Indoor hitting league to kick off Dec. 5 at Clemens Training Facility

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal Parks and Recreation is offering a way for baseball and softball teams to keep their teams skills sharp in a competitive environment.

An indoor hitting league at Clemens Training Facility will start Thursday, Dec. 5, with registration due by Nov. 22. The six-week league is for 8-14 year-old baseball and softball players in four-person teams. The teams will be divided into the following categories: 8 and under; 10 and under; 12 and under; 14 and under. Hannibal Parks HPR will keep score and send out updates weekly.

In a press release, Chad Collier, assistant Parks and Recreation director, said, “We were approached by coaches who felt like a hitting league would be a good way to keep their kids engaged. The idea behind making this a league is to keep a competitive atmosphere, while keeping the kids swinging throughout the winter.  Some kids thrive on being competitive, and if you make it a game, they don’t feel like it’s just ‘practicing.’”

An HPR employee will assign a 0-5 grade on each batted ball. Ropes placed in the netting along the batting cages will be used to issue the numerical grade for each ball.  Each player on the team will bat each inning and will get six pitches. Games are seven innings or 45 minutes.

Registration for the hitting league is available at https://hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program

Hannibal Parks and Recreation opened the Clemens Training Facility in 2022. It includes two batting cages, pitching machines, soft-toss nets and L screens to pitch behind. The facility is in left field of Clemens Field, the previous clubhouse for Cavemen and later the Hoots. The building has been outfitted with a restroom, new lighting and heating.

The facility can be rented by teams Sunday, Monday and Wednesday; Walk-ins will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Renting the facility can be completed online at https://hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Facility