Dodge Ball a hit for Malta Parks and Recreation

It’s no secret the Malta Parks and Recreation has been busy trying to keep both adults and children more active throughout the week. The organization led by managers Natalie Judd and Julia Tatafu has had success at sports including softball, volleyball and soccer. But one of the lesser known games has also been a hit. That game is Dodge Ball.

The six week Dodge Ball League is a couple of weeks in and 83 kids have showed up to play.

Parks and Recreation has hosted the event for kids pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, with those grades grouped pre-k through kindergarten, first through third grades and fourth through sixth grades.

One of those kids include six year-old Maddy Tatafu, who is in kindergarten at Malta Elementary School.

“It’s fun to play,” Maddy answered when asked why she liked Dodge Ball.

Maddy admits that running is one of her favorite parts about the game.

“I like to run,” she said.

She also said that her favorite target was Beau Nelson.

With Maddy’s mother being a Parks and Recreation Manager, chances are that Maddy found out about Dodge Ball before a lot of her competition.

“I was surprised,” Maddy said. “I was scared because I did not know what it was.”

She admitted she was fine after her first game and that getting hit with a foam ball does not hurt.

Six year old Sam Boonstra said that his favorite part of Dodge Ball is throwing.

“Conway Pagett,” Boonstra said, when asked who his favorite target was.

He found out about Dodge Ball through his mother Stacy Boonstra.

“I was excited,” Boonstra said admitting that he had never played the game before.

Boonstra went on to say that he loved the game, but based on how he rated himself as a player his confidence may need a boost.

“I would give my throw a two,” Boonstra said.

He was then asked about his defense on a 1-10 scale, with one being the lowest and 10 the highest.

“A two,” he said.