Denver (#2) recovers from Bay Area (#3) surge to solidify Championships bid

By Shelly Shankya

The final game of Day 2 of the West Region Playoffs featured hosts B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls (#3) against Denver Roller Dolls (#2). With no seats left in the pavilion, the excitement was palpable, and the battle of the sparkly helmets was on.

Photo by Masonite Burn Photography

And, while their helmets were flashy, the teams' hits were even more remarkable. After Lulu Lockjaw grabbed lead jammer in the second jam, the Bay Area fans erupted with enthusiasm. The venue thrummed with the crowd's cheers and jeers as Bay Area continued to hold Denver's jammers to single-digit production. The ninth jam saw a 3-2 pack advantage for Denver, and Denver jammer Sandrine Rangeon flew through the pack, a true member of the Mile High Club. Her 15 points put Denver in the lead, but only for a few jams.

When Bay Area's Murderyn Monroe put a low block on Denver's seasoned jammer Juska, the jammer's frustration got the best of her, and she flipped the bird at Monroe, landing her a spot in the box for misconduct. That misstep opened the door for Ivy Profane to score 25 points on a power jam, and after that, the teeter totter and exchange of points keeping the two teams close was over. Two more high-scoring jams put Bay Area up 124-71 at the end of the first half.

The second half, however, was a different game for Denver. Going into the second period with a 53-point deficit, the team came back and scored consistently. In fact, they took a pickaxe to the gap, closing it up to a 10-point game in only 10 minutes of the second, by the eighth jam. Bay Area was able to keep a 9-10 point lead for several jams after that. But, in the nineteenth jam, Denver pulled a lead change, upsetting Bay Area's chances at a sure-thing trip to Championships in November. After Denver took the lead, they never let go.

"We had focus issues in the first half, obviously," Denver jammer Caitlin Krause said. "We were nervous, but we got our focus, and put more emphasis on smaller jams. We changed up our jammer rotation to control potential problems, and it worked. I'm so excited to play with my team against Oly tomorrow and show the world what a strong team we are. We've got amazing skaters on the team, but we're a team first. And that's what I'm excited about."

Bay Area's jammer Chantilly Mace gathered some speed and points in the game's twenty-sixth jam, grabbing 15 points, but it wasn't enough. Denver had already done the damage. The Mile High Club clenched a spot at Championships and a chance to play for first against Oly Rollers tomorrow in the West Region championship bout.

Bay Area continues to play for third against Rose City (#1) at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The winner of that bout earns the third and final region slot at the WFTDA Championships.

"We feel really good about going up against Rose City tomorrow," Bay Area jammer Knock Knock said. "Denver is always a tough team to play, and this was one of our closest games. I just really wanted to win."

Denver Roller Dolls ($2) 187
Bay Area Derby Girls 167