SARASOTA - It's now official: the Reds franchise is done with Sarasota.  The last home baseball game was played Thursday night by the Sarasota Reds.

For five years, the Sarasota Reds have been playing ball at Ed Smith Stadium, and the minor league team of the Cincinnati Reds had some die-hard fans.  But with the team heading to Arizona for next season, fans are taking in the last home game in Florida.

"I love the minor league, because you get to know the players, they get to know you, and it is really a friendly thing," says Rita Labadie.

From the food, to the mascot and the hopes of catching that fly ball, summertime baseball has been kept alive with the Sarasota Reds.  And fans at Ed Smith Stadium say a minor league game brings a whole different atmosphere to the stadium. 

"There is no restriction here with these young players, they can come and be with you.  In the majors, they put up chains and you can't get close to the players," says season ticket holder Labadie.  She knows her team and is sad to see them go.  "We didn't get enough people in here to support these teams and that is wrong; especially the minors, because these kids play hard.  And these are the future stars of the major leagues - a lot of young men that are playing in the major league started right here."

"It's good to see them develop and then move up to Double A, then Triple A, and the big ball club.  And we've seen a half a dozen guys play here and now play for the Reds."  Season ticket holder Mike Sullivan says although the Reds will be out, he's glad Sarasota scored the Baltimore Orioles.  "Thank God we are getting a team.  And the community is real lucky, because there is going to be a lot of people coming down the east coast and finding Sarasota really rewarding and nice and retire here.  So the whole community is going to benefit."

And Thursdays last home game is also bittersweet for the Sarasota Reds.  "It's just unfortunate it had to come to this.  Its been fun...we've had a lot of success in the five years and we've got over a dozen guys on the big league team and that have played here in Sarasota," says Sarasota Reds General Manager Dan Wolfert.

A representative with the Baltimore Orioles says that right now, the Orioles have no immediate plans for a Florida State League team to play at Ed Smith Stadium.  But the Orioles Rookie League team already plays in Sarasota during the summer.