World Sports Products, Inc.

What is World Sports Products?
World Sports Products, Inc. is a privately held American sporting goods company based in Saint George, Utah. The company does business as Heater Sports and was founded by Cole Lay. It designs and sells budget-friendly pitching machines, batting cages, and training aids for baseball, softball, and other sports, including golf, pickleball, and cricket. The company sells directly through its website with free ground shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Who owns World Sports Products?
World Sports Products, Inc. is owned by its founder, Cole Lay, also known as William Coleman Lay. There is no parent company, no private equity backer, and no outside investors. Lay serves as president and lead inventor. The company has been independently owned since its founding and has never taken outside investment.

Is World Sports Products publicly traded?
No. World Sports Products, Inc. is a privately held corporation. It is not listed on any stock exchange and does not file public financial reports. Revenue and employee figures are not publicly disclosed. The company has been independently owned since its founding.

When was World Sports Products founded?
World Sports Products was founded by Cole Lay. The HEATER trademark was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 8, 2006, and registered in December 2007. The company was initially based in Mountain View, California, before relocating to Saint George, Utah. Lay founded the company after being unable to find an affordable pitching machine when he was growing up.

Who founded World Sports Products?
Cole Lay, also known as William Coleman Lay, founded World Sports Products, Inc. He is the president of the company and the lead inventor behind the Heater Sports brand. Lay holds multiple patents related to pitching machine design, filed under the name William Coleman Lay and assigned to World Sports Products, Inc. He started the company to create affordable training equipment for families and youth players.

Where is World Sports Products based?
World Sports Products, Inc. is based at 95 West 650 South in Saint George, Utah, USA. Saint George is a city in southwestern Utah near the Arizona and Nevada borders. The company was initially based in Mountain View, California, based on the original trademark filing, before relocating to Utah. Customer service and warranty support are handled from the Saint George address.

What products does Heater Sports sell?
Heater Sports sells budget-friendly pitching machines for baseball and softball, including combo models that handle both sports. The product range also includes backyard batting cages, swing training aids, and equipment for golf, pickleball, and cricket. The company offers free ground shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee through its website, heatersports.com. Products come with a parts and labor warranty.

Cole Lay founded World Sports Products, Inc. driven by a personal frustration. When he was growing up, he could not find an affordable pitching machine. Most machines on the market were expensive, designed for professional or institutional buyers. Lay set out to build a low-priced alternative so that families and young players could afford training equipment at home.

The HEATER trademark was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 8, 2006, under serial number 78947561. It was registered on December 11, 2007, under registration number 3352369. The trademark is classified under Class 9 and Class 28, covering sporting goods. The original filing listed Mountain View, California as the company address, indicating that the business was initially based in California before relocating to Utah.

The relocation to Saint George, Utah occurred at some point after the initial trademark filing. Saint George is in southwestern Utah, near the Arizona and Nevada borders. The current address is 95 West 650 South, St. George, UT 84770. The reasons for the relocation have not been publicly disclosed.

The early Heater product line focused on affordable pitching machines for backyard and home use. The machines were designed to be simple, dependable, and priced well below premium competitors. The brand's tagline, "Turning Little Leaguers into Big Leaguers," reflected its target market: families and youth players rather than professional organizations.

Heater Sports expanded its product range over time. The current catalog includes pitching machines for baseball and softball, batting cages, and swing training aids. The company also produces equipment for other sports, including golf, pickleball, and cricket. This diversification beyond baseball and softball gives World Sports Products a broader revenue base than single-sport competitors.

The combo machine is a key product category for Heater Sports. These machines handle both baseball and softball, allowing families with players in both sports to use a single device. The combo approach is common in the budget segment, where buyers want versatility at a low price point. Some Heater machines also feature ball speeds and pitch types suitable for youth players, with drop-ball capabilities for specific training drills.

Cole Lay holds multiple patents related to pitching machine design, filed under the name William Coleman Lay of St. George, Utah, and assigned to World Sports Products, Inc. These patents cover various aspects of pitching machine mechanics and functionality.

The company sells directly through its website, heatersports.com, and through third-party retailers. The direct-to-consumer sales model with free ground shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee reduces purchase risk for budget-conscious buyers. This model helps Heater Sports compete against larger brands by keeping prices low.

As of 2026, World Sports Products, Inc. has been in business for approximately 20 years. The company remains small and privately held. Its customer base consists primarily of families, youth league coaches, and backyard training enthusiasts who prioritize affordability over premium features.

World Sports Products, Inc. does not publish a sustainability report and is not a Certified B Corporation. As a small manufacturer of sports training equipment, the company's environmental footprint is limited. The company does not publicly disclose carbon emissions, supply chain audits, or materials sourcing policies.

The company lists its products as made in the United States and operates from Saint George, Utah. Domestic operations reduce shipping distances for US customers. World Sports Products does not publicly state what percentage of components are US-sourced versus imported. The company does not disclose detailed manufacturing or component sourcing information.

No independent certifications such as Leaping Bunny, PETA, or Fair Trade apply to Heater Sports products, as these programs typically cover personal care, apparel, and food categories. The company has not faced public scrutiny over environmental or labor practices.