Big double wins for MRDs travel teams

Both MRD travel teams won their bouts in a sizzling at-home double-header July 24.The Dairyland Dolls doused the Houston HaRD Knocks, while the Unicorns trampled LaCrosse’s Skating Sirens.

Dairyland Dolls 180, Houston HaRD Knocks 80

Roller Derby usually doesn’t have much to with luck; it’s usually a case of opportunity. Against Houston’s HaRD Knocks last Saturday, however, luck may have shined a little on veteran Dairyland Dolls jammer Mouse. The beneficiary of three power-jams against Houston, Mouse set some kind of record (we’re just not sure what yet) with 86 points as the Dolls crushed Houston. The final score: 180-80.

Houston’s line-up was missing ten of the players who helped them reach last year’s WFTDA Championship

Tournament, but that wasn’t evident early on. The visitors coaxed out a 9-4 lead after six jams with aggressive defense, and closed the score again to 18-20 after 13-point jam for Darling Nikki. That was as close as Houston would get for the remainder of the night.

With the Dairyland Dolls leading 45-27 and a little over seven minutes left in the first half, it was still a competitive game. That ended quickly. Houston jammer Cinder Hellyeah earned back-to-back cutting penalties. Lil Miss Behavin’ began the scoring spree with 13 points. Mouse followed with a 30-point outburst. The Dolls packed slowed, and it was almost a two-minute open skate for Mouse. She passed the last pair of blockers as the whistle signaled the end of the jam. That 18-point lead had become 61. That also was probably some kind of record, but again, we’re not sure what. Madison was in complete control at half, 99-29.

Where was the luck? Mouse caught two more power jams in the second half for 19 points each. With her other turns at jammer, it all added up to a big total of 86 points.

Houston’s sole big scoring opportunity came in the penultimate jam. Darling Nikki earned the Dolls’ only jammer penalty of the night, and Mistilla “The Killa” raced around the track for 15 points. It was too little, too late, for Houston.

For Houston, the lack of experience at depth was telling. When she had the chance, veteran HaRD Kocks captain Carmen Gedditt wreaked havoc on the DD jammers, and Mistilla led the visitors with 33 points. Despite being out-played, Houston stayed loose and even danced on the start line during time-outs.

Another highlight of the night belonged to the crowd. Eight hundred thirty-five fans passed through the turnstiles, making this the best attended home interleague bout in Dairyland Dolls history.

Team Unicorn, 193; Skating Sirens, 68

Major Kusaknocky broke her own bout record of 88 points with 95 points as Team Unicorn buried La Crosse’s Skating Sirens 193 to 68 in unsanctioned play. The prelude to the Madison/Houston bout was a long night for the Sirens, who skated with a core of La Crosse players but borrowed heavily from other area leagues to fill-out their line-up.

The Heat, a non-jammer for the Reservoir Dolls during the home season, had a career highlight with a 20-point jam while Stevie Knocks scored 33 more for Team Unicorn.

Here’s an update on the fan injury that stopped play for about 20 minutes when a child fell through the railings to the concrete floor. EMTs cared for her until an ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital. She was released on Monday morning and is doing fine. MRD wishes her well and thanks the EMTs for being there when they were needed.

photos by Papa Razzi