Complex opens with outdoor batting cages and turf area for soccer and other sports

NEOSHO, Mo. – What started out as an idea, last year to help young athletes in the area improve, is beginning to take shape.

“Phase one was going to be the building, but with the coronavirus we decided to keep things outside and not start the building until we can use it — with the social distancing and everything, so I would say this would be phase point-five,” says Chris Garrett.

4 States Sports owner Chris Garrett closed on land on the edge of Neosho less than two months ago — to put down roots for a sports complex.

“So right now we have the outdoor batting cages. They are covered and shaded — about to have electricity out here, hopefully, in a couple weeks. And so they’ll be lit overnight,” says Garrett. “And of course we have the turf area. Which is actually used artificial turf that Pitt State donated to us. And so we are blessed to have that. And we use the turf for soccer and speed and agility and different baseball and softball training for fielding.”

Samuel Speck has been coaching soccer in Neosho for eight years. Speck says the complex would be a huge asset to keep developing the sport.

“We’ve had a lot of success locally with the Neosho High School soccer team making it to the state tournament this year. And we just want to provide an opportunity and a location that fits the need for soccer to continue to grow in our area,” says Speck.

4 States Sports plans on hosting soccer tournaments and camps in the future. They are also getting ready to start a 3-v-3 league.

“What 3-v-3 brings to a team is that soccer is played in triangles. It’s mostly a one-two game and is the foundation for what happens in 11-v-11 soccer, so it will be a good way to enable the skills to grow as they move into the larger leagues,” adds Speck.

Neosho’s McKaylie Forrest loves the easy access to the batting cages that the complex provides.

“Like right now, the closest you can go is up to Joplin. And even then, that’s still — you have to spend gas and school nights it’s just much easier to come down here because I live five minutes from here,” says Forrest.

Forrest is just a sophomore. She says this is a great opportunity to work on her skills so she can get to the college level.

“I’m just going to keep coming in here. Keep grinding. Keep hitting. Just get all the work I can. Work on what my weaknesses are. Yeah, we work in practice but because I’m a catcher — that’s what I do most of practice is I sit and I catch in. I catch for the pitchers. And so hitting is kind of the last resort for me but that’s what I love to do. So this is a chance for me to come in on my off time and get in the work I don’t get in at practice here,” adds Forrest.

Garrett is currently taking bids for the construction on the approximately 42,000 square-foot indoor facility that will house 4 gyms, a weight room and other features. Garrett hopes to have the indoor facility completed by January 1, 2021.

Click here for more information on 4 States Sports.

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