FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Keith Blasingim, Lee County Parks & Recreation
              (239) 768-4225

LEE COUNTY/MIRACLE TAKE BEST BASEBALL FIELD AWARD FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Fort Myers, FL (August 20, 2003) The grounds crew that maintains the Lee County Sports Complex's stadium baseball field has won the 2003 "Best Overall" Award for best ball field maintained in Florida.

The winners of the 2003 Florida State League Sports Turf Crew Awards were announced today by League President Chuck Murphy. The awards were initiated in 1990 and selection is made by the Field Managers and Pitching Coaches of each team in the League. The five awards are Best Overall Award, Best Municipality Award and three Florida State League Commendation Certificates.

The winner of the Best Overall Award, for the second time in a row, is the Fort Myers Miracle. This also is the second year in a row for Keith Blasingim, with Lee County Parks & Recreation Department, to be named Florida State League Sports Turf Manager of the Year.

Lee County won "Best Municipality" in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2000. A 13-member crew from Lee County's Parks & Recreation Department maintains the Sports Complex.

The Lakeland Tigers, who finished second in the Best Overall Competition, are the winners of the Municipality Award, which is given to the best city or county operated Sports Turf Crew in the League. The Tigers, with Sports Turf Manager Brian French, won for the first time.

The St. Lucie Mets, under the direction of Sports Turf Manager Tommy Bowes, placed third in the competition. The Mets also won awards in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. The Jupiter Field, Roger Dean Stadium, under the direction of Sports Turf Manager Steve Peeler won the fourth place in the competition. They have previously won awards 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Tampa Yankees, with Sports Turf Manager Ritchie Anderson, placed fifth in the overall competition and this will be the eighth time they have received an award. The Florida State League Commendation Certificates go to the St. Lucie Mets , Roger Dean Stadium and Tampa Yankees.

League President Chuck Murphy thanked the Field Managers and Pitching Coaches for their cooperation in conducting the survey and congratulated the winning sports turf crews and the other sports turf crews in the Florida State League for their hard work, enthusiasm and dedication in providing excellent playing conditions for the players this season.

Award presentations will be made at appropriate times at designated locations.