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Indoor baseball and softball training gym opens in Alexandria’s West End

The Dugout at 315 Hooffs Run Drive (Courtesy photo)

There’s a new indoor gym in Alexandria’s West End dedicated to improving baseball and softball swings.

The Dugout, a 10,000-square-foot facility, recently opened for individual and group training at 315 Hooffs Run Road. It’s owned by Layla Burczak, Lacey Forster, Ben Kelley, Amanda Kelley, Ben Matthews and Katy Matthews — all principals in Alexandria Travel Sports LLC.

The Dugout features multiple batting cages with Hack Attack pitching machines and high ceilings, offering specialized training camps and team-building events, in addition to daily cage rentals and membership packages.

The business is a collaboration between the Alexandria Reds Baseball Organization and Victory Fastpitch Academy.

According to management:

The vision for The Dugout has been in the works for years. We knew that Alexandria needed an indoor space where both baseball and softball players could train year-round, no matter the weather. By combining the strengths of the Alexandria Red’s Baseball Organization and Victory Fastpitch Academy, we’ve made that dream a reality. This facility is the result of countless hours of hard work, collaboration, and dedication – and we are so proud to finally open our doors to the Alexandria community.

The Dugout will celebrate a grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will feature free batting cage sessions, tours and a chance to meet coaches and staff.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.