Newkirk bringing Clutch Cages to area

HUDSON — Catskill native Rob Newkirk wants to help revive the local baseball and softball scene. His new batting cage and recreational facility, Clutch Batting Cages, is set to open in mid-July next to the Armed Forces Career Center in Hudson.

The facility is Newkirk’s idea to help bring interest back to the game he loves.

“It has always been a dream of mine to start a recreational facility,” Newkirk said. “I hope it will bring a love for baseball and softball back to the area, especially with Ichabod Crane winning the state championship and Greenville, on the other side of the river, going to states. I’m hoping the love of baseball and softball will be instilled in these kids.”

Clutch Batting Cages is currently under construction with the turf being installed, however, the two pitching mounds have been firmly planted in their place.

Newkirk installed the mounds to allow kids to practice pitching year-round and he plans on talking to a trainer to implement catcher training, as well, at the facility.

The cages will be open year-round. On weekdays it will be open from 2-9 p.m. and on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“We just want to make it a facility where the kids can train and become better athletes,” Newkirk said.

Newkirk knows the Little League board members of Cairo and Catskill and plans on talking to board members from Hudson and the surrounding areas as soon as the nets are put up to hopefully work something out where players in the leagues can practice at Clutch during the season and in the offseason.

There are very few indoor facilities of its kind in the area.

Having children go through the Little League ranks, Newkirk is disappointed by how the programs have seen dwindling participation. With the creation of his Clutch Cages, he’s hoping that he can help local baseball and softball players fall in love with the game again.

“It would be great, it would be a dream come true to me,” Newkirk said. “There are no words to describe how happy I would be.”