Backyard Bats, a custom wood baseball bat and equipment company headquartered in Washington Township, recently returned from a successful tour of professional baseball spring training facilities in Florida, taking orders for its baseball bats and other specialty equipment crafted in Michigan. After moving from Windsor, Ontario, and incorporating in Macomb County in 2024, the company launched with help from a $5,000 grant, legal assistance, and small business accelerator services provided by Velocity.
“We’re incredibly grateful for time spent working with our mentors at Velocity,” said Ryan LaPensee, co-owner of Backyard Bats. “Building a business that allows us to pursue our passion for baseball and create top-quality custom equipment for players is a dream come true. While we’re experts in crafting bats and evaluating hitters’ needs, we’re not experts in growing manufacturing capacity, raising funds, or e-commerce. Velocity has been a game changer, mentoring us on the business side and providing the guidance needed to make our dream a reality in the big leagues.”
Founded in 2004 by Paul LaMantia and his father John, the company has been a hobby business under the name Back-Yard Bat Co. for 20 years in Windsor, Ontario. Paul’s passion for crafting wood bats came from his grandfather, Joe LaMantia, who learned to hand-turn bats at the age of 80. Paul made his first bat for Joe, which became a symbol of strength and unity during his grandfather’s final days. In 2024, Backyard Bats incorporated in Washington Township. Paul and his lifelong friend and business partner, Ryan, both signed baseball scholarships to Wayne State University before going on to play professionally.
“We are so excited for Backyard Bats and to see them grow as they take their business to the big leagues,” said Paula Macpherson, Executive Director of Velocity. “Not only are they dedicated to their craft producing top-quality baseball equipment, but they give back to our small business community at Velocity by co-hosting events and sharing their experiences.”
Backyard Bats is enrolled in Velocity’s small business Accelerator program. The program is designed for emerging and second-stage business and provides in-depth evaluations, assessments and launches for an accelerated trajectory toward guided success. Examples include spin-out core initiatives, portfolio diversification, mergers/acquisitions, new product launches, succession planning and positioning companies for successful exit events.
After a successful tour of big league camps in Florida, the company was able to secure orders and provide samples to six big league clubhouses and minor league systems.
To learn more about Backyard Bats, visit them at backyardbats.com or on Instagram at @backyardbatco.
About Velocity
Velocity, an MEDC SmartZone, serves as a catalyst for cultural change, accelerating innovation, reinvention, and growth for Macomb County businesses of all industries and sizes with a focus on manufacturing, technology, and defense. Velocity’s 34,000 sq ft campus is proudly located in the Sterling Innovation District. Our incubator, accelerator, private office, and coworking space provide world-class opportunities for businesses to thrive. The Sterling Innovation District encompasses six square miles and boasts 28 million square feet of industrial and high-tech space. Over the past five years, the district has undergone a significant transformation, attracting billions of dollars in high-tech manufacturing investments—including the reinvention of Velocity itself.
