Heavy rains during the day made the pitch unplayable Dec. 11 at the Center of Anna Maria Island, forcing an adult soccer match to be rescheduled to Dec. 12, which pushed two of the playoff games to Dec. 19.
The first play-in game Dec. 12 saw No. 10 seed Sato Real Estate cruise to a 6-2 victory over No. 7 Language Services Associates behind two goals each from Josh Sato and Logan O’Brien. Justin Fields and Ben Sato each added a goal for Sato, which also received an incredible 21 saves to help preserve the victory.
Juan Rodriguez scored a pair of goals for Language Services, which also received eight saves from James Rodriguez in the loss.
The second of the play-in games Dec. 12 saw No. 9 Gulf Drive Cafe edge No. 8 Hampton Painting 4-3 to advance to the playoffs. Helio Gomez led the cafe team with three goals and an assist. Ted Hurst added a goal and Tuna McCracken made eights saves for Gulf Drive in the victory.
Kali Richardson, Moises Martinez and Ethan Hampton each scored a goal for Hampton Painting, which also received five saves from Lucan Lubore in the loss.
No. 6 Moss Builders upset No. 3 Pool America in a playoff game Dec. 12 with a penalty-kick shootout after the teams battled to a 2-2 tie in regulation. Stephen Adair and Greg Moss each scored a goal for Moss, while Christopher Klotz and Lucas Wilson scored for Pool America. Ryan Moss made eight saves for Moss, while Robb Marshall made seven saves for Pool America in the loss.
The second playoff game of the night saw No. 4 Bubble Binz cruise to a 5-2 victory over No. 5 AMI Dolphin Tours. Goalie Mark Long had a big game for Bubble Binz, scoring two goals and notching four saves. Matt Staggs added a pair of goals for Bubble Binz, which also received goals from James Knowles and Nate Welch in the victory.
Selena Gonzalez-Salinas paced AMI Dolphin Tours with two goals, while Damir Glavan and Robert Fellowes each had an assist in the loss
Playoff action continues Dec. 19 when No. 1 Solid Rock Construction takes on No. 9 Gulf Drive Cafe and No. 10 Sato Real Estate faces off with No. 2 Ross Built for a spot in the finals, which will follow on Dec. 19.
Don’t miss a great night of soccer at the center!
Horseshoe action
It was a week for walkers at the Anna Maria horseshoe pits. On Dec. 11, Bob Rowley walked his way to the winner’s circle by posting the lone 3-0 record during pool play and was the day’s outright champion.
The Dec. 14 games saw two teams advance to the knockout stage before Tom Farrington walked his way past Adin Shank and Rod Bussey by a 25-5 score to earn the day’s bragging rights.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays 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.
Key Royale news
The men’s weekly modified-Stableford system match along with the weekly scrambles on Thursdays at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach are set to resume Jan. 6. Meanwhile the women teed up Dec. 10 for their weekly nine-hole individual low-net match.
Ceal Barry rode a chip-in birdie on the second hole to a 1-over-par 33 to a three-way tie for first place with Gloria LaDue and Jana Samuels. Nina McSparren and Terry Westby tied for second place with matching 2-over-par 34s.