Russellville hosts annual winter baseball camp

Young baseball players looking to improve their skills have a chance to do so at the upcoming Golden Tigers Winter Baseball Camp.

The annual camp, held at the Russellville High School baseball stadium and RHS gym, will take place Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Children do not have to attend a Russellville school to participate, and the camp is for any baseball player in first through sixth grades.

Camp cost is $75, with a $10 sibling discount available, payable by cash or check. Checks should be made payable to RHS Baseball, and applications can be turned in on the day of the camp.

Camp instruction will be by RHS head coach Chris Heaps and assistants Jay Stanley, Corey Flanagan, Matthew Duncan, Richard Maggerise and Matt Spurgeon. Current RHS players will also assist with the camp.

Campers will receive instruction covering pitching mechanics/drills, throwing fundamentals, hitting mechanics/drills, infield play by position, fly balls/outfield play, baserunning/sliding and speed/agility/quickness.

Items needed for camp include a glove, baseball hat, cleats, tennis shoes, baseball bat and helmet.

Heaps has led the RHS program to 5A state championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and his Golden Tigers also participated in the state finals in 2018. He has been part of seven high school state championship teams as either a player, assistant coach or head coach.

Stanley is a 1990 Russellville graduate and has been an assistant coach at RHS for six years. Flanagan graduated from RHS in 2008 and has been an assistant for four years, while Duncan is the RMS head coach and a 2011 RHS graduate. Maggerise comes to Russellville after serving as head coach at Red Bay, and Spurgeon is a 1995 RHS graduate.

Pizza and snacks will be provided. Email Heaps at chris.heaps@rcs.k12.al.us for more information and reserve a spot.