Rosebuds ride winning ways to 3-0 record

As mentioned by Elwood Bruise in his play by play recap of the Portland Rosebuds vs I-5's A team, these two teams never fail to disappoint.  They lit up the track with exceptional speed, impressive blocking, and jam after jam of action, surprises and strategy that left the crowd agape.  At the end of it, Portland came out on top, but it was a 16 point squeaker that I-5 could have pulled out.

The first two jams of the game featured I-5's dynamic jamming duo of Lex Celerator and Dee Stroier.  Both were held scoreless, but they almost returned the favor, holding Braidy Punch to zero and allowing Tempest Fugit only one point.  That would set the tone for the rest of the game, as each team was playing with close scoring control.  12 of the 46 Jams were scoreless with a further 12 consisting of only one scoring pass.  Clearly they both were looking for those big opportunities to score while doing one and done if the opposing jammer was through the pack behind them.

I-5 finally broke into the double digits in the third when Gory Locks managed to get I-5 on the board with an 18-5 scoring run against Portland's Bleeda Ford.  Foxy Shazam got a little help from a big hit by Jesus Feist which knocked Gory Locks into a cutting major and opened up a 30 point power jam in the 7th, giving Portland the edge. I-5 wouldn't see the lead again until the second half despite Dee Stroier managing to go on a 14 point tear in the 9th while her blockers held Tempest Fugit back in the pack.

The rest of the half was a back and forth of one and two pass jams with both packs putting on a display of positional teamwork and hitting that should go down in the annals of "doing it right."  Jesus Feist and Cheese Grater of despair took it to the I-5 Jammers while Audrey Headburn and Hunt-her Down answered back for I-5.  At the end of the half, though, I-5 got the short end of the stick and Portland was ahead 71-53.

As the teams headed out of their halftime huddles, I-5 looked to have a new determination.  Dee Stroier quickly took the lead back with a 29-6 differential in the first four jams.  I-5 would hold the lead until about halfway through the second half when Dee was sent to the box for cutting, allowing Annaphelactic Shock to get 4 grand slams unopposed.  Portland never looked back. 

I-5 began the slow climb back and Portland was matching them jam for jam (3-5, 5-5, 4-4) until A-shock put it away in the 18th with an 18 point power play while Liv Vicious sat in the box serving out her term for too many minor penalties.  Dee and Lex tried to make it interesting , but their combined 16 points in the final two jams left them 16 short.  Portland stood victorious 145-129.

Keys of the game - Jammer Control, scoring control, stamina.  In talking to some of the people on the inside of the Rosebuds organization, I found out that they had practiced specifically to cut the effectiveness of the the I-5 speed skating duo of Lex Celerator and Dee Stroier.  While Dee did manage to break out a couple of times, they held Lex to a small fraction of her usual scoring. Portland also was very effective at score control by either getting lead and calling it themselves, or making sure their jammer was hot on the heals of the I-5 skaters.   Stamina.  This bout was high speed start to finish.  Portland was racing the pack almost from the get go.  It seemed like a 100 lap sprint at times!  Toward the end of the game, I-5 was tired and it began to show in mental mistakes adding up to more time in penalties or just plain not being able to focus. 

Stars for Portland:  Braidy Punch for her triple threat ways.  She scored well on the jammer line and was a part of several key stops through the game, forming 2 and 3 walls which set it up nicely for Jesus Feist.  Feist was a big hit demon this game.  Between her and A-shock they account for more than half of the big hits and key stops on my notes.

Stars for I-5:  Dee Stroier stood atop the I-5 scoring this time, but if it weren't for the hard work of Audrey Headburn and  Hunt-her Down in the pack, this game would have been a blow-out. 

All in all, it was a great night of Junior Derby.  The bout held a lot of promise and it definitely delivered.  I left the bout with a smile on my face, as did every one of the skaters I saw outside.  In the end, that's what it's all about.

Final notes:  MVPs were given to Dee Stroier and Braidy Punch, and a special thanks to Southgate Roller Rink owner, Erin, for donating her half of the 50/50 raffle winnings back to I-5.

Bout Preview! Portland Rosebuds @ I-5 Rollergirls

It is well argued that, here in the Northwest, there are a few teams which dominate.  Much as we expect Gotham, Denver and Oly to put together great teams and have a level of competition with each other which rises above, there are those teams in the junior divisions as well.  Portland and I-5 are two of those teams.  When it comes time to play those teams, the skaters practice a little harder, get a little more serious, and the pre-bout jitters are a little more intense, and it's definitely true when they bout each other.

This Saturday at the Southgate Roller Rink in West Seattle, these two powerhouses will come head to head:  Portland's strength, power and strategic play against I-5's speed, agility and strategic play. 

Last time I saw these two teams play each other, I-5 was in the midst of their domination last season and not even the Rosebuds could stop them. 

Lex Celerator, Dee Stroier and Liv Vicious make up the core of the I-5 jammer attack, and each of these three has a wealth of tools at her disposal.  Dee has incredible bursts of speed coupled with an eye for lines through the pack that is uncanny.  Liv Can take a little more by way of hitting on her way through, but has power through the pack that serves her very well.  Lex Celerator?  She's got all those tools in her arsenal.  I have seen her make her way through impossible situations which would make Reanimateher think twice.

Add to all of this, some incredibly solid pack play.  The I-5 blockers train hard under the guidance of two of the toughest coaches and most experienced blockers out there: Nasty Niki and Trixxie.  It's a tough nut to crack, but the Portland Rosebuds may have the hammer for the job.

As mentioned in her interview, this will be the last Junior bout for Braidy Punch.  look for her to continue her triple threat ways and put the brakes on the speed skating jammers of I-5.  Scream Cheese, Tempest Fugit, and Bleeda Ford?  They will be right there with her with their incredible hits, awesome defense and score stomping walls. 

Portland stands atop the current standings, but I-5 could get a share of that lead with a victory.  One thing is certain, it's going to be a good one to watch!

Tickets are still available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170302 if you're going to be in the area!

Weekend NW wrap-up

As mentioned last post, there was a lot going on this past couple of weekends! 

This was the two weeks of new teams bouting for the first time, as the Fallen Brats took on the Kitsap Derby Brats in their first, official bout, Walla Walla Scallions took on the Spokane Pixies and the SDB Tootsy Rollers took on the I5 Rollergirls' B team.

  The Battle of the Brats was reportedly fierce, and Kitsap took the game 393-202 in a scoring extravaganza (Kitsap likes to score all the points, after all!). Number 44 of the Fallen Brats was given the MVP by Kitsap (no name available, sorry!).  I have reports that the Fallen Brats showed some great potential in this bout, and they should definitely be hungry for the future!

Walla Walla Scallions and the Spokane Pixies battled it out on the 16th.  This was Walla Walla's first bout, and they represented themselves well.  In the end, the Pixies' experience proved too much to overcome as the final score was 213 - 100.  I look forward to seeing the Scallions as the season progresses!

The bout I attended myself was the Seattle Derby Brats' Tootsy Rollers vs. the I-5 B team in a positional contest.  I was not able to take my usual notes (I had a microphone in my hand instead of a pencil), but I did have a great vantage point standing right behind the scorers table as I called the bout!

While the Tootsy Rollers have all been in several bouts before on their home teams, they had never had an opportunity to put together a travel team. The coaches did a great job, despite the fact that the team had never even skated all together in a practice!  I-5 had similar difficulties, given that they had only ever bouted once, and that a couple of months ago in Eugene. 

Things started out grim for the Tootsy Rollers as I-5 got out to a 20 point lead, but the Tootsies gave it their all and brought it back to within one point at the half (87-86 for I-5).  The second half was a flurry of walls, power jams and scoring as the lead changed at least 4 times!  In the end I-5 was victorious, 142-136, but the Tootsy rollers will definitely be back for more! A rematch already being scheduled in Burlington on May 21st!  Maya Massacre of I-5 and Feline Fury of SDB were given the MVP awards, and they were definitely well deserved!

All in all, an exciting couple of weekends for NW Junior Derby!  This coming weekend is a great match up which I will be previewing in the next couple of days.  I-5 Rollergirls A team and the Portland Rosebuds are coming to the Southgate Roller Rink in West Seattle.  That one is going to be one to see!

New leagues in the mix and up and coming contests

So there are some new up and coming Junior leagues here in the northwest! 

The Fallen Brats of Olympia had an invitational scrimmage last Saturday involving the Kitsap Derby Brats, I-5 Rollergirls B team and the Seattle Derby Brats positional Division I  juniors.  A great time was had by all, and we welcome Fallen Brats to the scene!  They have their first full bout as an opener for the Slaughter County - Jet City Pink Pistols bout on the 23rd at the Kitsap fairgrounds against the Kitsap Derby Brats, and I definitely look forward to seeing them play!

Also fairly "new" on the scene is Toxic 253 out of Tacoma.  I don't know a lot about them, but I am beginning to hear rumblings that they may be bout ready soon and are looking for someone to play.  If anyone from Toxic 253 reads this, please contact me! 

There is even a youth league on the banked track, as Tilted Thunder's Rail Peeps are taking to tracks both flat and banked, cross training with SDB's Galaxy Girls! 

Add to this list of new leagues:  Fort Lewis Junior Betty league (coached by SDB's own Lilly Lightning) on the tootsy level, Walla Walla Scalions and Bend Oregon's Cinders on the full contact level, and we look to have an incredible amount of expansion in bouting opportunities next season!

Speaking of bouts!  On the 23rd, the SDB Tootsy Rollers will don the black and silver against I-5's B team in a positional contest followed by a black and white scrimmage involving I-5's A's and SDB's upper division juniors. Should be a fun, derbyfull day for me since I am also going to the Kitsap bout!


Then, of course, on the 30th is I-5's bout against the Rosebuds. Many people are loking forward to seeing these two powerhouse teams go at it, and I am proud to count myself amongst their number. I hear it's part of a double header with a mens derby bout, but it's the juniors I am going to see!

Junior Derby is growing fast in the Northwest.  Youth Leagues are popping up all over the place across the nation and the world.  It's so awesome to see the promise that was junior derby come into its own.  It has been said that a sport hasn't really hit the point of sustainability until the youth begin to play.  The formation of youth leagues worldwide and the interest they are generating amongst both boys and girls is a definite bellwether of things to come for men and women leagues everywhere.

The future of derby is, definitely, now.

Featured Skater for April – Braidy Punch!

This month sees another NW Junior Derby star graduating to the adult leagues!  Braidy Punch of the Portland Rosebuds has her final bout as a junior against I-5 on April 30^th in Seattle’s new/old Southgate Roller Rink.

I have greatly enjoyed watching Braidy skate.  As with most of those I see as the “stars” of Junior Derby, she is a true triple threat.  On the jammer line, in the pack or as the pivot she is a force to be reckoned with!  Not only that, she is an inspiring leader for her team, bringing their spirits up in defeat by dancing crazily on the line before the final jam starts or helping them resolve the various issues that come up in a junior derby team, she has definitely been an asset for the Buds.

She will be missed as she goes off to the PDX Fresh meat squad.  I look forward to seeing her skate in “the big league”!

Name - Ruby Weymouth

At what age did you start skating?
I got rollerblades in 7th grade because they were cheaper than quads and skated to school. I got quads in 8th grade, and continued to skate the streets while I was helping start the Rosebuds. I started derby on May 4th, 2008 when I was in 9th grade.

When did you first find roller derby?
My dad and I saw some skaters at a nearby park and asked them what they were doing. They said roller derby and I got really excited because I loved skating. My dad, being the awesome suspender-clad hero that he is, took me to a bout and it changed my life.

What was the best thing about skating with your league?
I love my teammates. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls. I have met so many friends, and they have been so supportive and nice to me in my time as a rosebud.
A team that is able to break out in a dance party and just have a great time in the last 5 minutes of a game because we knew we were losing and we couldn’t do anything about it pretty much qualifies as the best team ever in my book.

Is there a skater or team you see as an inspiration to you in roller derby?
Oh hell yes. All of the Wheels of Justice. Scratcher in the eye in particular. The praise she has given me has meant the most because it was very honest, and clear to me she wasn’t’ saying it just to make me feel good. And because it was coming from Scratcher in the eye! Need I say any more?!  Oh, and of course Honey Hellfire!

Now that you are graduating from and going out for the adult league, what do you think will be the biggest challenge?
Getting used to blocking and getting blocked by a pack where most of the people are bigger than me. I may look like I hit hard when I’m against people half my size, but I probably won’t anymore once I move up.

How do you feel Jr Derby has prepared you for the adult leagues?
Very well of course! I’ve learned a dungload from junior derby!

What advice would you give skaters just starting out in Jr Derby?
Stay on the line and listen to your veteran teammates.

Kitsap Vs I-5 Rollergirls bout recap by Elwood Bruise!

Daddy O - Thanks so much to Elwood Bruise for covering the games this weekend and for allowing the cross posting of the recaps here.  Be sure to check him out at his Examiner page!

http://www.examiner.com/roller-derby-in-seattle/i-5-and-kitsap-scorch-the-skate-deck-floor?fb_comment=31337656


So once the Seattle/Portland junior bout was finished in Ballard Saturday afternoon, I hopped in my car and raced up to the Skate Deck in Everett to check out the second junior bout on my docket for Saturday between the I-5 Rollergirls and the Kitsap Derby Brats. The Seattle/Portland bout was a knockdown, drag-out battle where every point was hard to come by. The I-5/Kitsap bout was the total opposite.

The Seattle/Portland bout finished with the two teams combining for 213 points overall. I-5 and Kitsap almost matched that total in the FIRST HALF of Saturday evening's bout when they combined for 195 points in the first half alone. And overall in this bout, the two squads racked-up a staggering 421 combined points! Were they trying to break the scoreboard? Were they trying to make the jam refs pass-out in exhaustion? Were they trying to give the scorekeepers writers cramp? Well, it really doesn't matter. As entertaining as the grind it out bout between Seattle and Portland was, this bout between I-5 and Kitsap was equally entertaining due to the high scoring antics between the two teams.

Early on it was I-5 who posted the high scoring jams. Lex Celerator got the festivities rolling with a 15-7 decision over Kitsap's Mutch Mayhem. That was followed by Gory Locks' 12-0 run in the second jam. The two teams continually scored in almost every jam over the next seven jams. Then in the 10th jam of the first half, Kitsap's Red Rager posted her teams first double-digit jam of the night with a 13-0 waxing of the wood floor that pulled the girls in gold back to within the score of 55-41. But after the first of only two scoreless jams in the entire game, Audrey Headburn donned the jammers cap for I-5 and went on a 24-2 tear in the 12th jam of the first half.

Over the next five jams Kitsap outscored I-5 to the tune of 12-9. Then in the 18th jam, Whamsday Addams flung Kitsap right back into the thick of things when she earned lead jammer and went on a 15-0 rampage. Red Rager and Stabby Gabby combined for a 13-4 run in the next two jams to pull Kitsap back to within 13 points. But in the final jam of the first half, the dynamic Lex Celerator pulled I-5 away a little more on the scoreboard with a 16-0 decision. After 30 minutes of play, I-5 held a 112-83 lead.

The first nine jams of the second half saw I-5 slowly extend their lead little bit by little bit. Over those first nine jams, I-5 outscored Kitsap 29-13. Then the fireworks show started. Lex Celerator started it all with a 20-0 decision in the 10th jam of the second half. Punches N Cream answered back with a 13-6 decision in the 11th. Kitsap actually had a 17-13 edge in the four jams after that. But the craziness hadn't reached it's peak yet.
The 16th jam of the first half saw Champ Pain slap the jammers cap on her lid and run circles around the I-5 defense en route to posting a 19-2 decision.

Liv Vicious started the 17th jam sitting in the sin bin as the jammer for I-5. But once she broke free, she went on a scoring spree that saw her compile a 24-0 bounty.

Whamsday Addams earned lead jammer in the 18th jam. She did pick up 5 more points than her opponent, Gory Locks. But the two skaters combined for 33 points as Addams picked up the 19-14 decision.
The fans in attendence witnessed Lex Celerator finish her night of jamming with a 7-6 decision over Kitsap's Champ Pain.

And in the final jam of the night, Gory Locks and Mad Medic did their best to fry the scoreboard as Locks picked up one final 16-8 jamming decision for I-5. And once that jam was finished, I-5 officially claimed a wild 243-178 win.

Three Stars
3. Whamsday Addams. She led the Kitsap scoring attack by collecting 50 points in five runs at jammer. That averages out to a game leading 10 points per jam. She also earned lead jammer in four of those five jams.

2. Liv Vicious. She was second in the game with 61 points scored in 11 runs at jammer. And out of those 11 runs, she was able to earn lead jammer status in 7 of them.

1. Lex Celerator. Generally I try to mix in blockers with the three stars. But in a game where a combined 421 points were scored, this one was clearly about the jammers. Lex Celerator led the scoring parade in this game by racking up a staggering 91 points in 11 jams run. She also earned lead jammer in 8 of those runs to lead the game in that category, too.

Key Jam of the Game
I would say it was the final jam of the first half. With Kitsap seemingly gaining control of the game with time running out on the clock, Lex Celerator pulled the jammers cap onto her helmet and sent a rather loud 16-0 message to her team and Kitsap. And I-5 seemed to carry that momentum over well into the second half to pull away from Kitsap for good.

Bad Girl of the Game
Well, she led the game in scoring and she also led the game in penalty minutes. I have Lex Celerator down for spending 4 minutes in the penalty box in this one. Which by most standards isn't all that bad. From what I have, each team spent 18 minutes in the sin bin for a combined total of 36 minutes. By modern derby standards, that's a relatively clean game!


Stats
Jamming
I-5 Rollergirls (Jams - Lead Jammer - Jams in Box - Points)
Lex Celerator (11-8-2-91)
Gory Locks (8-2-0-49)
Death By Beth (2-0-0-2)
Liv Vicious (11-7-2-61)
Smash Ketchum (1-0-1-0)
Audrey Headburn (4-2-1-34)
Hunt Her Down (4-3-0-6)
Kitsap Derby Brats (Jams - Lead Jammer - Jams in Box - Points)
Mutch Mayhem (7-2-3-16)
Little Mean Sunshine (3-1-0-4)
Kae-Oss (2-0-0-5)
Stabby Gabby (3-1-0-12)
Whamsday Addams (5-4-0-50)
Champ Pain (8-3-2-31)
Punches N Cream (7-0-1-19)
Red Rager (4-3-0-31)
Rosie Basher (1-0-0-0)
Mad Medic (1-1-1-8)
Blocking
I-5 Rollergirls (Blocked Jammers - Open Holes - Big Hits)
Gory Locks (3-0-2)
Liv Vicious (1-0-1)
Miss B. Haver (1-1-0)
Audrey Headburn (1-0-1)
Auda-Cious (0-1-0)
Lip Smack-Her (3-0-1)
Keek the Freak (1-0-0)
Rage E-Anna (2-0-2)
Lex Celerator (3-1-1)
Smash Ketchum (2-0-1)
Hunt Her Down (1-0-1)
Kitty Clawberator (3-0-0)
Kitsap Derby Brats (Blocked Jammers - Open Holes - Big Hits)
Punches N Cream (3-0-1)
Little Mean Sunshine (1-1-0)
Mutch Mayhem (1-0-0)
Red Rager (5-0-1)
Quarter Pound'Her (2-3-0)
Stabby Gabby (2-1-0)
Rosie Basher (2-0-0)
Alisin Wondeslam (1-1-1)
Champ Pain (4-0-2)
Gaines Slayer (2-1-1)
Mad Medic (2-0-0)
Whamsday Addams (2-0-0)
Penalties
I-5 Rollergirls (PIM)
Audrey Headburn (1)
Auda-Cious (2)
Lip Smack-Her (1)
Keek the Freak (2)
Rage E-Anna (2)
Lex Celerator (4)
Smash Ketchum (2)
Hunt Her Down (1)
Death By Beth (2)
Kitsap Derby Brats (PIM)
Punches N Cream (2)
Mutch Mayhem (3)
Quarter Pound'Her (1)
Chewbecca (2)
Stabby Gabby (1)
Rosie Basher (3)
Alisin Wonderslam (1)
Champ Pain (2)
Gaines Slayer (1)
Mad Medic (2)

By Tom George

Bout Preview 3/26 Kitsap Derby Brats vs. I-5 Rollergirls

This Saturday there are two… TWO!  Junior Derby bouts in the Seattle area!  Just after the action dies down between Portland and SDB, a few miles to the north at the Everett Skate Deck, the Kitsap Derby Brats and I-5 Rollergirls will go head to head looking for victory!

Both of these teams are coming into their second games of the season with a loss and have retuned their rosters looking forward. 

Kitsap played a strong game, but had trouble getting lead jammer (as well as staying out of the box).  They will have to have a strong initial pass defense against the explosive jammers of I-5.  As we saw against the Reservoir Dolls, they can come from nowhere and should NEVER be counted out.  Lex Celerator is going to be out for redemption after her mental errors in Eugene and the I-5 Girls are skating on their home track this time.

Kitsap’s roster can change greatly from game to game, and this time I do not see Speedy Foul Mouth-her, who I actually rather enjoyed watching last time.  Not to worry, though, Whamsday Addams, Mutch Mayhem, Red Rager and Little Mean Sunshine will take the track with their cheer of “All the points!”  I am dead certain they will give I-5 a great bout.

17 -  Red Rager
106 - AliSin WonderSlam
115 - Champ Pain
1313 - Whamsday Addams
25 -  Quarter Pound'Her
333 - J Rowdy
5 -   Little Mean Sunshine
52 -  Chewbeca
71 -  Stabby Gabby
8 -   Mutch Mayhem
84 -  Kae-Oss
89 -  Rosie Basher
888 - Gaines Slayer
911 - Mad Medic
K0 -  Punches'N'Cream
      Ryan The Lyan

For their part, I-5 has done some minor adjustments.  Hunt-Her Down was out for an injury in Eugene and I am sure is going to be looking forward to hitting the track and some Kitsap Brats.  Keek the Freak replaces Fee-bee Sting as a name I have not seen before.  I always love seeing new girls on the teams, getting their chance to skate!

52 - Death by Beth
13 - Britney Tears
11 - Auda-Cious
24 - Smash Ketchum
17 - Rage-E-Anna
8 -  Miss B. Haver
88 - Kitty Clawberator
5 -  Gory Locks
91 - Dee Stroir
9 -  Audrey Headburn
18 - Lex Celerator
6 -  Liv Vicious
15 - Keek the Freak
11 - Hunt-Her Down

I definitely look forward to covering this game!  As a note, I found my guest blogger!  Elwood Bruise is going to be doing the bout recap for Galaxy Girls vs. Rosebuds!