Coach, former pitcher gives back with new Rockford Baseball Academy

ROCKFORD – Baseball season seemed light years away Thursday morning, with snow, school closings and salt trucks dominating the headlines and roads.

But when Matt Vriesenga opened the doors to his Rockford Baseball Academy, 10451 Northland Drive NE, the game suddenly didn’t feel so far away.

“Baseball has given me a college degree from Western,” Vriesenga said. “I met Brent Gates when I was playing in the Midwest League, and he offered me my first job in insurance. I now have my own insurance agency. I have three boys who love baseball, 13, 10 and 5. I love baseball, it’s a passion of mine, and it has given so much to me.

“I wanted to give something back to the community that has given me so much.”

Vriesenga came up with a solution earlier this year when he opened the academy in October. The 11,000 square foot facility, which is covered by 10,000 square feet of Astroturf, offers four pitching mounds and five batting cases. There also are two lanes for softball pitching,

The academy is open Mondays-through-Thursdays, and it has attracted players from schools across West Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Belding, Sparta, Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids and Wyoming in addition to Rockford. It has 16 travel teams lined for next summer, and they will be competing in a variety of divisions.

Vriesenga's staff also will be offering camps and clinics, along with softball instruction. Vriesenga said the academy also is organizing a whiffle ball tournament for children, too.

“Baseball has given so much to me, and I love to be able to get more kids involved in baseball,” Vriesenga said. “Hopefully, more and more kids can fall in love with baseball like I did. The whole goal is to grow the game.”

Vriesenga played baseball at Grand Rapids Christian High School and Western Michigan. He went on to pitch for the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League in 2001.

For more information, visit the academy's website by clicking here or calling 616-884--5530

“We are here to teach baseball and life lessons, have fun and get parents involved with their kids” Vriesenga said.

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