meet the staff
lainie smyk
founder/pitching coach
St. Bede Academy Hall of Fame Athlete
Born and raised in Peru, I was a 4 year Varsity pitcher at St. Bede, went to state in Class 2A for the first time in school history. I then went on to be a student-athlete with a full-ride scholarship at Division II Lewis University where I received a degree in Exercise and Movement Science. After my playing career, I was the Varsity Assistant softball coach at LaSalle Peru High School for three years and Putnam County JH Head Coach for 2 years. For the past seven years, I’ve been giving softball pitching lessons to athletes ages 8-17 to help improve their skills.
My love for the game and fitness has led me to opening up a facility in the Illinois Valley to help young athletes reach their goals of playing at the next level!
tim smyk
founder/owner
I am a former Division III college baseball pitcher/infielder, with extensive experience and a love for the game. I played my high school career at Morris Community High School, winning a regional championship in 2014, before continuing at the next level at Illinois Wesleyan University. Playing three years at Illinois Wesleyan, before ultimately transferring and hanging up the cleats due to multiple shoulder injuries. I am excited to bring a community focused facility to the Illinois Valley where younger players can get their reps in at an affordable price. I’m ready to bring both my baseball knowledge and enthusiasm to help the younger generation reach their goals!