“By committee” the Troy Ponytails Softball Team is the runner-up in the 2016 Dixie Softball State Tournament.

The Troy Ponytails scored early in the Dixie Softball state championship game at Ray Thorington Park in Montgomery Tuesday but fell 13-3 in five innings.

Following the awards presentation, Head Coach Matt Leverette told his team that losing never feels good.

“It hurts to lose but you played hard and you never gave up,” Leverette said. “We saw a great ball team today. We played for a state championship and you can be proud of all that you accomplished to get to this game.”

Leverette reminded the Troy Ponytails that they did not win the district championship.

“Opp won that championship and today they were in same place as everybody else, except Troy and the Montgomery Americans,” Leverette said. “One hundred and twenty-seven teams started the season. You are here today as runner-up to the state champions. That’s special and you have a lot to be proud of.”

Leverette asked the players if, at the beginning of the season, any of them thought they would be playing for a state championship.

The players smiled, some of them through tears, and shook their heads.

“All of you have made plays that got us here,” he said. “There’s not one person on this team that has not contributed to the success we have had. We have players from Pike County, Charles Henderson, Pike Liberal Arts and Goshen. You have represented all of Pike County extremely well.”

Leverette said what the Troy Ponytails have accomplished they have done “by committee.”

“It has been a team effort,” he said. “They all worked so well together. In all the 11 years that I have coached softball and soccer, I have never been a part of a team that performed better together. The 2016 Ponytails were successful with the talent we have. They were a joy to coach.”

Leverette said the Troy Ponytails played their best game offensively and defensively against the Montgomery Grays Monday to get to the championship game.

“Today, we just didn’t get the hits and didn’t make the plays we needed to make to stay in the game,” he said. “But the players gave it their best and never gave up. That says everything about them as individual players and together as a team.”

The Troy Ponytails scored three runs in the first inning of the state championship game with Morgan Bundy, Emily Williamson and Madison Campbell crossing the plate.

The Ponytails were the beneficiaries of a couple of errors and three walks. The Ponytails allowed two runs in the first inning and one in the third.

The Americans scored two runs in the third to take a 5-3 lead and added four more in the fourth to up the score to 9-3. In the top of the fifth inning, the Troy Ponytails again failed to push a run across the plate. The Americans added four runs to end the game.

Morgan Bundy pitched the first inning for Troy and Sadie Leverette the second inning. Madison Wilson and Madison Campbell shared the mound in the fourth inning and Campbell pitched the fourth.

Raleigh Carter and Emily Bryan had hits for the Troy Ponytails.

Leverette expressed appreciation to the staff of the Troy Parks and Recreation Department for their support. He had special thanks for Dan Smith, director, David Dickey and Brain Meadows and Troy Mayor Jason Reeves and the Troy City Council.

“Nobody treats their teams as good as Troy.” Leverette said.