Former county standouts join forces for clinic at training academy

It is not often that a community of Columbia County's size has four professional athletes, much less in the same place at once. However, that will be the case this Saturday from 12:30- 3:30 p.m. at AthElite Sports Training Academy.

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The Academy is run by former Greenbrier High School football standout Ryan Bowers. Bowers played college football at Presbyterian, where he went from a virtual unknown to become an All-American.

Following his college years, Bowers carved out a career for himself in arena football, where he gained a great reputation for his work ethic. That work ethic paid off when he decided to open his own workout facility. AthElite Sports Training Academy has been a big success so far because of Bowers' relentlessness. He is not just running his gym; Bowers recently signed to play arena football for the Georgia Force next season.

This Saturday, all young baseball players will want to make plans to be at AthElite Sports Training Academy because Bowers has assembled an incredible lineup of baseball stars from the county to conduct a specialized baseball clinic. The clinic will incorporate speed and strength training, along with normal baseball fundamentals.

Bowers enlisted the help of a trio of pro baseball players: former Greenbrier stars Jeff Rowland and Rich Poythress, as well as former Augusta Christian star Josh Whitaker.

Poythress is coming off a monster season in the Seattle Mariners organization. The slugging first baseman led all of professional baseball in RBI. Rowland played three stellar seasons at Georgia Tech and is now in the Detroit Tigers organization. Whitaker is now with the Oakland A's after playing three seasons at Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Ga.

With those three heavy hitters, the camp should certainly bring out a lot of young, aspiring players. However, you need to act fast if you want to attend, because the camp is only accepting the first 36 children. All participants must be 10 to 15 years old.

The clinic will consist of two hitting stations, a bunting station, a fielding and throwing station, as well as stations dedicated to strength, speed and working the body's core.

The clinic will be held at AthElite Sports Training Academy, which is located off Belair Road in Evans, behind the Marshall Family Y. For information, call (706) 951-7950.