CAYSA's spring tournament reaches colorful conclusion

It was red versus orange. Shirts, socks and even hair showed which team the players were on.

Platers on both the Jackson Red and Cape teams in the first- and second-grade boys division of the Cape Area Youth Soccer Association's 23rd annual Spring Classic tournament this weekend had their hair painted to show team pride.

While many of the 71 teams did not go that extreme, the style seemed to work for the first- and second-graders, as Jackson Red won the division and Cape finished second.

Devon Barnes, in his first year as tournament director for CAYSA's recreational teams tournament, called the event a success.

"We avoided the rain, so that helped," Barnes said. "But most importantly, everybody seemed pleased with how the weekend went."

Barnes had another reason to consider the tournament a success.

"The team I coached won the championship, so that definitely made it more successful," Barnes said with a laugh.

The Cape Orange third-grade coed team that he coaches defeated the Perryville Drillers in the championship game for that age division.

Barnes was not the only participant in the event that enjoyed the weekend full of soccer.

Abby Goeckeler and Madison Baumgart, second-graders on the division champion Cape Orange Crush, both said they enjoyed the tournament.

Abby would not say soccer was her favorite sport, rather deciding she enjoyed whichever sport she was playing, but she knew what she enjoyed about soccer.

"I enjoy defense," said Abby, the team's goalkeeper. "And when we score goals."

Madison even gave a simple reason why she enjoys playing soccer.

"I can play with my friends," she said.

CAYSA SPRING CLASSIC SOCCER TOURNAMENTBoys Grades 1-2

Division A

1. Jackson Red; 2. Cape; 3. Perryville Bulldogs; 4. Union CountyDivision B

1. De Soto Saints; 2. Carbondale; 3. Jackson White; 4. Perryville Thunder; 5. Jackson Gray; 6. Union CountyGirls Grades 1-2

1. Cape Orange Crush; 2. Jackson Red; 3. Perryville Stars; 4. Union County; 5. Jackson WhiteCoed Grade 3

1. Cape Orange; 2. Perryville Drillers; 3. Jackson White; 4. De Soto Twisters; 5. Cape Gray; 6. Union CountyGirls Grades 3-4

Division A

1. Perryville Extreme; 2. De Soto Orange Crush; 3. Jackson RedDivision B

1. Perryville Comets; 2. Union County; 3. Cape Blast; 4. Jackson WhiteCoed Grade 4

Division A

1. Perryville Power; 2. Union County; 3. Cape TitansDivision B

1. Jackson White; 2. De Soto Dragons; 3. Union County; 4. MarionCoed Grades 5-6

1. Perryville Bombers; 2. Perryville Dominators; 3. Carbondale; 4. Perryville Storm; 5. Cape Fierce; 6. Jackson Red; 7. De Soto Flames; 8. De Soto Attack; 9. Union CountyGirls Grades 5-6

Division A

1. Perryville Magic; 2. Cape Orange Crush; 3. Jackson Red; 5. Mineral Area Stars and StripesDivision B

1. Perryville Blast; 2. Jackson White; 3. Carbondale; 4. Union County; 5. De Soto DragonsCoed Grades 7-8

1. De Soto United; 2. De Soto Nimrods; 3. Union County All-Stars; 4. Jackson Red; 5. Perryville Blast; 6. Cape Allen; 7. CarbondaleGirls Grades 7-8

1. Perryville Blast; 2. De Soto Dragons; 3. Cape Earthquake; 4. Jackson Red; 5. Perryville Kickers; 6. Mineral Area Stars and StripesHigh School

1. Jackson Bombers; 2. Union County Fire; 3. Cobden