friday night lights, 17 years ago

These are all photographs taken by me on August 28, 2009, as the Savannah Sand Gnats took on the Rome Braves at Grayson Stadium.

It was the final Friday game of the season. 

Good times, good times!

Here's Mister Willie Smith, in his seat in the bleachers! 

 

 

Here's the last man standing of the group he once sat with, Mister Arthur Crum. 

There were about ten of those guys when I started going in the mid-1990's.

 

 

My brother Smitty had joined me for this game, along with my sister-in-law Mary. 

 

 

Here's their younger son, Tyler, exhibiting teen spirit by sitting off to himself.

That's my 14-year-old nephew! 

 

 

These smiling faces belong to Sherry and Timmy Love.

He's the lead singer for the Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love! 

 

 

Here's one with the team's mascot, Gnate, aka Terri Foote.

Gnate is signing autographs for adoring fans! 

 

 

Then there's the beloved Beer Man, Frank Dinan, sitting and sharing a smile as he quaffs a brew. 

 

 

 

This woman taking a photo of Frank is his new wife, Kathy. They reconnected a year or so ago at their high school reunion and knew it was love!

 

 

What's going on here?

Gnate and the Gnaturals are taking advantage of the 2-minute break between innings to do a little dance out at second base!

Shake it up, y'all!

Here's another shot of that gorgeous baseball diamond, in one of my usual tilted views to get in all four bases.

It looks like the bags are loaded with Sand Gnats!!!

Nope, that's a line coach standing by third base.

Still, it was a great game, grand slam or not!

The Gnats beat the Braves, 6 - 2.

Game over!

My brother and his family had left around the 7th inning stretch.

But my friend, Betty 'Boop" as Willie called her, was still in the stadium!

 

That's me, with my hair short back then. 

I was sitting right there by Betty, in the best seats in the house, waiting...

 

... waiting for those last Friday night fireworks of the season!

I just loved those!

Win or lose, we still got fireworks!