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MLB

Dash once again nominated for top award in Minors

Winston-Salem earns CL's nomination for John H. Johnson Award
By
October 12, 2016

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2016) - For a second consecutive year, the Carolina League has nominated the Winston-Salem Dash for the John H. Johnson President's Award, the top honor in Minor League Baseball. The Johnson Award recognizes a "complete" franchise that demonstrates stability and contributes to its community, its league and the baseball industry as a whole.

An affiliate of the Chicago White Sox since 1997, the Winston-Salem franchise has placed either first or second among all 30 Class A-Advanced teams in attendance every year since BB&T Ballpark opened in 2010. This season, the Dash experienced an increase in both per-game (4,476) and overall (295,411) attendance from 2015.

BB&T Ballpark buzzes with activity when the Dash are out of town or in the offseason. The home of the Dash has developed into a multi-use facility that will have hosted 250 non-Dash events in 2016, including weddings, reunions, movie nights, proms, baseball academies and holiday parties. The Dash expect to welcome more than 100,000 people for these events this calendar year.

The Dash understand that the franchise would not enjoy the success it has experienced without the unwavering support from the Winston-Salem community. Therefore, the organization strives to give back through several successful programs. Through the Flow Chevrolet Diamond in the Rough Program, the Dash have renovated several local little league fields, and Northwest Forsyth American Little League is this year's selection.

Each season, the organization donates a sponsorship package to a local charity. This year's charity partner was Veterans Helping Veterans Heal, which operates a 24-bed extended-term housing program in Winston-Salem for veterans battling homelessness to ultimately transition into permanent housing and independence.

Education is also important to the Dash, who have offered a highly successful MVP Education Program to more than 60,000 students in eight counties. It is an incentive-based program that uses the analogy of advancing around the baseball diamond to encourage students to strive for academic excellence. Teachers determine goals based on the needs of their students, who are rewarded with prizes as they reach various bases.

Beyond these yearly programs, BB&T Ballpark was the home for several important charitable initiatives. NBA All-Star and former Wake Forest University All-American Chris Paul made an appearance at a Dash game in June, with proceeds from ticket sales for that game going to the Chris Paul Family Foundation. Later in the season, the Dash hosted "Energize the Ballpark Night," which featured a postgame concert from Danny Gokey and benefitted Energize Ministries. Later this month, the Dash and the Winston-Salem Police Department will partner for a community Movie Night, with proceeds and donations benefiting the department's Foundation.

Minor League Baseball will select the winner of the Johnson Award, and that team will be honored at the Baseball Winter Meetings in National Harbor, Md., this December. Winston-Salem is trying to become the third Carolina League club to win this award and the first since Lynchburg in 1998.

The Dash have received several awards throughout the 2016 season. Through a vote on BallparkDigest.com, BB&T Ballpark was named the top stadium in Class A-Advanced baseball. The Dash claimed a pair of Winston-Salem Journal Readers Choice honors: "Best Family Entertainment" and "Best Local Sports Team." Individually, team President Geoff Lassiter is this year's winner of the Calvin Falwell Award, which goes to the top executive in the Carolina League. He was also honored as a recipient of a Winston-Salem Under 40 Leadership Award.

Baseball returns to Winston-Salem on April 13, 2017, for the eighth season at BB&T Ballpark. A full schedule will be released soon, and season-ticket packages are on sale now. For more information, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.