The Troy Ponytails are set to hit the road to Enterprise for the 2016 Ponytails District tournament.

The Troy Ponytails got their feet wet in advance of the district tournament by participating in a warm-up tournament in Troy last weekend. The Ponytails won all three games against Luverne, Opp and Eufaula and are ready to get going.

“We won all three games so they are all really excited,” said head coach Matt Leverette. “They are really looking forward to playing tomorrow night in Enterprise.”

The warm-up tournament did more than prepare Troy; it also gave the players a look at the upcoming opponents. Both Luverne and Opp will be in the district.

“That is going to help us,” Leverette said. “We are fairly familiar with Luverne because they were in our league this year. It was good to see Opp and what they have.”

Troy won all three in fine fashion. The pitching staff allowed a total of five runs over the three game span.

“Our girls played really well,” Leverette said. “They have really come together over the last week and a half and I expect to do well in the district tournament. Hopefully we will keep the momentum going.”

This is season the Ponytails will return players that were on last season’s roster and they will be looked upon to help lead the younger players that are entering the league for the first time.

The roster includes Emily Bryan, Morgan Bundy, McKenzie Cain, Madison Campbell, Rayleigh Carter, Aerial Frazier, Sadie Leverette, Heather Maxwell, Mary-Kaye Mills, Hayden Rushing, Emily Williamson and Emily Wilson.

“This year it seems like we have more new faces than usual,” Leverette said. “It’s an advantage to have girls that have been here before and that have had some success. Several of these girls have made it to state and have had success in the tournament. That is a big advantage.”

The hope is that the older players on the team will gel and mix in nicely with the younger players.

One of the strengths for the Ponytails heading into the tournament will be their pitching staff.

“We have been working hard on our pitching,” Leverette said. “Our pitchers and catchers come to practice an hour early so can they can a little extra work. Our pitchers and catchers have done a real good and we feel good.”

With the pitching being strong, Leverette believes being smart on the base paths will determine whether his team is successful or not.

“We are going to have to hit the ball, but we are also going to have to run the bases,” Leverette said. “One of our big advantages on this team is that we have speed. Once they get on base we have been able to score runs and that is what we are going to have to continue.”

The Ponytails will take on Geneva on round one later this evening at 7:30 p.m.