Troy will be home to the 2016 South Central Regional tournament beginning Thursday.

“There is nothing more meaningful for us to say than we are hosting the Alabama High School Athletic Association Super Regional,” said Dan Smith, director of Troy Sports and Recreation Department.

Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Gulf Shores will also be hosting tournaments.

“It is honor for Troy to host the tournament for about our eighth year,” Smith said. “The AHSAA puts on an excellent show in the state of Alabama.”

The tournament will feature 56 different teams that cross all seven classifications over a three-day period. “It’s obviously outstanding softball,” Smith said. “We are always really pleased with the teams.”

Some of the 56 teams in attendance will be Zion Chapel, Highland Home, Luverne and Enterprise among others.

From field care to parking attendants, the crew of the recreation department makes sure that everything is covered.

“We provide the facilities, the staff and the manpower for what is absolutely a marathon of a tournament,” Smith said. “We will involve over 100 people from part-time to full time, not only from the parks and recreation but from the police department, fire department and EMTs. There are so many people that work behind the scenes by getting the fields ready and by keeping the restrooms and the field’s clean.”

The workers make the tournament a great experience for both the teams and their fans.

“It is a non-stop machine of a work force that keeps everything moving,” Smith said. “They do phenomenal job and every year they brag about how the people put forth a first class effort.”

The effect of the tournament does not just impact the Sportsplex but the City of Troy as well. Hotels, businesses and even Troy University benefit from the three-day tournament.

“We know for a fact that on more than one occasion that some of these girls that have come to Troy to play softball have decided to come to Troy University as students because this was their first ever visit to Troy,” Smith said. “We hope that many business see a positive impact from this tournament.”

The tournament will begin on Thursday. Tickets to the event will be $8 per day and parking is $3. Tournament brackets are on display at AHSAA.com