SECOND HALF EXPLOSION LEADS TO 2010 ARRG TITLE

by The Grand Poobah

Photo Credit: Eggysan

(ST. LOUIS, MO) More so than other sports, roller derby is often characterized by momentum shifts. In just a few short minutes, large leads are gained – and lost.

And in the process, emotions can greatly turn 180 degrees – for both the benefactor and the unsuspecting.

On Saturday night at the All-American Sports Mall, a momentum shift inevitably resulted in a trophy lift.

And with the hoist of the prize came a few watered eyes.

Capitalizing on a 69-0 second half run, the Stunts Devils defeated the Smashinistas 146-73 in the ARRG 2010 League Championship in front of 1,000 derby-lovin’ fans.

For the Stunts, the victory marked back-to-back championships for the purple-clad skaters and the franchises’ sixth straight win.

“I’ve been crying like a baby,” said Stunt co-captain Mayor Francis Slayer following the bout. “Every single person on our team played the game of their life tonight.”

“I’m probably going to cry the rest of the night.”

It was tears of joy shed by the veteran – yet it did crystallize the emotions the team had experienced throughout the 2010 season, which included injuries, the loss of teammates and the added pressure to repeat.

“The core players on the team overcame a lot of adversity in the past year,” added jammer Artemischief. “Everybody stuck together. Everybody played for one another.”

Indeed. Yet heading into the title bout, it seemed that the Smashies had figured out a game plan that could topple the defending champs. An eight-point nailbiter last month between the two squads foreshadowed a potential upset.

And at one point during Saturday’s bout, it looked like that was going to happen.

The Smashinistas – thanks to a swing of momentum – erased a 35-point deficit en route to a four-point second half lead.

But by utilizing their own second-half shift, the Stunts proved to ARRG Nation why they deserve to retain the hardware.

To review, the agresssor out of the gate – as expected – would have the early advantage.

The Stunts Devils jumped out to a quick 17-3 lead in the bout’s first five minutes, paced by Artemischief’s three lead jams that collectively netted 11 points.

Smashies’ jammer Punches Pileup countered with a 4-pointer with 21:35 left in the first half to cut the deficit to ten.

But the Stunts would silence the Smashies midway through the first half.

The defending champs would go on a 17-0 run during the bout’s next five jams. Punctuated by Morgan LeFaetal’s 5-pointer, the Stunts pulled out to a 34-7 lead with 14:20 remaining.

The pressure continued as the half progressed. A pair of 7-pointers by Artemischief and South City Shiner extended the lead 48-13.

And it seemed that the outcome of 2010 title bout would be decided by halftime.

But the Smashinistas – characterized by their scrappy attitude – proved the skeptics wrong.

Smashie jammer Downtown Dallis – capitalizing on a penalized Stunt jammer – went off to the races. The Texan transplant’s 19-point tally with 4:35 left cut the gap to 48-32.

This would begin a 26-0 run for the Smashies. The Educator followed with four and Pileup added three to cut the deficit to 48-39 with 2:20 left.

LaFaetal broke the Stunts’ offensive drought with 1:21 left with a four-point jam, which concluded first half scoring.

After leading by 35 points just ten minutes prior, the Stunt Devils only posted a 52-39 lead at the halftime break. The baker’s dozen cushion did not seem safe against the Smashies.

And as the second half began, it wasn’t.

Punches Pileup notched a bout-changing 19-pointer early in the second half. The Smashies now possessed their first lead of the bout – a 56-52 edge with 28:10 remaining.

But unfortunately for the ladies in camo, it would be the last piece of scoring for a while – a long while – as a purple pitchfork practically poked the pretty princesses into a precarious predicament.

The Stunts would get lead jammer status for the next nine jams – and in the process go on an incredible 69-0 scoring streak in the bout’s next fourteen minutes.

Punctuated by a 23-point jam by Artemischief, the Stunts would pull out to a 124-56 lead.

The Stunts would go on to outscore the Smashies 94-34 in the second half – complimented by a pair of 13-pointers by Shiner and LaFaetal – to clinch the championship.

Artemischief notched a career best of 68 points to pace the Stunts Devils. Shiner added 52 while LeFaetal contributed 26.

Punches Pileup scored 30 to lead the Smashinistas, while Dallis contributed 26 points.

And even with the victory, the defending champs knew that they had to adjust in the second half when it looked like the trophy could have been stolen away.

“We had a couple of bad jams but then we really played great,” said Mayor Francis Slayer. “We just had to take a deep breath and go play our game, which is what we did and why we won.”

And how satisfying was it for the Stunts – who answered all the challenges in 2010 – to earn a second consecutive championship?

“So much that it made Mayor cry,” said Artemischief.

UNOFFICIAL SCORING

Stunt Devils – Artemischief 68, South City Shiner 52, Morgan LeFaetal 26

Smashinistas – Punches Pileup 30, Downtown Dallis 26, The Educator 17

SATURDAY NOTES FROM THE POOBAH

One has to tip their cap to this year’s runner-up, the Smashinistas, who overcame numerous challenges to make it to the 2010 title bout. One can expect that their quest for the championship will provide enough incentive to come out firing next season. I eagerly await to see what this talented group of skaters bring to the table in the future.

Scratches for Saturday’s bout were Polkadot yr Eyeout and Megalodominator for the Smashinistas and Smarty McFly for the Stunt Devils.

Much appreciation goes out to the 1,000 derby fans who came out the Saturday’s league championship. Your continued patronage is much appreciated and we hope to see you again for the two-day ARRGageddon Invitational on Saturday & Sunday, August 14 & 15.

Congratulations to the STLGatekeepers, the area’s first mens roller derby franchise, for a solid intraleague exhibition during the evening’s undercard. In the bout, The Force defeated the Dark Side 100-96. The Gatekeepers, who travel to St. Paul, MN on Saturday, August 24 to battle the Twin City Terroors, are actively recruiting skaters, officials and volunteers. Find out more by going to their website HERE.

Special thanks to those who participated in our charity raffle that benefitted Youth In Need. Over $500 was raised Saturday night for the non-profit. Thanks to your support at nine home bouts season, ARRG collectively raised $3,425 for Youth In Need. Thanks also this season to the business and individuals who contributed to the prize baskets this season. 

Click on the picture to find out more about this inaugural ARRG event, held in St. Louis on August 14 & 15!

Next week in the ARRG Newscenter: Reflection on the 2010 ARRG intraleague season. Your bout announcers recall their favorite moments.

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information…and wacky holidays. For example, did you know that Sunday is National Ice Cream Day?

SQUADS FACE EACHOTHER AGAIN AT JULY’S TITLE BOUT

by the Grand Poobah

(ST. LOUIS, MO) If Saturday’s action at the All-American was any indication – then the 2010 championship bout for ARRG will be ridden on an emotional roller coaster.

A 20-point halftime lead helped pace the Stunt Devils to an 85-77 victory over the Smashinistas in ARRG’s final regular season bout of the season.

The win gave the defending league champion a perfect 4-0 record in intraleague action – a record that at one time seemed impossible for some members of the legacy franchise of ARRG.

“Having in the past the worst record in the league to having an undefeated record this season is so freakin’ amazing,” said veteran Stunt Devil blocker Grave Danger following the bout.

But don’t be fooled by the final score – the camo princesses almost stole the “W” away from the ladies in purple with the final jam of the bout.

And even in defeat, their second to the Stunts this season, the Smashies know that they have an opportunity to seek revenge as the two teams meet again in the quest for the league trophy on Saturday, July 10 at the All-American.

“We get a re-do,” said Smashinista jammer The Educator following the bout. “We get to win the next one.”

And that mantra was quickly recognized by the Stunts, who found out that the squad they played on Saturday was jelling at the right time.

“Clearly the Smashies are going to challenge us at the championnship,” said Stunt jammer Morgan LeFaetal. “It’s going to be a really intense game.”

And intense completely describes the numerous, dramatic swings the bout went through Saturday night.

To the surprise of many, points would come few and far between in the bout’s first twenty minutes. Thanks to stingy defense on both sides, neither team gained a true advantage.

In a game of “derby chess,” both teams match each other move-for-move in the first five jams. Eight minutes into the bout, the Stunt Devils possessed a 7-6 edge.

Then came the bout’s first true eye-opening moment.

Smashie scoring leader The Educator raced to the front of the pack and collected an 8-point tally, which gave the ladies in camo a 14-9 lead at the 21:20 mark.

If anything, the Smashies’ message to the high-scoring Stunt Devil squad was now crystal clear – “now you’re playing OUR game.”

The Stunts countered with a two-point jam by Artemischief and a four-pointer by South City Shiner, which now saw the defending champs on top 15-14.

And to their credit, the Smashinistas did not break under pressure. In fact, they became motivated by the challenge.

While the holding the Stunts scoreless for the next five minutes, the Smashies regained the lead thanks to Educator’s three-pointer with 12:09 left in the first half.

Down 17-15 a third of the bout in, the Stunts appeared frustrated. The squad’s two top scorers were being held to well below their scoring averages and they were being doubled up on obtaining lead jammer status.

In short, it wasn’t a fun ride early on for the defending champions – and the frustration needed to be controlled.

 ”With women’s sports, it’s about having a certain amount of aggression, but also you have to contain that aggression,” said the Stunts’ LeFaetal of the predicament.

And it seems apropos that LeFaetal herself – by containing that aggression – would be one of the Stunts to shift the momentum of the game in the first half’s final ten minutes.  

The youngster’s 3-pointer with 10:00 remaining gave the Stunt Devils an 18-17 edge. Artemischief followed with two to extend the lead to three.

The Smashinistas answered with Punches Pileup‘s two point jam. The lead was now down to one point.

Then it was time for the Stunts to play ITS game.

The purple skaters collected the next three jams in the first half’s final five minutes. Artemischief scored a four-pointer while Shiner collected four of her own.

Up 28-19, the Stunts delivered a shot to the Smashies that sent the ladies into a tailspin – an Artemischief double grand slam as the clock wound down. The 10-pointer with :25 left would put the exclamation on a Stunts’ 19-0 stretch run – and a 39-19 lead at the halftime break.

The Stunts would continue the roll to begin the second half of play. The defending champs would outscore the Smashies 20-10 in the second half’s first eleven minutes. Thanks to Shiner’s 8-point tally with 19:10 left to play, the Stunt Devils possessed a 59-31 lead.

The bout – itself a foreshadowing of next month’s league championship – then took a strange turn and featured a foreshadowing of things to come later that night.

With 18:50 remaining, time stood still….literally.

A power malfunction shut down circuitry to the scoreboard and silenced the public address system. And ARRG officials called for a suspension of play while officials at the All-American frantically worked on restoring power.

When play resumed ten minutes later, it provided a fresh jump to the Smashies. Downtown Dallis scored five quick out of the gates to cut the gap to 59-36 Stunts.

And much like the beginning stretch of the game, both teams traded points as the second half progressed – the highlight being Educator’s 9-point power jam with 7:30 remaining to make the score 75-53.

Following a two-point score by the Stunts’ Shiner, Dallis’ grand slam for the Smashies decreased the Stunt’s advantage to 19 points.

Feeling the pressure, the Stunts countered with a pair of four-pointers by LaFaetal and Shiner to give the purple contingent a commanding 85-58 with 3:16 remaining.

The Educator collected four on the next jam for the Smashies, but time was now becoming a factor. Perhaps too little, too late, as the deficit was now 23 points.

The Stunts, sensing victory, offered a rare jam to longtime pivot Mayor Francis Slayer. The sign of respect to the ARRG veteran resulted in no points, but with an 85-62 lead with under a minute remaining, this was to give everyone on the Stunts roster a chance to revel in an undefeated regular season.

All seemed well in the world for the Stunts….until the final jam.

As the game clock reached the :30 mark, the Educator raced to the front of the pack and obtained lead jammer status for the Smashies.

And then it happened again – a power failure.

Which in this case did not matter on the game clock, for the 2:00 jam clock was now the element that dictated the final scoring.- which now was uncertain for there no numbers to read by anyone in ARRG Nation.

The key number crucial to the Smashies was “23″ – the current deficit.

And the Stunts were about to be taken to school as the Educator began to rack up points….very, very quickly.

And to the shock of all those in attendance, the Smashies were coming close…dangerously close to tying. In fact, most could tell that Educator had netted multiple grand slams in the process.

Amid all the confusion taking place, the question had to be asked…..just how many points was she scoring?

When ARRG Official Timer Hi-Refinition blew the final whistle to signal the end of the jam – and the bout – the drama was at a fever pitch. And the tension was high as Educator’s points were being calculated.

The Smashies needed 23 points to tie – The Educator scored 15. And the purple contingent knew that they had dodged a huge bullet in the eight point win.

The 85-77 final served multiple purposes for both squads post-bout, who meet again for the league’s top prize in three weeks.

 ”We definitely know what we need to work on going into the championship game,” said Danger. “We know that we cannot take the Smashies lightly.”

South City Shiner lead the Stunt Devils in scoring with 31 points, followed by Artemischief’s 29 and Morgan LeFaetal’s 19.

And all three jammers will be on the radar of the Smashinistas – who will look for the franchise’s first title at the re-match next month.

“I think we’re going in aware, but confident,” said The Educator, who finished with a bout-high 49 points.  ”I feel like we’ve got some work to do, a few things to tweak, and I think we can take it.”

Downtown Dallis added 15 for the Smashies (1-3), while Punches Pileup added 13.

But now with the regular season in full closure, the slate is wiped completely clean for both sides.

All stats are reset to zero on Saturday, July 10 – and neither team wants to be known as the runner-up.

“It’s going to be knock-down, drag out, full-on derby brawl,” foreshadowed Danger.

Indeed, she is correct.

UNOFFICIAL SCORING

Stunt Devils: South City Shiner 31, Artemischief 29, Morgan LeFateal 19, Mighty Mighty Boston 6

Smashinistas: The Educator 49, Downtown Dallis 15, Punches Pileup 13

NOTES FROM THE POOBAH

Thanks to all who came out on a busy Father’s Day weekend to enjoy women’s flat track roller derby action. There were many dads who were in the audience who continue to support their daughters in the sport that they love so much. Whether you were a dad, a spouse or a significant other to a skater, thank you for your support to the women of the league who make this an important part of their lives.

Much thanks should go out to our media partners who continue to spread the word of ARRG, including KPLR-TV and KTVI-TV, who did an amazing job down the stretch. Thanks to you all for your continued support.

And thanks to all who patiently sat through our extended timeout during the bout while we had a malfunction in the junction with our electricity. An impromptu calvade of entertainment – including skating stunts by ARRG officials, the “worm” executed by Joanie Rollmoan, a belly flop by Hells LaBelle and the “wave” by ARRG Nation – proceeded to make a long break not seem so long.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT ONLINE

Saturday, July 10 will be here before you know it, and you – a member of the derby-lovin’ public – do not want to be shut out from the action. The 2010 ARRG Championship, featuring the Stunt Devils and the Smashinistas has a special start time of 7 PM. And once again it’s two bouts for the price of one as the STLGatekeepers - the men’s flat track roller derby squad of St. Louis – participate in an intrasquad exhibition prior to the title bout.

The last time there was a double-dip of derby action featuring ARRG and the Gatekeepers – the building reached maximum capacity – so much so that patrons were turned away at the door due to fire occupancy issues.

I can’t stress this enough – if you don’t have a ticket already for Saturday, July 10 – GET IT NOW!

Go to Brown Paper Tickets online to order your tickets.

If you don’t…you probably will only hear about the final.

ARRG TO PARTICPATE AT PRIDEFEST THIS SUNDAY

The Arch Rival Roller Girls will again participate in the official PrideFest parade, to be held Sunday, June 27 on South Grand in St. Louis. The parade route, which makes its way down South Grand Avenue to Tower Grove Park, begins at 12 noon.

This continues ARRG’s involvement of community events in 2010 – which has included the St. Louis St. Patrick’s Day Parade, HeatUp St. Louis and Macklind Days.

The parade is just one of numerous events going on during the two-day celebration this weekend. For more information about St. Louis PrideFest 2010, check their official website HERE.

When not playing Horse Hooky at Fairmount Park, The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information.

127-75 WIN NETS LOCALS THIRD WIN IN FOUR BOUTS

by the Grand Poobah

(ST. LOUIS, MO) It was not that long ago that the ARRG All-Stars found themselves in a potentially problematic situation. A mid-May record of 1-4 showed that the locals had experienced more lows than highs early in 2010.

And with strong WFTDA squads on the horizon, a season that some critics would have classified as “rebuilding” could have been completely demolished prior to the official start of summer.

Was the foundation strong enough? And more importantly – could it survive the storm brewing up ahead?

Faced against adversity, the pink and black building still remains intact.

Paced by Artemischief’s bout high 48 points, ARRG posted an impressive 127-75 victory over Duke City of Albuquerque, NM in front of 800 Saturday night at the All-American Sports Mall.

The win over the sixth-ranked team in the WFTDA West region improved ARRG’s record to 4-5, which includes three victories in their last four bouts against WFTDA-sanctioned teams.

“This season we’ve been on a steady stretch upward and it really feels like we’re making some strides,” said ARRG blocker Eli Wallop following the bout. “We’ve been capitalizing on the momentum.”

Although the final score indicates that the bout was lopsided, in all fairness, Duke City was already behind the 8-ball prior the bout – a roster of only 13 skaters, which saw the absences of several key players including a top scorer.

Yet with small numbers in the line-up, the Munecas Muertas grabbed an early advantage.

A grand slam by Duke City’s Meep Meep at the 5:00 mark gave the visitors a 15-4 lead.

ARRG would then shift the momentum to its side during the bout’s next ten minutes. Five consecutive lead jam scores – including a 10-pointer by Enya Nightmare – resulted in 22-point uncontested streak. When the dust had settled at the 16:15 mark, ARRG had posted a 30-18 advantage.

Undaunted, Albuquerque quickly regained the lead on the very next jam. Meep Meep’s 15-point megajam overturned the leader board – which now read 33-30 Duke City.

But whereas Duke City placed all their chips on a roadrunner, ARRG countered by unleashing its cheetah on quads.

At the 5:15 mark, Artemischief sprinted to the front of the pack and came up with a 15-point jam of her own. Just like that, ARRG possessed a 49-37 lead.

The veteran jammer’s 27-point first-half output resulted in a 52-41 lead for the pink and black attack at the halftime break.

Both teams collected points at a frenetic pace to start the second half. ARRG’s South City Shiner and Artemischief scored back-to-back four pointers to extend the lead to 19. Nightmare followed with five of her own.

Down 65-41, Duke City’s Meep Meep and Brutalitaur scored 10 and five respectively to keep pace. The local contingent became nervous as the lead had been whittled down to 65-56 with under 24:00 remaining.

Sensing the uneasy feeling of a large lead lost, ARRG responded with a huge rally.

A 26-1 scoring stretch in the bout’s next eight minutes – punctuated by Shiner’s 15-point power jam – made ARRG Nation breathe a sigh of relief. Their favorites on quads now possessed a 91-57 advantage.

ARRG would continue to maintain the pressure on an already exhausted bunch of Duke City skaters. The “fab four” of Artemischief, Shiner, Nightmare and Black Market Baby would score 75 points collectively for ARRG in the second half, which matched the number of points Duke City scored overall for the bout.

Artemischief lead ARRG scorers with 48 points, followed by Shiner’s 31. Nightmare added 28 while BMB collected 15 for the locals, who picked up their second straight win.

Meep Meep paced Duke City (4-3) with 40 points, followed by Brutalitaur’s well-earned 24 and Amanda Jamitinya’s 15.

“Everytime I went out for a hit, I was bracing myself because those (ARRG) girls hit really hard,” said Jamitinya respectfully said after the bout.

How hard? “Bonecrushingly hard,” replied Wallop.

“They’re made out of bricks,” countered Jamitinya.

And that, perhaps, is the best way to build a solid foundation.

The ARRG All-Stars now take a two-month break from travel team action, as the league focuses its energies on the remainder of the 2010 local season.

St. Louis’ best on quads return to all-star action on Saturday & Sunday, August 14 and 15 at the All-American Sports Mall for a special two-day, four team tournament that includes the Detroit Derby Girls, the Kansas City Roller Warriors and the Philadelphia Liberty Belles.

ST. LUNACHIX UPENDED BY DEMOLITION CITY

EVANSVILLE KEEPS RECORD PERFECT

In Saturday night’s opener, ARRG’s developmental team – the St. Lunachix – dropped to 2-2 on the season following a 134-78 loss to the Demolition City Dynamite Dolls of Evansville, IN.

The locals’ loss was the second this year to Demolition City, who remain undefeated at 6-0.

“it’s a little disappointing, but we’ll learn from it and play better next time,” said Chix jammer/blocker The Siege. “(Evansville) is a very good team – they play very well together.”

The Chix were unable to stop the early attack of the Dolls’ monster jammer, Godjilla, whose 33 first-half points resulted in a 51-10 lead twenty minutes into the bout.

Jammer Mighty Mighty Boston gave the St. Lunachix a small glimmer of hope. An 11-pointer scored cut into the deficit, but Demolition City’s Shelby N. Pain countered with a 14-point power jam. A 69-21 halftime lead for Evansville seemed impossible to catch.

“Last season, it usually took us the whole first half to get the gist of what we needed to do,” said Pain of the huge lead at the break. “So what we’ve been working on this season is picking apart what we needed to do before the bout and learning to adapt a lot quicker during the bout.”

It looks like they’re following their plan to the letter.

But to their credit, the St. Lunachix played in the second half as if the bout was tied. Joanie Rollmoan banged out a 15-pointer five minutes into the second half, while The Siege steadily racked up 4-pointers of her own.

Conversely for Demolition City, a pair of 15-point powerjams – one by Godjilla, one by Pain – were pounded with precision as the period progressed.

Evansville proceeded to outscore the locals 65-53 in the second half to ease to victory.

But don’t think that the visitors didn’t have respect for the Chix post-bout.

“We knew they were going to come back at us because they’re tough,” said Pain, who finished with 41 points. “They were still picking us apart on a lot of stuff so we’ve still got plenty of work to do.”

Godjilla’s 48 points paced Demolition City, while Lillith of the Valley added 32.

The Siege scored 30 points while Rollmoan collected 26 for the St. Lunachix, who next play the COMO Derby Dames on Saturday, September 18.

SATURDAY NOTES FROM THE POOBAH

Thanks to all 800 who showed up at the All-American Sports Mall Saturday night to support a fun night of double derby action. Without your support, special events like these would not be possible.

Special thanks go to the athletes and support staff from Duke City and Demolition City for their professionalism throughout the weekend. In bouts that become one-sided, it is very easy for the play to become chippy and the emotions to become stretched-thin, which could potentially lead to “unladylike” moments. Fortunately, the professionalism of all four squads proved that the sport – and its athletes - will always be respected, regardless of the outcome.

Most respectful were the fans from ARRG Nation who showed their appreciation to both visiting teams with post-bout hand slaps following the bouts.

Special shout outs go to our friends from the local media who gave ARRG a little extra lovin’ prior to this doubleheader: Gary B and Randy Gardner of “STL Sports Zone” on KFNS-AM, Brian McKenna of “The Last Call” on KFNS-AM, Van Lorenz and Rick Wallace of 106.5 The ARCH and Angela Hutti of KTVI-TV. Thanks all for continuing to support ARRG! We appreciate it.

MVPs (as selected by the opposition) for the bouts were the following: ARRG All-Stars, Eli Wallop – Duke City, Amanda Jamitinya – St. Lunachix, The Siege – Demolition City, Shelby N. Pain.

ARRG NEW “C” TEAM DEBUTS THIS SATURDAY

ST. CHUX DERBY CHIX HOST ST. LOUIS’ NEWEST RECRUITS

We’ve featured both the ARRG All-Stars and the St. Lunachix in our continuing coverage this season.

How about we add a third team to the mix?

This weekend marks the debut of ARRG’s other developmental franchise that consists of new recruits to the league in a match-up with the newly-formed St. Chux Derby Chix of St. Charles County.

The bout takes place this Saturday, June 12 at the Omni Sportsplex (4160 Industrial Drive, St. Peters, MO). Doors open at 7pm. The $7 bout starts at 8pm.

Formed last December, The St. Chux Derby Chix is currently a member of USARS (USA Roller Sports), which is the national governing body of roller sports in the United States. Roller sports in the jurisdiction of the USARS include speed skating, inline hockey, figure skating, rink hockey and yep, derby.

USARS derby teams follow the same rules and regulations as the WFTDA, thus they are eligible to face WFTDA teams. The St. Chux Derby Chix’s goal in 2011 is to become an apprentice league of the WFTDA.

The league has one bout under its belt, an interleague match-up between the Vertbreak’n Vixens and the Dollface Killers in mid-April. A 39-35 win for the Vixens launched a newfound athletic alternative in St. Charles County. And if you are a lover of derby who likes to see the sport grow, THAT is always a good thing.

The two squads from St. Charles will combine teams to create their roster, while ARRG will field of roster of rookie recruits. These will be athletes who have dedicated the time and literal sweat equity to ARRG for participation at practices, home bouts and at community events.

They all hope to make their progression into one of the three interleague teams of ARRG in the future. Wouldn’t it be nice to say “thank you” for all the support they have given the league so far?

As of press time, ARRG is still determining the name of the new squad. Find out for yourself as its unveiled this Saturday at the Omni’s Wheel.

It’s the future of the sport – I think it’ll be $7 well spent.

ARRG’S FINAL SPRINT THIS WEEK FOR “RACE FOR THE CURE”

The final week of fundraising has approached for ARRG as they are set to participate in the 2010 Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, to be held this Saturday morning in downtown St. Louis.

Last year, ARRG raised $2,700 – this year our goal is $3,500! With under a week left, we have reached 43% of our goal! There’s no better time to help out our cause than now! Thanks to your support and donation, you’ll help us achieve that goal and continue our streak of successful community outreach projects in 2010.

To join our team and to make a donation, visit the ARRG team page.

And by all means – come walk with us on June 12 and show support to those who have courageously fought and continue to fight this disease!

NEXT WEEK IN THE ARRG NEWSCENTER: The final bout of the regular season approaches! Two teams battle in a potential championship preview while a third team on the sidelines will watch the scoreboard, hoping that mathematics will sneak them into the finals. Hells LaBelle will bring you a preview.

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news and information.

107-67 FINAL RESULTS IN TITLE BOUT TURNABOUT

by The Grand Poobah

(ST. LOUIS, MO) Perhaps iconic singer Frank Sinatra said it best…

“The best revenge is massive success.”

And perhaps somewhere out there over the weekend, The Chairman of the Board’s words resonated in the minds of the Smashinistas, who avenged an earlier loss this season to the M-80s with a 107-67 victory Saturday night at the All-American Sports Mall.

Well, the reference to “Ol’ Blue Eyes” might be a bit of a journalistic stretch. Yet the ladies in camo fired back a shot after the two teams’ initial meeting three months ago, which saw the M-80s gain the “W.”

And one would have to agree that the victory for the Smashies was massive – not only in point total, but also for their immediate future.

With the win, the Smashinistas (1-2) kept their quest for a championship bout berth intact.

Meanwhile, the loss for the M-80s resulted in a final regular season record of 1-3.

That means that the ladies in red will be helpless observers when the Smashies face the Stunt Devils next month at the All-American for ARRG’s next interleague bout – a bout that will determine the 2010 league championship match-up.

Long story short, if the Smashinistas beat the Stunts on June 19, they’re automatically in the finals.

But a Stunt Devils’ win will result in the Smashinistas and the M-80s sporting identical 1-3 regular season records – and as the two teams split their head-to-head bouts, the team that advances to finals will be decided on mathematics.

That’s a lot to digest post-bout – but the Smashies’ strategies before and during Saturday’s bout were executed almost flawlessly.

“We worked so hard for this,” said co-captain Eli Wallop following the bout.  ”We worked hard on the track getting our skills up. We worked hard off the track, getting our teamwork together. And we worked hard in the war room, writing the lineups and getting the girls together on the track at the right time and in the right order. We fought for it and it feels good.”

That hard work resulted in an early lead for the Smashies – a lead that they would never surrender.

Four consecutive early lead jams from the onset – buoyed by the triple threat of jammers The Educator, Downtown Dallis and Punches Pileup, resulted in a 12-1 Smashie lead five minutes into the bout.

Following a three-point tally by Dallis, the M-80s cut into the gap ten minutes in. Jammer Enya Nightmare’s seven-pointer whittled the Smashies’ advantage to 15-8.

A two-point jam by Educator was followed by a grand slam by the M-80s Madam Moonstruck. The five-pointer made the score 17-13 Smashies with 17:00 remaining in the first half.

Both teams racked up points on the next jam. Dallis picked up two more while the M-80s utilized Black Market Baby’s four-point effort – which resulted in a 19-17 bout.

And then the wheels flew off the wagon for the M-80s, and the Smashinistas would go on an unmerciful attack.

The Smashies would post a 24-0 run for the next five minutes. Pileup’s grand slam for the Smashies was followed by Educator’s 19-point power jam – which collectively resulted in a 43-17 lead for the ladies in camo.

But just when things looked in total control for the Smashinistas, the firecrackers on quads would go on a roll of their own.

Jams by BMB, Keligua and Nightmare resulted in a 20-5 run for the M-80s in the first half’s final eight minutes. A 48-37 halftime lead for the Smashinistas was anything but safe against this dangerous bunch.

It would have been easy for the Smashies to buckle under this late-half pressure – yet at the intermission break, the camo braintrust decided to stick with what had worked so well early in the bout.

“We just made sure that we followed our strategy and played our game,” said The Educator. “We weren’t reacting to what they did. We stayed on our game and focused on what we needed to do.”

And that focus was evident as the second half started. Pileup scored seven for the Smashies on the opening jam of the frame. Dallis followed with a five-pointer of her own two jams later, which saw the Smashies pull ahead to a 60-38 lead five minutes into the second half.

Yet, being down by 22 points did not stop the effort of M-80s, paced by rookie Black Market Baby. The jammer silenced the camo contingent with a 13-point score, which narrowed the gap to 60-51 with 21:00 remaining.

But once again, the M-80s would be caught in a scoring malady – this time a fatal one as they failed to score in the bout’s next fifteen minutes.

This resulted in the Smashies going on a 35-point uncontested scoring run. Pileup would score 25 points during the streak while Dallis added ten. When the dust had finally settled, the Pretty Princesses had posted a 95-51 advantage.

The Smashies would outscore the M-80s 59-30 in the second half en route to the 40-point victory – their first of the season – and a season saving one at that.

“I am so proud of this team,” said Wallop. “At the beginning of the season, we had a lot of rookies and we had a lot of work to do. We’ve been putting in the time and it’s great to see it result in a win.”

For some of the Smashie veterans, the win was a little overwhelming.

“Since I’ve been in the league, we’ve only won one other time,” said Pileup, who finished with a bout-high 44 points. “When you’re accustomed to always playing second fiddle, it feels pretty darn good to be in the winner’s circle.”

The Educator scored 37 points for the Smashinistas while Dallis added 26, her ARRG personal best. Black Market Baby scored 32 hard-earned points for the M-80s while Nightmare finished with 27.

And while the victory seemed sweet at the time, the leaders of the Smashinistas knew that their uphill climb must continue if they wish to enter the championship title bout against the Stunt Devils – a team they battle next month.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we can do it,” said The Educator. “It’s all about our attitude and how hard we practice. I know it’s all possible.”

“We are taking it one game at a time, one practice at a time, one jam at a time,” added Wallop. “It’s gonna pay off.”

UNOFFICIAL SCORING

Smashinistas: Punches Pileup 44, The Educator 37, Downtown Dallis 26

M-80s: Black Market Baby 32, Enya Nightmare 27, Madam Moonstruck 5, Joltin’ Josie 3

SATURDAY NOTES FROM THE POOBAH

We thank all of you who came out to Saturday’s bout, and especially all of the moms who spent their Mother’s Day weekend enjoying ARRG action. We appreciate your continued patronage and support.

Also a big thank you to the local media outlets – including The Riverfront Times, “The Last Call with Brian McKenna” on KFNS-590 AM and Van Lorenz from 106.5 FM The Arch – who continue to support ARRG on a continuous basis.

We appreciate those who contributed and donated to our monthly raffle, which continues to support our 2010 fundraising efforts for Youth In Need. A lucky fan won two tickets to this Tuesday’s Cardinal baseball game.

A retraction from last week’s column: Last week’s Smashie/M-80s bout preview listed rookie skater Mighty Mighty Boston as one to watch for Saturday’s bout. And she was one to watch – as she did a magnificent job working the charity raffle. You see, Boston actually skates for the Stunt Devils. My apologies for the error – and for the confusion. ARRG Newscenter Managing Editor Harland Whipple also apologizes for the error – and promises to keep the PBR away from the Poobah while he writes future columns.

To see photographer Bob Dunnell’s pictorial from Saturday’s bout on FLICKR, GO HERE. It’ll give you a true flavor of the great action ARRG brings you every month!

Experience it yourself on Saturday, June 5 and Saturday, June 19 at the All-American Sports Mall.

ST. LUNACHIX ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND!

Rockford Rage

ARRG’s developmental team, The St. Lunachix, return to action this Saturday night as they travel to face the Rockford Rage at the Indoor Sports Center (880 East Riverside Blvd., Rockford, IL)

Doors open at 6 PM. Bout time is 7 PM.

The Chix (1-1) are back into the groove following their first win of the season in Cincinnati last month.

And what a win it was! The locals upended the Cincinnati Rollergirls’ Silent Lambs 89-39 in front of 3,100 derby fanatics on April 17.

The St. Lunachix was paced by The Siege’s 29 points, followed by Mighty Mighty Boston’s tally of 20.

The Rage (1-2) also picked up their first win of the season in April, a 117-49 victory over Ft. Wayne.

This will be another tough challenge for The Chix. Hopefully another quick start – such as the one in Cincinnati – will result in another triumph.

ARRG TO PARTICPATE IN MACKLIND DAYS THIS WEEKEND!

The Arch Rival Roller Girls are proud to announce their participation in the 2010 Macklind Days festivities.

This year’s event features plenty of great local music, a washer tournament, a PIE contest, BELLY DANCERS, FIRE DANCERS….and a beanbag toss with your Macklind-lovin’ Arch Rival Roller Girls!

For more information about Macklind Days, including a rundown of events, CLICK HERE.

ARRG TEAM SET TO “RACE FOR THE CURE” IN JUNE

Continuing our community outreach efforts in 2010, ARRG has a team participating in the 2010 Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, to be held in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, June 12.

The Komen Race for the Cure Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world. Of the net proceeds raised locally from the Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure, a minimum of 25% goes to national breast cancer research and up to 75% stays in St. Louis to help organizations provide breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs.

Last year, ARRG raised $2,700 – this year our goal is $3,500! As of Monday, May 10, we have reached 22% of our goal! Thanks to your support and donation, you’ll help us achieve that goal and continue our streak of successful community outreach projects in 2010.

To join our team and to make a donation, visit the ARRG team page.

And by all means – come walk the 5K with us on June 12 and show support to those who have courageously fought and continue to fight this disease!

GATEKEEPERS RUNNERS-UP AT SPRING ROLL

(FT. WAYNE, IN) Congratulations to the STL GateKeepers, the area’s only mens flat track derby franchise, who placed second in the men’s division of The Spring Roll held this past weekend in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

While most people on Saturday morning were either making that pot o’ coffee or butterin’ up that slice of bread, the STL GateKeepers were laying down the foundation for a title bout appearance.

St. Louis advanced to the finale with an early morning 49-35 victory over The Twin City Terrors, followed by a nail-biting 43-40 win over The Dallas Deception.

The title bout saw the GateKeepers drop a heartbreaking 121-120 loss to Puget Sound of Tacoma, WA.

Following the weekend tilt, the GateKeepers find themselves with a record of 3-1 in their inaugural campaign, which finds them on the road to Evansville, Indiana on May 29, followed by a return home to the All-American Sports Mall on Saturday, July 10.

When not discussing the globalization of mass media conglomerates and its relationship to the hegemony of popular culture – or their favorite Ric Flair wrestling match – The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news, information and retractions.

DEFEAT TO DOLLS RESULTS IN FRANCHISE’S FIRST “L”

by The Grand Poobah

(EVANSVILLE, IN) All good streaks must inevitably come to an end.

For the St. Lunachix – ARRG’s developmental team – that end came on Saturday night as the St. Louis contingent fell to the Dynamite Dolls 121-74 at the Evansville Coliseum in front of a sold-out crowd.

The loss for the St. Lunachix, who were 5-0 in 2009, was the first-ever in franchise history, which began organized play in 2008.

The Dolls, the all-star team of Demolition City Roller Derby, jumped out to an overwhelming start to take a 68-24 halftime lead. Evansville outscored the Chix 53-50 in the second half to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The St. Lunachix (0-1) return to action on Saturday, April 17 against the Silent Lambs, the developmental team of the Cincinnati Rollergirls. The St.Louis/Cincy doubleheader, which features the Chix vs. Lambs in the undercard and the ARRG All-Stars vs. the CRG Black Sheep in the main event, will take place at the historic Cincinnati Gardens.

ARRG/ZOMBIE SQUAD TEAM UP FOR BLOOD DRIVE SATURDAY

Here in ARRG Nation, we love our fans!

And from time-to-time, we like to do our best to give back to the community that’s been so generous to us, such as fundraising for local non-profits like Youth In Need, Heat Up-St. Louis and Make-A-Wish.

This weekend, the ladies are participating in another public event that helps the community.

The Arch Rival Roller Girls, along with the St. Louis chapter of the Zombie Squad, are conducting a blood drive in St. Louis this Saturday.

Here’s the details:

DATE: Saturday, April 3

TIME: 11 AM – 4 PM

WHERE: Police Association Hall, 3710 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO

For those of you who have donated blood, you are well familiar with the set-up and procedures for donation.

But here’s some temptation in order for you to come out to the ZS/ARRG blood drive…

Free BBQ and Zombie movies!

There….I’ve convinced you.

The good folks of the Zombie Squad are providing complimentary refreshments, including BBQ, at no cost to donors.

And if that wasn’t enough to get you into the true spirit of the proceedings, zombie movies will play throughout the drive!

Now if this didn’t provide enough encouragement to you to show up, then let’s get to the specifics of why it’s important for you to donate blood…it’s because most people don’t.

According to the American Red Cross, only 38% of people in America are eligible to donate blood. And out of that 38%, only 8% actually do. That amounts to only three out of every 100 people.

With low numbers like that, every donation is crucial. Come out and support this important cause!

ARRG 2010 STATISTICAL LEADERS (through three bouts)

POINTS

1. Starry Starry Fight (Stunt Devils) 119
2. Artemischief (Stunt Devils) 78
3. The Educator (Smashinistas) 64
4. Punches Pileup (Smashinistas) 45
5. Black Market Baby (M-80s) 39
6. Joanie Rollmoan (M-80s) 38
7. Enya Nightmare (M-80s) 29
8. Morgan LaFaetal (Stunt Devils) 29
9. Downtown Dallis (Smashinistas) 28
10. South City Shiner (Stunt Devils) 22

Poobah’s take: Starry’s 77-point performance against the M-80s in bout one was the major contributing factor for her league scoring lead. But Artemischief, last year’s league scoring champion, can make up ground quickly with two Stunts’ bouts remaining. Nice Smashie one-two punch by Educator and Pileup, both scores a result of personal bests. BMB has the early lead for ARRG Rookie of the Year due to impressive scoring. Nightmare’s tally is a result of only one bout – expect this to rise dramatically. Rollmoan, LaFaetal and Dallis are also newcomers to the rankings. Shiner, shut out in bout one, could quietly jump up as the season progresses.

LEADS JAMS

1. Starry Starry Fight (Stunt Devils) 17
2. The Educator (Smashinistas) 14
3. Punches Pileup (Smashinistas) 11
4. Artemischief (Stunt Devils) 11
5. Nikki Vixxen (M-80s) 10

Poobah’s take: It should be noted that stats like these are the result of the hard work of the blockers and pivots, who lay down the foundation for scoring opportunities to happen. Starry – if you asked her – would give credit to pivot Mayor Francis Slayer, blockers Grave Danger and Deathica Steele, and a host of other Stunts for the opportunity to collect lead jammer status. Educator was quick out of the gates in bout three and posted ten lead jams.

MINOR PENALTIES

1. Ana Warpath (M-80s) 28
2. Jack U Up (M-80s) 21
3. Black Market Baby (M-80s) 16
4. Grave Danger (Stunt Devils) 16
5. Domme E. Nation (Stunt Devils) 15

Poobah’s take: This category can be somewhat misleading. It is not an indicator of undiscipline play, but a mere reflection of the physical nature of the sport. As a whole, minor penalties have dropped significantly for the league in 2010.

(Statistics courtesy of ARRG – Thank you to the ARRG skating and non-skating officals for their continued contributions to the league – which consists of some pretty thorough number crunching on a regular basis.)

COMING UP NEXT MONDAY IN THE NEWS SECTION: The Stunt Devils look to clinch a championship bout berth in a re-match with the M-80s. However, the firecrackers on quads have new skaters to bring to the dance – including ANOTHER UNRETIRED ARRG ALL-STAR WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY TURN THE LEAGUE UPSIDE DOWN. Hells LaBelle brings you a bout preview!

The Grand Poobah and Hells LaBelle are bout announcers for the 2010 season of the Arch Rival Roller Girls. Check back in this section on Mondays for the latest in ARRG news, information and chocolate bunnies.