At a Home Federal baseball game last week at Ryder Park, the weather was absolutely perfect, especially for the parents and grandparents sitting in the shade. The gorgeous weather made up for some miserable days in the spring, when many of those same grandparents and parents endured cold weather watching the Islander high school baseball team. But rain or shine, they show up.
“That’s what grandpas and grandmas love to do, is go watch their grandkids,” said Vic Nelson, the grandfather of Home Federal player Cohen Nelson. The Legion team has a legion of fans. As they are at most sporting events, the stands are filled with parents and grandparents, supporting and cheering on their favorite players.
If Ethan Foley has a game, you can bet that his mother will be there. Kimberly Foley has seen every Home Federal game this year. “I’ve only missed two his whole life,” she said.
Ethan also played basketball at Grand Island Senior High. Why is Kimberly such a regular in the stands? “Because watching him play is my favorite thing to do,” she said. Even when the games run long, they’re still fun to watch, she said.
At baseball games, parents help out as well as watch. Ethan’s father, Rod, was working the scoreboard. Grayson Sack’s mother, Dayla, was busy at the concession stand.
Vic Nelson’s son, Lance, was the public address announcer. His wife, Brandy, was selling concessions. One of the people cheering on Sack was his grandmother, Nancy Meier.
“I’m very pro.
