Pikes Peak Derby Dames v. Tucson Roller Derby Saddletramps: 28 June 2008

The Saddletramps hosted their third inter-league bout of 2008 against the Pikes Peak Derby Dames from Colorado Springs. After a loss to Texas in March, and recent loss to the B.A.D. Girls in May, the Tramps could really use a win to hang on in the WFTDA rankings. Going into this bout, TRD is #6, and PPDD is #27 with the next rankings cycle results in July. The WFTDA rankings are important as the top 12 West teams go to the Western Regionals in October. Pikes Peak is the 13th West team prior to this bout. The stage is set in toasty Tucson.

All stats are unofficial.

Period #1:
The bout starts with Helen Wheels jamming for TRD and Rolleene Thunda for PPDD. Helen gets out first as Thunda is held by TRD pivot Deadlock Doe. Helen (TRD) picks up 3 points before getting slammed off the track and calling the jam. Jam #2 features hits, hits, and more hits. TRD prevents any PPDD scoring from Pepper Slay, and Tumbleweed gets the 7-0 jam. Hang’em High Hell’en is on the line for PPDD against Peaches Rodriguez. Hell’en (PPDD) is lead jammer in this one. Peaches is the meat in a PPDD skater sandwich and is sent to the ground. It’s a 4-4 jam, even with all the physical action, and PPDD is on the board, PPDD 4, TRD 14. At some point Hell’en (PPDD) must have committed a foul sending her to the Penalty Box (PB) as Two Bit Ore lined up for Jam #4 alone. In an only Ore jam, she’s lead jammer, has a 4-0 run and calls it before Hell’en could get to scoring position. Psycho Babble has her first jam for PPDD, against Peaches in her second of the night. A big jam for the Dames as Babble gets LJ status and has several scoring laps as Peaches keeps getting hit at key moments. With Peaches held up in the pack, Babble has a 9-0 jam, and PPDD has cut the lead to 5 points. Tumbleweed is back against Pepper Slay next. ‘Weed has LJ status. In trying to score, she falls and calls off the jam. It may have been a 1-0 jam, but the board was bouncing a bit. Tumbleweed would also start Jam #7 in the Sin Bin. DeRanged is unopposed at the line. During the jam, DeRanged commits a foul sending her to the Sin Bin whilst ‘Weed is still there. With both jammers in the PB, it’s a restart with new jammers from the pack. Carrie Gunns is in for TRD with Psycho Babble in for PPDD. Babble is LJ. Penalties are flying and it’s a messy Jam #8. I’m not sure what scoring was happening in Jams 6-8, but the scoreboard is showing PPDD 17, TRD 19 as they line up for Jam #9. Two Bit Ore and Hell’en (PPDD) are going at it this time. Ore gets out ahead and has LJ with Hell’en (PPDD) right on her wheels. Points are hard to find as it ends 2-2. DeRanged and ‘Weed are the jammers for the 10th. ‘Weed is out first, but not clean as she does not get the pointy ref. DeRanged has a good run and gets 5 unanswered points to put PPDD in the lead for the first time, PPDD 24, TRD 21.

The teams trade jam wins for the rest of the period. TRD comes back in Jam #11 with a 4-0 jam by Helen Wheels over Psycho Babble, who was floored. Ecko Girl jams for the first time for PPDD in Jam #12 against Ore. Ecko is LJ and goes 5-1 over Ore. ‘Weed faces Kamilla BloodSpilla for Jam #13 and has a good run of 5-0, as ‘Spilla gets the pack knock-around. DeRanged ties it up with 2 points and LJ in Jam #14 against Peaches. Psycho Babble and Carrie Gunns are locked together for a 4-4 jam keeping the score tied at PPDD 35, TRD 35. Neither team can find a combo for a knockout jam as the clock is winding down in the first period. Both defenses are doing a solid job. Jam #16 repeats the first jam line-up of Helen (TRD) and Thunda. It’s 3 or 4 laps before Helen can finally break through for Lead Jammer and a 4-0 jam. At the start of Jam #17, the PPDD pivot slams the TRD pivot right after the whistle and the pack is moving out slow. Hell’en (PPDD) is Lead Jammer over Two Bit Ore and has a 4-2 jam. PPPDD regains the lead in Jam #18 with Psycho Babble jamming against Helen (TRD) for 3-0. The last jam pits ‘Weed and Hell’en (PPDD) as jammers. ‘Weed gets through for LJ, but it’s a 4-3 jam for TRD and it’s tied at the end of Period #1, PPDD 45, TRD 45.

The PPDD gals have definitely got game and neither team can wrest control for long. It also appears that TRD is having more penalties than PPDD. It’s up for grabs in Period #2.

Period #2:
The second period would continue the physicality of the first. DeRanged slammed ‘Weed as they jetted off the line and gets an early advantage. De’ would be Lead Jammer and have a Grand Slam, 5-0, over ‘Weed in the first jam. TRD jammer issues continued in Jam #2 with Two Bit Ore getting sent to the Penalty Box. Thunda would finally get through for LJ, and 6 points. The PPDD has an early lead over TRD after two jams. Jam #3 is a trade-off. Ore starts in the PB and DeRanged is on the line. De’ gets LJ and scores 5. Helen Wheels (TRD) slams into De’ sending her to the ground. Apparently, De’ had illegal contact as she is sent to the PB. Meanwhile, Ore is out of the PB, and grabs 5 points before she’s knocked down. DeRanged starts Jam #4 in the PB, and ‘Weed is jamming for TRD. The ‘Tramps make use of De’s PB time, and ‘Weed has 5 points. De’ exits the PB and works some defense as she holds up and then knocks ‘Weed down. The jam is called, but DeRanged is sent back to the Penalty Box. It’s PPDD 61, TRD 55. With De’ in the PB to start a second straight jam, TRD’s Carrie Gunns is jamming. Carrie is declared LJ and has 4 points before De’ gets out. Carrie calls the jam before De’ can get into scoring position. PPDD’s lead is down to 2 points. Jam #6 has two jammers on the line, which has not happened since Jam #2. Pepper Slay is back and up against ‘Weed. It’s a good news/bad news jam for TRD. ‘Weed scores 4-2 over Pepper to tie it up at 63, but is sent to the PB during the jam. With ‘Weed in the PB to start and sharing it with another ‘Tramp, PPDD puts DeRanged on the line. De’ quickly gets LJ, and jets to a 10-0 jam putting PPDD back in the lead. Helen Wheels (TRD) is back jamming for the ‘Tramps against Hang-em High Hell’en for PPDD. That’s right. Time for some Helen on Hell’en derby action. Helen (TRD) is LJ, and fights through the pack for a 4-0 run and calling it. PPDD responds. Ecko Girl is LJ over Two Bit Ore in Jam #9. Ecko is 5-0 before Ore slams into 3 PPDD players. The jam is called as Ecko is knocked down. Psycho Babble has her only jam of the 2nd period in Jam #10, and is 3-0 over Carrie Gunns.

The teams are trading jams, but PPDD continues to stay in front. The ‘Tramps would need some big jams to get a win. It was not to be. PPDD saw what they had to do and executed. In Jam #11, DeRanged worked offense and defense as she held Peaches back at the start of the jam, and then jumped out for LJ and a 4-0 jam. The PPDD has built an 18 point lead over the ‘Tramps. Jam #12 would be a highlight jam for TRD. It’s the second Helen (TRD) v. Hell’en (PPDD) jam of the night. Carrie Gunns, blocking for TRD, sends Hell’en (PPDD) down and Helen (TRD) is LJ. Hell’en (PPDD) is sent to the PB. Helen (TRD) and the ‘Tramps work together for a solid 10-0 run and closing it to PPDD 77, TRD 86. Jam #13 is messy with hits. Two Bit Ore is jamming against DeRanged. Ore is sent into the wall. Both jammers are struggling to get through. After a hard fought battle, neither is lead jammer, getting wavy ref’s. As the dust settled, De’ was 4-0 over Ore. A time-out is called. Ecko and ‘Weed are the opposing jammers for Jam #14. During the jam, two PPDD players end up in the Penalty Box, and TRD has a 4-0 jam. With time running down, it’s a 9 point bout. DeRanged and ‘Weed are the jammers. De’ is LJ again, and the PPDD would score 4-0 to increase the lead to 13 points. The final jam is Ore and Hell’en (PPDD). Ore is sent flying into the wall. Hell’en gets LJ and calls it, preventing any further scoring and it’s over.

Final: Pikes Peak Derby Dames: 94, TRD Saddletramps: 81

The Pikes Peak Derby Dames (WFTDA #27) win an upset over the TRD Saddletramps (WFTDA #6). Good performance by the PPDD, who kept the second period from getting out of hand only allowing one double-digit jam by TRD while consistently holding the lead. Congrats to PPDD.

The ‘Tramps have some adjustments to make before their next bout against the Windy City Rollers on 12 July in Chicago. They may have to win that bout just to stay in the top 12 of the West.

Don Bombshelter
Is it just me or is it hot around here?