Another year has passed and I must say, I’m not going to mourn the passing of 2021.
Here’s hoping 2022 is better.
Locally, the sports scene over the past year dealt with more rainouts and delays to the sports schedules than I can remember in recent years. Climate change anyone?
I’d like to thank my regular contributors: Tom Nelson for the Key Royale Club, Jay Disbrow from the AMI horseshoe pitchers and my main sources of gameplay, Connor Haughey, Tyler Brewer and Chris Culhane of the Center of Anna Maria Island.
Here’s my month-by-month recap of the highlights in sports for the first half of 2021.
January is typically a rather slow month as the winter sports leagues are getting started at the Center of Anna Maria Island. The adult soccer league kicked off Jan. 13, while the adults also began another season of flag football Jan. 14. Jan. 19 saw the start of the youth flag football at the center.
One other January highlight came from the AMI horseshoe pitchers, who renewed a friendly rivalry with Bradenton’s Trailer Estates horseshoe group. The locals earned a comfortable 13-11 victory over Trailer Estates.
February saw the sports leagues compete at the center and we reported on the Key Royale annual men’s club championship, played over 36 holes Feb. 3 and Feb. 10. It was the first time in six years the club named a new men’s champ. Eric Lawson forged an even-par 128 to end Gary Risner’s reign with an 11-stroke victory.
Betsy Meyer and Bill MacMillan were crowned mixed-couple’s champs Feb. 27 at the Key Royale Club.
Erick Lawson won his second title at Key Royale Club, outlasting Art McMillan Feb. 17 to win the 2021 men’s handicap match-play championship.
In March, the AMI horseshoe pitchers squared off against Trailer Estates for a second challenge. The second matchup March 1 saw our locals cruise to a 17-7 victory.
The March 16 issue highlighted the crowning of two champions in the youth flag football league at the center. Moss Builders captured the 8-10 division title March 9, while Root Logix took home the 11-13 division championship.
The annual Ron Pepka Memorial Horseshoe tournament on March 13 saw the team of Tom Skoloda and Bob Brown defeat Bob Palmer and Bob Hawks to earn the title. The event honors the late Ron Pepka, who was the horseshoe group’s organizer for many years.
Action in March came to an end with champions crowned in adult flag football, adult soccer and golf. Beach Bums outlasted Ugly Grouper 31-27 in the adult flag football championship match March 25 to win the title behind three touchdown passes from Matt Briley.
Sato Real Estate defeated Blalock Walters 4-3 for the soccer title in extra time behind two goals each from Amy Ivin and Will Kretzman.
April was all about golf with tennis and soccer news sprinkled in near the end of the month. Debi Wohlers won her seventh consecutive Key Royale Club women’s championship March 17. Wohlers edged Jenny Huibers on the last hole to earn the title.
In April, we reported on the first Key Royale Club member-member tournament April 2. Five teams went to a three-hole playoff with Dave Richardson and Gary Risner winning the title on the last playoff hole.
Pam Lowry was crowned the Key Royale Club nine-hole, match-play champion in a tournament that began March 17 with 16 golfers. Lowry outlasted Laura Purcell in the final match April 14.
Bradenton Beach resident Mark Malinowski brought home a win in the Next Generation Tennis Academy Open UTR 7.5-and-under rating, played April 17-18 at Longwood Run. He defeated John Owen Studdiford 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in a duel that lasted more than three hours.
Rui Fernandes and some of the local Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization Magic players — including Thomas Heckler and David Thompson — put on a free soccer clinic May 5 at the center. About 30 kids ages 7-14 took part.
The same month saw Rod Bussey win his fourth consecutive victory in the AMI horseshoe competition at the Anna Maria City Hall pits.
Brett Lance carded his first career hole-in-one May 12 on the 138-yard eighth hole using a nine iron.
June opened with two champs crowned in the youth soccer league. Bridge Tender Inn won the 8-10 division on June 1 with a 2-1 victory over Beach Bums behind two goals from Logan Stevens. Four goals from Jack Mattick led AMI Bath Time to a 6-3 victory over Blalock Walters for the 11-14 division crown.
A Memorial Day scramble at the Key Royale Club saw the team of Lori and Marty Hicks, Jackie Gorski and Brian Comer combine on a score of 22.75 for first place.
Following the golf action, the Key Royale Club military veterans were honored and recognized for their service to their country.
Next week, the rest of 2021.