Dodgeball Play by Play

I recently attended a dodgeball game at the Dunford Community Center. It was hosted by Robert Taylor and Tom Wakefield, founders of Dallas Dodgeball. I was told that the games have been going on now for 2 years and are played every other Saturday. The game is open to all who want to play and costs no more than $5.00 to participate. Balls are provided. Schoolyard and common-sense rules apply. Now I haven't played or seen a live dodgeball game since I was in grade school. So I took a seat watched the players warmed up there arms by throwing balls at the walls, I waited for the mayhem to commence. There were about 30 - 35 players of all ages; Kids, teens, and adults almost all them boys and men. There was only one girl, a newcomer to the game named Andrea. Before the contest started the players split into two teams. I seen that the founders were on the same side, newcomer girl was there as well. Among the other players was a teen named Pepper. They faced a strong opposing team, whose members included Cooper, called Little Man and an intense player named Alex. Among their players was John, who looked as if he was born to play dodgeball. Robert blew the whistle to get the first round underway. Everybody ran for a ball and then back to the wall before opening up on each other. I can tell right off that some players really get into the game. As fallen  players come to the bench, chatter starts and heckling begins. "Hey little man get him!". Founders are up against the wall. "Don't pay attention to my voice -You can still do it!" "Shut-up!" Only Tom and Robert are left. Get the Ball! Little man got him while recovering from a near-miss. Founders lose. Line up for the next round against the wall; whistle blows, grab balls, back to line. "Whoa!" One player in the middle miraculously dodges two balls thrown at him. "Are you OK?" John's out, so is intense Alex. Balls are flying everywhere. "Duck!" Little man's team loses. 3rd round - whistle; one guy ran too far and now he's out. Little man points to himself and then ducks his head. "Hey Little man I need that ball!" "You're going to have to catch it!" Missed newcomer girl. The founders play close together. That looked like it hurt. Robert psychs-out an opposing player. "Hit the girl! Hit the girl!" and out she goes. Founders win. Next round their team got clobbered. "You're saving energy for a second wind!" "She's a girl let her win!" "Oh No way! If you guys don't hit me I'll never learn" "Little man Watch out!" "Keep running up!" 5 on 4. Ball is thrown diagonally. "Dang! That was close!" Pepper is out. There goes John. Once it gets down  to a handful of players they move in close for the kill, pursuing them and knocking them out. "You're out!" Little man is last of 3 still standing "He's out!" He contests. "Its alright man, he's still in." He dropped the ball - How? Newcomer girl gets put out. She lands on her backside. Robert Taylor is by himself against three. He takes two out, but Little man takes him out. Little man's team wins. 5th round - Intense man is playing to win. "Get it! Get it!" A spectator is hit twice by two different players. Pepper is out. "My aim is still spot-on as you can tell" "That was totally an accident" Newcomer girl is sent to the bench. "I didn't even see it coming."  Little man is all by himself. "You can stand there all day!" Little man wins the game. 6th - An intense chase for some down to the balls and back to the wall. "Jump!" Little man is put out. "Wow!" Newcomer girl dodges a throw. John is out. "Look out!" Pepper takes a hit.  "Catch the ball!" Founders win. There's a storm outside and it knocks the power out to the Rec center - game continues in the dark. By Sergio Garcia