Progress is giving Rockmart High School’s softball team a strong reputation on the local and state level and its annual youth camp is a part of that rise.

The Lady Jackets held this year’s four-day program last week, utilizing both the recently upgraded softball field and the indoor batting facility.

“This is a big fundraiser for us,” Rockmart head coach Steve Luke said. “Plus the players teach the girls fundamentals and we’re starting to see kids that have gone through the camp moving into the program.”

Luke said that 13 of the 16 high school players that helped instruct the camp had gone through the camp as young girls.

“That’s a big reason why we do things like this – to build up the program and show the kids what we’re about.”

A variety of drills and techniques were introduced to the participants covering baserunning, defense and batting from Luke and his players, who advanced all the way to the Class AA state championship series last season.

But even though players were asked to help manage nearly 50 girls for the camp, they still continued their summer training for the fall season by coming in for practice the two hours prior to the camp starting each day.

“That says a lot about the focus of our girls and how our players are working hard at maintaining the level that we have shown in the past,” Luke said.

“This has been similar to our past camps but the attendance has been better.”

Besides improving their skills, the camp allowed girls to see some of the upgrades that have been made to the home of the Lady Jackets.

A brand new backstop that features 40-foot high poles with netting and a block wall with custom padding sets off a more level infield, which includes new sod.

“Like where our program is going, we not only want to be one of the best teams in the state but we want our field to be the best in the state,” Luke said. “We want the girls to look forward to growing up and getting able to play here.”

Other touches, like new paint on the dugouts, have added to the appearance of the field.