Annual Robert Sapp Baseball Camp returns to Houston County High

Tanner Hall is back on the field where all the magic happened. No, there’s not quite as many people at the Bear Den as there were in late May, and it’s certainly not the pressure cooker (no pun intended considering the heat) of a state championship series deciding game.

But what was going on at the baseball facility of Houston County High School had some kind of hand in making Hall and others like him a winner, a college recruit, etc. And he decided this week to lend his own hand at creating potential future champions.

Monday through Friday, the 36 annual Robert Sapp Baseball Camp took place in Warner Robins for a variety of ages. Under the scrutiny of the former NJCAA champion coach at Middle Georgia College and winner of 915 college games total, the Sapp Camp is all about the fundamentals: throw and catch a ball, run the bases, grip a bat and put down the bunt among the lessons all morning into the mid-afternoon.

One can always find Northside’s Mark Estes and Houston County Matt Hopkins on the staff – not to mention guest coaches Tim Harris from Tiftarea and Chuck Hester from Crisp Academy. This year, Hall, fresh off his second championship win for Houston County, had his own little (literally) group going over the baseball basics.

“It’s a special feeling,” said the left-handed pitcher/first baseman about being a two-time champion. “To me, (2016) was better. I don’t want to sound selfish, but I got to influence it more, contribute more to it. The first time, I got lucky and got to pitch (in the final series), but this time I contributed a lot more, and it felt a lot better.”

In 2014, it was the first state championship in baseball for Houston County High, and the sophomore Hall had a key outing at Whitewater High. Two years later, Hall clinched three playoff series that went three games, including the semifinals at Gainesville and the finals against Loganville. Both were shutouts.

“I came (to the Robert Sapp Camp) for about six or seven years,” said Hall. “It was always fun. I always got a lot out of it. I wanted to listen and get better. All these coaches out here were here when I was going through it. To come back out and help, it means a lot.

“I know if you come out and listen, they know what they’re talking about.”

So if Hall is the ‘star’ of the staff, the youngsters may want to know what it’s like to be a state champion and going to college. Hall is signed to play at Armstrong in Savannah.

“I just tell them what I’m told to tell them,” said Hall. “I’m helping them with what I know, learning everything possible and getting better every day. I’ve been asked a couple of times how high school baseball is. In high school, I guess there’s a little more pressure on you. It’s more competitive. Right now they are trying to learn the basics. In high school you are playing for championships.”

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