Pike County enjoyed a successful and entertaining recreation season in 2011 with several teams advancing to state tournaments.

Troy’s Dixie Minors kicked off the tournament season with a battle between leagues. The Troy Americans fought of a feisty Nationals team in the sub-district tournament to win, 12-10. The Nationals then advanced to the championship game with a 13-7 win over Eufaula.

On the softball side, Troy’s Dixie Angels defeated Headland, 14-1, to win their sub-district tournament. The Angels would defeat Enterprise in district to advance to the program’s first ever state tournament.

The Dixie Belles hosted the 2011 state tournament but struggled during their time in the bracket.

Troy held large leads in all three games they played but watched as those leads disappeared. Geneva defeated Troy 14-4 in the opening game. Troy then knocked off Gilbertown, 14-13 but led 11-2 in the fifth inning. The host squad was eliminated the following day, 9-8, by Valley.

Troy Dixie Youth Ozone put on an offensive clinic during their time in the postseason. The squad blasted six homeruns in a 17-12 win over Enterprise in the district tournament. The team would run out of steam, however, falling to Enterprise in the finals, 10-5.

The Dixie Junior Boys and Boys provided much excitement in their tournament. The Junior Boys defeated Dothan, 10-6, to advance to the state tournament. The team beat rival Enterprise in the opening contest, 3-2, before falling to Fairhope, 4-3.

Troy’s Dixie Boys fought past a tough Ashford squad in the district tournament championship game. A back-and-forth affair and tied at 12-12, Reilly Fox plated the winning run with a base hit in the bottom of the seventh to ensure Troy’s place in state.

Once in Enterprise, the Troy team blazed a trail through the competition before meeting with Opelika in the title game. Troy fell in the first game 5-1. The teams then battled 10 innings in the deciding game. In the second game, there were six lead changes and five ties. Opelika attempted to close the game out earlier when, in the eighth inning with a runner on second base and two outs, a clean single to center seemed to be enough o score the runner. Rush Hixon came up firing, however, and threw a strike to home plate where catcher Austin Ingram applied the tag to help extend the game. Opelika would win the game in the bottom of the 10th.

Pike County has a rich history of recreation excellence. 2012 should be a good year to continue that reputation.