At the former Crescent Elementary School, the swings have moved inside, as the baseball and softball teams now have a new place to practice. 

After starting renovations on the school in September 2024, construction of the Innovation and Sports Center (ISC) was finished in December.

These changes bring many benefits to the baseball program at AL, including a new feeling of individuality. 

“Facilities we used to have were multi-sport facilities, so it didn’t feel like it was all for us and that created challenges in scheduling and space usage,” baseball coach Tyler Brietzke said.

He says the new space to workout will improve the baseball program.

“Carrying workouts in a facility specifically designed for baseball and softball brings a lot more freedom,” Brietzke said.

Baseball and softball aren’t the only activities at the ISC though. Members of the golf and robotics teams will also be able to take advantage of the new space.

For baseball and softball, the facility has 34 ft. x 65 ft. indoor turf, multiple batting and pitching lanes. For golf, there are three simulators with Flightscope software and the robotics team will have robot “arenas” comparable to the ones at AL.

There are some downsides to this new facility, including an eight-mile drive down a one-lane highway from the high school. The school also has to share the facility with teams from Thomas Jefferson.

“The hitting and pitching spaces are smaller than we would prefer,” junior pitcher McCain Becker said.

Currently the baseball team hosts a hitting camp on Sunday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. through March 30. 

The school district also looks to eventually add an esports room, broadcast media room and outdoor spaces.