Youth instructional sports season winds down
The Anna Maria Island Community Center offers instructional basketball and baseball in the spring to introduce youngsters to the basics of the sports and for kids to have fun.
The T-ball baseball league had three teams — Beach to Bay Construction, Air & Energy and Gulf-Bay Realty. Each played one-hour games in which each player on the teams got an at-bat per inning and no one spent the game on the bench.
The players and coaches had a good time, and the kids learned about an America’s pastime. The season came to an end June 4 and all players received a trophy.
The instructional basketball league also recently came to a close that was highlighted May 31 by an exciting game between Coastal Orthopedic and West Coast Air Conditioning.
After trailing for most of the game, Coastal Orthopedic went on an 8-4 run in the third quarter to take a 16-14 lead fueled by Thomas Heckler’s 6 points in the third quarter and Javier Riveria’s score on an offensive rebound.
The contest remained 16-14 until the 3:37 mark of the fourth quarter when Jaysen Berzowski grabbed a rebound and drove the length of the court to tie the game at 16-16. Heckler then brought the ball back upcourt for Coastal Orthopedic, but his shot rimmed out. Berzowski again grabbed the rebound and outran everyone down the court for a successful layup to give West Coast Air Conditioning an 18-16 lead with just over a minute to play.
Heckler again brought the ball into the offensive zone and was fouled, sending him to the line for two free throws with 34 seconds left to play. Heckler made one of two shots to pull to within 18-17. Coastal Orthopedic got the ball back and frantically looked for a shot, but the WCAC defenders weren’t in a giving mood. Riveria found some room on the baseline, but his shot rimmed out and Berzowski grabbed the rebound, ending the game with West Coast on top 18-17.
Berzowski finished with a game-high 11 points, while Ronnie Moore, who also played a strong defensive game, added four points. Callen Achor finished with 2 points and Antonio Bujarski scored 1 point to round out the scoring for West Coast Air Conditioning.
Javier Riveria led Coastal Orthopedic with 8 points while Heckler added 7 points. German Riveria completed the Coastal Orthopedic scoring with 2 points in the loss.
Junior golf camp
LPGA member and local teaching professional Cathy Schmidt is hosting week-long, weekly junior golf camps at Timber Creek Golf Club, 4550 Timber Lane, Bradenton. The camps, which run 9 a.m. to noon weekdays starting June 13, continue for eight weeks.
Campers are taught the basic skills of golf, including play, rules and etiquette. In addition, each junior golfer receives a video of his or her swing and an explanation of swing patterns for continued improvement of the skills learned in camp.
Golf clubs are available for camp use. Classes are limited to 10 students.
For more information, go to www.thegolfbootcamp.com, call 941-794-8381 or Schmidt’s cell at 941-720-9080.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club women played a nine-hole, individual-low-net golf match May 31. Barb Harrold took the top spot with a 5-under-par 27 that gave her a two-shot lead over Penny Williams, who was alone in second place. Christina Mason and Judy Ward tied for third place with 2-under-par 30s, while Sally Keyes, Markie Ksiazek and Sue Hookem tied for fourth place at 1-under-par 31.
Horseshoe news
Norm Good and Steve Doyle were the only team to earn the required three pool play victories and were the June 4 champs during horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits.
Three teams advanced to the playoffs during June 1 horseshoe action. PJ and Ron Pepka drew the bye and watched as Sam Samuels and Steve Grossman destroyed Norm Good and Jay Disbrow by a 21-4 score. Samuels-Grossman then defeated the Pepkas 21-15 in the finals.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warm ups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Send your sports news and photos to kevin@islander.org.