Save on Salem Red Sox tickets; find other baseball deals

We're finally getting some warm weather just in time for the boys of summer to hit the field.

The Salem Red Sox opened its home season Friday night against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and there's a long season ahead (the last Sox game will be at home on Sept. 2), so you have plenty of opportunities coming up to catch a game.

What makes the start of baseball season even more exciting is that there are lots of ways to save on game tickets and lots of freebies to be earned.

Advance tickets & flex plans

The simplest way to save a few bucks is to buy individual game tickets in advance. Any ticket purchased at least 24 hours before a game is $2 off. That makes premium seats $10, box seats $8 and general admission seats $6. There's also a $1 discount off the walk-up price (which is $12 for premium seats, $10 for box seats and $8 for general admission seats) for kids 12 and younger or senior citizens 65 and o lder.

Anyone planning to go to multiple games throughout the season should consider purchasing one of two 10- game Flex Plans available.

The 10th Man Flex Plan is $60 and includes 10 general admission game tickets and your choice of one $5 meal voucher for concessions or a 47 Brand Salem Red Sox hat ($20 value).

The Ballpark's Best Flex Plan is $80 and comes with 10 undated ticket vouchers good for Strike Zone , box or general admission seats, a 47 Brand Salem Red Sox hat and one $5 meal voucher.

There are also deals specifically for kids and seniors who plan to attend multiple games.

The Kids Club for children 12 and younger costs $30 and includes 10 undated general admission tickets.

With this package, kids also receive a membership T-shirt, two autograph sessions with Red Sox players, five vouchers for the Kids Zone, a 10 percent discount in the souvenir store, a 10 percent discount on baseball camps, two free tickets to each of the three family nights and a coupon booklet for concession items. Additionally, kids will get a free hotdog, chips and soda on each of the 10 Kids Eat Free Sunday games. The total value of this package is more than $250.

Todd Stephenson, vice president and general manager of the team, pointed out that a family of four can purchase two adult Flex Plans and two Kids Club memberships and attend 10 games throughout the summer for $180, plus enjoy the additional perks listed above.

For seniors, groups & dogs

Adults 55 and older might consider joining the Silver Sluggers club .

For $30 members receive 10 undated box seat tickets, a membership T-shirt, a coupon booklet for concession items, a 10 percent discount in the souvenir store, entry to two Silver Slugger events in the club level, an exclusive meet the team party and a shot to be chosen Silver Slugger of the Game. The Silver Slugger of the Game is selected at random during each Silver Slugger game and wins a prize package. The total value of this package is $180.

Scout troops, youth groups and other clubs should look into special group pricing. Groups of 30 or more people can purchase general admission seats for $5 or box seats for $7. Group tickets must be purchased in advance. Stephenson suggests ordering tickets 10 days in advance for general admission seats or 14 days in advance for box seats.

There's even a special deal for furry friends.

Dogs are welcome to come and enjoy Bark in the Park during every Sunday home game. Dogs can enter the park for $5 per game, or you can buy a 10-game season pass for $20. Four-legged fans are required to bring proof of vaccination to enter.

Other promotions

Throughout the season there are also tons of promotions for all attendees. All weekend games include poster giveaways for the first 500 fans. May 17-19, the ballpark will be supporting breast cancer research with Pink in the Park. Before these games, 1,000 pink T-shirts will be given away on Friday and 1,000 pink tuxedo T-shirts will be given away on Saturday.

For more information about upcoming promotions at Salem Red Sox games, a full game schedule and to order tickets, visit www.salemredsox.com or call 389-3333.

Weather Journal

4 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

6. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

7. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible

9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli 

10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area