ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- USA Athletes International will host an instructional camp on Saturday, April 20 at the J.W. Clark softball complex at Garrett Park with the proceeds to benefit local players representing the USA in a tournament in Italy this summer.

Robertsdale High School softball coach Barry Roberts and 12 players, including five from Baldwin County, will travel to Italy on July 28, where they will participate in the Chainti Invitational, a three-day tournament in Grosseto, Italy, located between Rome and Florence.

Four players from RHS will participate in the tournament, Taylor Tucker, a sophomore pitcher/infielder/outfielder, the daughter of Tim and Sheri Tucker of Silverhill; Allee Bertolla, a sophomore catcher, the daughter of Adam and Stacee Bertolla of Loxley; Briana Pierce, a junior pitcher/infielder, the daughter of Dr. Brian and Kris Pierce of Robertsdale, and Emily Sinclair, an eighth grader catcher and infielder, the daughter of Kevin and  Tressa Sinclair of Loxley; along with Autumn Corley, a freshman pitcher/infielder, the daughter of Jonathan and Carolyun Corley of Bay Minette, who plays for Escambia Academy in Atmore.

The roster also includes four players from Mississippi, Rachel Hayes, a pitcher/infielder from Ocean Springs; Lauren Holifield, a pitcher, shortstop and outfielder, from Columbus, who plays for New Hope High School; Reid Cooley, a pitcher from Wayne County High School in Waynesboro; and Carlie Vice, a catcher, third baseman and utility player from Most Point, who plays for Pascagoula High School; and three players from Louisiana, Brittany Barbay, an infielder/outfielder from Zachary; Amber Guilbeau, an outfielder/catcher from Hayes, who plays for Bell City High School; and Allie Medlin, a catcher/infielder from Calhoun, who plays for West Ouatchita High School.

Vice’s mother, Shelley Silvas, coaches at Pascagoula High and will serve as an assistant coach for the team.

The trip will also include tours of the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Pisa, a walking tour of Florence, and a boat tour along the Cinque Terre. There will also be a pizza making demonstration with an opportunity for players to make their own pizza. The entire trip will total 10 days, returning to the U.S. on Aug. 6.

According to its website, USA Athletes International Inc. was founded in 1992. Originally called the Midwest All-Stars, the organization, based in Olathe, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City, provided overseas playing opportunities to baseball players.

The success of that program eventually prompted requests from abroad for other sporting teams to participate. In 1998 the organization incorporated and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, changing its name to USA Athletes International. USAAI now supports a total of 15 different sports that compete in 25 different countries throughout the world.

The trip costs $4,096 per player, Roberts said, with each player participating in individual fundraisers. USSAI also helps fund players through scholarship opportunities, he said.

The camp will be conducted from 9 a.m. to noon and will cost $25 per camper.

Participants will be guided through skills, drills and technique by USA softball players and coaches. Campers should bring gloves, bats and helmets. Instruction includes fielding, pitching, catching, hitting and base running.

If you would like to learn more information about USSAI, visit the group’s website, ussai.org. If you would like to learn more about sponsoring a player, contact Roberts at Robertsdale High School, 251-947-5467 or email bkroberts@bcbe.org.