There’s plenty of action to report from AMI.
First-round playoff action in the 8-10 division of the fall soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island kicked off Oct. 12 with the No. 6 Gitt Team scoring an upset victory over fourth-seed Shady Lady in a game decided by penalty kicks. After battling to a 1-1 tie in regulation play, the game was decided in a shootout. Colin Bankert, who scored the Gitt Team’s lone goal in regulation and Matthew Winsper both converted their spot kicks, but the players from Shady Lady failed to convert.
The Gitt Team now advances to the Oct. 19 semifinals to play third-seed Solid Rock Construction.
The second quarterfinal match of the night saw No. 4 seed Beach Bums slip past No. 5 Tidy MD 4-3 behind two goals each from Brandon Sato and Dylan Sato. Kason Davis helped preserve the victory with six saves in goal.
Jesse Zaccagnino scored two goals to lead Tidy MD, which also received a goal from Kirra Quinby and six saves from Conrad Elmore in the loss. Beach Bums now has its sites on No. 1 seed Moss Builders for an Oct. 19 semifinal match.
The regular season came to an end in the 11-14 division Oct. 12 with Miz and Hiz Biz clinching the No. 1 spot with a 4-0-1 record thanks to a 4-3 victory over No. 2 seed Blalock Walters. Cecelia Kroth led the way with three goals and an assist, while Jackson Pakbaz added a pair of goals and Stephen Wilson completed the victory with a goal.
Andrew Graham, Jayden Sparks and Savannah Coba each scored for Blalock Walters in the loss.
The last match of the night saw HSH Designs win by forfeit after Anna Maria Island Wines came up short on players.
Semifinal action kicks off at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 19 with Miz and Hiz Biz taking on AMI Wines, followed by Blalock Walters taking on HSH Designs, with all eyes on advancing to the championship game, set for Oct. 26 at the center pitch.
Basketball quarterfinals
Meanwhile, in the gym at the center, the adult basketball league moved into win-or-go-home mode with quarterfinal action Oct. 11.
No. 1 seed Moss Builders benefitted from a first-round bye and awaits an Oct. 18 semifinal opponent.
The first game saw No. 2 seed Paddy Wagon dispatch No. 7 seed Blue Lagoon by a 37-25 score behind 14 points from Jay Terry and 9 points from Trey Yarn.
Kari Hawkins led Blue Lagoon with 11 points, while Trey Joyner added 8 points in the loss.
The second game of the evening saw No. 4 seed Solid Rock Construction cruise past No. 5 Slim’s Place by a 72-57 score. Dom Otteni scored 22 points to lead SRC, which also received 12 points from JJ Friszman and 11 points from Jaemaal Newson in the victory.
AJ Colagiovanni scored 25 points to lead Slim’s Place, which also received 15 points from Chris Hampton in the loss.
The last game of the night saw No. 3 Beach Bums eliminate sixth-seed Sandbar Restaurant by a 50-49 margin. Austin Young scored 13 points and Chuy Ayvar added 10 to lead Beach Bums, which also received 9 points from Carlton Bennett in the victory.
Austin Henderson scored 19 points for Sandbar, which also received 11 points from Chase Richardson in the loss.
Key Royale celebrates October
Sixty golfers participated in an Oktoberfest scramble Oct. 8 at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach. Taking first place was the foursome of Laurie and Marty Hicks, Terry Tarras and Debi Wohlers, who combined on a 4-under-par 28, a stroke ahead of second-place finishers, Nelson Eagle, Monica and Eric Lawson and Andi Saia. Third place went to the team of Alice and Doug Kristensen, Bill Ryskamp and Steve Vasbinder with a 1-under-par 31.
To noone’s surprise, the long-drive contest for the women went to Debi Wohlers with Charlie Porter driving the win for the men. Closest-to-the pin went to Ron Vandeman and Wohlers, who completed a trifecta with a win in the proximity contest. Longest first putt on the second hole was won by Saia with a putt of 8 feet 3 inches.
Following golf, libations were enjoyed in the clubhouse.
Club members are now looking forward to Oct. 30 for the Spookey Halloween Scramble.
Regular action at the club included the men’s modified-Stableford match Oct. 11. Fred Miller lapped the field with a plus-5, 2 points ahead of second-place finishers Gary Razze and Marty Hicks. The trio of Peter Lund, Mike Pritchett and Blake Ress tied for third at plus-2.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match Oct. 12 in two flights. Jana Samuels’ even-par 32 was good for first place in Flight A. Ellen Boin took second at 3-over-par 35, while Wohlers was another stroke back in third.
Janet Razze fired a 1-under-par 31 for the low-net round of the day and first place in Flight B. Hicks took second at 2-over-par 34, while Carol Duncan and Jackie Gorski tied for third at 5-over-par 37.
The week of golf culminated Oct. 14 in a nine-hole shamble, counting the two best scores from a foursome. First place went to the team of Ken Nagengast, Chuck Patrick and Terry Tarras with an even-par 64. The team of Ken Butler, Gary Duncan, Terry Schaefer and Quentin Talbert were two shots back in second place.
Horseshoe news
The week’s horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits saw two outright champs crowned.
The Oct. 13 games saw Tim Sofran team up with Gary Howcroft to post the lone 3-0 record in pool play. Howcroft made a triumphant return to the pits after a three-month absence recovering from surgery.
The Oct. 18 games saw Steve Doyle and Brooks Nelson post the only undefeated record in pool play to win the day’s bragging rights.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the city pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.