WICHITA — Another new Balls-n-Strikes indoor baseball and softball practice facility is coming to the greater Wichita area, this time in Derby.
Mike Gehrer already has franchises in Bel Aire and Goddard. He and Kelly Klima, who will own 70 percent of the business, are opening another Balls-n-Strikes at 1728 Nelson Drive in Derby next to Atwoods.
Klima says he’s thrilled to be working with Gehrer.
“He has coached my son for a couple of years now,” Klima says. “He’s just a brilliant guy.”
The two expect to break ground on the 10,000-square-foot facility in March. Klima expects it will take about five months to build.
The Derby City Council recently approved the site plan.
“Having an indoor practice facility benefits for a lot of reasons,” Klima says.
Even though a lot of teams start their seasons in March, he says, it’s difficult for them to practice in the cold months before then.
“This creates a lot of practice time for the kids … who are trying to get ready for their season.”
There will be room for about 10 batting cages along with bull pens.
“It would literally be the full size of an infield and then some,” Klima says.
The facility also will hold a number of clinics, including coaching, hitting, pitching and throwing.
Klima says multiple teams will be able to be at Balls-n-Strikes at once.
“That’s huge.”
Klima says the location should provide easy access, and the building itself will be nicer than he initially even planned.
“It’s going to be done right.”