Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 8, 1995 TAG: 9508090021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The new park really is a long way from the old park.
``I never thought I'd be sitting in a sky box watching a ballgame in Salem,'' said Jeff Beamer, a lifelong Salem resident who grew up watching games at Municipal Field.
Even if you didn't have a spot reserved in a luxury box equipped with a refrigerator and a couch - and most of the sellout crowd of 6,421 did not - you didn't need one to enjoy the oft-delayed opening night in the new ballpark as the Salem Avalanche entertained the Frederick Keys in a Carolina League game.
Salem won the initial game at its new field, beating the Keys 3-2 in 15 innings.
``There's not a bad seat in the house,'' said Montvale's Wayne Thompson, who was sitting in the stadium's top row on the third-base side.
The side of the ballpark where the Thompsons sat offered perhaps the most stunning view in the place. From the upper sections on the third-base side, fans could gaze upon a panoramic Blue Ridge vista beyond the outfield wall.
``It's beautiful here,'' Mona Eighmy said of her view from Row KK, Seat 2. She was part of a party that drove some 3 1/2 hours from Richlands to the game.
Most of the fans came from much nearer points, such as Salem's Phil Johnston, who arrived at the park at 1:45 p.m. - nearly five hours before the gates opened - to ensure he got a good seat in the general-admission area.
Johnston said he didn't mind waiting for the opening, which was pushed back three times because of construction delays. Still, the $10.1 million facility was completed less than a year after the first spade of earth was turned.
``I'm glad they got it finished with 20 or 21 games left in the season,'' he said.
Johnston was the first fan in the park when the gates opened at 5:30 p.m., but he and others walked in to find Kid Carr, a distinguished local baseball scout of five decades, already there. Carr, a member of the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame, still files scouting reports for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Others, like the Thomson family of Salem, waited all season just to come to the new park. The family hadn't gone to a game at Municipal Field this season, but on Monday, all six Thomsons - Chris, Ellen and their children, Billy, 11; Ellen Marie, 8; Caroline, 2; and 4-month-old Sarah - were out in force.
``We kind of said goodbye to the old stadium last year,'' said Chris Thomson. ``We've been waiting, waiting, waiting. ... I think we'll probably come to more games in the future.''
There were a few disparaging words heard. Ron Crowner, a season-ticket holder, wasn't pleased with the stadium's policy of no smoking in the seating areas. He also thinks the place is just too darned big.
``The ballpark's got two strikes against it: The smokers have to go around back [to smoke]; and the lack of intimacy,'' Crowner said. ``I have reservations about getting season tickets next year.''
There were a few empty seats Monday night, although many of those belonged to fans marooned in the lengthy lines at the concession stands. The large crowd, combined with workers being unfamiliar with the new computerized cash registers, conspired to make for a long wait for the famished and thirsty.
Shirley Jones of Salem got in line in the bottom of the first inning. When she finally received her two slices of pizza, nachos and a couple of sodas, it was the bottom of the fourth.
That wasn't good news for little Beth Jordan, 10, of Salem. She was clutching her money at the end of the line as 44 people stood between her and an order of nachos and popcorn.
Those who couldn't buy peanuts, though, could console themselves by yukking it up with The Baseball Nut, the new Avalanche mascot. Basically, it's a guy dressed as a peanut wearing purple tights.
``He's cool!'' said 7-year-old Travis Smith of Salem.
Salem's Tess Vierling, 5, had even more affection for the hard-shelled, soft-hearted walking legume.
``He's good. He's my dad,'' said Tess, whose father, Alan, made his nutty debut after arriving by helicopter before the game.
Not even the chilly, breezy, cloudy weather could dampen most of the fans' spirits.
``It's opening day,'' said Tina Shaver of Roanoke. ``It's always cold in Salem on opening day.''
by CNB