The temperature may be dropping, and youth may be going inside to play ball far more than they are staying outdoors, but that doesn’t stop a baseball coach from thinking baseball.

At Hobbton High, the school’s new baseball coach is doing more than thinking. Wildcat head baseball coach Mike Joyner is hosting a baseball hitting camp for area youth ages 7-18.

Joyner, formerly of Smithfield-Selma High School, is in his first year at Hobbton, but said he’s put on several hitting camps during his 16 years at Smithfield-Selma. “I’m trying to get the community interested again in baseball,” Joyner explained.

“I have a friend who does professional lessons and he said he would help, so we’ll try this and see how it works out. I hope to make this a yearly thing.”

Joyner’s friend is Derek Foote, of Foote Professional Hitting in Garner. He is a graduate of Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, and a 6th round draft pick of the 1994 Atlanta Braves. Foote has an indoor facility where he gives personal hitting and catching lessons.

The day -ong camp is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8 at the school, and the Wildcat coach encourages anyone interested to pre-register, but walk-ons will be accepted.

“We have great facilities here at the high school and Hobbton Middle School, so we’ll be using both campuses. Information on the camp has been sent out to 25 high schools in the area, plus the recreation departments so they can pass it on to their little leagues. We’ll have people here to work with the small kids, as young as 7 years old, and on up to a senior in high school,” Joyner continued.

Some of the camp staff will include Bunn High School coach Leonard Allen, Midway coach Jason Fussell, and other area coaches, plus former professional and collegiate players from this area, according to Joyner.

The fee is $75 for the all-day (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) instruction. To pre-register, or for more information, please call 919-628-3174