Prospective Nighthawk softball players showcased their skills at National Park College's showcase Tuesday at Hot Springs High School.
Twelve players ranging from high school juniors to those just starting the recruiting process participated in a day full of drills to catch the eye of head coach Jessica Taylor.
Taylor said the camp went well, and she was impressed to see the younger players show interest in NPC at the beginning of their recruiting process.
"We had multiple kids out here that could really hit the ball today, and then we had some good pitching, too, that I was excited about," Taylor said. "Definitely I think it was a success. Only thing that wasn't great was the heat."
With 12 players at the showcase, Taylor said she appreciated getting a lot of one-on-one time with the campers.
"I knew every single kid's name," Taylor said. "We played a little game at the end where I had to say their name so they would know when to hit, and I was able to call all their names out. I was able to watch them in every aspect of the game today. I would prefer a 12-person camp more than a 50-person camp because then I can actually work with them and coach."
The heat played a major factor in Tuesday's camp with players taking multiple water breaks, but Taylor was most impressed by the players' toughness during the full-day camp.
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"It was hot -- hot, hot, hot," Taylor said. "At times I just wanted to go and sit in the A/C in the press box. They hustled the whole time; they never slowed down. They never stopped focusing. They came out here and gave it their all and showed out no matter how hot it felt because I mean it's even hotter on this turf out here."
Taylor made sure to incorporate the running and agility drills in the morning so by the time it got extremely hot later in the day those drills would be over.
Players at times even tried to turn down the water breaks, but Taylor made sure they took them.
"I think part of it was successful because we did make them rest so much because they're motivated," Taylor said. "They want to come out here and prove themselves, so we have to kind of make them sit down."
For the older athletes, the next step in the recruiting process is visiting campus, and Taylor talked with players about opportunities like academic scholarships and programs. Taylor will continue to watch the younger players as they develop over the next few years.
While Taylor said athletes who attended the showcase today do not necessarily need to go to the next showcase, some players expressed their interest in attending the next camp, and Taylor is all for it.
The general atmosphere at the showcase was fun, and some current NPC softball players helped conduct the camp. Taylor even had some incoming freshmen who haven't practiced with the Nighthawks yet help with the showcase.
"They had a lot of fun," Taylor said. "I think it was exciting for me as a coach to see my current players interact with each other and just be ready to come back and get going. That's exciting for recruits to see, too, because they see these teammates like each other and like me and when they come here they have fun."
