Dodgeball Tourney Raises Record $1.5K

Outside, the skies were gray and the temperatures cool — in the mid-40s — with an intermittant drizzle. But inside the gym Sunday, the spirit of good-natured competition was high as the 's dodgeball tournament pitted teams against one another to raise funds for a very good cause.

"We raised $1,500 this year from registration alone this year," says Jessica Carso, senior director of fund development for the Middlesex YMCA. "We broke last year's record and we had to move from the YMCA gym because it became so much bigger and more popular. There are a lot of new faces this year. It's a great mix of people and a lot of competition."

Sixteen teams faced off for the double-elimination competition, which drew entrants among Y members, staff and families from Middletown to Waterbury who likely hadn't played dodgeball since grade school.

Emcee for the day was Senior Director of Membership & Programs Patrick Connelly, who took his microphone duties seriously with the Vince McMahon treatment, pacing the center line between the two court halves, where each of two teams matched up.

All the YMCA folks pitched in to make the event a success, including Tony Sharillo, Senior Director of Youth & Camp, who helped set up and break down the competition; Sue Dionne Aquatics Director, who cheered on teammates on the sidelines; Amy Cardoza, School Age Child Care Coordinator, who helped compile each game's winners in the brackets; and School Age Child Care Director Melanie Cafora, who aptly worked the clock.

It was an exciting spectacle for the fans to see amazing high jumps and swift avoidances of the familiar red, blue, green and yellow foam balls lobbed at breakneck speed.

The final championship game pitted the undefeated Middlesex YMCA Blue Team against the Hard-Hitters of the Waterbury YMCA, as the Blues, who had played four games to the Hard-Hitters' six, claimed victory.

The Blue Team, took home a $50 gift certificate to and the runners-up, the Hard-Hitters, claimed a $25 Mondo gift certificate, both donated by the popular pizza spot at 10 Main Street in Middletown.

The YMCA Community Support Campaign benefits three programs, all focusing on health and improving quality of life: Strong Kids allows children in need to attend summer camp, before- and after-school care, sports and swim lessons; Building Healthy Communities works on health needs like diabetes, arthritis and obesity; and Lessons for Life provids swim lessons and water safety instruction for any child or adult who wishes to learn the skill.

Read the Middlesex YMCA blogs on Patch , and .

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