March Madness may have ended April 6 when the North Carolina destroyed Michigan State to take home the NCAA Men’s Basketball national championship, but the madness is just beginning in Troy, Alabama.

The month of April signals the beginning of the recreation baseball and softball season, which also means that athletes of all ages are now playing baseball and softball in the area.

It was great to get out there at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium last Friday to witness the opening of a new recreation season. It was a little bit nippy, but Troy Parks and Recreation youth activities director David Dickey summed it up best. He said that the smiles on the children’s faces make all the hard work and cold weather worth it.

The recreation season has not opened in warm weather like in most years, but nonetheless the children are enjoying the fun times.

And another occurrence in April is the beginning of the AHSAA and AISA playoffs in baseball and softball. Last year was an eventful one for the Charles Henderson Trojans and Pike Liberal Arts Patriots in the postseason.

The Trojans and Patriots seem poised to make another run deep into the playoffs. It shall be interesting to see how far both teams can get.

The softball playoff prep scene is shaping up to include the Goshen Lady Eagles. Goshen made it into the playoffs last year and had a good run. It looks like Dee Hughes has her team ready for another run this year.

And working our way up to the college scene we find that Troy will host the 2009 Sun Belt Baseball Championships at Riddle-Pace Field towards the end of May.

The end of the spring prep and college season should be a fun time here in Troy and the recreation leagues will be going strong until June and then the tournament teams will be selected and all teams will hope to be playing through August.

I know it was a fun time to be the sports editor of The Messenger last spring and I hope to be busy as a bee again this year covering all the playoff action and snapping shots for the refrigerator on the rec fields.

I will see you all out there on the diamond.

Matt Nascone is the sports editor for The Messenger. He can be reached at 670-6315 or online at matt.nascone@troymessenger.com.