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(Emmalee Molay | The Natchez Democrat)

(Emmalee Molay | The Natchez Democrat)

The family of 6-year-old softball player Laney Folds, including grandmother Nancy Givens, grandfather Herald Givens and 10-month-old brother Brady wait for her youth game to begin Friday night in Vidalia. (Emmalee Molay | The Natchez Democrat)

Laney Folds’ 2-year-old sister Shelby eats a pickle pop. (Emmalee Molay | The Natchez Democrat)

Laney Folds wait for her chance to bat Friday. (Emmalee Molay | The Natchez Democrat)

Five folding chairs, three bags filled to the brim and one playpen — it’s a pretty normal carload for the family of 6-year-old softball player Laney Folds.

As many youth players get ready for a summer filled with all-star games near and far, the cargo can get pretty hefty to watch a game that lasts no more than about an hour.

“Mom is the first one to come. She sets up all the chairs in the shade and gets Laney to practice,” said Folds’ grandmother Nancy Givens. “We come about 45 minutes later with one more chair and bring the little ones.

“There’s a game about two or three times a week. It’s like moving out here every time.”

Givens comes ready at every game with Folds’ 2-year-old sister Shelby and 10-month-old brother Brady. She has help from her husband Herald carrying bags full of snacks and toys to make sure everyone stays happy.

While the reward is finally watching the game, Givens said packing enough supplies and coordinating with Folds’ mother Katie King can be difficult.

“You have to love softball to do this,” she said. “Is it hard? It’s very hard.”

Givens said though it might seem to some people like more trouble than it’s worth, making sure her grandchildren feel loved and appreciated is on the top of her list.

“They love to have something to do,” she said. “It fills a big void, especially in the summer. They don’t have a lot to do.

“I had four children of my own, and I never had any help. To watch your child do this is awesome, but to watch your grandchildren do it is really awesome.”

Folds’ father, Brady King, said he also thinks the reward outweighs the cost of the haul.

“It’s not hard at all really,” he said. “It’s exciting to watch them play. Sometimes I feel like I get into it more than the kids do. To see how happy they are makes it all worth it.”

For now, Folds is the only one in the family that plays any sports. By the time next year rolls around, however, her sister will be old enough for T-ball and the family might have to do some readjusting.

“We’ll have to send one parent to one practice, and the other one to the other,” Givens said. “We’ll make it work.”

Despite all the work it takes to make it happen, Givens said she is simply trying to do what’s right.

“I have a rule that once they start, we don’t let them quit,” she said. “If they don’t want to play, that’s fine, but they can’t quit.

“They get to socialize and everything. I think it’s just a wonderful thing for the kids, but you have to have commitment.”

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