Texas Rollergirls Season-Opener Recap

It was a night of firsts for the Texas Rollergirls this past Sunday. The first bout of the season, the first time on the track for the league's many rookie skaters, and the debut of the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers' sleek, onepiece unis (gone are the Daisy Dukes of years past). The Heartbreakers are hot off their third straight league championship, but due to major roster shakeups during the offseason, they are returning with a league-high nine rookies on their squad. Their opponents, the Hotrod Honeys, have six rookies, the Hustlers three, and the Hell Marys only two. An attempt to break up the dynasty? Who's to say? Certainly not your friendly Chronicle sports blogger.

The first bout of the night featured the Hell Marys vs. the Hustlers (my pick to win it all this year). Well, sorry to jinx ya Hustlers, but the Hell Marys came out with fire in their eyes and proceeded to take this bout 86-46. Former Heartbreaker Buckshot Betsy led the Hell Marys (it's a shame we'll never see her in those Daisy Dukes again) with longtime crowd favorite Dinah Mite doing her best to keep the Hustlers in it. OK Hustlers, revenge will be had at the next bout on April Fool's Day or else I really will feel as if I've cursed you with my prebout prediction.

Bout No. 2 of the evening was a rematch of last year's Championship game featuring the revamped Honky Tonk Heartbreakers and the out-for-blood Hotrod Honeys. Not only have the Heartbreakers threepeated as league champs but they have only lost one bout during that three-year span. There were a lot of questions to be answered Sunday night and I'm afraid the results were not what the Heartbreakers were looking for. Led by standouts Tinkerhell, Rice Rocket, and Miso Fresh (the Score's personal favorite) the Hotrod Honeys opened up a big lead and never looked back going up 50-22 by halftime with a final score of 106-39. The Honeys' Rollin Sweet made the most impressive move of the night doing a one-skated inside-track sneaking-by of the pack that had the crowd going nuts.

To give the Heartbreakers credit, Crazy Duke and the gang performed with an admirable never-die-spirit and saw some promising play from newbies such as Mary Lou Threaten and Olivia Shootin John. This could be the kick in the ass they need to return to their former championship form with one bout hardly telling the story of an entire season. Plus, they looked smokin' hot in their new onepiece uniforms somewhat similar in appearance to the Hustlers athletic-style garb.

Adrenaline Factor was the live music entertainment for the evening and they did their part with appropriately named lead singer Lee Scott screeching his best Bon Scott and even breaking out the keyboards for one tune lending it a Deep Purple kind of flavor. Two thumbs up for the Factor. Catch 'em this Friday, March 9 at Hanovers and check their Web site here.