By Gordon Anderson | gordon@rantnc.com
A group of business partners that includes the head coach of the Sanford Spinners are bringing a first-of-its kind baseball and softball workout facility to Sanford that should be open soon.
The facility that will be known as “the Web” will be located at 2626 Fayetteville Street and include batting cages, pitching mounds, and other baseball-related (and even non-baseball related) recreational activities.
What will make the facility unique for Sanford, however, is the presence of a “HitTrax” system, which analyzes a batter’s swing via a video setup and estimates where a struck ball would land. The system allows hitters to face live pitching, a pitching machine or even hit off a tee. In this way, groups can simulate a full game. The system can obviously be used for training purposes as well.
“We just wanted there to be a place for people to work on their baseball skills, or even just hang out in a positive environment,” said Jeremy Palme, who also serves as head coach of the Sanford Spinners and an assistant coach for Grace Christian’s high school team. “But with the HitTrax machine, anybody can come in and simulate a game.”
Palme is joined in the endeavor by his brother Jordan, Joey Ozment, Chris Cabaniss, and Kenny Sigmon. Furthering the connection to the Spinners, Cabaniss and Sigmon are each parents of former Spinners players, and Ozment is the Spinners’ assistant coach. And despite the similarity in the facility’s name to the Spinners’ new slogan (“Get Caught in the Web”), Palme said it actually predates that marketing device.
“We’ve been talking about this for about a year,” he said. “And with all the nets hanging around the cages, it just made sense.”
Palme said the facility will be accessible likely via a membership or one time use fees. In addition to baseball activities, it will include areas for study or tutoring, as well as ping pong.
The Web wasn’t open as of publication time for this story, and an official date hadn’t been set. But Palme and his partners said they fully anticipate opening in July. For more information, follow the Web on Instagram at instagram.com/thewebsanfordnc.
Love the idea, looking forward for open day
Congratulations to this new facility and the investment of others. It will be great for Sanford.
Cameron NC, small antique town part, has a batting cage facility as well. Come check it out. Right next to the Railroad tracks! This is exciting for the Sanford area as well. Great to see a place for kids to hang out! Might get swamped!! Sanford is desperate for a place for kids!!