Preview: 2012 WFTDA West Region Playoffs

By Lex Talionis, Last updated Thu Sep 20 2012 7:29pm

Friday 8 pm: 3W Bay Area vs 6W Rat City

The first day's headline bout looks set to be a barn burner, despite the ranking disparity. When BAD faced Rat back in July, BAD eked out a 5-point win in a game that featured two first-half lead changes and a Rat comeback that fell just short.

Both Bay Area and Rat City have shown generally strong form in 2012. BAD are 5-2 on the year; they started 2012 with a trip to Denver that saw them fall to their heaviest defeat since February 2010 when they were steamrolled by the Denver Roller Dolls. They bounced back quickly, though, posting a next-day 47-point win over Rocky Mountain -- the same team that handed them their biggest-ever loss that February two years ago. The Bay Area crew's only other loss this year came when they ran up against the Gotham juggernaut in Texas in July; while they lost by 103 points, their performance against the New Yorkers is second only to Rose City this year.

Bay have had some roster turnover since the playoffs last year; it'll be Bay's first Western regional tournament without the services of long-standing stars Friskie Meow and Astronaughty. Other 2011 BAD players not appearing at Bay of Reckoning are Frank n Hurter, Trixie Pixie, Aunti Christ, Psychoserapissed and Little Miss Masochist. Former Santa Cruz Derby Girl Lulu Lockjaw has been a breakthrough star for the BAD crew this year, and will be expected to make an impact at Bay of Reckoning.

Rat City has had the busier 2012, with an 8-2 sanctioned run with that five-point loss to Bay sitting next to a 33-point loss to Rose City. Their only shared opponent with BAD this year has been the once-dominant Texas Rollergirls; Texas visited Seattle and put up a creditable 53-point loss, while BAD beat Texas by 71 as the Texecutioners went 0-3 on home soil during the Star of Texas Bowl.

Rat has also seen substantial roster turnover in 2012. Ann R Kissed, Goodie Two Skates, Wile E Peyote, ReAnimate Her, Primp Daddy, Valtron 3000, sHedonist and Juliet Bravo all made the trip to Bridgetown Brawl last year but won't be making an appearance at Bay of Reckoning. On the other hand, Rat City does have the services of the destructive Anya Heels this time out; she missed the majority of the 2011 season on knee injury. The combination wall of Heels and similarly lethal Hard Cora presents opposing jammers with a very intimidating challenge.

The winner of this game goes onto the second semifinal and a probable bout with Denver at 8 pm on Saturday; the loser plays in the consolation rounds at noon on Saturday.

Bay Area: 0 Slaybia Majora // 000 Demanda Riot // 1 Liza Machete // 10 Huck Sinn // 16 Booyaya! // 1619 belle RIGHT hooks // 170 Sugar Pusher // 19 Steely Jan // 21 Lulu Lockjaw // 238 Baron von Punchausen // 26 Chantilly Mace // 32 Nock Nock // 381 Razor Girl // 500 Ivy Profane // 505  Shannon Dorato // 52 Kid Ace // 6 Kristi Yamagotcha // 7 Murderyn Monroe // 86 Gretchen Vomette // 888 Brawllen Angel

Rat City: 00 Kamikaze Kim // 12 Carmen Getsome // 123 Full Nelson // 14 Shorty Ounce // 20 Yoko Onoudint // 22 Jalapeno Business // 247 Hard Cora // 319 Glitter // 321 Missile America // 33 Mona Agony // 34 Method of Madness // 357 Sami Automatic // 4 Belle Tolls // 49 Teeny Mussolini // 5 Poise N'Bury // 505 Lucinda Pack // 6 Anya Heels // 69 Killah Kelly // 9 Sirius Mischief // 911 Luna Negra