Summer sports action centers on community center
The summer indoor soccer season at the Anna Maria Island Community Center came to a close last week with playoffs in three age divisions. The competition was tight in both the 11-13 and 14-17 divisions, while the 8-10 division was decided in a rout.
Top seed West Coast Air Conditioning earned a bye into the 8-10 division championship game Aug. 14, thanks to an undefeated regular season. They took on Beach Bums, which advanced to the finals via a forfeit by Signarama.
The outcome was never in doubt, as Jeremiah Sculco poured in four goals and Peyton Harlan added two in the 6-0 victory. Other members of the champs are Evie Baugher, Mikey Bowes, Luke Bowes, Mason Fairweather, Kylie Hoffman, Mason Miller and Isabella Russell.
The 11-13 playoffs got started Aug. 12 with The Feast taking on Sugar Beach Digital. The Feast opened up a 3-1 lead on goals from Thomas Fellowes, Chris Leboff and Conal Cassidy, but Sugar Beach fought back to take a 4-3 lead with time quickly running out on goals from Sam Bowers, Tyler Brewer and James Richards.
Alex Rodriguez scored late to tie the game at 4-4 and send the game to a penalty kick shootout. Sugar Beach captured the shootout when Richards made saves on Cassidy and Leboff, allowing Yukio Kuroiwa the game-winning kick. Other members of Sugar Beach are Bryce Higgins, Hagan Powers, Brock Soletti and Shane Soletti
The 14-17 playoffs were played out Aug. 10 with Salty Printing taking on LaPensee Plumbing in the semifinals. In an exciting back-and-forth match, the all-female Salty Printing team came away with a 6-5 victory to advance to the championship game.
Brooke Capparelli led the way with three goals, while Sydney Morrow, Shelby Morrow and Sydney Cornell notched one goal each in the victory.
Robbie Fellowes paced LaPensee with three goals, while Shydarian Searles and Dylan Joseph each added one goal in the loss.
The finals produced another exciting finish as Salty Printing took on top-seed Wash Family Construction. Salty Printing jumped to 1-0 on a goal from University of South Florida-commit Brianna Blethen, but two goals from Gavin Walker and a goal from Logan Richelieu gave Wash a 3-1 halftime lead.
Sydney Morrow scored to open the second half, cutting the Wash lead to 3-2. Tim Holly scored to restore Wash’s two-goal lead, but Cornell’s goal pulled Salty to within a goal.
With six minutes to play, Kuroiwa scored to make it 5-3 Wash, but Salty Printing would not go away. Capparelli scored to pull to within 5-4 as time was slipping away.
Wash tried to salt the game away, but Shelby Morrow picked off an errant pass back to the goalie and scored with 20 seconds left to play to tie the game and send it to a shootout.
Both teams either missed or had their first two penalty kicks blocked, leaving it to the last three on each team. Cornell’s attempt bounced off the post for a third straight miss for Salty Printing, while Richelieu scored for a 1-0 Wash lead. Sydney Morrow found the back of the net to tie the score at 1-1, but Lane Bowers scored for a 2-1 Wash lead. Capparelli then scored to tie shootout at 2-2 with Cassidy in line for the final penalty kick for Wash. Cassidy calmly stepped up and deposited the ball in the lower left corner to give Wash Family Construction the victory.
Sydney Morrow’s two goals led Salty Printing, which also received goals from Blethen, Capparelli and Shelby Morrow in the loss.
Walker led Wash with two goals, while Holly, Kuroiwa and Richelieu each scored a goal. Other members of Wash Family Construction are Carter Reemelin and Joseph, who was solid between the pipes.
Youth football tournament
While the Anna Maria Island Community Center’s youth flag football tournament drew a small number of teams, there was no shortage of fun for the Aug. 15 event at the center.
The tourney was broken into two age groups — high school and elementary/middle school divisions.
In the elementary/middle division, Deez Nutz defeated the Buccaneers 19-0 and 21-6 to win the tourney.
Members of the elementary/middle championship Nutz are Travis Bates, Tuna McCracken, Tyler Brewer, Morgan Horesh, Julius Petereit, Jackson Hayes, Connor Ludwig and David Daigle.
The high school division saw the Cowboys roll to a 22-7 victory over Slayfest in the first game before falling to the Eagles 28-22 in the championship game.
Members of the high school division champion Eagles are Michael Latimer, Matteo Ferris, Jacob McPherson, Jaret Rojas, Chris Johnson, Tim Holly and Brody Yost.
Adult football moves onto second season
The regular season of adult flag football at the center came to an end Aug. 12 and playoffs got underway the following evening.
Miller Electric Lions held onto their top spot and a chance for an undefeated season. Anna Maria Vacations Dolphins, Tyler’s Ice Cream Vikings and Sugar Beach Digital Cowboys claimed the second, third and fourth seeds with matching 5-3 records. Poppo’s Taqueira 49ers at 4-4, Sato Real Estate Giants at 3-5, Slim’s Place Eagles at 2-6 and winless Jessie’s Island Store Fighting Irish complete the seedings.
Tyler’s opened the playoffs with a 17-7 victory over Sato behind a strong all-around game from Rob Mandarine. Mandarine completed 10 of 13 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown pass and an added rushing touchdown. On defense, Mandarine recorded two quarterback sacks for safeties. Rob Kavelli was his favorite target on offense, catching six passes for 78 yards and one touchdown reception.
Jason Sato led Sato Real Estate with 140 passing yards, including a 45-yard touchdown pass to Matt Morgan.
Sugar Beach Digital slipped past Slim’s Place by a 19-15 score in the second game of the night behind 138 passing yards and two touchdown passes from quarterback Josh Sato, who also added a receiving touchdown. Brent Laudicina caught three passes for 105 yards, including a touchdown and an extra point.
Slim’s KB Belton passed for 88 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Kyle Parsons in the loss.
Miller Electric showed why it’s the Super Bowl favorite with a 46-21 thrashing of Jessie’s Store. Ray Gardner passed for 202 yards and five touchdown passes, while also rushing for 114 yards and one touchdown to lead Miller. Craig Doher was his favorite receiver, catching seven passes for 94 yards, including four touchdowns and an extra point.
Jessie’s was led by Caleb Roberts and Forest Schield, who each had two touchdown receptions, while quaterback Tim Shaughnessy passed for 157 yards and three touchdown passes in the loss.
Poppo’s Taqueria edged Anna Maria Vacations 34-27 in the final game of the evening behind quarterback Connor Hughly, who completed 17 of 23 passes for 171 yards and four touchdown passes, while also adding a 12-yard touchdown reception. Mike Alderson was his favorite target, catching seven passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing a touchdown pass. Jordan Demers finished with 59 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Ryan Moss threw for 144 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to lead Anna Maria Vacations, which also received touchdown receptions from Jon Moss and Chad Woods in the loss.