The new year is underway, as are winter sports at the community center.
The Center of Anna Maria Island has youth flag football kicking off, including an all-girls division, while on the adult side, they have an indoor soccer league as well as a 35-plus soccer league.
I won’t be able to report on all of them this week, due to some technical difficulties, but stay tuned.
Girls play flag football jamboree
The inaugural 8-10 girls football division played two exhibition games on Jan. 12 in a quasi-jamboree format.
Emily Moss Design took on Print Wizards and took it on the chin in the first game as Elin Bannick threw five touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown in leading the Wizards to a 32-6 victory. Jade Ptak had one touchdown reception to go along with a touchdown run, while Willow Moss and Caroline Svoboda each added a catch.
Elle Blackburn threw a touchdown pass to Ruthie Ball for Moss Design in the loss.
The second game of the evening saw Sato Real Estate defeat Poppo’s Taqueria 18-6 behind Juliette Sato, who ran for two touchdowns and added a touchdown reception from quarterback Bayla Lance.
Gia Ciasullo ran for a touchdown for Poppo’s in the loss.
More flag football action
Action in the 11-13 football division got started Jan. 13 with 82 West Home Inspections cruising to a 31-0 victory over Sato Real Estate behind three touchdown passes from quarterback Nolan Anderson, including two to Rusty Dilley. Luca Viehman had a touchdown catch and a touchdown run, while Hudson West finished with a TD catch and Parker Svoboda posted a TD pass in the shutout victory.
Sato was stymied on offense, but Jackson Griffin and Brandon Sato came through with interceptions for the defense in the loss.
The second game of the evening was another blowout with Florida Impact Windows cruising to a 39-0 victory over G.I. Bins. Braylen Briggs and Andre Harwood both had a pair of interceptions, and both returned one for a touchdown. David Evans had an interception return for a touchdown as well, while also throwing three touchdown passes to lead the offense. Phoenix Harwood had two touchdown receptions and Briggs added another in the blowout victory.
The third game of the evening produced yet another blowout with Slim’s Place earning a dominating 32-0 victory over Cloud Pest Control behind five touchdown receptions from Charlee Maize and a pair of touchdown passes from Sawyer Leibfried.
The last game of the evening produced a competitive game as USA Fence held on for a 39-35 victory over Reed Physical Therapy & Fitness.
Tyler Higman threw for two touchdowns and ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead USA Fence, which also got touchdown catches from Sammy Gilmore, Colten DeBarry and Banyan Burdette. DeBarry also had an interception return for a touchdown.
Kyle Mims threw three touchdown passes and ran for another for Reed Fitness, which also received three touchdown catches from Kellen Reed and one from Isaac Roadman in the loss.
Action in the 14-17 age group kicked off Jan. 13 with three games in the seven-team division.
Swordfish Grill cruised to a 37-6 victory over Better on Bikes behind four TD passes from quarterback Ryker Keift to four different receivers. Colin Bankert, Gregory Jordan, Robert Morgan and Harrison Schenerle all caught TD passes for Swordfish Grill in the victory.
Better on Bikes was led by Callee Quire’s touchdown pass to Cayson Travis in the loss.
Wings’n Things held on for a 21-15 victory over HSH Design behind three TD passes from Ryk Kesten to Callin Westfall.
Frankie Coleman led HSH Design with a rushing and receiving TD, while Caden Quinby threw one touchdown pass in the loss.
The last game of the evening saw Solid Rock Construction outscore Mi-Box 30-12 behind four TD passes from Jack Mattick, including two to Henry Dugan. Van Havell and Bella Roadman both finished with TD grabs in the victory.
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits Jan. 14 was short and sweet, as Steve Doyle and Dom Livedoti posted the lone 3-0 record in pool play and were the day’s outright champs.
The Jan. 18 games saw Livedoti back in the mix, this time teamed up with Steve Kriebel. Livedoti and Kriebel defeated Bob Baker and Bob Palmer 22-11 in the championship match.
Play gets started 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.
It’s free to play, and everyone is welcome.
KRC golf news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club got started Jan. 12 with the men’s weekly modified-Stableford system match.
Bill Shuman lapped the field, carding a plus-7 to finish four points ahead of second-place finishers Ken Nagengast and Bob Paine, who finished at plus-3.
The women played a “play with friends day” and took a team average for scores on Jan. 13.
The team of Leigh Brattain, Sue Wheeler and Mary Wilkie had an average score of 2-over-par 34 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day. The team of Annette Hall, Judy Menchek and Billy Jean Pinson were a stroke back in second.
The highlight of the week occurred on Jan. 14 with the Men’s President’s Cup competition.
Forty-three golfers teed off in the annual event on a cool, windy day. Playing a modified-Stableford format, Bruce Christenson and Bob Rowley finished in a tie for first place with 38 points, a point ahead of second-place finisher John Hackinson.
Jim Bailey won the long-drive contest from the blue tees, while Larry Pippel won from the gold tees. Hackinson won closest-to-the-pin on hole No. 3, while Jim Hill won No. 8.
Following the event, the golfers enjoyed lunch and beverages on the patio.