COASTE | APR - MAY 2014

By Bill Schiller, Lyle Fitzsimmons and John Sprecher Images: Milissa Sprecher

It is Rich Paquette’s rite of spring. Every year, for the past 8 years, this retired gym teacher from Watertown, Connecticut returns to his Southwest Florida second home and eagerly awaits the day he can go back to work — as an usher at Hammond Stadium, spring training home of the Minnesota

Twins Major League Baseball team. Yes, it’s that time of year again. March madness, Lee County style.

Last year, both teams combined to attract almost 300,000 fans — an average of more than 8,700 fans per game.

“I need to be near baseball,” he says. “It’s as simple as that. I love it that much.”

Paquette is not alone. If beautiful weather and pristine beaches are Lee County’s economic bread and butter, then

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