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CarL1 Salem Red Sox

Ballpark naming rights sold to Lewis-Gale Medical Center

April 5, 2006 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release


SALEM, VA -- The Salem Avalanche, in conjunction with the City of Salem, have announced the renaming of Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium to Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.

"Lewis-Gale Medical Center is an extremely successful company in Salem," said Salem City, Manager Forest Jones. "Their accomplishments during the past several decades have been numerous, and we are tremendously honored to have this organization in our city. We would be hard pressed to find a better corporate citizen than Lewis-Gale. We are proud to be entering into this arrangement and look forward to a long-term agreement."

"Lewis-Gale Medical Center is a leader in this community and we are proud to play at the stadium that bears their name," Avalanche V.P./G.M. John Katz said. "The Salem Avalanche are proud to be associated with Lewis-Gale Medical Center, and appreciate the dedication to this first-class facility that the City of Salem has shown over the years."

Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium opened in 1995 and is about to open its 12th season as home to the Salem Avalanche. In that time, the Avalanche have celebrated a Carolina League Championship (2001), and many future stars have passed through Salem on their way to the majors. In all, the ballpark has played host to over 700 professional baseball games.

"As the largest private employer in the City of Salem, this partnership exemplifies our commitment to the citizens of Salem," stated James W. Thweatt, Jr., CEO and President, Lewis-Gale Medical Center. "While our Medical Center serves patients throughout Southwest Virginia, the City of Salem has been our home for 34 years. This is a unique opportunity in which we can demonstrate our commitment to this community."

Lewis-Gale Medical Center is a regional healthcare leader that has provided a full spectrum of diagnostic, medical and surgical services to Southwest Virginia residents for nearly 100 years. As the tertiary care facility for HCA Hospitals Southwest Virginia, specializes in many leading-edge technologies and has been recognized nationally for achieving excellence in several quality and safety initiatives.

Avalanche games are not the only events one can attend at Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. Concerts, festivals and other sporting events have graced Lewis-Gale Medical Center Field at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium throughout the years. In the last two years, the ballpark has hosted a Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson Concert, an annual Bluegrass Festival and the ODAC and ACC Baseball Tournaments.

"This partnership also serves as an analogy between Lewis-Gale Medical Center, the City of Salem and The Salem Avalanche," added Thweatt. "We are all committed to the families who live and work in this community, and have all had the privilege of serving the many families whose roots are entrenched in Salem, as well as those who are new to our community."

"With thousands of individuals visiting the Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium each year, it is with great pride that the stadium will bear the Lewis-Gale Medical Center name," stated Thweatt.

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The Avalanche open the 2006 season on Thursday, April 6th versus the Potomac Nationals at 7:07 PM. Opening Night features Fireworks presented by Smirnoff Ice, along with a Magnet Schedule Giveaway to the first 1,000 through the gate, courtesy of Tribles.

Season Ticket Plans and Ticketbooks are on sale now. Single Game Tickets, including tickets to the HCA Virginia Carolina-California League All-Star Game presented by Lewis-Gale Medical Center are also available. Visit the Avalanche on the web at www.salemavalanche.com or call the Avalanche office at 540-389-3333 to purchase Avalanche tickets.

Check out the Salem Red Sox Statistics



Carolina League Stories from April 5, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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