Augusta fans will watch local professional baseball in record numbers this summer, according to reports from the area's two minor league teams.

The Augusta GreenJackets already set a franchise record for season ticket sales this year. The Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants has signed up more than 1,800 season tickets holders for the 2008 season.

GreenJackets general manager Nick Brown said that number may top 2,000 before the season begins April 3.

"It seems like every year we are setting new franchise marks in attendance," he said in a statement released Monday. "I really believe our success is based on great customer service along (with) our focus on entertainment, and that can all go back to the Ripken Group."

The GreenJackets have seen an increase in season ticket sales every year since they were purchased by the Ripken Baseball Group, an ownership group that includes Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

In Aiken, Scott Lefler, assistant general manager of the Aiken Foxhounds, said the independent baseball team also has seen positive ticket sales.

The team hopes to match last year's numbers by the time the season starts May 15, he said.

"We're at about 75 percent on where we were last year (on season ticket sales)," Lefler said.

"We had close to 400 last year, which pretty much maxed us out on the reserved box seats we have available. What we're really looking for is an increase in group sales, and we've seen a huge jump in that. That's our target this year."

The Foxhounds also announced Monday the formation of the Foxhounds Booster Club to help assist players and coaches throughout the season.