A crowd of students, family and friends cheers as the girls come out of the school to board the bus. Several of the players are wearing boots, a testament to the boot theme of the gathering. - Photo by Olivia Mohr

The softball team loads their equipment, clothes and whatever else they’ll need for the trip onto the bus at Boyle County High School. Softball bats and cleats stick out of bags. - Photo by Olivia Mohr

Family members, friends and others in the crowd seeing the softball team off held sticks with cardboard boots on them and slogans like “#11 bet your boots,” “dive” and “steal.” They gave them to the girls as they boarded the bus. - Photo by Olivia Mohr

Before the girls boarded the bus, they took plastic rings taped onto a poster a little girl was holding that read, “Grab ur ring.” - Photo by Olivia Mohr

A woman at the gathering holds a sign that says “Give ‘em the boot” in school colors black and gold. - Photo by Olivia Mohr

A few hugs were exchanged at the gathering as people interacted and saw the girls off. - Photo by Olivia Mohr