Franklin — A plan for a large baseball complex on the southeast side of Franklin has stepped out of the batter's box for now, though the owner says he is still hopeful the facility will eventually be built in the city.
R.J. Fergus wants to expand his Hitters Baseball Academy, now based in Racine. Earlier this year, he proposed four outdoor baseball fields and a 75,000-square-foot building, with indoor batting cages, pitching mounds and two infields, on a 43-acre site at 3700 W. County Line Road.
However, since that time he has run into environmental and Department of Natural Resources-related problems, Fergus said.
Racine County and Caledonia also have made a pitch to build the facility there, and the academy's investors are still mulling their options on locations, he said.
"Our preference still would be on the land in Franklin," Fergus said.
He also expressed disappointment over what he felt was a negative reaction from the Franklin Common Council during a conceptual review of the project in May.
Some aldermen had questioned whether the location was the right place for Hitters and asked the business' representatives to consider building elsewhere in the city.
Alderman Steve Taylor said there is plenty of support within the city, from elected officials to nearby residents, to build on County Line Road.
Taylor, whose district would encompass the facility, said Hitters could be a catalyst for other economic development and hoped any environmental issues could be cleared up for the project to move forward.
Mayor Tom Taylor also previously voiced his support, calling it "one of the most exciting things that we have had come in our community" during the May conceptual review.
Hitters Baseball Academy develops and promotes young baseball players to college coaches and professional scouts, offering programs year round for members from southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
The facility in Racine County is about 20,000 square feet with no outdoor fields.
The proposed facility, meanwhile, would be state-of-the-art, Fergus said. He envisions Franklin playing host to tournaments featuring teams from all over the country, and the fields could also be used for community events, corporate outings and rental opportunities.
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