Tampa (#4) advances to the semi finals, beating (#5) Nashville

By Shelly Shankya

The third game of the day also marked the third chance for a Florida team, the Tampa Tantrums from Tampa Roller Derby (#4), to play.

Photo by Taura Horn Photography

It was an inauspicious start for Nashville Rollergirls (#5), as jammer 4-Leaf Roller got a major track cut, giving Tampa's Lil A the opportunity to make an opening jam of 32 points. After that big start, however, the two teams quickly settled in to a small-point ebb and flow for the bulk of the remaining minutes for the period.

Lady Fury, blocker for Nashville, looked locked to the Tampa jammers, while Tampa's blocker Lunch Lady was a force to be reckoned with for Nashville. Fury accrued four minutes in the box, while Lunch sat three. The intense blocking from both, however, made scoring difficult until a power jam in the nineteenth jam gave Lil A another two minutes to grab 23 points. That power jam was followed by a jammer switch out and a chance for Nashville's Britches N Hose to nab 14. The half ended 100-72 in favor of Tampa's Tantrums.

"We brought teamwork, intensity, and offense to this game," Tampa blocker Lunch Lady said. "Instead of slow, sausage derby, we went for the strong offensive hits to stay ahead."

The second half was largely a mirror of the first, with few power jams and small point gains. Tampa had a 28-point lead going into the period, and was able to stretch that lead to 45 at the game's conclusion. Fast pack speed, lead by Tampa blockers Betty Kruger and Blaque Jac made catching the Tantrums difficult for the ladies from Music City. And while Nashville never seemed like they were entirely out of it, they were outscored.

Tampa Roller Derby advances to play the winner of the Texas / Omaha game on Saturday at 2:00, while Nashville moves to play Jacksonville on Saturday at 10 am.

"I tried to keep things together when I went to the box," Lunch, who accrued six majors during the bout, said. "I tried to pretend I didn't go to box, actually, and that's something I plan to clean up before the next game."

Tampa Roller Derby (#4) 154
Nashville Rollergirls (#5) 109