Dodge or Die; Growing group of dodgeball enthusiasts are taking; aim

All's fair in love, war and ... dodgeball.

Just ask 9-year-old Josiah Brubaker, who got drilled on the right side of his face during a game Wednesday night by - get this - his 45-year-old father.

"It's not that bad," said the boy, who'd been playing barefoot, as he sat on the sidelines waiting to get back into the contest. "It's just like a shock."

Yes, folks, that's right: Dodgeball, the activity sweeping across the nation, has finally made its way to our region. With the success of the Ben Stiller comedy "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," it seems interest in the elementary school favorite has hit an all- time high.

"I haven't seen the movie, but I'd assume we'd follow suit with the larger cities, just a couple steps behind" said Josiah's father, Tom Brubaker, who voluntarily took himself out of the game for the illegal head-shot.

Wednesday marked the inaugural night for dodgeball at the Liberty Lake Athletic Club, the only such venue in the area to offer the activity, said organizer Sean McFarland.

He and his co-worker Ryan Long, both 24, saw the movie and decided to get something going.

"This was the most wild growing up, you know?" said McFarland as he officiated dodgeball games for about 45 minutes. "Hands down, this was what you wanted to play."

Even before the success of the movie, 20-somethings were itching to bring back the sport. McFarland said he saw college students at Washington State University in Pullman competing in dodgeball intramurals.

In Oregon, the Portland Co-Ed Adult Dodgeball League finished its first season this spring. According to the league's Web site, 150 people came out and eight teams competed regularly.

And the National Amateur Dodgeball Association, which was created as a recreational pursuit for nontraditional sports fans, hosted a national outdoor tournament in Illinois this July.

At the local level, those looking for a dodgeball fix can visit Liberty Lake club, which will host hour-long sessions on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. this month with plans for two leagues in the fall. In the Valley, Medley's Lounge is holding its first four-on- four dodgeball tournament today with the hope that it becomes a community staple.

Of the 75 people who showed interest in the athletic club's session, about 20 made an appearance, mostly kids. At Medley's, the 22 teams are made up of guys all ages and body types.

So it goes without saying that a rarity in the activity, at least up to this point, is female participation. Only three girls played at the Wednesday session, and two are lifeguards at the club!

MacKenzie Sinclair, a 17-year-old Post Falls High School student, said the key to a successful run is an older, more diverse crowd.

"You don't wanna go out there and, like, hurt little kids or anything," the lifeguard said.

This afternoon, Cris Coffield, a PE teacher at Rogers High School, can be seen in a steel cage at the parking lot of Medley's competing in the double-elimination bar tourney.

Because of his line of work, Coffield figures to have an advantage - he gets to play with the kids, who hurl balls at one another once or twice a week.

"You wouldn't believe the turnout we get," he said. "The kids love it so much."

One of the keys to the game is that anyone can play it, no matter one's skill level. And the perk? It keeps you feeling young.

"I'm 31, but I act like I'm 17," he said.

So come this afternoon, it's a safe bet to say the reaction of grown men will be the same as that of one youngster at the conclusion of Wednesday night's shootout.

"One more game?"

SIDEBAR: LOCAL ACTION What: Dodgeball double-elimination tournament Where: Medley's Lounge, 14415 E. Sprague Ave. When: Matches begin at 9 a.m. today Who: Registered teams (no late entries) Why: Because it's fun

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