Cincinnati Rollergirls announcer Caesar takes a look at this Saturday’s home game and gives a detailed preview of the CRG vs St. Louis doubleheader, with additional reporting by Miss Print, Chewblocka and Smarty McFly.
Of course the best way to watch the game is to be there, but if you can’t make it down to The Cincinnati Gardens, visit Derby News Network to participate in the boutcast and watch the whole double-header online. You can also read up on DNN’s game preview here.
CINCINNATI BLACK SHEEP (3-1) vs. ARCH RIVAL ALL STARS (1-2)
Last weekend, the Black Sheep very quickly turned a disappointing 0-1 start to the 2010 season into an impressive 3-1 record, as they went undefeated in three games in Tampa Bay’s Franky Panky tournament. Although they were able to dominate in their games against Tallahassee and Tampa, it took a last-minute comeback for them to defeat Dallas, 68-66. Surely watching those games on the Derby News Network and studying the Black Sheep from afar were this week’s visiting opponents from St. Louis, Missouri: The Arch Rival Roller Girls. (For DNN’s tournament recap, click here.)
ARRG has dropped its last two games to Milwaukee and Atlanta, after starting their season with a win over Memphis. Current WFTDA North Central Region rankings show the Black Sheep at #4 and ARRG at #8. Last year, Cincinnati twice defeated ARRG, including a victory that knocked St. Louis out of the WFTDA North Central Regional tournament. ARRG’s only win to date against the Sheep came in 2008 at a mini round-robin game at Fort Wayne’s Fall Brawl tournament. Saturday’s game marks the fourth battle between these teams in what is shaping up to be a nice regional rivalry.
After watching last weekend’s games, it has become apparent that the Black Sheep are comfortable relying on K Lethal, Hannah Ouchocinco and Nuk’em to do most of the jamming (although Dr. McDerby is back for this game and is likely to jam as well). Ouchocinco does her share of blocking as well, and the team seems to have figured out a rhythm after that opening loss in March. This Black Sheep team is very well-balanced offensively and defensively, and their execution of strategy has come a long way since the first game. Although ARRG is a well-matched opponent, they will have trouble dealing with the front defense of Sk8r-Kinney and Karma Krash. Buckhead Betty also had a standout performance in Florida that she should be able to match in the Gardens. With Sadistic Sadie and Trauma patrolling the pack like sharks on the scent of blood, ARRG’s jammers will be going back to Missouri with their share of bumps and bruises, regardless of the outcome of the game.
Much like the Black Sheep, St. Louis is still trying to develop team chemistry, as their roster has a few changes since last season. New to the team and unknown to the Cincinnati players are Smarty McFly, Black Market Baby, Punches Pileup, Domme E. Nation and Downtown Dallis.
Black Market Baby is a speedy jammer who is showing lots of potential (much like Cincinnati’s own K Lethal when she debuted last season.) Team captain Keligula is a well rounded player, equally comfortable jamming or blocking; this game marks her return from an injury she sustained in the 2009 North Central Regional tournament. Well-known returning veterans who are likely to have their names called over the PA a lot on Saturday night include jammers Artemischief and Starry Starry Fight, two great athletes that can put up big points and carry the offense on their shoulders if necessary. Another St. Louis standout is former Tucson Roller Derby blocker Eli Wallop, who has been playing roller derby since before the Cincinnati Rollergirls existed. Between her and blockers Grave Danger, Mayor Francis Slayer and Davey Blockit, the Black Sheep jammers are going to have a very hard time negotiating the pack.
Expect this game to be low-scoring, defense-heavy and close throughout, much like the game the Black Sheep played against Dallas last weekend. However, unlike that game, Cincinnati likely will hold the lead for most of the game, and they shouldn’t have to mount a comeback in the end to win it. If the score is indeed close at the end of the game and ARRG can keep their jammers out of the box, we could have another home upset loss for the Black Sheep. As always, the team will need the support of its fans at home to help ensure victory over this very capable ARRG team.
CINCINNATI BLACK SHEEP: 333 Buckhead Betty // 15 Dr. McDerby // 85 Hannah Ouchocinco // 21 June with a Cleaver // 83 Jungle Lacy // 187 K Lethal // 3 Karma Krash // 4 Killian Destroy // 86 Nuk’em // 76 Sadistic Sadie // 66.5 Sista Sacralicious // 69 Sk8 Crime // 11 Sk8r-Kinney // 5 Trauma
ARCH RIVAL ALL STARS: 43 Artemischief // 40K Black Market Baby // 222 Enya Nighmare // 88 Starry Starry Fight // 4 Mayor Francis Slayer // 929 Davey Blockit // 1NR1 Punches Pileup // 350 Domme E. Nation // 6FU Grave Danger // 520 Eli Wallop // 7 Educator // 121 Smarty McFly // 101 Downtown Dallis // 1V Keligula
CINCINNATI SILENT LAMBS (1-0) vs. ARCH RIVAL ST. LUNACHIX (0-1)
Because development teams get little media attention on a national scale, its hard to predict how the Silent Lambs compare to the visiting St. Louis squad that will make up the undercard for the April 17 Cincinnati Rollergirls double header. What is clear is that the Lambs roster will look somewhat shuffled around since their last home action, as the coaching staff experiment with new line-ups in an effort to evaluate some incoming talent. Sitting this one out are Envy MiYoni and Poppy Chulo, in for the first time this season are Beat Rose and Hop Devil. Returning to the lineup after an injury-induced break is Polly Rocket. Wheezy will be looking to top her high-scoring performance in April, and Celia Graves hopes to show her coaches that no opponent can get by her rear-of-the-pack defense. Penni Pusha shows a lot of promise as a blocker and Bombtrack has all the marks of a future star player.
At least one of the St. Lunachix players will be all too familiar to the Silent Lambs, and that’s #22, Chewblocka. She recently transferred to St. Louis from Columbus, where she had been a member of the Ohio Roller Girls for four years. Chewie is likely to see considerable time in the pack, where she is quite capable of launching opposing jammers into intergalactic orbit with her wookie-powered hip checks. Joining her as blockers will likely be Deathica Steele and Jezebelle, as well as newcomer Mighty Mighty Boston. The Lunachix have a powerful and experienced offense behind former all-stars Joanie Rollmoan and the Siege.
The Silent Lambs have some veteran players and a solid bunch of athletic rookies, but mostly it’s a young, inexperienced team. The St. Lunachix look to be far more experienced and that often translates to victory. I expect this to be one of the toughest tests of the season for the Lambs, so they will need all their fans in the stands screaming and supporting if they hope to pull off a win.
CINCINNATI SILENT LAMBS: 14 Beat Rose // 45 Bex Pistol // 1-2-3 Bombtrack // 6 ft. Under Celia Graves // 0 Cherry Choke // 88 Diamond Kut-Her // 20 Geez Louise // 22 GlamourAzz // 6.7% Hop Devil // m302w Kitten Kicker // M1A1 Maime // 44revolver MIRDERHER // 9.5pt Miss Print // 94 Nik Jagger // M16 Penni Pusha // 38 Pistol Whippin’ Wendy // 63 Polly Rocket // 37 RebelSk8r // 43 Wheezy // 739.27T213E The Librarian
ARCH RIVAL ST. LUNACHIX: 1914 Ana Warpath // 22 Chewblocka // 00 Danikka Doom // 213 Deathica Steele // X2 Jean Slay // 666 Jezebelle // 8H Joanie Rollmoan // M2 Mighty Mighty Boston // 81 Nikki Vixxen // 0 Polka Dot Yr Eyeout // 50’ The Siege // 3-17 Shillelagh Spillblood // 469 Sue She // 35 Whip Scream // 68 Miss Lippy // 10 & counting Suri O’Killer