Glen Frank and Susan Theran were cruising south on the beach bike path in Newport Beach when they slowed to see what all the commotion was all about.
“Is that a dodgeball game?” Frank said, taking a sharp left on his beachcruiser and heading toward the blacktop at Newport Elementary School, where 17 teams were battling it out during the annual “Dodgeball on the Beach.”

Click here or on the image to the right to check video of the games.
“They play a lot rougher then when I was in elementary school,” said Theran, letting out an “Oh my God,” as a player got pelted.
Players were drenched in sweat during the sweltering heat, but it didn’t stop them from wailing on the opposing teams during the matches.
“This is the beginning of summer,” said co-organizer Stan Divranos. “It’s the best event  the coast has ever seen.”
Ryan Staples of team District Lounge said his team got killed during the first match, and the competition seemed tougher this year.

“We’re waking up though. We all worked until 4 a.m.,” he said. “Of course, it has to be one of the hottest days of the year.”
There were a few things he picked up on that helped his game – like don’t use sunscreen because it makes the ball slip.
The strategy on team Legends was to select one person on the opposing team, then have everyone throw their balls as hard as they can to get that person out.
“Well, it’s not working that well,” said player Lorin McGregor. The team was sporting Lakers colors as their uniform. “I think we look better than we play. It’s still hanging out with the boys.”
And that’s what Peninsula Pride’s Dodgeball on the Beach is all about, connecting the coastal community. Organizer Khari Johnson started the competition four years ago, enlisting local businesses and neighbors to sign up. There were teams from Blue Beat bar, as well as players from the Sober Living by the Sea.
Chris Ceja, on team “ARB,” was one of the few girls who got out there for the tournament. Ceja was joined by co-workers.
“It was more fun than I thought it would be,” she said. “I knew being a girl, I’d be a target. But I lasted longer than some of the guys.”

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