Naptown (NC #3) narrowly upsets Atlanta (SC #2)

By Shelly Shankya

The final bout of Day 1 of WFTDA Championships Grits and Glory featured tournament hosts Atlanta Rollergirls (SC #2) against Naptown Roller Girls (NC #3). Atlanta, backed by their hometown fans, spent the first eight jams holding Naptown scoreless, with Atlanta jammer Nora Gretz capitalizing on an early power jam with 24 points.

Photo by Manish Gosalia

Naptown jammer Piper Sonic broke their scoreless streak in the eighth jam after scoring nine points. And after their initial lead jammer status, Naptown were regularly able to grab lead jammer status throughout the remainder of the first period, including the last four straight jams of the half. Both teams exchanged two power jams in the half, but Naptown used the momentum at the end of the half to score 35 points in the last seven jams. The half closed with Atlanta clinging to a lead over Naptown, 88-70.

The Merchant of Menace, Atlanta jammer, opened the second half against Naptown jammer Maiden America, but Merchant and the Atlanta blockers kept Maiden back from breaking the pack, snatching 9 points for the Dirty South Derby Girls, padding their lead to 26 points. The cushion came in handy as Hollycidal went to the box for Atlanta, giving Naptown a much-needed power jam. The second jam of the second period was eerily repeated in the eighth jam—Hollycidal versus G-Rocket and a 15+-point power jam for Naptown after Hollycidal went to the box for another penalty. After nearly 44 minutes, Naptown grabbed the lead for a few jams.

Both teams took slow starts at the jammer line, with the twelfth jam taking The Merchant of Menace a full two minutes to score just one point. And when Amuse Booche went to the penalty box for a fourth minor, Jammunition from Atlanta scored 20, giving Atlanta the lead. Just jams later, however, Naptown blockers, especially Asian Sensation, had Jammunition’s number; the blockers just beat up on Atlanta’s jammer, giving Naptown blocker G-Rocket a chance to steal the lead yet again. Atlanta had another blow to their team as blocker Queen Looseyateefa fouled out with nearly four minutes remaining.

With fewer than two minutes left, Atlanta put veteran jammer The Merchant of Menace on the line, and she grabbed lead jammer. At the end of the jam, with only five seconds left on the period clock Merchant of Menace called the jam off, much to the surprise of the fans and announcers. The score stood at 146 Atlanta, Naptown 152. Atlanta had already used all of their time outs, but the team used their official review to stop the clock and get in one more jam. Merchant of Menace went back to the line and was able to grab lead jammer status from Naptown jammer Maiden America, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

Naptown handed Atlanta an upset, the second upset of the day, and advances to play Gotham City Roller Girls (East #1).

Naptown Roller Girls (#3NC) 169
Atlanta Rollergirls (#2SC) 153