Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Pensacola Pelican Academy staff (from left): Jim Harrington, Brittany Waldon, Academy Instructor Andrew Salvo and Pelicans' General Manager Talmadge Nunnari. The onset of winter shouldn't mean the end of baseball, and the Pensacola Pelicans are looking to make the transition from postseason to off-season a smooth one for student athletes. Pelicans' management announced plans to open the Pensacola Pelicans Training Academy, a collection of coaching and workout programs designed to keep aspiring players of all ages involved in the sport year round.

The first phase will be the Pelicans' first annual Winter Training held Nov. 14 through Dec. 16. The next phase will be the tentative Jan. 15 grand opening of the training academy's 12,000 square foot exercise facility in Pensacola.

"We don't want to interfere with any other sport, but my feeling is that if they're not playing another sport it's better for them to be doing something. That's better than the other option, which is dong nothing," said Pelicans' owner Quint Studer. "We plan on making this a good experience for Pensacola and the Pensacola area."

The expansive facility, located at 4920 North Davis Highway in Pensacola, will be the training academy's headquarters and will feature batting cages, pitching machines, an observation deck, video analysis capabilities, and a study area.

"We really want to make this not only about sports but about maximizing the human potential," Studer said. "We don't want students there getting good at baseball while they don't do well in school."

The Pelicans' upcoming Winter Training will be held at their current facility at the University of West Florida (UWF) and all future tutoring activities would be at the Davis Highway location.

"It will give them a place where they can come and take advantage of experienced baseball players, past and present. It will help players become the best they can possibly be," said Jim Harrington, a Gulf Breeze resident who has been involved with area sports and business ventures for many years. Harrington said his role would be to help the Pelicans Training Academy get up and running.

Off-season programs will include professional instruction on hitting, pitching, and fielding. Once the training facility is open, Studer said the expertise of its exceptional staff would be available for individual and group lessons, clinics, camps instructional leagues, travel teams and lock-ins.

"The coaches will all be trained and they'll all be professional and they'll want to be good roll models for your kids or your players," Studer said.

Currently, the coaching staff includes Andrew Salvo, six year professional baseball veteran, Cameron Smith, 14 year veteran, Larry Bethea, 10 year veteran, Brad Salmon, eight year veteran, Nate Espy, nine year veteran and many other currently playing or working for PJC, UWF and the Pensacola Pelicans.

The winter training is open to high school players at a cost of $150 per player. Future programs with the academy will be open to ages three and up.

"This is one of those things that looks like it will be done right," said Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) Baseball Head Coach Randy Renfroe. "Anything that promotes the game of baseball, I'm going to back it 100 percent."

Renfroe said he will also host the GBHS baseball camp Dec. 20 and 21 at the GBHS baseball field for $50 per player. For more information bout the GBHS camp call 850-748-2227.

For more information about the Pensacola Pelicans Training Academy, email Andrew Salvo at Andrew@pensacolapelicans. com or visit www.pelicanstrainingacademy. com.