Pitching, hitting club is born - Proposed year-round baseball, softball facility finds a home in Sequim

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

By Michael Dashiell
Staff Writer, Sequim Gazette   

     In the summer around here, it’s great baseball weather.  But the winter? Forget about it.
     Dan Perry and some baseball buddies want to change that.
     Perry and members of the non-profit Sequim Baseball U-18 (formerly Sequim Senior Baseball) are gathering funds and forces to transform an empty building on West Washington Street into a multi-use baseball and softball facility, with batting cages, pitching mounds, hitting tees, pitching machines, and more for youths as young as 7 to adults.
     So no more watching those baseball skills wither away as winter months pass by.
     “We’ve had a lot of good input (from local players).” Perry said. “It’s just one more outlet for kids to go to.”
     That should help Sequim ball clubs be much more competitive on several levels, he said, noting that when his high -school-aged club team plays squads from Seattle, Tacoma and other big cities---cities with access to year round facilities---the difference is remarkable, and generally not in Sequim’s favor.
     “That’s one of the problems we see when we go play,” Perry said.
     Kevin Royall, who collaborated with Perry on the project, said this kind of club should accelerate the skill level of local players.
     “(Baseball) is definitely a memory-to-muscle thing,” Royall said.  “We don’t get it with our playing baseball for two months a year.  Just when the weather gets good, we don’t play.  When we go across the water (to Seattle) we’ll definitely be able to compete better.”
     The plan, in Sequim, is to install three batting cages and two 60-feet-to-the-plate baseball mounds that can be converted to the 40-foot versions for softball.  In addition, two pitching machines serve the hardball and softball players while Little League players can hit from an  “ultra-light” machine.
     The facility also will have video capability, so players can work on their swing and see what they need to correct, Perry said.
     Personal coaches and parents will be allowed.
     Once the building, located just south of the Curves physical fitness business, is restored and equipment secured, Perry hopes to open the club based on club memberships, with members calling in to reserve time slots. Drop-ins also would be encouraged, Perry said.
     Royall said he saw great benefits for a similar facility he helped create in Visalia, a town of 91,000 in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
     “Baseball’s kind of a tight community; (the Visalia club) brought all kinds of guys in,” Royall said, from big league players Pete Rose, Jeff Weaver and others.  “It’s more than just playing baseball---it’s teaching them to respect each other, a tool to get these guys on the right track.  (This facility) is going to be really good for the community.”
     For all this to happen, however, the baseball club needs to raise about $30,000, mostly for rent, insurance and utilities. Perry said the club is also looking for any help with donations from local companies for products like netting or Astroturf, or volunteers to help retrofit the building.
     With necessary funds, Perry said he could have the club up and running by November 1.
     “I’m pretty sure once we get this thing off the ground, it will take care of itself,” he said.
     Board members include:  Perry, the club president, Lois Perry, vice-president; and trustees Bob Forde, Rich Hay, Andy Mildenberger and Bob Reandeau.
     For more information, contact Perry at 360-808-2357 or Kevin Royall at 360-477-3646