KMS girl runners capture county cross-country title
King Middle School’s female road runners captured the Dec. 13 Manatee County middle school cross country championship at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton, and they did it thanks to a little help from some islanders.
Brooke Capparelli, Annie and Tori Walter and Lila Naeher are part of the team that also included cousin Delaney Naeher, whose father grew up on the Island. Capparelli was the top finisher from Anna Maria island with a time of 14:46.87, while — ironically — the Walter twins had matching times of 8:11. Lila Naeher finished with a time of 9:13.
Other members of the King Middle cross country team are top King runner, second-place overall finisher Stephanie Bobrek with a time of 13:34.37, sixth-place finisher Molly Brown with a time of 14:04.58, seventh-place finisher Francesca Capello at 14:19.93, Sara Goeth at 15:25.74, Abigail Drapala at 15:46.21, and Tavionne Watson with a time of 16:10.43. Other King participants who helped the team compile a time of 1:12:11.49, first-place finish are Marisa Wilson, Camryn Carson, Marissa Armer, and Courtney Isom.
Congratulations to the team and Coach Syre for bringing the title home to King Middle.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club sent the men out for a couple of rounds of golf last week, including two rounds Dec. 15.
The morning round was a nine-hole, individual-low-net match that saw Tom Bode and Vince Mercandante both card a 5-under-par 27 to finish in a tie for first place. Earl Huntzinger was another shot back in second place.
Later in the day, some players took part in a nine-hole, modified-Stableford System match. Barry Anderson, John Estok and Dan Richardson all had rounds of plus-2 to tie for first place.
The men played a nine-hole, four-person scramble Dec. 18. The team of Nub Turner, Chuck Tencate, John Estok and Dan Richardson combined on a 4-under-par 28 to grab clubhouse bragging rights for the day. Second place went to the team of Bruce Allan, Gerry Dahl, Ron Pritchard and Earl Ritchie with a score of 3-under-par 29.
The women took the course Dec. 16 for a nine-hole, individual-low-net-in-flights match that included a couple of gifts from Santa. Each golfer received a pair of mulligans — one for a drive, one for a putt — in the round.
Helen Pollock rode a birdie on the eighth hole to a 5-under-par 27 to edge Phyllis Roe by two shots. Roe, who carded a birdie on the ninth hole, was alone in second, one shot better than third-place finisher Mary Lou Dreier.
Flight B winner was Marcia Helgeson with a 5-under-par 27. Jana Samuels took second place in the group with a 2-under-par 30. while Sharon Tarras was alone in third place with a 1-under 31.
Sally Martin fired a 1-under-par 31 to take first place in Flight C. Maryanne Kaemmerlen was a shot back in second place, while Joyce Lathrop took third at 1-over-par.
Penny Auch’s 4-under-par 28 gave her a five-shot victory in Flight D over Markie Ksizaek and Sally York, who both carded 1-over-par 33s to finish in a tie for third place. And Joy Kaiser carded a chip-in birdie on the ninth hole.
Horseshoe news
On Dec. 17, two teams met in the final at the Anna Maria horseshoe pits at city hall, after each went 3-0 in pool play. Walker Bob Palmer put it on Dom Livedoti and Dennis Johnson 21-6 and earn bragging rights for the day.
Two teams moved into the Dec. 20 final after posting 3-0 records. Palmer found his way to the winners circle again, this time with partner Steve Doyle, after taking out Karl Thomas and Bob Rowley 25-7 on a game ending double-ringer by Palmer.
Play takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmup begins at 8:45 a.m followed by team selection.
Everyone is welcome.