New baseball and softball gym in Ammon helps young athletes improve their skills

AMMON – There’s only one thing Billy Butler loves more than baseball and that’s being able to pass on his love and knowledge of the game to young athletes.

He and his wife, Katie, opened Idaho Athlete Project at 2770 East 14th North in Ammon on Dec. 1. It is a 7,000-square-foot baseball and softball training facility.

“The response has been great,” Billy tells EastIdahoNews.com. “We have 35-40 members already.”

The business provides athletes and anyone who wants to increase their performance in the sport a place to practice with batting cages and a pitching area. There are also weights and treadmills so athletes can work out.

A monthly membership provides access to the building year-round and one-on-coaching is available from people who have worked with some of the biggest names in minor and major league baseball. Baseball camps are also held throughout the year.

“We just had our first holiday camp. There was a good turnout for that,” Butler says. “We did a hitting and pitching set. Each age group was full, so it’s been going really well. We’ve been very busy.”

Though there are other similar types of businesses in the area, business manager Jake Arehart says the thing that sets their business apart is the ability to offer equipment and training under one roof as well as coaching from experienced professionals.