Gap to Gap in Waukon offers year-round indoor training or recreational facility for baseball, softball and golf enthusiasts
Filling a Gap to Gap ... A look inside the Gap to Gap facility south of Waukon shows areas where baseball and softball training can take place with batting cages, and pitching tunnels and machines, all on turf, with a golf simulator also available for use within the building located at 219 State Highway 9. The facility is now open for membership or day use for both individuals and teams, with clinic and individual training also available. Submitted photo.
by Jennifer Bissell
Baseball has always been in John Papp’s blood. A native of the Milwaukee, WI area, Papp played collegiate baseball before earning his MBA. Since moving to the Waukon area with his wife, the former Elizabeth Dehli of the Harpers Ferry area, Papp has been involved in youth athletics with his boys.
That gave him the idea of the unique way he could give back to the community and still be involved in the sport he loves.
Papp recently opened Gap To Gap, an indoor training facility for baseball, softball and golf athletes to improve their game. Located at 219 Highway 9, just south of Waukon, the facility offers a large space for local athletes to get their practice swings in, as well as for teams to hold practices at any time of the year.
FIND THE RIGHT SPACE
Papp went to high school in a suburb of Milwaukee. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was an academic All-Big Ten honoree while playing baseball for four years. When his collegiate career ended, he moved to Florida to earn his MBA (Masters of Business Administration).
Papp first came to the Waukon area to assist his uncle with a few projects. Once here, he met his now-wife, and became a resident of northeast Iowa. He works for Truvant Prairie du Chien, working with their supply chain and computer systems as a production manager.
However, baseball and softball has never been far from his mind. He’s served as a volunteer coach for his children’s teams for years. However, as they grew older, he began to see that there was a need for a dedicated space for batting practice and other baseball/softball drills.
“There’s not a whole lot of facilities in the area. There are kids here who want to learn and spend the time learning the game, but they just don’t have the place,” he said.
Papp spent several years looking at various buildings in the area before the former lumber yard building along Highway 9 became available. He said he looked at it once before and wasn’t sure it was right. It was privately purchased and remodeled, with insulation, heat, finished offices and restrooms.
Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke suggested Papp look at the space again when it went up for sale earlier this year.
“I’ve seen facilities like this. My sons have played a lot of ball. We’ve been to a lot of campuses and facilities around the country and it’s not terribly difficult. You’ve just got to get the stuff in place,” he said.
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, November 12, 2025 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
