Baseball
Baseball has a strong tradition in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. We have a proud history of hosting spring training for professional baseball teams, as well as numerous youth and collegiate tournaments.
The Tampa Bay Rays, 2008 American League champions, hold their spring training at the newly renovated Charlotte Sports Park, which in 2014, was ranked the #1 Spring Training Facility in the U.S. by USA Today/10best.com.
The Charlotte Stone Crabs, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, also call the Sports Park their home turf. On days without games, ball players and fans alike are able to recharge and explore the area's amenities, such as outdoor adventures, world-class fishing, 28 miles of beaches and 4 1/2-star golf in Southwest Florida.
In addition, college teams representing NCAA and junior colleges from across the country flock to tournaments in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, including the Annual Snowbird Baseball Classic. Many teams? In 2019, 19 Division I and 25 Division III colleges matched up to play spring ball.
"When considering other Florida communities, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands [former destination name] makes the most sense as a tournament host destination," said Steve Partington, Tournament Director. "The area's warm winter temperatures, outstanding ball fields, affordable lodging and diverse activity options make Charlotte Harbor an attractive choice."
The Tampa Bay Rays, 2008 American League champions, hold their spring training at the newly renovated Charlotte Sports Park, which in 2014, was ranked the #1 Spring Training Facility in the U.S. by USA Today/10best.com.
The Charlotte Stone Crabs, the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, also call the Sports Park their home turf. On days without games, ball players and fans alike are able to recharge and explore the area's amenities, such as outdoor adventures, world-class fishing, 28 miles of beaches and 4 1/2-star golf in Southwest Florida. In addition, college teams representing NCAA and junior colleges from across the country flock to tournaments in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, including the Annual Snowbird Baseball Classic. Many teams? In 2019, 19 Division I and 25 Division III colleges matched up to play spring ball."When considering other Florida communities, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands [former destination name] makes the most sense as a tournament host destination," said Steve Partington, Tournament Director. "The area's warm winter temperatures, outstanding ball fields, affordable lodging and diverse activity options make Charlotte Harbor an attractive choice."