Despite coming home from the Dixie Softball World Series without a trophy, the Troy Ponytails didn’t come away empty handed.

Head coach Larry Rushing feels that his players gained experience on the field and off that will help them in the future.

Rushing said that sometimes players can fall in to a lull by seeing the same things every day, and his staff worked to eliminate that.

“They got a lot of repetition pitching and hitting wise,” Rushing said. “We pitched every girl that could, every practice, and they got to hit off of different coaches every time as well.”

The World Series run ended after just two games in Alexandria, La., But the memories of the summer will last much longer for the players, coaches and fans.

The Troy Ponytails team was made up of players from no less than three different school programs.

Rushing said that the girls came together during the summer season, and felt so comfortable with one another that tears were shed after the final out, not because the season was over but that the team would be broken up.

“A number of the girls were really upset after the last game,” Rushing said. “I told them not to worry, because they would get to play ball against very soon. That’s when she told me that she would miss her teammates the most. They all became very close, and will stay friends for a long time. This group of girls will be great on the softball field and off.”