Five of the Troy Belles are hoping the third time is the charm as they head to the Dixie Softball World Series in West Monroe, La., on Aug. 1.

Molly-Kate Sanders, Sidney Armstrong, Sydni Garrett, Kelsey Gibson, and Hannah Calhoun will represent the Belles for the third straight year.

“It is very exciting to go for the third year in a row with the mainly the same group,” Armstrong said. “All these are memories that we have to take in forever. I love playing and I am blessed to take the field. Just having the ability to do what I do is amazing.”

After falling short in the previous two trips the Belles will rely on continuity and experience to get them over the hurdle in Louisiana.

“Third time’s the charm,” Garrett said. “It’s an honor to go back for the third year in a row. We know each other more this year, so we are going to have to communicate better this time a round. We have so much experience and we all have been playing together since we were so young.”

The Belles have relied on their hitting and starting pitcher Sanders so far in the tournament season.

“The first year we went up there we lost two and came home. The heat got to us a little bit and we were a little nervous,” Sanders said. “This is probably going to be my last year playing, so I want to go up there and win. Last year our pitching staff wasn’t as good as they were in the state tournament. We have a lot more pitchers this season and a lot more experience.”

Another component of so much familiarity between teammates is the added element of competition. Since all the Belles players play at the high school level, many of them are want to prove their talent level during the summer.

“It makes us more competitive now because we are on the field together instead of playing against one another. We feel the need to fight over certain positions and to get better,” Sanders said. “We try much harder competing for the spots we want, and that makes us better.”

“That’s a big a bonus for us,” added head coach Larry Sanders. “We have a lot of girls to choose from. They know what it takes and they understand what competition is.

“We have a lot of team unity, and they are playing with a lot of confidence. They are playing for each other and not just for themselves.”