Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 13, 1995                   TAG: 9508150009
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SPORTS MAILBAG

Sports editor:

What should have been the happiest day of our lives turned out to be pure hell.

We have been loyal supporters of Salem's baseball team for the past four years. Loyal means: 1. Staying through four-hour rain delays; 2. Seeing the final out of a 14-inning game; 3. Braving the harsh, biting winds of early April; 4. Watching as your team gets whipped 11-0 on a regular basis; and, 5. Being in the audience when it's so small a player literally can count the number of fans. We have been at every Salem home game the past three seasons, except for times when we were on vacation - and we've even traveled to Lynchburg, Durham, N.C., and Winston-Salem, N.C., to support our team. We love baseball and have been eagerly anticipating the opening of our new stadium.

However, because of gross miscommunication, Salem's two biggest fans were denied the privilege of being at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium on opening night. It seems that we used our opening night tickets on the opening night of the season. Call us stupid, but when the ticket said, ``April 14, 1995,'' we used it on April 14, 1995. Once Aug.7 rolled around, we were told that no other tickets but opening night tickets would be honored, so we stayed home.

Is this fair? We could have bought a ticket like the rest of the general public, but we shouldn't have had to do that. One day the newness of the ballpark will wear off, all the people who have jumped on the bandwagon will get tired and stop coming and Salem once again will rely on its true, loyal fans. But we won't be there. If this is the way Salem management treats its supporters, then we want no part of it.

We no longer will buy season tickets or support the Avalanche in any way. We have decided to fill our need for baseball by watching the Lynchburg Hillcats. Sure, we waste a lot of gas, but it's worth it. When we walk into City Stadium, our presence is appreciated. The Hillcats' management actually thanks us for being there. That is something [Salem general manager] Sam Lazarro has never done. We encourage the rest of the public to try out City Stadium and watch a real team.

CHRISTY BALTHIS ROANOKE

KELLI SEE ROANOKE