Sports
 |
| LaPensee Plumbing's Chris Martin shoots during soccer action at the Center. |
Strong division battles for first mark soccer season halfway
by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent
The battle for first place is far from over in each of the three competitive divisions in the Anna Maria Island Community Center Soccer League and, in most cases, the battle is between at least three teams in each division. There are no undefeated teams, which highlights how competitive it is, though each division does have one winless team.
Division III Harry's Continental Kitchens is 5-1, currently holds the best record in all three leagues, but it's clinging to a slim one-game lead over a deep and talented Island Animal Clinic team. The teams have played once, with Island Animal Clinic having its way in a 5-0 victory, but since starting the season 2-0, Island Animal Clinic is 2-2. Air America is also lurking with a 3-2-1 record, which is five points behind, while West Coast Surf Shop has played much better as of late.
Division II has Gateway Solutions and Island Real Estate tied atop the standings with identical 4-2-1 records, each totaling 13 points, with Air & Energy right on their heels with 12 points and a 4-2 record. Island Real Estate is probably the hottest team right now, compiling a 4-0-1 record after starting the season 0-2, while Air & Energy has gone 2-2 after a 2-0 start. Gateway Solutions is hard to figure. It beat up on Island Real Estate 7-3 on Sept. 15 and smacked around Air & Energy 7-2 on Sept. 22. Since then, however, it's gone 0-2-1 against both teams with the 2-2 tie coming against Island Real Estate on Oct. 7.
Division I is closely contested as well with West Coast Air Conditioning leading ReMax by one point in the standings. The teams have split two meetings, but in entirely different fashion. Back on Sept. 14, ReMax defeated West Coast Air 17-3, but West Coast Air edged ReMax 6-5 on Sept. 28. For the season, ReMax has scored an incredible 55 goals, while first-place West Coast Air has 29.
Sports don't always make sense and teams on paper don't win games. That's why they play the game. There's still a lot of soccer to be played, so stay tuned.
Surf Shop 7, Pine Store 1
West Coast Surf Shop moved a game below .500 for the season thanks to a 7-1 victory over Pine Avenue Store on Monday, Oct. 4, in Division III soccer action. Danny Krokroskia spearheaded the seven-goal outburst with a hat trick, while Sam Albon added a pair of goals to the victory. Giorgio Gomez and Emily Rappe each added single goals for West Coast Surf Shop in the win.
Pine Store was led by Dayle Hoffman's lone goal in the loss.
Animal Clinic 5, Jessie's 2
Island Animal Clinic moved to within one victory of first place in Division III thanks to a 5-2 victory on Monday, Oct. 4, over Jessie's Island Store behind two goals apiece from cousins Trevor Bystrom and Jack Titsworth. Elijah Clay-Chapman added one goal to complete the scoring for Island Animal Clinic in the victory.
Jessie's was led by Jonah Castor and Stephanie Purnell, who each found the back of the net once in the loss.
A&E 4, Gateway 2
Air & Energy defeated Gateway Solutions on Tuesday, Oct. 5, to pull to within one point of first place in Division II. Sarah Howard and Martine Miller sparked the victory with two goals each in the 4-2 victory, which improves them to 4-2 on the season.
Gateway, which fell to 4-2-1 on the season, was led by a pair of goals from Joey Hutchinson in the loss.
Harry's 3, Air America 2
Harry's Continental Kitchens held on to the top spot in Division III on the strength of a one-goal victory over Air America Wednesday, Oct. 6, behind two goals from Elijah Toussaint and one goal from Hunter Parrish. The win keeps Harry's three points ahead of Island Animal Clinic in the Division III standings.
Air America, which was led by a pair of goals from Daniel Pimental, fell five points behind Harry's in the standings with the loss.
IRE 1, Danziger 0
Island Real Estate dodged a bullet as it edged winless Danziger Allergy & Sinus on Wednesday, Oct. 6, to remain tied with Gateway Solutions for the top spot. Daniel Janish was the hero for Island Real Estate, scoring the only goal of the game.
Gateway 3, IRE 3
Gateway Solutions and Island Real Estate went into its match on Thursday, Oct. 7, tied atop the Division II standings and that's exactly how it departed after playing to a 3-3 tie.
Chris Callahan, Daniel Janisch and Kyle Parsons each tallied goals for Island Real Estate, while Gateway Solutions received three goals from Joey Hutchinson.
Mr. Bones 2, West Coast AC 2
West Coast Air Conditioning received a major scare from Mr. Bones on Thursday, Oct. 7, but it regrouped to salvage a 2-2 tie to stay in first place in Division I. Andrew Fortenberry and Stephen Orlando each notched one goal, while Sean Edwards and Blake Wilson matched that with goals of their own in the tie.
Soccer training at Center
Soccer training is being offered at the Anna Maria Island Community Center on Saturday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for boys and girls ages 5-16. The training is being conducted by former Manatee High Her-icane soccer players Alex Bouziane, Jamie Gregorich and Naomi Osborne.
Bouziane was a four-year starter at MHS and also played collegiately at Winthrop University, while Gregorich and Osborne were three-year starters on the varsity team at MHS.
Cost for the training is $10 per session for players 8 and under and $15 for age 9 and up. For more information, contact Naomi Osborne at 713-0650.
Anna Maria Island Little League news
The Anna Maria Island Community Center will hold its annual Little League baseball formation meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Center. The meeting is open to all adult Little League enthusiasts residing on Anna Maria Island and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key.
The meeting's primary agenda is to vote on the board of directors. For more information, please call the Center, 778-1908. |
