Competitive soccer returns, golf, horseshoes play on
The Magic is back!
Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization announced it is reviving its competitive soccer program after a two-year hiatus.
Three years ago in an effort to compete with top clubs in the Tampa Bay area, MAYSO’s Manatee Magic merged with FC Sarasota. After two seasons that produced mixed results at best, there was a cry from Island and west Bradenton players and parents to revive the competitive program. No longer will players and parents need to make the long drive to Lakewood Ranch or Sarasota two or three times per week for soccer practices.
In addition, the MAYSO board worked hard to keep the cost of playing competitive soccer to a minimum. The Magic player fee of $350 is lower than the $550 and higher fees for other area soccer clubs’ competitive soccer. The Magic also is offering a discount of $50 for an additional sibling in a family of players.
Tryouts for girls and boys ages 8-17 will be held June 6-11 at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton according to the following schedule:
• U9-U10: 5:30-7 p.m. June 6, 8, 10.
• U11-U12: 7-8:30 p.m. June 6, 8, 10.
• U13-U18: 6-8 p.m., June 7 & 9 and 9-11 a.m. June 11.
For more information, e-mail Guy Virgilio at director@mayso.org or your reporter, Kevin Cassidy, at sportspg@tampabay.rr.com.
Manatee Magic also is looking for parents to become involved on the board of directors and in other volunteer work for the league.
Key Royale golf news
The men of the Key Royale Club played a nine-hole, team-low-gross game May 9. The team of Vince Meracadante, Earl Huntzinger, Tom Warda and Carl Voyles took first place with a 50.
The men then played a nine-hole, handicapped Stableford-system game May 10 in individual and team formats. Mike Pescitelli was the individual winner with a plus-6, while the team of Saul Ladd, Dieter Bruckolt, Hoyt Miller and Jeff Ladd won the team event with a plus-6.
The club women took to the course May 10 for a nine-hole, individual-low-net match in two flights. Flight A saw Penny Williams card a 4-under-par 28 to take first place by two strokes over Sandy Dahl. Marilyn Thorton was another shot back in third place.
Sally Keyes fired a 5-under-par 27 to take first place in Flight B by two strokes over Mary Pat Swamy. Judy Ward came in at third place with a 2-under-par 30.
The men played an 18-hole, two-best-balls-of-foursome match May 11. The team of Bill Gallagher, Dennis Schavey and Bob Dickenson combined to card a 98. The team of Jim MacVicar, Pieter Thomassen and Dave Kruger were two shots back in second place.
Horseshoe news
Only two teams emerged from pool play during May 14 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Ron Pepka and P.J. Pepka took on Jeff Moore and John Johnson in a back-and-forth affair that saw the Pepkas take an early lead and Moore and Johnson then took the lead at 19-18. But P.J. Pepka stepped up and threw a ringer to give the day’s bragging rights to Team Pepka.
Four teams qualified for the playoffs during May 11 horseshoe action. In the first semifinal game, Karl Thomas and Ron Pepka rolled past Hank Huyghe and Norm Good 21-7, while Art Kingstad and Sam Samuels defeated Jay Bristow and Bruce Munro 22-7. It was all Pepka-Thomas in the finals as they rolled to a 21-7 victory over Kingstad-Samuels.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play, and everyone is welcome.
Basketball malfunction
Lacking information from the Anna Maria Island Community Center, there is no basketball news, scores or standings to report this week.
Look online at www.islander.org for the league schedule of games.
AMICC Basketball League schedule
Instructional Division (ages 5-7)
May 20 6 p.m. Bch. Bums vs. Coastal Orthopedic
May 21 5 p.m. Bch. Bums vs. WCAC
May 24 6 p.m. WCAC vs. Coastal Orthopedic
Division III (ages 8-9)
May 20 7 p.m. Oyster Bar vs. Kat Charters
May 21 4 p.m. Oyster Bar vs. Agnelli Pool
Division II (ages 10-11)
May 18 6 p.m. Sandbar vs. Connie’s
May 20 8 p.m. Southern vs. Bistro
May 21 2 p.m. Southern vs. Sandbar
May 21 3 p.m. Connie’s vs. Ross Built
Division I (ages 12-13)
May 18 7 p.m. Holy Cow vs. Walter
May 21 noon Eat Here vs. Holy Cow
May 21 1 p.m. E-Solutions vs. Walter
May 23 6 p.m. Eat Here vs. Walter
May 23 7 p.m. Holy Cow vs. A-Paradise
May 24 7 p.m. Eat Here vs. E-Solutions
Premier Division (ages 14-17)
May 18 8 p.m. Ralph’s vs. Dips
May 21 10 a.m. Sun vs. Dips
May 21 11 a.m. Ralph’s vs. LaPensee
May 23 8 p.m. Ralph’s vs. Sun
May 21 8 p.m. Sun vs. LaPensee