ThisWeek CW 02/20/2013
A vacant warehouse will become a training facility for fast-pitch softball.
Groveport City Council approved a plan Feb. 11 for Workhouse Fastpitch to develop the training facility at 5710 N. Green Pointe Drive.
Groveport Chief Building Official Stephen Moore said he believes this will be a good use of the vacant 6,000-square-foot building.
“The variance is to allow athletic facilities for primarily high school age youth getting one-on-one instruction for fast-pitch softball,” Moore said. “The most people that would be at the facility at a time are about 12.”
The former warehouse facility was home to Relay Express until a few months ago, when that business moved to Grove City to be close to a UPS facility, according to property manager Jason Taggart, attending the council meeting to represent Workhouse Fastpitch.
“Workhouse Fastpitch wanted space in this building over a year ago but had to wait until it now for it to become available,” Taggart said. “They liked the fact that it is so wide open with only a single beam to deal with. They’ll be moving here from Canal Winchester.”
The business began in Canal Winchester and has locations in Grove City and Westerville. It provides coaching and instruction to central Ohio softball players in hitting, pitching and catching.
Taggart said plans are to open the Groveport facility April 1. He said it will primarily focus on offering pitching and strength training.
“The coaches draw clients from as much as an hour away,” Taggart said. “These are mostly kids looking to improve their skills, hoping to earn a college scholarship or a better position on the field.”
Workhouse Fastpitch currently has six instructors who boast regional and national coaching experience.
The next regular Groveport City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the Municipal Building, 655 Blacklick St.