The adult fall soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island came to a close Dec. 4 with semifinal and championship game matches.
There were plenty of thrills for AMI soccer fans in the matches.
But it was all Bubble Binz at the end.
The team survived two penalty-kick shootouts, first against Pool America in the semifinals and then again in the championship match against Language Services Associates.
In the Binz semifinal match against Pool America, the game ended in a 3-3 tie as Chris Klotz, Christos Loizou and Julius Petereit scored for Pool America, which also received six saves from Osvaldo Cabello.
Bubble Binz received goals from Jake Czajkowski, Alvaro Figuerola and Helio Gomez, while Mark Long made eight saves.
Bubble Binz then prevailed 5-4 in the shootout, sending them to the championship match.
The other semifinal match saw Language Services Associates hold on for a 6-5 victory over Florida Impact Windows behind five goals from Kevin Roman. Tim Holly added a goal and Max Gazzo finished with six saves and an assist in the victory.
Raul Loera scored two goals for Florida Impact Windows, which also received single goals from Leo Gonzalez, Keith Mahoney and Chase Richardson in the loss.
The championship match saw Bubble Binz and Language Services battle to a 3-3 tie in regulation, sending the game to penalties.
Alvaro Figuerola, Flavio Olvera and Eduardo Schlueter scored in regulation for Bubble Binz, and goalie Mark Long notched 10 saves.
Kevin Roman had two goals and an assist for Language Services Associates, which also received a goal from Zach Long and five saves from Max Gazzo.
Bubble Binz received successful penalty kicks from Jake Czajkowski, Alvaro Figuerola, Helio Gomez, James Knowles and Nate Welch in the victory.
Language Services received successful penalty kicks from Tim Holly, Zach Long, Max Gazzo and Kevin Roman in the loss.
Adult 3-v-3 basketball playoffs underway
The regular season of the center’s adult 3-v-3 basketball league is over and first-round playoffs began Dec. 4. No. 1 seed Bradenton Home Inspections and No. 2 Island Lumber received first-round byes and play the winner of No. 3 Slim’s Place vs. No. 6 Salty Printing and No. 4 Solid Rock Construction vs. No. 5 Mi-Box.
In the first playoff series, Slim’s cruised to a 21-9, 20-14, 21-19 victory over Salty behind 20 points from Corey Jaques and 16 points from Ajani Poole over three games.
Logan Heath scored 13 points, while Danny Heath and Dionte Baberry each finished with 12 points in the losses.
Solid Rock held on for a 16-13, 15-21, 22-6 victory over Mi-Box in the second playoff series. Connor Morse paced Solid Rock with 18 points over the three games, while Ray Gardner finished with 14 points.
Kiatrell Zachary led Mi-Box with 18 points, while Jacob Ferda added 12 points in the loss.
Playoff action resumes Dec. 11 when Bradenton Home Inspections takes on Solid Rock Construction at 6 p.m., followed by Island Lumber taking on Slim’s Place.
The championship series follows at 7:30 p.m.
Key Royale news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach opened the holiday month with a modified-Stableford system match along with a skins game.
There was a five-way tie for first place with Nelson Eagle, Jim Hitchen, Greg Shorten, Ron Vandeman and our golf correspondent, Tom Nelson, with matching scores of plus-3.
The skin’s game saw Jim Goff, John Cassese, Rob Perkins and Terry Tarras each win a skin.
The women played a nine-hole individual low-net match in two flights Dec. 2.
Rene Chapman rode a birdie on the ninth hole to a 1-under-par 31 to take first place in Flight A. Ceal Barry, Margrit Layh and Brenda Solleveld finished in a tie for second place at 3-over-par 35.
Roxanne Koche, Jana Samuels and Terry Westby finished in a three-way tie for first place in Flight B with matching even-par 32s. Helen Pollock was alone in second place with a 1-over-par 33.
Westby’s round included a chip-in on the second hole, while Leigh Brittain birdied the third hole.
Members closed out the week of organized golf outings Dec. 4 with a scramble/ramble playing to a par of 64.
The team of Roger Rottschaefer, Greg Shorten and Tom Solosky combined on a 3-over-par 67 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day. The team of Bob Baker, Jim Hill, Tom Nelson and Quentin Talbert matched the 4-over-par 68 carded by Jim Bailey, Mike Gillie, Rich Salzberg and Warren Stevens to tie for second place.
Horseshoe action
Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits on Dec. 3 was short and sweet. Gersey Fernandes and Bob Hawks forged the lone 3-0 record in pool play and were the day’s outright champs.
Two teams advanced from pool play during the Dec. 6 games and settled things in a playoff.
Dom Livedoti and Tim Sofran came up fast and never looked back as they cruised to a 23-6 victory over Bob Rowley.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the city hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and all are welcome.