1st Cav 'Tweens' cheer on Round Rock Express

By Sgt. Robert Strain, 1st Cavalry Division Public AffairsSeptember 14, 2007

Running the bases
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Cavalry Division 'Tweens,' those family members who aren't little kids anymore, but aren't quite teenagers yet, run a lap around the bases of Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas, following a Round Rock Express baseball game Sept. 2. The Tweens were... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cheering on the home team
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 'Tweens' from the 1st Cavalry Division cheer on the home team Sept. 2 during their trip to watch the visiting New Orleans Zephyrs take on the Round Rock Express in a minor league baseball game in Round Rock, Texas. This was the division's second Fami... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Rain clouds overhead let out a light drizzle, threatening to delay the game or worse - cancel it.

Fortunately, luck was on the side of the 1st Cavalry Division's Tween Family Readiness Group, and the rains held off for the duration of their trip to see the visiting New Orleans Zephyrs take on the Round Rock Express in a minor league baseball game at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas Sept. 2.

The event was the division's 11th FRG event focused on the whole family, rather than just spouses, but only the second for 'Tweens', youngster who aren't little kids anymore, but aren't quite teenagers yet, said Col. Larry Phelps, the commander of the 1st Cavalry Division's rear detachment.

The division's first Tween event was held at the Horse Cavalry Detachment in July and included a mounted cavalry demonstration and a tour of the detachment's stable area.

Although the Express lost the game 10-2, many of the 40 Tweens had fun just watching the game and hoping a foul ball would come into their part of the stands.

One of the game's big highlights came at the end of the game, when all the kids were given the opportunity to run a lap around the bases as a part of the team's Kid's Night.

But the Tweens weren't the only ones having fun - the chaperones that escort and watch over the kids also enjoy these events.

Pvt. Melissa Payne, with the division's 15th Personnel Support Battalion, said she volunteers to chaperone because she enjoys doing things with the kids.

"I love kids - and I'm a big kid myself," said Payne, a 21-year-old New London, Conn., native.

Payne, who has been a chaperone for three FRG events, said she would have volunteered to chaperone at more events, but she didn't know about them until before the last Tween event at the horse stables.

She said it was her unit's first sergeant, Master Sgt. Trina Herzfeld, who told her about working with the kids as a volunteer.

"It's fun for me," Payne said about volunteering. Although she enjoys working with the kids and teens at every event, Payne's favorite event was last month's Teen FRG trip to SeaWorld Adventure Park in San Antonio.