More than 100 kids from around the region attended the Robert Sapp Baseball Camp in Richmond Hill June 1-5.
The campers learned new skills and brushed up on their baseball basics.
"I learned a lot great techniques from the coaches," said nine year old Rick Mitchell, who won the 14 and under hustle award.
Robert Sapp has directed the camps since 1981 with the assistance from several of the top head baseball coaches in the state.
This is the second year for Sapp to host a camp in Richmond Hill. Next summer he has plans to also host a camp or coaches clinic at Hendrix Park in Black Creek.
Coach Sapp coached baseball for thirty five years and compiled a 915-210 win/loss record as head coach at Middle Georgia College and UGA. His MGC teams won four national championships and were runners-up twice. Twenty-one of his former players have played in the major leagues. Over 100 of his former players have played professional baseball and several will make appearances or work on the summer staff.
Coach Sapp is a member of the National Junior College Baseball Hall of Fame. He is retired and presently lives in Flowery Branch with his wife Nancy.
He continues to enjoy working with young people and giving them the opportunity to learn the game of baseball.
During the week, coaches broke the instructional parts down by days. The kids worked on pitching, running, fielding and awareness.
Each afternoon they put their new skills to action during practice games. On Friday, awards were presented to the camper that excelled in several categories.
In the 8-and-under division Aaron Warner won the Most Improved award, Chase Brown the Hustle Award,
Brandt "Lefty" Smith received the Best Play for his double play on the last day of camp. Other winners in the 8-and-under division were:
Bunting
1st Chase Brown
2nd Jake Boram
3rd Scott McCormick
Hitting
1st Jarret Karnibad,
2nd Chase Warren
3rd Nickolas Froude.
Fielding
1st Will Webb
2nd Jake Jones
3rd Zack Moore
Pitching
1st Brandt Smith
2nd Jayce Warren
3rd Malone Thompkins
Base running
1st Josh Zoufal time 15:18
2nd Luke Zwicker 15:90
3rd Matt Moore 16:16
9-10 year olds
Most Improved- Tyler Davis, Hustle Award- Jake Brown
Pitching
1st Trey McManaway, 2nd Zach Lewis, 3rd Brandon Schwier
Bunting
1st Blake Neal, 2nd Parker Jones, 3rd Jarrett Mullis
Fielding
1st Tyler Harrison, 2nd Braden Sorge, 3rd Jacob Wigand
Base Running
1st Connor Fischer, 2nd Kyle Reagan, 3rd Evan Blasy
Hitting
1st Matt Robertson, 2nd Tyler Pelley, 3rd Foster Reynolds
14 & Under (some of the ten and under played up an age group to help fill the field)
Most Improved Justin Phillips, Hustle Award- Rick Mitchel
Base Running
1st Grant Wilson, 2nd Ben Hulsey, 3rd Greyson Cook
Hitting
1st Brennan Jamar, 2nd Kasey Green, 3rd Coby Royal
Bunting
1st Jimmy Ward, 2nd Ben Hulsey, 3rd Jacob Sutton
Fielding
1st Blake Wilson, 2nd Mikey Teston, 3rd (tie) Jeb Boyette and Chad Castle
Pitching
1st Tanner Hicks, 2nd Kip Gibson, 3rd Zach Haines.