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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Avalanche surpasses all-time attendance record

September 4, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


SALEM, VA -- The Salem Avalanche, Advanced Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, surpassed their all-time franchise attendance record of 255,225 on Saturday, September 2, 2007 with a crowd of 5,769. With Sunday's attendance of 3,057, the new record sits at 258,469.

"This has been an amazing season for us both on and off the field," said John Katz, Avalanche VP / General Manager. "Our fans have battled the rain, the heat and even snow back in April to help achieve this milestone, and we're grateful to each and every one of them."

The team finished the season with an average attendance of 3,916 -- up from 3,602 in 2006 (+8.7%) and up from 3,753 in the prior record-setting season of 2005 (+4.2%). In 2006 and 2007, the Avalanche hosted 66 home games; in 2005, the Avalanche played 68 at home.

On the field, the Avalanche surged to a 79-60 record, notching the highest win total for a Salem ballclub since 1987. The Avs also qualified for the Playoffs for the second consecutive season, a first since 1987-1988. The Avalanche has netted the second-best overall record in the circuit in each of the past two seasons, with a combined record of 155-121 (.562) under skipper Jim Pankovits' leadership.

With a strong August surge, Billy Hart (.386 average in August) vaulted to the top of the Carolina League's batting average race, edging out teammate and Carolina League MVP Mitch Einertson by .000472 and earning the crown as the circuit's batting champ. Hart finished the season fourth in the Carolina League in on-base percentage at .385 as well. It was the first such distinction for an Avalanche slugger since Brad Hawpe's title in 2002.

Einertson, a mid-season and post-season All-Star, led the league in doubles (40), was second in RBI (87) and tied for second in Extra-Base Hits (54). He finished the season fourth in the Carolina League in hits (136) and fifth in Slugging Percentage (.482).

Winners of six of their last ten games, the Avalanche will roll into Kinston on Wednesday to take on the defending Carolina League Champion Indians. As the Wild Card entry, all games in the best-of-three series are played on the road. If the Avalanche advances to the Mills Cup Championship Series, game three and games four and five (if necessary) would be played at Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.

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Carolina League Stories from September 4, 2007


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