On Saturday, July 24th, the Bleeding Heartland Code Blue Assassins will be poised to strike when they go up against the Grand Raggidy Roller Girls team, G-Rap Attack. The Code Blue Assassins are eager to collect their first season win on their home turf at Frank Southern Ice Arena.
G-Rap Attack is certain to bring their A-game, as they have a decent mix of new skaters and veterans, including X Libris, a former longtime skater for BHRG! According to GRRG, “These skaters are determined and skilled, armed with a dangerous arsenal of speed, strength and strategy.” All the more reason for Bloomington fans to descend en masse on Frank Southern Ice Arena. Come out and support your local roller derby league!
BHRG will be supporting Rhino’s Youth Media Center and All-Ages Club www.rhinosyouthcenter.org at this bout with a donation drive. Rhino’s is looking for a variety of art and office supplies to support their diverse after-school programs, known for their enormous impact on Bloomington teens. For more information about Rhino’s Youth Media Center or to find out how you can help, contact rhinosdirector@ameritech.net. Every donation will get you BHRG Bux, good at our merchandise table.
The bout will take place at Frank Southern Ice Arena (link to http://maps.google.com/places/us/in/bloomington/s-henderson-st/1965/-frank-southern-ice-arena?gl=us) at 1965 S. Henderson St. on Saturday, July 24th. Doors open at 6pm. Bout starts at 7pm.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Kids (ages 5-12) are $5. Children under 5 are free.
Grab your tickets at any of the following Bloomington locations: Bloomingfoods, Rolling Thunder Fun Factory, Sunrise Box Office or Vintage Phoenix Comics.
Tickets also available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/112711
Adults $9.99 ($10.98 w/service fee)
Children (5-12) $5 ($5.99 w/service fee)
This weekend saw the Flatliners travel 650 miles by land, across an unbroken patchwork of corn and soy beans, to challenge the Omaha Roller Girls. Holding the 12th slot in the North Central WFTDA rankings, this bout was set to represent one of Bleeding Heartland’s biggest challenges on their season’s schedule.
After Kaka Caliente came out on top of the first jam 2-0, the night turned increasingly frustrating for the Flatliners. Omaha went on to score 30+ unanswered points, largely on the skill of speed skater Anna Maniac, who seemed to know where blocks were going to go before the blocker threw them. Bleeding Heartland jammers found themselves up against stout walls of Omaha blockers who were quite adept at throwing their weight behind a hit. But, the Flatliners were not about to be intimidated by numbers and hip checks. Shock n’ Roll, defiant of her mortal quad muscles, re-invigorated her team’s scoring efforts late in the first half. She and her teammates managed to better pare the gains of Omaha through the second half, though Anna Maniac still managed to pull off a 33-point jam.
It should be said that the reffing of every bout will draw criticism, and this one was certainly not without controversy. The officiating crew did their best not to be outdone by the live action, averaging an official time out for every two jams. Skaters made good use of this time to dance, nap, and play patty cake at the pivot line.
With over 100 points of cushion and 15 seconds dwindling on the game clock, Omaha curiously called a team time out. This promised us one final jam. Zero Dark would take the jammer line and burn them for 17 points, the Flatliners’ biggest jam of the night. The final score favored Omaha 205-87.
Chins high, ladies. You have much to be proud of.
-Geneva Conviction
The Bleeding Heartland Code Blue Assassins went up for the third year in a row against the Indianapolis Circle City Socialites on July 3rd on CCS home turf in Fishers, IN. The game was a debut for the CBA’s two newest members: Sadie MacDeath, and Shifty McGee, and was a return for Anita Fingerbang, who subbed in to help fill a short roster. Absent from the bench was rookie Maul’O Tov Blocktail, suffering from a broken leg, and veteran skaters Truly F. Obvious with a broken arm and Lotta Trouble on leave.
The Socialites captured lead jammer status for the majority of the first half. With the first jam remaining scoreless, the Socialites held the BHRG jammer back in the second jam, leaving their speed-skating jammer, Fly, open to score 9 points. BHRG began scoring points as the first half went on, but were just not able to out-score the Socialites. At times, the refs seemed to be handing out trips to the penalty box and skaters were taking them like they were candy. BHRG suffered heavily throughout the game as jammers made themselves more at home in the box than on the track, allowing the Socialites to score large numbers of unanswered points. The score was 58-14 Socialites at the half.
BHRG came back on fire in the second half, immediately took lead jammer status in the first jam and scored 5 points. Rookie Shifty McGee had plenty of time to prepare to lay a ridiculously hard hit on vet jammer Roll-R-Damage as she came around the track; a timely hit that was able to keep the Socialites points accumulation down for the third jam. Thigh Candy, had a great jam in the middle of the second half, but after gaining lead jammer status she took a tumble and called the jam as her own teammate, Tijuana Momma, literally flew over her head. Despite a few great defensive moves by BHRG, the Socialites offense was just too strong. Socialites continued to score, racking up the points leading up to a final score of 110-30.
Awards were given to Shifty McGee for Best Blocker and Betty Wreckognize as Best Jammer. Despite the score, BHRG fans represented and cheered their team on to the end and the Assassins skaters were able to keep a positive attitude on the bout. Sadie MacDeath put it nicely on Facebook, “Well, we didn’t assassinate the Socialites, but it was still a great time. Thank you to the friends, family, and Flatliners who all came out to show support! It meant a lot.” – Leah Drichel
