From Strangers to Family: AppleSox Seek Host Families

The Wenatchee AppleSox are less than two months away from starting their 26th season, and the club is looking for a few more host families to house players for the summer from late May through mid-August.

AppleSox players are enrolled in colleges across the country and will begin coming to the Wenatchee Valley in late May. Because the players are far from home, they stay with host parents for the two-and-a-half-month season.

"Host families are such an important part of the AppleSox experience," said AppleSox General Manager Allie Schank. "Between games, road trips, clinics, and community events, the players stay active, but the relationships they build with host families are something they remember long after the summer ends."

Hosting an AppleSox player is a unique opportunity to become part of the team. Though families and players meet as strangers, they become bonded through friendship as the season progresses.

"They're good kids," said longtime host parent Sharon Hogan, who hosts with her husband, Craig. "I remember when I was making my pitch to Craig, I told him 'baseball is life, let's help these kids out,' and it's been wonderful."

The Hogans mentioned they met families who traveled from Hawaii to see their kid play. Sharon said they made three different trips. First, the parents came, then the grandparents, then the whole family came.

"By the end of the summer, it was a big party," Sharon said. "We went over last spring to Hawaii and watched him play... and all the people who said 'you were his host family? Oh my goodness!' It was a wonderful experience."

Meanwhile, Tim and Fran Butterfield are entering their eighth year as a host family.

"There have been guys that come here that are amazing," Tim said. "It's very refreshing to see these young men come in, and they're focused, they're not getting in trouble, they're making something out of their life."

Like the Hogans, the Butterfields say they value the connections they make beyond extending a bed to players.

"We've been to school graduations, weddings, college graduations," Tim said. "We've traveled to multiple locations to go see these kids after the season ends."

Host parents receive many benefits for hosting an AppleSox player. They'll receive free season tickets, and kids or grandkids can register for the AppleSox kids camps for free. Host families also receive discounted membership options at the Wenatchee Racquet Athletic Club, usage of complimentary Mission Ridge passes, plus access to special events.

If you live in the Wenatchee Valley, have a spare room, and would be interested in hosting a player, call the team office at 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.