Batter Up!

Pro football season will end Sunday after Super Bowl XXXIII, and fans who haven’t been out of the house the last 20 Sundays may be looking for some new fun.

What better way to stay in the sporting spirit than by going to one of Ventura County’s full-service batting cages.

“It’s a good time for families,” said Danny Gonzalez, manager of his father’s business, Simi Valley Batting Cages.

In addition to being a mild upper body exercise that burns more calories than channel surfing and chomping on nachos, some say whacking a few balls is a good way to vent frustrations.

“A lot of people come out for the entertainment value, but others stop by to relieve a little stress,” said Bob Beltramo, co-owner of Bat-R-Up batting cages in Camarillo.

Now is also the time for people who play in baseball or softball leagues to begin practicing for seasons that start throughout the county in the next couple of months.

Each facility is open seven days a week, and offers free bats and helmets. Baseball pitches at varying speeds and both slow and fast softball pitches are also available at each location.

There are no age or height limits, and each site has enough cages to accommodate several hitters at once.

Batters can pay per batch of pitches or rent a cage for up to an hour for unlimited pitches.

Batting cages are easy to use and fun.

*

On top of that, they’re the best primer for the next televised sport that really matters: professional baseball.

If being able to catch a flick after swinging a bat is important, the 8-year-old Simi Valley Batting Cages are at 2019 Donville Ave., next-door to the Edwards 10 movie theater.

There are eight cages, and pitches are 20 for $1. Cage rentals range from $7 for 15 minutes to $18 for an hour. In high-speed baseball cages, batters will receive more than 400 pitches in an hour, Gonzalez estimated.

The West Coast Baseball School is on-site and offers private pitching and hitting lessons. Call 527-8998 for information.

*

Of all the county’s batting cages, Beltramo’s Bat-R-Up at 487 S. Dawson Drive in a Camarillo industrial center has been in business the longest--12 years.

“We think we’re one of the best because we have good lighting, a lot to offer and everybody likes us,” Beltramo said.

Bat-R-Up has one fast-pitch softball cage, two slow-pitch cages and three baseball cages, one that throws at 40 mph, another at 60 mph and a third at 80 mph. The cost is $1 for 20 pitches or $25 an hour.

Beltramo offers batting lessons, summer camps and retail sales of hats and gloves. Munchies and sodas are also available. Call 987-2287 for information.

*

Darrell Glennc has been in business eight years with Who’s On First at 961 N. Rice Ave. in Oxnard.

There are four baseball cages with speeds ranging from 35 to 65 mph, a high-arc softball cage and a low-arc softball cage. It’s 16 pitches for a buck and cage rental is available at $25 an hour.

Who’s On First has a stocked pro shop with pants, hats and gloves, and Glenn said he can special-order most items.

“Some people come who have never played ball before and they just want to hit a few,” Glenn said. “For ballplayers, the cages are great because they are seeing live pitches and they can hit for as long as they need to.”

Call 485-4001 for information.

*

If perching under the sun at a picnic table and eating a hot dog smothered in mustard is a priority during the outing, head to Baseball City at 28752 Roadside Drive, just off Kanan Road in Agoura, not far over the county line.

There are seven outdoor cages, including four that offer baseballs hurled at speeds between 35 and 70 mph. It’s 20 pitches for a buck and $20 per hour to rent a cage for six or more people.

“We also have a baseball school in which former professional and minor league players give batting lessons,” clerk Joe Giraldi said.

Reservations are not needed for cages, but are necessary for lessons at all four sites.

Baseball City, an 11-year-old business, also does private parties, has video games on-site and sells baseball and softball merchandise. Call (818) 991-7252 for information.