Ruff Rollerz rough up Vixens

It wasn’t pretty, but then again, it’s roller derby — a knock-down, face-meets-floor game to begin with.

In Saturday’s second home game of the season at McDermont Field House, the Sin Cal Derby Vixens welcomed Santa Maria Ruff Rollerz, and then got hosed, 255-35.

The Vixens, who dropped to 1-3 since kicking off the season with a win two months ago, are in their first year of existence and, according to coach Darren Van Scyoc, still learning the ropes. Only four of them had any previous experience before donning the skates, helmets and elbow pads.

“We’re picking up the do’s and don’ts; each game is a different challenge,” said Van Scyoc, a first-year coach. “We’re still learning and we’re making mistakes. It’s a process.”

What this group of women from around the Central Valley — ages from roughly 18 to 40 — are learning is that when it comes to roller derby, putting on an entertaining show is nearly equal to winning.

“If we can hear that crowd, we get pumped up,” Vixens co-captain April “Dixie Rebel” Morris said. “We try to put on a show for them. We want them to come back; we don’t wanna make it boring for them.”

Morris, who chose the name of “Dixie Rebel” based off the “Dukes of Hazzard”-themed restaurant in Farmersville where she works, provided plenty of the crowd-pleasing moments for the Vixens.

Morris energized the majority of the 400 in attendance by speeding through holes to lead the team with 19 points spread across four jams, or “runs” of up to two minutes in length.

As a jammer (the player in scoring position), Morris is often put in harm’s way as she evades blockers twice her size. Though she gracefully leapt over falling skaters and squeezed through small openings with her slight frame, she didn’t escape them all — and tasted hardwood on multiple occasions.

“I just look for a hole when I’m skating,” she said. “There’s a lot going on — you have to worry about 10 different things.”

All this while dealing with a bout of scoliosis.

“As long as I keep stretching, I’ll be fine,” the 34-year-old said, laughing. “I’m tough.”

Morris broke a 24-0 run by the Ruff Rollerz to start the first half by quickly pulling ahead of Santa Maria’s “Mzbehavin” and signaling for an end to the jam to earn four points and prevent the Ruff Rollerz from building on their score.

But by the time Morris gave the Vixens three more points, the score was 54-7 and the rout was on.

“We’re struggling with our hitting,” Morris said. “We’re not being aggressive. We’re more worried about where our jammer is, but we should be focused on (the opponent nearby) to get them out of the way.”

Or perhaps the Ruff Rollerz were simply too quick and too experienced for the Vixens. “B.A. Blondee” led all scorers by running laps around the competition with 75 points while “Queenie” added 55 as the two accounted for nearly half their team’s points.

Captain Kassie “Mexi.Q.shin-her” Aguilar and Tammi “Fn2playwth” Chaddock — the only other two with experience — along with Laura Bravo, a.k.a. “Bad Bravo,” and Janie “Sinful N Sk8tz” Chavez were often out-sized by the bigger Ruff Rollerz.

The youngest Vixens addition, high-school senior Erin Slaney at 18 years of age, took multiple hard hits and remained on the floor for several moments before returning to action.

“They weren’t skating in a pack like they’re supposed to,” coach Van Scyoc said. “Hitting was the major thing.”

It also didn’t help the Vixens that Courtney “Xplicit” Silva was unavailable due to doctor’s orders. The all-purpose player likely would’ve made a difference, Morris said.

“It hurts a lot,” Morris said. “She’s a level ahead of me. Courtney’s all about strategy; she’s able to look one step ahead of the pack.”

Kari “Wetnwreckless” Gaither tallied 14 points and Karen “Dimples Deville” McCrain added two more. Despite her quickness, Yesenia “Sweetnez Killz” Velasquez was held in check from scoring with some hard hits.