Sumter Batting Cages reopen on Alice Drive
Sumter Batting Cages, 1075 Alice Drive, is open 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
After six years, a veteran has reopened the batting cages on Alice Drive.
The Sumter Batting Cages are located at 1075 Alice Drive in front of Palmetto Park and offer both baseball and softball batting rounds with concessions available.
"I wouldn't call myself a baseball player," said David Quick, who served in the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, of his new venture. "I was more of a basketball, racquetball, tennis kind of guy. When I was in the military, though, I went to some batting cages in Chicago, and I really enjoyed the environment and, of course, the game. I thought to myself then that I would like to own a place like that one day. Now here we are 25 years later."
The popular Alice Drive baseball and food duo, originally named Rascals, was opened by Mark and Gaiya Miller in 2005. In 2011, the business was sold to Brett and Nancy Bishop, who maintained the Rascals name until its closing in 2013.
Six years later, Quick has revived the seasonal favorite as the Sumter Batting Cages.
He had already been in the area by owning and opening Availeth Spa Salon with relative Tiffany Quick.
He was stationed at bases in Charleston, Nevada and Mississippi before doing a tour in Korea, after which he was stationed at Shaw, where he eventually retired as a chief master sergeant. As a veteran, he worked for Manpower for 18 years.
Quick's new business had its official opening in April of this year and is equipped for people of all skill levels to enjoy.
One token costs $1 and gets you 10 pitches. Buy 10 tokens and get one round free for a total of 110 pitches. Equipment is provided and included.
Sumter Batting Cages offers a genuine ball field experience by offering gameday concessions, including ice cream, popcorn, chips and candy along with fountain and sports drinks. Drink prices range from 25 cents to $1.50 while snacks cost $1-$3.
Future plans include opening an eatery in the area for park-styled food on the go, Quick said.
"We're new and trying to get a feel for what the baseball community wants," he said.
For now, the business gives updates on day-to-day changes to its hours on Facebook. Rain, extreme temperatures and other inclement conditions shorten hours while feedback from the community extends them.