The mid-season checkpoint reaches this Saturday for Arch Rival Roller Derby (ARCH) and GateKeepers Roller Derby (GKRD) and a pair of interesting flat-track duels are on the docket.
In the women’s game that launches at 6:30 pm at Midwest Sport Hockey (510 Weidman, Ballwin, MO), defending ARCH league champs the Stunt Devils (1-0) tangle with the Smashinistas (1-0). Then in the men’s nightcap that follows, defending GKRD Turf Wars champ Raiders of Forest Park (0-1) clashes with the Central West Friends (1-0).
The opener between ARCH unbeatens inevitably leads to a new leader in the standings while a Saturday victory by the winless Raiders forces a three-way tie in the men’s Turf Wars’ complexion.
On the women’s side, the Smashinistas powered a 47-6 rally en route to a 178-140 victory over the M-80s three weekends ago and snared a first place tie with the idle Stunts.
In the contest, Smashies’ addition Bolt Action collected 78 points in her ARCH local debut while veteran Harmony Killerbruise added 50. Flash is also expected to get numerous rotations at jammer this weekend.
The blocking battalion, featuring Shimmy Hoffa, Cloak N’ Drag-Her, Salty, Holliver Fist, Party McFly, Smarty McFly, Shay Guevara, Rumbledore, Rock Slobster and Birdsong, are ready to help the squadron claim its second straight duke.
Meanwhile the Stunts Devils, the two-time defending local champ, displays a lethal jamming duo of veterans Bricktator and Psychokid D’ Freakout, who collectively amassed 143 points at the team’s November season opener while additional scoring was supplied by Violet Opposition, Aggie Wartooth and Beaver Knievel.
Blockers Cruella Belle-ville, Fletch-A-Sketch, Shear-Ra Powers, Nox, Goldie Blocks, Bruise Almighty, Scars and Stripes, Wonder Thighs and Pegasass are set to lay down the foundation.
By the end of the flat-track duel, one team will gain supremacy midway through the league’s six-event regular season!
In the men’s match-up, defending GKRD local champs Raiders of Forest Park has a “must-win” scenario facing them this weekend. After falling to the Creve Coroners earlier this month (239-134), the Raiders cannot afford to suffer another loss this Saturday that results in a “third place and winless” status at the local season’s midpoint.
The firepower is certainly there with jammers D. Mouthful and ScreechAround, who each collected 58 points at the season opener. Blocking will be paced by Walker Hamilton, Debaucherous Prime, Dr. Dredd, Atom Bomb and Arty Panimal while both Spin Diesel and Nate Bower, both absent for the Raiders’ debut earlier this month, return to the fold.
Meanwhile, the Central West Friends look to grab sole possession of first place with a weekend victory. In its November 2016 season-opening win over the Coroners, veteran jammer Shane Bower collected 72 points while newcomer HEYNONGMAN added 62. Blocking is anchored by The Great Stromboli, Last Rites, Sogo, Perc In Boots, Thrillhouse, Monster Jam, Fruit Wall-Up and Cpt. Kramerica.
Tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader are $10 while children 10 and under get in free.
For more information on Arch Rival Roller Derby, go to THE LEAGUE’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
For more information on GateKeepers Roller Derby, go to the LEAGUE’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE.
Arch City Sports will be in attendance for the event and will have full recaps posted Sunday.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
