Summer sports kick off at The Center

ANNA MARIA – As the first official day of summer approaches, the heat of the Island evenings pushes The Center’s youth sports activities inside with indoor soccer’s kickoff games last week. Thursday night started the adult co-ed recreational summer flag football action on the big field with competitive action once again.

Because of ties and forfeits, only one team in each of the youth indoor leagues came out victorious at the end of their games. Teams Solid Rock Construction and Island Vacation Properties won in their respective leagues.

In 8- to 10-year-old league play, Solid Rock Construction hit the gymnasium floor against team Progressive Cabinetry. Strong goal-scoring by the Solid Rock squad gave them the win with the final score 6-4.

Scoring for Solid Rock, Matthew Darak made four goals. Teammate Holden put two points on the scoreboard. At the net, Isaac Roadman protected the goal with skill making five saves in the team’s win week one.

Max McMaster scored the two goals for Progressive Cabinetry, while Vincent Gollamundi miraculously made 15 big stops in the game as goalie for his team.

Island Vacation Properties was the lone victor in the 11- to 13-year-old league due to a forfeit by team Moss Builders.

Indoor soccer action between team Coastline West Team – Wagner Realty and Solid Rock Construction ended in a 3-3 tie. With 11 saves by Austin Guess for Solid Rock, the team held its own against the Coastline West squad thanks to three goals by Wes Saxon.

Coastline’s goals came off the boots of David Zupa with two goals and Grady Sandhoff with a solo goal. Making eight amazing saves, the Coastline West Team’s goalie, Blake Brower, helped his team hold on to the tie, giving each team one point in the season.

After four adult flag football games, four teams came out on top finishing the week with 1-0-0 records. Teams Luxury Services, Moss Builders, Sandbar Seafood & Spirits and Solid Rock Construction each took home a win.

Starting off the season, Salty Printing matched up with last season’s big winners, team Luxury Services. With a slightly different lineup, the Luxury team easily won their first game 35-12. Tim Holly topped the men’s flag-pulling for the week with eight snags.

In another high-scoring game and aerial assault, Moss Builders scored 45 points against the Gulf Drive Café defense. The Gulf Drive team managed to put up 26 points on the scoreboard in their first loss last Thursday night.

Defense was the name of the game in the third game of the adult flag football season with the Solid Rock Construction team winning against team Cortez Deep Sea Fishing 14-7. Evelyn Long made seven amazing stops with flag pulls for the Solid Rock team, just short of Holly.

Ending the night with the closest game of the week, Sandbar Seafood & Spirits barely earned the win against The Banks Home Lending Team. Winning by two points, the Sandbar team came out on top with the final score 28-26.

Playing toward the championship games in August, 16 teams, three leagues, two sports compete at The Center all summer.