FRANKLIN FURNACE — Grab a bat and swing for the fences.

That is exactly what dozens of aspiring major leaguers have been attempting since the Furnace Batting Cages opened for business June 30.

Build on vacant property behind the Franklin Furnace Giovanni’s, the facility fills a needed void as neither Lawrence nor Scioto counties had public batting cages for years.

Owned by Bruce MacDonald, the business consists of two batting cages containing Iron Mike Pitching Machines. One cage has fast and slow pitch baseball while the other has fast pitch and slow pitch softball.

“People have been very receptive to the cages,” said MacDonald, who also owns the Franklin Furnace Giovanni’s for the past five years. “They are happy to have a place to practice and a place for the kids to practice.”

MacDonald said he always has been a baseball fan and really got interested in the idea when his son started playing little league.

The cages are open to the public from 9 a.m. until dark. It is located at 4301 Gallia Pike (Old U.S. 52) in Franklin Furnace. Costs range from 50 cents for ten pitches to $5 for 120 pitches. Tokens can be purchased inside Giovanni’s.

Area teams are welcome and special pricing is available for both boys and girls teams. MacDonald said he hopes to have a professional batting instructor and extensive practice facilities in the near future.

Additionally, MacDonald said when the facility is complete it will be “really conducive” to hold birthday parties and company outings in conjunction with the restaurant and picnic shelters near the cages.

For more information, call (740) 354-9335.