The Bombers have almost landed.
Upon purchasing the Sedalia Community Center at 314 S. Washington Ave. in May, Kindle’s Sports Academy and its Bombers baseball programs have nearly completed the moving-in process for batting cages, lights and turf.
Submitting the only bid, Jud Kindle purchased the building May 11 for $10,000, with current residents Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri, Sedalia Senior Center and Head Start continuing to pay rent to the city.
“The Sports Academy for sure wanted the gym space and the ability to build on new space for our cages and expand the academy,” Jud said in May. “It was a good deal for all parties. We’re excited to have tenants like the Boys & Girls Club and Head Start and the Senior Center because we want to help those people stay in business and be successful. We don’t want to make any changes. Just like it was before we took possession of it.”
Since the purchase, KSA facilities manager Alex Beck has helped move merchandise, office and athletic equipment to Washington Avenue.
Jud’s father, Andy Kindle, and Jeff Banner installed a netted batting cage 80x55x16 feet in dimension and installed LED lights over the last two weeks. Four dividers make five cages, while screens lined down the spine can make 10 cages.
Beck said the new, bigger facility will provide safer conditions.
“It gets packed in the winter,” Beck said. “Some people think summer is our busy season because the team is in town but, no, not really. It gets crowded in the winter when people are forced indoors.”
During the transition, the collegiate MINK League Sedalia Bombers have preserved one cage in the old facility on Grand Avenue, and take batting practice on Dey Field at Liberty Park.
The Bombers, which play nine games in 10 days beginning Sunday, helped carry rolls of turf to the community center Friday, June 9. Beck hopes the new Kindle’s Sports Academy will be complete when the Bombers return to Sedalia to host the Jefferson City Renegades on Wednesday.
