Skip to main content

Tag: The Center of Anna Maria Island

Center sports ACE Hardware

Teens hit the gridiron: ACE Hardware takes the easy win

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Football, Sports.

For more than 10 years, nearly half of the 27 boys in the 14- to 17-year-old flag football league have been friends on and off the flag football field at the Island’s community center. Now some of those same players who first took to the field when they were four years old are driving themselves to the games.

New and newer players to the league were welcomed by lifelong friends to play one of the most popular sports on the Island. ACE Hardware’s Bryce Gunter and Tyler Richards and Aaryn Scalone for Blue Lagoon secured their spots in The Center sports records in the first week of play after two weeks of rain postponements.

Thursday night the boys started another season at The Center of Anna Maria Island. With many of the supportive parents still in the bleachers rooting for and cheering on players on both sides of the field, ACE Hardware coach Chuck McCracken watched his team play a fun game of flag football against Blue Lagoon, coached by Randy Langley.

Despite the final score of 40-12, both teams playing in the recreational league laughed and relaxed during the two halves of play, enjoying a little time away from the pressures of high school and life as a teenager.

Free of video games and cell phones and friends since preschool, Tyler Brewer and Tuna McCracken took the field for ACE Hardware. During the first set of downs, Blue Lagoon’s possession of the ball was cut short by an interception by McCracken.

The ACE Hardware interception was run back for a touchdown, giving the team a quick six-point lead.

Blue Lagoon took back the football after the failed point after by ACE. The team, led by Rutger Langley, went three and out with a near interception. He is joined on the team by his younger brother Roman Langley. The Langleys attended Anna Maria Elementary School with many of the other boys in the league.

ACE Hardware’s Connor Ludwig, who joined the Island bunch in middle school, scored the next touchdown on a bomb by Brewer. Ludwig’s consistent receptions have been his trademark in the league for years.

Once again unable to convert, Blue Lagoon’s QB in the series felt the pressure of Brewer’s cousin Travis Bates. Bates forced Chris Snyder, who joined the league in elementary school, to scramble out of the pocket while waiting on an open receiver.

Three snaps of the ball are all it took for ACE Hardware to be on the march once again.

Blue Lagoon held its own preventing the ACE first down. Rutger Langley, as the quarterback, hit league veteran Jeremiah Sculco for the Blue Lagoon touchdown.

Also missing the extra point, Blue Lagoon left the score at 12-6.

Ludwig’s next great catch, with two minutes on the scoreboard clock, was followed by a short touchdown pass to Brewer. A sliding reception by Ludwig in the end zone took the score to 19-6.

Coming back on the field after halftime, Blue Lagoon took the ball on offense only to be intercepted by ACE Hardware’s David Daigle. Daigle, who met McCracken and Brewer in kindergarten at Anna Maria Elementary School, ran the ball into the end zone after the interception with Snyder diving unsuccessfully for the flag pull.

The score stayed at 25-6 as the result of another failed point after.

A faulty Blue Lagoon snap and a pass beyond the line of scrimmage led to the loss of the ball. The offensive possessions changed several times before ACE Hardware once again scored.

Daigle’s next catch of the game gained critical yards for his team. On the next snap, McCracken hit Morgan Horesh, who met his teammates in the third grade. Horesh ran the football the remaining length of the field for another ACE Hardware touchdown and the extra point.

Instituting the no rush mercy rule on ACE Hardware for having more than a 21-point lead, with the score 32-6, Snyder made a beautiful run on the first snap in the possession for a touchdown, slipping through the hands of all of the ACE Hardware defenders.

The missed point after left the score 32-12.

Showing his ups, Ludwig snagged the high pass by McCracken, turning after the catch to run for another six points. The extra point conversion increased the deficit to 28 points.

The final play of the game gave Snyder the ball with defenders purposefully at a standstill paving the way to end zone with the same love of playing on the community center’s field they did a decade ago.

Related coverage

2019 action-packed Island sports fun

Sato Real Estate to defend title

Sato Real Estate on top again

Center of Anna Maria Island

2019 action-packed Island sports fun

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Sports.

The last night of fall 2018 was supposed to be the backdrop to the adult co-ed soccer championship game at The Center, but Mother Nature had other plans for the evening.  With a day of rain accumulated on the Island field, Sato Real Estate and Lancaster Design would have to wait to see who could claim the cup.

January brought youth flag football action into the winter season as the first two weeks of games were delayed due to the heavy rains that closed out December. Two of the three competitive recreational age group leagues took the field last week

After the ringing in of the new year, the eight- to 10-year-olds gave the fans strong head-to-head action. Progressive Cabinetry, coached by Troy Kosteinik, finished its first game with a tied score against Tim Holly’s Slim’s Place.

Finishing the week with another tied ball game, Planet Stone, inspired by Ray Gardner, faced Ugly Grouper, coached by Jaret Rojas. In a blow out match-up, Joe Peery’s Bins Be Clean could not find the end zone against Beach Bums, coached by Gary Harlan.

The season is young, and any of the six teams in the youngest age group could be on top after the seven regular games are played.

Four of the five teams in the 11-to 13-year old flag football league, Beach House Real Estate and Island Charms came out victorious. Grooms Automotive, coached by Tom Baugher, put up 12 points against Corey Jacques’ Beach House Real Estate, which scored 33 points in the game.

In a close one, Coach Rob Alderson’s team stayed competitive with 13 points in the game, while Coach Jim Collins helped his team to its first win of the season, scoring 19 points.

The big kids are preparing to take the gridiron with co-ed adult flag football evaluations and draft on Thursday and the action to start shortly thereafter on Thursday nights.

The Center is looking to bring excitement back to the hard court of the gym with adult co-ed volleyball. The bring your own team league will start play on Tuesday, Jan. 29, with registration ending on Saturday, Jan. 19. The Tuesday night play gives adults an indoor sports alternative for the season.

Youth wrestling is underway in the Island gym and will continue until March, taking the team on the road for tournaments to test its skills on the mat.

To round out the school year, youth basketball will take to the court in March, with youth soccer and T-ball games in April.

The sounds of fans clapping and team spirit will continue to fill the air at the Island’s community center, making 2019 another year of athletic celebrations.

Related Coverage

Sato Real Estate to defend title

Sato Real Estate on top again

Adult co-ed soccer heats up in the night chill

Center of Anna Maria Island

Around the Island year in review

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News, Special Sections, West Manatee Fire Rescue, Year in Review.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – This past year brought a lot of changes to the three Island cities as well as to some other organizations. Let’s take a look back at what happened in 2018 at The Center of Anna Maria Island and West Manatee Fire Rescue District.

The Center of AMI

  • The Center of Anna Maria Island started 2018 on a positive note as the organization’s flagging finances rebounded and have continued to grow over the year. The Center’s board hopes to end the 2018-19 fiscal year in June 2019 as the second consecutive positive year for the nonprofit.
  • Membership numbers at the Center have also continued to grow over previous years, ending the 2018 calendar year well over 2017 numbers. Board Chair David Zaccagnino said the positive outcome was due in part to the organization’s ongoing partnership with Brenda Canning’s Island Fitness, which moved into the second-floor fitness center in 2017.

    center culhane children
    New Center Executive Director Chris Culhane takes to the field with his family. – Submitted | Center
  • The Center said goodbye to Executive Director Kristen Lessig and hello to new Executive Director Chris Culhane in February. Culhane, a long-time Center attendee and employee, quickly earned the respect of the community and Center employees, guiding the nonprofit to a positive outcome in the first half of its 2018-19 fiscal year.

WMFR

  • West Manatee Fire Rescue began the year and ended it the same way in its commissioners’ quest to sell the oversized administration building on Third Avenue West in Bradenton for a smaller office setting – without completing the planned sale to The Oasis Middle School. Regulatory hurdles and a slow financing process pushed the closing date back three times, with the date now set for summer 2019.
  • With the imminent sale of the administration building and future retirement of Chief Tom Sousa, Commissioner George Harris broached the subject of merging with two neighboring fire districts in June 2018. The idea of the merger with Cedar Hammock Fire District and Southern Manatee Fire District didn’t garner much interest from Cedar Hammock’s commissioners and none with Southern Manatee’s commissioners. Though the idea is still floating around with WMFR commissioners, no action has been taken.
  • The district launched its long-awaited Advanced Life Support service at its Holmes Beach Station 3 in October followed by Station 2 on Cortez Road. The service allows firefighters to perform all the medical treatments that EMS workers can without transport capabilities. Plans are underway to launch the service at all three WMFR stations.
  • Chief Tom Sousa announced his plans to retire early from his post in October 2019. Previously, Sousa was contracted to remain with the district through 2021. The new year begins the search for a new fire chief.

Related Coverage

Island cities ok Center funding

Center hires new executive director

WMFR merger just talk for now

Local first responders help with hurricane recovery

Center soccer Sato semi-finals

Sato Real Estate to defend title

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The Center of Anna Maria Island field saw six games of co-ed, adult soccer last week as the eight teams went head-to-head in the fall season’s playoffs games. In the end, top-ranked Sato Real Estate captured two wins in the week, solidifying the team’s place in the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game Thursday night.

The pitch lights were on Tuesday night for the quarterfinal games. The cold night thinned out the crowd, but the faithful fans of futbol stayed to watch the closest match of the night between Moss Builders and AMI Locals.

After extra play in overtime, the two teams selected each of their best five shot makers to battle it out in penalty kicks. Fourth-ranked Moss Builders prevailed, winning the game by one goal. The win moved Ryan Moss’ Moss Builders into the semi-final action.

Jiffy Lube, Lancaster Design and Sato Real Estate also played Thursday night to determine the final play lineup.

With four teams vying for one of the two final spots, Moss Builders’ Adam Bujarski was the only man in a blue jersey that could find the net. Goalie Jordan DeMers solidly protected his net making 11 saves on the night, but their efforts just were not enough against Kris Yavalar’s Lancaster Design.

On the other side of the field, last season’s Sato Real Estate key player, Zachary Lieb, put in two goals to help his new team, Lancaster Design, clinch a spot in the cup game.

Lieb’s teammates Cemal Duzgan and Ryan Hogan contributed with their all-important points in the game for the win.

Sato Real Estate’s Trey Horne solidified his place as one of the league’s top goalies with 13 recorded saves. Horne’s team did not have an easy go of its semifinal game against Jiffy Lube. The battle royale put the #1 and #2 teams against each other one last time in the season.

Team captain Danny Anderson scored two of the team’s four points. Brother Ricky had one of his own. Frontman Brayan Felipe had a solo goal as well.

But the goals of Josh Sato, team captain, two goals by Andrew Schmidt and singles by Francisco Oliviera and Eric Pullen gave Sato Real Estate the win by one goal in overtime.

Sato Real Estate’s narrow victory gives the team a chance to repeat last season’s success and continue to reign as champions. Yavalar looks to put another championship under his name Thursday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. at The Center.

Related coverage

Sato Real Estate on top again

Adult co-ed soccer heats up in the night chill

Top teams take the championship

Center of Anna Maria Island adult soccer kick

Sato Real Estate on top again

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The last regular season co-ed adult soccer game ended Thursday night with Lancaster Design pulling out the big win over Jiffy Lube.

After Moss Builders took the first victory of the night over Eason Builders, Slim’s Place earned its first win of the season against a winless Ross Built Construction.

Sato Real Estate handed AMI Locals its third loss of the season. Playing with a demanding defensive attack lead by Alta Bujarski, Sato Real Estate’s Andrew Schmidt lead the team out of the gate with a beautiful shot.

Matthew Staggs took the second score statistic, advancing the score to 2-0 two minutes into the game.

Team captain Kevin Roman hit the net next for his team, AMI Locals. Schmidt followed up with his second point of the game with 17 minutes left in the half.

Tyler Robinson, Roman’s teammate of the sponsored AMI Locals, brought the game to a one-point spread with the score 3-2.

The third game of the night ended with a goal by Chris Culhane, taking the score to 4-2.

Danny Anderson, the leader of Jiffy Lube, started the last game with a bang, scoring within the first few minutes of the game.

Anderson’s brother Ricky put the second point on the scoreboard, and teammate Nathan Kragt scored the third goal with 10 minutes left in the half.

Just as it looked like Jiffy Lube was going to run away with the game, Lancaster Design’s team woke up and started its scoring streak at the 17th minute by Zackary Lieb.

Right before the end of the first half of the game, D. Anderson struck the soccer ball for the teams fourth and final goal of the night.

At the very start of the last 23 minutes of play, Lancaster Design came out scoring. Lieb scored the next two goals tying the ball game 4-4.

With a tie looking to be the destiny for the match, Lieb put his team head and gave it the win with a little over five minutes left on the clock.

The second round of the playoffs will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13.

Related Coverage

Adult co-ed soccer heats up in the night chill

Top teams take the championship

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

center adult co-ed soccer

Adult co-ed soccer heats up in the night chill

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The temperatures dropped while the competition on the Island pitch heated up Thursday night in the adult soccer league.

With one game left in the regular season, Sato Real Estate sealed the first place seed with the win against Eason Builders Group. Both teams were missing key players in the matchup. Sato Real Estate team captain Josh Sato was absent from the action, as was Eason Builders’ Sean Flynn.

Playing without goalkeeper Cliff Powell, Eason Builders Group scrambled to fill the position with Ray Gardner, Yuri Pereira and Greg DeMeuse and took the field with no substitute players.

Despite their best efforts, Eason Builders Group came up short against the skillful Sato squad.

In the mix for the second seed position, Jiffy Lube handily beat Slim’s Place. The goals by Aaron Parkin and Diego Felipe was no match against Danny Anderson’s Jiffy Lube team. Anderson’s single goal, finisher by Mike Brusso, two goals by Nathan Kragt and Eliza Faillace’s hat trick gave the team a five-goal win.

Lancaster Design picked up its third win of the season against Moss Builders, which also has three wins. In his second season, Zackary Lieb proves to be a consistent force on the field, putting up two goals in the game.

In addition to Lieb’s goals, Lancaster Design’s win was aided by scores by team captain Kris Yavalar, Cemal Duzgan and Sumiko Chipman.

Moss Builders’ Robert Armstrong and Eduardo Vera each scored a single goal, while newcomer Eva Howland found the net twice.

As the night grew colder, Ross Built Construction nearly won its first game of the season against AMI Locals. New to the Ross Built team, Riley Moore’s goal helped his team’s efforts. Vince Circharo, with two goals, and team captain Greg Ross’ point put the team within one point of a tie.

With the win, AMI Locals remains in the middle of the standing pack with Jiffy Lube, Lancaster Design, Moss Builders and Eason Builders.

The last regular season game on Thursday, Dec. 6, is followed by the playoff games on Tuesday, Dec. 11, and Thursday, Dec. 13. A champion will be named on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.

Related Coverage

Top teams take the championship

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

Little cleats, lots of fun

lester day santa dance

Holiday fun abounds at the Center’s Lester Day

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun, Holiday.

ANNA MARIA – Despite the Florida heat, The Center of Anna Maria Island was transformed Dec. 1 into a winter wonderland for the 17th Annual Lester Family Fun Day.

The annual event, sponsored by Chuck and Joey Lester, promises family fun at old-fashioned prices, and this year’s event definitely delivered. Families were treated to burgers from Duffy’s Tavern, hotdogs donated by Anna Maria Oyster Bar and ice cream sandwiches from Tyler’s Ice Cream.

lester day lesters
Joey and Chuck Lester enjoy a Duffy’s burger. – Kristin Swain | Sun

While the inside of the Center was a north pole fairyland with Christmas lights, holiday trees, giant teddy bears and colorfully wrapped gifts, the outside actually had snow from two snowmen who blew the white bubbly stuff over an area where children frolicked and played before moving on to the bounce house, petting zoo or participated in a pick-up football game on the field. The two favorite attractions were the pony ride and the bull ride which had a continuous line of eager riders until the field events closed at 1:30 p.m. to make way for the golf ball 50/50 raffle drop from a helicopter.

Center Executive Director Chris Culhane and his family took to the skies, flying on the donated chopper from Sarasota to the Center where they dropped buckets of purchased, numbered golf balls on the field to see which one would land closest to the hole. Center board treasurer Christine Hicks won the raffle with the first ever golf ball that landed in the hole. She donated her winnings back to the Center.

In addition to the 50/50 raffle, raffles also were held for 50 turkeys that were given away during the event and a Christmas tree, donated by Merry Christmas Trees of Bradenton.

Holiday tunes for the event were provided by DJ Freeze though one of the biggest attractions of the day was a performance by the Manatee High School drum line. Everyone was in high spirits when the drum line escorted in Santa and his elves, delivered to the event on his sleigh by the Pyrates of the Gulf Coast. Even Santa couldn’t help dancing to the beat of the drums as he gave a little impromptu performance before taking a seat and hearing the Christmas wishes of all the boys and girls in attendance.

Throughout the day, children were able to participate in activities from fishing for prizes to decorating cookies and ornaments along with face painting. Before the 50/50 raffle wrapped up the day’s festivities, board Chair David Zaccagnino took to the stage to thank the day’s sponsors, staff and volunteers and present a piece of original artwork to Chuck and Joey Lester created by 21-year-old artist Emma Terry, who previously attended the Center’s after-school program. The artwork also was used to create T-shirts for the event, which were available to volunteers and for purchase.

“This is an amazing event,” Zaccagnino said at the end of the day. “It just keeps getting better and better every year.”

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

Kristin Swain | Sun

center tree donations

Buy a Christmas tree, support The Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

Merry Christmas Trees of Bradenton is teaming up with The Center of Anna Maria Island to help make the season brighter for the nonprofit.

Michigan natives Kerry and Chrissy Foley, along with their family, come to the Beachway Plaza at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue every year to sell fresh cut Christmas trees as Merry Christmas Trees of Bradenton. This year, if patrons of the pop-up tree farm mention that they live on Anna Maria Island or support The Center of Anna Maria Island, the Center will receive 10 percent of each tree purchase. Kerry said he and his family feel that it’s a great way to give back to the community that becomes their home over the holidays. He said the family also donated a tree to be raffled off for Lester Family Fun Day at the Center.

The tree farm is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day and has trees of all sizes, decorations and homemade jam for purchase. Tree delivery and set up also are available for an additional fee.

Lester Family Fun Day 2017

Old-fashioned family fun for the holidays

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Family fun.

ANNA MARIA – A family tradition is returning to The Center of Anna Maria Island just in time for the holidays.

The 17th Annual Lester Family Fun Day, sponsored each year by Holmes Beach residents Chuck and Joey Lester, kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Center, 407 Magnolia Ave.

This year’s festivities will include pony rides, a bounce house, mechanical reindeer, crafts, games, cookie decorating and snow. Santa arrives at noon to take pictures with children and hear what’s on their wish lists. He’ll be escorted by the Manatee High School drumline.

The free event also features a 50/50 raffle golf ball drop on the field at 1:45 p.m. For $50 each or three for $100, participants can try their luck to see if their ball lands the closest to the hole. Whoever’s ball lands closest to or in the hole wins half of the raffle pot. Golf balls can be purchased at the Center.

Food at old-fashioned prices will be available for purchase including Duffy’s hamburgers and hot dogs along with ice cream sandwiches from Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Raffles will be held for a television and a turkey. Poinsettias will be available for purchase.

For more information, call the Center at 941-778-1908 or email info@centerami.org.

championship team bins be clean

Top teams take the championship

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

Teams Planet Stone and Bins Be Clean win it all in The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fall youth soccer league championship game.

The top seeds in both of the youth soccer leagues finished on top, capturing the championship Wednesday night at the Island’s community center. After a close semi-final game, Ugly Grouper won its spot in the final game against Planet Stone in the 8- to 10-year-old league. Team Planet Stone took the big win and championship medals.

championship team planet stone
8-10-year-old soccer champs Team Planet Stone. – Monica Simpson | Sun

Wash Family Construction dominated Slim’s Place in the 11- to 13-year-old semi-final match-up, only to struggle against the first place Bins Be Clean team in the final game of the night.

Starting the game off with 12 minutes on the scoreboard, Evan Talucci played solid in the net, protecting his end of the field as the goalkeeper for Bins Be Clean.

Talucci’s teammate Jackson Mattick took the first shot after two minutes of play. Mattick’s shot hit the bottom of the crossbar only to hit straight down to the ground in front of the goal line.

With a second chance, Mattick hit his next shot, putting Bins Be Clean ahead 1-0.

Cash Carter kicked the soccer ball for a strong defensive clearing the full length of the field for Bins Be Clean.

Five minutes into the game, JM Feeney hustled to the sideline to keep the ball in bounds, giving his team, Wash Family Construction, a corner kick. Bins Be Clean made a nice defensive stop keeping Wash Family from scoring.

Minutes later a shot by Jeremiah Sculco was stopped by Talucci. The corner kick found the ball at the feet of Angelina Albrecht, who attempted her first shot of the game.

Just out of the reach of goalie Victor Albrecht, Jackson Pakbaz hit the net with four minutes left in the half, giving Bins Be Clean a two-point lead.

Bins Be Clean’s Sam Leister held strong defensively against Wash Family Construction’s Riley Lawson, preventing a shot before halftime.

Into the second half of the 11-to 13-year old championship game, Carter took a shot for Bins Be Clean, while teammate Nicholas Yatros played tough defense against Wash Family Construction’s veteran player Aiden Templeton.

Kirin Malisoff and Kylie Barkley played strong defense for Bins Be Clean, helping their team to another victory.

Yatros stopped Templeton’s fast break, forcing him to pass the ball. V. Albrecht followed with a great defensive play of his own with a remarkable save on a Bins Be Clean shot.

Scoring the third goal for Bins Be Clean, Yatros put himself in the perfect scoring position with only a couple of minutes left on the game clock.

Despite a strong effort by Wash Family Construction, the team just could not get the soccer ball between the posts, resulting in the big win for Bins Be Clean.

The night also spotlighted 10 players who caught the attention of the coaches this season. In the instructional six-to 7-year-old league, Nixon Conner and Maggie Sue Niedzwick were named the Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player, respectively.

With their game developing and skills strengthening the battle for awards gets tougher with each season in the 8- to 10-year-old league. Taking the MVP kudos was Ugly Grouper’s Maximus Manapat and Savanna Coba.

Planet Stone’s Jack Whiteside was recognized as the league’s Defensive MVP, while teammate Julia Baugher was named Most Improved. Cale Rudacille, goalkeeper for Ugly Grouper, took home the title of Goalie of the Year.

Bins Be Clean’s goalie Evan Talucci won the top honors for his position as the Goalie of the Year. Cash Carter joined his teammate with the Most Valuable Player honors.

Wash Family Constructions girl powerhouse Angelina Albrecht was recognized for her skills as the Female MVP.

Teammates Kieran Clouter and Caden Quinby both were acknowledged for their strong play during the season as the Defensive MVP and Most Improved recipients.

Ending the season with great games and awards, Slim’s Place sponsored and provided the food for the night in traditional cookout style making for the perfect night of soccer, friends and family.

Related coverage

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

Little cleats, lots of fun

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

Center fall youth soccer

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

In the final week of the youth soccer regular season, Planet Stone finished in first place for the youngsters making up the eight- to 10-year-old league. Bins Be Clean found them on top for the 11- to 13-year-old league.

Both teams clinched a spot in the championship match on Wed., Nov. 14. Neither will know who their opponents will be until the semifinal play is completed at the 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. games that same night.

Planet Stone went head-to-head against Ugly Grouper last Tuesday night to start the evening’s action.

Ugly Grouper’s Cale Rudacille scored the only goal of the first game of the night for the eight- to 10-year-old youth soccer league in their victory against number one ranked Planet Stone.

Planet Stone stayed on the field for the week’s second game against Progressive Cabinetry. Despite having just played the previous game, the Planet Stone team still showed fire in its boots, taking the win with a goal at the 23rd minutes of the play by Ava Harlan. Just 36 seconds later the top team put the ball in the net for the second and final goal of the game.

In the older age group, Bins Be Clean finished the season with a loss and a tie, but its strong season play kept the team at the top of the rankings. Wash Family Construction, which finished second in the regular season, completed its night with a victory over Bins Be Clean.

The men and women who make up the co-ed adult soccer league finished their fourth game of the season last Thursday night, leading them into the second half of the regular season.

The three weeks of play prior saw tough competition and close scores among the teams. Week four was four blowout games, with players missing and mismatches.

Sato Real Estate showed its dominance on the pitch against Jiffy Lube with a 7-2 win, putting it neck and neck with Eason Builders.

Eason Builders, in the last game of the night, handed Ross Built Construction its fourth loss of the season finishing six goals ahead. Ross Built goes into the fifth game versus Lancaster Design looking for its first win.

Lancaster Design, a team once on top with Sato Real Estate, fell to third place with a loss against AMI Locals with the score 3-8.

The 8 p.m. game had Moss Builders facing Slim’s Place. At the end of 46 minutes of play, Moss Builders gained its second win of the season. Like Ross Built Construction, Slim’s Place looks forward to its first W next week.

All eight teams push forward toward the final games of the season in December, with the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game on Dec. 20.

Related Coverage

Little cleats, lots of fun

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

sports soccer little cleats

Little cleats, lots of fun

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The chill in the air last Tuesday night was paired with the sounds of youth soccer at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Several weeks into the fall soccer season, little kids as young as three years old up to 13 years old have been hitting the pitch Tuesday and Wednesday nights for futbal action.

The smallest little cleats learn the essentials with the help of volunteer coaches like Meghan Horner who take time out of their busy weekly schedule to spend an hour with the Island area boys and girls.

Wearing cleats, the little ballers in their long socks hold their shin guards as they excitedly kick the soccer ball down and around the field with Coach Horner and her assistants. During the 60 minute clinic, sponsored by The Freckled Fin, the kids work on shooting drills with the pop-up goals and passing “drills”.

Playing a fun game, Coach Horner helped the players learn how to dribble the soccer ball by keeping it close to them. In the exercise, if the ball hit the coach, the kids chose an animal that the coach pretends to be as the reward.

Cats, elephants, lizards and more delight the clinic goers as they learn the game of soccer while having fun in the sun.

Related Coverage

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

Youth soccer takes to the pitch for another season

center soccer sato

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

After two weeks of play in the fall adult co-ed soccer season, Team Sato Real Estate remains on the top of the leaderboard, despite the challenges of a new squad. Lead by team captain Josh Sato, the current Hayward Cup champions easily defeated Ross Built Construction Thursday night.

Ross Built Construction, without its leader Greg Ross, struggled to take shots and stop offensive powerhouse of the Sato team.

Sato Real Estate’s roster proved to be too much for the Ross Built defense, with Eric Pullen, Mark Rudacille, Francisco Oliviera and Sato all scoring for the team in purple, along with assists by Andrew Schmidt and Matthew Staggs.

Pullen started the offensive challenge with a pass to Oliviera. Oliviera’s shot was stopped by Ross Built Construction goalkeeper Robb Marshall, who returned to the team after a couple of seasons out of the league.

Less than a minute later, Schmidt got his first assist to Sato, who scored in the first minute of the game. Pullen struck with a beautiful arching shot just over the head of Marshall for the Sato Real Estate second goal taking the score to 2-0.

Four minutes into the game, Ross Built’s lone female player, who predominately plays defense, found a scoring opportunity to put her team’s first point on the scoreboard.

Defender Alta Bujarski showed her skills against Schmidt. Schmidt pulled away from Bujarski finding Pullen in striking position to score his second goal for Sato Real Estate, once again giving the team a two-point lead.

Ross Built Construction worked well on the Sato Real Estate side of the field but could not get the ball in the net. Ten minutes into play, Max Gazzo took the corner kick getting the ball to Vince Circharo, whose strong leg sailed the ball over the crossbar.

The Ross Built defense and Marshall’s goalie skills shut down the Sato Real Estate offense for a solid 10 minutes. In that time, Gazzo made a nice slide to the soccer ball to keep it in bounds, getting it to Chris Circharo for the second Ross Built Construction goal, narrowing the gap with the score 3-2.

To end the first half of the game, Team Sato scored its fourth goal of the game with a shot by Oliviera.

Coming onto the field with a two-point deficit, Ross Built Construction tried to build the momentum to keep up with its opponent. Gazzo’s pass to Felipe alone in front of the goal outside of the box just missed the net.

Marshall proved to be a force to be reckoned with a shot by Mark Rudacille that ricocheted off of the goalie’s hands, giving Sato Real Estate a corner shot. The corner taken by Sato put the soccer ball to Pullen’s feet in a swarm of defenders.

Working the ball out of traffic, Sato was finally able to take a shot that hit hard into the side of the net.

At minute 30, a rocket shot by Pullen bounced off the hands of Marshall and into the goal at the right post.

With the biggest lead of the game and the score 5-2, Sato Real Estate found itself on the defense for the better portion of six minutes, with only a few shot attempts.

After keeping the ball from going out of bounds, V. Circharo nailed a beautiful shot attempt that curved just short of the goal.

On a penalty on Sato that put C. Circharo flying in the air, V. Circharo took the free kick. Leaning back on the kick, V. Circharo’s goal attempt landed in the nearby tennis courts.

Rudacille finally found his footing and scored his first goal of the game after several attempts. Seconds later he scored his second point with a shot that went above Marshall’s head, increasing the Sato Real Estate lead to 7-2.

Once again running across the field at full speed, V. Circharo sent a missile right to the hands of Marshall. The shot was too hard for Marshall to handle, sending the soccer ball into the net for the third and final Ross Built goal, and the final goal of the game.

The last three games of the night were close battles once again showing the parity in the league.

After 90 minutes of play, Ryan Moss’ Moss Builders tied Jiffy Lube, captained by Danny Anderson, with six goals each. Going into week three, Moss Builders finds itself in a three-way tie for fifth place with Slim’s Place and AMI Locals.

Lancaster Design walked away with a two-point victory in game three of the night against Slim’s Place. Its win currently puts Team Lancaster Design tied with Sato Real Estate in the first place position.

The third game with AMI Locals against Eason Builders Group was a close game during both halves of play. The come from behind victory by Eason Builders put it in fourth place in the league with a 1-1 record.

With four teams that have yet to capture a victory, Ross Built Construction starts this season much like the last at the bottom of the rankings with five more regular season games to play.

Related Coverage

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

Youth soccer takes to the pitch for another season

AME fall fest evil clown girl

A haunting in Anna Maria

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News, Schools.

ANNA MARIA – Autumn was in the air Saturday morning as a cold front moved in. Anna Maria Elementary School’s PTO was holding its Fall Festival, and the fact that Halloween was coming meant the kids were wearing their scariest costumes.

This year, the PTO held the parade and Fall Festival in new venues – City Pier Park and The Center, where many of the students go after school.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer still led the parade with AME Resource Officer Josh Fleischer and Holmes Beach Police Sgt. Vern McGowan.

The kids and their parents put effort into their costumes, and the winners were announced after the parade at The Center.

There was fun to be had after the parade disbanded. There were games, a bounce house, an inflatable slide and a tall rock-climbing wall and the haunted house, a masterpiece of terror built by the parents.

The Waterfront restaurant sponsored a hayride, and there were hot dogs and hamburgers available. Many of the kids will don their costumes again to participate in the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Trail of Treats, starting at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Kindergarten teachers Mrs. Crawford and Mrs.Querrard dressed for the occasion. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Kindergarten teachers Mrs. Crawford and Mrs.Querrard dressed for the occasion. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Mrs. Payne's class was all smiles as they marched toward The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Mrs. Payne's class was all smiles as they marched toward The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Waves and smiles from Mrs. Demo's class. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Waves and smiles from Mrs. Demo's class. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Mrs. Buff's class and parents wore colorful costumes. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Mrs. Buff's class and parents wore colorful costumes. - Tom Vaught | Sun

The kids marched from the Anna Maria City Pier Park to The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

The kids marched from the Anna Maria City Pier Park to The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

A surprise waited inside the haunted house at The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

A surprise waited inside the haunted house at The Center. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer led the parade. - Tom Vaught | Sun

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer led the parade. - Tom Vaught | Sun

jiffy lube soccer Center

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

The Center opened another co-ed adult soccer season hot off the heels of the summer season where Sato Real Estate earned the championship. Week one, once again, found Sato’s team with the last victory of the night against Moss Builders with the final score 4-2.

The kickoff game was a tough start for Eason Builders Group with only seven players in the game. Despite a close first half, the team in Carolina blue just could not hold on against Kris Yavalar’s Lancaster Design.

Newly sponsored team AMI Locals faced off against Slim’s Place in the third game of the night. Proving the league looks to be eight closely matched teams, the 8 p.m. game ended in a 4-4 tie.

The matchup between Ross Built Construction and Jiffy Lube started with the Ross Built squad looking to run away with the game.

Two minutes into the game, Connor Bystrom struck swift against Mike Brusso in the goal. After a save by Ross Built’s goalkeeper Robb Marshall in a sea of red offensive players, big man Vince Circharo placed the soccer ball toward the net, with Bystrom sealing the deal to put their team up 2-0.

Out of league retirement, Nathan Kragt for Team Jiffy Lube took a shot that sailed just over the net.

Brusso made another nice save off the strike by former teammate Bystrom. Soon after, Bystrom hit his third shot of the game at the 11th minute, giving Ross Built Construction a three-goal lead.

The third opponent goal lit a fire under the Jiffy Lube offensive squad. Jiffy Lube’s Ricky Anderson warmed up his leg with his first strike only to be saved by Marshall.

Minutes later Anderson’s teammate Steve Oelfke nailed his shot in the lower left corner of the goal taking the score to 3-1.

Anderson quickly found his sweet spot with a goal of his own, decreasing the Jiffy Lube deficit to one point.

Brusso left the goal to be replaced by Michael Lewis. Lewis found himself on his toes quickly with another Bystrom-Kragt attack.

Lewis’ save was followed by another advance to the goal by Anderson. Anderson’s would be tying shot was brilliantly saved by Marshall.

After a mid-field shot by Circharo, Bystrom scored his fourth and final goal of the game with no time on the scoreboard to end the half.

The second half of the game started off slow with eight minutes of play before Ross Built Construction’s Stephen Adair scored his solo goal, once again giving his team a three-point lead.

Team Jiffy Lube’s reputation of non-stop running and endurance to be envied proved valuable in their second-half comeback. In the 35th minute of the game, Kragt found himself one-on-one against Marshall for his second goal in the game, advancing the score to 5-3.

The last 10 minutes of the game was fast-paced and furious with Ross Built working to keep the lead and Jiffy Lube fighting for the win.

For their last goal of the game, Bystrom’s throw in went off the head of Circharo, giving Ross Built Construction the sixth point.

Jiffy Lube’s Eliza Faillace made her moves on the field for a goal of her own. Erin Felipe gave a strong defensive showing throughout the entire game. Her heads-up play opened up the field allowing Felipe to pass to Bystrom, whose shot went just wide of the post.

With a little more than three minutes left on the scoreboard, Anderson lit up the field with two quick goals that tied the game and energized the Island’s community center.

Kragt sealed the deal with his final goal with no time on the clock, turning the official time over to the referee.

Despite a final fight by the Ross Built Construction team, Jiffy Lube finished the game as the victors.

Related coverage

Youth soccer takes to the pitch for another season

Hayward Cup champions: Sato Real Estate eeks out the final win