Photo by Kim North Two large batting cages are located directly inside the front doors of BAT24, a baseball and softball training facility in the Elm Terrace Shopping Center. The 5,200-square foot facility recently opened and is available 24 hours a day to members. It is operated by Tyler Cooley.

ELM GROVE – Tucked in the middle of the Elm Terrace Shopping Center is a 24-hour baseball/softball training center for individuals and/or teams. Appropriately named BAT24, the 5,200-square foot indoor facility recently opened its doors under the direction of Tyler Cooley, a former baseball player at both Wheeling Park High School and West Liberty University.

“I’ve partnered with Chris Sidick, he has been a trainer since I was 10 years old,” Cooley said Wednesday afternoon. “I’ve seen BAT24s around different areas and I would love to bring one to the Wheeling area. I think Wheeling is kind of a sleeping giant when it comes to baseball and softball, but there has never really been a place to go like this when I was growing up.”

Sidick played seven professional seasons with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, setting nearly every offensive category and still holds many of the league and team records. He founded C-Side Sports Academy out of Pittsburgh in 2007, then BAT 24 in 2019.

The facility, which is located on two side-by-side lots that formerly housed Elm Grove Subs and a photography studio, includes the following features: 1 HitTrax; 3 Batting Cages; 1 Ground-ball tunnel & bullpen; 1 Auxiliary Area “The Square”; 1 Slam Wall with Med Balls; 3 Baseball Machines; 3 Softball Machines; 4 Auto Feeders; 2 Groundball Machines; 1 MaxBP Mini Ball Machine; 1 Pitching Mound; 1 Fastpitch Pitching Mat; 63 dozen baseballs; 28 dozen softballs; 3 Heavy Tanner Tees; 1 Pitching Designated Hitter Decoy and Private Instructors.

“We have just about everything a baseball or softball player needs to get in a good workout,” Cooley added.

The Wheeling location marks the eighth in the eastern United States. Others are located in Agawam, Mass.; Cleveland East; Cleveland South; Finleyville, Pa.; Mt. Lebanon, Pa.; Robinson Township, Pa.; and Morgantown. Most of the locations are a similar size to the Elm Grove site, but the Robinson Township facility is 10,000-square feet, while the Finleyville building is 9,920.

“I am still deeply involved in the game as a coach, where he is committed to helping the next generation of athletes grow both on and off the field. My experience as a player and coach has shaped my belief in the importance of consistent training, strong fundamentals, and building confidence through repetition,” Cooley said.

While BAT24 supplies most of the equipment, members must supply their own bats and gloves.

“As the owner of BAT24 Wheeling, I am passionate about giving back to the community that helped shape me. My goal is to create a space where players of all ages and skill levels can train, develop, and build confidence in a positive and supportive environment.”

Private instruction is available upon request and camps will be coming in the near future, according to Cooley.

For more information or to become a member, visit BAT24.com