Staying In The Swing Of Things
Oskaloosa Indoor Sports Complex recently held an open house so members of the community could become more familiar with the facility.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The first winter winds had no more than departed the area, when the Oskaloosa Indoor Sports Complex opened its door for a winter open house.
According to Doug DeKock, the Oskaloosa Indoor Sports Complex can trace its original roots back to the Indoor Baseball/Softball Club that used a facility not far from the current Indoor Sports Complex, which is located at 415 13th Ave East in Oskaloosa.
When the old club closed, the equipment went into storage at DeKock’s shed, where it waited while the search for a new location to have the club continued. “We couldn’t find any place we thought could fill our needs,” DeKock said about the search.
Doug Yates, who built the facility, began construction in May and the club took possession of the build in October, when the club officially opened.
The group, with DeKock at the helm as president, has been fulfilling the steps needed to finish their non-profit status.
Currently, 100 players and 5 teams have taken memberships in the facility. “We want to get as many people in here as we can,” says DeKock.
The new club is based upon memberships to help remain open and to provide the needed equipment that helps develop young athletes. “To have this [Indoor Sports Complex] right here will keep us in the game,” DeKock said.
The ability for teams and players to practice year-round has become a larger factor in the success achieved by athletes, as they transition from little league, upward to high school and beyond.
The facility is equipped with a batting cage that has pitching machines for both baseball and softball. Three pitching mounds are set up for the different distances in little league, along with two hitting stations.
Membership applications can be found at Swims Sports, just off the square in Oskaloosa. An individual membership is $125.00, while teams can join for $1,100.00.
Members then have an electronic cardkey to the building for use during club hours.
Doug Yates said his motivation for the project was to have a place for the youth of the community “to come in and play baseball, softball, basketball, whatever it is.”
Yates himself is active locally in baseball and basketball, and will be the coach for the new 12U team. The Lightning will continue to play 13U coached by DeKock, and there is also an 11U team coached by Travis Miller.
The goal for many players and coaches is the possibility of playing for a state championship one day. “Doug and I always talk about what we want to do… is go up and watch them play at Principle Park,” Yates says.
If you would like to know more information, you can contact Doug DeKock at 641.569.0363, or visit their website HERE or the clubs Facebook page HERE.
