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Despite the onslaught of another seemingly endless Illinois winter, local residents now have a place to hone their baseball skills for the upcoming season, thanks to The Batter’s Box.
“We wanted to open it because we were looking for a facility that the youth in the area can utilize during the winter months,” co-owner Scott Thulean said. “It’s obviously freezing outside, and the closest facility is in Peoria, so we wanted a place closer for the kids.”
Located in the backside of The Player’s Turf off Illinois Route 29, The Batter’s Box is an indoor baseball training facility that features places for both hitters and pitchers to hone their skills.
“Our goal is to give the kids the opportunities to play baseball and softball inside in the winter to make them more competitive for the local community baseball programs, including IVC,” co-owner
Tim Fishel said.
Thulean and Fishel began work on the facility in October and opened the doors Dec. 1.
“It’s a seasonal facility that will probably run to March,” Thulean said. “I’d like to see it return annually.”
The Batter’s Box features two batting cages, one automatic and one manual, as well as an area with tees for younger kids.
“Our goal is to promote the youth of the area and to help them get better at baseball,” Thulean said.
The Batter’s Box philosophy is that its doors are open to all, with an emphasis on improving the performance of Mossville, Rome and Chillicothe’s baseball and softball programs, Fishel said.
The facility also is home to a pitching area that features two mounds as well as a more open area where players can work on fielding techniques.
“We’re not out to make a huge profit, this is more oriented to being a service to the community,” Fishel said. “We want to develop girls and the softball teams equally with the boys and baseball teams.”
Customers can either sign up as individuals for packages based on months, or they can pay for the use an hour or half hour at a time.
The facility also offers team rates that softball or baseball teams can take advantage of.
“Right now, we have about four teams and 14 individuals, but indications are that more will sign up after the basketball season is over, since a lot of two-sport athletes don’t have time to make it out during the basketball season,” Fishel said.
Despite the onslaught of another seemingly endless Illinois winter, local residents now have a place to hone their baseball skills for the upcoming season, thanks to The Batter’s Box.
“We wanted to open it because we were looking for a facility that the youth in the area can utilize during the winter months,” co-owner Scott Thulean said. “It’s obviously freezing outside, and the closest facility is in Peoria, so we wanted a place closer for the kids.”
Located in the backside of The Player’s Turf off Illinois Route 29, The Batter’s Box is an indoor baseball training facility that features places for both hitters and pitchers to hone their skills.
“Our goal is to give the kids the opportunities to play baseball and softball inside in the winter to make them more competitive for the local community baseball programs, including IVC,” co-owner
Tim Fishel said.
Thulean and Fishel began work on the facility in October and opened the doors Dec. 1.
“It’s a seasonal facility that will probably run to March,” Thulean said. “I’d like to see it return annually.”
The Batter’s Box features two batting cages, one automatic and one manual, as well as an area with tees for younger kids.
“Our goal is to promote the youth of the area and to help them get better at baseball,” Thulean said.
The Batter’s Box philosophy is that its doors are open to all, with an emphasis on improving the performance of Mossville, Rome and Chillicothe’s baseball and softball programs, Fishel said.
The facility also is home to a pitching area that features two mounds as well as a more open area where players can work on fielding techniques.
“We’re not out to make a huge profit, this is more oriented to being a service to the community,” Fishel said. “We want to develop girls and the softball teams equally with the boys and baseball teams.”
Customers can either sign up as individuals for packages based on months, or they can pay for the use an hour or half hour at a time.
The facility also offers team rates that softball or baseball teams can take advantage of.
“Right now, we have about four teams and 14 individuals, but indications are that more will sign up after the basketball season is over, since a lot of two-sport athletes don’t have time to make it out during the basketball season,” Fishel said.
A visitor to the facility can regularly see the diversity in people who utilize it, from a young girl hitting off a tee all the way to IVC senior Cody Kentzel.
“Cody is in here a lot, and he’s really dedicated to getting better,” Fishel said.
Fishel and Thulean both bring something to the table in the operation of The Batter’s Box.
Fishel, who is an engineer, was instrumental in setting up the facility and its equipment, while
Thulean brought his baseball knowledge and business sense to the facility.
For more information or to join, contact Fishel at 635-5809, or Thulean at 645-6945.
