Although directors of the Timken Sports Complex want to attract many out of town teams for tournaments, local teams will be welcome to use the facility.

“We would like for Dixie Youth to use the complex,” Paul Wilkes, assistant director, told the Union Rotary Club Tuesday. “We welcome them and would like to work out an agreement.”

Wilkes said he and complex director Kevin Shropshire hope to schedule as many as 30 baseball and softball tournaments a year at the complex, which is nearing completion. Two organizations have already committed to 10 tournaments between February and November of next year; and the Dixie Girls softball organization has expressed interest in holding its state tournament here, he said.

No date has been set for the complex to open, mainly because recent rains have delayed the completion of work, Wilkes said.

The complex features seven ballfields — four of them feature a 210-foot fence and are for players 12 and under, as well as fastpitch girls’ softball. Two fields have a 300-foot centerfield fence with 280 feet to left and right fields. They are for players 13 and 14 years old and slow-pitch softball games.

There is also a championship baseball field featuring a 375-foot centerfield with 300 feet to left and right fields for players 15 and up. The field has more lights than the one where the Charlotte Knights AAA baseball team plays, Wilkes said.

“I believe the complex will be good for our youth,” he said. “It will also bring in teams from outside, which is good for the economy.”

The complex also has two batting cages and a children’s playground, as well as a .83-mile walking trail.

Two towers — north and south — overlook the fields and feature concession stands and an arcade room, Wilkes said.

There are 283 parking spaces adjacent to the complex and Spectra Printing has verbally agreed to allow parking in its lot, he added. Parking will not be allowed on the road.

No advertising signage will be allowed in the complex; instead, brick pavers being sold for $100 each will be used on walkways and marble plaques being sold for $250 each will adorn the north tower.

The Rotary Club is sponsoring one of the two 280-foot fields and will be designated by a brick monument in the shape of home plate .

Three fields — including Rotary’s field and the championship field — feature a grass infield.

A part-time person will be hired to help with concessions and another person will be hired to help with maintenance, Wilkes said.