Blue envisions major Baseball Academy

Frank Blue has a vision that a major baseball academy can be in operation in Carson City in the next four months.

Actually it wouldn't be just a baseball academy. Blue is looking for a 45,000 square foot facility to house his baseball academy and other sports as well, so it would be more like a sports academy. And he believes he can accomplish this in the next four months.

"Four months, I want everything up and running," Blue said. "I do want to get this thing going. There's a big demand for something here.

"I've got a lot of ideas. I've got to get them together. We're going to do it. I don't stop until I do it. Hopefully we can get this going pretty quick."

Blue envisions an indoor facility with batting cages for baseball and softball that can be used by girls fast pitch and adult slow pitch players. He also a full-sized infield in the facility. Other features would include a soccer field, a volleyball court and a beach volleyball court and a golf driving range.

So while Blue will mainly focus his effort on baseball, he envisions the facility that can be used by other athletes.

"There's a big need for something in this town that will help occupy their time," said Blue about the community's youth. "I think it can really help the community. I know there's a lot of kids in the community that love sports. There's a lot of good kids out there."

Blue is putting together a business plan for his venture and is scouting possible locations for his indoor facility.

The advantages to what Blue envisions is obvious as it allow athletes to train year-round in Carson City in a large indoor facility.

Eventually, Blue would like the academy to offer academic, scholar-athlete and athletic scholarships and even envisions the academy having a youth sports hall of fame.

He knows his project is a major undertaking and will take tremendous community support. He's not ruling out any form of financing. He's looking for investors, businesses to donate and said he could even pursue state funding.

He said he also wants to work closely with the city on the project. He said he envisions his facility serving all of Northern Nevada.

Blue recently moved from Southern California to Carson City and does have experience in putting something like this together. He operated a baseball academy in Southern California for four years.

Two players who went through his academy are now playing in the Major Leagues: the Oakland Athletics' Bobby Crosby and the Baltimore Orioles Jay Gibbons. Blue also coached an AAA National Championship team in 1996 in which Crosby was a member. Eight other players who were in his academy are in the minor leagues.

Blue was a pitcher, who played professionally in the 1970s. He was in the Minor Leagues for seven years, and received a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues, spending four days with the Angels. He has also spent 18 years as a Major League scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox.

"I've worked with kids all my life," Blue said. "I think God gave me a calling to start doing this. I'd like to see the success, watch them improve. I know talent. I know what it takes for kids to get to the next level."

Players who go through his academy will be able to go to the next level - whether it's high school to college or college to the pro level, Blue said.

"I will get them there," Blue said. "There's no doubt about it. If they're serious it will happen.

"The academy is for kids who want to succeed in baseball and have the right attitude to do it."

Blue said he would operate most of the baseball portion academy himself. But he said he will need a hitting coach.

"I'm going to be doing most of it," he said. "I have to get a good hitting coach." "Pitcher can't hit. At least this pitcher couldn't."

He also envisions Carson City Little League having a lofty goal as the result of his academy. "The kids will be talking about going to the World Series," he said.

Anyone who wants more information about Blue's project can call him at (562) 673-7373.