Chicago - 24 September, 2005 -

Snow-covered parking lots in 30-degree temperatures often serve as off-season facilities for Chicago area high school baseball and softball players. Some schools might have the luxury of a fieldhouse, but nothing compares to the climate of the South and its open-air diamonds. Over the last 10 years, hitting and pitching facilities have begun opening to help level the playing field during harsh Chicago winters. There are, of course, fees involved at these facilities. "The weather can be seen as an excuse for not working out from November to January," said Benet senior Connor Powers, a 2004 Tribune first-team All-State first baseman who works out at Strikes in Broadview and Full Package Athletics in Lake Forest. "While we can't see live pitching, we can really work on fundamentals." Benet coach Jeff Bonebreak agrees with Powers. "Since we can't take a full infield practice, we work on mechanics and the small things," Bonebreak said. An indoor facility with a full turf infield designed specifically for baseball or softball is a rarity throughout Chicago, but Frozen Ropes, located at 6000 W. Touhy Ave., utilizes a FieldTurf surface on its major-league dimensioned indoor infield. Its grand opening is Saturday. "Whenever you can get kids outside, it's an advantage," said White Sox bench coach Harold Baines, a Maryland native who offered batting tips to ballplayers Saturday at the facility. "Having a full indoor infield was unheard of in the 1970s when I played. The more these high school kids work out in the off-season, the more of an edge they'll get." Niles West junior first baseman Kyle Portnoy said Frozen Ropes is "as close as it gets" to conditions ballplayers enjoy in the South, where they can train year-round. "Our fieldhouse at Niles West has a rubber surface, so we don't get any true hops or feel for ground balls," Portnoy said. White Sox third baseman Joe Crede, who played basketball during off-seasons at Fatima High School in Westphalia, Mo., said Saturday at Frozen Ropes that he didn't have facilities in high school for working out. "I think an indoor facility is huge for high school kids and even for area scouts who want to see these players," Crede said. Other area facilities are Play Ball USA in Des Plaines, Grand Slam USA in Lake in the Hills, Swingtown in Orland Park, Chicago White Sox Training Academy in Lisle, Fast Track Hitting Academy in Wheeling and USA Sports Academy in Romeoville. "I usually burned out every summer with baseball and looked forward to basketball, but you still get those days when you just want to hit and practice," Crede said.

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