Surf Shop runs into strong Troxler & Smith team
by Kevin Cassidy
islander Correspondent
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West Coast Surf Shop catcher watches as his throw to teammate Parker Keegan is too late as Troxler & Smith's Nick Rodhouse slides in for a run during baseball action at the Center. |
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Craig Humphreys and Bob Elliott took home the prize in the Key Royale Club 18-hole handicap tournament last week. Craig won two up with one hole to go, according to Jim Meena, who snapped this photo. |
West Coast Surf Shop ran into a strong Troxler & Smith team on March 23 at the Anna Maria Island Community Center baseball stadium. It may be hard to believe a team is showing improvement when it drops a 17-0 decision, but that’s the case here.
islander pitchers threw strikes and the fielders were short on errors, which was the case in some of their earlier losses. They simply ran into a quality team.
Troxler & Smith sits near the top of the American League with a 7-3 record and a lineup of players that consistently make good contact. Throw in a dominating pitcher like Nick Rodhouse, and T&S has a perfect formula for playing winning baseball.
Rodhouse overpowered the Islanders, striking out nine of the 15 batters he faced in his four-inning, no-hit victory. Johnny Mattay, Parker Keegan and Devin Cole made contact, but grounded out, while Neil Carper reached base when his hard-hit grounder skipped off the glove of the T&S second baseman for an error in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Islanders then loaded the bases on walks from Mattay and Keegan, but Rodhouse got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout by Cole that ended the game.
Troxler & Smith was led by Wesley Davis, who went 4-for-4, including a triple and four runs scored and Jake Romine, who was 3-for-3 with a double and four runs scored. Rodhouse contributed a double and two runs scored, while Chris Lehman singled and scored twice in the victory.
The Surf Shop plays USA Fence at home on March 30 before taking them on again April 3 at G.T. Bray Park, Bradenton. The team is then off for spring break until April 13 when they take on the Hammerheads at 6:30 p.m. at the Center.
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Dave Boswell, left, accepts first place honors in the men's division and overall high score from Jimmie McSwain in the Anna Maria Island Community Center Tennis Group's second annual Jimmie McSwain mixed-doubles tournament. |
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Sue Herman, left, accepts her first place trophy from McSwain, center, and Mary Hunter, right, takes home second place honors. |
AMI tennis winds down season
The Anna Maria Island Community Center Tennis Group held its second annual Jimmie McSwain mixed-doubles tournament on the Hagen tennis courts at the Center March 23-24, and Bill Poole reported that more than 80 people attended the awards dinner at the Sandbar Restaurant March 26.
The round robin event was competitive, Poole said, and the winners in the women’s division were Sue Herman, first place, followed by Mary Hunter and a three-way tie for third between Kathy Rose, Emily Bean and Judy Hildman.
For the men, Dave Boswell took first place honors and overall high score. Al Cirulli finished second and Lou Spiliopoulos was third.
NFL flag football under way in Holmes Beach
Another season of Anna Maria Community Center NFL Flag Football is under way at the Holmes Beach field. There are three age divisions and 13 teams for a season that runs now until May 16, followed by playoffs and a Superbowl, which is scheduled for May 30.
The Beach Bistro Cardinals edged the Island Real Estate Colts 24-19 on March 28 in the age 13-16 division. The Cardinals were led by three offensive TDs from Chandler Hardy, while Chris Callahan added one touchdown for the victorious Cardinals. The Colts received touchdowns from Zach Facheris, Wyatt Hoffman and Chris Perez, while Henery Bernet added a one-point conversion in the loss.
The second 13-16 division game of the day saw the G.T. Bray Eagles blow out the Strategic Ministries Cowboys 56-0. Issac Pinckney led the way with four offensive touchdowns, one defensive score and a two-point conversion for 32 total points. Aaron Vanhook, Austin Ferrer and Jordan Grabski each added single touchdowns, while Gragski also chipped in a pair of two-point conversions.
Sparks Steel Art Falcons got its season off to a good start in the 8-9 division with a 14-6 victory over RLS Industries Patriots on March 27. The Falcons received a touchdown and a two-point conversion from Joey Stewart and an offensive TD from Marlin Ellis in the victory.
The Patriots were led by Andrew Proctor’s offensive touchdown in the loss.
The second game of the day was a 10-12 division contest between Mr. Bones Vikings and the Sand Dollar Colts. Mr. Bones smoked the Colts 24-6 behind the stellar play of Josh Zawistoski and Richard Almodovar, who each scored two offensive touchdowns. The Colts were led by the lone touchdown from Nicholas Mello.
On March 26, Ross Built Chargers took on Mike Norman Realty Packers in 10-12 division action and came away with a 20-14 victory. The Chargers received a touchdown and a one-point conversion from Alex Virgilio, while Jake Ross and Morgan Hackworth each added an offensive touchdown. Chris Pennewill added a one-point conversion in the victory.
The Packers were led by Jack Shinn, who scored a touchdown on both sides of the ball and the defense that forced a safety for an extra two points in the loss.
The G.T. Bray Eagles are quickly looking like the team to beat after a 71-0 thumping of 13-16 division foe Beach Bistro Cardinals on March 26. The Eagles were led by Aaron Vanhook’s four offensive touchdowns and two offensive TDs apiece from Julian Botero and Jordan Grabski.
Galati Yacht Sales Texans received two offensive touchdowns and a one-point conversion from Chris Galati during its 34-13 thumping of Ross Built Chargers in 10-12 division action on March 25. The Texans also received touchdowns from Anna Maria Galati, Zach McGuire and Logan Reiber, while Joey Salinas added an extra point in the victory.
Jake Ross led the Chargers with a touchdown and an extra point while Morgan Hackworth added a touchdown in the loss.
Island Real Estate Colts received three touchdowns and a two-point conversion from Wyatt Hoffman during its 38-12 victory over Strategic Ministries Cowboys in 13-16 division action on March 25. Chris Perez added a pair of touchdowns for the Colts, which also received a touchdown from Olivia Roemer in the victory.
Aaron King led the Cowboys with two touchdowns in the loss.
Key Royale golf news
It was a windy week of golf for the members of the Key Royale Club. The men and women joined forces in a team-low-net golf tournament on March 27 and the team of Terry Westby, Joyce Brown, Jim Finn and Tom Warda combined to card a 1-over-par 129 to earn bragging rights for the day. The team of Pam Alvord, Don Ledford, Gordon McKinna and Paulette Proxy was two shots back in second place.
Warda’s day got better thanks to a chipin on hole eight, while Al Morgan chipped in on number three.
The men played an 18-hole, low-net-of-partners game on March 25. The team of Bill Gallagher and Don Latorre fired a 3-over-par 131 to edge two teams for first place by one stroke. Bob Sayles and Bob Lamp combined to tie the 132 carded by Tom Lewis and Jim Thorton.
Bill Gallagher’s 4-under par 28 was good for first place during a nine-hole, individual-low-net game on March 23. John Lindwall was one shot back in second place with a 29, while Vince Fanton and Neil Hammer tied for third with a pair of 2-under 30s.
Horseshoe news
Five teams emerged from pool play during the March 28 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. The first playoff game saw Adin Shank and Bob Lee defeat Ron Brousseau 21-17, while Dean Rowe and Mike Lovey beat Doug Yox and Bob Mason in the other match. Jerry Disbrow and John Johnson were the lucky recipients of the first-round bye, but that didn’t help them against Shank and Lee, who rolled past them 21-9. The finals saw Rowe and Lovey defeat Shank and Lee 23-16.
Three teams qualified for playoff action on March 25 with Justin Zirwes and Dave Long winning the bye. The team of Sam Samuels and Adin Shank defeated Art Kingstad and John Johnson 22-15. Samuels-Shank destroyed Zirwes-Long 21-4 in the final to earn bragging rights for the day.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday 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 and everyone is welcome.
Anna Maria Island Little League Schedules
Majors
Date Time Teams Field
April 37 p.m. USA Fence vs. Surf Shop Bray#3
April 13 7 p.m. Surf Shop vs. Hammerheads Bray#3
Traveling Minors
April 2 6:30 p.m. Wood Dock vs. Ace Hardware AMICC
April 14 6:30 p.m. Petland vs. Ace Hardware AMICC
Minors
April 17 p.m.Panoramic vs. Totally CoolAMICC |