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Baseball training facility in Lake Zurich sold

Two men, who met five years ago when their sons played on the same baseball team, are buying Homerun Sports and Fitness in Lake Zurich.

Wil Benjamin of Mundelein and Art Saenz of South Barrington will take over the baseball and softball training facility at 140 Oakwood Road on Friday, June 1. At that time they will begin a major $300,000 renovation of the facility, Benjamin said.

The business partners say they bought the business based on their passion for baseball and have a strong desire to continue to offer a training facility for area athletes.

Current owner Todd Mueller, who has run the business for the past decade, is also thankful that the facility will remain in operation.

"The last thing I wanted to do was close," said Mueller, who is retiring. The Kildeer resident said his wife retired a year ago and that they are looking to spend more time in Florida during the winters. "It was time," said Mueller, 58.

He told Homerun members through an email about the sale and that the business will soon be known as MVP Sports Academy.

"We're looking to take this to a class A facility," Benjamin said Friday.

He explained that the renovation will take place in two phases and should be complete by early September. The big change will include adding a full-size infield that will replace coin-operated batting cages. This area will allow for softball games and baseball games for teams up to the 12-year-old age level.

HitTrax simulators as well as online booking for tunnels and lessons are other new features. Benjamin said several of the instructors now giving lessons at the facility will remain on staff.

He said it's their mission to "provide educational and developmental programs instructed by an elite group of coaches who specialize in all aspects of baseball, softball and speed and agility."

The new owners, who have been members at Homerun for several years, both work as engineers. Saenz is COO at GSG Consultants in Chicago and Benjamin is with Rich Products Corp.

The men met about five years ago when their sons, now 15 years old, played on the same baseball team in Barrington.

"Same location, new experience" is the business' tag line, Benjamin said.

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