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By TED ALLEN
Rappahannock News Contributinf Writer
Spring has sprung and The Backstop is open after nine months of arduous labor. Dan Lowery and Earl Lillard opened Fauquier County’s first batting cage on May 12.
Located across from Taylor Middle School in Warrenfon the Backstop features five batting stations and five pitching machines. Originally targeted for a fall opening, rains set the project back several months.
The two-man project started last July and Mr. Lowery and Mr. Lillard spent numerous weekends and evenings at work. The two men have invested more than $100,000 in materials and labor in the project.
The Backstop is patterned after batting cages now common in Northern Virginia. “There’s one in Centreville and Fredericksburg by the same manufacturer,” Mr. Lowery said. “Automatic Batting Cages makes the machines in Oregon and I picked the size from the options available on the land we have.”
There are two dual pitching machines which have the option of serving up fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball. Batters must wear a helmet and tennis shoes upon entering a batting station; no cleats will be allowed. Helmets are provided by The Backstop as well as bats, or people may bring their own bats, Mr. Lillard said.
Tokens, which cost $1 a piece, will start the machines on a cycle of 12 balls, with six seconds between pitches. Batting stations may also be rented by the hour. The pitching guns will be set at various speeds with the fastest baseball pitching machines in the center station and the slowest,'Tor baseball and softball, on the outside.
The Backstop has been drawing
95.8%