Dash's Manuel wins Falwell Award
The Dash set a franchise attendance record in 2010, their first season at magnificent BB&T Ballpark. The team also won both halves in the Southern Division and earned a berth in the Mills Cup Championship Series.
"I'm truly honored to have been selected as the 2010 recipient of the Carolina League's executive of the year award," said Manuel. "The reward is particularly gratifying because it comes on the heels of a highly successful inaugural year for the Winston-Salem Dash at BB&T ballpark. The award also gives me good reason to pause and acknowledge two groups of people without whom this award wouldn't have been possible - our team owners and the Dash staff. I am personally and professionally blessed to be supported by an incredible ownership group that had the vision to take the Dash to new heights and already is planning for another spectacular year next season. My colleagues on the Dash staff also deserve tremendous credit for our team's success this year. I consider the executive of the year award another win for our entire organization, including our hard-working players and wonderful fan base."
"We are all proud for Ryan and the incredible job he has done leading us through our first season at BB&T Ballpark," said team president Geoff Lassiter. "This award is very well-deserved and for him to be the first Winston-Salem executive to receive this honor makes it even more special. We are lucky to have Ryan as a leader within our organization."
"Ryan's leadership, patience, and foresight helped our organization achieve the most successful season in franchise history," said majority owner Billy Prim. "This award serves as recognition for not only Ryan's hard work in the past season, but also for everything he has done in the years leading up to the opening of BB&T Ballpark. He is as much a part of its foundation as any amount of concrete or brick. We are very happy for him to receive this award and for all his contributions in the last 12 years."
The Winchester, Va. native and graduate of West Virginia University has been in baseball since 1998 and in Winston-Salem since 1999. He was originally a group sales associate, becoming assistant general manger in 2002 and general manager in 2003.
The Calvin Falwell Executive of the Year Award was named in 2006 for the man who had been president of the Lynchburg club since that city joined the league in 1966.