The Cincinnati Rollergirls will end their 2019 home season on Saturday, May 11 with a rematch against a team they faced just two months ago — and it will be a true test of just how far this team has come this season.

By all accounts, CRG’s 2019 season got off to a rocky start in sanctioned play. The Black Sheep suffered losses to Gem City and then to the Oklahoma Victory Dolls and Columbia QuadSquad at the March Badness tournament before putting up their first win against Brandywine Roller Derby at home.

CRG intentionally scheduled the home season to end with a rematch against OKVD to measure their progress. And this time, the teams look much more closely matched than they did in March, at least on paper. In the latest WFTDA rankings, CRG jumped nine spots to No. 83 while OKVD fell four spots to 74. By comparison, Flat Track Stats’ own algorithm ranks CRG higher — 77 to 83 — and gives CRG a 67% chance of winning Saturday.

But numbers, of course, don’t tell the whole story. There’s no question that the Black Sheep are playing more cohesively than they were in March, with a strong defensive strategy and a solid jammer rotation. And with a 2-4 record this season, they want nothing more than to add more games to the win column. What better way to do that than with another upset victory in their home season finale?   

But OKVD, which has a 4-4 record this season, likely will be the toughest opponent CRG will face this spring at Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse. OKVD has also booked a tough schedule this year that included two back-to-back tournaments — and they’ll follow up Saturday’s game with a closed game against Ohio Roller Derby on Sunday morning. You can bet that the action on Saturday will be as aggressive as these teams’ schedules.

The B team game should also be a good matchup. The undefeated Violent Lambs will take on the 3-2 Hazmat Crew, Burning River Roller Derby’s B team, and both rosters include a mix of veterans and newer skaters. Two CRG skaters, Krystonite and Wicked Widget, will be making their Lambs debuts on Saturday. Also appearing on both the Sheep and Lambs rosters is Train N Pain (pictured, far right), who formerly skated with Burning River.

And there’s more to Pride Night than just roller derby. Entertainment includes Muse, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir and Dance Flash Fusion, and CRG will also be selling limited edition Pride Night T-shirts, with a portion of the proceeds going to Lighthouse Youth Services’ Safe and Supported program for LGBTQ youth. So come on out, show your pride and cheer on CRG for the last time in 2019.   

Game info

What: Cincinnati Rollergirls Home Season Finale & Pride Night
Who: CRG Black Sheep vs. Oklahoma Victory Dolls & CRG Violent Lambs vs. Burning River Roller Derby Hazmat Crew
Where: Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse at Xavier University, 3900 Winding Way, Cincinnati, OH 45229
When: Doors open at 5 p.m. The Black Sheep play OKVD at 6 p.m. and the Violent Lambs play Burning River at approximately 8 p.m.
Tickets: Discounted presale tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets until 1 p.m. Saturday; tickets will also be available at the door.
Watch live: CRG YouTube

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Rosters

CRG Black Sheep

13 – Little Bull // 135 – Jas Hubbard // 15 – Mae Murder // 16 – Garden of Beatin’ // 27 – Poppy Chulo // 34 – Jillian Dollaz // 4 – Loko // 43 – Wheezy // 533 – Royal T // 6313 – Ellie Stab’er // 713 – The Slayer // 79 – Train N Pain // 8 – Doom // 86 – Nuk’em // 89 – Hustle // Alternates: 21 – Ada Burnlace // 626 – Noah Pologies

Oklahoma Victory Dolls

1225 – Billie // 187 – Shank // 2120 – Emma // 27 – Shark // 28 – Lethal // 3 – Betch // 31 – Galaxy // 45 – Shear // 46 – Fatal // 5446 – Trench // 73 – Wreck // 8 – SharpE // 85 – E  // 91 – KillyC // Alternates: 40 – Punchy // 13 – Lexus

CRG Violent Lambs

10 – Krystonite // 116 – Ursa Maimher // 15 – Mae Murder // 154 – Crystal Whip // 16 – Garden of Beatin’ // 21 – Ada Burnlace // 27 – Poppy Chulo // 314 – Wicked Widget // 32 – Big Red // 36 – Motley Crouton // 4 – Loko // 49 – Gnarly Manson // 626 – Noah Pologies // 713 – The Slayer // 79 – Train N Pain // Alternates: 6313 – Ellie Stab’er // 34 – Jillian Dollaz

Burning River Hazmat Crew

00 – Deja Voodoo // 10 – Taco bout pain // 1330 – Chewrockya // 14 – Dottie HitSomeone // 146 – Sarah Bellum // 19 – Ginger ‘n Tonic // 200 – Sk8-bit // 311 – Pinky Teasadero // 33 – Bruise Clues // 41 – Bustin Stuff // 425 – Purple storm // 718 – Ghostgrace Killah // 74 – Enemylou Harris // 9 – KILLDASH // 919 – Hermione Deranger Alternates: 210 – Aphrobitey // 110 – Cora Borealis

Officials

Non-Skating Officials

Bubbles De Smeare (Independent) // Doc Psycho (Naptown Roller Derby) // Geoknitter (Lansing Derby Vixens) // Killateen (CRG) // Question Mark (CRG) // Rabid Derby Fan (CRG) // Rich Bastardo (CRG) // Sod Off (CRG) // Stabby McNeedles (CRG)

Referees

bmd (CRG) // Dr. Funkenstein (CRG) // Oliver Pist (Burning River Roller Derby) // Ph.Demon (Lansing Derby Vixens) // R2 Deck-U (Ann Arbor Derby Dimes) // Richie Cranium (South Bend Roller Girls) // Wes Slamderson (Cornfed Derby Dames)