The Little Lions take on Aynor Blue Jackets

The Loris Recreation football season began on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 10:15 a.m. with the Little Lions roaring onto the field to take on the Aynor Blue Jackets.  The Little Lions cheerleaders are on the sidelines with pom poms in hand, sporting their uniforms and cheering for the team as the crowd gathered to watch the game.

The recreation teams began with the Little Lions, 7-8 year olds, taking the field and the cheerleaders primary concern was to roar up the crowd at the 10:15 a.m. game.  When the field was cleared at 11:30 a.m. the 9-12 year olds football team and cheerleaders took on the Blue Jackets.

Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters were watching the game and responding to the cheers.  Tom Cocke the recreation department director, Joey Letts and Alex Duncan made a make-shift tunnel with the fog machine set up to have the cheerleaders line up as the Little Lions football players ran out onto the field.  Cocke said, “We want to make the kids feel the experience as the Loris High School (LHS) varsity team feels when they run onto the field.”

Kenya Wright coaches the 7-8 and the 9-12 cheerleaders; Paiton Harrelson coaches the 4-6 year olds.  Wright said, “The girls feel like real cheerleaders wearing the new uniforms provided by the recreation department. They are excited to be cheering each game.”

Heniford Field will be open to the public to watch the recreation football games at no charge this Saturday, Oct. 5, at 9 a.m.  The Little Lions vs. Little Lions teams will play against each other; the second game begins at 10:15 a.m.

Cocke stated that the 9-12 year old teams are scheduled to travel to Aynor, Mullins, Green Sea Floyds and North Strand at Highway 57 for football games as well as home games.

The LHS athletic trainers are paid by the recreation department to attend the games to help make decisions and react to any problems that may occur.  Cocke said, “We are glad the athletic trainers are at the games to help.”  Saturday one player appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion after a game. He claimed to hurt in his stomach area and seemed to be weak.  The team was quick to respond and the player was taken to the trainer’s office where he was given a chewy bar, Gatorade and ice on his neck to help cool him before they released him to return home.

Concessions will be minimal with water and snacks available for purchase during the games with an easy set-up and take-down table until renovations are made to the baseball area concession stand.  Cocke said, “Once the concession stand is set up we will be able to offer hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, as well as popcorn, cotton candy and other quick snacks to take over to the football field.”  He said this is a future plan and proposals for the renovation are in the process.

Picture day for the Fall sports, football, cheerleading and volleyball is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, beginning at 9 a.m.  Check the Loris Recreation Department website at www.lorisrec.com on the home page is the calendar of events with the schedule for the football and volleyball games.