The Mound Training Facility · Oglesby, IL
Built by athletes.
Built for athletes.
The Mound was born out of a simple belief — that every young athlete in the Illinois Valley deserves a place to train, develop, and fall in love with the game. Two collegiate athletes, six coaches, three cages, and one goal: your athlete gets better here.
The Founders
Meet Tim & Lainie Smyk
- Lewis University Softball
- St. Bede Athletics Hall of Fame
- Illinois Wesleyan Baseball
- .346 Career Average
- 2014 Regional Champion
Lainie (formerly Schweickert) was a standout pitcher at St. Bede Academy before pitching collegiately at Lewis University. She has since been individually inducted into the St. Bede Athletics Hall of Fame — and she still throws in the circle alongside the girls she coaches, which is exactly why they trust her.
Tim grew up in Morris, Illinois, where he captained the Morris Redskins to a regional championship in 2014 before playing at Illinois Wesleyan University and finishing his career with a .346 batting average. He works with baseball players on both hitting and pitching.
Together they opened The Mound to give Illinois Valley families something they had been driving out of town to find. Their two-year-old son, Brooks, is already a regular — he loves swinging in the cages and running the turf.
When your athlete trains here, you’re working with two people who genuinely love this game and want your kid to love it too.
A Founding Family’s Story
“My daughter started pitching lessons with Lainie almost 8 years ago. She has taken her from basic fundamentals to now pitching at a high level of 18U travel ball. Lainie not only can teach pitching from basics to advance spins, she can pitch herself, which allows her to relate to her students. We are thrilled to see Lainie, Tim and Brooks take this next step with opening up ‘The Mound’ which will surely be a staple in the area for advancing young pitchers achieve their goals.”
Tony R.
Pitching lessons · 8 years with Lainie
Our Staff
Meet the Coaching Staff
Every coach at The Mound has played the game at a high level and is still close enough to it to teach it well. Baseball hitting and pitching are led by Tim. Softball hitting, pitching, catching, and fielding are covered by a staff of collegiate and all-conference athletes.
Owner & Coach
Tim Smyk
Baseball Hitting & Pitching Coach
Tim captained Morris High School to a regional championship in 2014, then played collegiately at Illinois Wesleyan University, finishing his career with a .346 batting average. He has spent years helping baseball players sharpen their swing and refine their mechanics on the mound, building athletes who are ready to compete at every level.
- Illinois Wesleyan University
- .346 Career Average
- 2014 Regional Champion
Read bio
Owner & Coach
Lainie Smyk
Softball Pitching Coach
Lainie played collegiately at Lewis University and has been individually inducted into the St. Bede Athletics Hall of Fame. She works with softball pitchers to build strength, consistency, and confidence in the circle, helping every athlete take the next step in their game.
- Lewis University
- St. Bede Hall of Fame
Read bio
Ava Balestri
Softball Hitting Coach
Ava plays collegiately for IVCC and was named to the 2026 All-BCR Softball Team. She helps softball hitters develop a smooth, powerful swing and the confidence to bring it into game action.
- IVCC Softball
- 2026 All-BCR Team
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Avah Oertel
Softball Hitting & Fielding Coach
A two-time BCR Player of the Year for the Princeton Tigers, Avah brings elite-level experience and a natural ability to connect with young athletes in every lesson.
- 2× BCR Player of the Year
- Princeton Tigers
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Hannah Heiberger
Softball Pitching Coach
Hannah brings a sharp eye for mechanics and a genuine passion for helping softball pitchers grow into dominant competitors.
Read bio
Mackenzie Chamberlain
Softball Catching Coach
Mackenzie trains softball catchers on the fundamentals that matter most: footwork, framing, and game-day leadership behind the plate.
Read bio
Click or tap any coach to read their full bio.
Our Why
Why We Do This
The Illinois Valley is full of kids who love baseball and softball. What it needed was a place that takes their development as seriously as they do — without a forty-five minute drive each way.
We keep groups small on purpose. Every athlete who walks through the door gets individual attention, real feedback, and a plan for what to work on next. That is hard to do in a crowded facility, so we built one where it isn’t.
We also believe training should be fun. Kids who enjoy showing up are the ones who keep showing up — and the ones who keep showing up are the ones who get better.
Most of all, we believe in the kids. Whether your athlete is seven years old and swinging for the first time or a junior chasing a college roster spot, they get the same thing here: coaches who care whether they improve.
“My daughter has taken pitching lessons with Lainie for over two years. In that time she has not only improved on her pitching skills, she has gained confidence and game knowledge as well. Lainie’s teaching background helps her develop positive relationships with the girls she coaches, and tailors each lesson to the child’s individual needs.”
Jess L.
Pitching lessons · 2+ years
“Our daughter has been taking pitching lessons from Lainie for about 2 years. Lainie has worked on all aspects of my daughter’s pitching: the mechanics, strength training, and mental toughness. She has been able to dissect her as a pitcher and has a plethora of drills to help address any part that needs improvement.”
Jodie G.
Pitching lessons · 2 years
“Finding a coach that is not only educated in the game and pitching, but strives to continue learning herself in order to keep her girls safe and on track for success was a must for us and that is Lainie. She made it a priority to connect with my daughter in all areas, supports her in all her activities and holds her accountable for her success.”
Jessica H.
Pitching lessons · 3 years
“My daughter has been getting lessons from Lainie for 4 years. The teaching of how to pitch has been excellent. Lainie mixes up the lessons and challenges her to become a better pitcher.”
Derek K.
Pitching lessons · 4 years
Where You’ll Train
Our Facility in Oglesby, IL
The Mound is a 3,300 square foot training facility with three dedicated batting cages, open turf for fielding and conditioning, and the equipment your athlete needs to actually measure progress instead of guessing at it.
Booking is simple. Reserve a private lesson or cage time online in about a minute, show up, and get to work.
Simple Pricing
What It Costs to Train Here
Private Lesson
$40
per 30-minute session
Baseball and softball hitting, pitching, and catching. Ages 7 and up.
Cage Rental
$40
per hour
No membership required. Bring your own bucket and go to work.
Memberships
$59+
per month
Cagetime tiers from $59/mo. Lesson-and-cage bundles from $139/mo. Household discounts available.
Come See The Mound
Whether your athlete is picking up a bat for the first time or chasing a spot on a college roster, there’s a place for them here. Book a lesson, reserve cage time, or just reach out and ask — we’re happy to talk through what makes sense for your athlete.