FOUR EVENLY-MATCHED TEAMS BEGIN QUEST FOR TITLE!

by the Grand Poobah, ARRG Bout Co-Announcer

The long wait is over! St. Louis’ best on the flat-track returns this weekend!

The 2011-12 intraleague season for the Arch Rival Roller Girls begins this Saturday night at Midwest Sport Hockey at Queeny Park (57o Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO). Doors open at 6:30 pm and the two-bout tilt starts promptly at 7 pm.

Tickets for the doubleheader are $15 cash only at the door. Children 10 and under are free. Go to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE to save $3 per paid admission by purchasing in advance online at Brown Paper Tickets.

(Note from the Poobah: Go to last week’s column RIGHT HERE to see the complete 2011-2012 local season for ARRG and find out you can purchase a SEASON PASS (10 individual events) for a savings of $50 versus the cost of purchasing individual tickets at the door. SALES FOR SEASON PASSES ENDS THIS FRIDAY!)

In Saturday’s doubleheader, ARRG features rematches from last season’s title bouts as 2011 defending champions Rebel Skate Alliance looks for its seventh straight win against last year’s runner-up the Stunt Devils in our opening bout. The second bout tonight pits 2011 third place finisher the M-80s against the Smashinistas to see who posts their first “W” of the season.

The mission of the Arch Rival Roller Girls this season is to continuously raise the bar with the quality caliber of competition that you’ve come to expect. A lot of roster shifting during the off-season has resulted in parity amongst the four squads, which will no doubt result in hotly contested bouts as the season progresses.

The internal goal for all four ARRG teams will be to jockey into primary position for the 2012 championship bouts, held next April at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.

They all bring plenty to the table. With victories this weekend, two teams make an initial hard charge in the standings.

Here’s look at the four teams competing this Saturday night who look to hoist the trophy at Chaifetz Arena in April 2012:

REBEL SKATE ALLIANCE – 2011 CHAMPIONS – LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 6-0

For an expansion team, RSA obliterated the stereotypes associated with a newbie franchise, going undefeated last season. The counter-clockwise skating coalition used a lethal combination of veteran leadership and derby smarts to run through the pack from the onset. A team that had so many questions prior to the season responded to the critics outright and inevitably silenced them in the process. If the RSA goal was to make a splash in 2011, then consider it mission accomplished.

Winning a title is hard enough, but anyone associated with this sport will be quick to point out that the challenge of defending it is even more difficult. And considering that this team lost some depth in key areas during the off-season, a repeat is not a given. If the “cerebral assassins” wish to successfully defend the title in 2012, then it must collectively perform with the same consistency as it did in its inaugural campaign.

They have a pair of ARRG All-Star vets in the co-captain slots for 2012. Both Party Foul and Smarty McFly return for dual roles at jammer and blocker. McFly – last season’s scoring champion – returned to the flat-track after an injury-riddle 2010 with a vengeance. Her closest competitor in league scoring was over 50 points behind. No doubt, she’ll be looking to match high numbers in 2011-12. Foul – entering her third season with ARRG – has shown that she possesses great awareness of the flat track. Consistently in the top ten in league scoring last season, she can make huge scoring strikes without creating much of a ruckus.

They’ll have plenty of veteran experience up front to help open up the holes for scoring. ARRG 2010-11 League MVP Chewblocka returns to lead the charge in the blocking schematic. After three seasons in Ohio, she returned to ARRG last season as a skater who blossomed while in the Buckeye State. Don’t be surprised to see the wookie also “don the star” in a jam or two Saturday.

Blocker Stabby McCutcha returns for RSA as well in 2011-12. A finalist for “Rookie of the Year” last season, McCutcha’s gameplay progressed as her debut season progressed. Down went the penalties and up went the intensity. Expect her to be a main cog of offensive blocking. ARRG veteran blocker SueShe found newfound life with a new squad in 2011. Her play was raised to another level and the long minutes spent on the flat-track paid huge dividends.  Both Ginny Beastly and Bertha Venus also found newfound responsibilities last season and answered the call. Expect both to continue to get more flat track time this Saturday night.

New faces to the RSA this season include blockers The Oregon Betrayal, Eaux Baby, Beaster Bunny and Deuce Bomber. The talented quartet has impressed the co-captains with their play in the off-season and all are looking to make a significant impact in their Midwest Sport Hockey debuts Saturday. Also scheduled to make a start for RSA will be jammer P. Diamond – formerly of the St. Chux Derby Chix who just finished a season with the CoMo Derby Dames.

Last season, Rebel Skate Alliance prided themselves on keeping their opposition to low point totals. That looks to be the same philosophy heading into the new season with its focus on blocking. Remember, no jammer’s going to score a point if the blockers/pivots don’t lay down the foundation.

Their inaugural season was intriguing – expect the same this time around. And a return of a trophy lift in April is well within sight with a victory Saturday.

STUNT DEVILS – 2011 SECOND PLACE – LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 2-4

A team that found out firsthand the pressure of defending a championship was last year’s runner-up. A squad that had been unstoppable since 2009 was saddled with injuries last season, hence the below-average record. In the face of conflict, new faces were able to step into newfound roles and veterans were repositioned into newfound responsibilities for the Stunts. Expect the learning curves experienced last season to propel the Stunts into future title contention.

Key veterans return to the jamming schematic, including All-Star scorers Mighty Mighty Boston and South City Shiner. Boston – entering her third season with the Stunts – was a top-ten scorer for the league last season. The co-captain’s explosiveness from the line resulted in numerous scoring situations for the Stunts. She’ll be paired alongside veteran Shiner, who rebounded from a mid-season injury to post impressive numbers. Morgan LeFaetal returns as a solid compliment to the jamming rotation. Expect her to post some career-setting benchmarks as the competition heats up.

A quartet of derby vets will provide the blocking upfront for the Stunts Saturday night. All-Star Mayor Francis Slayer returns for her fifth season of derby. Her long minutes logged last season made her the workhorse of the group. Grave Danger returns to the fold after missing most of last season with injury. Expect the All-Star vet to crush some souls now that she’s back at 100%. Stunt co-captain Deathica Steele will bring her consistent play to the flat track. Another year under the belt has made Steele a real driving force of the blocking wall. All-Star Artemischief – pound for pound one of ARRG’s best skaters – will bring derby smarts while containing the other team’s top jammers. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see the spark plug also jam a few times as well.

A year of seasoning benefited a pair of Stunt blockers. Both Biohazard Betty and Hydrogen Bombshell will find increased responsibilities in their sophomore campaigns. Expect the two Stunts to deliver. A bumper crop of rookies will make their flat-track debuts Saturday as Toe Stop Believing, Feer-ocious and Angles Shacgyver will look to impress.

The other teams of ARRG should take note: the pitchfork has been sharpened. There’s good chance that this squad could make its fifth consecutive championship title bout this season.

M-80s – 2011 THIRD PLACE – LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 1-5

The legacy team of ARRG only had one win in 2011, but anyone who witnessed their late-season progression could easily see why the firecrackers could make a strong run for a title bout in April 2012.

On paper, the pieces are in place…and they’re very solid. Co-captain Black Market Baby returns to the jamming stripe. A strong post-season scoring run with the ARRG All-Stars helped BMB regain the momentum needed to propel this squad. A run for the league scoring title is well within possibility – she’s that darn good. Co-captain Science Friction returns to a dual role of jammer/blocker. She excels at both and one can expect that the ARRG vet will log plenty of minutes on the flat-track in both capacities.

EnYa Nightmare has proven that she can post impressive numbers while donning the star. There is no reason to believe that she can’t do it consistently this season. 2010-11 ARRG Rookie of the Year May Require Stitches possesses the talent that belies her derby years. She’ll be called upon to be both a scorer and blocker for the M-80s. Serving dual roles as well will be Munchausen by Foxy, who posted personal bests in scoring last season.

There’s plenty of experience to be found up front as well. Bareknuckle Smack returns after another year of seasoning to provide the blocking. She’ll be joined by veteran The Siege, who consistently maintains her high caliber of play. Veteran Vendetta VanGo makes a transfer to the M-80s this season – she’ll be a primary fixture of the blocking plan. Returning blockers Sue Render and D’Wicked Pirate return for their sophomore campaigns this weekend.

A pair of rookies – hard-charging jammer/blocker Rhino Might and blocker The Sound of Violence – compliments the M-80s line-up. Expect both to make an immediate impact Saturday.

If there’s a word that would define the ladies in red this season, it would be depth. There are six effective jammers in the line-up for the M-80s this season and those who don’t jam bring plenty of blocking to the table. This very well could be the team to beat this season!

SMASHINISTAS – 2011 FOURTH PLACE – LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 3-3

Last season saw the best of times and the worst of times for the camo-clad troops. A three-bout winning streak in 2010-11 saw the Smashies in prime position to win it all down the stretch. Alas, two post-season setbacks resulted in the final standings placement.

Frustration in 2011? You bet! Redemption in 2012? You bet!

The key cogs offensively for the Smashinistas are found with jammers Downtown Dallis and The Educator. Co-captain Dallis – the WFTDA Skater of the Month for August – lifted her game to new levels last season, finishing runner-up in league scoring. A sprint for the top spot is well within her reach. The Educator – another All-Star veteran – can post high numbers when called upon. Look for a scoring rebound this season.

Look for scoring to be supplemented by a pair of top-notch skaters. ARRG veteran Punches Pileup returns to the fold to provide an extra wave of offense. Sophomore Boom Boom Pow posted career numbers for ARRG’s developmental franchise the Saint Lunachix in 2011. Expect the momentum to be carried over into the local season.

The blocking up front will once again be paced by All-Star veteran Eli Wallop. The six-year derby vet can shut down the competition with her smart play. Sophomore Shimmy Hoffa – a finalist for ARRG Rookie of the Year – will bring solid dual responsibilities as blocker/jammer. She has been known to be a “bout changer.”

The Forecloser brings another wave of defensive/offensive blocking up front, as well as derby vet Jezebelle, who logged long minutes for the Smashies last season.  Polkadot Yr’Eyeout and Megalodominator raised their level of game play last season. Added responsibilities in key situations are expected.

New to the roster for the Smashies are “camo-chipper” Shell Shoxx – a St. Chux Derby Chix transfer who logged numerous minutes for the Saint Lunachix and the Rookie Rivals in 2011 – as well as Harsha Punishment and Sly Davinita, who have impressed many in the pre-season.

In the end, a talented squad that experienced misfires late last season will reload and fire upon heavy competition. Nothing less than victory in 2012 will suffice.

Saturday night at Midwest Sport Hockey, you’ll see four high-caliber squads, each containing the balance of speed, power, agility, smarts and newfound enthusiasm that is essential to success. So you might ask yourself, “Who’s the favorite to win it all this year?”

Arguably, the answer would be “All of them.” It’s just too tough to call. And you’ll find out firsthand Saturday how badly each of these squads wants to win.

While you’re at Midwest Sport Hockey for the ARRG season opener, be sure you visit the ARRG merchandise table for the newest in ARRG schwag. It’s never too early to pick up that XMAS gift for the derby fan in your family!

Also visit the charity raffle table, where tickets can be purchased for $1 apiece or six for $5. Last season, ARRG raised nearly $3,000 for Girls, Inc. of St. Louis. This season, ARRG will raise money for Safe Connections. Saturday’s charity raffle prizes include ARRG bout tickets, gift certificates from area businesses and other collectibles. Remember, you can’t win if you don’t participate!

And following the doubleheader action, continue the fun at ARRG’s post-bout after-party, held at Iggy’s Mexican Cantina (13645 Big Bend Road, Valley Park, MO). Relive your favorite moments of the night with the athletes of ARRG while enjoying late night food and drink specials. And as always, there’s no cover charge at the ARRG pos-bout after party at Iggy’s!

If you’re a returning fan of ARRG, we know you’ll love the action this Saturday night. And if you’re new to the sport, we’ll give you plenty of reasons why you’ll want to return.

We look forward to seeing you throughout the season for Arch Rival Roller Girls’ roller derby action!

NEXT MONDAY IN THE ARRG NEWSLETTER: We’ll see how the season opener turned out. Which two squads took big strides in the title quest and which two have to tighten up the laces to keep pace. We’ll have a full recap of both bouts!

The Grand Poobah is bout co-announcer for the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section every Monday for the latest in ARRG news and information.

2012 CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD AT CHAIFETZ ARENA!

by the Grand Poobah, ARRG Bout Announcer

With increased audiences and high-octane action on the flat-track, the Arch Rival Roller Girls proved last season why they continue to be the leader in St. Louis alternative athletics.

As a result, plans now are set to bring that excitement up to a whole other level for the upcoming 2011-12 season, which starts in less than two weeks!

ARRG has released its local schedule for the upcoming season, which features a new St. Louis venue for its final event for the intraleague schedule.

For you – the ever-lovin’ derby fan – there’s no better time to purchase a season ticket pass which leads to extra savings!

ARRG’s local regular season bouts, the first round of the 2012 playoffs and five interleague events against some of the best derby squads in the region will take at Midwest Sport Hockey (570 Weidman Rd., Ballwin, MO.)

New to ARRG will be the location for the 2012 local playoff finale in April – Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis!

In all, local fans of derby will experience 10 separate events (featuring 20 individual bouts) in the 2011-12 campaign. Season ticket passes – which provide a savings of 33% versus the cost of ticket prices at the door – are available now at Brown Paper Tickets.

A season ticket pass purchase includes a ticket to the finale at Chaifetz Arena as well as complimentary parking to the April 28, 2012 event.

To purchase your season ticket pass – and receive a 33% discount compared to regular door prices – go to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

The local season promises to feature plenty of intrigue, as there have been perpetual shifts to all four local rosters during the off-season. The first night of local action features rematches of last year’s championship bouts. (We’ll preview all four squads next week here in the newscenter.)

Once again, all local events will feature double-header bouts and you can bet that all four local squads will be gunning from the outset to make the title bout at Chaifetz come April 2012.

Here are the dates and match-ups for the local season for ARRG, which takes place at Midwest Sports Hockey:

Saturday, November 5: Stunt Devils vs. Rebel Skate Alliance – Smashinistas vs. M-80s

Saturday, December 3: Rebel Skate Alliance vs. Smashinistas – Stunt Devils vs. M-80s

Saturday, January 14, 2012: M-80s vs. Rebel Skate Alliance – Stunt Devils vs. Smashinistas

Saturday, February 4, 2012: Playoffs- #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed – #2 vs. #3 Seed

Once again, the 2012 local finale – featuring a doubleheader with the winners of the playoff round battling for the league championship as well as a third place bout – takes place on Saturday, April 28 at Chaifetz Arena.

The complete schedule of opponents for the 2011-12 home dates of ARRG’s two primary travel squads – the ARRG All-Stars and the Saint Lunachix – are still being finalized as of press time. But already solidified for the calendar is a familiar WFTDA North Central region playoff rival as well as a pair of hard-charging Midwestern squads.

Here are the dates for the ARRG interleague match-ups for the 2012 travel season, played at Midwest Sport Hockey (note: opponents listed as TBA will be released shortly upon confirmation.)

Saturday, March 3, 2012: ARRG All-Stars vs. Mad Rollin’ Dolls – St. Lunachix vs. TBA

Saturday, May 5, 2012: ARRG All-Stars & St. Lunachix vs. Bleeding Heartland

Saturday, June 9, 2012: ARRG All Stars & St. Lunachix vs. TBA

Saturday, July 14: 2012: ARRG All-Stars & St. Lunachix vs. Chicago Outfit

Saturday, August 4, 2012: ARRG All-Stars & St. Lunachix vs. TBA

Once again, the purchase of a season ticket pass offers a savings of 33% compared to buying tickets at the door on bout night.

Group rate ticket packages for individual bouts are also available at Brown Paper Tickets right now. A group of 15 or more derby fans can see ARRG action for the cost of $10 per ticket. GO TO THIS LINK RIGHT HERE to purchase discounted group tickets.

Sales for season ticket passes will be available until November 5. There’s no better time to order – and receive savings – than right now!

Remember, a season pass nets you 10 nights of double-header derby action, and it will be an investment well worth it!

The mission of ARRG for the upcoming season is to deliver the same high-caliber excitement that fans have come to expect for this hard-working group of athletes.

It’s a mission that will no doubt be carried out in 2011-12!

CHEWBLOCKA NAMED 2010-11 ARRG MVP

Arch Rival Roller Girls’ All-Star and former Rebel Skate Alliance co-captain Chewblocka was named 2010-11 League Most Valuable Player Saturday night at its annual post-season awards party.

Over 40 awards were presented at “Blood Bath & Beyond,” held at The Heavy Anchor in St. Louis. The ceremony recognized achievements on-and-off the flat-track by the league skaters, officials and support staff. Nominees and winners were voted upon by members of the league.

The M-80s’ May Require Stitches was selected by voting members of the league as the 2010-11 ARRG Rookie of the Year.

ARRG All-Star and Smashinistas co-captain Downtown Dallis was awarded “Local Season Fan Favorite” as voted by fans via online ballot.

Here is a list of winners from selected categories from Saturday’s awards ceremony:

2010-11 ARRG League Most Valuable Player: Chewblocka

Travel Team MVPs: ARRG All-Stars: Mayor Francis Slayer, Saint Lunachix: Boom Boom Pow & Polkadot Yr’Eyeout (tie), ARRG Rookie Rivals: Shell Shoxx

Rookie of the Year: May Require Stitches

Newcomer of the Year: Rhino-Might

Fan Favorites: Local Season: Downtown Dallis, Travel Season: Mighty Mighty Boston

Rebel Skate Alliance Team Awards – MVP: The Bevo Kill, Best Blocker: The Bevo Kill, Best Jammer: Smarty McFly

The Stunts Devils Team Awards – MVP: Mayor Francis Slayer, Best Blocker: Danikka Doom, Best Jammer: Morgan LeFaetal

The M-80s Team Awards – MVP: May Require Stitches, Best Blocker: Bareknuckle Smack, Best Jammer: May Require Stitches

The Smashinistas Team Awards – MVP: Eli Wallop, Best Blocker: Shimmy Hoffa, Best Jammer: Downtown Dallis

Sweetest Roller Girl: Downtown Dallis

Meanest Roller Girl: Grave Danger

Best Pom Shaker (Jeerleader): Mama Lockdown

Best Roll Model: Joanie Rollmoan

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees from Saturday night’s awards ceremony!

NEXT MONDAY IN THE ARRG NEWSCENTER: Opening night approaches! The new local season begins on Saturday, November 5. All four teams begin their quest for the trophy. WE’LL PREVIEW ALL FOUR SQUADS!

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information.

PLUS MORE OCTOBER DERBY NEWS & NOTES!

by the Grand Poobah, ARRG Announcer

The Arch Rival Roller Girls are throwing a party this Saturday night…and you’re invited!

Come celebrate the league’s achievements from the past season as ARRG hosts the “Blood Bath & Beyond Awards Party.”

The event takes place this Saturday, October 22 at The Heavy Anchor (5226 Gravois, St. Louis, MO). The event begins at 8 PM and is free to the public.

Awards from 20 different categories will be presented at the event, encompassing achievements on and off the flat-track.

ARRG’s Most Valuable Player of the past season will be revealed, as well as its Rookie of the Year. Plus, ARRG’s “2011 Fan Favorite” – an honor selected by the fans online – will be announced.

And although there is no dress code enforced at the party (well, at least wear clothes!) – you are encouraged to dress up in your favorite costume!

You can see what you can munch and drink at the Heavy Anchor by going to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

Once again, the free and public event begins this Saturday at 8 pm at the Heavy Anchor! We’ll see you there!

ARRG HELPS ZOMBIE SQUAD BLOOD DRIVE!

This past Saturday, ARRG assisted with a blood drive held by the St. Louis chapter of the Zombie Squad at Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation in St. Louis.

Over 64 pints of blood was collected at the drive – equivalent to eight gallons.

The Zombie Squad – St. Louis Chapter provides security assistance at ARRG’s local bouts. We always appreciate their co-operation and are always willing to lend a helping hand at their events!

If you made a donation at the blood drive, thank you!

To find out more about the Zombie Squad, go to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

ARRG PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURED IN NY DERBY EXHIBIT!

Anyone who follows derby nationally knows who Bob Dunnell is.

Anyone who follows derby locally knows him as “Mr. McWheely.”

Regardless of the locale, fans of both sport and photography have been impressed by his work.

For ARRG, he is our pictorial historian. Bob’s images consistently encapsulate the beuaty, drama and passion that is associated with this sport.

What started out as a casual hobby a few years back has blossomed into something truly magical.

The man we simultaneously know as both “Mr. McWheely” and “Bob” was featured in the exhibit “Scars and Stripes, American Roller Derby” – which is finishing a two-month run in Oceanside, NY.

Alongside some of the other top shutterbugs of the sport, Bob’s work shows the consistent quality of a man who is dedicated on documenting the action on and off the flat-track.

We at ARRG are always grateful of his dedication and commitment to the local derby scene. I encourage you to check out Bob’s work by going to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

For those of you who are a fan of the sport, you won’t be disappointed. And for those of you who aren’t, after you view Bob’s work, you’ll become one.

ARRG LINING UP SPONSORSHIPS FOR UPCOMING SEASON!

Do you own a business that needs a little exposure? The Arch Rival Roller Girls are looking for sponsors for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

Your business can be a part of the hottest athletic alternative in St. Louis! With its wide range demographics, being a sponsor of Arch Rival Roller Girls can effectively send out your business’ message to the derby masses.

There are different levels of sponsorship that covers multiple media platforms.

To find out how your business can benefit by sponsoring the Arch Rival Roller Girls, download ARRG’s official sponsorship packet by clicking THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

GATEKEEPERS COMPETE IN NATIONAL PLAYOFFS SATURDAY!

The STL Gatekeepers – the men’s flat-track derby franchise of St. Louis – will get a taste of post-season tourney action this weekend at the inaugural Men’s Roller Derby Association championships!

Entitled “Big Battle Beatdown,” the one day MRDA championships take place on Saturday in Old Bethpage, NY. The Gatekeepers – the top seed of the tourney – face off against the winner of Puget Sound/Pioneer Valley bout at 3pm Eastern. The winner of 3pm bout advances to the championship bout later that evening at 7:30pm Eastern.

We wish ARRG’s “Brothers in Derby” the best of luck this Saturday at the MRDA championships! Bring home the trophy and give the national derby scene another reason why St. Louis should be considered one of the top cities in the nation when it comes to the sport!

To find out more about the Gatekeepers, go to THIS LINK RIGHT HERE!

NEXT MONDAY IN THE ARRG NEWSCNTER: The ARRG 2011-12 calendar is revealed! We’ll give you all the information on the dates and match-ups for the local teams and give you the dates for the ARRG travel teams at home. We’ll also give you the link for saving money by purchasing a 2011-12 season pass. Finally, we’ll reveal the venue for the 2012 ARRG Championships! The St. Louis city-based venue will open your eyes!

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information!

FINISHES TWO SPOTS ABOVE TOURNEY SEEDING!

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) On Sunday, the eighth-ranked Arch Rival Roller Girls finished the 2011 WFTDA North Central region playoff in sixth place.

ARRG finished its 2011 travel season with a 10-4 record.

The following bout recaps from Derby News Network follows ARRG’s Monumental Mayhem progression.

FRIDAY: OPENING ROUND - ARRG VS. CHICAGO OUTFIT

FRIDAY: QUARTERFINALS – ARRG VS. WINDY CITY

SATURDAY: CONSOLATION BRACKET – ARRG VS. CINCINNATI

SUNDAY: FIFTH PLACE BOUT – ARRG VS. CHICAGO OUTFIT

PLAY FOR FIFTH PLACE SUNDAY VS. CHICAGO OUTFIT

UPDATED: SATURDAY 6:30 PM

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) By building a 87-58 halftime lead, the ARRG All-Stars defeated the fifth-seeded Cincinnati Black Sheep 137-98 in the consolation bracket at Monumental Mayhem – the WFTDA North Central region playoffs.

ARRG now plays #6 Chicago Outfit for fifth place Sunday at 12:50 Central.

ARRG PLAYS NEXT ON SATURDAY AT 4:30 PM CENTRAL

UPDATED FRIDAY 3:50 PM

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) Propelled by a 57-0 opening run, top-seeded Windy City defeated Arch Rival 200-82 in action Friday afternoon at Monumental Mayhem, the WFTDA North Central region playoff.

ARRG fell behind the 8-ball early, unable to score a point until 14:00 left in the first half.

After a Black Market Baby 9-point tally, Windy City followed with a 14-0 run, extending the lead to 73-9.

A late 38-0 rally by Windy City gave the top seed a 111-18 lead at intermission.

ARRG kept in pace in scoring in the second half. May Require Stitches’ 16-pointer at 17:20 pulled the score to 153-59.

Windy City would outscore ARRG 89-64 to preserve the win.

Stitches scored 28 points to lead Arch Rival, who next play on Saturday at 4:30 Central Saturday afternoon. They will play the winner of an early morning bout between Ohio and the loser of Friday’s Detroit/Brew City match-up.

by the Grand Poobah

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) In a nailbiter Friday morning at the Indianapolis Convention Center, #8 Arch Rival defeated #9 Chicago Outfit 119-116 in the opening round of Monumental Mayhem – the WFTDA North Central region playoff.

ARRG held a 66-65 edge at the half and used a stubborn defensive wall on the bout’s final jam to preserve victory.

With the win ARRG now faces #1 seed Windy City at 3 pm Eastern later today.

FACES #9 CHICAGO OUTFIT THIS FRIDAY AT 8AM CENTRAL!

by the Grand Poobah, ARRG bout announcer

PART TWO OF A TWO-PART SERIES. TO SEE PART ONE, CLICK THIS LINK RIGHT HERE

The ARRG All-Stars begin their post-season journey this Friday in Indianapolis – a city that’s synonymous with fast objects on four wheels that make continuous left-hand turns.

They hope to be the fastest on eight as the weekend proceeds.

Arch Rival (8-3) – seeded eighth in the WFTDA North Central region – faces #9 Chicago Outfit Syndicate (8-4) in the opening round of “Monumental Mayhem” – the North Central region playoff – held at the Indiana Convention Center.

The bout takes place this Friday at 8 AM Central. If you cannot make the event, notes about real-time online viewing can be found at the end of this column.

The winner of the ARRG/Chicago Outfit match-up faces #1 Windy City Friday at 2 PM Central, while the loser faces the loser of the Minnesota/Mad Rollin’ Dolls match-up Saturday at 8 AM Central.

In the WFTDA nationwide playoff system, each of the four WFTDA regions holds a weekend tournament featuring the top ten-ranked teams in their respective region. The top three finishers at each of the four region playoffs advance to the WFTDA 2011 Championships, held November 11-13 in Broomfield, CO.

The ARRG All-Stars begin their third consecutive appearance in the post-season against a team that they are very familiar with.

They’ve faced each other twice this season, finishing with a split and comparable margins of victory.

Back in May at Midwest Brewhaha, ARRG posted a 129-72 victory over the Outfit. The rollers from Chicago avenged the locals by netting a 164-104 win on their home turf in July.

One could arguably say that in their respective wins, the victor played their best derby of 2011. Conversely, the losses equaled their most inconsistent play of the travel season.

The July setback is something that ARRG has focused on in preparation for this Friday.

“We’re going to avoid a lot of the problems that we experienced in that loss that we had on the road in Chicago,” said ARRG blocker Eli Wallop. “There were some things that just weren’t connecting in that (July) game.”

“I think that as a whole, we’ve put in the effort to get our mental game a little more dialed in.”

The reigning ARRG MVP knows how things slipped away in the loss to the Outfit in Chicago. Early penalties resulted in a huge deficit at the half. And one knows that at this level, mistakes have to be minimized in order to get a first-round win.

The line-up is solid heading into the first-round match-up – arguably one of ARRG’s best in its flat-track franchise history.

Leading the way at the jammer line will be Downtown Dallis and Mighty Mighty Boston, two skaters who have really raised their game in 2011. Dallis – primarily a blocker last year – was inserted into the jamming rotation this season and netted immediate results – a 40-point plus scoring average heading into the post-season. Boston – finishing her first full season as an All-Star – posted similar numbers while “donning the star.” Added to that is South City Shiner – a multi-year All-Star – who provides ARRG a solid #3 jammer that foils her on-track competition.

Additional work at jammer can be found by The Educator – who will provide double duty at jammer and blocker – and Black Market Baby, who rejoined the jammer rotation in a supplemental role as the year progressed.

Up front in the blocking schematic is a wall that provides plenty of muscle and experience. Alongside Wallop, look for derby vets Chewblocka, Artemischief, Mayor Francis Slayer, Smart McFly, Party Foul, Science Friction and Grave Danger, who all bring post-season experience to the table.

Also look for the “rookie trio” of Shimmy Hoffa, May Require Stitches and Stabby McCutcha to provide plenty of help to the blocking wall. Their work may belie their derby years at “Monumental Mayhem.”

It’s a team that has been really “playing like a team” in 2011 and the preparation for Indy has been non-stop for the past several weeks.

“We’ve been working harder than we ever had before as a team,” said Danger. “There’s always something to improve on. To freshen up, to work on, to tighten up.”

This hard-working methodology is important for the “pink and black attack” as they face a squad that will be reaching unprecedented heights into “Monumental Mayhem” from the onset.

Turn back the clock one year ago and the Chicago Outfit (8-5) were a franchise not eligible for post-season play. Officially WFTDA-chartered in June 2010, the Syndicate head into their first playoff trip with an impressive 2011 North Central region record of 6-3.

Their North Central wins were comparable to ARRG’s. The Outfit blasted Northstar 202-81 in April, followed by a 147-68 win over #10 Ohio in May. The Syndicate also picked up impressive June wins over a pair of Top-10 South Central teams – a 128-96 victory over #7 No Coast and a 116-54 win over #10 Omaha. The Outfit was victorious in their last bout – a 200-49 win over North Central’s Paper Valley this past Saturday.

Even in defeat, the Chicago Outfit proved that they were able to stay relatively close to established WFTDA leagues. The Midwestern mafia fell to North Central #2 Detroit by 43 points in April, suffered a 28-point loss to South Central #3 Nashville in June, played tough in a 167-114 setback to East #4 Steel City in July and struggled in a 133-80 loss to #7 Brewcity last month.

But that May loss to ARRG at Brewhaha still continues to sting today. The 57-point setback was their largest margin of defeat in 2011.

This squad is a balanced one and look for a solid triple attack at the jammer line. Co-captain Lola Blow netted 66 points for the Outfit in the July victory over ARRG. Her 40-point per bout average brings instant impact to the Outfit offense. Queefer Sutherland adds additional firepower, netting over 30 points per bout. Team captain Sweet Mary Pain personifies the heart of this squad. Her 20-point average completes the trifecta.

Providing the wall up front for the Outfit jammers will be handled primarily by Maul E. Hatchet, Gaygan, Lady K and Smashley “The Spaniard” Destructo. Hatchet and Gaygan have historically logged long minutes in both ARRG/Outfit bouts.

If there was an area to focus on for ARRG it would be getting the aforementioned seven skaters in early foul trouble, for the rest of the bench may not be as deep as ARRGs. Pain pulls double-duty as both jammer and blocker. Plus as team captain, she provides the emotional uplift for the squad. As ARRG Nation witnessed firsthand in the win at Brewhaha, if you get her in foul trouble early, her emotions carry over to the rest of the squad. Getting her to the “sin bin” early and often could potentially net positive results.

Early morning fatigue could also play a part in this one. This bout is scheduled to begin at 8 AM Central, meaning that most skaters will be up at the crack of dawn to prepare. A deep ARRG bench could be a deciding factor down the stretch.

Overall, however, the bout should be a fun one. Both teams are geared for nabbing “the rubber match” in their 2011 series. And the winner could provide some surprises as the tourney continues.

Click the image to see the "Monumental Mayhem" bracket - TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN

Now for look at the other teams competing at “Monumental Mayhem”…

1 – Windy City Rollers (10-2) – The cream of the crop in the North Central has never lost a bout in the region…ever. They’ve only played four region bouts in 2011, but a pair of wins over #2 Detroit, a 67-point win over #3 Minnesota and a 95-point win over #5 Cincinnati proved that the top-seed has more than enough firepower to fend off the nine other challengers. Safe money has the Chicagoland legacy team making the trip to Colorado after hoisting the regional trophy.

2 – Detroit Derby Girls (7-11) – It’s been a very active year for the ladies from Motown. The schedule was packed against some of the toppers from the powerful East and West regions, thus the below .500 record. They stayed competitive against #1 Windy City in a 19-point loss in March. Otherwise, Detroit dominated over North Central rivals. After being relegated to the third place bout last year, Detroit would love nothing more than to make the regional finals and potentially take the trophy outright.

3 – Minnesota RollerGirls (7-2) – Proving that last year’s second place finish was no fluke, the rollers from the Gopher State had an aggressive schedule in 2011, netting three solid wins in the region. A 16-point win over #4 Naptown was the highlight of the year. A 76-point win over #7 Brewcity also helped their cause. A championship bout for the second year straight is not out of the realm if they play with the consistency that propelled them in the post-season last season.

4 – Naptown Tornado Sirens (10-2) – The feel good story of 2011 is the hard-charging improvement of the Hoosier State squad. After besting ARRG by 47 points in February, Naptown went on to top #5 Cincinnati by 73 in April. The Tornado Sirens toppled #6 Madison by 45 points in May. Home track advantage could help out the Indy squad – they never lost a home bout this season, a perfect 6-0 record. A potential #1 vs. #4 match-up against Windy City in the semis is probable, which would be intriguing.

5 – Cincinnati Rollergirls (4-9) – Very tough team to gauge heading into the North Central playoffs. Consistently ranked fifth throughout the year. Faced tough competition outside the region, thus the rough record. Scored big victories over West #8 Jet City and South Central #3 Nashville earlier in the season. A lone win over Ft. Wayne was their only region victory of 2011. Suffered a 26-point setback to #10 Ohio a few weeks ago in a closed bout. A lot of turnover offensively for this group. Could this mid-pack seeding be misleading in the North Central?

6 - Mad Rollin’ Dolls (1-6) – Not too much to be excited about this season for the ladies from Dairyland. Gained sole North Central victory – and lone 2011 win overall – against #7 Brewcity in a 39-point win in June. Losses by 152 points to #2 Detroit, 122 points to #3 Minnesota and 45 points to #4 Naptown looked rough in the portfolio. A longtime legacy team is somewhat on the ropes in the Circle City due to a first round match-up against Minnesota.

7 – Brewcity Bruisers (4-6) – Best of times and worst of times for the ladies from Milwaukee. Beat #9 Chicago Outfit by 53 points late in the season, but also lost to North Central #11 Grand Raggidy by 11 points. Held tough in a 17-point loss to #4 Naptown in March. Barely netted a 10-point win over #16 Sioux Falls in April, a team that ARRG beat by 260 points later in the summer. A talented team on paper, but will the real keggers show up in Indy?

8 – Arch Rival (8-3)

9 – Chicago Outfit Syndicate (8-5)

10 – Ohio Roller Girls (11-5) – Aggressive scheduling against comparable teams helped add up to a winning record and a first-time post-season trip. A 78 point-loss to #8 ARRG and a 79-point loss to #9 Chicago Outfit in May stifled a higher seed. Conversely, a 39-point win over South Central’s #10 Omaha in July and a win over regional rival #5 Cincinnati one week ago boosted confidence. A squad who might open some eyes in the first round match-up against #7 Brewcity. They very well could take the “W.”

Overall, there’s been a lot of activity in the North Central Region in 2011. With the exception of #1 Windy City and #5 Cincinnati, all the teams competing at “Monumental Mayhem” are at a different ranking compared to when the 2011 travel season began. The perpetual shuffling was a result of both the hard-charges and, conversely, the stumbles of numerous North Central region teams as the year progressed.

This may be the hardest of the four WFTDA playoff regions to figure out. Expect the locals to make some noise as the weekend progresses.

NOTE FROM THE POOBAH: For those of you who cannot make the trip to Indy, live online coverage of “Monumental Mayhem” can be found at the WFTDA’s official website, wftda.com. The website will provide live coverage of all bouts at “Monumental Mayhem” at no cost to you, the derby-loving fan. Live coverage of ARRG’s opening bout against the Chicago Outfit will begin approximately this Friday at 7:50 am.

CLICK THIS LINK TO TAKE YOU TO THE WFTDA PLAYOFF MAINPAGE FOR LIVE ONLINE VIEWING OF THE BOUT!

Although I will not be able to personally make it, my long-lost twin brother – Muckety Muck – will make the trek from the rolling hills of Hamilton County, Illinois to provide play-by-play commentary of the bout. He’s seen a few ARRG bouts this year, loves the team and should be able to compensate in a pinch.

TEXAS WINS SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL

(KANSAS CITY, MO) In the third of four WFTDA regional playoffs, #2 Texas defeated #1 Kansas City 132-92 in the finals of the South Central Region playoff – “Show Me Der-B-Q” – on Sunday.

With their finishes, both teams gained a berth to November’s WFTDA 2011 Championships in Colorado.

Joining the two in the upcoming national finale will be Nashville, who defeated Atlanta 213-38 to claim third place.

The final three of the twelve berths for the championships will be filled by the top three finishers at this weekend’s “Monumental Mayhem.”

THIS COMING WEEKEND IN THE ARRG NEWSCENTER – We’ll have same-day updates from Indianapolis at “Monumental Mayhem,” beginning this Friday. Check throughout the weekend in this section to see how the best on quads from the Gateway City progress through the tourney.

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section often for the latest in ARRG news and information.