Prospect League baseball is coming soon, and that means that Danville Dans Baseball will once again be playing at Danville Stadium. As team managing partner Jeanie Cooke reminds us, these are collegiate players from all over the country sent here for the summer to work on their game. And host families are needed to give them a place to sleep, and a safe place to come home to.
Every year, some host families drop off the roster, so new ones are always needed. Is it worth it? Jeanie Cooke says lifelong friendships are made, often with both the parents and the kids of the house. In fact, Cooke says the biggest complaint is, once you take a player in, he’s not around as much as you’d like him to be to get to know him better. And, when you look at their schedules, you can see why.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: They get up, they may or may not grab cereal out of the cupboard. But then early, 9 or 9:30, they are working out at our Y. From there, usually they’ll go out with everybody and grab a little lunch, and then they’ll come to the ballpark, where they are the rest of the day. On a travel day, by 10 o’clock they’re on a bus; and on their way to Iowa, Ohio, anyplace between.
And Jeanie Cooke reminds us there are some great benefits for being a host family.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Host families get in the games at no charge. If they want to travel and watch the Dans they’ll get a priviledge pass where they can get into any ballpark in the league. We have a “Host Family Night” once a year. On that night there’s always a lot of tears because it’s close to the end of the season. You really make life long friends.
If you’d like to be a host family for a Danville Dans player, or just want to learn more, call 217-918-0996. Cooke says; sure, you may be hosting a future major leaguer; but also perhaps a future doctor, lawyer, or teacher; who just happened to pass through your life. The first Dans game is Wednesday, May 31st; so the players are on their way.