For the better part of a month, hundreds of children have laced up their cleats and grabbed their gloves and taken part in the baseball and softball seasons held by the Troy Parks and Recreation Department.

As the calendar turns to May, the season enters its stretch run, and players play as hard as they can, in hopes of making the roster for the numerous All-Star teams.

“So many folks have come up to me and expressed how great this season has been,” said Dan Smith, director of Troy Parks and Recreations. “They have said that the season has been fun, the weather great and that the teams are very equal.”

The Troy Sportsplex is the site of numerous tournaments for both baseball and softball every season, and more often than not, the hometown representatives do very well.

Smith feels that the success of the teams can be attributed to the amount of preparation that the players, parents and coaches put in to the game, year round.

“Our tournament teams always represent Troy very well,” said Smith. “The hours the players, coaches and mom and dad spend with the players helps, and we are proud of our teams.”

The season will continue through the month of May, and Smith encourages the public to attend as many games as they can.

“One of the greatest joys is seeing the smiles on the faces of the children as they come up for their juice and snack after the game,” said Smith. “It is a form of recreation, but is also baseball and softball at its purest form. The kids are out there playing for the love of the game, and have a great time doing it.”

Smith also said that the great season would not be possible without the hard work of all the scorekeepers, concession workers, groundskeepers and umpires.

Games are played on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the Troy Sportsplex on Enzor Road and at the Franklin Fields on South Franklin Drive.