Extra Innings facility delivers kids an additional option
04-Jul-2011 By COLLEEN MACMILLAN - cmacmillan@thestate.com
As the glow from the South Carolina baseball team’s second consecutive national championship continues to shine throughout the Midlands, the area’s youth recently received a boost with the construction of an indoor baseball/softball complex.
Extra Innings, a franchise with locations in 19 states, moved into the Columbia market in May. The facility is owned by Exree Hipp Jr., an IT professional by day who works in his free time with young players seeking to develop their skill set and knowledge of the game.
“First and foremost, our goal is the skill development of athletes looking to play at the high school and college level,” Hipp said. “But we also want to help the kids who just enjoy the game and show them the fundamentals so they can compete and have fun.”
The facility, located on Business Park Boulevard, features four pitching/batting practice tunnels, a batting cage and an outdoor area for agility training. Extra Innings offers baseball clinics, softball clinics, private lessons, leagues and “Player Packs” — combinations of clinics, lessons and pro-shop discounts.
Staff members include Drew Meyer, a former USC shortstop (2000-02) and draft pick of the Texas Rangers, and Ken Britt, a former Citadel pitcher (1989-91) who led the Bulldogs to the College World Series in 1990.
Extra Innings also will sponsor a travel team, which was scheduled to begin play this month. Plans are for the team to compete in several tournaments in Georgia and South Carolina. There also is a trip to Disney World’s Wild World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., scheduled for December.
“From day one, we’ve seen an uptake in business as far as people coming and using the tunnels, signing up for lessons and getting private instruction,” Hipp said. “I’ve already gathered about 60 kids to play with our travel team, and we anticipate that number to grow.”
That’s not all, though. Hipp’s love for baseball has prompted him to start another youth-based initiative. He is working on founding a nonprofit organization called Diamond Visions for kids who do not have access to baseball fields or are unable to afford private instruction.
“My goal is to go in and work with underprivileged kids to give them the opportunity to first learn the game and then learn to love it.” Hipp said. “We want to give the kids in this area another avenue.
“Instead of joining a gang, being on the streets or playing video games, maybe they’ll join an Extra Innings travel team. We want to be that inspiration.”
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Extra Innings facility delivers kids an additional option
04-Jul-2011 By COLLEEN MACMILLAN - cmacmillan@thestate.comAs the glow from the South Carolina baseball team’s second consecutive national championship continues to shine throughout the Midlands, the area’s youth recently received a boost with the construction of an indoor baseball/softball complex.
Extra Innings, a franchise with locations in 19 states, moved into the Columbia market in May. The facility is owned by Exree Hipp Jr., an IT professional by day who works in his free time with young players seeking to develop their skill set and knowledge of the game.
“First and foremost, our goal is the skill development of athletes looking to play at the high school and college level,” Hipp said. “But we also want to help the kids who just enjoy the game and show them the fundamentals so they can compete and have fun.”
The facility, located on Business Park Boulevard, features four pitching/batting practice tunnels, a batting cage and an outdoor area for agility training. Extra Innings offers baseball clinics, softball clinics, private lessons, leagues and “Player Packs” — combinations of clinics, lessons and pro-shop discounts.
Staff members include Drew Meyer, a former USC shortstop (2000-02) and draft pick of the Texas Rangers, and Ken Britt, a former Citadel pitcher (1989-91) who led the Bulldogs to the College World Series in 1990.
Extra Innings also will sponsor a travel team, which was scheduled to begin play this month. Plans are for the team to compete in several tournaments in Georgia and South Carolina. There also is a trip to Disney World’s Wild World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., scheduled for December.
“From day one, we’ve seen an uptake in business as far as people coming and using the tunnels, signing up for lessons and getting private instruction,” Hipp said. “I’ve already gathered about 60 kids to play with our travel team, and we anticipate that number to grow.”
That’s not all, though. Hipp’s love for baseball has prompted him to start another youth-based initiative. He is working on founding a nonprofit organization called Diamond Visions for kids who do not have access to baseball fields or are unable to afford private instruction.
“My goal is to go in and work with underprivileged kids to give them the opportunity to first learn the game and then learn to love it.” Hipp said. “We want to give the kids in this area another avenue.
“Instead of joining a gang, being on the streets or playing video games, maybe they’ll join an Extra Innings travel team. We want to be that inspiration.”