Many local ballplayers will travel upwards of one and a half hours to sharpen their abilities indoors with their travel teams and leagues.

On top of that time on the road, many facilities typically charge premium prices for their premium services.

“Dingers,” in Seymour, hopes to offer an alternative for those players and their families looking to enhance their skills at an affordable price.

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Located off West Tipton Street, the business — which opened Nov. 19 — is a 7,000-square-foot baseball and softball batting and pitching facility.

There’s no shortage of equipment for use.

Dingers offers two 70 feet by 14 feet batting cages with pitching machines and “L” screens, a 32 feet by 12 feet batting cage for soft toss and tee work, and two full-length pitching lanes with mounds for baseball and softball.

They also feature two 12 feet by 12 feet open ended cages for soft toss, tee work and golf.

Their JUGS radar speed cube can record velocity for evaluation and training.

There’s a weight and conditioning area, and lounge area for parents on the second floor which overlooks all training areas.

Owner Deb Crick, of North Vernon, said the idea sprouted while traveling back and forth for travel ball during the winter months.

“Our boys play travel baseball, and the nearest facilities were in Carmel,” Crick said. “We traveled there all winter long, and it was about an hour and 45 minutes drive. We decided that something here for the kids would be nice for softball and baseball. It’s closer to home and more affordable.

“We’ve tried to keep it so it’s affordable for everyone. That’s a big deal for us. It gets really expensive with all the travel.”

With the multiple stations, coaches can have their kids work on a variety of skills indoors.

“Right now, most of our business is with teams,” Crick said. “We have softball and baseball teams coming in. February and March have been super busy for us. We have some individuals that come in, but a majority is teams, but we’re open to anything.”

In recent months, Dingers has hosted multiple youth teams.

“We have structured the facility to support travel teams,” Crick said. “They can set up stations with 12 kids actively involved in hitting, fielding and throwing. All bodies are in motion — there’s nothing worse than having a kid stand around.”

Most teams thus far hail from North Vernon and the Seymour areas, but services aren’t limited to one community.

Local high school ballplayers have helped with the upkeep of the facility, volunteering their time to the business.

Crick said it’s a way for those players to give back to some of the younger kids who come in.

She said that she hopes the business will also serve as another outlet for kids in the community.

“Any time you can get a kid doing something positive, towards some goal, I think it’s a good thing,” she said. “There’s just not a lot of things for the kids to do. It’s nice that it’s here for them.”

As the business grows, Dingers hopes to add equipment and services and host parties.

Like their name, the business hopes to prove a home run.

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What: Dingers

Mission statement: “If you want to have a good team or just want to have a good time.”

When: Hours of operation at Dingers are 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend times can be arranged by appointment.

Where: 1531 W. Tipton Street Suite C, Seymour, IN 47274

Contact: Message through “Dingers” Facebook page or calling/texting 812-530-9840.

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