RHS hosts skills camp for baseball

By Brannon King for the FCT

It’s a rare opportunity to get the chance to learn baseball skills at a young age from a championship winner, and ball players got that chance during the two-day 2017 Golden Tigers Summer Baseball Camp held at RHS June 19-20 for children aged 5-13.

The young athletes received valuable training and encouragement from the camp staff, led by three-time defending Class 5A state championship RHS head coach Chris Heaps, his assistant coaches and some current and former Russellville players.

Campers received instruction in the areas of hitting, throwing, fielding, pitching, baserunning and speed/agility/quickness, all taught in the successful Golden Tiger Way.

“We think the camp is one of the most important things to our program,” Heaps said. “Not only is it about developing the young kids of our community and investing in the youth, but it’s also about encouraging dads and moms and Little League coaches. We encourage them to come and video and listen to what we’re saying, go through the session and take that and run with it.”

Heaps said he has seen firsthand how young players grow up to fill the roles of their heroes, and a key to a successful program is being able to reload with talent instead of rebuilding when star players graduate.

Heaps also said he hopes to get young players and their coaches to attend the camp that is held in January at RHS. “One thing that I want to encourage is that on our Martin Luther King Day camp in January, on that Monday, most people are off of work, and I wish that every Little League coach would sign up. Instead of charging them the full price, (we could) charge them just a fee to attend the camp and give this knowledge. It’s great stuff,” Heaps said. “It’s the secrets to success, but they’re not secrets.”

Heaps estimated about 45 boys attended the summer camp, and that was up from about 30-35 the previous year. “We’re just proud to be able to do it and give back to the community,” he added.