Sports Editor

Dixie Majors baseball, Dixie Belles and Dixie Debs softball registration has been ongoing since last week according to Troy Parks and Recreation Youth Sports Director Vaughn Daniels.

Opening day for the TPRD’s other youth league play was on April 7th, but the Majors, Belles and Debs’ teams are all made up of players 13-18 years old, many of which who are still competing on high school and junior varsity baseball and softball teams.

"We’ve got to get all the teams signed up and set so we can begin practice and get started, hopefully, at the beginning of May, especially since the tournament season starts in June," said Daniels.

The Dixie Majors’ teams is made up of 15-18 year old boys who play other recreation teams around the Pike County area, including Luverne and Elba.

"Last year we just had two teams, when we could have really had at least three," Daniels said. "We’re just trying to get the kids to sign up as soon as possible so we know how many we’re going to have playing. We have the opportunity this year to play some teams from Zion Chapel, Enterprise, Eufaula…all these cities have expressed interest in playing in some sort of a travel league."

Last year, the Troy Dixie Majors took part in a league with Luverne.

"We only had the two teams, but Luverne had four so that was a great benefit for us since our numbers were down," said Daniels.

Come tournament time, Daniels said the Majors will be divided into pre-majors (15-16) and majors’ (17-18) teams.

"That always gives us two chances of winning a tournament," he said.

The Belles’ league (13-15 year old girls) returns a majority of the players that competed in the state tournament last season in McAdory.

"We’re hoping to increase our numbers in that league this year," said Daniels. There were three teams that competed in the Belles’ league last season. "Right now a lot of those girls are playing JV ball, but we do have quite a few signed up."

However, Daniels said with a greater number of cities around south Alabama dropping slowpitch in favor of fastpitch, there will be a sub-district tournament this season for Dixie Belles instead of a straight district.

As for the TPRD fielding a Dixie Debs’ (16-18 year old girls) league, Daniels said it still depends on the number who want to participate. Over the past few seasons, the park and recreation department has not been able to form a Debs’ league simply because not enough players show interest.

"Hopefully this year we can get enough girls to form at least one team," he said. "There are some other cities around who has Debs’ teams and maybe we can do it like our Dixie Majors and travel to participate in a league. We want to be competitive in all our leagues."