Published: June 01, 2008 12:08 am      

Fans, community support stadiums

Mountain Ridge, Greenway Avenue groups raise more than $380,000 each

So far, the Greenway Avenue Stadium Committee has raised $382,605.60, and the Mountain Ridge Stadium Committee has raised $390,855.45, according to Mia Perlozzo, public relations specialist for the Allegany County Board of Education.

Several items at Greenway have been named by donors: the scoreboard by Civil Trades for $100,000; the home team locker room by Walter N. Yoder & Sons for $25,000; and the main gate by R.H. Lapp for $25,000.

Mountain Ridge naming rights include the goal posts to Mike Finn for $2,000; the all-weather track to Bill Miller Sales for $100,000; the school store/promotion area to Standard Bank for $10,000; the ticket booth to Mountain City Cabinets for $20,000; the broadcast booth to Ritchie Trucking for $10,000; the softball scoreboard to Mountain View Landfill for $20,000; the flag pole area to the American Legion for $10,000; and the American and Maryland flags to Beall High alumni for $8,000.

The second annual Miner’s Blast, a major fundraiser to benefit the Mountain Ridge Stadium, will be held June 29 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. The event will feature a steak dinner, paper gaming and an auction; tickets cost $50 a piece and are available by contacting Moose Arnone at (301) 689-5536.

Approximately $3.5 million is needed for the Mountain Ridge Stadium. The track and turf have already been installed; the visitors’ bleachers and concession building are expected to be finished by August, according to Vince Montana, director of facilities at the board of education.

The Greenway Avenue project, which consists of two phases, is expected to cost $7 million.

The board has given $500,000 to each stadium project, and the Allegany County Commissioners have agreed to allocate state Program Open Space funds toward the two projects.

Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.