Sunday marked the final day of the first year for the Natchez Youth Soccer Under 18 League, culminating in Brookwater Energy’s 3-0 win over Britton & Koontz in the championship game.

After the championship game, 14 players were selected as the league All-Stars: Johnathan Elliott, Chance Garner, Ben Tillman, Byron Zerby, Chris Hughes, John Eric Myers, Carl Hayes, Patrick Biglane, Nicholas Anderson, Blase Gaude, Carlos Russell, Jordan Kirkwood, Christian Leurinda and Chad Jones.

Two of the league’s coaches, Jeff Kirkwood of Brookwater Energy and Mario Leurinda of Britton & Koontz, reflected on the league’s first season.

&uot;It’s been an excellent season,&uot; said Leurinda, who played professional soccer in Honduras and Mexico from the late-1960s to the mid-1970s. &uot;There were almost 50 players in this league.

&uot;I’m forming the first traveling team in Natchez so they play all year and so we can go to Jackson, Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.&uot;

&uot;This particular league is growing,&uot; Kirkwood said. &uot;This league winds up with the most players from the two schools (Natchez High and Cathedral).

&uot;The high schools help with this league and in return, the league helps train the high school kids for the November through February season.&uot;

Also, the players from Natchez High and Cathedral who played with each other during the city league season will go up against each other four times this upcoming season.

&uot;It’s not any different,&uot; said Natchez High senior Amber Blake about playing with the Cathedral players and having to play against them during the season.

&uot;I pretty much know how most of them play,&uot; she added. &uot;I know their capabilities.&uot;

Elliott, a senior at Cathedral, gave a different perspective.

&uot;I feel pretty good about it,&uot; he said. &uot;I think we’re going to win, though.&uot;