Soccer playoffs, basketball semifinals underway at center
The adult soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island ended its regular season a week ago and the playoffs were underway with four first-round matches July 7.
The playoffs opened with No. 4 seed Eason Builders Group taking on No. 4 Ross Built. The match started out as a defensive battle and remained scoreless until the 15th minute, when Shea Yates broke through to score, giving Eason 1-0 lead.
Yates’ goal forced Ross Built out of its defensive posture and opened the flood gates. Three minutes later, Ross Built failed twice to clear the ball out from its goal area and Anthony Barberio pounced on the ball and hammered it home for a 2-0 lead.
Joey Ciasulo padded the Eason lead two minutes later on a cross volley from Yates and a 3-0 lead as the half came to a close.
Ross Built opened the second half determined as Connor Bystrom got loose up the left side before crossing the ball inside to Greg Ross, who finished to cut the lead to 3-1.
Eason Builders answered immediately as Barberio carried the ball up the right side, spotting Yates alone at the back post where she finished for a 4-1 lead.
Three minutes later, Yates found space up the right side and fired a shot that Ross Built goalie Richard Fosmore saved, but the rebound was cleaned up by Barberio for a 5-1 Eason lead.
Ross Built got a nice goal from Chris Circharo, who ripped a shot in the 31st minute from 20 yards to pull to within 5-2, but that was as close as Ross would get.
Eason Builders scored four goals in the next six minutes to open a 9-2 lead they would not relinquish. Ross Built added a late goal by Circharo, but Eason showed it’s a team to be reckoned at 9-3.
Barberio finished with 6 goals and an assist, while Yates added 2 goals and one assist. Austin Wash completed the scoring for Eason with 1 goal, while goalie Scott Rudacille finished with five saves in the victory.
Circharo’s 2 goals and a goal from Greg Ross paced Ross Built, which received an assist from Mike Vitori and four saves from Fosmore in the loss.
The second match of the evening saw seventh-seeded Moss Builders upset second-seed Jiffy Lube 4-3 behind 2 goals from Josh Sato and a goal each from Aaron Parkin and Bing Robinson.
Jiffy Lube received a goal each in the loss from Drew Mitchell, Yorvi Moreira and BJ Grant.
No. 3 seed Wash Family Construction earned a 3-2 victory over No. 6 Island Pest Control behind a pair of goals from Sean Flynn and a goal from Kyle Lessig.
Kevin Roman and Damir Glavan scored a goal each to lead Island Pest Control in the loss.
Top seeded Slim’s Place barely avoided a huge upset from Blake Medical Center No. 2 with a 1-0 win in the evening’s late match. Matt Kretzman scored the only goal of the game, while goalie Will Case helped preserve the shutout with six saves.
Semifinal action continues July 14 with Slim’s Place taking on Eason Builders at 7 p.m. and Wash Family Construction vs. Moss Builders at 8 p.m.
And then there were 2
Semifinal action in the adult basketball league at the center took place July 5, setting two teams up for the championship.
The first semifinal game saw undefeated Team Jackson roll to a 61-45 victory over Team Aaron.
Antwan Jackson led four players in double figures with 17 points. Matt Smith added 13 points for Team Jackson, which also received 12 points from Brandon Kern and 11 points from Teagan Purtill in the victory.
Aaron Dudukes scored 18 points and Keith Wilking added 10 points to lead Team Aaron in the loss.
The second semifinal game saw third-seed Team Calvary cruise to an easy 64-50 over No. 2 seed Team Sapanora behind 24 points from Reggie Clemmons. James Friedman added 13 points and Terry Henry finished with 10 points in the Team Calvary victory.
Cole Duncan’s 14 points and 13 points from Scott Elisio paced Team Sapanora in the loss.
The championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, after press time for The Islander.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club held a member Texas scramble July 2 with 38 players. After the round, more than 100 members and friends enjoyed a low-country boil dinner at the clubhouse.
The team of Gary Razze, Janet Razze, Dave Richardson and Deb Richardson combined on a 3-under-par 29 to match Larry Milder, Deb Midler and Merritt Fineout and finish in a tie for clubhouse bragging rights.
The men were back on the course July 7 for a nine-hole team scramble. The team of Jon Holcomb, Mark Kimball, Mark Mixon and Dick Mills combined on a 6-under-par 26 to grab first place.
Horseshoe news
Neil Hennessey walked his way to the winner’s circle after posting the only 3-0 pool-play record during July 6 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits.
July 9 horseshoe action saw two teams advance to the knockout stage. The team of Sam Samuels and Jay Disbrow outlasted Tim Sofran and Hennessey 22-16 to earn the day’s bragging rights.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at city hall. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
Last chance to register for youth basketball
The center is accepting registration for its youth basketball league until July 15. Play begins Aug. 2. Players can register online at www.centerami.org or at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Coaches and sponsors also are needed.
There is a $5 processing fee for members and a $90 fee for non-members.
Evaluations will be at 6:30 p.m. July 18 for players age 5-7, July 19 for 8-10s, July 20 for 11-13s and July 21 for 14-17s.
Bradenton Christian varsity basketball coach Scott Townsend and some players will conduct a player/coach clinic at 6:30 p.m. July 18-20.
For more information, contact Drew Mitchell at drew@centerami.org or 941-778-1908, ext. 9217.