ANNA MARIA – Three weeks into the spring adult co-ed recreational soccer league, the kids hit The Center’s pitches for fun-filled games on April 3.
As the youth sports program continues to grow to historic participation numbers and beyond, the energy at the Island’s community center on kids’ soccer nights is contagious. The two 3- to 4-year-old leagues have 20 little players being taught the game by volunteer coaches Lee Dickson and Emily Bekkerus.
Bekkerus’ team, Emily Moss Design, will face coach Dickson’s Cloud Pest Control squad throughout the season, learning more about soccer each week and growing friendships on the field.
While not keeping score, the focus is on the fun of the game while learning how to perform a throw-in, dribble the soccer ball down the field and make passes to teammates.
Continuing to play without counting the goals, the six teams playing in the 5- to 7-year-old league have over 60 little ballers battling each week on the soccer field while learning skills and getting touches on the ball.
With an emphasis on learning the sport and gaining a love for the game, the six volunteer coaches also teach sportsmanship, respect, integrity and teamwork.
Coach Bekkerus takes on two instructional-level teams this season, leading the second team in the 5- to 7-year-old age group with team MI-BOX. Back again this season, Karri Stephens guides the Beach Bums crew.
Coach David Moss brings his family’s athletic skill to team Blenker Boatworks, while Michael Nick finds time in his schedule to coach the youngest Sandbar-sponsored team this season.
Rounding out the league, Jessica Patel steps up to the plate to coach the Ugly Grouper team as Jesse Griffin continues his time as a volunteer coach to lead the Adrian Griffin Interiors squad this season.
Without volunteer coaches, youth sports would not be possible. The phrase “It takes a village” could not be truer than in community center kids’ activities and recreational sports.
As mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and family friends take the time to coach the Island kids, the spring youth soccer program is headed toward another successful season at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
ANNA MARIA – Week one of adult co-ed recreational soccer opened up the spring season with an action-packed game between Vintage Beach and Duncan Real Estate.
In the close match-up, both teams showed impressive passing and shooting to start the season, but the shooting efforts of the Vintage Beach squad eked out the 4-3 win in the final seconds of the game.
Starting the game in goal, Danny Free made six saves for the Vintage team before being replaced by designated goalkeeper Mark Rudacille.
Rudacille finished the game with eight stops, while Charles “Tuna” McCracken protected the net for team Duncan Real Estate. Credited with 12 saves, McCracken’s stops helped his team stay in contention for the full 40 minutes of regulation play.
On the scoring side of the game, team captain Kevin Roman scored a single goal. Tyler “Bean” Brewer eluded the Vintage Beach defense and keeper with two goals, keeping his team in the game.
Joey Hutchinson, captain for Vintage Beach, successfully struck twice for two points. Mid-game, Mandy Sky struck hard and accurately at the Duncan net for a goal.
Vintage Beach team member JD Webb’s ball handling and ability to move around the Duncan defense al- lowed him to get past McCracken with a scoring shot.
The offensive assists by Free, Hutchinson and Rudacille helped give the Vintage Beach squad their first win of the season.
To round out the first week of adult soccer play, Pool America handily defeated Moss Builders by seven points, with the final score 10-3.
Solid Rock Construction won by two goals against Sato Real Estate, putting them at the top of the leaderboard along with the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits team.
Finishing the night of soccer at The Center, the Sandbar easily won against Gulfview Windows & Doors. Team Sandbar scored 12 goals in the game, with a nine-point lead over Gulfview.
With six regular-season games to go, the Island’s community center adult soccer league is sure to give spectators and players a fun season of strikes, stops and scoring.
SUN SCOREBOARD
MARCH 23
ADULT CO-ED SOCCER
WEEK 1
Vintage Beach (1-0-0) 4 Duncan Real Estate (0-1-0) 3
Pool America (1-0-0) 10 Moss Builders (0-1-0) 3
Solid Rock Construction (1-0-0) 5 Sato Real Estate (0-1-0) 3
ANNA MARIA – In what was anticipated to be an action-packed championship flag football game last Thursday night, team Luxury Services and the Solid Rock Construction crew gave the spectators a game that did not disappoint.
After a season of lopsided scores, Luxury Services made it clear why they ended the regular season undefeated and on the top of the rankings. Putting up as many as 96 points in a game this season, the squad led by Chase Richardson continued to find his main target, Jonathan Soultatos, in the final game of the adult flag season.
The Richardson-Soultatos duo added 20 points on the scoreboard. Soultatos finished the season with 15 receptions in the championship game against the talented Solid Rock team.
Despite seven precise flag pulls by Charles “Tuna” McCracken, making amazing stops against Soultatos, Solid Rock Construction came up short of the 32-26 win.
Winning the game by just one touchdown, Richardson threw for five TDs including three to Soultatos, as well as singles to Tim Holly and Dustin Tomcho.
Tomcho made three big catches and possibly the game-winning interception on defense to help his team march to victory.
On the other side of the football, QB Dominick Otteni hit his marks with 11 solid catches by Corey Jacques and three by Tyler Brewer. Brewer added two points to the scoreboard with a focused catch in the endzone after a Solid Rock touchdown.
Solid Rock Construction’s Hannah McCracken played a hard final game and made four amazing flag pulls to stop the Luxury Services offense. The efforts of H. McCracken, older sister of Tuna, contributed to the fight that kept her team in it for two halves of play.
Defensively, Travis Bates put the heat on Richardson the entire game as the Solid Rock designated rusher. Putting the pressure on the Luxury QB kept the offensive players on their toes with Richardson’s quick-release passes.
Otteni added to his game stats with a catch thrown by McCracken and a flag pull. Solid Rock teammate Brian Leibfried made big contributions on the field throughout the season to help get the Solid Rock team to the big game.
A flag pull by Jasmine Muldoon added to the strong defensive effort by Luxury Services that earned the team the winter 2023 Center adult flag football championship title.
ANNA MARIA – In an action-packed flag football game, team Pineapple Market Place captured the 11- to 13-year-old league championship against Solid Rock Construction in a close battle last Tuesday night at The Center.
With the 8- to 10-year-old flag football league final game rescheduled due to an event at Anna Maria Elementary School, the top-seed Sato Real Estate squad faced the fourth-ranked Westfall’s Lawn Care and Pest Control last Thursday night.
Sato Real Estate’s 38-7 win against sixth-seed Moss Builders last Monday night earned them their spot in the championship game.
Going into the semifinal game a slight underdog, team Westfall fought their way through two halves of flag football play to win by nine points against Solid Rock.
As the clear favorites, the Sato Real Estate team was shook when their opponents came out onto the field playing to win.
With the much-needed mid-season add-on of Kellen Hunt behind center for Westfall, the Sato team fell behind for the first time in the season with a Westfall touchdown in early play.
In a cleanly physical and exciting game, Sato Real Estate’s Dylan Sato found himself injured and on the bench for several snaps of the football.
Team Westfall continued to play with accuracy and fire, taking advantage of a Sato squad struggling to find its footing in the game.
Self-determined with supportive coaching by volunteer and father Jason Sato, quarterback Brandon Sato lit up the field and ignited the excitement of the sideline with a game-changing interception. B. Sato’s nab of Hunt’s throw gave the Sato Real Estate team the positive play needed to ultimately win the championship.
Finishing the game with five touchdown passes, two defensive flag pulls and two interceptions, including one for six points, B. Sato was the unofficial game MVP.
Big brother D. Sato caught three of his brother’s throws for touchdowns and had a big defensive stop to help win the game.
Teammates Braylen Briggs and Kellen Reed each were the scoring targets for B. Sato, scoring 12 points in receiving touchdowns.
Scoring three total points, Silas DeWitt, Beau DeWitt and Reed all caught for one point conversion after Sato Real Estate TDs.
The remaining team Sato flag pulls came from Reed, B. DeWitt and Briggs. S. DeWitt had three crucial flag pulls to assist his team defensively.
Game-winning and season-making contributions came from Sato Real Estate players Camden Rudacille and Leo Tyler, helping to make the championship win possible.
Despite the loss, Westfall’s players fought hard until the last second of the final youth flag football game of the season played before the adult flag football semifinal games.
Hunt’s touchdown duos in the big game were Ethan Angel, Carter Hey and Callin Westfall, each with a scoring catch for six points. Westfall put four receptions in the stat book.
Angel finished the game with five catches and two flag big flag pulls. Hey made two stops in addition to his TD catch.
Elijah Karabagli and Cody Stockton caught three and two passes for positive yardage for team Westfall, respectively.
Helping the Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control work their way to the championship game, Thadeous Daniels and Ruby Kesten made critical plays throughout the season.
The high-scoring championship game for the older age group was a shootout with 17 total caught passes thrown by Pineapple Market Place quarterbacks, including by Jack Mattick, for a total of 18 points.
8- to 10-year-old flag football league champions, team Sato Real Estate, are, from left, (top row), Braylen Briggs, Camden Rudacille, Kellen Reed and Brandon Sato, (bottom row) Coach Jason Sato, Beau DeWitt, Silas DeWitt, Leo Tyler and Dylan Sato. – Monica Simpson | Sun
The caliber of play on both sides of the football by both teams makes it difficult to determine who would walk away with the most valuable player honors for the season-ending game.
Mattick threw for three TDs, pulled three flags, caught for one interception and one two-point conversion.
Carter Eurice and the offensive team for Solid Rock Construction threw for 16 passes, scoring 24 points.
Despite the in-the-air action, it ultimately was the two rushing touchdowns that may have been the difference for the 11- to 13-year-old league Pineapple Market Place team.
The speedy wheels of Mattick raced the football past his Solid Rock opponents.
The Pineapple scoring receptions came at the hands of Krosby Lamison with two scoring catches. Cyrus Ryan was the receiver for six points in the endzone.
Lamison’s hot hands made six catches and snagged a flag while on defense.
Rounding out the scoring, Peyton Hovda scored three points with two one-point conversions and a two-point play after a TD. Defensively, Hovda had a team high four flag pulls.
Kaleb Romangnino had a single catch and two flag pulls, while teammate Brantley Kobialka scored one point with a point after conversion.
Brantley finished the last game of the season with two catches in the game.
On defense, Colin Bankert made a huge stop for Pineapple Market Place. Bankert’s teammates Jordan Tobey and Riley Karecki each made team contributions in the winning season.
Working on the other side of the field, quarterback Eurice hit the hands of Hyden Eurice and Audrey Guess for 24 points, each with two TD catches.
Eurice made four catches, two flag pulls and had one interception in the game. Brother Carter Eurice had two flag pulls in addition to his scoring throws.
Guess was the top receiver in the game with eight catches and had five defensive stops.
Austin Guess contributed to his team’s efforts with one catch and three flag pulls, while Addie Guess had two nice receptions and a one-point conversion.
Making a nice two-point conversion and catching a pass for Solid Rock was Colson Mendiola.
Solid Rock Construction’s Bella Roadman had a beautiful defensive stop with a flag pull.
Obi Roadman and Avery Guess made huge team contributions throughout the season, helping the Solid Rock squad make it to the championship game against the top-seed Pineapple Market Place as underdogs.
In the adult co-ed flag football league, #1 met #2 in the final game of the season. With an easy win against The Briley Mortgage Team, with the final score 96-39, the Luxury Services squad secured their position in the big game.
Despite the name, Solid Rock Construction’s owners and family represented Moss Builders on the football field against the Solid Rock team. The Solid Rock squad slotted into the final championship position with the 35-28.
Ready for battle on Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m., top-seed Luxury Services meets team Solid Rock Construction, with the young team looking to take home the championship.
ANNA MARIA – With the close of the first round of playoff action concluded at The Center of Anna Maria Island, the top-ranked team in each of the three leagues easily defeated their opponents.
In the 8- to 10-year-old league, top-ranked Sato Real Estate won their quarterfinal game against SynLawn with a final score of 47-12.
Scoring 18 rushing points and 12 receiving points, the Sato team spread the scoring around the squad. QB Brandon Sato found his brother, Dylan, for a scoring reception and six points.
Sato finished the game with four defensive flag pulls on the other side of the football.
Silas DeWitt was the other B. Sato target for a receiving touchdown. DeWitt made three stops on defense and had two one-point conversions in the game.
Scoring on the ground, B. Sato got the call and scored six points. His run of scoring included two pick-sixes and a two-point conversion after a Sato Real Estate score.
With a total of three interceptions, defensively B. Sato was on fire, adding six flag pulls to his game stats.
Kellen Reed kept it on the ground and scored 13 points with two touchdowns and a single one-point conversion. With a single flag pull, Reed added to his team’s 14 total defensive stops in the Feb. 27 game.
SynLawn’s Nolan Anderson stayed on his feet for 12 rushing points for his team. Anderson made five huge defensive stops with his flag-pulling skills.
Oliver McCallister made a single catch in the game. Teammates Will Breslin, Tanner Pippins and Luther Sasser each had key flag pulls against Sato Real Estate.
The strong efforts of team SynLawn just were not enough against the tough Sato squad.
In this week’s action, Sato Real Estate went up against team Moss Builders. Moss Builders, ranked sixth at the end of the regular season, finished last week against third-ranked Island Real Estate with a win.
On the same night, Solid Rock Construction faced Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control in quarterfinal play in the 8- to 10-year-old league.
Playing last Tuesday night at The Center in the 11- to 13-year-old league quarterfinal action, top-ranked Pineapple Market Place solidly defeated the Chick-fil-A team with a score of 39-20.
No upsets in the first round of playoffs with Moss Builders winning over Intentional Resilient Intuitive. Shady Lady Horticultural Services won over Storage Building Company by 14 points.
In the semifinal round of play on March 7, Pineapple Marketplace saw Shady Lady Horticultural Services on the gridiron. Moss Builders played Solid Rock Construction for the final spot in the championship game.
In the first round of adult co-ed flag football playoff action, there were no surprises in last week’s play. First seed Luxury Services kept Ugly Grouper out of the endzone, with a final score of 96-0.
Finishing the regular season in second place, Moss Builders easily won against Gulf Drive Café, up 25 points at the final whistle.
Team Solid Rock Construction beat sixth-ranked The Banks Home Lending Team, while The Briley Mortgage Team secured their spot in the next round of playoffs with a victory over The Sandbar.
This Thursday, four adult flag football teams take to the Island’s football field to determine who goes on the final game of the season.
On Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m., Luxury Services vs. The Briley Mortgage Team will start the night off. Solid Rock Construction and Moss Builders meet in the second game of the night.
In all of The Center’s flag football leagues, there can be only two teams that battle it out for the title “champions.” The end-of-season victors will be named in the coming weeks.
ANNA MARIA – Last Thursday, The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league closed out the regular season with team Luxury Service undefeated with a 7-0 record.
On the flip side of the coin, the Ugly Grouper squad finished without a win.
The two teams meet up in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Feb. 3. A playoff miracle for Ugly Grouper is needed against the high-scoring Luxury team.
The Briley team easily defeated the Ugly Grouper lineup last week 41-0, finishing the season with a 4-3 record.
A late player substitution was made to The Briley Mortgage Team roster with the addition of Jon Moss working behind the center as quarterback.
The change led to a passing game with 30 receiving points, including four thrown by Moss and one by Connor Haughey.
On the receiving side of the scoring, the hot hands and body control by Karri Stephens scored 12 points. Stephens had one defensive stop in the game. Jesse Skipper, Mike Bolognone and Haughey each had a six-point catch to help The Briley team capture their fourth win of the season.
Skipper had a single flag pull and a sack. Haughey’s game stats include one receiving reception, a single one-point conversion, seven total catches and stop while on defense.
Topping off the offensive scoring for The Briley Mortgage Team were Jana Whitehead and Alonzo Lemus, each with a point after a touchdown conversion.
The remaining defensive stops included flag pulls by Bolognone, Whitehead and Lemus, with an interception by Lemus.
Despite the loss, the Ugly Grouper players put critical statistics into the books in last week’s game. Kiatrell Zachery led the defense with six flag pulls and one interception.
Credited with an INT while on defense, Limarcus Waller lit up the football field with three catches and four flag pulls.
Daniel O’Connor had two defensive stops, adding to a single by Colton Fox.
Contributing offensively, Zachary Blakeney and Devyn Larson each had a catch for important yardage in the game.
With Jon Moss as the QB for Briley Mortgage Team, there is a potential match-up against family members on team Moss Builders.
Brother Ryan Moss, cousin, Greg Moss, and father, Ed Moss, make up nearly a third of the team that defeated The Banks Home Lending Team on Feb. 23 with a score of 38-19.
Moss Builders finished the season with a 6-1 record and faces Gulf Drive Café in the first round of the adult league playoffs at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The café team had a single win in the regular season, with a loss handed to them by The Sandbar team in the final week of pre-playoff games.
Almost pulling out a win last week, with the final score 48-41 in Sandbar’s favor, Gulf Drive Café goes into the playoffs as underdogs against the solid Moss squad.
In the final game of the first playoff night, The Briley Mortgage Team snaps against The Sandbar at 9 p.m.
ANNA MARIA – Team Luxury Services remains in the top-ranked position in The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league going into week six of winter league play.
With the win over The Briley Mortgage Team, Luxury stays one game ahead of team Moss Builders. Luxury beat the Moss squad week two in the season.
Matthew Briley did the scoring for his team with two rushing touchdowns. Briley also had three critical stops on defense.
The lack of points after the TD and a successful throwing game kept The Briley Mortgage Team squad playing catch-up the entire game going into halftime scoreless.
Karri Stephens lit up the field for The Briley Mortgage Team with two interceptions, two catches and five flag pulls. Alonzo Lemus caught four catches and had a defensive stop.
Teammate Connor Haughey made three nice receptions and pulled one flag in the game for The Briley team.
In the win, Luxury Services’ QB, Chase Richardson, had four passing touchdowns and a pick six on the other side of the football. Two of the scoring catches were to Jonathan Soultatos.
Soultatos’ contributions in the game also included six points running the football into the endzone and a flag pull to help stop the opponent’s forward progress.
Teammates Ramon Guerrero IV and Sequiel Marintez each had a receiving touchdown. Guerrero made three defensive stops, while Marintez had two along with a two-point conversion.
Tim Holly was most effective for Luxury Services with three flag pulls and a sack to help with the big win.
Ugly Grouper looks to put their first win in the record books this week against Luxury Services. The Briley team plays Solid Rock Construction, which shares a 3-2-0 record with their next opponent, as well as The Banks Home Lending Team.
Solid Rock Construction kept team Ugly Grouper out of the endzone, shutting them out with the final score 36-0. In a scoring showdown, Moss Builders eked out the win by three points, in the 58-55 win over The Sandbar.
Sharing a record of 1-4-0 with The Sandbar after week five play, the Gulf Drive Café team lost against The Banks Home Lending team by 20 points.
With the championship match up on Thursday, March 16, all eight teams are looking to the end game with a win. The championship game starts at 7 p.m.
ANNA MARIA – High-scoring flag football action entertained the Island last week at The Center. The kids played their third week of regular season games, while the adults finished their fourth games on Feb. 2.
In the first game of 11- to 13-year-old league play closing out January football, Solid Rock Construction faced off against Pineapple Market Place. The fast-paced game ended with the Pineapple squad maintaining their undefeated record with a final score of 48-26.
Solid Rock’s first loss of the season was not without amazing play on both sides of the football.
Carter Eurice, QB for Solid Rock Construction, threw for four passing touchdowns. Eurice’s targets were Hayden Eurice, Audrey Guess and Austin Guess.
H. Eurice finished the game with one touchdown and three flag pulls on defense. Austin Guess also scored six points in the game and, on the other side of the football, two defensive stops.
Colson Mendiola scored an all-important extra-point conversion, adding a point to Solid Rock’s score. Addie Guess and Bella and Obi Roadman made plays to support the Solid Rock squad.
Avery Guess had a nice catch in the game, keeping Solid Rock in the game.
In week three youth flag football ac- tion, Solid Rock Construction’s Carter Eurice is chased out of the pocket by Pineapple Market Place’s rusher, Jordan Tobey. – Monica Simpson | Sun
The high scorer of the week for Solid Rock was Audrey Guess, scoring two TDs and two flag pulls. With six receptions, she matched the catch count of opponent Pey- ton Hovda.
League veteran Hovda finished the game scoring three touchdowns, one rushing and two receiving, three flag pulls, two two-point conversions, and three interceptions on defense.
The three interceptions, including one for a TD, was the game changer for Pineapple Market Place, leading to their victory.
Hovda’s teammates all had an amazing game, contributing to the win.
Pineapple Market quarterback and lifelong Center flag football player Jack Mattick passed for two touchdowns to Hovda.
On defense, Mattick contributed with two flag pulls and an interception. Teammate Colin Bankert had defensive stats with two stops and offensive stats with two receptions.
Riley Karecki got the call on a successful two-point conversion play for Pineapple. Offensive pass completions for Pineapple Marketplace include two catches by Brantley Kobialka. Cyrus Ryan added two flag pulls to the team’s record.
Pineapple Marketplace teammates Krosby Lamison, Kaleb Romagnino and Jordan Tobey rounded out the squad, making contributions in the team’s win this season.
Can the Pineapple Marketplace team finish the season undefeated? With only two regular-season games left, only Shady Lady and Moss Builders can stop them. Both squads finished week three with a 2-1-0 record.
You don’t have to convince an angler of the importance of a healthy grass flat or a robust stand of mangroves or persuade them that we’re losing this precious resource at an alarming rate.
Anglers like Capt. Justin Moore, who is on the water over 200 days a year, sees the changes firsthand. Moore has been guiding on Manatee County waters for 24 years. He learned his trade under the tutelage of his father, Capt. Scott Moore, and worries that his son, Jas, will not have some of the opportunities he’s had. That’s why it’s important to empower the next generation of anglers who don’t have a vote but will inherit this landscape. Fortunately, there are a couple of high-profile programs on Anna Maria Island that are doing just that.
The Center of Anna Maria Island engages children in activities that teach sustainability and give them an understanding of the responsibility we all have to be stewards of our paradise. Through curricular units that include recycling, composting, gardening (on their property) and natural nutrition, they make these connections between responsibilities and action.
Bishop Museum and Mote Marine facilitators teach Anna Maria’s young citizens to understand the environment around them and develop a love for its creatures and the environment that supports them and us.
Clean water units are shared annually with students through The Center’s Earth Echo program. Participants in the curricular units collect water samples and analyze them, helping them focus on the importance of clean water. The program was developed after famed oceanographer Philippe Cousteau’s visit to The Center three years ago when he guided those in attendance to “zip tie themselves to the mangroves to protect them!”
This past year, Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) announced it would be home to the world’s first Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science. The academy, which focuses on marine sciences, conservation and the arts, is a collaboration between the School District of Manatee County and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF).
Harvey has devoted his talent, time and resources to protecting oceans, fish populations and reef systems through the development of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University and the GHOF. Those institutions have educated the next generation of environmentalists and made contributions to protecting fish resources and biodiversity in the world’s oceans.
The program will benefit students from other schools as well with field trips and summer camps, and will eventually expand to all elementary schools in the district as well as to complementary programs at King Middle and Manatee High.
Programs like this need to be expanded to give the next generation of anglers and Island residents the tools they will need to protect these endangered marine resources. In the meantime, we the voters need to step up for those who don’t have a vote, empowering them so they have a fighting chance to succeed where we have failed.
Fourteen-year-old Brice Claypoole is a fierce defender of the environment but doesn’t have a vote. That is up to us! – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
In the words of 14-year-old Brice Claypoole, “Vote for politicians who put our future over the deep-pocketed interests who pay them in campaign donations. And spread the word! Inform others on how to properly trim mangroves on their property and the dangers these trees face. Our paradise is in peril, and it takes everyone to stand up to developers and uninformed homeowners to realize the great benefits these trees offer. On behalf of my generation and those of the future, thank you.”
ANNA MARIA – The Center gridirons were buzzing last week with the start of another fun-filled flag football season. With a record number of youth players, topping more than 150 kids between the ages of 4 and 13, the fields were illuminated both Monday and Tuesday night to kick off the season with jamboree scrimmage games.
The new season welcomes back Tyler Bekkerus to The Center after more than 10 years since his departure. His much-awaited return brings back the spirit
of when the adult flag league was first co-created by Bekkerus as The Center’s former assistant athletic director.
As the new recreation director, Bekkerus kept the games running on time and settled into his new role as the adults took to the field for the first time this season on Jan. 12.
In the first game of the night, team Luxury Services dominated the football field against team Gulf Drive Café. Playing four on five, Gulf Drive struggled to stay in the game, but fought to the very end.
Rusher Jasmine Muldoon made two receptions and was credited with a single sack. Muldoon’s constant pressure on the Gulf Drive QBs caused a sack and helped her team capture their first win of the season.
With six passing touchdowns, teammate Tim Holly found the endzone four times for 24 points and Sequiel Marintez made two TD receptions for 12 points.
Marintez’s big game included one interception and three points in extra-point conversions.
In addition to Marintez’s interception, Luxury’s quarterback, Chase Richardson, made three interceptions while playing on defense, including running an interception on Gulf Drive’s extra point attempt into the endzone for two points.
Offensively, Jonathan Soultatos and Dustin Tomacho bolstered their team’s efforts with extra points. Soultatos made five important catches in the game with a single reception by Tomacho.
On the other side of the football, Gulf Drive Café’s Jacob Freda scored two touchdowns and made eight receptions in the season opener.
Credited with one scoring pass, Steven Pavina made seven catches on offense and one interception playing defense for Gulf Drive.
Adding to the team’s scoring, Gabriel Derosia put a point on the scoreboard with an extra point.
Despite the score differential, team Gulf Drive Café made its mark on the field, setting the tone for the rest of the season.
Lara Malone is coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island for a balance workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The class takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will focus on muscles and body alignment for stable and confident movement. The class is open to all ages with a cost of $35 for members or $45 for non-members to participate. Registration by calling 941-778-1908 or using The Center’s Member Me+ app is required by Jan. 19.
Help clean local beaches
All members of the Anna Maria Island community are invited to come out to The Center Saturday, Jan. 14 to help clean up area beaches. Participants in the cleanup will gather at The Center at 9 a.m. and walk together to the Gulf of Mexico to pick up litter and other trash from Magnolia to White Avenue. The nonprofit’s staff will provide trashbags, gloves, water and a light snack. Additional cleanups are scheduled from 9-11 a.m. on Feb. 11, March 11, April 1 and May 6. No advance registration is necessary.
Play bingo at The Center
Everyone is invited to come out to The Center of Anna Maria Island Friday, Jan. 13 to meet new friends and have fun playing bingo. The classic game will be played from 6-8 p.m. with players competing to win gift cards from local restaurants. Bingo cards are 10 for $10 and blotters are $1 each. Beer, wine and other refreshments will be available for purchase with a donation. The Center is at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.
Bishop hosts an Island workshop series
A new kind of workshop is coming this spring to The Center as The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature hosts a new series for children, families and adults. The series kicks off with a discussion on “What is a Museum” on Jan. 18 from 6-7 p.m. for children and families and Jan. 19 from 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. for adults. Future workshops for adults include “The Scientific Process” Feb. 2, “Paleontology and Fossils” Feb. 16, “Manatees and Their Environment” March 2, “Our Solar System” March 23, “Capturing Science” March 30, “How We Build” April 6 and “Florida’s Native Wildlife and Adaptations” April 20. Workshops for children and families include “Manatees and Their Environment” Feb. 1, “The Scientific Process” Feb. 15, “Our Solar System” March 1, “Paleontology and Fossils” March 22, “Capturing Science” April 5, “How We Build” April 19 and “Florida’s Native Wildlife and Adaptation” May 3. No registration is required and the programs are all free to the community. The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.
Learn to play canasta
For anyone who’s ever wanted to learn to play canasta, a new six-week class is coming to The Center of Anna Maria Island. Every Tuesday, Jan. 17 through Feb. 21, players will gather from 12:30-2:30 p.m. to learn American canasta. Opponents will be placed into foursomes and split into two teams to try their hand at the classic card game. The cost is $90 for members or $100 for non-members to participate. Registration is requested by Thursday, Jan. 12 by calling 941-778-1908.
Learn to play American mah-jongg
The Center of Anna Maria Island will be host to a new gaming series where participants will learn how to play the ancient game of mah-jongg Classes take place on Tuesdays, Jan. 17-Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. until noon. All students are required to attend the introductory session on Jan. 17 to participate in additional classes. The cost to attend is $100 per member or $110 for non-members. Registration is requested by Thursday, Jan. 12 by calling 941-778-1908.
Center hosts holiday day camp
To honor the contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and help parents who might not have the day off, The Center’s staff is hosting a day camp for youth on Monday, Jan. 16 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this camp, students will participate in a community service project, cleaning the sand at Coquina Beach, followed by a picnic lunch. Campers also will make a craft inspired by King and participate in an educational program about his life and its impact on the nation. The cost is $55 per child and registration is required by Jan. 12. Parents can register their children online at www.centerami.org or by calling 941-778-1908.
Travel with Senior Adventures
Go on an adventure or two this month with Senior Adventures. The group is planning a trip on Thursday, Jan. 19 to the Siesta Key Rum Distillery followed by a lunch at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar. The van leaves The Center of Anna Maria Island for this trip at 9 a.m. with a return planned around 2 p.m. The second January trip is planned to travel to St. Armand’s Circle on Thursday, Jan. 26 to shop and have dinner at the Columbia Restaurant. The group plans to depart from The Center at 3:30 p.m., returning around 9 p.m. The fee for van transportation for each trip is $5 and trips are limited to 14 people. Pre-registration is advised but not required. To reserve your spot, call The Center at 941-778-1908.
Practice adaptive yoga for Parkinson’s
Movement and exercise may help mitigate some of the effects of Parkinson’s disease and The Center is hosting an adaptive yoga class to help those in the community suffering from neuromuscular conditions. The class is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26 from 1-2 p.m. and is open to the community. Registration by calling 941-778-1908 is requested by Thursday, Jan. 19.
ANNA MARIA – Bringing weeks of adult fun on The Center’s kickball diamond to a close, the championship game came down to a single run with team Captain Ron’s coming out on top in a close win against team Paddy Wagon. The team, sponsored by Solid Rock Construction, won the season- ender 18-17.
With a total of nine runs between them, Evelyn Long, Keith Mahoney and Ryan Moss topped the charts for the championship team with three runs each. Paddy Wagon’s Luca Vecchio crossed the plate three times for his team.
Adding to Vecchio’s runs, eight other Paddy Wagon runners ran home. Marissa Barfield, Timo Vecchio, Isaiah Lambert, Justin Cox, Dhaval Patel and Karri Stephens each contributed to Paddy Wagon’s scoring efforts with two runs.
Putting single points on the scoreboard for the Paddy squad were Jane Dederle and Karlee Bailey. The Paddy opponents, Mike Svoboda, Katy Roadman, Aaron Guess, Brian Rauelerson and Natalie Worth, each had single runs in the season-ender, while teammates Zack Long and James Roadman both made it home twice for team Captain Ron’s Crew.
The 35 total runs scored in the adult kickball championship game exemplified the fun the four teams had each week. New friendships were made; old friendships were strengthened.
Rocking to the tunes of the 70s and 80s, the Crew, with an average age of over 40, played all season against teams made up of players born in the 90s and 2000s. The players, friends and family that played and attended the games all season, showing their support of The Center, helped to make the league a fun success.
Adult and youth sports continue in January 2023 with flag football action under the lights of The Center’s gridiron.
Sun Scoreboard
Dec. 12
Adult kickball – Championship game
ANNA MARIA – After nearly 45 minutes of Island soccer action, playoff underdogs Gulfview Windows and Doors came out on top. With nine saves in the game against the likes of Danny Anderson, JD Webb, Pedro Gonzalez and Will Kretzmann, Tuna McCracken was arguably the game’s MVP.
McCracken’s cat-like reflexes and perfect placement kicks helped take the Gulfview team led by Keith Mahoney to victory against the talented and physically powerful Sato Real Estate squad.
Playing down the first 10 minutes of the game, Gulfview had a player advantage on Sato.
Raul Loera led the Gulfview team in scoring last Thursday night with a hat trick. Loera’s three goals were complemented by a single by Thomas Magnotic, giving the team the 4-3 win in the final game of the season.
Mahoney was credited with an assist in the big win. His team made it to through to the end with strong play by Chris Culhane, David Kesten, Zach Long, Brandon Rolland and Asli Gunsel.
On the other side of The Center’s pitch team, captain Josh Sato stood on the sidelines only able to watch his team lose by one goal.
Sato stepped down from the team prior to the start of playoffs knowing he would be away for his wed- ding. Kretzmann, Sato’s replacement, matched the talented skills of the veteran player, scoring two goals in the championship game.
Gonzalez had a solo goal, while teammate Webb made an assist.
Two “Island boys,” Chris Culhane and Tuna McCracken, and Gulfview teammates, celebrate the post-championship game with Culhane helping McCracken cool off with a celebratory ice shower. – Monica Simpson | Sun
Protecting the net for Sato was Mark Rudacille, credited with two big saves in the game, helping his team to stay in the game, along with the strong defense of the Sato squad.
Finishing the season with dynamic play and sheer athleticism, Danny Anderson showed no quit in the game, diving and flying until the final whistles.
Anderson’s teammates Brian Leib- fried, Jacek Czajkowski, Ben Sato, Lindsey Styka and Justine Wells all contributed with strong team play to finish the regular season ranked second going into the playoffs.
The naming of the Paul “Ace” Hay- ward Cup champions set the stage for the adult kickball league’s championship game to be played Monday night. With Captain Ron’s Crew pitted against Paddy Wagon, it is anyone’s game to win.
ANNA MARIA – The Island cool air brought friends, family and fellow footballers to The Center to watch the semifinal adult co-ed soccer action last Thursday night. After weeks of lead-up, the lineup for the championship game is set.
In the first game of the night, fifth-ranked Gulfview Windows and Doors defeated the top seed Wash Family Construction squad, with the single goal scored by Raul Loera.
With lots of action on the field for 44 minutes of regulation play, Gulfview captured the first spot in the final game of the season, the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game.
Gulfview’s victory included 10 saves by Gulfview’s Tuna McCracken and seven stops by Mark Long for team Wash Family.
Sealing the deal in a shutout, second-ranked Sato Real Estate handily beat team Moss Builders. In the 7-0 game, the Sato offense kept Ryan Moss and the Moss Builders’ defense busy.
Goalkeeper Moss had seven brilliant stops in the game, but the shooting power of team Sato Real Estate was on fire.
Scoring a solo goal for Sato Real Estate, Will Kretzmann also made four critical stops in goal.
Lindsey Styka’s hat trick contributed to the Sato Real Estate scoring by Danny Anderson and Pedro Gonzalez. In addition to Gonzalez’s two goals, he is credited with an assist in the semifinal game.
The season closing game is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8 at The Center.
ANNA MARIA – Saturday night’s “Beatlemania Now” show will transport concertgoers through the 1960s, the decade during which The Beatles became the most famous and influential rock band in the world.
The Beatlemania Now show will take the stage at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Tickets are available for $40 or $30 at The Center website, www.centerami.org/events.
Dressed in matching suits and still sporting relatively short hair, The Beatles made their first live U.S. television appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9, 1964 – a legendary performance that help launch the Beatlemania phenomenon and inspired many other future musicians to start playing music.
As the decade progressed, The Beatles’ hair grew longer, their clothes got wilder and more colorful and their political and religious views became more public. After they stopped touring in 1966, their studio recordings became more sophisticated, experimental and at times psychedelic.
These musical changes will be highlighted during the Beatlemania Now show that also features vintage musical instruments.
The “Beatlemania Now” show includes songs from the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album. – BeatlemaniaNow.com | Submitted
Scot Arch created and continues to produce the “Beatlemania Now” show, whose origins date back to the mid-1980s. Arch played the John Lennon role for many years, performing Lennon’s guitar and vocal parts until he replaced himself with a younger musician in 2018.
“Beatlemania Now” features left-handed bassist Joshua Jones as Paul McCartney, Paul Bryck as John Lennon, Christopher Colon as George Harrison and Chris McBurney as Ringo Starr.
“They’ve been playing together for several years at this point,” Arch said.
“I’m the one that put ‘Beatlemania Now’ together,” Arch said. “I no longer perform as John Lennon and we’ve got younger guys doing it. I performed with many of the ‘Beatlemania’ cast members during the truck and bus tours after ‘Beatlemania’ finished its Broadway run (from 1977-79).”
“Beatlemania Now” covers The Beatles’ decade-long career that included the release of their debut album, “Please Please Me,” in the United Kingdom in March 1963, the release of their debut American album “Introducing… The Beatles” in January 1964 and up through to their breakup and the release of their final album, “Let it Be,” in 1970.
“They’ll be playing Beatles’ songs mostly in chronological order, with costume changes that include the black suits they wore on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and the costumes they wore on the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album cover,” Arch said.
“We use authentic instruments, authentic amps and drums – not only for the fact that they look a certain way and to a certain degree are props, but also because they sound a particular way. We make the sound as realistic and as much like The Beatles as possible,” Arch said.
“They weren’t only making music, they were changing things around them. Fashion followed them. They had political views at the end that people followed,” Arch said.
“I was a little young when they first came out. The first generation that heard them were teenagers at the time and the music was passed down to younger generations. My kids love The Beatles because they had to drive around with me in the car listening to The Beatles. I still, to this day, love ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand.’ The sound of that record, there’s just something so wonderful about it. I hear it and I perk up; and sometimes I hear different little things I never noticed before,” he said.
Event info
No outside food or drink is allowed and there’s no smoking or vaping allowed on The Center property. The Sandbar restaurant will have a cash bar on site. Free valet parking will be available at the main entrance on Magnolia Avenue. Street parking will also be available but vehicles must be parked going with the flow of traffic and with all wheels off the pavement to avoid being ticketed.
The Bradenton Gulf Island Concert series serves as a fundraiser for The Center and is sponsored by Bradenton Area Arts & Culture, the Sandbar restaurant and Cedar Cove Resort & Cottages.
The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave. For Saturday’s show, the doors will open at 6 p.m., the opening act goes on around 7 p.m. and “Beatlemania Now” will begin around 8 p.m. For more ticket and/or event information, call 941-778-1908.
