, and then vote on the first four games of the Stuffed 16. It’s in your hands, mouth, and stomach, folks. Do us proud.

Yesterday's Results

Aversano's Italian Restaurant vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

These two East Pierce County restaurants traded pepperoni shots all day until around 4 p.m. when Aversano's began to pull away. Rumor has it Aversano's got behind its Greek pizza with its white and marinara sauces and heavy dose of feta and pushed through the Powerhouse' electric wall. As the clock hit 11:45 p.m., Averano's had 54 percent of the votes, and a spot in the Stuffed 16.

Vince's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria vs. Rollies Tavern

Rollies grabbed the lead early in this game and never looked back, nabbing 58 percent of the votes when all was said and done. Some believe recent airings of The Right Stuff on the boob tube could have swung the vote in Rollies favor, due to its proximity to McChord Air Field, being that Chuck Yeager was a bad ass and all. Anyway, Rollies moves onto the Stuffed 16 to take on Aversano's tomorrow.

Katie Downs Waterfront Restaurant vs. Engine House No. 9

Katie Downs and Engine House No. 9 have been battling it out ever since Katie Downs came on the scene in 1982. The Engine House wished it could be a waterfront restaurant where patrons daydream about owning that sailboat drifting past the wall of windows. Kate Downs wished it could have the Engine House's beer club and awesome popcorn. Both are successful businesses, but yesterday Katie Downs brought it - and brought it big – capturing a whopping 89 percent of the votes. Its deep-dish pizza - with massive amounts of cheese that a few twists of the fork produces a cheese lollipop - moves into the Stuffed 16.

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza vs. Puget Sound Pizza

"It's not New York or Chicago ... It's Puget Sound Pizza!" That's the slogan over at Puget Sound Pizza, the tiny joint Jim built into a Tacoma institution, and then the beloved Martin took over. The matrimony of their garlic-butter brushed crust, spirited sauce, the perfect amount of gooey cheese, and our favorite ingredients - pepperoni, olives and peppers - is what brings us back time and time again. Apparently, we're not alone. PSP put a hurt on the popular local chain Farrelli's, grabbing a shocking 84 percent of the votes. PSP will battle number one seed Katie Downs tomorrow in the Stuffed 16 games. Some say this is THE BATTLE of the Tournament.

The Rock Brick Oven Pizza vs. Harmon Tap Room

Yesterday at 5 p.m. The Rock and Harmon Tap Room were dead even. Over at The Rock, folks ate the wood-fired, hand-tossed pizza off tableside serving trays while Alice Cooper teased the crowd about school being out. Over at the Tap Room, people pressed their faces against the window gazing at the brew masters waiting for their Sicilian style pizza and growler to be filled. Then, we posted that the two were tied. Bam! classic rockers started texting and The rock pulled away to finally grab 60 percent of the votes before the polls closed. That's the power of rock 'n' roll folks.

Upper Crust Bistro & Bakery vs. Primo Grill

Holy crap! Turnout for this contest was like the turnout at a dunk-the-banker booth at the Taste of Tacoma! Both pretty pizza makers Upper Crust and Primo did their darndest to mobilize their base, and though Primo Grill ran out to an early lead, Upper Crust fans had an amazing, jaw-dropping late afternoon push that had the stamina to carry through the evening and snatch victory from the fancy Sixth and Pine joint with a 160 more votes. Unbelievable. Upper Crust moves on to the Stuffed 16 to take on The Rock tomorrow.

The following six pizza joints will advance to the Stuffed 16:

• Aversano's
  
• Rollies Tavern
  
• Katie Downs
  
• Puget Sound Pizza
  
• The Rock Wood Fired Pizza
• Upper Crust Bistro & Bakery
  

Today's Competition

Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine

OK, time to move on to today's pizza battles. Vote for one pizza joint per battle, then scroll to the bottom and click "Done."