Game time temperature for the AFC Championship game (between San Diego and New England) was a balmy 23° at Foxborough, Mass.
The NFC Championship (Green Bay versus New York) reported a game time temperature of -1° in Green Bay, Wis.
These temperatures were in sharp contrast to Diamond Bar, Calif., where the So Cal Ringers gathered for the Jammin January softball tournament in 63° warmth.
As if to highlight the cold weather the NFL would be facing, the park had snow on a hillside, placed there during the week to give kids a chance to romp in the winter wonder.
The Ringers started off the new year against the local Diamond Bar (DB) team and opened up the first inning.
Cassie Colón stepped into the batter's box, took the first pitch from DB and drove the ball deep into left field for a home run.
Jammin January started off with a hot streak for Colón and the Ringers. Two batters later,
Devon Zerebko reached first base on a single.
Amanda Ulf added to the Ringers' score by hitting a home run to center field (scoring herself and Zerebko).
DB entered the bottom half of the inning trailing 3-0. The first batter reached on an error then scored with the help of a single, a batter hit by a pitch, and another Ringers error. Pitcher Devon recorded her fifth strike out of the game as both teams went scoreless.
The third inning had the Ringers demonstrating their softball talents as they added three runs to the tally on a single, a double, and three stolen bases.
DB advanced a runner to second base who reached first after being hit by a pitch, only to be stranded on base.
Elizabeth Jacoby walked to open the 4 th inning; Colón doubled Jacoby; and
Kylie Mulligan singled.
Kaela Green stepped up to the plate and three pitches later sent the team's third home run of the game to left field, pushing across two RBIs.
DB was unable to mount an offense as they went down in order.
The fifth inning had the Ringers scoreless as the side was retired in order. In the bottom half of the inning, DB sent four batters to the plate but could not overcome the final score of 10-1.
Game two of the tournament was a different story for the Ringers as they faced a much stronger team in the So Cal Mirage.
After five innings of play, the Ringers went down in defeat 10-2, on four singles, a triple, and four Mirage errors. For their part, Mirage had eight singles, two walks and a home run.
Throughout the day, a strange contrast took place as softball players and park-goers played on the snowy hillside. The scene was similar to watching die hard sports fans wearing bikini tops or going shirtless during the day's playoff games.
Seems that cold weather is really just a state of mind.