No indoor game facilities in Northeast Ohio

[softballexcess]

Is girls youth softball interest dead in northeast Ohio? Is girls softball a dying sport in this area? Why are there no indoor facilities in northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties) for girls youth softball games and leagues? Considering how cold and wet the weather is in the fall and spring in this area, you would think an indoor facility would be long overdue? You would think Lost Nation Sports park in Willoughby or the Spire in Geneva would be a perfect fit for indoor games for girls softball, but those facilities don't offer any programs for girls softball. Does anyone know why? Is it a money issue or is the softball interest in Northeast Ohio overshadowed by girls volleyball, soccer and basketball?

 

[mogsoftball]

Spano dome and pinnacle are two of the best indoor softball fields in the state and they are in NEO. There is also Rivals and GPlex and some others as well. There are a number of indoor tournaments and leagues throughout the winter.

 

[softballexcess]

I suppose northeast Ohio was too broad of an area. Akron and Medina don't see the snow and wet weather that the snowbelt counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake see in the spring and fall. The unpredictable weather definitely delays spring practice outside, slows down player development, cancelled many June games this summer and there are no indoor softball leagues in the snowbelt counties. It just doesn't make sense considering those snowbelt counties are more populated and wealthier than the Akron/Medina areas.

 

[CarMad]

I think Labron lives down there and has more money than most counties:

 

[tjsmize3]

Is girls youth softball interest dead in northeast Ohio? Is girls softball a dying sport in this area? Why are there no indoor facilities in northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties)...
Akron and Medina don't see the snow and wet weather that the snowbelt counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake see in the spring and fall.
The unpredictable weather definitely delays spring practice outside, slows down player development, cancelled many June games this summer and there are no indoor softball leagues in the snowbelt counties. It just doesn't make sense considering those snowbelt counties are more populated and wealthier than the Akron/Medina areas.

I'm sorry was this all to be taken seriously, or just kind of a jab at all of us low income folk down here in tropical Akron and Medina?

 

[brownsfan]

I suppose northeast Ohio was too broad of an area. Akron and Medina don't see the snow and wet weather that the snowbelt counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake see in the spring and fall. The unpredictable weather definitely delays spring practice outside, slows down player development, cancelled many June games this summer and there are no indoor softball leagues in the snowbelt counties. It just doesn't make sense considering those snowbelt counties are more populated and wealthier than the Akron/Medina areas.

You have the Gplex in Garretsville that has action during the weekend, but for Astabula county, don't know the are well enough to argue that fact. I do want to argue the fact with what's bolded. There are things that can help keep a girl sharp during this time. If you have an 10' by 10' area in your basement, garage, etc...you can still hit. If it's a reletivelay larger area, grab a tennis ball and bounce it against a wall working on defense. Granted to doesn't help with outfield work, that's where open gyms help out tremendously. Talk to the HS coach about having clinics for the younger ages. You just need to be creative.

 

[coachjwb]

CSU has a high school league in their dome, and several tourneys for younger players during the Christmas holiday. I want to say that there's a couple in western Cuyahoga County and eastern Lorain county as well. Perry High School also has had leagues in the past at least. I think the Spire wants an arm and a leg to bring anything in there from what I've heard in the past. My guess is that someone could try to work with Lost Nation on a league but that place already has a ton of activity going on there including CYO basketball and volleyball, indoor sokker, etc. There's actually a ton of facilities it seems like to me especially if you are willing to drive 30-45 minutes.

 

[DanMaz]

Is girls youth softball interest dead in northeast Ohio? Is girls softball a dying sport in this area? Why are there no indoor facilities in northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties) for girls youth softball games and leagues? Considering how cold and wet the weather is in the fall and spring in this area, you would think an indoor facility would be long overdue? You would think Lost Nation Sports park in Willoughby or the Spire in Geneva would be a perfect fit for indoor games for girls softball, but those facilities don't offer any programs for girls softball. Does anyone know why? Is it a money issue or is the softball interest in Northeast Ohio overshadowed by girls volleyball, soccer and basketball?

I think softball interest is up and up - not dead... look at all the teams now and all the tourneys and all the pitcher catcher and hitting instructors etc... how can you say its dead? To answer the other side of it... MONEY. Not many have the money needed to open up a facility during the winter months to have it sit empty from April - November. You would have to fill that place 24/7 from Nov. - March to maybe breakeven. not a real good business plan. lol so..... I think the girls and interest is def. there just too hard to make it worth while or even breakeven to open up in door facilities. it all comes down to $$MONEY$$ or lack of it.

 

[gobug]

I help with the winter workouts for DD's HS team and received this email a few days ago:

Option #1 = LOCATION = Lost Nation Sports Park West - Lorain, Ohio

We will be offering an 18 Team Indoor League beginning in November and running through January. 12 Games - 6 Dates - 75 min. games - DH on mostly Sunday's.

Lost Nation is renovating the former All Pro facility. Adding Basketball/Volleyball Courts (2), 4 Batting Cages, a new protected Spectators area, new lighting/Concessions etc. The number of teams for SB (28 last year) has to be reduced as we will have access to only one full field.

Our goal is to make this league the most competitive in NE/NW Ohio. Varsity HS or 16U teams only will be playing. If your team has struggled to have enough player's in the past please combine with another school or sign up for the CDSI League at Gameday to assure that all games will be competitive.

Contact: William Matthews-wmatth@centurytel.net

 

[Irish196]

I hear you! We live in Chagrin and it is so hard to find anywhere for teams to practice. I coached CYO for years as well as rec and neither school wants you in their gym. Since Pinnacle/Twinsburg closed there isn't an option that doesn't involve driving 45 minutes or more. Most parents won't do that for rec level softball.
We have a hitting "set up" in our basement that we let anyone on our local teams use but you can't replace real field practice! Then the parents wonder why there is such a huge difference between the skill levels of the travel girls and the rest of the girls. They have no clue how much the travel girls practice even in the "off season". Then when they aren't good, they don't think of practicing more, they quit and play something else (here it is lacrosse and so&&er).

 

[gcg3refs]

BAT Cage in Brunswick usually has indoor league, along with the ones already mentioned, Spano & Pinnacle

 

[wow]

Check out Spire institute (Old Great) in Geneva, in Ashtabula County. They have one of the best Sport complexs on the East Coast. They have hosted a number of NCAA Volleyball and track and field events. They could run a indoor softball league in the winter. The problem here is that the facility has changed names and owners and they don't have a identity. They used to rent out the softball fields in the indoor track section. They have the fields marked out on the turf fields. Not sure what they are doing this year but that place is better then Spano, Gplex, Pinnacle, or Lost Nation.

Contact Charlie Powell cpowell@spireinstitute.org

http://www.spireinstitute.org/

http://www.spireinstitute.org/facilities#track-field-building

 

[softballexcess]

Regarding practicing in the basement, yes it can help player stay somewhat sharp, but it's just like hitting in the cage. There's no substitute for live pitching and games and you really need those elements to develop the talent/fundamentals. Thank you for the resources in the other counties. Unfortunately living in snow belt country Geauga county (the facilities in Lorain, Medina, Akron and Brunswick) are over one hour away. No knock on the southern counties Summit or Medina in my initial thread. I think it's wonderful that you support youth softball with indoor facilities. I wish we had that support in our neighboring communities. I suppose having a professional women's softball team and strong high school programs in Akron/Medina area help keep strong interest in youth softball. I'm really disappointed because I see all these resources/facilities in the snowbelt counties for girls' basketball, gymnastics, soccer and volleyball, yet indoor softball is left out. Indoor facilities are needed more than ever in the snowbelt counties. Field conditions are dreadful in the spring since we still get snow in April. Like Irish196 said before, with fewer games/practices many girls in the area don't develop as well as the southern counterparts and they end up moving on to another sport.

 

[jmason]

Guys Here is an indoor facility with 2 fields!! They are also a sponsor of this site!! Nicer than the gplex or spano. There is a Fall/Winter league here as well as Tourneys to come!!

 

[NESB]

Actually there are facilities that do offer Indoor Leagues for Softball in NE Oho.

Lost Nation West has a 18 Team Indoor League for HS Varsity Teams that will be played in Nov.-January. 18 teams are already committed to playing in the league starting in November!

CDSI/Gameday Sports in Oberlin will have a league for Varsity/JV/16U/14U teams, Info. is posted on their website. Cleveland Dev. Sports Institute. And they are also working on setting aside 12U/14U friendlies in February.

But, you are correct in stating that other sports take priority. And the reason is they are willing to pay more for the time they rent. Soccer charges their players much more than a Softball organization does and has a ton more $$ to rent time at facilities. If you're a facilities owner it is a simple matter of who will pay. IF softball wants more time indoors for leagues/practice/friendlies etc., Coaches and organizations will need to step up to the plate and be willing to pay the prices charged and not whine about it. Otherwise facility owners will continue to rent the majority of their time to Soccer. Simple economics!

 

[sftball follower]

If anyone knows of any buildings or good locations in NEO to build please let me (pm) know as I have been considering an indoor facility, and I would say price would be more than affordable for teams to come in.

 

[longball00]

Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby tried to host indoor games for Softball at one time. The problem was, they wanted it to be machine pitch to move the games along, and no one wanted that. Why play if your pitchers can't get the work, and your hitters can't see live pitching? We have put our boys Baseball in there even though they run it with a machine and a rubberized ball. It gets interesting. IMO it is only good to get some swings and get them out there, fielding is non existent with the ball they use. They also seem to cater to the Sokker crowd since Ali Kazemaini runs the turf area ( or did, not sure if he still does)

As for Facilities to hold workouts, there are plenty, but price becomes a factor. You have Lost Nation Sports in Willoughby, The Euclid Sports Plant in Euclid, Earn It Academy in Euclid, The Cougar Dome in Mentor, Force Sports in Eastlake, and a new one at Andrew Osbourn School in Willoughby.

sftball follower, There is a huge empty Walmart building in Eastlake just sitting empty that may be perfect for a facility.

 

[brownsfan]

Regarding practicing in the basement, yes it can help player stay somewhat sharp, but it's just like hitting in the cage. There's no substitute for live pitching and games and you really need those elements to develop the talent/fundamentals.

Yes and no. I won't argue on the live pitching as nothing takes away from that. So to help simulate it, I sit my bucket about a foot in front f the plate and throw it towards the plate at various angles/speeds to try and create live pitching. As for fundamentals, those are aren't built in live games. So the basement is perfect for that. You can create bad hop after bad hop bouncing off the wall, so can work that back-hand by sitting 10' away, etc. There are things that can be done to create live situations and when the actual game comes, you're more prepared. The only thing we can't do is work on reading a ball in the outfield on a fly.

 

[All-4-thegirls]

Irish96...Pinnacle/Twinsburg has NOT closed, although, we have never run softball leagues out of that location (all leagues are run out of Medina).

 

[sftball follower]

Lost Nation Sports Park in Willoughby tried to host indoor games for Softball at one time. The problem was, they wanted it to be machine pitch to move the games along, and no one wanted that. Why play if your pitchers can't get the work, and your hitters can't see live pitching? We have put our boys Baseball in there even though they run it with a machine and a rubberized ball. It gets interesting. IMO it is only good to get some swings and get them out there, fielding is non existent with the ball they use. They also seem to cater to the Sokker crowd since Ali Kazemaini runs the turf area ( or did, not sure if he still does)

As for Facilities to hold workouts, there are plenty, but price becomes a factor. You have Lost Nation Sports in Willoughby, The Euclid Sports Plant in Euclid, Earn It Academy in Euclid, The Cougar Dome in Mentor, Force Sports in Eastlake, and a new one at Andrew Osbourn School in Willoughby.

sftball follower, There is a huge empty Walmart building in Eastlake just sitting empty that may be perfect for a facility.

$3.25M to buy, unless I can talk them down to a low $2M Probably looking at $.25 / sq ft per month to lease. 50,000 sq. ft would be $12,500 per month. Almost cheaper to buy.....who's in???????