Arizona Ridge Riders overtake No. 1 rank in season standings with victory against Oklahoma Freedom
Colten Fritzlan (Rifle, Colorado), the Missouri Thunder’s No. 1 draft pick, knocked down a clutch game-winning ride in the bottom of the fifth frame of the opening game for PBR Outlaw Days Saturday night to beat the Austin Gamblers 86.75-86.25. Looking for more qualified rides and early momentum, the Gamblers, who began the game with a 1-2 record, slotted three new players into the starting lineup and moved two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) into the leadoff position. Originally matched up with Death Warrant (John Wyckoff/Frihauf Cattle Co.), Leme was awarded a re-ride after being marked only 62.5 points. With the Thunder unable to respond with a qualified ride as Leandro Machado (Nova Esperanca, Brazil) was bucked off by Midnight Flyer (Jane Clark/Gene Owen), the game remained scoreless through the midpoint of the third frame. After watching as his teammate Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) was unable to convert, Leme converted aboard his re-ride Mr. Winston (Dakota Rodeo/Mark Baker/Clay Struve/Chad Berger), marked 86.25 points to give his team an early lead. Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) of the Thunder was then bucked off in a heartbreaking 7.69 seconds. Following buckoffs by Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana) for the Gamblers and Clayton Sellars (Fruitland Park, Florida) for the Thunder, the game came down to the final round of riders. Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) had the chance to clinch the win for the Gamblers but was denied when Magic Potion (K-C Bucking Bulls/Daniels Cattle Co.) dispatched him in 3.89 seconds. As a result, the game came down to the Thunder’s Fritzlan, who needed a minimum of 86.25 points to tie. As the chute gate burst open, the Colorado native was in perfect time with Cold Creek (Young Cattle Co./Rocking A/Braswell), reaching the whistle for 86.75 points, earning the Thunder their first victory of PBR Outlaw Days by 0.5 points. When PBR Team Series competition in Kansas City continues Sunday afternoon, the Missouri Thunder (3-1) will face the host Kansas City Outlaws (1-3), while the Gamblers (1-3) will attempt to rebound against the Ariat Texas Rattlers (1-3).
“I’m feeling great,” said the Missouri Thunder’s Colten Fritzlan. “The bull tested me quite a bit. I’m just glad it all worked out. I wanted to make sure I got one rode for the team and myself. I’m loving it. I think if you keep it as simple as you can and stay on and do your job, it’ll all work out.”
Ariat Texas Rattlers Ride Three Bulls to Break Out and Upset the Carolina Cowboys to Earn Team’s First Game Win
Ariat Texas Rattlers: 257.25
Carolina Cowboys: 0
The Ariat Texas Rattlers, who had not ridden more than one bull in any game this season, rode three tonight in Kansas City to win their first PBR Team Series game this season. Punctuated by a score for a 47-year-old PBR World Champion, the Rattlers stunned the then-No. 1 Carolina Cowboys, 257.25-0. Riding for the Rattlers in the team’s first out inside T-Mobile Center Saturday night, Rafael Jose de Brito (Potirendaba, Brazil) quickly put the Fort Worth-based outfit on the board, covering Little Voodoo Jacket (Lari Crane/Gene Owen) for a crucial 87 points. While the Carolina Cowboys kept their roster unchanged from the start of regular-season competition, with reigning PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) remaining the roster’s leadoff rider, Head Coach Jerome Davis’s strategy would not work tonight. Although Swearingen had yet to buck off in four outs in PBR Team Series competition, he was brought down in a close 6.53 seconds by Nomad Max (Crooked Crown Bucking Bulls/Braswell). Not missing a beat, the Ariat Texas Rattlers grew their lead as the second frame got underway. First-round draft pick Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) was a dominant force atop Lone Survivor (Whitman Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.), scored 87 points and growing the Rattlers’ lead to 174 points. The Carolina Cowboys again failed to respond, with Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil) brought down by Baby Gangster (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) in a swift 3.18 seconds. With a two-ride lead, the Rattlers had the chance to clinch the game win in the third frame but fell just short after Australian sensation Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland, Australia) was awarded a re-ride in his initial showdown with Batter Up (Crooked Crown Bucking Bulls/Braswell Bucking Bulls). With the chance to change his team’s momentum, Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) could not right the ship for the Cowboys, beaten by the unridden JoJo (Gene Owen Bucking Bulls) in a heartbreaking 7.46 seconds. The fourth frame then brought the second potentially game-winning out for the Rattlers, this time a showdown between 2002 PBR World Champion Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brazil) and Dr. Campbell (Nancy Haverty/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger). The 47-year-old was a picture of perfection atop the powerful animal athlete, bringing the Show Me State crowd to its feet as he reached the requisite 8 for a crucial 83.25 points. With the Cowboys having just two outs remaining, the Rattlers clinched the win with a combined 257.25 points from their three qualified rides. As the game progressed, no rider for either team was successful, with the final scoreboard reading 257.25-0 to bring the Rattlers their first victory. On the final day of competition for PBR Outlaw Days, the Rattlers (1-3) will look to continue their red-hot momentum when they play the Austin Gamblers (1-3), while the Cowboys (2-2) will attempt to reclaim their winning form when they take on the Oklahoma Freedom (1-3).
“First of all, I say thank you God and to all of the team behind me, pushing, yelling for me, and then all the crowd,” said Ariat Texas Rattlers’ Ednei Caminhas. “Age is just a number. I love bull riding; bull riding is my blood. I’m here because God put me back over here. If I’m feeling good, I’m going.”
Arizona Ridge Riders Knock Down Second Game Win of PBR Outlaw Days, Beating Oklahoma Freedom by One Ride
Arizona Ridge Riders: 168.25
Oklahoma Freedom: 83
In a Saturday night showdown between two of the winning teams from the opening day of competition, the Arizona Ridge Riders beat the Oklahoma Freedom 168.25-83 in a game that went down to the final frame. After the night’s third game began with a Freedom buckoff suffered by Deklan Garland (Foster, Oklahoma), the intensity was ratcheted up as both teams struck in the following two outs. The Ridge Riders’ Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) was first to strike, covering Malakai (Jenkins Cattle Co.) for 86.25 points, while the Freedom’s Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) gave his team its first lead as he rode Homeboy (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb) for a game-best 87.25 points. With Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) unable to put his team back atop the scoreboard, the Freedom retained their 2-point lead as the third frame got underway. Surging young gun Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) was unable to deliver a clutch ride for his team, bucked off by Legend (Paradigm Bull Company) in a heartbreaking 7.27 seconds, opening the door for Sandro Batista (Pedra Preta, Brazil) to reclaim the lead for the Ridge Riders. Rising to the occasion, Batista rode Lady Killer (P. Ro Ranch/Lone Star/Pate/D&H Cattle) for 83 points. The fourth frame then featured buckoffs for both the Freedom and Ridge Riders, with the game’s fate once again resting in the hands of Freedom Captain Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina). In a must-ride fifth-frame position for the second consecutive evening, Vastbinder was unable to capitalize for his team, tossed by Lil Hott (Stinger/Brunner/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) in a quick 2.81 seconds to hand the Ridge Riders the win. Despite the game ending in a buckoff for Arizona’s Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil), the Ridge Riders’ opening two scores propelled them to a 168.25-83 win. The Arizona Ridge Riders (3-1) will continue to chase their first PBR Team Series event win Sunday afternoon when they next face the Nashville Stampede (2-2), while the Oklahoma Freedom (1-3) will be keen to rebound when they play the Carolina Cowboys (2-2).
Bulls Dominate as Nashville Stampede and Kansas City Outlaws Both Tally a Loss Following 0-0 Tie
Nashville Stampede: 0
Kansas City Outlaws: 0
As the second day of action for PBR Outlaw Days wound to a close, the bovine athletes dominated the night’s final game between the Nashville Stampede and host Kansas City Outlaws. The bulls surrendered no qualified rides and handed each team a loss following a 0-0 tie. As the game got underway, both Stampede Head Coach Justin McBride and Outlaws Head Coach J.W. Hart shook up their rosters. McBride moved 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) to the final frame, while Hart placed young gun Koltin Hevalow (Smithville, Missouri) in the final slot after the Missouri native was the lone rider to cover on the opening night of competition. During the first three frames, each team earned a re-ride; the Outlaws had home-field advantage as their re-ride was placed in the final frame, while the Stampede had theirs in the middle of the fourth. Despite valiant efforts by both teams, the scoreboard read 0-0 as Pacheco and Hevalow readied to ride, and Rafael Henrique dos Santos (Sebastianolopis, Brazil) prepared to attempt the Outlaws’ re-ride earned by Dustin Martinez (Canjilon, New Mexico). With Pacheco and Hevalow brought down prior to the 8, the game came down to Brazilian Santos. The 26-year-old, however, was unable to deliver, bucked off in a crushing 2.88 seconds by Patches (Sho-Me Rodeo). The Nashville Stampede (2-2) will look to shake off the loss Sunday when they play the Arizona Ridge Riders (3-1), while the Kansas City Outlaws (1-3) will continue to chase their first win in their home venue when they play the Missouri Thunder (3-1).
KANSAS CITY TEAM STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the Kansas City PBR Team Series event after the second day of competition for PBR Outlaw Days:
- Arizona Ridge Riders, 2-0-0
- Ariat Texas Rattlers, 1-1-0
- Oklahoma Freedom, 1-1-0
- Carolina Cowboys, 1-1-0
- Missouri Thunder, 1-1-0
- Nashville Stampede, 1-1-0
- Austin Gamblers, 0-2-0
- Kansas City Outlaws, 0-2-0
PBR TEAM SERIES SEASON STANDINGS:
Here are the current Team standings for the regular season after the second day of competition for PBR Outlaw Days in Kansas City:
- Arizona Ridge Riders, 3-1-0-6
- Missouri Thunder, 3-1-0-1
- Carolina Cowboys, 2-2-0-8
- Nashville Stampede, 2-2-0-3
- Austin Gamblers, 1-3-0-7
- Oklahoma Freedom, 1-3-0-5
- Ariat Texas Rattlers, 1-3-0-4
- Kansas City Outlaws, 1-3-0-2
AUGUST 7 GAME SCHEDULE:
Here are the game matchups for the third and final day of action for PBR Outlaw Days on Sunday, August 7:
Oklahoma Freedom @ Carolina Cowboys
Austin Gamblers @ Ariat Texas Rattlers
Nashville Stampede @ Arizona Ridge Riders
Missouri Thunder @ Kansas City Outlaws
About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series:
The PBR Team Series is an elite new league that will feature the world’s top bull riders competing on teams in five-on-five bull riding games during an 11-event season beginning in July and culminating in a team championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas November 4-6. During the 2022 season, each of the eight teams representing teams in Austin, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Glendale, AZ; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Oklahoma City, OK; Ridgedale, MO; and Winston-Salem, NC will host a three-day homestand. There will also be neutral site games in Cheyenne, WY and Anaheim, CA. To determine team rosters, the league held a rider draft on May 23 prior to start of the 2022 season among any bull riders who have declared for the draft during a league eligibility window. The PBR Team Series builds on the existing structure of professional bull riding with the same basic rules for judging and scoring qualified 8-second bull rides. Events will be staged in a tournament-style format with all teams competing in head-to-head matchups against a different opponent each day. Each game will feature five riders per team squaring off against another team. Full team rosters will be comprised of seven riders on the core roster and three practice squad members. The team with the highest aggregate score of qualified rides among its riders will be declared the winner of each game. The event winner will be the team with the most game wins across an event, with a special bonus round designed as a tie-breaker to determine final event standings. All PBR Team Series events will be carried on either the CBS Television Network, streaming live on Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, or RidePass on PlutoTV.
