The Spotlight of the Month is Welcome to the Big Leagues, a full service training facility for baseball and softball players. WTTBL provides professional instruction to aspiring players looking to advance their game and perfect their skills. WTTBL has been instrumental in developing an experienced team of current and former players and coaches who have built impressive resumes. The staff at WTTBL offers small group camps and individual training sessions at their Columbia facility.
The staff at Welcome to the Big Leagues has a broad range of expertise. Instructors have experience playing and coaching in high school, college and professional ranks. Current instructors include; Tim Medlin ( current Columbia Blowfish Manager), Billy McMillon (current Boston Red Sox minor league hitting coach), Tripp Cromer (Former USC All-Decade Team member and 8 year Major Leaguer), Kelly Ahrens (former minor league catcher), Dee Jenkins (11 year minor league player), Brian Currie (former USC pitcher and minor league pitcher), Mike Campbell ( former USC player and current professional player), Matt Padgett ( former Clemson player and current professional player, Drew Niles (former minor league player) and others providing lessons from time to time based on the season.
WTTBL opened for business in November of 2005 after the purchase and remodeling of the location at 3510 Bush River Road. Since then, WTTBL has provided dozens of coaches’ clinics throughout the state, as well as showcase camps and has assisted many customers in making the transition from high school to college. WTTBL works with USSSA baseball, American Legion Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Little League Baseball and other programs throughout the state.
The facilities at WTTBL consist of an 8,000 square foot indoor facility with six batting cages and two Iron Mike pitching machines. In August of 2008, WTTBL completed the renovation to the adjoining property adding a 5,000 square foot strength and conditioning facility and an 11,000 square foot covered outdoor facility for team practices and additional individual instruction. The outdoor facility has three batting cages and three Iron Mike machines.
The strength and conditioning staff is headed by Sam McCrary (former major league strength and conditioning instructor for the New York Mets) and Donovan Craft (Spring Valley graduate and former football All-American at Gardner Webb University). WTTBL has many NFL players, soccer players, volleyball players, etc. training at the WTTBL Strength and Conditioning facilities.
WTTBL specializes in providing baseball and softball clinics for recreation teams as well as advanced skill clinics for travel teams. The college placement program provides high school age kids with the ability to receive proper guidance in what it takes to get to the next level as well as professional prospects aspiring to become a Major League Player. WTTBL now provides approximately 300 lessons on a monthly basis.
WTTBL is locally owned and operated managed on a day to day basis by Tim Medlin (President) and Kelly Ahrens (Chairman). You can find more out about WTTBL by visiting their website at www.wttbl.com. Feel free to register on line and plan to come visit the facility so you can see the personal touch. USC Sports Medicine is proud to add Welcome to the Big Leagues to our sports medicine team.
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