Spring fever hits gridiron, horseshoe pits, links
Sports is on fire at The Center of Anna Maria Island, where you can sense the anticipation of spring and warmer weather.
Moss Builders continues to lead the pack in the adult flag football league with a 6-0 record, one game ahead of Beach House Real Estate at 5-1. Coldwell Banker is alone in third with a 4-2 record, while Beach to Bay Construction follows at 3-2. Mason Martin is fifth with a 2-4 record, while Truly Nolen and Tyler’s Ice Cream are winless.
Beach House earned a 14-13, come-from-behind victory over Mason Martin to open the adult action March 2 at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Beach House overcame two early interceptions thrown by quarterback Don Purvis. The first quash by Josh Sato set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jason Sato to Frank Agnelli for an early 6-0 score, but they couldn’t hold onto the lead.
Jason Sato finished with 195 passing yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Brother Josh finished with 105 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, while Agnelli finished with 60 receiving yards, including a touchdown and an extra point.
Purvis finished with 130 passing yards, 55 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards and one touchdown. Jon Moss added 40 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards, while scoring one touchdown and a pair of extra points. Mike Gillum rounded out the Beach House victory with 60 receiving yards.
Ryan Moss threw for 205 yards and four touchdown passes to lead Moss Builders to a 40-20 victory over Tyler’s Ice Cream in the second game of the night. Moss also added 60 rushing yards and a touchdown for the builders, which also received 130 all-purpose yards from Nick Sato, including a touchdown and two extra points. Jay Hoffmeister added 70 receiving yards and a touchdown and Ed Moss finished with 55 receiving yards and a touchdown in the victory.
The third game of the evening saw Moss Builders take the field a second time to earn another 40-20 victory, this time over Coldwell Banker. Ryan Moss completed eight passes for 325 yards and five touchdown passes. He also added 35 receiving yards, 25 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own.
Hoffmeister was the top receiver with 145 yards, two touchdowns and an extra point, while Nick Sato finished with 85 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards including a pair of touchdowns and an extra point. Jeff Walker completed the Moss scoring with a touchdown and an extra point on 90 receiving yards.
Charles Buky passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Coldwell Banker offense, which also gained 70 receiving yards, three touchdowns and a pair of extra points from Scott Eliseo. Henry Bernet added 85 receiving yards and Lexi Braxton finished with 75 receiving yards to lead Coldwell in the loss.
Beach to Bay Construction improved to 3-2 on the season thanks to a 33-19 victory over Truly Nolen.
The Shaughnessy clan, Tim and Mike, combined to pass for 190 yards and five touchdown passes, including one to Brianna Shaughnessy.
Caleb Roberts was the top receiver with 105 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Brent Moss finished with 70 receiving yards, including two touchdowns and an extra point. Clay Spangler, who finished with 15 receiving yards, completed the scoring with an extra point.
Jon Bell threw for 220 yards and two touchdown passes to lead Truly Nolen, which also received 165 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from Matt Morgan. Nate Talucci added 20 receiving yards and a 45-yard touchdown run in the loss.
Horseshoe news
Four teams emerged from pool play during March 2 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. In the first semifinal, Dom Livedoti and Bob Lee rolled to a dominating 22-1 over Neil Hennessey and Bob Heiger, while the other semifinal saw Rod Bussey and Bob Brown eliminate Herb Puryear and Jay Disbrow 24-8. The finals saw Livedoti-Lee deliver another 22-1 thumping to earn a trip to the winner’s circle.
March 5 horseshoes again saw four teams advance to the knockout stage. Bussey and Brown made a return to the finals with a 23-13 victory over Hank Huyghe and Steve Hooper, while Lee and Steve Doyle rolled over Bob Mason and Tom Skoloda by a 21-2 score. Lee-Doyle then held on for a tight 22-17 victory in the finals.
Play gets underway 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.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club men held their two-day 2016 Scratch Men’s Club Championship Feb. 17 and March 2. After 36 holes of play, Gary Risner defended his 2015 title with a 2-over-par 130.
Greg Shorten took second place, while Tim Friesen and Larry Pippel finished in a tie for third place.
The men were out between championship rounds Feb. 29 for a better-ball-of-partners match with the top spot shared by Vince Mercadante and Gino DiClemente at 6-under-par 26.
They were back on the course later in the day for a nine-hole, modified-Stableford System or quota-points match. Peter Lund’s plus-4 was the top individual score for the day, while Al Carr, Dale Hudson and Tom Nelson finished in a three-way tie for second with matching plus-3s.
Gerry Elson, Bill Koche, Dick Mills and Gary Silke combined on a plus-6 for the top team score for the day.
The women got out on the course for a nine-hole, individual-low-net golf match in four flights.
Lori Waggoner’s 4-under-par 28 gave her the top spot in Flight A by three shots over Mary Lou Dreier. Pam Alvord, Liz Lang and Debi Wohlers were tied for third at even-par 32.
Barbara Estok took first place in Flight B with a 4-under-par 28. Carol Duncan was alone in second place at 2-under-par 30 and Fran Barford was another shot back in third.
Jan Turner and Roxanne Koche both carded 3-under-par 29s to tie for first place in Flight C. Terry Westby was one stroke back in second, while Beth Lindeman and Marcia O’Brien tied for third place at even-par 32.
Penny Auch fired a 3-under-par 29 to take first place in Flight C, where Eileen Witzgal took second with a 1-under-par 31 and Wila Barkley came in third at even-par 32.
The men were back on the course March 3 for a nine-hole team scramble. Jack Lowry, Tom McDonnell, Frank Purritano and Gary Risner teamed up to card a 5-under-par 27 to tie first place with Herb Clauhs, Gary Duncan and Dave Richardson.