6 CONS dodgeball’s best

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Latanya Reid
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  After several rounds of heart pumping, adrenaline rushing, sweating, dodging and screaming the 6th Contracting Squadron emerged as the overall winners at MacDill's Sports Week dodgeball tournament held at the fitness center, Oct. 30.

With more than 18 teams at hand from every squadron on base, the competitions atmosphere was set with a bang of excitement and growing anticipation for which team would be the last one standing.

"The teams performed very well and the players each put out a great effort," said Staff Sgt. Stacy Pitts, 6th Services Squadron, fitness and sports superintendent. 

Every match had the winners go up against each other defending their current position. The intent was to have all the other teams' players off the court by hitting them with the balls preferably at the feet.

"All the balls were being tossed with venom to knock their opponents off the court and over to the sidelines." said Sergeant Pitts. "But the crowds loved every bit off it."

This year's victor, the 6 CONS revealed their strategy was simply to use the small black balls used in the game to take out the next team and win every match.

However, the tournament was like a scene out of the popular Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn movie "Dodgeball," which at times put not only the players but the referees on edge.

As the balls bounced from wall to wall, the players saw their team mates being sent to the sides leaving one, sometimes two and maybe three to fend for themselves against the attacks of the dodge balls.

At the finals, the two teams left to face off were the Special Operations Command and the 6 CONS team. Airman 1st Class Jamie Calcasola, 6 CONS, against Army Sgt. 1st Class Albert Knox, SOCCOM, the remaining spectators watched intently to see who would be the last man standing.

The teammates out on the sidelines pitted each player against the other with screams of excitement and cheers but it was Calcasola who delivered the final blow to take Knox out of the game and win the title for 6 CONS.

Though the SOCCOM team took the runner-up position they plan to return next year but this time to leave as the winners.

"Each team proved to be a fierce competitor showing sportsmanship and determination until the end," said Sergeant Pitt. "The game was a good morale booster."