200 Teams Expected At Second Soccer Jam

Thu., Aug. 3, 2000

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

This will be the second year of the Spokane Soccer Jam 3-on-3 soccer tournament.

And this will be the final year to work out any kinks before making it a statewide event, according to tournament director Dave Berto.

The tournament - a fund-raiser for Spokane Youth Sports - is Aug. 12 at the Dwight Merkel Complex, formerly known as the North Complex. It is open to youth ages 6 to 18.

Berto expects about 200 teams to participate, about 20 more than last year. The cost is $84 per team and teams are guaranteed three matches. Games are 30 minutes. If there’s a tie, teams play until one team scores or until one team reaches three corner kicks.

The tournament has gone from a round-robin scoring format last year that was based on points to a double-elimination bracket tournament.

There are boys and girls divisions and premier divisions for high school players. Coed teams must play in the boys division.

In upcoming years, Berto said he hopes the tournament will become the largest of its kind in the area - similar to Hoopfest. He can see between 400 and 600 teams competing from all over the Northwest. Next year, Spokane Youth Sports will promote the event in Seattle, Portland and Montana.

“This is our last year to hone the product and make sure it’s right and has the right flavor,” Berto said.

For more information contact 466-6590 or soccerjam.org.

Tennis fund-raiser

Medical Lake High School tennis coach Leroy Lemaster has heard that the mayor might agree to play a Channel 2 sports anchor, and that former Cardinals tennis star Josh Greene will face off against one of his former Gonzaga University teammates.

Coming to the Medical Lake tennis courts soon.

Medical Lake’s annual 24-hour tennis marathon is Aug. 23. Lemaster spearheads the event. He participated in similar fund-raisers while growing up in Twisp, Wash.

This is the third year of the event, which begins at noon and continues until noon the following day. Last year, $2,500 was raised for the community’s food bank and outreach program.

The goal is to top $3,000 this year.

The event’s first four hours will be dedicated to free tennis lessons for kids. There will be contests throughout the event, including a fast-serve competition.

For more information contact Lemaster at 299-3615.

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