Troy’s rolling out the red carpet, once again. This time its for the Dixie Minor State Championship tournament, which has brought 11 teams into our city for a multiple-day baseball tournament that pits the best of the state’s 9- and 10-year-old players against each other.

Weather permitting, and it wasn’t cooperating on Friday evening, and if history holds true, the tournament should be a success. The Troy Parks and Recreation Department’s facilities at the Sportsplex were designed years ago with the intention of hosting state and regional tournaments, and weekends such as this give the staff and the city a chance to showcase our facilities.

More important, the event also brings several hundred players, families and fans into our community – staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants, shopping in our stores for water and Gatorade, even doing laundry after a late-night game.

And because of that, it gives us as a community a chance to shine. A little hospitality – from a friendly smile to attentive service and engaging waitstaff in restaurants – can go a long way in reinforcing Troy’s reputation as a welcoming and inviting community.

For businesses and restaurants, that hospitality is a necessity. Sports tournaments not only bring in players and teams, they bring in dollars, as well. And those dollars spent increase our city’s sales tax revenues, bolster our local cash registers, and in turn help buoy our local economy. Making sure that the players, their families and their fans have a good experience seems like a wise investment.

Of course, Troy has a team playing in the tournament as well. And these young athletes have been ready to hit the field for weeks. We sure hope Saturday evening finds you at the Sportsplex, cheering on our hometown boys and enjoying the tournament.