Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
I love to hear the call, "Play ball!" I enjoy sitting in a ballpark on a summer evening with a hot dog and a diet coke. I like to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with gusto during the seventh-inning stretch. I am a baseball nut!
So are Jason Bourgeois and Kent Nickles, two dads who love baseball and enjoy coaching their children in the game. Jason and Kent were delighted to discover a business that not only allows baseball to be played 12 months of the year but also helps players of all ages and skill levels to improve. Shortly after learning about the franchise, they opened Sandlot Salt Lake Baseball and Fastpitch Academy.
Sandlot Salt Lake Baseball and Fastpitch Academy is a marvelous facility. On my visit, I had a pleasant afternoon with Jason, Kent and Kent's wife, Mary. As we walked around, I saw how the old Upper Limits warehouse in South Salt Lake had been gutted to install quality turf, batting cages, netting and other high-tech equipment, including the ProBatter Video Pitching Machine. A batter stands at the plate and a video pitcher on the mound winds up and delivers a 100-mph fastball. It can also send change-ups, curve balls and sliders.
Sandlot Salt Lake is a first-class facility with five batting cages, pitching machines, netting and a large turf area for players to practice hitting and fielding. Expert coaches and trainers are available to help players improve baseball skills. Little children can enjoy playing Blastball in which they hit a soft Nerf ball and run to a base that honks. This is popular for birthday parties.
The goal of Sandlot Salt Lake Baseball and Fastpitch Academy is to instill a life-long learning system for both mind and body. It's also intended to create successful, dedicated and respectful children by reinforcing positive values while providing year-round facilities to help baseball players practice and improve.
