The adult soccer league took the pitch at the Center of Anna Maria Island Dec. 1 for a round of semifinal matches.
The first match of the evening saw No. 5 seed Gulfview Windows & Doors upset top-seed Wash Family Construction 1-0. Raul Loera notched the game-winner on an assist from Keith Mahoney, while Tuna McCracken made 10 saves in goal to clinch the victory.
Wash goalie Mark Long helped keep his team in the game with seven saves in the loss.
The second semifinal match of the evening saw No. 2 Sato Real Estate cruise past No. 6 Moss Builders 7-0 behind a hat trick from Lindsey Styka and two goals and an assist from Pedro Gonzalez. Daniel Anderson and Will Kretzman each added one goal, while Kretzman also chipped in with four saves in goal.
Sato was set to square off against Gulfview Windows & Doors for the league championship at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.
Horseshoe news
The Nov. 30 horseshoe games at the city of Anna Maria pits saw two teams advance to the knockout stage. The team of Steve Doyole and Bob Hawks rolled to a 22-9 victory over Bob Palmer and Tom Betty to win the day’s championship.
Three teams advanced to the knockout round during Dec. 3 action with the bye going to Rod Bussey and Betty. The team of Bob Mason and Tom Farrington advanced to the finals thanks to a 21-6 victory over Palmer and Gary Howcroft. Mason and Farrington stayed hot, earning a 22-0 shutout victory over the Bussey-Betty team to earn the day’s bragging rights.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
There was a full card of golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach, starting with the men’s modified-Stableford system match Nov. 29.
Jeff Jump earned bragging rights for the day with a plus-4, a point ahead of the second-place finishers. Herb Clauhs, Dale Hudson, Peter Lund, Gary Razze, Earl Ritchie and Terry Schaefer all finished at plus-3 for a six-way tie for second place.
The women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match in two flights Nov. 30.
Linda Dorsey and Debbie Duvernay tied for the top spot in Flight A with matching even-par 32s. Helen Pollock and Roxanne Koche tied for second at 1-over-par 33, while Margrit Layh was alone in third at 2-over-par 34.
Marti Clark’s 1-under-par 31 was the low-net round of the day and gave her first place in Flight B. Lisa Edmonds and Janet Razze tied for second at even-par 32, while Judy Menchek was another stroke back in third place.
Members played a scramble/shamble combo Dec. 1 with John Estok, Mike Gillie, Mike Riddick and Quentin Talbert earning clubhouse bragging rights with an even-par 50.
Register adults, kids for football, cheers, T-ball
The Center of Anna Maria Island is accepting registration for its winter youth flag football league for youths ages 4-13.
The youth league, which runs Jan. 10-March 7 will host 4-5, 6-7, 8-10 and 11-13 age divisions with games played Tuesday evenings.
The deadline to register is Dec. 12 and player evaluations and a player draft for the 8-10 and 11-13 age divisions will be held Dec. 13 with 8-10 evaluations at 5:30 p.m. and 11-13 evaluations at 7 p.m.
Cost for the season is $10 for members and $126 for nonmembers.
The center also is looking for volunteer coaches for the league.
Registration is open for cheerleading through Dec. 13 for the season that runs Jan. 10-March 7 with the youth flag football season.
The program is for children ages 5-11. Participants will practice Monday nights and cheer at Tuesday night’s football games.
The cost is $10 for members and $90 for nonmembers.
Meanwhile, adults interested in playing the game can register for the adult flag football league at the center, with league play running Jan. 12-March 9. Games will be played Thursday nights.
The deadline for adults to register is Dec. 14, with draft day Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. Cost is $10 for members and $120 for nonmembers.
The center has opened registration for youth T-ball, which runs Jan. 9-March 6.
There will be four leagues based on ages. Children as young as 4 and as old as 13 can sign up.
Games will be played Mondays.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, Dec. 20.
The cost is $10 for members and $100 for nonmembers.
For more information, contact Rusty Wood at programs@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.
Paradise Center offers pickleball how-to
It’s kind of like badminton but with balls not birdies.
It’s kind of like pingpong but played on a court not a table.
It’s pickleball that’s the fastest-growing consumer participant sport in the world, according to Sports and Fitness Industry Association data, which estimates there are more than 5 million pickleball players in the United States.
And here’s your chance to learn the game. The Longboat Key Paradise Center for Healthy Living, 546 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, is offering instruction on the basics of the game at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.
Pickleball instructor Terri Noyes will lead a lesson on rules, scoring and more during the session.
The cost to attend is $10 for nonmembers. Members can attend for free.
For more info, call the center at 941-383-6493.
— Lisa Neff