Forecast for Monday nights: 100 percent chance of being hit by rubber balls on the tennis courts. From left to right: Alex Knutson, Peter Miller, Craig Hardy, Steve Miller, Nate Cadieux and Mike Maggiora are looking for fellow dodgeball players to battle. (Photo by Ashley Henderson)

By Ashley Henderson

Staff Writer

Dodgeball is not just a game. It’s a sport of champions. The excitement of treading on crossfire-ridden courts, on which only the elite dare to play, is an enthusiasm that is difficult to match.

What drives average citizens, students, rookies or sports fans to challenge themselves and others to utilize their skills in such a sport?

“The urge to hit someone in the face with a dodgeball,” said avid dodgeball athlete and PLNU alumnus Peter Miller. “But it’s all in good fun. You say you’re sorry and give ‘em a high-five after.”

Dodgeball enthusiasts play every Monday night at 8:15 p.m. on the PLNU tennis courts.  Regulars such as Nate Cadieux, Craig Hardy, Alex Knutson, Steve Miller and Mike Maggiora have even managed to invent other games while gracing these courts. One invention is “extreme hardball.” It is very similar to dodgeball, but it’s every man for himself on a half-court.

“You don’t stop until everyone is out,” said Hardy.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this group’s version of dodgeball is the “murder ball.”

It’s a “softball-sized ball that you can’t see because it flies so fast,” said Miller.

The group has popped around 30 balls since they began blasting them across the courts, said Hardy. But deflated balls have not discouraged the group.

“Dodgeball has been around since I can remember,” said Hardy, who began playing his junior year at PLNU. “We’ve been playing for around four years.”

The event even has its own Facebook group, “faceshots count,” which allows the PLNU dodgeball community to stay connected.

“Its good camaraderie,” said Miller. “It’s a good way to stay connected with friends and great exercise.”

Hardy and Miller encouraged dodgeball fans everywhere to join their underground clique.

“Come one, come all,” said Hardy. “It’s an open event. We want to pass on the old tradition.”

The four-year-old flame has not gone out for Hardy.

“I’ll be playing forever,” he said.