Dodgeball tournament works as fundraising quirk

A sport often played during physical education and glamourized by Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn heated up the gym on Saturday at Aiken High School.

Seven teams with six members each laced their sneakers and prepared for battle as the first Dodgeball Tournament fundraiser tested participants' athletic ability and agility. In the game of dodgeball, there are several ways to take an opponent out and the team who moves the fastest, throws the hardest and dodges the most blows is victorious.

Saturday, one team rose to the occasion and stood out above the rest. The Carls reached the championship game of the double-elimination tournament undefeated. Their opponents, the Rubber Ducks, suffered an early loss and battled their way back through the tournament to compete with the Carls for the title of tournament champions.

The Rubber Ducks claimed victory in the first best-of-5 series; however, since the tournament was double-elimination both teams stood with one loss. The Carls battled back, knocking out player after player until no one was left standing. Members of the winning Carls team include Kyle Beckner, Hampton Jones, Ben Dinges, James Barber, Spencer McCants and Greg Milanes.

Teams ranged in age and ability as everyone was invited to participate.

"Most of us only ever played dodgeball in elementary school," said Emily Lee, a member of the Lil' Leprechauns dodgeball team. "We are very competitive and even though we didn't make the finals we had good teamwork." The team agreed that for next time they would work on a better strategy, throw lower and not try and catch balls thrown really hard.

The tournament, a fundraiser for the girls' softball teams, was organized by the parents. Aiken softball coach David Hanna was pleased with the event and the turnout. Responsible for his team's own fundraising, Hanna was thrilled at the teamwork it took to bring the event together.

"In order for a team to be successful, it takes parents, players and coaches all working together," he said. "This was entirely parent-organized."

"It is an unusual way in Aiken, (despite) these hard times, to raise money for kids and athletic programs," tournament planner Bob Besley said. "We will play again."

In fact, after parents saw the success and the fun on Saturday, they joined together and planned for another tournament in March.

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