6/4 - 6/5: Games to watch, and a bit more

Two blog related items before we go over the games. 

1) I'm beyond elated with how well trod this blog has become. It is very satisfying to know that people are at least looking at my analysis, regardless of if they agree with it or not. I went from just my friends and family reading it for the first few days, to nearly 1,000 unique hits just since Memorial Day. It is a real testament to the ferocity of Derby fans, and how tight a community it is. Within just a day or so of it being posted one place, it was everywhere. So thank you, and please keep the feedback rolling in, I love all of it from disagreement, to corrections, to praise. 

2) When I did my analysis of the Apprentice leagues I failed to include the awesome Springfield Rollergirls  from Missouri. I take full credit for this flub. It was also pointed out that South Carolina will most likely go to the East Region. It's SOUTH Carolina. C'mon! Anyway, look here for more coverage on the Springfield Rollergirls, as I have some 'splainin to do about that omission. All will be made right! I guess it sort of works out since Springfield is no longer an Apprentice league, as they were recently promoted to full member status in WFTDA. Congratulations!

This weekend's write up does not include Honky Tonk Stomp 2011, it has it's own preview located here: Honky Tonk Stomp 2011 Preview. There is lots of home team action this week, and only three official WFTDA games outside of the Stomp.

Note: This document originally stated that Springfield (-SC/-FTS) had defeated the Oklahoma Victory Dolls (17SC/54FTS). This is not true, Springfield defeated Oklahoma City Roller Derby. This is totally my mistake, as I have had confused the two teams for quite some time. Look for further information about the Oklahoma Victory Dolls in future articles. 

Gold Coast (13SC/56FTS) vs. Dallas (10SC/68FTS)
Why you should watch: Rising Gold Coast takes on falling Dallas

Prediction: Gold Coast most recently took down Hard Knox (12SC/62FTS), and put up decent but fruitless fight against Atlanta (5SC/26FTS) and Houston (4SC/21FTS). Dallas, though not the power they used to be is not to be trifled with. They have lost twice to Houston by  between 50 and 100 points; though performed slightly better than Gold Coast on the whole. Then again, Dallas lost to Duke City (15SC/55FTS) by the same margin that Gold Coast beat Duke City. Gold Coast is expected to perform well here, but Dallas is unlikely to go down without a fight. A win here could really help Gold Coast's Regionals dreams, while a loss would likely drag them down in the rankings right along with Dallas. I fully admit this one is a tough call, and won't be totally surprised with either outcome.

Gold Coast 150 - Dallas 130

Springfield (-SC/-FTS) vs. Green Country (9SC/37FTS)
Why you should watch: Springfield's first WFTDA game! 
Prediction: Springfield just took down  Oklahoma City Roller Derby by a solid 40 points, and has a string of other victories this season, going 6 and 0, including two wins against the CoMo Derby Dames, a constant Rival. Green Country, on the other hand, was recently thrashed by Houston (4SC/21FTS), but not before they themselves thrashed Memphis (11SC/65FTS).  This should be a great game with Green Country looking for a rebound from Houston, and Springfield looking to officially cut their teeth and get their ranking on. This is going to be a tight game, but I am going to give the edge to Green Country due to greater experience at high level play. Should Springfield win here, and then later this month against Northwest Arkansas, my Regionals predictions could be undone. As a note there is a B-team game being played as well, but this  update was a tad last second, so I apologize for not writing more. Good luck!
Springfield 110 - Green Country 130

Omaha (8SC/50FTS/-DNN) vs. Chicago Outfit (9NC/31FTS/22DNN)
Why you should watch: South Central vs. North Central action, with both teams looking for a recovery.
Prediction: Omaha is coming right off two back to back loses by more than 110 points to Naptown (6NC/18FTS/17DNN) and Detroit (3NC/11FTS/13DNN) at Midwest Brewhaha. Chicago is on a generally positive season, though they lost by a solid 50 points to Arch Rival (10NC/24FTS/-DNN) at Brewhaha as well. Chicago has mirrored Omaha by also going down to Naptown and Detroit earlier this year, but only by about 50 points on each matchup. While Chicago is on the DNN Power List, I don't expect them to stay there even with a victory over Omaha. 

Omaha 75 - Chicago Outfit 140

Omaha AAA Team (Omaha Home Team) vs. Old Capital City (NC Apprentice)
Why you should watch: Old Capital City looking to show they have what it takes to really compete. 
Prediction: Old Capital City is a very young league, having only played their first game less than two years ago. That said, they regularly take on the Quad City Rollers and other quality teams from the North Central. Omaha is a solid league with a good B-team. I have to mention a trend, that whenever a travel team and B-team play at the same time, the B-team tends to do a little worse than normal. I think this may have to do with rostering. While this should be a good learning experience for both teams, I think Old Capital City is going to force Omaha to skate home winless tonight. 
Omaha AAA Team 115 - Old Capital City 150

Magnolia (Apprentice) vs. Red Stick Capital Defenders (Apprentice)
Why you should watch: Red Stick looking to tie it up against Magnolia in a rematch from earlier in 2011
Prediction: Magnolia has had a solid season so far, and already defeated Red Stick once almost two to one on points. While I expect Magnolia to win this one as well, Red Stick's performance has increased since their last meeting, picking up some experience from WFTDA teams. 
Magnolia 125 - Red Stick 85

Panama City (Florida) vs. Hub City Hattiesburg Hooligans (Apprentice)
Why you should watch: Long time league Panama City takes on an improving Hub City
Prediction: Both teams have impressive schedules, and quite a number of games under their belts this season, but I give the edge to Hub City, especially considering their near victory over Spindletop (24SC/99FTS). 

Panama City 110 - Hub City 140

Molly Rogers (Florida) vs. Jacksonville's First Coast Fatales (Jacksonville Home Team)
Why you should watch: Another long time team takes on long time rival and Home team of WFTDA newcomer Jacksonville
Prediction: Jacksonville has improved greatly in the last year, and has never (as far as I remember) lost to the Molly Rogers, though their season is not quite where they want it so far due to two unexpected loses. While this isn't Jacksonville's travel team, the First Coast Fatales has plenty of quality skaters on it. The Molly Rogers are coming off an unexpected loss, and have a tough game ahead of them. While the Molly Rogers are a more venerable league, Jacksonville is a strong team looking for a game to regroup their forces on, and I think they will find it here. The outcome of this game depends a lot on how many players from Jacksonville's travel team are on the Fatales, but I think they will win either way.
Molly Rogers 65 - First Coast Fatales 120

Interleague Play - I can't say I keep up with a lot of interleague play unless it is a home team playing someone other than another of their own home teams. I don't have quite enough time to analyze which players are on which interleague team, but I would like to point out that these should all be good games. Interleague games tend to be well balanced close games with all the pride on the line. Here is what is on deck for the weekend on the Interleague front.

Kansas City 2011 League Championship: Victory Vixens vs. Dreadnought Dorothys, then the 

Knockouts vs. Black Eyed Susans. Not sure if there is a championship bout after that?

Tampa Bay: Cigar City Mafia vs. Switchblade Sisters

Assassination City Home Team Double Header: Lone Star Assassins vs. Bombshell Brigade, then the Viva la Revolucion vs. Deadly Kennedys. The fact that they have enough skaters for four teams tells me that Assassination City should be moving up in the rankings.