Sacramento, CA

by Jezebelle Z. Bub

In their second games of the international WDTFA D1 Playoffs, Blue Ridge Rollergirls (seed 10, rank #42) from Asheville, North Carolina take on the Terminal City Rollergirls (seed 5, rank #18) from Vancouver, Canada. This year, Blue Ridge Rollergirls climbed the WFTDA ranks up to D1 from last year’s third place spot in D2. This, however, did not save them from a hard loss to Terminal City, 377-76.

photo by David Costa

Terminal City jammer Evada Peron faced off against Blue Ridge jammer Lady Rider to begin the game. Peron ripped a hole in the Blue Ridge pack, only to be stalled on her third scoring pass by some collaborative blocking by Blue Ridge blockers Brutal and Sugar Magmaulya. The tangle ended up sending first Terminal City blocker Peron to the box, followed by Blue Ridge jammer Rider. The first jam of the day ended with the clock running out of time and Terminal in the lead, 14-0.

The Blue Ridge blockers were no match for Terminal City jammer Maiden Sane as she tore through the walls like tissue paper. Again, Terminal City let the clock run out the jam. After only the second jam, Terminal City claimed a strong lead, 48-4.

In jam three, Terminal City lost the jammer to the penalty box— while Blue Ridge jammer Skelley-Tor took lead and squeezed through some points for some points before being knocked to the floor, calling off the jam from there.

Blue Ridge jammer Beer Wench put up a strong fight for lead, slicing off another four points for Blue Ridge, bringing the score to 73-20 in favor of Terminal City.

With 45 second left in the first period, Evada Peron exploded off the line, bouncing left and right, and snuck through the pack to obtain lead status. Mid-jam it was now Peron who fell to the floor and called off the jam. Terminal City dominated Blue Ridge at the half, 198-33.

Coming back from the half time, the Terminal City blockers were a force to be reckoned with, executing incredibly aware and coordinated blocking with almost machine-like precision. Just five minutes into the second half, Terminal City blocker MacKenzie jumped the apex to assist her jammer from the front of the pack, a move unseen in this tournament so far.

Fifteen minutes into second half, Terminal City jammer Maiden Sane hit out Blue Ridge jammer Beer Wrench. The two sprinted back towards the pack, but Beer Wrench got called on a back block penalty forfeiting lead status. Another Blue Ridge blocker joined the box, leaving Sane to face only three blockers on the track. When Beer Wrench returned, a strong three-wall lead by Terminal City blocker Sundown held her back.

After a series of brief jams and with five minutes left on the clock, Terminal City took a moment to huddle together at the jam line to discuss their plans which must have included clearing the inside line for jammer Maiden Sane, although she did not come away with lead status. Blue Ridge jammer Skelley-Tor fell onto teammate Sugar Magmaulya, then called off the jam with 3:27 left on the clock.

Blue Ridge blockers Boot Scootin Bully, Coma N. Ducer, and Ashevillain give Terminal City jammer NazDroveya Wylde some trouble, but only got themselves sent to the box, leaving Wylde up against only two Blue Ridge blockers. Blue Ridge jammer Beer Wench hit the box for cutting the track, and amidst the confusion, Wylde passed the helmet cover to Scarlett Bloodbath to finish off the penultimate jam.

With one minute left in the game, Terminal City jammer Simonius Smaximus took the lead over Blue Ridge jammer Lady Rider, but Smaximus got sent to the box for cutting the track. Rider passed the star to Sugar Magmaulya who couldn't break past Terminal City blockers. The game ended in Terminal City’s favor, 377- 76.

Terminal City Rollergirls will play Kansas City Roller Warriors Saturday at 4 p.m. The winner from Saturday’s game will advance to compete once more for a chance to place fifth on Sunday. Blue Ridge Rollergirls will play for 9th place on Sunday at 10 a.m.

“We knew were going to be playing a very strong, very disciplined, very good team,” said Gabriel, Manager of the Blue Ridge All Stars. “We came in to do the best that we could and stick to our game plan. We had some good moments on the track, but overall, we got out-played and out-muscled.”

“[Blue Ridge] had some good offense, so they kept us on our toes," said Terminal City team captain Griffith. “We worked on having watertight walls, so I think that was the ticket today.”

FINAL SCORE

(5) Terminal City Rollergirls 377

(10) Blue Ridge Rollergirls 76