Before we begin, I’d like to express sincere thanks for your viewing of roller derby coverage here at Arch City Sports. The feedback we’ve received from the derby community, both local and national, and the visitors of this website has been incredible and you can expect to see this coverage continue.
Special thanks go to photographers Bob Dunnell and Jeff Higgins, who have provided the imagery that compliments the coverage. They are both highly-respected in their field on a national level and expertly capture the physicality, grace, beauty and drama associated with this sport.
From time to time, we’ll keep you up-to-date with the happenings of the area leagues in compilation form. Refer to this as the “Derby Docket,” which will be your one-stop shop for both men’s and women’s local derby in the Show-Me State.
ST. LOUIS GATEKEEPERS
The five-year men’s league, a member of the internationally based Men’s Roller Derby Association (MRDA), is currently engaged in both local and interleague play.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
On the local level, the complexion of the league’s “Turf Wars Championship” took another shift as the Riverfront Crimes defeated the Dogtown Rockets, 176-81, Saturday at Midwest Sport Hockey in Ballwin.
Up 49-42 at intermission, the Crimes went on a 127-39 sprint in the second period to pick up the win.
Crimes’ jammers Screech Around and Debaucherous Prime scored 88 and 74 points, respectively. The Rockets were paced by Magnum P.I.M.P.’s 32 points while Shanego Fett scored 26.
With the win, the Crimes finish its regular season 1-3. However, they still have an outside chance of making the league’s local championship bout.
The “Turf Wars” regular season concludes May 31 as the Rockets (1-2) face the South Grand Slammers (3-0). If the Slammers win and finish the regular season undefeated, the Rockets and Crimes will have identical 1-3 records. As both teams split its two-bout series this season, point differential would be a factor in determining the Slammers’ opponent for the “Turf Wars” championship, set for June 21.
The Rockets would like to control its own destiny and topple the undefeated Crimes in May. If they do, the two squads would meet again for the “Turf Wars” title.
On the national level, Gatekeepers’ primary travel squad continues MRDA-sanctioned play with a trio of bouts at Spring Roll, a two-day invitational held in Ft. Wayne, IN the weekend of May 16. St. Louis will face the Mont Royals (Monteal, QC, Canada), the Magic City Misfits (Jacksonville, FL) and Southern Discomfort (London, UK.)
The Gatekeepers (1-0) pummeled the Cincinnati Battering Rams, 432-33, on April 21 at Cincinnati Gardens. Possessing a mind-numbing 207-0 advantage at intermission, the locals outscored Cincinnati 225-33 in the second period to collect the 399-point victory, its largest winning point differential in league history.
For more information on the St. Louis Gatekeepers, go to www.stlgatekeepers.com.
ARCH RIVAL ROLLER GIRLS
After its three travel teams collected road wins in April, the St. Louis-based women’s league looks to continue its upward trajectory in May.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The Arch Rival All-Stars, currently ranked #21 internationally by the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), host #27 No Coast on Saturday, May 10 at Midwest Sport Hockey in Ballwin, MO.
The All-Stars (2-1) roasted #44 Cincinnati Black Sheep, 300-118, at Cincinnati Gardens on April 12 to pick up its second straight win.
Meanwhile, the league’s B-team of travelers, the Saint Lunachix, notched its first victory of the season at that same event with 238-109 win of CRG’s Violent Lambs. The Lunachix (1-2) host the No Coast Roller Warriors on May 10.
A preview of the Arch Rival/No Coast twin bill will be featured at Arch City Sports next week.
Following the May double header in West County, both the ARRG All-Stars and the Saint Lunachix will compete in multiple bouts against other regional leagues at Midwest Brewhaha, a three-day invitational May 31 – June 1 at US Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, WI. The opponents for both ARRG squads have yet to be determined.
The league’s C-team, the Fleur De’Linquents, notched a 154-150 road victory Saturday against Queen City Roller Derby of Springfield, MO to improve its record to 1-1.
The FDLs next scheduled bout is this Sunday night against the Twin City Derby Girls’ C-team in Savoy, IL.
For more information on the Arch Rival Roller Girls, go to www.archrivalrollergirls.com.
ST. CHUX DERBY CHIX
Currently 6-0, the St. Charles County-based Division 2 league, ranked #53 internationally by the WFTDA, is idle in sanctioned play until it competes at the aforementioned Midwest Brewhaha. Its opponents are also yet to be determined.
Photo Credit: Jeff Higgins
To prepare for Brewhaha, the Pack in Black will host an exhibition bout this Saturday against Team United Roller Derby. The marquee event takes place at Matteson Square Gardens Tri-Plex in St. Peters (3051 Industrial Park Place West.)
As this is an exhibition bout, its outcome will not apply to the team’s current WFTDA record or ranking.
Team United, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is currently 2-3 and last played March 29, where they picked up a 256-123 win over WFTDA #90 Old Capitol City.
The double-header event in St. Peters, set to start at 6 p.m., also features a B-team opener with the SC/DC Hell’s Belles versus Team United’s B Team.
For more information on the St. Chux Derby Chix, go to stchuxderbychix.com.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
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Confluence Crush takes on West KY May 10 at Belle Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville, IL.
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