In the world of roller derby, the Hollywood Scarlets are kind of a big deal. On an international platform, the team represents as the charter for the city of Los Angeles and the league that they are a part of: the Angel City Derby Girls.
For the past five years, the Scarlets have been working tirelessly to build their team of athletes to compete in the most elite level of competition. Each year, the team has reached a new mark of success. In 2009, the received their first invitation to the West Region Playoffs. In 2011 and 2012, they bettered their rankings in the playoffs. This year, they hope to continue to raise the bar.
This past weekend, on Feb. 9 and 10, they succeeded in raising the bar. The team kicked off their 2013 competitive season with back to back wins in their private warehouse against powerhouse teams from Madison, WI (Dairyland Dolls) and Pittsburgh, PA (Steel Hurtin).
The Scarlets dominated both games from beginning to end, coming out on top with scores of 253-179 against Madison and 216-109 against Pittsburgh.
The focus of the team going in to the weekend of game play was calmness, intensity and focus, but they will need to maintain that carry them through the incredibly tough season that lies ahead.
With a heavier schedule than the team has ever faced, the girls will face off against teams they have never been up against before like Charm City All-Stars (Baltimore, MD), Tampa Bay Derby Darlins, Brewcity Bruisers (Milwaukee, WI), and the Houston All-Stars, as well as some familiar west coast competitors in the Rose City (Portland, OR) Wheels of Justice, the Rat City All-Stars (Seattle, WI) and Sin City Rollergirls (Las Vegas, NV).
By the end of the season, the ladies in red and gold hope that their play against these teams will earn them a ranking that will grant an invitation to the Divison 1 playoffs, where they will fight for a spot in the Championship tournament.
This Saturday, Feb. 16, the Angel City Derby Girls’ west coast travel squad, the Rocket Queens (who have only lost 1 game in the past 2 seasons), will kick off their season at the Culver City Veterans Auditorium against the Santa Cruz Harbor Hellcats.
This weekend’s event is also a double header, and will also feature the newest team to debut in the league, the Road Ragers, who will take on the Santa Cruz Seabright Sirens.
Tickets can be purchased at AngelCityDerby.com
Culver City Veterans Auditorium
4117 Overland Ave.
Culver City, CA 90230
Doors at 630pm | first game at 7 p.m.| second game at 830
