Baseball really can be played almost anywhere.
On Tuesday evening, the Mid Island Pirates held their first-ever training session at their new practice facility inside a recycling depot in south Nanaimo.
The baseball club has built a functional space inside what was an unused storage room in the industrial building, Regional Recycling on Old Victoria Road.
B次元官网网址淲e stumbled on it late last year with one of the parents of one of our [players]B次元官网网址次元官网网址� said Doug Rogers, Pirates manager. B次元官网网址淲hen he told me, B次元官网网址榟ey, we have turf for it, too,B次元官网网址� then all of a sudden things started clicking.B次元官网网址�
The turf was the surface that used to be at Merle Logan Field before being replaced there. The room at the recycling depot was dirty, but all the effort in scrubbing was well worth it for the Pirates.
B次元官网网址淲e had to clean the whole thing out and paint it out and do what you see now, with the cages and all that,B次元官网网址� Rogers said. B次元官网网址淎nd now we have something thatB次元官网网址檚 going to benefit kids for however long they want it.B次元官网网址�
The Pirates can take batting practice in the two net cages, throw bullpens, and even work on baserunning and fielding ground balls.
Rogers said the B.C. Premier Baseball LeagueB次元官网网址檚 top contending ball clubs have indoor practice facilities and he said the results have been proven on the diamond.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just this thatB次元官网网址檚 going to get you over the hump, but it definitely helps,B次元官网网址� he said.
Players gave the new facility positive reviews. Connor Caskenette, Pirates catcher, said now guys will still be able to get their swings in if a practice gets rained out.
B次元官网网址淥ur coach told us that we can come here on our off-days and we can even get work in then,B次元官网网址� Caskenette said. B次元官网网址淪o I hope that a lot of the guys take advantage of it and I think we will.B次元官网网址�
Dylan Brock, Pirates pitcher, said thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot the Pirates can work on in their new space.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big game, but a lot of little things go into it,B次元官网网址� he said.
Brock pointed out that the Pirates will have more chances to work on the mental side of the game and will also have more chances to practise together and build a sense of team, and the extra hitting, pitching and fielding will be beneficial.
B次元官网网址淥ur little skills are going to keep getting better, our mechanics are going to get more refined, so come spring, instead of being behind this year, weB次元官网网址檙e going to be ahead of everyone,B次元官网网址� he said.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
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