The Scorpions Soccer Squad is, from left, Tito Martinez, Jacob Cernovich, Martin Conde, Michael Angelo Perez, Kee’gan Utenage, Miguel Moran, Mateo Conde, David Diaz, Ismael Cardozo, Cristian Leisure and Coach Mario Perez. [Photo courtesy of Evelin Perez]

The coaches and players on a team in a Kewanee Park District soccer league felt that the league season wasn’t long enough.

So, they kept practicing and playing soccer after the season ended and took part in a recent tournament in the Quad Cities.

Evelin Martinez, who with her husband Mario volunteered to help coach the team, said the players and coaches hope their team, which they’ve dubbed the Scorpions Soccer Squad, can develop into a 10-and-under traveling soccer team.

Mrs. Martinez said the local team has already been invited to take part in a tournament in Burlington, Iowa, in February.

At the tournament at the TBK Bank Sports Complex in Bettendorf, Iowa, the Scorpions lost their first two games. They won their last game and finished third in the tournament.

Mrs. Martinez said the local team faced teams in the tournament who were soccer clubs, which had more coaches and practices than they’ve had.

The Scorpions have practiced once a week since the park district soccer season ended.

All of the team members are from Kewanee, and they proudly wear orange and black uniforms like those worn by Kewanee School District athletes.