Troy Parks and Rec. Teams racked up championships throughout the year

When you step foot inside the Troy Parks and Recreation building on Enzor Road, you can’t help but notice the hardware.

The two main trophy cases in the lobby highlight major accomplishments for Troy teams past, such baseball and softball World Series titles. But the trophies don’t end in the lobby.

Just a few steps away from the main foyer, is one of the most impressive trophy collections in the country. Dozens, if not hundreds, of awards and trophies for championship-winning teams are crammed in to a handful of trophy cases. There is almost not enough room for all of them.

In 2013, the teams representing Troy and the TPRD collected more awards and trophies, and even forced Troy Parks and Recreation director Dan Smith to “buy more plywood,” for championship signs at Franklin Fields.

One of the highlights of the season came a few hours away from Troy. On July 11, the Dixie Minor Rookies and O-Zone Rookies completed a sweep of the state title just a few miles apart from one another in Muscle Shoals.

The Dixie Minor Rookies, led by head coach Chris Huner, captured the title in an 11-4 rout against the host team Muscle Shoals. The O-Zone Rookies went to extra innings to knock off AUM 9-7.

The City of Troy brought home two state titles within minutes in one town.

The two head coaches were proud of their team’s accomplishments.

“It says a lot about the community and Troy Parks and Recreation Department,” Huner said. “The effort that all the folks in Troy put in to program really shows how big recreation baseball is here in Troy.”

Copeland echoed Huner’s sentiments.

“We had two teams in that area, and both came home with the big trophy,” Copeland said. “There was good competition in both tournaments, and for Troy to win both says a lot about the talent and dedication to the sport in this town.”

The two rookie teams were not the only ones to add to the trophy collection in 2013.

The Troy Ponytails softball team won a state title in Underwood, just a few miles from Muscle Shoals.

The team knocked off Geneva 4-0 in the title game to secure Troy’s only second-ever softball state championship.

Troy rolled through the competition at the state tournament, winning all six games it played. The Ponytails scored 65 runs, and gave up just 13, winning by an average of over eight runs a game.

Troy head coach Larry Rushing said the experience of his team was the deciding factor.

“The girls got it in their mind that they were going to win it, and they did,” Rushing said. “This same group of girls had been to state before and came up a little bit short. They never doubted themselves this time and played really well.”

The Troy Pee-Wee Trojans captured the Super Bowl of the Dale County Youth Football Association by shutting out Ozark, 6-0.

Dontavious Adair scored the game’s only points by recovering a fumble in the end zone in the third quarter.

Chad Copeland served as head coach and was happy to have been part of the championship team.

“This team played extremely hard and always did what we asked them to,” Copeland said. “The improvement from the first practice to today is just incredible. They put in the hard work, and have something they can remember for a long, long time. I am just lucky to be apart of it.”

The 18-and-under Troy soccer team brought home the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association state team in mid November. Another Troy team brought home the Sportsmanship Award.

Off the playing field, the Troy Tiger Sharks Swim Team turned in one of its better seasons in program history.

The Tiger Sharks sent over a dozen swimmers to the state meet in Cullman. While the Tiger Sharks didn’t win the state title, every one of Troy’s representatives placed in the top 30 in the state, with Sarah Cathryn Snellgrove picking up a pair of fourth place finishes in the 50 yard freestyle and 50 yard backstroke.