Richmond, VA

Kansas City earns a win over Tampa in close game

By Megan Enemies

After ending the first jam with a 19-0 deficit, Tampa Roller Derby (#29, #7 seed), of Tampa, Florida, went on a run to take the lead against Kansas City Roller Warriors (#21, #5 seed), of Kansas City, Missouri. Multiple lead changes defined the game, but Kansas City clawed out the win in the end.

Kansas City jammer Case Closed gave Tampa two power jams in the first half, going to the penalty box in two consecutive jams. By the sixth jam – with a 4-2 pack advantage – Tampa was closing in on Kansas City with 23 points to Kansas City’s 45. In jam 8, with Kansas City jammer Reptar about to escape the front of the pack, Tampa blocker Blaque Jac knocked Reptar out and ran backwards, forcing the track cut on Reptar, which allowed Tampa jammer Laryn Kill to start the next jam unopposed.

Jennifer M. Ramos

Kansas City had only one blocker on the track during the next jam, and Laryn Kill capitalized on the advantage, running up the score, 60-47, in favor of the team with the colorful tights. Both teams played outstanding defense, with jammers struggling to bust through solid walls. Tampa excelled at knocking out jammers and reversing and often caught Kansas City jammers off guard by recycling and reappearing in the front of the pack.

Kansas City had a clear size advantage over the Tampa team, but twice, Tampa jammer Little A was able to push the large Kansas City blockers out of play to clear the pack.

The first half ended 104-86, in favor of Tampa, with Kansas City in penalty trouble – the team spent 24 minutes in the penalty box, and Tampa had served only 15 minutes.

In the second half, Kansas City blockers seemed to be more aggressive on offense, doing their best to break up Tampa blockers to gain an advantage for their jammers. By jam 4, Kansas was leading, 137-100.

Taz Maniac earned lead jammer status against Kansas City jammer Track rat in jam 7. Just as Track Rat was about to exit the front of the pack, Little A ran forward and caught her, and the entire Tampa pack reabsorbed her. In the next jam, Case Closed and PhDiesel competed for points, the jam ending 141-all as Case Closed’s skate became lodged in Blaque Jac’s shorts. Track cuts for Laryn Kill and Taz Maniac in jams 9 and 12 put Kansas back on top, 157-152. Kansas City took a risk in jam 13 by putting Trauma on the jammer line with five penalties, but it paid off – she scored 24 points.

In jam 16, both Case Closed and Laryn Kill went to the penalty box on back block calls, with the jam ending 198-154, in favor of Kansas City. Even though Little A was able to pick up a few points in the next jam, Kansas City continued to increase the lead, and the game ended with a 35-point Kansas City victory.

Final Score

(7) Tampa Roller Derby 172
(5) Kansas City Roller Warriors 207

Kansas City will face #10 seed Terminal City Rollergirls at 6 p.m. Saturday. Tampa will go up against No Coast Derby Girls at 10 a.m. Sunday in the game to decide 9th place.