Former MLB Players part of new ownership at Virginia Baseball Complex

PRESS RELEASE​

For Immediate Release​

March 1st, 2012​

THE EAST COAST’S HIDDEN​

BASEBALL GEM NOW HAS​

BIG LEAGUE OWNERSHIP​

Caroline County, Virginia: On Friday February 25th, 2012 The Virginia Sports Complex (VSC) was acquired by Former Major League Players Dave Gallagher, Jeff Schaefer, New Jersey based entrepreneur Jim Radvany and the Founder of ECTB Terry Schadler.

The Virginia Sports Complex was built in 2006 by local Virginia businessman John Henry Attkinson and his family “My family built VSC because we love the game of baseball, the kids who play it and Caroline County” said John Henry. “Times have brought change and in moving through the sale of VSC I had and continue to have the good fortune of working alongside this amazing group of baseball/business people. I truly believe in my heart this is the group that will fulfill the dreams my family and I had for the Virginia Sports Complex, the kids and Caroline County when we built it.”

Under the leadership of new President/CEO Terry Schadler, Virginia Sports Complex is destined to become the East Coast’s premier sports facility. Terry was born and raised in Kutztown, PA, and is the founder of ECTB (Elite Championship Tournament Baseball). Terry held the titles of Middle Atlantic AAU Chair, USSSA Baseball, and is a current regional director for the USA Baseball NTIS program. “Terry has the experience to make this venture successful; he knows the baseball tournament and facility business. He possesses the background, dedication and determination that made him the obvious choice to be appointed President and CEO” said Jim Radvany.

Dave Gallagher and Jim Radvany were planning to build a baseball/softball complex in New Jersey when Gallagher’s former Chicago White Sox teammate Jeff Schaefer contacted him with the VSC opportunity. “Schaef called me and emphatically said not to do anything until Jim and I drive down to Virginia and looked at what he called tournament baseball’s hidden gem” said Gallagher. “Jim and I took the trip to Virginia and knew immediately that the VSC was more than we expected and exactly what Schaef said it was; a hidden baseball gem”.
“VSC is that special baseball place that will create memorable experiences for the families who visit and opportunity for the kids who play here.” said Schaefer.

VSC is located off Route 1 in Caroline County, Virginia. The facility features four large
(60’/90’) and four small baseball (50’/70’) professionally maintained fields. All fields have Bermuda sod infields and outfields and electronic score boards on each field. There are two 360 degree observation towers with full concessions inside each baseball quad and a state if the art sound system, a 40,000 square foot field house that includes eight batting cages, four volleyball courts, two basketball courts, full indoor turf, locker rooms, a performance training gym and two classrooms. A new restaurant/bar is in the future and is currently under construction.

The official grand opening under new management is scheduled for the weekend of March 24th and 25th.

For more information on the Virginia Sports Complex, tournaments, sporting events or bookings, please visit our websites at www.vasportscomplex.com and www.ectb.org or contact Debbie Bertolet, Director of Marketing at 804-448-1520.

Virginia Sports Complex
Contact: Debbie Bertolet, Director of Marketing
Phone: 804-448-1520, ext. 309
Email: [email protected]
Date: February 28, 2012

 

Schaef- Share with us more? What will be your involvement? How will this relate to Champions? Where exactly is it located? Are there tournaments already scheduled?

Basically, fill in the details of this venture. It looks exciting?

 

Braves,

Thank you for asking for more information regarding the Virginia Sports Complex and what the plans for it are. This is a very exciting project and one I have been working on for nearly 6 years. The original idea was to build a 60'/90' complex in the Charlotte area. The concept stimulated interest but never gained the necessary momentum to pull it of. I don't count a Charlotte project out but not at this time. To build a complex from the ground up is capital and time intense. We were extremely fortunate to find a turnkey facility as perfect as VSC.

The Virginia Sports Complex came to my attention 2 years ago. My partners and I at Champions Baseball Academy looked into purchasing the complex but backed off because it didn't fit into our business model at that time. My partners at Champions were OK with me continuing to explore the possibility of putting a deal together outside of Champions. So to answer that question, Champions Baseball Academy does not hold a stake in the complex but, our East Coast Prospects and East Coast Swingmen teams will play in select VSC tournaments each year.

The complex is beautiful. The playing surfaces are spring training quality. VSC employs a full time facility and grounds crew staff. The head grounds keeper for the Washington Nationals was been brought in to direct the grounds crew on maintaining the fields at a big league level. The complex is in total 113 acres, the fields and the 40,000 sq ft indoor baseball and performance training facility sit on 35 acres, and player housing (large cabins) are being built on the additional acreage.

The location couldn't be better for baseball on the east coast. The complex is in Caroline County which is 20 miles north of Richmond and 45 miles south of Washington, DC. If you are familiar with Kings Dominion amusement park the complex is one exit north on Interstate I95. Once off the exit you are only two miles from home plate!. The location was as enticing as the beauty of the complex. It sits directly in the middle of the east coast. A true North vs South "invitation only" dog fight for all age groups is being worked on for 2013.

Several top showcase/travel organizations on the east coast such as the EvoShield Canes, All-Star Baseball Academy, Richmond Braves, Elite Championship Tournament Baseball and Prospect Wire have committed to run tournaments and showcase camps at VSC in 2012. Our VSC operating group will be hosting highly competitive, scouted and recruiting events as well.

Since the purchase of VSC the reception from organizations, college coaches, major league scouts and so many other baseball people has been overwhelming. Baseball people up and down the east coast are letting us know they are excited about what is in store for Showcase Tournament baseball and the exposure our events will bring to the kids who play here.

Thanks again for asking

Schaef

Jeff Schaefer
Co-Founder/Partner, Champions Baseball Academy
East Coast Prospects, East Coast Swingmen
Partner, Virginia Sports Complex
Regional Director, USA Baseball NTIS Team Mid Atlantic
(C)704-340-1698
[email protected]
www.championsbaseballacademy.net
www.ecpbaseball.com
www.midatlanticntis.com
www.vasportscomplex.com

 

All I can say is.....WOW!!! I hope I can come up there one day to enjoy it. With King's Dominion right down the road it can become a true vacation/tournament experience. And on the baseball side, that's cool about the grounds crew staff and the condition of the fields.

I should have known, since you were connected to this venture, it must be first class.

Congratulations; I wish you all the success and let us know at TBR if we can do anything to help.

 

Have been there several times. Very nice complex! Unbelievable concessions, they should get some of those same people for the food. Good Luck to the new owners!