Brad Horn/Nevada Appeal
Seeing a need for local athletes to have a place to train when the weather and lighting don't cooperate, Dave Bacon opened Carson Allsports.
"The weather really limits what we can do in this area," Bacon said. "It doesn't allow us to be competitive even in our own state because the kids didn't have a place to work out. They now have that."
The batting cages were busy for their grand opening on Saturday in the 50 East Business Center. Bacon said they can work with boys and girls, and have hitting and pitching facilities for Little League on up to high school.
Until now, the closest faculty for baseball and softball players is on Johnson Lane, and Bacon said they have changed over to mostly do indoor golf training, which means most Carson players are going to Reno to train.
"We have some pretty serious athletes, and we've been taking them all the way to Reno, which is expensive and very time consuming," Bacon said.
Bacon said he was taking a risk opening up this facility, but that it's something very close to his heart.
"I started this for a number of reasons," he said. "I needed to make a living, and I have a passion for sports. I want to see kids have a place to come in and work out where they can feel safe, where they can learn, where they can be taught versus just coached."
Bacon also feels a little motivation looking at the lack of recent Carson High School sports championships.
"If you look at the banners in the high school, the last time we won a state championship in any of our four major sports was 1992," he said. "That was a long time ago. I'm really looking forward to working with the community and helping us become higher level athletes."
Besides the batting cages, Bacon said they have a space they will use for speed and agility drills. And the nets on the batting cages are on sliders, so they can be pushed back to open up the entire space for football and soccer drills, or other training needs.
Batting cages rent for $35 an hour, with discount rates for those who purchase a $100 annual membership. He also offers discounts to teams who can come in and rent batting cages.
"If you are an athlete and are going to be working out on a regular basis, an annual membership will save you hundreds of dollars," Bacon said.
Carson Allsports will also be offering clinics, featuring a couple of well-known instructors.
Willie Bowman is a former Carson High star who played college baseball at UNLV, and is now a scout for Tampa Bay Rays. Andy Dominique is a University of Nevada, Reno Hall of Fame player who played with Boston Red Sox during their 2004 World Series championship season.
"When he's giving lessons, he lets the kids wear his championship ring," Bacon said. "He's an excellent teacher, and that's the key, is how well do they teach, and how do they communicate with the kids."
The facility is open weekdays from noon until 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bacon said he encourages teams to call in advance so they can fit them in.
"I'm flexible. If someone needs me to be open at different hours, I can do that," he said.
- Contact reporter Kirk Caraway at kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com or 775-881-1261.