Ark Valley News - Summer ball team seeks host families

Summer ball team seeks host families
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: March 30, 2017

Members of Valley Center's new summer baseball team need a place to stay.

The Valley Center Mud Daubers, which were formed this year by Kansas Collegiate League Baseball, will play home games at the Valley Center High School baseball field.

The organization is seeking host families for players from outside the area.

Host families simply provide athletes some food and a place to sleep for the summer.

"Host families are a vital part of the summer baseball experience, and we are very thankful for the generosity of our host families," Sheldon Howell, commissioner of Kansas Collegiate League Baseball, said in an email.

Shelli Compton and her family have hosted athletes for the past seven summers.

"While we had some reservations and concerns in the beginning, it has been very rewarding for our family," Compton said. "We developed lifelong relationships with each of our host sons. We just opened our home and made it their home."

Compton said the host family's job is simple.

"Provide a place to stay and food to eat," she said. "Whatever you do beyond that is up to you. Our players have become family and we try to support them as much as we can throughout the summer. It does take some work to juggle their schedule and yours too, but you make it work. We have been around many of the players over the years and they are all great kids. I am sure there are a few that may have a little trouble, but we have not really experienced it. The league and coaches are good about backing up the host families. Their college sends most of the boys here and they do not want a bad report sent back to their coaches. Playing a sport in college is like a job. Many of these players are on an athletic scholarship that pays for their tuition.

Compton said host families support a program that helps the athletes become better players and people.

"The difference you can make in their lives is amazing, but it's the difference they make in yours that will surprise you," she said. "We've already been to one wedding and have one host granddaughter. I'm hoping for many more."

For more information about the host family program or the Mud Daubers, contact Howell at kclbonline@outlook.com or 734-3308.