Carolina Crown
The 2011 Drum Corps International Tour Monday, July 11 through Sunday, July 17

High scores of the week

World Class: The Cavaliers (87.90), July 17, Rockford, IL Open Class: Blue Devils B (82.70), July 17, Bellflower, CA High caption scores of the week by section World Class: Brass: Carolina Crown (17.5), July 17, Rockford, IL

Blue Devils B
Percussion: The Cavaliers (17.5), July 17, Rockford, IL Color Guard: The Cavaliers (17.4), July 17, Rockford, IL Open Class: Brass: Blue Devils B (16.6), July 17, Bellflower, CA Percussion: Blue Devils B (16.6), July 10, Bellflower, CA Color Guard: Blue Devils B (16.8), July 10, Bellflower, CA View all scores and recaps.

Storylines to watch

• A small margin of four tenths of a point separated second through fourth place on July 16 in Minneapolis, Minn. In the first time the two corps went head to head since June 19, Carolina Crown edged the Blue Devils by just 0.05 for second place. • The Cavaliers' score of 87.35 on July 16 in Minneapolis is on par with where the corps was at last year, having scored that same 87.35 on July 18, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa. One year ago in comparison: Carolina Crown was at 88.00 on July 19, 2010 (85.95 on July 16, 2011), Blue Devils were at 90.65 on July 19, 2010 (85.90 on July 16, 2011), and the Cadets were at 87.35 on July 18, 2010 (85.55 on July 16, 2011).

Santa Clara Vanguard
• As seen on Saturday, July 16 in Minnesota, the battle for the 12th spot at the World Championship Finals is likely to be a tight one. Though Troopers finished in 12th in Minneapolis, they were just 0.25 ahead of Spirit of Atlanta (Earlier in the week the two corps tied in Metamora, Ill.). Glassmen finished a little behind Spirit on Saturday, scoring 74.30 to Spirit's 74.45. While the Glassmen have made it into the Finals every year since 2004, Troopers last made the top 12 in 2009 and Spirit in 2007. • Santa Clara Vanguard exceeded 80 points for the first time this season on July 12, scoring 80.25 in Metamora, Ill. Madison Scouts did the same the next day, scoring 80.40 in Paddock Lake, Wis. On the verge are the Boston Crusaders (79.40, July 16 in Minneapolis, MN), Blue Stars (79.00, July 11 in Davenport, IA) and Blue Knights (78.60, July 16 in Minneapolis, MN). • Blue Devils B and the Vanguard Cadets became the first Open Class corps to put up scores in the 80s, both doing so on July 16 in Ontario, Calif., 81.20 and 81.05 respectively. Out east, Spartans followed suit on July 17 with an 80.45 in Malden, Mass. • Scoring behind the Madison Scouts by more than 4 points in June, Boston Crusaders are working their way up on the Wisconsin corps, finishing just 0.45 behind on July 16 in Minneapolis.

Madison Scouts
• After Impulse made a move on July 16 in Ontario, Calif., outscoring Gold 75.95 to 73.75, Gold turned the tables the next day in Bellflower, Calif., finishing 0.75 ahead. With neither heading to Indianapolis for the 2011 World Championships, the Bellflower competition was the last event for both of these corps this season. • It was on July 17, 2010 that the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets finished ahead of Blue Devils B to snap an undefeated streak that had led BDB to a win at the 2009 Open Class World Championship Finals. SCVC came within a tenth of a point of repeating history, scoring 82.60 to BDB's 82.70 on July 17 in Bellflower, Calif.

Upcoming events this week

Monday, July 18 Olathe, KS Lebanon, IL Tuesday, July 19 Wichita, KS Van Buren, AR

Blue Knights
Wednesday, July 20 Broken Arrow, OK Thursday, July 21 Denton, TX Friday, July 22 Houston, TX Odessa, TX Saturday, July 23 San Antonio, TX Sunday, July 24 San Antonio, TX View the complete 2011 Drum Corps International Tour schedule.