2008 Woodie Awards
1...2...3 Dodgeball
By: Bobby Mouren-Lauren
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Sports
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Sept. 1, 2008
Friendly yet competitive athletics was the scene at the Dodgeball Tournament held Sunday.
The action kicked off around noon with more than 16 teams entering the tournament.
Teams with names like the Speghetti Kids, Marion Party, and the Bidwell Booty Bandits were encouraged to dress outrageous. Most did with crazy hats, wigs, and even a team composed of male dancers.
The tournament took place in the Normal Street Bar parking lot, which was netted off to keep the balls in play. Music blasted from the speakers as the referee explained the rules.
Standard dodgeball rules applied, with two differences. In order to win the match the teams had to win two out of three games, and the teams are co-ed with at least one girl.
"We brought all guys not knowing that you had to have at least one girl," said Taylor Reese of team Good Looking. "So we literally had to ask a girl walking by if she wanted to play."
Taylor's team also found sponsors the morning of the event while at breakfast. Jack's Restaurant sponsored the team by giving it shirts, which it turned into costumes.
The crowd of spectators varied from teams waiting to play cheering each other on or regulars at the bar checking out the action. Throughout the afternoon people walking by or riding bikes would stop and watch through the nets.
Each match was started when the whistle blew, and all 10 competitors would run to the center line to fight for the three balls placed in the middle. Then chaos would erupt as people started getting beamed with the ball.
After three hours of competition it was down to four teams: LaSalles, Bidwell Booty Bandits, Outlaws, and the defending champions Most Hated.
In the first match Bidwell Booty Bandits defeated LaSalles with help from gunslinger Jeremy Green who's pinpoint throws sealed both games. In the next match Outlaws defeated Most Hated and gained a spot in the finals.
Going into the final match, Outlaws Trevor Caughey strategy was to "throw hard and aim high."
The Outlaws were a team assembled of players from the Chico Outlaws baseball team and the Bidwell Booty Bandits were a team of co-workers from Logan's Roadhouse.
The Bandits won the first game of the final, but in the second game of the final Jeremy Green suffered an injury and a timeout was called. He was able to continue but the Outlaws pulled out a victory in the second game and forced game three.
The final was down one player left on each side. Tyler Vogel, the last man left for the Bandits, was able to catch the final throw, eliminating the Outlaws from the tournament. The Bidwell Booty Bandits were crowned champions and claimed the $150 first place prize.
The theme throughout the day was to have fun, and the tournament provided just that. It was very competitive, but each match ended with teams shaking hands.
Bobby Mouren-Laurens can be reached at
bmouren-laurens@theorion.com
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