Ever since her father took her to see a baseball game at Royal Athletic Park at the age of three, Helen Edwards has been hooked on the sport.

The lifelong baseball and longtime HarbourCats fan and her husband, John, were mainstays in the Victoria stands. When John died in 2020, Helen wanted to do something to honour his legacy.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why she contributed to the indoor baseball facility at 1821 Cook St., now called the Edwards Family Training Centre.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited that we have local kids, coming out of this (facility), that are going to play for the HarbourCats,B次元官网网址� Edwards said at the centreB次元官网网址檚 official opening on April 7. B次元官网网址淎nything that has kids and sport together, thatB次元官网网址檚 what I support.B次元官网网址�

The HarbourCats and collegiate Golden Tide will train at the site, while almost 300 young athletes have used the centre since it first opened in the fall of 2020. The official unveiling was put off due to the pandemic.

The turfed facility has multiple batting cages and pitching tunnels, a fitness area and the latest in tech and digital analysis equipment, such as a simulator that shows how a hit in the batting cage would translate out on a real diamond.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just outstanding that this is here,B次元官网网址� said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the HarbourCats. B次元官网网址淭his is just a gamechanger for the community.B次元官网网址�

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Swanson said he wouldB次元官网网址檝e focused on baseball instead of hockey if the training site existed when he was a teen.

B次元官网网址淚 would have been here, taking swings until I had callouses on my hands,B次元官网网址� Swanson said.

The training centre fills a void where local kids lack options for where they could hone their skills, said Curtis Pelletier, general manager of the HarbourCats and Golden Tide. He said itB次元官网网址檚 a massive step for local baseball, with kids now able to train year-round.

B次元官网网址淚t already is (a baseball town) and itB次元官网网址檚 going to keep growing,B次元官网网址� Pelletier said.

The facility offers six-month memberships for kids looking to improve all aspects of their game. Along with 13 staff ready to coach the kids, the facility will also use analytics to zero in on where individual athletes can improve their swing speed or throwing velocity.

The HarbourCats have signed 11 local players for the upcoming season. Pelletier said the facilityB次元官网网址檚 goal is to help Greater Victoria youth develop so they can play for local teams and strive to crack college or pro leagues. But the key to that is players working on their skills as much as they can, Pelletier said.

B次元官网网址淭he motto here is B次元官网网址楧o a little bit a lot.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�