Mercury Sports, Evansville

For more than 40 years, Mercury Sports has provided the gear, facilities, and training to help athletes find their stride in baseball, softball, and other sports. Baseball instructors help players fine-tune all aspects of their game, from swing mechanics to pitching and fielding, in small-group lessons. Sluggers looking to practice on their own time can spend time facing pitches from remote-controlled or wheel-action machines in one of the center's three batting cages. Inside Mercury's retail shop, sales associates stock football helmets, shoulder pads, and chest guards from top brands such as Under Armour and Rawlings. Coaches can also order customized team jerseys and screen-printed gear to make their players appear uniform without forcing them all to get the same haircut.