After playing each other on the flat track Saturday night CRG’s Black Sheep met up with San Diego’s banked track team, the Swarm, to compete on the banked track housed in San Diego’s downtown practice space. The roster for the Swarm is identical to the roster for the Wildfires, give or take a skater or two, giving the Swarm a chance to reclaim lost dignity from the night before. The Swarm made the most of their second chance, stinging the Black Sheep 181-64.

Between the two games, there was an after party, a night of sleep and a short practice. Isabelle Ringer, injured Swarm skater and the Swarm’s coach, met the Black Sheep before the 2 p.m. game and taught them the basics of the banked track. The Black Sheep had about two hours to tinker around before officially and informally facing the Swarm.

Walking into the Dollhouse Sunday morning it appeared to be an official game. San Diego’s announcer, the Ill Reverend Mike, was there, working over a PA; the scoreboard was set up; refs were there and in full gear. But looks can be deceiving. No one had a ticket to get in – every audience member came by invite only as SD’s practice space is not zoned for public events. Fans sat on couches, love seats and chairs casually placed around the track, munching on snacks and drinks brought in from the outside. Soft jazz could be heard playing in the background during moments of random silence. It was an informal Sunday in San Diego for sure.

The two teams played four 12 minute quarters. Even though the Swarm maintained the lead for the entire game, the Black Sheep did a good amount of successful scoring themselves and picked up on some useful pack strategies on the banked track.
The Swarm was successful Sunday morning in goating a Black Sheep blocker or jammer, forcing the Black Sheep up front to eventually let the Swarm jammer by on a 20 foot call. It was a very successful tactic to combat what the Black Sheep had been doing on the flat track - controlling the front of the pack and not letting the Wildfires jammer out.

The Black Sheep quickly picked up on this useful strategy themselves and began immediately goating the Wildfires when appropriate. The Black Sheep also quickly learned that the slope of the banked track could aid them in harder hits. Though Cincinnati could not to stop the Swarm from running away with the score, they were becoming more comfortable on the banked track. In the fourth quarter, with K. Lethal jamming, the Black Sheep had a 7-0 jam. Sadistic Sadie and Hannah Barbaric also had high point jams on the banked track.

The Swarm used the same jammers from Saturday night, Kiki DiAzz and Kung Pow Tina, with Some Brero and Sarkastika as well. Some Brero was blocking for the Wildfires Saturday night, but racking up points as a jammer for the Swarm Sunday morning. Sarkastika is high point scorer Steely Jan’s banked track alter ego.

This was the first time the Black Sheep played a banked track game. They scored 64 points at their first attempt, even up against the Swarm, a team which is currently undefeated on the banked track in the Los Angeles Derby Dolls 2009 season. Even though it was a challenge K. Lethal found that “San Diego is the most fun to play!”

Not only did both teams gain a win over the bi-traxual bout weekend, but they also gained a brand new experience to file in their mental roller derby folder – playing a team on the flat track, and then taking on that same team on the banked track. K. Lethal admitted, “We had a lot of fun winning and losing!”

by Kali Katt aka Nicole Gochmanosky via Derby News Network