From Toronto to Dunedin to Clearwater for Blue Jays Fans

Baseball is not just a game.

It is an economic driver, from the tourists who journey to the Sunshine State to take in a game, to the grounds crews, ticket takers and concessionaires who depend on those salaries.

As the 67th spring training season in Clearwater comes to a close on a brisk spring Thursday, March 28, baseball seems as popular as ever.

Crowds jam the roads leading to Bright House Field for their chance to see the Philadelphia Phillies and aging ace Roy Halladay close out the Grapefruit League season with a game against spring training city rivals, the Toronto Blue Jays, who play in Dunedin.

It is 12:38 p.m., and Don Guckian begins announcing the lineup for the Blue Jays.

Jose Reyes will lead off.

Jose Bautista hits in the middle. Each name gets a slight sound of applause from the Blue Jays fans peppered in the crowd.

Allison Antonacci and Dylan Reave, both 25, are a couple staying in Palm Harbor and spending their vacation time catching the Blue Jays games in Dunedin and Clearwater.

With Toronto's star-studded lineup this season, they were ready to travel to see their team.

“The trade brought us here,” Reave said — an offseason blockbuster that brought All-Star shortstop Reyes and four other players to Toronto from Miami.

The couple went to the Blue Jays' game Monday in Dunedin. They like the small stadium their hometown team plays in, but understand why the franchise might be interested in bigger digs.

“It’s cute,” Antonacci said, mentioning how they drove past the Yankees' field in Tampa and how they admired Bright House Field.

That day they were able to get an autograph from J. P. Arencibia, a fan favorite, Reave said. They flagged him down after the game, in which he hit two home runs and a double.

Antonacci quickly pulled the signed baseball from a small black purse at her side. She hoped to add to it.

It was their first time down for spring training and said they would likely come back again.

As the grounds crew works to wet the infield clay, Blue Jays players warm up, getting their final stretches and catches in before the 1:05 p.m. start. The couple held a blanket with the Blue Jays logo on it, trying to get some players' attention

“We’re going to move down here,” Antonacci said with a laugh.

Sign up for the free Dunedin Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.

By 1:04 p.m. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and the rest of the Phillies ran onto the field ready to start the last nine innings.

After “O Canada” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” were heard over the loudspeakers Halladay threw his final warm ups.

By 1:09 he tossed the game's first pitch, a strike, to Reyes.

A few pitches in and Reyes is retired with a ground ball to Utley. A quick 1-2-3 inning for Halladay, who gets a roar from the crowd as he walks off the mound.

By 2:20, Halladay has worked through the fifth inning and gets pulled after throwing 40 pitches, 31 strikes, giving up nine hits and two runs while striking out six.

Shortly after, Utley powers a two-run homer over center field, and the Phillies have taken a 3-2 lead they do not relinquish.

Jonathan Papelbon comes in to ceremoniously close the last game, getting Rajai Davis out and eliciting a cheer from the crowd.

Frenchy’s Tiki Bar over left field fills with fans looking to keep the last game going at least a little longer.

Phillies players high five each other with their win, the last one this spring, at least in Clearwater.