Saskia Roberson built her backyard batting cage in San Leandro, CA for the simplest reason there is: she needed a place to keep swinging. What started as a personal fix for a lifelong softball player is now an easygoing, budget-friendly cage open to anyone who just wants reps close to home.

The cage

It's a 10-by-35 driveway cage laid mostly with turf, plus a moveable 10-by-5 hitting mat that Saskia deliberately left unattached so it can slide to fit different batters and keep them off the net on their backswing. A 7-by-4 pitching net is built in. The setup is softball-focused, you'll find softballs, a hitting tee, a soft-toss station, and both fastpitch and slow-pitch pitching machines available as a $10 add-on. At $20/hour, it's one of the most affordable ways around to get real swings in.

Who it's for

Saskia lists it as open to youth, high school, college, and professional players, and it's set up for individual sessions, small groups, private lessons, and filming content. With room for up to ten guests and machines for both fastpitch and slow-pitch, it's a natural fit for softball players at any stage.

The host

Saskia is honest about how it came to be: "I've played softball for most of my life, but age has finally caught up with me. These days, I stick to slow pitch and wanted a convenient space to get in some swings without the hassle of heading to a field. Repetition is key, it's all about building muscle memory." That player's mindset is baked into every detail, right down to the moveable mat.

Good to know

This is a private home cage, so parking is easy, anywhere on the street works. House rules are simple: no seeds, no gum, no cleats, and no pets. Being a driveway setup, it's outdoor and uncovered, so plan around the weather.