Snake Pit Derby Dames are back on the track

by DAVE NICHOLS/Special to The Press
| March 26, 2014 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - Roller Derby is back in the Lake City.

The Snake Pit Derby Dames, returning for their fourth season of Women's Flat Track Roller Derby, earned their second win of the 2014 season Saturday night at Skate Plaza in Coeur d'Alene.

The all-star team - known as the 'Venomous Vixens' - defeated the Cherry City (Salem, Ore.) Roller Girls' 'Dolls of Anarchy' 226-127 in front of a rowdy crowd of 300 fans.

The bout, which offered a special free admission, was sponsored by the league and Skate Plaza, which also collected four big containers of canned goods for the Community Action Partnership (CAP) Food Bank.

The bout started a bit slowly, with both teams trying to get a feel for the track - and their opponents. In the seventh jam, the Vixens burst out for 12 points behind jammer Jester (players use colorful nicknames to protect the innocent). The Dolls' Mo Cox countered with an 11-point jam and the action heated up from there.

The Vixens took advantage of power jams in the 10th and 18th jams as Kitty GotClaws racked up 20 unopposed points, followed by 26 points from Hooky Hellraiser, who scored a total of 67 points in the contest. The Venomous Vixens led 111-46 at the half.

The Dolls blanked the Vixens in the first jam of the second half, with jammer Raw Footage garnering nine points for Cherry City. But the Vixens responded on the next jam, as Jester accounted for 29 points and the Vixens ran their lead to 140-61.

Snake Pit put together jams of 14, 17 and 18 points in the second half to secure the lopsided victory.

Jester led all skaters with 76 points on the night. Mrs. Infidel paced Cherry City with 45 points.

Snake Pit's next home bout is Saturday, April 26 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds for a doubleheader. The Vixens host the Palouse River Rollers, and Snake Pit's juniors team - the Sweet Fangs - rumble with the Cherry Bomb Brawlers of Spokane. Admission is $5 in advance for adults and $8 at the door. Children 10 and younger are admitted free.

The team is always looking for new skaters, referees, volunteers and sponsors. They practice Thursday nights at Skate Plaza at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. Email them at snakepitinfo@gmail.com or visit their website at www.snakepitrollerderby.com.