D-Bat Columbia Basin observes its three-year anniversary this month. Its celebration is also a win for the sports tourism industry in the Tri-Cities. It is estimated by Visit Tri-Cities that baseball and softball tournaments will bring in more than $7.2 million in economic impact and it’s taken a team effort to bring and keep events in the area.
“The weather plays a big role,” said Hector Cruz, vice president of Visit Tri-Cities. “It allows for an earlier and longer season February to October.”
D-Bat is a national franchise founded in 2008 that caters to baseball and softball.
Tammy and Bob Benson opened the 20,000-square-foot D-Bat Columbia Basin in March 2019, offering seven hitting lanes, three baseball pitching tunnels, two softball pitching lanes, four pitching machines for baseball or softball, more than 20 instructors, a gym area and a golf simulator.
The Bensons moved to the Tri-Cities in 2003 from North Dakota and raised their three daughters on the diamond.
“We…
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