Green Hornets get rolling

Varsity Team Coach Bobby Hawkey Jr. makes his opening remarks.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Ava Strojan is one of about 50 cheerleaders on this year’s squad.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Green Hornets Cheerleaders got the crowd excited for the 62nd youth football season, which kicked off last Friday night at Firemen’s Field.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

The Green Hornets youth football league has about 180 players this year.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Barbara Mitchell and her son Juan Burnot-Merlin at the Green Hornets season opening pep rally.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

Players stand and salute for the National Anthem.

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

It was all about green and white last Friday night at Firemen’s Field as the Valley Stream Green Hornets youth football league kicked off its 62nd season.

Family and friends filled the bleachers and cheered on the players from the six different teams. League President Sharon Daly said there are about 180 players this year, ages 7-14. There are also about 50 cheerleaders, who performed at the Sept. 7 pep rally to fire up the crowd.

The event took place at the Bob Hawkey Football Field, which was renamed in 2010 to honor the late Green Hornets legend.

The first set of games was held last weekend, with the Pony White and PeeWee White teams victorious. The Green Hornets teams will be playing various squads from Nassau and Suffolk counties through early November. The next big event will be the Homecoming celebration on Oct. 7.