BY: AZ DERBY DAMES

The Arizona Derby Dames 2008 double-header season is underway! Next up, Sat, March 29: The Schoolyard Scrappers vs. The Coffin Draggers, and The Bombshells break in Arizona Derby Dames' newest team, The Runaway Brides.

The Dames' regulation season kicked off March 1st with another capacity crowd at the Castle Sports Club that saw a mind-blowingly huge win for The Schoolyard Scrappers over The Bombshells, followed by a repeat of the 2007 championship results with The Brutal Beauties taking The Coffin Draggers once again.

It's the "Brawl & Pain" as The Runaway Brides skate down the aisle for the first time, led by Captain Ann Thrash and Co-Captain Dirty Martini, formerly of The Coffin Draggers. This may be a new team, but it's not the group of rookies you'd expect. Made up of four hard-blocking former Coffin Draggers, four veteran Bombshells, and two skaters from the champion women's Excalibur Hockey team that have beat the Derby Dames at their own game twice in past exhibition bouts. Don't expect these bouting virgins to just lie down for The Bombshells. Led by captain Phenomenon & co-captain Gabrihella Gauntlet, The Bombshells will surely have the inside track to develop a strategy to skate against their former team mates and now Brides, Tara Limzov (formerly Miss Elle Crisis), A. Malicious, Gwen Steponya and Mighty Menace.

The Schoolyard Scrappers are coming off their first ever win (with the largest point spread in Arizona Derby Dames history) fully focused and intent on an undefeated season. The Coffin Draggers' Captain Dolly de los Muertos has her core team growing strong and working well together and will have the addition of some brand new Dragger blood to her team in time for this match up, in the form of just graduated fresh meat hot off their three months of training.

D.J. Russell will be playing the best rockabilly, punk, and rock for the night, and to add to the festivities Arizona Derby Dames merchandise featuring logos and images of your favorite teams and skaters will be on sale. Raffles will be held for derby goodie bags.  Stop by our recruiting table to find our about your next chance to be an Arizona Derby Dame. And visit the various vendors like Fetish Falls, Lowbrow Clothing and Freakywearz that will be set up in the lobby.

The Castle Sports Club is located at 11420 North 19th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85029-3604 (602-331-2582). Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the bouts starting at 8 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased for $9.50 at Bookmans. A limited number of $15 reserved front row seats are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will be $10 at the door the night of the bout. This will be a family event, with kids 12 & under always admitted free. And after the game, adults can follow the Dames to their official party venue, Hazelwood's First Place Bar and Grill, on Indian School just east of 36th Street. Contact myspace.com/azderbydames for special rates about groups of 10 or more.