Most coaches will tell you that players are made through their hard work during the offseason, not during the season.

If that is the case then North Moore softball coach Sammy McNeill had 58 players to attend his summer camp for four days working to improve their games.

The girls were separated into three different groups during the camp that ended Thursday. The camp was open to girls from the third grade and into high school. The youngest group was the girls in grades 3-5, the second group consisted of girls from grades 6-8 and the final group was high school girls.

“We like to teach the girls the fundamentals and prepare them for the future,” said McNeill, who just completed his first year back at the helm of the North Moore program after taking a year hiatus. “We try to teach them all phases of the game from hitting, fielding, to running the bases. We try to teach them our philosophy and why we play the way we play.”

When it comes to hitting, McNeill and his staff show the girls not only how to hit the ball, but also how to bunt and slap the ball when they are at the plate. They also learn about what to do from a staff that is made up of former players, many that have gone on to play at the next level from college to club ball.

“A lot of the former players call me for the opportunity to come back and teach these younger girls,” said McNeill, whose team made it to the second round of the recent state 1-A playoffs. “We have them speak to the campers about the game and what it’s like to play at the next level and what it takes to succeed.”

In addition to teaching the fundamentals of the game, McNeill and his staff also teach the girls rule interpretation.

“We want them to know the rules of the game because it might help us win a game down the road,” said McNeill. “We try to motivate them, teach them about sportsmanship and how to be better teammates. In other words we try to teach them the whole nine yards.”

Each camper received a T-shirt, and at the end of the camp awards were handed out to some of the campers.

Receiving coaches awards were Nicole Boone, Kristianna Temperville, River Reynolds, Lilly Hussey, Allison Johnson, Glorie Steslicke and Seanea Hines.

Hannah Lassiter received the team work award and Abby McNeill was named the camper of the week.