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Baseball: Dunedin Spring Tournament is forced to shift sites for 50th anniversary

Due to renovations at Englebert Complex, the longest spring tournament in the area will shift to Frank Tack Park in Clearwater in 2019
 
Published Aug. 15, 2018|Updated Aug. 15, 2018

The good news for the Dunedin Spring Tournament is that it will celebrate its 5oth year in 2019. The bad news is that it will be held outside of Dunedin for the first time.

Due to planned renovations at Englebert Complex, the tournament will be held at Frank Tack Park in Clearwater on March 11-15, which is spring break in Pinellas County. For the past two seasons, it was held in April after the Blue Jays broke spring camp.

"About a month ago it looked like this might not have happened," Dunedin coach Ron Sexton said. "But we were able to work with Dunedin Mayor (Julie) Bujalkski to get the site at Frank Tack Park. Hopefully this will be the only year we have to do it and we can get back to Engelbert for the 51st tournament."

Like last season, there will be eight teams in the tournament, with each team guaranteed three games. Defending champion Clearwater Central Catholic is already in the field. Sexton said Largo is also signed up. The remaining teams will be filled later.

Frank Tack Park has two fields, both of which will be utilized for the tournament. Englebert Complex has four fields, three of which were used for the tournament.

"It will be a little different because you won't have your head on a swivel watching three games at once," Sexton said. "But it's better than not having the tournament at all."

Dunedin plays some of its home games at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Sexton said they looked into the possibility of playing the championship game there but it was rejected due to planned renovations.