The Troy University Warrior Booster Club will be holding its annual Spring Sports Fan Appreciation Day on Feb. 5 at Riddle-Pace Field. The event, which begins with baseball and softball team introductions at 2 p.m., is a great opportunity for the community to meet and mingle with this year’s teams and coaches.

Troy softball will open its 19th season under head coach Melanie Davis. Davis, who was already a member of two Halls of Fame including the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame, was recently inducted to the Alabama Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.

Davis has accumulated over 800 wins with eight 40-win seasons in her career.

Troy returns several key players including senior shortstop Nikki Hollett and Troy native Taylor Smartt, a sophomore catcher.

Hollett finished third in the Sun Belt with 20 homeruns. She also lead the team with a .354 batting average and 56 RBIs.

Smartt played five different positions last season for the Trojans including 31 games at catcher. The freshman ranked among the nation’s leaders in sacrifice flies and hits.

The softball team was named to the 2011 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 10 All-Academic team rankings. The Trojans 3.512 team GPA was the seventh best mark in the country.

The Trojans open the 2012 season at the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic on Feb. 10 before returning home to host the Quality Inn Classic.

The 2012 baseball team will look to follow up a 43-19 campaign including a bid to the NCAA Nashville Regional Tournament.

The Trojans landed two players on preseason All-American lists in pitcher Tyler Ray and shortstop Tyler Hannah.

Head coach Bobby Pierce enters his 11th season at the helm of the Trojans. Last season he was named American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) South Central Region Coach of the Year. Pierce was also named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

Troy will open 2012 with a four game tilt against Central Michigan at Riddle-Pace Field on Feb. 17-19.

Team posters will be available for fans to have personally autographed at the Fan Appreciation Day event. Hotdogs and drinks will also be served and are free while supplies last.