Owned and operated by former Big Rapids varsity baseball coach J.T. Scarpelli, the new VELO Baseball and Softball facility is targeting an early November opening.

The facility, located at 13574 Northland Drive in Big Rapids, will have indoor batting cages and a pitching mound to help players and teams work on their skills during the winter. It will also have an advanced HitTrax system, which tracks live data during training sessions for hitters and pitchers. 

“Our goal is simply to provide local kids the opportunity to work on their game with elite instruction during the winter months,” Scarpelli said. “We already have a ton of inquiries so we’re excited to get going.”

Scarpelli served as the head coach of the Big Rapids High School varsity program for three seasons and currently manages the Post 98 Ducks American Legion summer team. He also said he will be spending time with the Davenport University program as a catching coach this season.

Other instructors listed include Craven Bird, a former Mid Michigan Community College catcher and Post 98 assistant coach, Jake Sallee, a former catcher at Hillsdale College, and Sophie Wisniski, a former softball pitcher at Ferris State University.

Scarpelli said a winter hitting league as well as team sessions are in the works for the coming winter.

For more information on the facility, visit www.velobaseballsoftball.com.