by Jim Almy
These are not easy stories to write. I mean, 444-58? What do you say?
The Rat City Rollergirls All-Stars opened their season at KeyArena last Saturday by putting on a clinic for the visiting Sacred City Sacrificers from Sacramento. What the all-star team from California learned after losing by 386 points is that you have to bring your best game when traveling to Seattle and, more to the point, Rat City may be one of the best teams in roller derby anywhere at the present time.
The opening two jams previewed the rest of the bout. Sacrificers jammer Pink Freud (#42) called the first jam quickly after scoring 2 points, giving her team it’s only lead for the night at 2-0. In the next jam Rat City jammer Luna Negra (#911) was through the pack in three strides. Escorted by blocker Raven Seaward (#53) Negra had 20 points in less than a minute and called the jam after notching her 29th.
Two points was all The 4closer (#44), a high caliber Sacrificers jammer other teams always worry about, could put up in the opening 30 minutes. If it wasn’t Carmen Getsome (#12) and Missile America (#321) in her way then it was Bill F. Murray (#906) and Kendle Bjelland (#808) who wouldn’t let her pass. In the 11th jam Rawkhell SqWelch (#761) used The 4closer as a blocker, hipping her aside when she was ready to take the lead and leaving the opposing jammer struggling in the pack, not to break out until only 13 seconds remained in the jam. SqWelch scored 29 points in that run. She led all scorers for the bout with 159.
It was four jams into the second half before the Sacrificers added any points. With Rat City skaters Bill F. Murray, Teddy Rupp (#505) and Carmen Getsome all in the penalty box jammer Colt 45 (#45) picked up 10. Still, Rat City shut out Sacrificers jammers in 13 of the 19 second half jams. It began to be painful to watch. Rat City jammers were just too fast for Sacrificers blockers who, as the bout progressed, were too beaten up and overwhelmed by Rat City line play to put up much resistance.
“The number of points scored is not so much the factor in calculating team standings world wide,” said Loco Chanel, who keeps track of those rankings for RCRG. She explained that it’s the “point ratio” that becomes part of the formula for those rankings. In this bout the ASP’s scored 88.45 percent of the total of 502 points both teams combined. That will have a positive effect on their next rankings calculation.
In addition to the 159 points Rawkhell SqWelch scored for Rat City Sintripetal Force (#1618) had 136, Luna Negra, 77, P. Wilhelm (#9), 26, Bill F. Murray, 18, and Carmen Getsome, 28. Shock-N-Auburn (#451) and Colt 45 had 16 each for the Sacrificers. They were joined by Pink Freud, 2, The 4closer, 15, and Cash Money (#13), 9. Cash Money was also selected Most Valuable Player from her team by Rat City. Missile America received that recognition by the Sacrificers.
Montreal Roller Derby’s New Skids on the Block will be in town this Friday, May 16, for a 7:30 PM bout at the Rat’s Nest. Learn more & tickets