Elijah Hillock, left, and Landon Belew show their pitching form with the help of Hartselle Tiger Jake Shelton. | Clif Knight

Eighty young baseball players between the ages of 5 and 15 participated in Coach William Booth’s winter baseball camp at Hartselle High School on Monday.

The camp focused on teaching fundamental baseball skills, including hitting, pitching, fielding and running. Campers also shared in a pizza lunch.

Serving with Booth as co-director of the camp was Charlie Rogers, a retired college baseball coach who currently owns and operates an indoor baseball training facility in Huntsville. Camp instructors consisted of assistant Hartselle High baseball coaches and former and current Hartselle High players.

Will Rankin, a former Hartselle Tiger and a minor league professional player, was a member of the instructional staff. He is playing for a farm team of the Colorado Rockies.

“We’re pleased with the turnout,” said Booth. “This is a good group of kids; they’re the Hartselle Tigers of the future.

“In addition, we have a great group of instructors. “Not only do the young kids develop their skills but our players benefit from the coaching experience, too. When they re-teach what they’ve been taught, the importance of basic skills really sinks in.”

“What impresses me is these young kids are buying into the Hartselle baseball tradition,” said Rogers. “Coach Booth has done a terrificjob of building up the sport in Hartselle and these kids are demonstrating the excitement and work ethic that’s necessary for them to be able to compete at the varsity level.”