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Kids Get Their Kicks In For Soccer’s Opening Day
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On the run, a player for the EHS Sports Boosters-sponsored purple team tries to outdistance both his teammates and opponents from Gartner Art Glass orange jersey team during a Saturday morning Opening Day soccer game in the co-ed Squirts division, for ages 5 and 6. Marg Jackson/The Times

Adding to an already hectic week in Escalon, it was the Opening Day for the city’s youth soccer season on Saturday, Aug. 7.

The week featured National Night Out on Aug. 3, several days of Park Fete events and the youth soccer festivities.

Recreation Services Coordinator Bridget Gaines said the soccer program has more than 450 kids taking part this season.

“There are 42 teams; a total of 464 participants,” Gaines noted.

Divisions are: Squirt, ages 5 and 6; Pee Wee, ages 7 and 8; Minors for ages 9 and 10; Major/Senior for those ages 11 to 14.

Games are scheduled on Saturdays, with the season just kicking off this past weekend, Aug. 7 and running through Oct. 2.

Many of the young participants – along with some parent coaches – also attended Saturday’s Park Fete events before or after their games, sporting their colorful soccer jerseys.

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The competition was fierce in the Major Girls division on Saturday, with a couple of players here battling it out for control of the ball as the dark blue Hula’s Navy Seals team took on the light blue-clad Blue Devils sponsored by Real Estate with @ms.laura.lou. The day featured games in many divisions on Aug. 7. Marg Jackson/The Times