Baseball training center may expand

A popular suburban athletic facility would expand to Mundelein under a plan before village officials.

Owners of the Joy of the Game Baseball and Softball Academy, 1455 Busch Parkway, Buffalo Grove, want to open a second location in a Mundelein industrial complex.

The successful baseball programs at Mundelein and Carmel Catholic high schools, as well as local youth leagues, make the village an ideal location for expansion, co-owner Craig Katz said.

"It's a phenomenal baseball community," Katz said.

Joy of the Game opened in Buffalo Grove in 2004. It offers year-round instruction in all aspects of baseball and softball for kids and adults.

It serves more than 1,000 athletes each year, Katz said. Team and individual training sessions are available.

The new baseball center would be in a former beer warehouse at 915 Tower Road. It would be about 18,000 square feet, much larger than the original space in Buffalo Grove, Katz said.

A Gymnastics Spot training facility is scheduled to open elsewhere in the building, too. It would remain there, Katz said.

The Mundelein proposal requires village board approval because Katz and co-owner Dave Mandel want to operate in an industrial district. The village's plan commission has recommended approval.

The village board could review the plan next month.

If the board approves the plan, Katz hopes to open by Jan. 1.