September 2, 2008

Florida State League honors Miracle "Diamond Cutters"

Tampa Bay Sports Net

FORT MYERS — Florida State League President Chuck Murphy announced today the 2008 Florida State League Sports Turf Crew Awards and once again the opposition loves the home of the Miracle.

The Fort Myers Miracle were awarded the Municipality Award, which is given to the best City or County operated Sports Turf Crew in the League. The Miracle with Sports Turf Manager Keith Blasingim has received twelve Sports Turf Awards since 1990. This is the ninth time the “keepers” of Hammond Stadium have won the Municipality Award.

“This award is well deserved for a group that is extremely hard working and dedicated to their profession. A big thanks goes out to Keith Blasingim, Terry Slawson, P.J. Boutwell, Scott Kessinger, and the rest of the Hammond Stadium Grounds Crew for all the hard work and effort they put forth in keeping the playing field in top shape,” said Miracle General Manager Steve Gliner.

Hammond Stadium hosts nearly 110 days of baseball, from the beginning of Minnesota Twins Spring Training to the Miracle season and finishing with Roy Hobbs in the fall.

The awards, initiated in 1990, are selected by Field Managers and Pitching Coaches of each team in the League and the Florida Sate League Umpires. The five awards are Best Overall Award, Municipality Award and three Florida State League Commendation Certificates.

The winner of the Best Overall Award, for the fifth year in a row, is the Clearwater Threshers and their Sports Turf Manager, Opie Cheek, is named for the fourth time, the Florida State League Sports Manager of the Year. The Threshers won the Best Overall Award by placing first in ten of the eleven categories for the Award.

---MIRACLE BASEBALL---