Bayside Thunder Sweeps Endless Summer

by Ron Hillis

>The Bayside Thunder, under Assistant Coach Chris Woodson, took home the soccer championship from the 2009 Panama City Endless Summer Classic. This makes the second tournament the Thunder has won in the fall season and is undefeated in tournament play. The team continues to improve on offensive while maintaining their traditional defensive standards. The Thunder finished the tournament with a total score of 15-2.

>On Saturday the Thunder beat Mobile Soccer 6-0 in a game that featured two goals by Jack Shows. In the night game the Thunder beat a solid Birmingham United team 3-0. The game was 1-0 at the half from a rare goal from back defender Hunter Hillis who followed up a deflected shot from forward Landon Scheffler. In the second half forwards Doug Overlade and Jack Begley added goals to seal the win.

>On Sunday the Thunder played Albany, GA Hotspurs in the semifinals and spotted them an early 1-0 lead less than one minute into the game. Overlade responded before the half with a chip shot over their keeper. Mitch Hagood started the second half with a long dribble around two defenders and the keeper for 2-1 lead. The Thunder then took control of the game with a series of ball controlling possessions that put the keeper out of position for a Begley score.

>The championship game featured another Santa Rosa county team, Futbol Club Santa Rosa from Pace. Like the earlier game the FCSR scored with only 34 seconds off the clock but mid fielder Derek Borgsteede scored before the half to tie the game. The Thunder controlled the second half for 3-1 win that feature a Danny Gibble header from a Begley cross.

>Coach Ken MacDonald was in Taiwan where he coached the USA Women's Deaf Soccer Team to the gold medal over Germany. The next tournament for the Thunder will be the FloraBama Classic in Orange Beach on Sept 20/21.

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