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Elsie Souza's Diamond Days

Sarasota Herald Tribune

July 27, 2009

Here's to Elsie Souza, founder and coordinator of Last Chance SRQ, who made bringing the Orioles to Sarasota her crusade. Working tirelessly, she cajoled Orioles management and pleaded with city and county politicians. She argued that spring training would be a valuable asset to an economically hurting city and that Sarasota could be a welcoming venue for a great team.

She was impelled partly by her love of baseball, but mostly by desire that her adopted city, Sarasota, maintain its 85-year tradition as a baseball town and continue to prosper from the boost to tourism that baseball brings to a community.

Arlene L. Borden

Sarasota

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED