Blast Furnace Betties vs. New Jersey Roller Derby All-Stars- Bout Wrap Up 4/7/14

Photo by Quick Draw Sports Photography

If you ever wanted to see a derby battle down to the last second, it was this last weekend’s game when the New Jersey Roller Derby All-Stars (NJRD) met up against the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ Blast Furnace Betties (Betties).  Traveling from Morristown, NJ, NJRD, an aspiring WFTDA apprentice team, was given a 14:11 point advantage to win over the Betties by flattrackstats.com.

Led by Captain and power jammer #10, Miss USA-Hole, the New Jersey Roller Derby All-Stars came out at the first whistle fighting and took a quick lead over the Blast Furnace Betties.  Within the first 4 jams, the score favored NJRD 42-9.

NJRD’s jammer was sent to the box 12 minutes into the first half, which allowed the Betties to catch up in points, 28 BFB - 54 NJRD.  Recognizing this was going to be a harder bout than expected, the Blast Furnace Betties switched their line ups and concentrated on power line ups consisting of  back to back jams of power blockers #28 Levilin Levi, #2E Loogie Vuitton, #29 Tortellina  Temptress (Captain) and  #53 Wayward Stay.  With 4 minutes left in the first half, the Betties caught up in points, just behind NJRD 67-74.  With a final power push by the Betties before the end of the first half, the score was nearly tied, 81-79 favoring the Betties.

Photo by Quick Draw Sports Photography

Two minutes into the second half of game play, Betties’ jammer #624 Ginga Railed U completed a strong power jam and got a nice lead for the Betties bringing the score up to 94-79. However, NJRD answered right back after being awarded 2 subsequent power jams. NJRD’s jammer #44 Maulin Rouge helped to almost perfectly match the score, but slightly behind at 98-97.   After a few more jams, about 12 minutes into the second of game play, the score was tied, 107-107.

Soon after, the Blast Furnace Betties had some jammer trouble and NJRD was awarded another 2 power jams in a row, allowing them to take the lead the first time in about 30 minutes of game time, 114-132.  For the next and last 10 minutes of game play, the battle was furious.  The Betties were awarded a power jam, and brought the score up to 132-138, still lagging behind NJRD. Each jam after this went almost point for point.  The Betties concentrated on their power blocker line ups and inched their score up within 4 points of NJRD.  With only 1 minute and 46 seconds left on the clock, and attaining lead jammer status, the Betties needed to make a fast decision.  Do they get through the pack with the point advantage, and call off the jam to risk the other team calling a time out and possibly winning the next jam and the game, or do they attempt to run up the score and burn the clock, hoping to have more points than NJRD by the end?

The Betties pressed their luck and pushed the clock, and once Betties’ jammer #30 Lauranimal got the signal to call the jam after the clock hit zero and she passed one extra opposing blocker, the Betties got the win, 148-147 over NJRD.

Photo by Quick Draw Sports Photography

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ other home team, the Metal Vixens, is next up to play at home on April 26^th against the Mason Dixon Roller Vixens All-Stars.

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) All-Stars will also be traveling to Ohio this weekend (April 12^th) to play the Little Steel Derby Girls. Flattrackstats.com predicts that LVRG has a 93% chance of winning with a 29:14 point expectancy ratio.

All photos were compliments of Quick Draw Sports Photography.  To view or purchase prints from Quick Draw Sports Photography, follow this link: http://quickdrawphoto.com/p119651813

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

LVRG vs. Cape Fear 3/22/14 Bout Wrap-Up

Photo by Thelma Van

This weekend was packed with action as the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls took on the Cape Fear Roller Girls.  Not one, but two skaters snapped their plates on their skates and one skater (Rose Beef) skated in her 100^th bout. It isn’t often that two rare derby events happen in one bout, but in addition to that excitement, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) game versus the Cape Fear Roller Girls  (Cape Fear) was a fight to the finish.

Traveling up north 550 miles from Wilmington, NC, the Cape Fear was looking for a rematch after last September’s 188-99 loss to LVRG.  Flattrackstats.com predicted LVRG to win this game with a 53% chance, expecting the point ratio to be 32:31 favoring LVRG.

Immediately from the first whistle, LVRG pushed Cape Fear’s jammer out off the jam line as they shuffled back to force a cut.  LVRG took the quick lead in points, lead by Captain and Blocker, # 31 Helen DaRink.  For the first few minutes of game play, LVRG controlled the pack and was able to contain the Cape Fear jammers.  Approximately 10 jams into the first half, Cape Fear jammer, #22 Dirty Sanchez, gained lead jammer status for Cape Fear and allowed Cape Fear to catch up in points.

Photo by Thelma Van

About half way through the first half, after calling the jam twice in a row and not netting any points, LVRG finally regained the lead again with an additional power jam, bringing the score up to 55-46, favoring LVRG. However, Cape Fear blockers, #43 Hawaiian Puncher, #28 Maxi Rad and #100 Violet Outlaw forced an LVRG jammer out on a track cut and pushed Cape Fear into a much needed power jam.  This brought the first lead change of the game, favoring Cape Fear at halftime, 74-76.

 

After making a few adjustments at the half, LVRG came back fighting. With the strategic moves of #66 Lin Diesel, #28 Levelin Levi, #2E Loogie Vuitton and #A1 Rose Beef, LVRG forced two jammer penalties in one jam, giving them a double power jam which regained them the lead. LVRG Jammers Double Barrel Hotgunz, Lauranimal and Ginga Railed U continued to capitalize on 2 more power jams and helped LVRG with a 64-4 point run in the first 13 minutes of the second half of game play. Half way through the second half, the score was 136-80.  



Photo by Thelma Van

In the last 10 minutes of the game, LVRG was on fire. LVRG’s blockers were able to hold back Cape Fear’s jammers 2 out of the last 3 jams allowing LVRG’s #932 MJ Slamher to score 17 and 25 points without the other jammer making it past her initial pass.

This was the first time either team played under WFTDA’s new rule set.  One of the most notable new rules includes a reduced 30 second penalty, as compared to the 2013’s season’s rules of 1 minute penalties. During game play, LVRG was awarded 10 power jams and Cape Fear was awarded 4. The final score of the game favored LVRG for the win, 203-118.

Looking ahead, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls All-Stars will be playing again on April 12^th, when they are matched up to play the Little Steel Roller Girls from Ohio.  Flattrackstats.com predicts that LVRG has an 84% chance of winning that game.

To catch more LVRG action on our home turf, come out to watch one of home leagues, the Blast Furnace Betties play New Jersey Roller Derby on April 5^th.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

All photography was produced by Thelma Van.

Kate "Bananas" Santee - LVRG's Skater of the Month

Who is Kate “Bananas” Santee besides the quiet thunder behind the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) Special Vixens Unit? This skater is this month’s rough and tumble LVRG Skater of the Month.

Starting with LVRG in January of 2011, Kate is entering her fourth season. We asked Kate how she got started with roller derby, and she stated, “It’s hard for me to pinpoint when or how I exactly got into roller derby. I had vaguely heard about the sport before and may have entertained the thought of playing a few times, but I wasn't aware of any teams in the area yet and I didn't take the notion of playing seriously at first because I didn't have much of an athletic background. In the months following my college graduation in 2010, I had something of a quarter life crisis—I had already struggled with depression before, and the emerging feelings of isolation and aimlessness were the cherries on top of a very sad sundae. Around this time I stumbled upon LVRG's fan page through someone's Facebook profile and it just happened to be around the time they were having an open recruit night, so I thought, "Why not?" Now it's nearly been three years of crazy good training and bonding with some incredible skaters that have all changed my life for the better.” 

Captain of the Special Vixens Unit, Wayward Stay mentioned that “Kate improved over the 2013 season which paid off when she made the roster for her first official SVU bout.  Kate fights hard for every new skill learned and has a strong will to keep improving.  She has a never give up spirit that is welcomed on the track.”

Photo by Keith Stanley

Kate represents the story of passion and drive for roller derby. She is one of those players that never gives up and although challenges are presented, she continues to push through and make her mark on the team.  When asked what advice to give new recruits for the team, Kate stated “it's going to take a lot of work, but it's totally worth it. And don't be afraid to fall! You can always pick yourself back up again.”

Kate also mentioned that as a new recruit, there are some really memorable experiences. “Experiencing my first power jam (as a jammer) towards the end of my very first official bout I played in was awesome. It was tough just to get to the point where I could play in a bout, but scoring points and seeing all the support I had from my team and our friends and fans made me absolutely giddy. I'm super grateful to you guys.”

Besides roller derby, Kate is a very talented artist. She has been drawing since a very young age. She stated that “from an early age onwards, cartoons and comics inspired me to tell stories through my art. I'm now gradually carving a niche for myself as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. This year I saw the release of my first published illustrations in the children's book Silly Nomads From Palmerston Close (available for sale on the publisher's website http://mohallandlewisllc.com/home), and I'll be doing a book signing with the two authors at the Moravian Book Shop on December 20. You can find more of my work at ksantillus.com, and I regularly update a blog with illustrations and sketches at ksantillus.tumblr.com”

Some other fast facts about Kate “Bananas” Santee:

1.    She loves owls, and has a collection of owl memorabilia

2.    She is a former Girl Scout and stayed long enough to earn the Gold Award

3.    She can play the clarinet and is trying to teach herself the guitar

4.    When she was in 10th grade, she went with her high school band to England to play with Her Majesty's Coldstream Guard.

 

Although the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls are on a break until 2014, you can come see Kate skate next season. For all of the information on bouts in the upcoming season, stay tuned to this blog and find out more at www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A special thank you to contributing Photographer Keith Stanley at Quick Draw Photography. Please visit his Face Book page here: https://www.facebook.com/QuickDrawPhoto

 

 

LVRG Ref of the Month- Ria Culpa

Photo by Keyesboard

Many teams boast the skills of their skaters and how much dedication it takes to rule the track. What many forget are the faces behind the stripes and the pure passion that many an official has for the sport and love of roller derby. One such gallant derby zebra is the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) own Ria Culpa.

Ria started with LVRG in August of 2007. YES, that’s 6 years and 7 seasons that he has been with LVRG. He got started with roller derby because some of the current skaters would come into his old place of business to make professional prints of bout posters and it got him interested in watching games. He quickly become a super-fan and he eventually decided to join the officiating crew.

We asked Ria Culpa to describe what he liked about officiating. He stated, “on a non-serious note, I love the hand signals for penalties. Illegal procedures make me feel like I'm doing the shuffle. Out of plays and no-packs make me feel like I'm doing the robot. High-blocks allow me to itch my nose. Delays of game are denoted with a "Z" on the board, and I'm partial to that letter for some reason. On a more serious note, I don't "like" to call penalties, I just call them to support the rule set as it is. If I see something illegal happen from beginning to end, and it's against the rules in the impact spectrum, I call them. To that end, I like being able to call multi-player blocks and other things that mean that I'm "in the zone" and seeing everything I need to see.”

He continued by adding, “As a ref, I think my defining moment was actually reffing my first game after LVRG got WFTDA-league status. Our ref crew tries to be first-in-class when it comes to officiating (both in NSO-land and ref-land), and as such, (this was) my first game where I was able to wear the stripes and getting to that point with my skating abilities and ref-eyes was one of my greater moments. Oh, also... Sock derby. That was an experience and a half.”

Ria is a well versed and experienced official, always studying the changes and the application of the WFTDA rules. He wasn’t born knowing the rules, so we asked him on some advice on how to get started in officiating for LVRG. He stated, “First thing's first. Know the game. Watch a lot of derby. Then, learn the rules! They make more sense once you've seen the flow of the game. Of course, all of that can be done as you go (so new people, don't be intimidated!). When you're actually out there, just... go for it! It's a little intimidating to go from "knowing nothing (Jon Snow)" to "you're like a wizard (Sam Tarly)." We (as officials) try to help each other out, and the rules are something that comes with it. Skating is a little less of a concern, I think, because the rules are paramount, but both have to get good to finally ref a game. But both come with practice, experience, and just getting out there.”

Facts about Ria Culpa:

1.      He’s into Star Trek, tabletop gaming (both of the board, and RPG style), video gaming and loves to roll the dice.

2.      He is from St. Louis: A card-carrying mid-westerner.

3.      An electronic cigarette connoisseur.

4.      He is on the ketogenic diet. He has lost 45lbs so far since the beginning of the year!

Ria Culpa was also asked about his goals as an official. He stated, “My primary goal as an official is to help the sport. What that actually means, though, is to do my job (in whatever capacity is needed) in a professional, skilled manner. Whatever the rules and best practices say, go. The better I am at my job, the better the actual sport gets. Not to be delusions-of-grandeur or anything, but if we call things in a consistent, skilled manner, the rules that the skaters vote on are enforced the way they need to be, and the sport gets better. My secondary goal is to have fun. Seriously, this sport is rough, but all the people (officials, skaters, volunteers, fans) associated with it make it what it is--a fun atmosphere. I've made a bunch of really great friends, and as a transplant to the area, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't've made as many friends without the sport. I adore everyone involved. I can't imagine my life without roller derby, without LVRG, and without the phenomenon that this has become. Not that my life was an empty pit beforehand, but as a non-sports loving nerd from the opposite side of the world, this opened up and fulfilled me in a way no other thing has, really.”

Looking ahead, LVRG ends their season on October 19^th with an interleague Pink vs. Black bout of teammate versus teammate. This will be your last chance to see the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls until the opening of the 2014 season on March 1, 2014.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

To find out more about our contributing photographer, Keyesboard, please visit his FaceBook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Keyesboard

LVRG vs Cape Fear Bout Wrap Up -9/21/13

LVRG pumping themselves up on the ride to the big game

If there ever was a team ready to travel 10 hours to play roller derby, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) is exactly that team.  With over 550 miles between them and playing the WFTDA’s Division 2 Cape Fear Roller Girls (Cape Fear), LVRG used road antics such as team planks and other various funny photo moments captured and published on FaceBook for their long ride to pump themselves and their fans up for this exciting match up.  But once they arrived in Wilmington, NC, LVRG was ready for business.

According to flattrackstats.com, there was no clear favorite to this game, as a 2 to 2 scoring ratio was predicted. The Cape Fear Roller Girls sit in a higher division than LVRG and are ranked nationally according to the WFTDA at the 110 position as compared to LVRG’s 134 ranking.  With this knowledge, LVRG was ready for a hard battle, and because of that, they started the game with their strongest line ups of the season, and never turned back.

Immediately from the first jam, LVRG pulled a track cut on Cape Fear, sending their jammer directly to the penalty box. This gave LVRG an immediate lead during the first 2 jams of the game. But this didn’t stop right then and there, Cape Fear got 2 more jammer penalties, leaving them without a jammer for the first 5 jams of the game.  LVRG certainly capitalized on this and brought their score up to an early 2-40 lead within the first 7 minutes of game play.

From that point on, lead jammer status seemed to be a battle. Typically, lead jammer status is determined by turn 1 of the track.  However with both teams battling and forming tight defensive walls, the jammers weren’t coming out of the initial lap’s pack until turn 3, which was tiring them out.  With lead changing back and forth a bit, Cape Fear caught up in points to 24-64 (LVRG) with 15 minutes left in the first half.

The second half of the first period both teams played pound for pound with the same fury. Lead jammer status was shared almost equally by both teams and at the end of the first half, the score still favored LVRG with a score of 60-103.

With only 43 points separating the teams at the half, it was still anyone’s game.  A game can be won or lost by a quick power jam, however LVRG did not give Cape Fear that option. One of the most impressive feats LVRG accomplished during this bout was that throughout LVRG history, this was the first time that none of their jammers were sent to the penalty box. LVRG’s Jammers MJ SlamHer, Ginga Railed U and Toxic Shock were flawless.

After 15 minutes of game play in the second half of the game, LVRG continued increasing their lead with a score of 79-131. But it wasn’t until the last few minutes of the game when the Cape Fear Rollergirls gave LVRG another power jam and allowed LVRG to increase their lead further. This closed the door on Cape Fear, allowing LVRG to win 99-188. This was a big win for LVRG as it increased their flattrackstats.com standings by 18.4 points and it will also reflect in their national WFTDA standings when the next rankings are posted.

 

 

Looking ahead, LVRG ends their season on October 19^th with an interleague Pink vs. Black bout of teammate versus teammate. This will be your last chance to see the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls until the opening of the 2014 season on March 1, 2014.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you

 

Cagey Rage - LVRG's Skater of the Month

Skating with the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls (LVRG) for 4 seasons, Kristina Schware, better known in the derby community as Cagey Rage, is not only a LVRG Board of Directors member, but also a skater with true personality.

As a skater, Cagey Rage says that her goals constantly change. She sometimes focuses on making charters and rosters but other times she just focuses on the sport itself and increasing her skills, such as endurance, agility and team cohesiveness.  

When asked about her most memorable moment of LVRG’s 2013 season, she stated “there have been many small special moments of 2013 that I will treasure as memories for many years. None of them are great feats performed on the track (truthfully, I usually forget a lot of the game play soon after it happens).  They are all teammate related. I love the car rides with other skaters to bouts and scrimmages. I love meeting the opposing team after a game and sharing a beer. I love the sisterhood of derby. And the ice cream party at the end of the year to celebrate SVU's (the Special Vixens Unit) undefeated season was a true highlight. The best reward for working hard as a team.”

Cagey Rage also works hard for LVRG as their WFTDA (Womens Flat Track Derby Association) Representative. The WFTDA is the roller derby governing body and association that the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls belong to as members. With over 300 national and international teams that belong to the WFTDA, it is a wonderful organization and we are proud to be included in their membership.  The WFTDA sets the standard of play, rules, and safety that the all the leagues adhere to on game day. They also provide the platform for its members to be ranked and qualify for playoffs.

The WFTDA is unique in the fact that all decisions, from deciding who will be a committee head to making a rule change, are all done by votes and input from all the member leaques. No other sport does that. Every team has a voice. Cagey Rage, along with two other LVRG skaters and some officials, are that voice from LVRG. They are the liasons that bring all the pertinent information to LVRG to obtain their views, and to get their votes. Cagey Rage then relays that information back to the WFTDA.

Cagey mentioned, “as a WFTDA rep, I also make sure that all WFTDA paperwork is completed to sanction a bout. I make sure our team’s information is constantly correct and updated on the WFTDA database. And I work with LVRG's reps to ensure that our team follows all the WFTDA bylaws and protocols, is aware of new WFTDA information, is updated on decisions, and understands it all.”

 There is a lot of work on the business side of LVRG that Cagey is involved in, including helping to recruit new skaters. When asked what advice she would give to anyone interested in becoming a roller girl, this is what she said: "Well, of course, do it. Once you do it, though, be cognizant that is a sport that takes a while to learn, physically and mentally.  As with any endeavor it is challenging at first, and slowly becomes second nature. You get stronger, quicker, smarter, but it takes time. And everyone's time is different. I had slow learning curve in derby. But I kept at it and now I am able to do things that I couldn't image doing a few years ago.  And since derby is constantly evolving there are always new things to learn which keeps it interesting and fun.”

 

Fun Facts about Cagey:

1.       She loves gardening, plants and reading in her garden.
2.       She loves to play board games, card games, and any other games she can play with her 2 daughters and husband of 12 years.
3.       Her all-time favorite TV show is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
4.       Her next door neighbor was a long lost friend she had in high school that she lost track of until she moved in next door

Looking ahead, LVRG’s Hissy Fits travel to Wilmington NC on Sept 21^st to play the Cape Fear Roller Girls. According to flattrackstats.com, LVRG has a 51% chance of winning the game, with almost no room for error, given a 2:2 point scoring ratio between teams.

Also, on October 19^th, see all of your favorite Rollergirls play in LVRG’s last game of the season for their interleague Pink vs Black game.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com


All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you.

LVRG vs. Iron Mountain Rollergirls Bout Wrap Up 9/7/13

This past weekend the Iron Mountain Rollergirls of Cumberland, MD travelled north to the Lehigh Valley for a rematch against the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) Special Vixens Unit (SVU). The last time these two teams met in June, the SVU beat the Iron Mountain team 269-142.  Led by Captain Sari Lew Threaten (#31), the Iron Mountain Ladies came ready to fight on LVRG territory.

LVRG came out strong on the jam line within the first 4 jams, racking the score up to a 41-4 lead with an early power jam led by LVRG Jammer Arista Crash. However, the Iron Mountain Rollergirls held tight after that quick spree and went point for point against Lehigh Valley for the next few jams. About 15 minutes into game play, both teams became increasingly aggressive. SVU’s DTainHer suffered a hit to the face and even removed herself from game play to treat a very bloody nose.

LVRG began dominating on the track in the last 15 minutes of the first half of play, bringing the score to 116-27. LVRG’s $heRock$, Beck-N-Hater, Stella Mac and Tortellina Temptress all got a chance to jam and helped to increase LVRG’s lead at the end of the first half to 159 LVRG-66 Iron Mountain.

At the start of the second half, Iron Mountain blockers Tailbone Crusher, Roxy Torment, Yanita Nurse and Love Pushin’ held their defense strong and gained a power jam against the SVU.  Iron Mountain’s second row of blockers Squee J, Jinger C., Shawanna Fightme, Thrill Kill Daffodill and Forcible Ntree captured a total of 21 points while LVRG’s jammer was still sitting in the penalty box. This brought the score up to 176-87 favoring LVRG.

With 12 minutes left of the game, LVRG’s Cagey Rage and Fresh Meat Kari Oswald both stepped up to jam. Assisted by powerhouse blocker Phish Tahko, LVRG continued to build their score to 232 points while Iron Mountain climbed their score to 137. With one jam left in the game, LVRG Jammer Toxic Shock brought home an electric last jam, gaining 18 points for Lehigh Valley and closing the door on Iron Mountain with a final score of 255-
140, LVRG.


The MVPs of the game were Arista Crash and Double Barrel Hot Gunz from LVRG and Gretta Gangrene and Becconator from Iron Mountain.

The SVU finish out their 2013 season undefeated. Great Job Ladies!

Looking ahead, LVRG’s Hissy Fits travel to Wilmington NC on Sept 21^st to play the Cape Fear Roller Girls. According to flattrackstats.com, LVRG has a 51% chance of winning the game, with almost no room for error, given a 2:2 point scoring ratio between teams.

Also, on October 19^th, see all of your favorite Rollergirls play in LVRG’s last game of the season for their interleague Pink vs Black game.

Find us online at: http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com


All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

For more information about becoming a skater or official, contact us at join@lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, officials, friends, and family that make our team the best in the Lehigh Valley. This is as much your team as it is ours. Thank you.

All photos are by Jim Rhoades

LVRG vs. Salisbury All-Stars Bout Wrap Up 8/24/13

This past weekend, the Salisbury Roller Girls’ All-Stars traveled to Schnecksville to play the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls’ (LVRG) Hissy Fits.  According to flattrackstats.com, LVRG was given a heavy advantage to win over Salisbury.

The first 2 or 3 jams seemed like typical game play with no real established dominate team. However, Salisbury was awarded a power jam (this is when the opposing jammer is sent to the penalty box) which resulted in an advantage for their All-Stars. Not only did Salisbury capitalize on their power jam over two jam periods, but Lehigh got into penalty trouble with their blockers, giving Salisbury an even larger advantage. The referees were spot on calling multiple penalties on Lehigh. This gave LVRG almost no defense left on the track to defend against Salisbury.  In the first half alone, LVRG spent 24 minutes in the penalty box as compared to Salisbury’s 16 minutes.  By the end of Salisbury’s power jam flurry, they were up by 44 points in the first 10 minutes of the game.

As game play continued, lead jammer status was held evenly by both teams. Each team seemed to hold the strategy of gaining lead jammer status and then calling off the jam strategically to gain one or two points over their opponent. Before the end of the first half, the Hissy Fits, down by about 40 points, were awarded their first power jam of the evening.  Lehigh was gaining points in that jam and right as the opposing jammer was standing to return to game play, LVRG performed a star pass from the Jammer to LVRG’s Pivot.  In roller derby, when the Jammer passes her helmet panty (the star) to the Pivot, the Pivot becomes the Jammer, loses any lead Jammer abilities and can now earn points like a Jammer. However, upon gaining the star, LVRG’s Pivot, now the Jammer, committed a penalty and immediately went to the penalty box. This gave the Salisbury All-Stars and immediate power jam. Unfortunately when the LVRG Jammer returned from the penalty box, she committed 2 more additional penalties in a row, giving Salisbury 3 straight power jams. The score at the end of the first half was 117-41 favoring Salisbury.

With a hardy pep talk at half time and an adjustment to the LVRG line ups, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls attacked the second half with a vengeance.  Every opportunity for lead jammer status was taken and Lehigh slowly gained a point at a time, chipping away at their deficit.  LVRG shut out Salisbury for 12 jams in a row and seemed to be on a great come back, as they refused to allow Salisbury more than a point or two each jam.  Both teams kept their penalties down in the second half, and LVRG took lead jammer status 59% of the time.  LVRG was the team in control in the second half, outscoring Salisbury 91 points to 51 points, but it was not enough to make up for the large deficit Lehigh experienced in the first half of game play.  The final score was 168-132, giving the win to the Salisbury All-Stars.

	1st Half	2nd Half	Total
Total Jams	25	27	52
LVRG Lead	14	16	30
Salisbury Lead	11	11	22
LVRG Power Jams	1	3	4
Salisbury Power Jams	4	3	7
LVRG Penalties	24	14	38
Salisbury Penalties	16	18	34
LVRG Score	41	91	132
Salisbury Score	117	51	168

Come watch when LVRG’s Special Vixens Unit takes on Iron Mountain on September 7^th.

Find us online at http://www.lehighvalleyrollergirls.com

All functions will be held at the Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Dr, Schnecksville, PA.

Thank you to all of the friends, family and volunteers that make this team so special.