Softball player gets a birthday parade during stay at home orders

One of the SOU Raiders softball players didn't think she'd get to celebrate her birthday with her teammates... until a parade of cars rolled by her house Sunday afternoon.

Newswatch 12 sports with josh shelton."

Day.

It started just down the road from her house in the north medford softball parking lot.

The caravan gathered and decorated their cars with banners and birthday wishes.

Just a little while later, down the road they came, bringing gifts of birthday joy for their teammate and friend.

(take rylan key) rylan austin says, "it made me happy.

I love my birthday and seeing everyone i love makes it better."

Birthday parades becoming the new norm in a world where social distancing preventing the typical festivities.

(take cente key) cente borja says, "i just saw a bunch of people were doing it around the valley due to the virus so everyone wanted to show some appreciation but they couldn't so we did it for a friend on her team just a few weeks ago so it kind of excited me and sparked and idea so i said i'll do it for her birthday."

And the parade came as a welcome surprise for rylan, who didn't think she'd get to see those she held closest on her special day.

Rylan says, "no, but i felt the love from all the texts, but seeing everyone made me really happy."

And an operation like this takes more than one person.

Cente says, "i had some help from her teammate, jordan, and another teammate, taylor mayben, so it was simpler with those two behind me just to get everything situated just 'cause it was so last minute, but it was successful."

While the parade only lasted a few minutes, the cars just taking a quick lap through the cul-de-sac, it's a happy memory rylan will hold dear during a global crisis.

Rylan says, "thank you for everyone who came."

And just because the celebration was for one person, doesn't mean it can't spark joy in others as we all get through these times together.

Cente says, "i don't know, just having everyone have something to get happy about.

I mean it's pretty down right now just due to the virus but there's always some way to bring some joy in some moments."

<<in medford, josh shelton,