Youth camp develops baseball’s next generation
Young athletes from Franklin, Marion and Colbert counties were able to learn baseball and life skills at the second annual Olan Cunningham Legends of Youth Baseball Camp held Saturday at Russellville High School.
The camp was free of charge and is named after former Red Bay football coach Olan Cunningham. Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow and former Kansas City Royals pitcher Randy McGilberry brought the camp to Red Bay High School last year.
This year, the RHS baseball stadium was the scene for about 80 campers to receive instruction from the Russellville staff and players, along with former big-leaguers McGilberry and Steve Woodard, who graduated from Hartselle High School and went on to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox. The Governor’s Commission on Physical Fitness and Sports was also represented at the clinic.
At the end of the camp, campers were able to receive autographs.
Upon hearing about the MLBPAA Legends for Youth program, Morrow said he knew immediately that the program’s purpose reminded him of his former coach, Cunningham. “I love kids, and they mean a lot to me,” Cunningham said while taking in the camp from the field. “I try to do something for them every day.”
Morrow said RHS Coach Chris Heaps and all of the staff at RHS “have just been absolutely wonderful. I’m glad we’re here in Russellville and having it.
“The beauty about this camp is that it allows children who can’t afford to go to the expensive camps to come out and get first-class instruction,” Morrow added. “It allows them to come out at no cost and receive this training. We’re just glad that everyone is here and it’s well received.”
Heaps and his coaching staff, along with former and current RHS players, had a major role in the camp Saturday. Included in the group were a couple of Russellville alums who currently play for the Auburn Tigers, Cody Greenhill and Judd Ward.
“I think it was a great opportunity for us to give back to the community,” Heaps said. “We had kids from three different counties, and I’m excited. I think a lot of kids, parents and surrounding schools are anxious to see what it is that we’ve been doing so well here. I think coming here, they’ve realized that it’s a little bit different work ethic and a little bit different level of energy – not just from me but from all these guys.
“We had so many compliments today on not only our coaches but our players and how they had the ability to explain and teach,” Heaps added. “So that means we’ve done a pretty good job of relaying the message to them and they’re able to teach it.
“The reason that I really wanted to do this is that it’s an opportunity for me, our coaches and our players to grow and to be ambassadors for baseball and help baseball grow in this area.”
