The playoffs in the adult flag football league at the Center of Anna Maria Island, delayed to March 25, saw Beach Bums outlast Ugly Grouper 31-27 in a back-and-forth championship matchup behind three touchdown passes from Matt Briley and a rushing TD and a pick-six from Anthony Mannino.
Lucas Paquin completed the scoring for Beach Bums with an extra point.
Ugly Grouper was led by Jaret Rojas’ four TD passes, three of which went to Brandon Kull. Cam Winston added a touchdown reception for Ugly Grouper, which also received extra points from Octavious Cole, Rojas and Cory Banks in the loss.
Ugly Grouper first played its semifinal match, a game that had been postponed due to a downpour. The team cruised past Mi-Box 39-12 behind two passing TDs and four receiving TDs from Kull. Rojas threw three touchdown passes and Mark Anthony added a touchdown pass and a touchdown reception. Julia King competed the scoring with a pair of catches.
Matthew Manger connected with Chad Woods and Christie Baily for touchdowns in the loss.
Sato holds on for soccer title
No. 5 seed Blalock Walters’ Cinderella story, run through the playoffs in the adult soccer league at the Center of Anna Maria Island, came to an end at the hands, er feet, of Sato Real Estate.
The March 24 championship had to be decided in extra time with Sato prevailing 4-3. Amy Ivan and Will Kretzman scored two goals each to lead Sato, which also received a pair of assists in the victory from Josh Sato and six saves from Mark Rudacille.
Key Royale golf news
On Feb. 17, 34 Key Royale Club men began a five-week quest to be crowned the 2021 men’s handicap match-play champion. The golf championship was decided March 23 when Eric Lawson and Art McMillan squared off.
McMillan was one up through nine holes but Lawson caught fire on the back nine and earned a comfortable 3-and-2 victory —he held his three-hole lead with two holes left to play.
Congratulations to Lawson, the Key Royale Club men’s handicap match-play champ.
The men played their weekly modified-Stableford system match March 22. The team of John Kolojeski, Chuck Patrick, Dean Christensen and Hoyt Miller combined on a plus-5 to win the day’s bragging rights.
Jack Lowry won individual honors with a plus-6, while Dave Richardson and Ron Huibers were a point back in a tie for second place.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match March 23 in three flights. Monica Lawson carded a 3-under-par 29 to grab first place in Flight A. Jenny Huibers was alone in second place with a 1-under-par 31, while Pam Lowry and Nina McSparren tied for third with matching 1-over-par 33s.
Penny Williams fired a 3-under-par 29 to earn a three-shot victory in Flight B. Gloria LaDue, MaryLou Dreier and Kay Neal tied for second at even-par 32.
Peggy Clauhs fired a 6-under-par 26 for the low-net round of the day and first place in Flight C. Laney Daniels took second place with a 2-under-par 30, while Laurie Hicks was another stroke back in third place.
The men played an 18-hole shamble March 25 that saw the team of Ron Buck, Jack Lowry and All Waal take first on a 3-over-par 66. Kevin Brown, Brian Comer, Cate Foy and Buddy Foy matched the 4-over-par 67 carded by Gary Alvord, Ron Babcok, Larry Davis and Jon Holcomb to finish in a tie for second.
Horseshoe news
Four teams emerged from pool play with the requisite 3-0 record and battled for the March 24 bragging rights during horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits.
Bob Palmer and Jerry Disbrow stayed alive with a 23-13 victory over Bob Heiger and Tim Sofran, while Bob Lee and Neil Hennessey slipped past Bob Mason and Bob Rowley 23-18.
The championship match was all Palmer-Disbrow as the pair cruised to a 21-12 victory and a seat in the winner’s circle.
The March 27 games saw two teams advance to the knockout round after posting 3-0 records in pool play, that saw Sofran and Bill Silver locked in 20-20 tie with walker Steve Doyle. Doyle emphatically ended the match at 26-20 on a clutch double-ringer.
Play gets underway in Anna Maria at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.