• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newscast
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • Cities Stories
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Launch Your Creative Vision with CCX Create
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Hit Dawg Academy Serves Year-Round Demand for Baseball, Softball Training

4:28 PM | Monday, October 2, 2023

Minnesota winters make it impossible to play baseball or softball year-round. It’s one reason why Alissa Wernz comes to Plymouth about five days a week during the off-season to get in some hitting practice at Hit Dawg Academy.

“Well, I get to have the best coaching that I can, and I also get to use the cages, the weight room, and the ProBatter whenever I want to, which is really nice,” said Wernz, a softball player at Maple Grove Senior High.

Wernz is planning to attend South Dakota State University next year and play on the school’s softball team. The coaches at Hit Dawg Academy are trying to help her maximize her potential.

“[The coaches] were probably the people that helped me get as good as I could possibly at softball,” she said.

One of those coaches Shawn Wooten, the owner of Hit Dawg Academy.

“Anything that you can think of, basically, from a development standpoint for youth baseball, we offer it,” Wooten said.

Wooten opened Hit Dawg Academy 14 years ago after he saw a need here. He had a long career in the majors as a player and coach.

“I think it was just a natural fit,” Wooten said of starting the business. “I think I have a desire to get young players better, and I think in a lot of ways that’s what somebody did for me.”

hit dawg academy

Shawn Wooten, who played and coached at the Major League level, opened Hit Dawg Academy 14 years ago.

Yet getting better doesn’t happen just by hitting off a tee. At Hit Dawg, the coaches incorporate a machine called the ProBatter, which is a pitching simulator that recreates the experience of facing real-life pitching.

The coaches program the type of pitch they want the batter to face, along with the speed of the pitch. Then, the batters look at a screen that shows a pitcher winding up. The ball then shoots out of a hole.

Acording to Wooten, you need 2,500 at-bats to feel comfortable hitting major league pitching. Whether it’s baseball or softball, the ProBatter helps players get those reps.

“It’s been amazing,” Wernz said. “I mean, in the offseason, to be able to have live at-bats and switch the pitching speed and what kind of pitch they’re throwing whenever I want, it’s so helpful.”

Wooten says this facility in Plymouth is in high demand, with approximately 400 youth baseball and softball players visiting Hit Dawg Academy every year to hone their skills and get to the next level.

“That’s part of the reason why we do it,” Wooten said. “I mean, this isn’t a way to make yourself a multimillionaire. So we get in the business to, you know, serve the younger kids and give them direction.”

hit dawg academy

Maple Grove Senior High softball player Alissa Wernz practices hitting at Hit Dawg, which is located at 2050 East Center Circle in Plymouth.


Related: 2022 CCX Sports All-Area Softball Team


Sponsored
Delane Cleveland, reporting

Plymouth

Business Matters

Related Stories

Median Twin Cities Home Sale Price Reaches Record $400K:  New real estate data show it's a tough time… Read More
Artist Adam Turman Celebrates 40 Birthdays Through Painting:  A Twin Cities artist was in Plymouth… Read More
Plymouth Seamstress Sews Goodwill at Catholic Charities:  For 10 years, a Plymouth woman has used her… Read More
Facility for Traumatic Brain Injuries Proposed in Plymouth:  A facility to help people who have… Read More
Plymouth Nonprofit Focuses on Mental and Physical Health:  A Plymouth-based nonprofit focused on… Read More
Cullens Ice Cream Brings New Sweet Treat Experience to New Hope:  On a hot summer day, few things in… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
  CCX MEDIA     SPORTS
 NEWS                SPORTS
SPORTS.           SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2025 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in