VALLEY_STORM I will agree that the dayton area has needed a place to play indoors and the gateway facility is better then nothing. The problem I see with the leagues or tournaments there is that the players are not able to play the game the way that it is supposed to be played. No sliding, stealing and the squeezing of the diamond make the game somewhat awkward. The games that we saw I felt that the players agressiveness was taken away. I would not want to see my DD develope any bad habits.
With respect to pitching machines and other practice devices, they all have there place. Basically players need to develop good skills and the best way to do that is working from a Tee, pitching machines, and other types of drills to develope swing technique and muscle memory. I feel that the winter months is just the time to do that.
The indoor game the way it is played at Gateway is fun, and it should help the players who play there, but I would beware that they get too used to that unusual playing style and then take it outside in the spring and summer.
