ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The Liberal Bee Jays’ 2025 season will be starting up quickly, and many of this year’s players will be coming from out of town.
With that in mind, the Bee Jays organization is currently seeking host families for those players for this upcoming season.
“The players will arrive in Liberal around the end of May, and we're looking for approximately 15 homes that can host players who will be coming in from out of town,” coordinator Sheri King said. “As I say every year, it doesn't really take a lot to be a host family – if you've got a spare room or two and would want to open your home to these players, that's really all they need, along with a place where they can have some privacy. The main thing we ask for is to provide a stable, healthy environment for these young men. What we're looking for are places that can provide a place to sleep, bathroom space, and access to a washer and dryer so they can do their laundry. As a host family, you can decide on how much you want to do or how little. Just being there and being a positive space for these players and providing a home where they can feel comfortable and fulfill their role with the Bee Jays, that's what we look for every season. And since these guys are in college, they can take care of themselves for the most part and don't really need any extra parenting or anything like that, their main need is a place that's safe and comfortable for them to stay. In terms of transportation, these boys typically have vehicles of their own, or if they don't, they arrange rides with other players and work all of that out, so the host families aren't required to take these players anywhere, because these players are old enough and are pretty self-sufficient. In terms of house rules, if those are laid out in advance, it helps the summer run smoothly for everyone.”
King said being a host family is a great opportunity.
“Being a host family is more than just providing a room, it's about being part of something bigger,” King said. “Everyone's always talking about wanting to grow and wanting to have more things to do, and since Liberal was founded on the principle of being generous and welcoming, give some thought to opening up your home and helping these young men be successful with the team. It's a great and rewarding experience, and you don't even necessarily have to be a full family – we've had some widows and widowers as hosts, we've had empty-nesters, and all in between. I can't tell you how many families have told us they've enjoyed having that energy in their home for the summer. The best way to sign up to be a host family would be to contact either myself at (620) 309-8363 or DeeDee Luebbers at (620) 629-3927, and we'll be happy to help you get set up. We're co-coordinating the process, so getting in touch with either one of us would be the best way. We do vet everyone, and we also have some information about the players that should help us match them to families, because we want the players and their host families to be a good fit so it's a good experience for everyone. And we would like people to let us know sooner rather than later because it helps us in our planning, and it's just easier on everyone involved. We like to make sure the homes are actually ready, and the players also want to know for sure where they'll be staying for the season. The players' families also like to have the hosts' contact information and maybe get to know them a little bit and make sure their child is going somewhere safe. We've only recently announced we're looking for host families, but we will start placing the players by the beginning of May.”
King said she and her family have hosted multiple Bee Jays throughout the years.
“Something I really enjoy about being a host home, which my husband and I have done for almost a decade, is being that support system for these boys – they're away from their families and friends and home environment, so giving them some encouragement and that positive environment really goes a long way,” King said. “A major benefit of that is you're able to create some incredible bonds, and a lot of our past families have told us how there's communication between everyone even multiple seasons after they've left the team. My husband and I are now seeing our former players celebrate weddings and new children and all sorts of other milestones, and it's almost like they've never left, and it's amazing still having those connections. I know some people might think it's a huge commitment, but it truly is just for the summer. There are also multiple road trips and road games and practices and other commitments, so it's not like they'll be in your home 24/7. I think some people might feel a little nervous about having strangers in their space, but it's not quite to the scale they might be thinking because again, the guys just need places that can provide a space to sleep, bathroom space, and access to a washer and dryer so they can do their laundry.”
That experience of being a host family, King said, has been extremely positive for her and her family.
“So many people have asked me 'Why did you decide to be a host family,' and I always tell them if my children ever had the chance to be part of something like this, I would hope there's someone out there who would open up their home so they could be in a safe environment and be supportive and encouraging,” King said. “That's why I've done it for so long, and I also just love the spirit of baseball and I love making those relationships with the players, because they're amazing. I love the energy the boys bring, and they often have experiences that are different from our own, and hearing about those experiences can be really fascinating and eye-opening. I thrive on building relationships, and in the nine years my husband and I have been doing this, we've never had a negative experience with the players we've hosted, and my children have grown up having Bee Jays staying with us every summer, so it's almost like they have a bunch of extra brothers. I know for it might seem like a really big commitment to be a host family, but it truly is such a rewarding experience, and you won't regret being part of these boys' lives for the summer. Seeing their energy and excitement for the game is amazing, and it's just another great way for people to connect.”
Looking ahead, King said it should be another successful season for the Bee Jays.
“We had an amazing run at the NBC World Series last season, so we're hoping to make another deep run this season,” King said. “We're in the third year of being part of the Rocky Mountain League, and that leagues continues to be really competitive and give our guys some good games throughout the year. We're also excited to have Jared Mayeda back for another season, his leadership has been amazing and it's great for us to have had that consistency the past few seasons. We've got players coming in from Texas, California, Liberal, and possibly also from Louisiana and Missouri, among other places, so it'll be a diverse group in terms of locations. We've also got a few new board members who are bringing some great new energy and ideas, so we're excited for them to be part of the organization.”
