There's a seriously cool backyard batting cage in Aptos, CA, bigger than most, fully loaded, and built by a high school ballplayer who decided to share it instead of letting it sit idle.

The cage

This one is genuinely large: 53 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 18 feet tall, so there's far more room than you'll find in a typical tunnel. It comes with a pitching machine you can dial up hard or soft (and it'll even throw curveballs if you want a different look) plus a tee and a bucket of balls. That range of speeds and pitch types makes it easy to build a real, varied session rather than grooving the same fastball over and over. Sessions run $40/hour, a fair rate for a private cage this size and this well-equipped.

Who it's for

Baseball and softball players alike will get plenty out of this cage. The adjustable machine suits everyone from a young hitter starting slow to an advanced player chasing tougher looks and off-speed reps, and the extra width and height give bigger swings and taller players room to breathe. It's a comfortable space for a solo session or a parent working with a kid.

The host

Sam is a high school baseball player who uses this cage constantly, but it sits empty much of the day, so he's opened it up to other baseball and softball players. There's something genuinely great about that: a young player who built a real hitting setup and now wants to help others get their reps in. He's the one with the batting cage, and he's happy to share it with his community.

Good to know

The larger-than-usual dimensions make this a comfortable space for full swings and front toss, and the machine's range means the session can be as easy or as demanding as you want. As a private backyard cage, you get a relaxed setting to work at your own pace, with the whole space to yourself.