Night Game

Our little elementary team has made it to the playoffs.

This means that instead of our usual noon game on Saturdays, we get to play during the week.

At night.

And this week is the first week that it has gotten really cold after the sun goes down.

I told my little cheerleader that she should wear pants and a long shirt under her uniform.

She looks like she’ll listen, right?

The other team didn’t have cheerleaders.  It was a bit sad.  But we cheered loud  enough for their parents to “enjoy” too.

Did I mention it was freezing?

These night games throw us all off.  We are used to selling hot dogs and hamburgers during lunchtime and sweating ourselves silly.

Sitting, shivering in the stands, being thankful for a friend who brought some yummy coffee is not my idea of a great way to spend an evening–no matter how great the coffee is!

So my daughter.  The one who said to me as we got in the car to head to the stadium, “Mom, I’ll be fine.  Stop telling me to wear pants and a jacket.  I’ve got some fuzzy stuff inside this turtleneck.  My legs won’t get cold.”

See those little white legs on the back row?  See those other girls with jackets, leggings, pants, gloves.  Yeah.  At this point her little legs were freezing, just like her Mom’s. (And I had pants on!)

Besides the cheering, the main thing the girls do is provide encouragement and spirit for the boys as they run through the banner before the game.

I love this part and wanted to get the entire thing recorded for posterity.  I had just learned how to do continuous shooting at this game and YOU are going to get to enjoy my shots and commentary of the run through.  Brace yourselves……

Look at the coaches.  Even they are freezing.  But the girls are yelling and they are ready!

Here we go!  The boys really have to lean into the sign. It’s only paper, but the team that played before us couldn’t break through.  They ran up to it and bounced right off. I would have really loved to have seen that! And yes, I would have laughed.  (You would have, too.  Don’t tell me you wouldn’t!)

Uh Oh!  Little man in the front looks like he may have made a misstep!

Oh!!! Dude in the front is going to do a face plant!  (And yes, there were a few of us in the stands who were snickering at this.  Don’t hate me.  We were freezing and laughter was one way to stay warm.)

Get up! Get up! Your teammates are going to run over you!

See the helmet that is a bit closer to the ground than the others?  It is just in front of the cheer coach with gold pants on at the right side of the picture.  Little man hasn’t  completely bitten the dust yet.  Impressive skills, young man!

The cheerleaders only stayed through halftime.  Then we got to go home.  Our team ended up winning the game.  That means we get to go to another county for yet another playoff game.

Bittersweet, to be sure.  We are so proud of the boys and all the hard work they have put in this season.  BUT it would be really nice to have a Saturday with nothing to do.

There’s only two things to say……

Go LCS! And….who’s bringing the coffee and hot chocolate?

**Update…our little team lost the next game.  A huge disappointment for them, for sure.  But it was a great season and they were a great group to cheer for.  We’ll get ‘em next year, War Eagles!