A helping hand leads to a lifelong friendship at the College World Series

OMAHA, Neb. (KLKN) – Heather and Jerry Soles have been coming to the College World Series since 2021.

They were there to see their son Noah, who was a freshman at North Carolina State.

While Noah did not play, the Wolfpack kept winning, eventually making it to the semifinals.

That created a problem: The Soles had no place to stay.

Enter Kristi and Clint Lyons, Nebraska fans who wanted to help.

They met at a restaurant, and the Lyons family invited the Soles to their tailgate.

“We just had the most fun ever, and then all of a sudden, they were like, ‘We only have a hotel till Tuesday,'” Kristi said. “We’re like, ‘Don’t worry about it.'”

Within a couple of days, the Soles were welcomed into the Lyons’ home, creating a lifelong friendship.

“We love them to death, and since, we became family,” Jerry Soles said.

The Soles have kept this tradition alive, tailgating with this group since 2021.

Fast forward three years later, and the Wolfpack are once again in the tournament.

Heather and Jerry’s son Noah is now the starting shortstop.

“We’re thankful and blessed for the opportunity to be part of it, to have a son in the World Series, the College World Series,” Jerry said. “It’s just it’s a blessing to us. And Noah is a competitor, and he’s a baseball star. He loves the game of baseball. I know he’s excited. We just want the best for him, and we want the best for the team.”

NC State will face off with Kentucky in the first round of the CWS on Saturday at 1 p.m.