CHARLOTTE COUNTY - When the Baltimore Orioles struck a deal to hold spring training in Sarasota County beginning in 2010, promises were made to build a Cal Ripken youth baseball academy. Now Ripken appears to be looking to build, only it may be in Charlotte County.
In 2009, representatives with the Orioles read a letter from the Hall Of Fame Orioles player about bringing a youth academy to Sarasota County. "We are excited to partner with the Orioles and with Sarasota to bring our youth model to the community. They have every intention of making this work."
It was certainly a selling point before commissioners agreed to spend more than $30 million to build new facilities. Nothing however was in writing, says Commissioner Joe Barbetta. "It did not officially include a Cal Ripken baseball academy. Cal was not committed."
We are now learning there may in fact be a Ripken baseball academy coming to the Suncoast -- only it could be in Charlotte County. Our news partners with the Charlotte Sun are reporting that Ripken Design has drafted a feasibility study for a complex in Port Charlotte. Six fields, training areas, and a clubhouse essentially across the street from the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays and Ripken's minor league club, the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
County leaders there may soon have to decided if they want to come up with $10 million to make it work.
Barbetta says he's not concerned. "No. I give them credit. They have good foresight down there to pursue that. I can't blame them, with Cal actually owning the Stone Crabs. Remember, we don't have a minor league team."
The advantages other then baseball development are of course tournaments, players, families and the money they bring. Those we talked to say a Charlotte County complex doesn't mean the end of a Sarasota County complex.
The Orioles head of communication Greg Bader says with or without Ripken, they still plan to build an academy. "We have every intention to pursue the youth academy in Sarasota County very diligently."
Critics of the agreement say without the big name it's a broken promise. Bader says Ripken might not in fact be involved, but the two could coexist. "I don't think it would be unusual to have some top notch facilities in close proximity because the demand appears to be there."
Barbetta is holding out hope. "We are always open to talking to Cal. We would certainly love to have him here, maybe somewhere in the North Port-Charlotte border...the south part of the county where we would both benefit."
County commissioner Jon Thaxton, who voted against the Orioles deal, told ABC 7 that he was unaware Ripken had any plans to take his academy to Charlotte County. He said if it were true it would be a big disappointment.
