D-BATS Baseball and Softball Academies breaks ground in Fort Smith

Fort Smith brothers Kevin (L) and Alan Dickinson (R) are set to open a D-BAT Baseball & Softball Academies at 4900 Regions Park Drive in early 2022.
Fort Smith brothers Kevin (L) and Alan Dickinson (R) are set to open a D-BAT Baseball & Softball Academies at 4900 Regions Park Drive in early 2022.

A new training facility will soon provide athletes in the River Valley with a place to fine-tune their baseball and softball skills.

Fort Smith natives and brothers, Alan and Kevin Dickinson are opening a D-BAT Baseball & Softball Academies at 4900 Regions Dr. in Fort Smith. The new location will mark the fourth in the state.

The Dickinson's are shooting for an early 2022 opening.

"It's a training facility for everyone," Dickinson said. "It's for all individuals wanting to improve their skills for baseball and softball."

The facility will house nine lanes, with three pitching machines and six open lanes available for rental and lesson use.

There will also be a pro shop offering merchandise including bats, balls, gloves, shirts and jackets.

The groundbreaking for the nearly 12,000 square foot facility was Oct. 9.

"There's nothing in our area that offers what D-Bat offers," Dickinson said.

Dickinson, who has three kids of his own involved in sports and who has coached for years, saw the need for a place for athletes to train when it is cold or the weather is bad. He also mentioned the lack of places in town that have indoor pitching machines.

The new facility will allow athletes to come in and train or practice year-round.

"It's always been a dream of mine, I've been trying to do this for a long time," Dickinson said.

The facility will likely need to fill two full-time positions and numerous part-time positions, as well as up to six instructors.

Kevin and Alan Dickinson pose with members of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce for the groundbreaking of their new baseball and softball training facility in early October.
Kevin and Alan Dickinson pose with members of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce for the groundbreaking of their new baseball and softball training facility in early October.

Dickinson emphasized the importance of everyone knowing the facility will be open to them, no matter what sport they play or team they are on.

The facility will also offer speed and agility training and is planning an outdoor practice space.

Abbi Ross is the city reporter at the Southwest Times Record. She can be reached at aross@swtimes or on Twitter at @__AbbiRoss

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: New baseball and softball training facility headed to Fort Smith