(BALLWIN, MO) Saturday’s flat-track outcomes from Arch Rival Roller Derby (ARCH) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD) resulted in a pair of squads on quads claiming respective local league championship berths.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
In the ARCH women’s opener in front of 900 at Midwest Sport Hockey, the Smashinistas topped the M-80s, 233-113, to remain undefeated on the season (3-0) while in the GKRD men’s nightcap, defending Turf Wars kingpins Raiders of Forest Park slayed the Creve Coroners, 142-120, to improve to 2-1 and net a second straight trip to the league’s trophy game.
Both winners from Saturday looked extremely impressive and each look to maintain their winning ways when they compete again at Queeny Park on Saturday, April 1.
ARCH: SMASHINISTAS 233 M-80s 113
Heading into the weekend’s tussle with the red flannels, the Smashinistas knew that they would have to strike early and often against a squad, albeit winless, averaged close to 180 points through three games.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The Smashies’ 40-1 first period rally, combined a stubborn defense, resulted in the 120-point eye-opening win and a clinch of an appearance at ARCH’s local Championship game on April 22.
Back-to-back four-point strikes from jammer Harmony Killerbruise and Bolt Action launched the game as the Smashinistas held an 8-0 advantage after two rotations.
M-80s’ jammer Shoulder, CO helped slice the score to 8-4 at the 27:00 mark with a four-pointer. Killerbruise responded with a four of her own in Jam 4 to push the lead to 12-4. Shoulder nabbed a pair of points that narrowed the margin to 12-6 with 23:45 left in the period.
The Smashinistas then produced the aforementioned 40-1 by netting numerous multi-lap passes. Via a power jam, Smashie jammer Flash collected a 13-1 with 22:00 left in the period that widened the score to 25-7. Killerbruise followed with a four-pointer that extended the troopers’ lead to 29-7.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Following a scoreless rotation in Jam 9, the Smashies’ blocking battalion, paced by Smarty McFly, Cloak N’ DragHer, Bolt Action, Shimmy Hoffa, Rumbledore, Holliver Fist, Birdsong, Rock Slobster, Wicked Witch of the Midwest and Detta, helped produce 29 points straight.
In the process, blocker-by-trade Salty claimed 10 points with the star in possession that resulted in a 39-7 score while Flash added 15 at the 17:30 mark that widened the score to 52-7. Killerbruise finished the rally with four-pointer at 16:35 as the Smashies’ lead blossomed to 57-7.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The M-80s responded with a baker’s dozen as a nine-pointer from jammer BEECH, PLEASE!!! was followed by Shoulder’s four-pointer scored with 13:30 left that resulted in a 57-20.
The Smashies refused to bend by notching 19 straight over the next two jams and Flash’s four combined with Killerbruise’s 15-pointer pushed the score to 76-20 with 10:45 left in the period.
As dire as things seemed at the time for the M-80s, the loggers were able to chip away at the deficit for the remainder of the frame thanks to the work of blockers Fir Serious!?!?, Rhino, Lumberjam, Ginger, Pine As Buck, Branch Devereaux, Jenny Loggins, Seqouoia Destroy-ya, Fionna Crabapple, Twig E. Smalls and Snoop Dogwood.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Highlighted by Meagbirch’s 14-pointer collected on the period’s penultimate jam, the M-80s’ 36-20 first-period finish narrowed the Smashinistas’ lead to 96-56 at intermission.
After a scoreless opening jam in the second, Bolt Action claimed a four-pointer that pushed the Smashies’ overall tally to triple digits, 100-56 with 28:30 left in the game.
Then the game’s paramount jam occurred on the next rotation as Salty claimed lead for the Smashies and, aided by a plethora of M-80s’ penalties, churned a 31-4 devastation rotation. When the dust had settled with 26:15 left, the green-clads sported a 131-60 advantage.
The differential widened as the period progressed power jam strikes from Cloak N’ DragHer. A 13-4 tally with 17:45 left in the period pushed the score to 172-82 and a 20-pointer with 6:15 left resulted in a 223-109 result.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The Smashinistas outscored the M-80s, 137-57, in the second period to claim the 233-113 victory to remain undefeated. Impressively, the team contained five jammers that scored over 30 points each, paced by Killerbruise’s 56 and Salty’s 50.
The troopers face defending ARCH defending League champs, the Stunt Devils (2-1), on April 1.
The M-80s, paced by Shoulder’s 52 points, conclude their season 0-4.
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
SMASHINISTAS (233): Harmony Killerbruise 56, Salty 50, Flash 44, Cloak N’ DragHer 35, Smarty McFly 9.
M-80s (113): Shoulder, CO, 52, Branch Devereaux 18, BEECH, PLEASE!! 18, Megabirch 14, Lumberjam 9, Pine As Buck 4.
For more information on Arch Rival Roller Derby, go to their OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
GKRD: RAIDERS OF FOREST PARK 142 CREVE CORONERS 120
During the nightcap, both men’s squads tussled as if their post-season lives depended on it. Shortened rosters didn’t help the matter as “iron man derby” was literally played for sixty minutes.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
In the end, the Raiders’ 22-point duke helped jettison the defending GKRD champs into April’s trophy game against the Central West Friends.
Leading 3-0 after the opening jam, Raiders’ jammer ScreechAround collected a 12-3 jam at the 26:30 mark that pushed the score to 15-3.
The Coroners responded with Sir Nix-A-Lot’s grand slam that narrowed the score to 15-8 with 25:20 left in the period. Forest Park countered with 14 straight via Debaucherous Prime’s ten followed by D. Mouthful’s four-pointer that pushed the Raiders’ lead to 29-8 at the 22:30 mark.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The Coroners then collaborated for a 36-0 scoreboard-flipping run over the next four jams, paced by the blocking of Double Excel, Hulk, Irving, Boney Fangers, The Doc, Specs and others, combined with a pair of power jams. Highlighted by Magnum P.I.M.P.’s 23-point strike at the 17:40 mark, the Coroners claimed a 44-29 lead midway through the first period.
The medics then sutured a 60-33 advantage via Magnum’s 16-4 rotation with 11:10 left in the period.
The Raiders tried to rally in the period’s final ten minutes but the Coroners maintained a “Black Jack” lead at intermission, 72-51.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
Both squads posted similar points in the first eleven minutes of the second period. At the 19:00 mark, the Coroners maintained an 84-65 lead.
The Raiders then went on a 37-8 run over the next five jams, propelled by the blocking of Spin Diesel, Walker Hamilton, Arty Panimal, Nate Bower, Wrecking Bill, Dr Dredd and others. Prime’s 24-point tally with 13:50 left resulted in a 99-92 scoreboard flip.
The Raiders held a 107-97 lead with ten minutes remaining and with their stubborn defense held the Coroners scoreless over a nine-minute stretch to preserve victory. ScreechAround’s nine-point penultimate jam provided the cushion for victory.
Forest Park outscored Creve Couer, 91-48, in the second period en route to the 142-120 win.
For more information on GateKeepers Roller Derby, go to THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
Photo Credit: Bob Dunnell
The evening also featured an exhibition by Minor Threat Junior Derby. More info about them can be found on their official FACEBOOK PAGE.
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.
