Ballparks of the Ozarks swinging for the fences

This rendering shows the overview of the Ballparks of the Ozarks facility design, with multiple fields, a field house, parking and many other amenities. (Courtesy of Ballparks of the Ozarks)
This rendering shows the overview of the Ballparks of the Ozarks facility design, with multiple fields, a field house, parking and many other amenities. (Courtesy of Ballparks of the Ozarks)

A private company is stepping up to the plate with plans for a multi-million-dollar baseball facility near Macks Creek in Camden County.

The Ballparks of the Ozarks will host both three-day and week-long tournaments for teams from around the country. The state-of-the-art facility will feature age-appropriate fields, which will include turf infields, pitching bullpens, batting cages, LED lighting and unique seating. The facility is expected to be open for play in 2017.

Owners of Ballpark Development have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for 11 a.m. Sept. 21 in conjunction with the Camden County commissioner's office, the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau, all three local chambers of commerce and numerous local community officials.

"We have found the perfect marriage between resort destination and baseball facility that balances the highest level of competitive opportunity and fun for the entire family, at an affordable price," Ballparks of the Ozarks COO Bob Ramsey said in a news release.

Several companies with decades of experience working in the Lake of the Ozarks area will oversee the construction. Kissick Construction, headquartered in Kansas City, is the general contractor on the project. Lake of the Ozarks-based Thomas Construction will be the general contractor for the facility fieldhouse and restrooms. Spoonball Sports will oversee the installation of the athletic fields, while Olsson Associates is the civil engineer and designer of the complex.

"Kissick Construction Co. is very proud to be part of this unique development," said Jim Kissick, president of Kissick Construction. "This project will add another dimension to the vacation and resort reputation of the Lake of the Ozarks."

The facility sits on 239 acres off U.S. 54 near Route J, minutes from downtown Camdenton.

For the past four years, Ramsey and Ballparks of the Ozarks CEO Jeff Vernetti have dreamed of opening a premier baseball facility. The dream existed only on paper - land deals, zoning notifications, blueprints and conceptual art - and in conversations with surrounding business owners and community leaders.

Ramsey and Vernetti want to create a youth baseball facility that will surpass the Howard J. Lamade and Little League Volunteer Stadiums in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the Little League World Series.

"By our design it will be a better facility. And then, it's just a matter of doing our job and attracting teams," Ramsey said at a 2015 community gathering at the facility site. "What we have that Williamsport or some of the other folks around the nation don't have. They don't have an unbelievable national level resort that we have."

Visit ballparksoftheozarks.com for more information, or follow Ballparks of the Ozarks on Facebook at acebook.com/ozarkballparks and Twitter at @ozarkballparks for updates.