You can almost smell the hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill at the Troy Sportsplex as opening night of the rec league baseball and softball season is set to begin on Monday.

The teams have been practicing for the past month, anxiously waiting for the time they can take the field in their brand new uniforms.

“Everybody has been preparing,” said Assistant Director and Youth Sports Coordinator David Dickey. “We are ready for everybody to get started and to get the season under way.”

Baseball has always been meant for the kids and the moments they will always cherish are being able to step between the white lines for the very first time.

“You can see the excitement on the younger kids’ faces,” Dickey said. “They get to play the game for the first time and spend time with their friends. To see the excitement on the younger players faces and to see them wear the uniform and be like the players they see on TV is pretty cool.”

Like their heroes on TV, all the players on each team will be announced on opening night and they will be able to stand with their teammates on their respective base path during the pregame festivities.

“It makes them feel good to get some recognition and get a big round of applause,” Dickey said. “We’ll do the national anthem and get things ready to go.”

The players and the coaches are not the only one’s excited for the season to begin. People behind the scenes like Dickey and Dan Smith, after a lot of work prepping for the season are ready for the excitement to begin.

“There are a lot of pieces that have to be put together for everything to happen on Monday night,” Dickey said. “You have to love it. Baseball and Troy recreation has been a big part of my life. It’s a way of giving back and it is something that I enjoy doing.”

For the people returning to the Sportsplex this season, they will notice a couple changes to the park. This will be the first full season players will have access to the covered batting cages. There will also be higher nets along the backstops of each field to help prevent foul balls to leave the field of play.

The Sweeties, Darlings, T-Ball, pitching machine, Dixie Minor and Dixie Major leagues will all kick off their season on Monday night. The Angels and coach pitch leagues will begin on Tuesday.

“The biggest thing is that everyone shows up and has a good time,” Dickey said. “We want them to learn the game of baseball and make friends. We want them to have something to remember and enjoy.”