By Michael Butler

The Zone at 729 Kent Road opened on Valentine’s Day as a training facility for baseball and softball players. As young players get ready for their summertime activities, the business is adding some new services.

“If you have an all-star team or travel team, come use our facilities,” owner Josh Rigsby said. “It’s $60 for an hour or $120 for 2 1/2 hours.”

Rigsby is also bringing in older players to work with the youngsters.

“(We’ve had) some mothers say, ‘I’d love to take my child, but it’s tough for me to throw them batting practice.’ So, we’ve got Abram Whittington who will be there Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the month of June from 12-4. He’ll interact with your kid. He can do tee work with them, throw with them and pitch batting practice to them.”

Whittington will be a senior on the Tallassee High School baseball team next season.

“That service is free if you sign up on our Facebook,” Rigsby added. “It’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can enjoy some private training.”

Rates are $50 per month.

“In July, we’re going to have some pitching and hitting clinics divided by age group,” Rigsby noted. “We’ve got Jacob Gibson and Lexi Stevenson. It’s going to be two-hour sessions. If you have a membership, you get a discount.”

Gibson is a coach with the THS baseball program. Love is with the THS softball program. Both played college ball at AUM.

“If we have a good turnout, we might do (another) later in the summer.”

For more details, follow the Zone on Facebook for updates.