For Chase Smartt, Joey Denison and Houston Mabray, Troy has long been considered home. When they had the opportunity to play baseball for the their hometown school, with their former teammates, it was a dream come true.

The relationship between the three players goes all the way back as far as 2005 when they were all on the same youth team that won the Dixie Baseball world series. They won a state championship together in 2013 at Charles Henderson High School. And although 13 years has passed, little has changed for the three friends.

“It’s rare to have three guys play with each other forever,” Mabray said. “It’s nice. I would say we are really the same. I don’t think any of us has changed.”

The three Troy University Trojans took different routes before arriving at Troy. Denison and Mabray both graduated from Charles Henderson in 2013 fresh off a state championship and played junior college baseball at Southern Union and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. After spending two seasons’ at their respective schools both juniors had the opportunity to return home.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Denison said. “It’s good to be back. I am seeing my family a whole lot more than I was. I have made a lot of friends, and I have some old friends that are here. It has been a good time.”

Mabray has wanted to be a Troy Trojan since he was playing across the street at Charles Henderson.

“I have wanted to play here ever since I was in high school,” Mabray said. “Being back at home ads a level of comfort. Being able to see your close family in the stands supporting you and all of your friends in high school is neat.”

For Smartt the opportunity to attend Troy was always in the cards. With his father as head coach and his sister as an assistant coach with the softball team, Troy is a family affair. “I am happy I have stayed at Troy,” Smartt said. “I know and love Troy with all my heart. My dad played here, my sister played here and my mom graduated from Troy.”

The highlight of the season for the Troy natives happen last Wednesday during Troy’s 8-0 win over Alabama A&M. Denison led the Trojans offensively by finishing 4-5 with three RBIs, while Smartt had a two-run single. Mabray picked up the win for the Trojans when he pitched 2.1 innings of one-hit baseball in relief.

“Coming in, I knew it was going to be a lot of fun,” Denison said. “We had success with each other when we were in high school. It’s comforting having some guys on the team that you can relate to.”

Mabray and Smartt also have a connection as pitcher and catcher. Smartt has caught for Mabray since he was 10 years old. “That is very comforting to have the same guy back there,” Mabray said. “It’s nice, and it’s really rare.”

Although two years separate Denison and Mabray from Smartt, all three players are transitioning on the fly and learning how to play Division 1 college baseball.

“I’m still adapting to the college game,” Smartt said. “I am trying to get myself into it. Coming from high school and going to college is very hard to adjust. I’m still playing and trying it out.”