Young girls ages 8-13 who live in the area have an upcoming opportunity designed to help them step up their game in the world of competitive softball.

The Smithfield Galaxy Fastpitch Association, which is actually based in Suffolk, will be hosting its ninth annual summer camp July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Chuckatuck Galaxy Fields Complex on 5962 Godwin Blvd.

The event, which will feature separate sessions for U10 and U12 players, will be focused on the essential things that girls of all ability levels must hone to be great softball players.

“It’s all skills,” current Galaxy Fastpitch 12U manager Mark Cagle said. “Fielding skills, running, hitting, pretty much everything.”

The only thing he said would not be emphasized is pitching, because it is such a separate skillset.

Cagle said the camp is a good recruiting tool for Galaxy Fastpitch, “but we also want to be careful that it’s just not tryouts.”

He made a point to say the camp is for everybody, not just girls who are already playing travel ball. It will be particularly instructive for those girls who are not playing travel ball, but would like to do so.

“If they’re interested in playing at a higher level than most of the recreational leagues are at, then it’s a good insight into a high quality travel team, and we will have current players there taking the camp, also,” Cagle said.

He said past campers have responded particularly well to the older Galaxy Fastpitch players who assist the organization’s coaches with teaching at the camp.

Each day will feature a 9 a.m. to noon session for girls ages 8-10, while 1 to 4 p.m. will be set aside for girls ages 11-13. Each group will consistently work on general skills and then finish off the camp with scrimmages on Saturday.

Cagle is specifically hoping Suffolk girls will participate and become involved with Galaxy Fastpitch.

“At the current time, I think we are a little bit under-represented in the local area,” he said.

Current Galaxy Fastpitch 10U manager Darryl Inscoe noted the softball organization owes a lot to Suffolk since the Chuckatuck Ruritan Club and Suffolk dentist Dr. R. Leroy Howell allow Galaxy Fastpitch to play on the fields that they own.

The cost to participate in the camp is $85 and includes a Galaxy Camp T-shirt.

Visit www.GalaxyFastpitch.org and click on the “2014 Summer Camp” tab at the top of the page to learn more and to register online.

For more information, contact Mark Cagle at 810-5386 or cmcagle2000@yahoo.com.