Here on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a unique type of baseball exists. It may not have the flash or glamor of the Major Leagues, but it doesn’t need it. For in the coming weeks, within the walls of the minor league stadiums that dot the coastline the sport will be played in perhaps its purest, most unadulterated form: at the amatuer level.

Starting on Friday, September 9th and continuing through Sunday, September 18th, USA Baseball will host the U-18 Baseball World Cup, an elite international tournament that has historically featured some of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars including Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Francisco Lindor, and Buster Posey to name a few. The 2021 U-18 Baseball World Cup (so named after last year’s cancellation of the tournament) returns to the United States for the first time since 1955 and will see teams from twelve competing international federations, including the United States, compete for a world championship.

Games will be played at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota (the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training facility) and Bradenton’s LECOM Park (the Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training facility). The tournament will kick off Friday at 11am at both stadiums, with Team USA opening their tournament at 7pm against the Netherlands in LECOM Park. The round-robin tournament will split the twelve different teams into Groups A and B and the top three of each group will advance to the super round from which the top two teams will compete for the championship.

Notable storylines include Team USA’s motivation to reclaim the U-18 Baseball World Cup Title on home soil - before falling to Chinese Taipei in finals of the latest tournament in 2019, the United States had won the previous four U-18 World Cups. A victory would culminate Team USA’s recent hot streak, as they’ve already won the U-12 and U-15 Baseball World Cups this summer. Look for the U-18 team to lean on Tampa Bay area shortstop Aidan Miller, a senior out of J.W. Mitchell High School in Trinity. Miller, a University of Arkansas commit, was named the MVP of the High-School All-American game this July and is widely regarded as a potential top 10 pick in next June’s 2023 MLB Amatuer Draft.

Games are held at 11:00 a.m 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Tickets include access to all three games, $10 Adult $5 Children. 

Photo courtesy of AnnaMariaIsland.com.

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Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, announced Wednesday that accomplished playwright and screenwriter Madeleine George, currently a writer on the hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, has been newly selected as the 2021 recipient of the Hermitage Major Theater Award (HMTA). This national jury-selected prize, established by the Hermitage last year with generous support from the Kutya Major Foundation, offers one of the largest non-profit theater commissions in the country. George will receive a cash prize of $35,000, as well as a residency at the Hermitage (Sarasota County, Florida) and a developmental workshop in a major arts capital such as New York, Chicago, or London in the fall of 2023. The Hermitage Major Theater Award was also awarded to theater-maker and director Shariffa Ali earlier this year.

“Amidst such a brilliant group of finalists, the inaugural Award Committee was faced with an incredibly difficult decision in determining a recipient for this award,” said Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg. “Madeleine George is one of the American theater’s most gracious and gifted talents, and we’re honored to present her with the HMTA. The heart and humor in her writing is enhanced by her generous spirit and her deep passion for the theater.” 

Pictured: Madeleine George, 2021 Hermitage Major Theater Award Winner. Image provided by The Hermitage Artist Retreat.

Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead has announced it has collected more than 200 bicycles through its Recycle-A-Bicycle Program. Donated bicycles are collected by Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead volunteers, refurbished, and restored by Turning Points volunteers and given to people in need. Turning Points is a non-profit organization that provides hope and assistance to men, women, and children who are at risk of being homeless or are homeless. Do you have a bicycle you wish to donate? Individual bicycles or bicycle parts donations can be arranged to be picked up by contacting Ralph Monti by phone at 646-705-4148 or by email at ralphmonti@gmail.com. 

Lorry Eible and her two sons, Edward and Bryan, moved to Sarasota in 1972 where she raised her boys and decided to open a boutique with unique and unusual items...and it worked! It all started on Siesta Key in a small, white cottage near the beach, which later grew into the boutique’s current location on Siesta Key. Ten years later, with the love and support of Lorry’s husband John Walter, who had built the first Foxy Lady store that had been in business over the years, they built the St. Armands store—a.k.a Foxy Lady West—and it all fell into place. Fifty years later, with the training and devotion of loyal staff, they are all still excited to be lucky enough to do something that they love and are fortunate enough to have so many loyal clients that love their boutiques. And they love them! 

Pictured: Lorry Eible at Foxy Lady West. Photo courtesy of Foxy Lady.

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Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton announced today that Ramona Standing was nominated for the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) 2022 Caregiver of the Year Award. Ms. Standing is among the top 300 home caregivers nominated from home care agencies all across the country. This national program recognizes the top caregivers across the country who provide care and services at home, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and medication reminders, to seniors and people with disabilities. “Caregiving is tough. It requires a special kind of empathy that not all people are lucky enough to possess,” said HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak. “This award is just one way we can lift up our caregivers, who are a vital lifeline to the clients they serve at home. It is a pleasure to recognize those who go above and beyond with a song, a surprise outing, or a client’s favorite meal to ensure they are cared for.” The top caregiver will be announced at the HCAOA Annual Leadership Conference on August 18 at the Hilton Orlando, and will receive a cash award of $1,000. 

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Coastal Orthopedics, a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, pain management and physical therapy services, recently
selected Dr. Matthew Pacana to join its highly skilled staff. Dr. Pacana is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle injuries and disorders. With a focus on foot and ankle pathology, Dr. Pacana treats patients of all ages with various conditions, including foot and ankle arthritis, tendonitis, ankle instability, athletic injuries, bunions and fractures. He has a special interest in ankle replacement, minimally-invasive techniques and arthroscopy. After attending medical school at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dr. Pacana finished his orthopedic surgery residency at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He then went on to complete his foot and ankle fellowship at the University of Texas Houston. During his fellowship, Dr. Pacana helped take care of several collegiate sports teams, including
the football and soccer teams at the University of Houston. Dr. Pacana has published several papers on orthopedic education and adult-acquired flatfoot deformity in several peer-reviewed journals, including the prestigious Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. His research has been presented at numerous national and international meetings. Dr. Pacana will be performing surgeries at Coastal Orthopedics’ outpatient surgery center. He will also be credentialed at HCA Florida Blake Hospital, HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Manatee Memorial Hospital. 

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The largest parcel on Riverview Boulevard on the Manatee Riverfront, and one of the largest open deep-water parcels on the Florida West Coast, has sold for $8.55 million, the highest sell price in the history of Northwest Bradenton waterfront properties. Located on 5.16 acres at 7000 Riverview Boulevard, the property has 5,975 square feet in the main house, 1,702 square feet in the second home and 287 feet of direct waterfront with access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The main house has five bedrooms, an office and five and a half baths; the second home has two bedrooms and two baths. Designed by noted architect Don Roban and built by B.W. Saba Inc., the home features some of the finest domestic and imported resources available, including rare granites, wood mosaic flooring, highly lacquered cabinetry, hand rubbed cypress wood walls, beamed 20-foot ceilings and massive walls of glass. The estate incorporates centuries old oak trees, bridges, waterfalls, walking paths, koi ponds and a diversified selection of native plantings, designed by landscape architect Jim Talley. 

Pictured: 7000 Riverview Blvd., Bradenton sold at the highest sell price in the history of Northwest Bradenton waterfront properties. Photo courtesy of RE/MAX Alliance Group.

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Clive Daniel Home has opened the doors of its new Sarasota showroom. Located at 3055 Fruitville Commons Blvd. within Sarasota’s Fruitville Commons development, the 70,000 square-foot store offers a mix of contemporary, traditional, and casual designs, as well as Clive Daniel Home’s award-winning interior design services. The public is invited to tour the showroom, peruse the offerings, and meet the team of interior designers. The new showroom marks Clive Daniel Home’s third location. Its first showroom opened in Naples in 2011, and its second opened in Boca Raton in 2016. Like these existing stores, the Sarasota location will offer an exclusive selection of furniture, lighting, rugs, window treatments, and more—all within an inspiring and one-of-a-kind environment. The showroom’s leadership team includes Rick Clary, who was the general manager of Robb & Stucky Interiors for more than 30 years, as general manager, as well as Shannon Moulton-Gower as sales manager, Timothy Schwering as director of design and construction, Rael Lubner as operations manager, and Rhonda Lamb as director of business development. The team also includes more than 15 professional interior designers and its own hospitality division. For more information, visit the Clive Daniel Home website at www.clivedaniel.com. 

USHERING IN A SPECIAL ERA | How Cafe L'Europe's new owners aim to steward the Grande Dame into Sarasota's fine dining future.

Check out Cafe L'Europe's charm through this link, on our social media, or in the September edition of SRQ Magazine!