Baseball skills honed at new Fielder's Choice

August Franks, 11, hits off a tee while instructor Jeff Osment looks on. American Legion Post 109 coaches Osment and Travis Clary have opened Fielder's Choice, which features baseball equipment to allow local players to hone their batting and fielding skills. Whether you are a little leaguer learning to hit a curveball or an all-region high school player, the newly-opened Fielder's Choice offers something every batter could use more of time in the batting cage.

Fielder's Choice, located on Caggiano Drive near the former Sunny Slope peach shed, features three batting cages and three pitching machines.

The machines can also be used by fast-pitch softball players, said American Legion Post 109 manager and Gaffney High assistant baseball coach Jeff Osment, who operates Fielder's Choice along with fellow coach Travis Clary.

Both Osment and Clary were standouts at Gaffney High and Limestone College.

"We have different pitching machines for each age group," Osment said. "Players can come in anytime and take batting practice rain or shine."

And they don't have to cough up a lot of cash to do it.

It costs $3 to hit 20 balls or $5 for 40 balls, Osment said.

But boosting a player's batting average isn't the only skill development offered at Fielder's Choice.

Osment and Clary also offer private lessons for pitchers and position players.

"We cover all the bases," Osment said. "We start with the fundamentals. For example, we'll teach pitch selection to a pitcher and the fundamentals of how to play defense."

Yearly memberships are available, ranging from $100 to $300. The membership includes private lessons and free use of the pitching machines.

"Instructors are always here," Osment said. "There were a lot of people talking about opening something like this. It's a good training ground for the high school program. Hopefully, we can teach people the right way to do things."

Fielder's Choice is open during the summer from 10 a.m. until 6 Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 6 on Sunday.

During the school year, the hours will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.