A pair of hopefuls take off in a timed sprint during a Cincinnati Reds open baseball tryout Monday at USC Aiken's Satcher Field. JONATHAN ERNST/STAFF

But the 85 baseball players who worked out for Kring at USC Aiken on Monday had little trouble making the distinction.

The South Atlantic scouting supervisor held his fifth tryout this month, luring a contingent of local college and high school stars who went unnoticed in last week's major league baseball draft.

''A lot of talent has been discovered in tryout camps,'' said Kring, who has covered the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia region for more then 30 years. ''You have some potential, then you have some who just want to say they tried out for the Reds. Either way, you give 'em a shot.''

Each hopeful went through a number of fielding drills, was timed in the 60-yard sprint, and competed in a simulated game in which each pitcher threw an inning apiece.

Former Evans star Jamaal Jones - who helped lead Middle Georgia College to the Junior College World Series this season - clocked the fastest time in the 60, finishing in 6.65 seconds. According to Kring, the average time in the 60 in the majors is 6.8.. During each drill, Kring took time to instruct, demonstrate and even correct technique problems the players encountered.

''Some of these players are young and are looking toward the future,'' Kring added. ''You take your time with 'em to see what they can really do, because you can't do that by just looking at them once and saying, 'Next!' I tell them what they need to work on and follow them through the years and see how they progress.''

One player Kring paid particular interest to was Matt Tindell, who starred at Butler his freshman and sophomore seasons before moving to Florida.

After earning All-State status in baseball, basketball and football at Avon Park High, the Milwaukee Brewers eventually took the catcher in the ninth round of the draft his senior year.

Reds scout Steve Kring (left) gives Nick Cushman, a catcher from Airport High School in Columbia, pointers on how to grip the ball for throwing out base stealers. JONATHAN ERNST/STAFF

The former Butler athlete played his rookie season with Helena in the Mountaineer League and spent the next season with Beloit in the Class A Midwest League. Tindell, who signed an $80,000 signing bonus out of high school, was released in March.

The 21-year-old, now a substitute teacher in Richmond County, impressed Kring, who said he could see why he was released.

''It's his wind-up,'' Kring said of the catcher's throwing style. ''You watch him for a while and you see why he was let go. But at the same time you see why he was drafted. He's got the talent. It's just a matter of telling him what he's doing wrong. We may see what we can do with him.''

Kring administers more then 12 tryout camps a year and other regional directors do the same. Odds for tryout success are slim. But, it was a positive day for Tindell, who never doubted himself after being released.

''I was disappointed, but it gave me more inspiration to reach my goals,'' said Tindell, who turned down a chance to play for Albany in the Independent League in hopes of being signed to a minor-league contract.

Following Monday's workout, he is scheduled to have an individual workout with the Atlanta Braves in Savannah on Wednesday and will participate in more tryout camps with other clubs later this summer.

''Being released showed me that nothing is etched in stone,'' he said. ''All I can do is work at it and perform my best at these tryouts. This is a great opportunity to be noticed.''

Reach Patrick Green at (803) 648-1395.