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Zerkle has been the lead instructor at the camp before, but this one came after her first season as the coach of the Thundering Herd.

The Milton native and Cabell Midland High School graduate is the perfect choice, having been where 80 players who attended Tuesday�����Ƶ�s camp were when she was a youth softball player.

�����Ƶ�This is not something that was readily available when I was growing up,�����Ƶ� Zerkle said. �����Ƶ�Softball has grown a ton, and I think it�����Ƶ�s cool that it�����Ƶ�s really grown here in the Tri-State area, and to see this many kids come out and be at the caliber and talent that they are is really nice to see.�����Ƶ�

Zerkle offers her own camp at Marshall, and while it�����Ƶ�s her name that garners top billing on the social media posts Hopkins sent out, she was not the only college coach in attendance Tuesday.

Aly Harrell, Zerkle�����Ƶ�s assistant, joined her boss at the camp. Coaches from Ohio University, Morehead State and Northern Kentucky joined them. West Virginia State, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Bluefield State, Kentucky Christian, Muskingum University, University of Rio Grande, Shawnee State, Georgetown College and Pikeville were all represented.

The camp began with a 9 a.m. huddle with Zerkle. Then the campers were split into smaller groups, in which they worked with various coaches who showed catchers better techniques to throw out baserunners and helped outfielders improve their fielding and arm strength. A similar approach was used on the infielders.

Players�����Ƶ� baserunning skills were tested too.

Following a lunch break, the players were organized into six teams for scrimmages. Players as young as incoming high school freshmen and as old as high school seniors, whose prep playing days have already ended, could try out their newly earned skills.

For soon-to-be senior Abbie Deeds, the camp is a chance to be seen by the college coaches in attendance.

�����Ƶ�I want to show off what I can do,�����Ƶ� said Deeds, who registered for one of the camp�����Ƶ�s 24 pitching spots available.

Deeds, who pitches for Coal Grove, said she is hoping to get an offer to play collegiately from Shawnee State, Rio Grande or �����ƵSU.

Showing off a skill was also the aim of soon-to-be sophomore Faithanna Hall, who was used as a pitcher this past season at Capital. Hall said she would much rather play outfield, and so she registered for the camp to get instruction in that position.

�����Ƶ�It�����Ƶ�s cool that I get to talk to college coaches and learn to play better defense in the outfield,�����Ƶ� Hall said.

For Hall�����Ƶ�s mother, Rachel, who called the softball field her daughter�����Ƶ�s �����Ƶ�happy place,�����Ƶ� the $240 registration cost was worth the price to give Faithanna the best chance to succeed in the sport, if she chooses to pursue it beyond her high school years.

Hall is a multisport athlete for Capital who also plays on the soccer team, but with more of a recreational interest than softball, which could lead to college opportunities.

�����Ƶ�I want her to know she has options,�����Ƶ� Rachel Hall said.

The cost isn�����Ƶ�t as high as some other camps like one scheduled in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday that comes with a $1,300 price tag, but also includes a tournament for the more than 100 travel ball teams who will attend, Hopkins said.

To help with her costs, Wheelersburg junior infielder/outfielder Jalynn Drake works in her grandmother�����Ƶ�s hair salon. That job has not only helped her improve her softball skills, she said, but also help with the $450 purchase of a goldendoodle puppy.

�����Ƶ�I want to get more exposure,�����Ƶ� said Drake, who will be a junior. �����Ƶ�I want to make sure they know I am.�����Ƶ�

Zerkle�����Ƶ�s camp is perfect for Drake, who had sent emails to Zerkle and her staff at MU hoping to draw interest. Those emails included statistics from her high school and travel ball games.

It was important to Drake to get the Herd coach�����Ƶ�s attention, as Marshall is her first choice, she said. The coaches have yet to offer her, but if Zerkle can�����Ƶ�t come through, Drake has a backup plan.

�����Ƶ�I can go to Shawnee, which is about 20 minutes from my house,�����Ƶ� Drake said, �����Ƶ�or I can go to Marietta.

�����Ƶ�I just want to play.�����Ƶ�