The Troy Parks and Recreation Department gave the three all-star teams on their way to the Dixie World Series one final send off Thursday with a team banquet and social.

It is the first time the City of Troy will have three teams advance to World Series play and Troy Parks and Rec Director Dan Smith wanted to give them one last proper send off.

“It is always a thrill to have at least one team make it to the World Series. We have been blessed to have two, but not ever three,” Smith said. “ I look out at their parents and many of them have gone through our system. They did a good job as players and now as coaches. I am so proud of them, and we are excited about all three of the teams chances.”

The Troy Belles, along with the Machine Pitch and O-Zone Teams were all in attendance and were brought to the front of the room for a round of applause.

“It is a great experience for the team to come out here and get some extra support,” said O-Zone player Anthony Gurba. “We have worked hard for all this, and I think we all enjoy it.”

Even though Gurba and the Ozone team plans to have fun both at dinners and while in South Carolina, he said he and his teammates are expecting to go up and perform well hopefully bringing back a championship trophy.

“I think we can go up and win,” Gurba said. “Right now, we are at the point where we are fine tuning some things. We have put in the work, and we are definitely confident going into next week.”

Smith echoes Gurba’s confidence in all three teams’ chances heading into their World Series showings.

“We know whoever wins the state championship in Alabama, no matter what city it is, it always seems to bring a very good team to the World Series,” Smith said. “We know that these three teams will have a great chance to win the World Series.”

A common phrase around the City of Troy is ‘community baseball’ and that was on full display Thursday evening.

“We have brothers and sisters, neighbors and classmates all represented here tonight,” Smith said. “Mayor (Jason) Reeves calls that ‘community baseball.’ We are very proud that these children came come together tonight to have a hamburger and hotdog, but more importantly we can say thank you and that we wish them the best of luck.”

The Belles leave for West Monroe, La. early Friday morning, while the Machine Pitch Team will leave for Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Saturday.

The Ozone team does not start their World Series in Lexington S.C. until Aug. 7.