The Charlotte Roller Girls held its seconding qualifying bout of the 2009 intra-league championship at the Grady Cole Center on Sunday when its two teams, the Block’em Sock’em Rollers and Fraid Knots, squared off. For three periods, the action was intense with no clear favorite, but in the closing seconds, the Block’em Sock’em Rollers took the 97-95 win and secured a spot in the title-deciding round on September 12.
The Fraid Knots drew first blood and took the initial lead when Monica Wackerhagan a.k.a. Hands on Gretel scored a grand slam in the second jam. The Block’em Sock’em Rollers responded with Rosemary Gardner a.k.a. Rosie Cheeks grabbing six points in the following jam. These two evenly matched teams exchanged hard hits and traded the lead four times in the first period. As the teams headed to the locker room for the intermission, the Fraid Knots held a 43-38 lead.
After a brief break, complete with a magic act, the teams were ready to wage battle in the second period. The Fraid Knots’ Paige Leary a.k.a. Court’her Pound’her lined up alongside the Block’em Sock’em Rollers’ Emily Kupprion a.k.a. Puncher P. Hole. Leary extended the Fraid Knots lead with a strong seven point jam while holding Kupprion scoreless.
The Block’em Sock’em Rollers fought back when Tonya Jessup a.k.a. Shocker Khan scored four points in the second jam. Despite limited scoring by both teams in the period, it was filled with edge-of-your-seat roller derby action. The Fraid Knots led at the break with a score of 73-64.
In the final 20 minute period, the Block’em Sock’em Rollers charged back. Kupprion and Gardner scored nine points in the first three jams and cut the Fraid Knots lead to one point. Melissa Hickok a.k.a. Pollyannarchy scored four points for the Block’em Sock’em Rollers in the sixth jam and gave her team its first lead since the first period.
Leary snatched the lead back for the Fraid Knots with an eight point score in the eighth jam. The lead would change hands several more times but by the 14th jam the Fraid Knots led by one. This set up a series of jams which saw Gardner and Leary battle head-to-head in what would end up being the final four jams of the bout.
In the next three jams, the jammers were held scoreless, setting up a showdown in the final jam. If Leary could earn lead jammer status, the Fraid Knots would capture the win but Gardner had other plans. She bolted off the line and systematically worked through the pack to become the lead jammer. She then passed three skaters and quickly called off the jam, ensuring a 97-95 Block’em Sock’em Rollers victory and a spot in the championship round.
Gardner was the high scorer for the Block’em Sock’em Rollers with 51 points while Leary was the Fraid Knots high scorer with 55 points.
On August 30, the Fraid Knots will take on the Cockpit Candies with the victor facing the Block’em Sock’em Rollers in the September 12 championship round. Tickets are on sale now here for $10 or in person at any Common Market. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $14. The Grady Cole Center is located at 310 N. Kings Drive.
