Salem Red Sox Set For Exciting 2015 Season

The Salem Red Sox will look to come out swinging when they play their home opener April 16th at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Sox have another great lineup of promotions and special events set for the 2015 season.
The Salem Red Sox will look to come out swinging when they play their home opener April 16th at Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Sox have another great lineup of promotions and special events set for the 2015 season.

Play ball!

It’s time for the recent snows and cold weather to give way to the boys of summer at Salem Memorial Ball Park.

The 2015 edition of the Carolina League High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox are set to begin their 140-game season, and the Salem Sox management is ready to make it fun for the entire family.

After a week-long road trip at Carolina and Myrtle Beach to open the season, the Sox return home for a seven-game set beginning with the home opener on April 16th.

Salem has 18 home games in May, 15 home games in June, 11 in July and 16 in August before closing out the regular season campaign with a week-long road trip the first week of September.

The Carolina League-California League All-Star game heads west this year for a June 23rd date in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

The Salem Sox will be looking to extend their post-season runs. Salem won the Carolina League Mills Cup Championship in 2013 and returned to the Southern Division playoffs in 2014 before falling to Myrtle Beach.

Plenty of promotions are set this year in Salem. Clip and save this Roanoke Star feature to keep you reminded all summer of the special events.

 Every Thursday dollar beverage specials will be offered, and fans will be treated to live music by local bands.

Freedom Fridays, sponsored by Freedom First Credit Union, will feature a fireworks show after the game, as well as military themed jerseys made possible by the American Red Cross.

 “Nine innings of winning” takes place during Saturday games.

“Sunday Fundays” are all about the kids, where they can run the bases after the games. The player of the week will also sign posters on the concourse after Sunday games.

Opening Day on Thursday, April 16th gives fans an early start to the weekend. The kickoff to the season will feature live music, dollar beverage specials and post-game fireworks. In addition that night, players will be wearing commemorative Virginia Tech remembrance hats to honor those affected by the tragedy on the VT campus 8 years ago.

Saturday, April 18th, the Dare Devil Dogs will be in town to show off their high-flying tricks for fans.

“May the force be with you” takes place on Saturday, May 2nd for the first of two Star Wars Nights.

Pink in the Park returns for Mother’s Day weekend May 9th and 10th. Players will be wearing pink jerseys to be auctioned off to benefit Susan G. Komen Virginia Blue Ridge.

Super hero night, sponsored by MemberOne Credit Union, falls on Saturday, May 23. Harry Potter Night comes to the ballpark June 5th and police officers and firefighters will face off pre-game on June 6 in a battle of Guns & Hoses in collaboration with ServPro.

Pirates and Princesses night hits the park on June 12th, and the ever-populate Mayberry Deputy Appearance comes to the ballpark on Friday, June 26th. Let your hair hang down for Mullets for Men’s Health on June 27th.

NASCAR night roars into LewisGale Field on July 17th. It’s the 30th anniversary of Back to the Future and the Salem Red Sox will be celebrating the movie on Saturday, July 18. The festivities will be complete with a DeLorean automobile and “Doc Brown” will host the night.

Faith Night is set for July 25th and Star Wars Night-Part Two is scheduled for Friday, August 14th.

A long history of baseball in Salem will be celebrated on “Turn Back the Clock Night”, sponsored by Salem Health & Rehabilitation Center, Saturday, August 15th.The night celebrates 20 years of baseball at LewisGale Field and players will be wearing throwback Salem Avalanche jerseys.

On Friday, August 28th, G.I. Joe and WWE legend Sgt. Slaughter will be in Salem for the final Freedom Friday of the season. The following night, August 29th, will be Military Appreciation Night presented by Freedom First Credit Union.The military jerseys, sponsored by the American Red Cross will be auctioned off. There will also be a military card set given away.

Also new in 2015 will be a new voice on the Red Sox radio broadcasts on ESPN Radio 1240 AM.

Kevin Burke takes over in the booth, replacing Evan Lepler who had been the team’s radio broadcaster since 2009. Burke served as Lepler’s broadcast intern and on-field emcee for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Before returning to Salem, Burke served as Director of Broadcasting for the Traverse City Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League. Burke has also spent time as the broadcaster with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Double A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and Corvallis Knights of the Wast Coast Collegiate Baseball League.

“I would like to thank Ryan Shelton (Salem GM) and Allen Lawrence for providing me the opportunity to be the new voice of the Salem Red Sox,” Burke said in a release. “I’m extremely excited to return to the Roanoke Valley and work with the outstanding people involved in the organization and the community. I will strive to uphold the strong precedent that Evan Lepler has set forth during his tenure.”

Season tickets, mini-ticket packages, group tickets and individual game tickets can be purchased by calling the Salem Red Sox at 540-389-3333.

Bill Turner

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