Islanders spark new Magic,
The Magic is back! Manatee Magic that is.
Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization merged its Magic competitive program with Football Club Sarasota three years ago in an attempt to make one club that could compete against Tampa.
It didn’t work out quite the way it was planned and the MAYSO board of directors found its West Bradenton players weren’t playing much soccer, partly due to the distance to practices and decided to revive the Magic program.
This season, Magic has four competitive teams and the U12 girls just completed their regular season with a 10-2-2 record —they are southeastern Division III champs.
Four Islanders played a major role in the team’s success, starting with goalkeeper Emma Moneuse, who helped the team post eight shutouts. Also contributing to the team’s stingy defense, allowing only eight goals all season, was central defender Gracie Bowers. Bowers also added a pair of goals to the offense. Outside midfielders Morgan Burns and Brooke Capparelli also were a big part of the team’s success. Burns was the second leading scorer on the team with six goals, while Capparelli notched two goals while also playing strong defense.
Helping the defense were Gianna Hager, Samantha Scholl and Lily Sherman.
Directing the team is former Islander, Brett McIntosh, whose daughter Brooke plays forward. “These girls exemplify the Island-style soccer tradition. They’re scrappy and tough. They play hard and have fun doing it,” he said.
Another major contributor was center midfielder Kendall Miller, who led the team in scoring with 13 goals. Other players who contributed to the Magic’s success this season include Cameron Carson, Maddie Oliszewski, Presley Thompson and Kalie Welling.
The Magic girls are looking forward to Region C Cup, which gets started next Saturday, Feb. 18.
They will travel to Hernando County to take on the Lake Wales Fury and Tampa Bay United in pool-play action with the hope of advancing to the next round.
Flag football playoffs loom
With only a few regular-season games left to play in each division in the Anna Maria Island Community Center NFL Flag Football League, teams are keeping a close eye on standings, jockeying for favorable seeding positions.
Mr. Bones Colts in the 10-12 eastern division are on top of the league with a 7-0 record. The hard-charging Sand Dollar Steelers are in second, but it appears unlikely they can catch the Colts. LPAC Cardinals lead the 10-12 west division with a 6-1 record, but they have Ross Built Broncos right behind them with a 5-2 record.
The 8-9 division is a dogfight with Beach Bistro Vikings on top at 4-1, although Waterfront Restaurant Raiders and Southern Greens Jets are only one loss back in the standings.
The top spot in the 13-16 division also is up for grabs with Jessie’s Island Store Steelers holding a half-game lead over Integrity Sound Redskins.
There’s still time for movement up and down the table, so stay tuned.
The game of the week was a 13-16 division game between Jessie’s Island Store Steelers and Walter & Associates Bears Feb. 10.
The Steelers edged the Bears 24-19 behind 124 passing yards and three touchdown passes from Cody Tsai. Brad Duffman ran for 67 yards and caught three passes for 31 yards while scoring two touchdowns. Michael Duffman added 50 receiving yards, 30 rushing yards and a touchdown. Nehemiah Goode racked up 108 all-purpose yards and scored one touchdown in the victory.
Moriah Goode paced the defense with five flag pulls, while Michael and Brad Duffman each had three pulls. Michael Duffman adding an interception.
The Bears were led by quarterback Seth Walter, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 244 yards and three touchdown passes. Jack Walter led the Bears’ receivers with seven catches for 83 yards, including a touchdown and an extra point. Derek Polch added 47 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns, while Jacob Talucci and Max Miller finished with 60 and 58 receiving yards respectively.
Miller also was a defensive standout, grabbing five flags, while Polch and Jack Walter finished with four pulls apiece. Polch also added an interception and Talucci recorded a pair of sacks in the loss.
Key Royale golf news
And then there were three. The men’s championship at Key Royale Club has narrowed to three players. Tim Friesen won his match last week to stay alive in Flight 1 and will meet Mark Mixon. The winner of the Flight 1 Friesen-Mixon match will advance to play Flight 2 champion, Lex Halakan.
In regular weekly golf action, the team of Joe Dickenson, Andy Barber and G. Taylor won a two best balls of foursome match Feb. 1 with an amazing 34-under par. Six shots back in second place was the team of John Sagert, Ernie Hauser and Bob Landgren.
Barry Izzard fired a plus-5 to win the individual Stableford match during Feb. 7 golf action. Izzard was also part of the winning team that included Fred Miller, Hoyt Miller and Blake Ress.
The men played a nine-hole, best-ball-of-foursome match Feb. 6. The team of Dennis Schavey, Larry Fowler, Bill Shulman and John Kolijeski combined on a 12-under par 20 to take first place. Second place went to the team of Fred Meyer, Charlie Knopp, Paul Kammerlin and Bill Martin with an 11-under par total.
The men played an 18-hole, individual-low-net match Feb. 4. Vince Mercadante carded a 4-under-par 60 to take first place by one shot over Tom Lewis. Harold McKammish and Pete Weir tied for third with matching 62s.
Horseshoe news
Four teams emerged from Feb. 8 pool-play during horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Gene Bobeldyk and John Johnson defeated Bruce Copeland and Jay Disbrow 22-6 in the first semifinal. The second semi saw Jerry Disbrow and Rod Bussey earn an easy victory over Dom Livedoti and Sam Samuels. Bobeldyk and Johnson edged Bussey and Jerry Disbrow 23-17 in the finals.
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.
AMICC NFL Flag Football action last week:
8-9 Division
Feb. 11, Waterfront Restaurant Raiders 24, Beach Bum Steelers 6
Feb. 10, Waterfront Restaurant Raiders 25, Gettel Toyota Texans 18
Southern Greens Jets 32, Pink & Navy Boutique Cowboys 14
10-12 Division
Feb. 11, LPAC Cardinals 38, Cedars Tennis Resorts Seahawks 0
Sand Dollar Steelers 48, Air & Energy Chargers 13
Mr. Bones Colts 31, Ross Built Broncos 14
Feb. 8, LPAC Cardinals 38, Eat Here Bears 21
Feb. 7
Ross Built Broncos 37, Cedars Tennis Resorts Seahawks 14
Mr. Bones Colts 46, Air & Energy Chargers 20
Sand Dollar Steelers 27, Sandbar Falcons 27
13-16 Division
Feb. 11, Integrity Sound Redskins 35, First American Bank Ravens 0
Walter & Associates Bears 35, Galati Yacht Sales Texans 22
AMICC Flag Football standings
8-9 Division W L
Vikings 4 1
Raiders 5 2
Jets 4 2
Steelers 3 3
Cowboys 2 4
Texans 1 5
10-12 East Division
Colts 7 0
Steelers 4 3
Bears 2 4
Seahawks 1 1
10-12 West Division
Cardinals 6 1
Broncos 5 2
Falcons 2 4
Chargers 0 7
13-16 Division
Steelers 5 1
Redskins 4 1
Texans 3 3
Bears 3 3
Ravens 2 5
Raiders 1 5
Adult
AFC
Ravens 5 1
Packers 3 2
Raiders 3 2
Falcons 3 3
Vikings 3 3
Chargers 1 4
Bears 0 5
NFC
49ers 6 0
Dolphins 4 1
Bills 3 3
Texans 3 3
Broncos 3 3
Browns 2 4
Bengals 0 5
AMICC Flag Football schedules
Date Time Teams
Ages 5-7
Feb. 17 6 p.m. Cardinals vs. Vikings
Feb. 17 7 p.m. Colts vs. Broncos
Ages 8-9
Feb. 17 6 p.m. Texans vs. Cowboys
Feb. 17 7 p.m. Vikings vs. Jets
Feb. 18 1 p.m. Raiders vs. Cowboys
Feb. 18 2 p.m. Vikings vs. Texans
Feb. 18 3 p.m. Steelers vs. Jets
Ages 10-12
Feb. 15 6 p.m. Falcons vs. Bears
Feb. 18 9 a.m. Cardinals vs. Broncos
Feb. 18 10 a.m. Falcons vs. Chargers
Feb. 18 11 a.m. Steelers vs. Colts
Feb. 18 noon. Bears vs. Seahawks
Ages 13-16
Feb. 17 8 p.m. Raiders vs. Steelers
Feb. 18 4 p.m. Ravens vs. Bears
Feb. 18 5 p.m. Redskins vs. Steelers
Adult Coed
Feb. 15 7 p.m. Chargers vs. Bears
Feb. 15 8 p.m. Bills vs. Raiders
Feb. 15 9 p.m. Browns vs. Bengals
Feb. 16 6 p.m. Vikings vs.Packers
Feb. 16 7 p.m. Falcons vs. Ravens
Feb. 16 8 p.m. Dolphins vs. 49ers
Feb. 16 9 p.m. Texans vs. Broncos
AMICC Adult Coed Volleyball
Feb. 14 7 p.m. Tyler’s Ice Cream vs. Best Buy
Feb. 14 8 p.m. Tyler’s Ice Cream vs. Slim’s Place