Sambas scorch opponents in 8-under group

It has been quite a summer for the 8-under Sambas 3v3 Soccer Team. The team is comprised of seven players and is based in Columbia County.

//

The roster features one player, Drew Moses, from the Augusta Arsenal. Another player, Skyler Davis, is from Marietta and plays with the Cobb Football Club, while the remaining five players -- Parker Campbell, Jack Hyatt, Cole Williams, and Austin and Nick Grubbs -- all call Columbia County home.

All but two of the players are 8-years-old. Moses is 7 and Nick Grubbs is 6. The team has been crushing their competition in recent weeks, and they have set themselves up to participate in two huge events during the next few weeks.

First, the team dashed past the competition at an event in Jekyll Island. They were 6-0 and outscored their opponents 47-11. By winning the title, the team locked up a spot in the Challenge 3v3 National Championships, which will be held July 31 to Aug. 3 in Orlando, Fla., at Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Many teams would have a letdown after such a huge tournament victory. That certainly was not the case for the Sambas.

They followed up the Jekyll Island title with an even more impressive showing at an event in Carrolton, Ga.

During the Carrolton event, the Sambas posted a 7-0 record. But to say they simply won the tournament would be an understatement. The team blitzed the competition by scoring 68 goals and yielding just 15.

That's an average score of nearly 10-2, and four of their seven games were called early by virtue of the mercy rule.

Like their win at Jekyll Island, the Carrolton title also paid big dividends. The Sambas earned an invitation to play in the Kick It 3v3 Regional Tournament, which will be played in their own backyard. Columbia County's Blanchard Woods Park will play host to the event Aug. 9-10.

Sambas coach Jason Campbell said balance is what sets this team apart.

"We really can put any player in and not lose anything," Campbell said.

The concept of 3v3 (three players vs. three) soccer allows the younger kids to work on their offense more, and is played on a smaller field (40 feet by 30 feet).

It looks like the area might have a few future soccer stars in the making.

The team obviously faces a major expense in traveling to Orlando.

Anyone who would like to help out can make donations by calling Amy Grubbs at (706) 863-4300.