OPELIKA, Ala. --- Cheeks stained red from effort, Aly Smith leans over and picks up the signal from Mark Fuller and goes into her windup.
"That's it kiddo, that's a good one," Fuller calls out.
Smith, a 10-year-old from Salem, Ala., smiles and prepares to make another pitch under the watchful tutelage and encouragement of Fuller at the Sports Academy where she trains.
Smith attends Smiths Station Intermediate School, but will be in her second season of live pitch baseball in a league in Opelika. She's been playing baseball since she was 6-years-old and coming to the Sports Academy since it opened three years ago.
"It gets me active, and lets me play and stuff," Smith said. "I like to pitch and hit off the tee and do soft toss."
Fuller, along with his friend Steve Kisor, a physical therapist, opened the Sports Academy three years ago. Fuller played college baseball at Auburn and later coached there under Steve Renfroe. After that stint, Fuller went searching for something to do revolving around baseball in the area.
He and Kisor landed on the idea to open the Sports Academy, which is intended to be a full-service business. Fuller supplies much of the training, while Kisor works on what they call "prehab," helping young athletes learn their bodies and avoid injuries.
"Our vision was to give kids something to keep them out of his office," Fuller said.
The word about the Sports Academy has been spreading. Leslie O'Pry, also from Salem, said her husband heard Fuller speak at Phenix City Little League about two years ago.
"With Mark's attitude and the Christian atmosphere here, it makes the kids feel good about themselves," O'Pry said. "That's the reason we've enjoyed him so much.
Twelve-year-old Boo O'Pry, who attends Glenwood School, has been going to the Academy for about 18 months to work on his pitching and hitting mechanics.
"I like the people here, and I like that it's a Christian place," Boo O'Pry said. "I like working with coach Mark on my hitting and pitching."
Facility
The Sports Academy features five batting cages, including three with pitching machines, two pitching mounds and another multi-use turf area. It also hosts birthday parties.
Last summer, the owners made a foray into the heavily-laden sports training DVD field with the release of their venture "Rest, Train, Play." The DVD features Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson, a former Phenix City native and Auburn standout, Milwaukee outfielder Gabe Gross, former big leaguer Scott Sullivan, Auburn softball coach Tina Deese and others. It's aimed at teaching young athletes the proper way to train and when to rest their bodies.
Fuller said they came about the idea when he learned the story of a young man in nearby Beauregard, Ala., who damaged the growth plate in his elbow, which can be career-ending.
"I was just sick," Fuller said. "Steve and I are in this, but had the feeling we weren't doing enough, so we came up with the RTP concept. I just couldn't sleep that night. I was taking notes, reading my Bible. You've got to have rest, and there has to be an off-season training program."
The DVD debuted in January and Fuller said they have sold about 50 copies so far. They also established a Web site at resttrainplay.com to get the information out.
"You shouldn't play year-round, but we do it," Fuller said.
Fuller said profits for his business are typically generated by private lessons, but there's a certain time of the year he hopes not to see his students.
"I want them to go to the beach, have fun. There has to be time for a kid to be a kid," Fuller said.
SPORTS ACADEMY
What: Baseball/softball training center
Owners: Mark Fuller, Steve Kisor
Where: Auburn-Opelika Road, Midway Plaza
Hours: 4-9 p.m.
Services: Token-operated batting cages; cage rentals, turf practice area rental; private baseball/softball/strength and conditioning lessons. Memberships, which feature discounts for individuals or families, are available.
Learning tool: Rest, Train, Play DVD
For more information: Call 334-749-4040 or go online at resttrainplay.com.
Contact Christa Turner at 706-571-8505
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