For Brenden Marshall, the founder of the new Junkyard Athletics, sports are a lifelong affair. Growing up with two PE teachers as parents and spending his childhood in gyms while his father coached a 14-team volleyball club, sports are in his blood. Now, the former WSU football player, whose last game was the 1998 Rose Bowl, is channeling that passion into a new venture for the White Center and West Seattle communities.

Junkyard Athletics, located at 10035 16th SW in White Center, is set to open its doors this week, offering a much-needed, independent training facility for local baseball and softball players. The facility will host an open house for the community this Thursday, September 25, after 5 p.m..

The inspiration for Junkyard Athletics stemmed from a direct community need. Marshall, who has coached his 14-year-old son's basketball team since he was in second grade, noticed a lack of local training facilities not tied to a specific club. This meant many young athletes were leaving West Seattle for extra practice. The final push came when his son's hitting coach, Chad Stenberg, lost the space he was using.

“My son hit very well last season,” Marshall said, crediting Stenberg’s coaching. Recognizing the coach's positive impact, Marshall and a "groundswell of people in the community" wanted to ensure Stenberg had a permanent home to continue his work. The goal became clear: create a facility where Stenberg could coach, with memberships covering the rent.

Originally a 3,000-square-foot garage, the facility quickly expanded to 4,500 square feet after Marshall realized more space was needed for safety and to create the right environment. The expanded space now includes:

• Three hitting cages over 50 feet long on the south side of the building.

• A smaller, fourth cage (opening later) and a weight room for arm care and plyometric work.

• A lounge area for parents to wait while their kids train.

Marshall also noted, "We will have one Hack Attack pitching machine at opening with a 2nd one coming."

The facility will be membership-driven, offering 24/7 access via a mobile app where members can reserve one-hour blocks. An introductory "Machine Shop membership" will be offered to the first 50 members for $85 per month, before the price increases to $100 per month. This family membership allows immediate family members to use the facility.

Junkyard Athletics aims to be a top-tier training center, eventually featuring advanced equipment like a Hack Attack pitching machine, launch monitors to track exit velocity, and even virtual hitting capabilities. "We want to be rooted in White Center," Marshall explained, adding that the "Junkyard Athletics" and "Machine Shop" branding is a nod to the building's history and the hard-work vibe of the neighborhood.

While primarily a hitting facility, the space will likely be flexible enough for some fielding drills. Marshall also plans for midday memberships to cater to adults, such as players from the Puget Sound Senior Baseball Association.

Beyond athletics, Marshall envisions Junkyard Athletics as a hub for community development. In partnership with Jeff Silva of Hotwire Coffee, he plans to launch a program to train and certify young athletes as umpires. Participants can earn community service hours and make money, helping to address the regional shortage of sports officials.

As the planned Thursday opening approaches, the team is working tirelessly to put the finishing touches on the facility, with a strong focus on safety. "It's going to be a laundry mat for your swing," Marshall said, explaining that since the facility won't always be staffed, it needs to be completely buttoned up. The community is invited to visit during the open house, watch the Mariners game in the lounge, and see the new space where athletes of all ages can come to work on their game.

You can find them on Instagram here ahead of their website launch and on the MindBody app.