First spring training game in Southwest Florida features two Lee County teams

Sunday, the Minnesota Twins hosted the Boston Red Sox in the first game of spring training. Both these Lee County teams had a game unlike any other in the middle of a pandemic.

Fans were excited to see a baseball game in person.

No matter what your team is, both sides agree on one thing – it’s good to be back in the ballpark.

Michelle Powella is from Cape Coral. “Spring Training is good for my soul and my heart right now,” Powella said.

The Red Sox and Minnesota Twins met at the Hammond Stadium for the first day of spring training games.

Fans have been itching for this day since the pandemic cut spring training short last year.

Randy Tronnes is from Minnesota. “It just abruptly shut down and we never came back,” Tronnes said.

John Rowan is from St. Paul. “We haven’t seen the guys in person just on TV,” Rowan said.

Spring training looks just a little bit different this year with masks, social distancing, and pod seating.

But, some things haven’t changed such as strikeouts, dramatic infield plays and, of course, home runs.

Fans definitely missed those sights and sounds. “Eat bad food,” Lareina Wood said. “Drink a beer and have a pretzel and have a good time.”

“You also run into so many people from Minnesota here in Florida,” Tronnes said.

While spring training in a pandemic is certainly different, but for fans that were there, nothing stopped them from returning to a place they consider a second home.

“We typically say up until COVID-19 if you want us this month we’ll be at the ballpark. Because one way or another were either here or at JetBlue at a game so it’s pretty important to both of us. It’s part of who we are,” Powella said.

The Twins won the game but everyone was a winner.

The Twins won 7-6 and The Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves were also in action. The Rays won 9-7.