In the beginning
Background
This summer, Port Angeles has a new baseball team - the Lefties. They are in the West Coast League, a wood bat league for college players. When this was getting off the ground last year, they advertised for host families. It would involve having a player or two live with you for the season (June through early August) and providing them meals. Since our two sons are grown and gone, and we have plenty of room as well as a new lab puppy who needs someone to play with, I said, let's do it. Dean loves to cook, and we know boys. We must have passed muster on the application and were accepted. Months went by without a word. I emailed the team several times, and eventually heard back in early May that indeed we were going to have 2 players, and they would let us know by May 9. That day came and went. Eventually, I got an email from one of the guys, Nick, a pitcher from Arizona. I then reached out to the team again and got the email and phone # of Dutton, a catcher from Portland. They were set to arrive on May 30 with play starting on May 31.
Dean was obsessed with getting new toilets before they came. He was pretty convinced that our old toilets couldn't handle two college boys. Me, I was worried about keys to the house, linens, towels and cleaning out the rooms so there would be space for these two.
May 30
Dutton was dropped off at our house by someone midday. He is a really sweet guy who plays for University of Portland. He just finished his freshman year. He was an engineering major, but has decided on business. Dean showed him around town and got him moved into our back bedroom. He promptly went to sleep. Nick flew in from Arizona and came out by Rocket shuttle. Dean picked him up at Civic Field around 8. He fed them both chili, and we got to hear their stories. Nick just finished his sophomore year at Eastern Arizona and is headed to Colorado University to major in athletic training and sports physiology. Nick played for Bremerton last year, so has a little insight into this lifestyle. Apparently, they don't practice, just play A LOT of baseball. Their games are generally at 6:35 PM and they play nearly every day. Their first game is tomorrow in Bremerton. They have no uniforms. Are they going to have to go to Walmart and buy orange jerseys and put on duct tape numbers?
May 31
When Dean got back from the Y in the morning, they were making bacon and eggs. He took them down to the team store where they were issued uniforms. After spreading gravel at the field, they piled into several cars and off they went to North Mason (about 2 hours away) to have what Dutton described as a 2 hour practice with the Bremerton and Thurston teams which are in another league. They ate dinner at Taco Bell. When they got home, I had made an angel food cake and strawberries. When I told them I had to go to bed early as I had surgery to do the next day, Dutton was wide-eyed. "You operate? Aren't you scared to cut into someone?" I assured him that I had been doing this long enough not to be scared and that they don't hand you a scalpel on the first day of medical school to start cutting into someone. It's a process.
They were very worried that they didn't have sleeves with their uniforms. All they had were their college sleeves which were purple and would not look good with the orange and blue of the Lefties. I noticed that they must really like their caps as they wear them in the house.
June1
Opening day!!! Poor Nick who wants to be a relief pitcher was the starter and got rocked with 6 runs scored in the first inning. Luckily, they sat him after that. Dutton on the other hand was the hero. He knocked in 2 RBIs his second at bat. The first (and only) Lefties score of the game. A beautiful hit to right field. He did well behind the plate too. Sadly, the boys lost 11-2. We have great seats behind home plate as a perk for hosting. We left at the 7th inning stretch.
They got home late from the game, then had to leave at 0245 for Kalowna BC. They will be gone for 3 days.
I have to admit, I have been super happy since they showed up. They make me laugh and smile. I need them as much as they need me. Maybe I will make chocolate chip cookies for them for Sunday night when they get back. They did polish off the cake.
This summer, Port Angeles has a new baseball team - the Lefties. They are in the West Coast League, a wood bat league for college players. When this was getting off the ground last year, they advertised for host families. It would involve having a player or two live with you for the season (June through early August) and providing them meals. Since our two sons are grown and gone, and we have plenty of room as well as a new lab puppy who needs someone to play with, I said, let's do it. Dean loves to cook, and we know boys. We must have passed muster on the application and were accepted. Months went by without a word. I emailed the team several times, and eventually heard back in early May that indeed we were going to have 2 players, and they would let us know by May 9. That day came and went. Eventually, I got an email from one of the guys, Nick, a pitcher from Arizona. I then reached out to the team again and got the email and phone # of Dutton, a catcher from Portland. They were set to arrive on May 30 with play starting on May 31.
Dean was obsessed with getting new toilets before they came. He was pretty convinced that our old toilets couldn't handle two college boys. Me, I was worried about keys to the house, linens, towels and cleaning out the rooms so there would be space for these two.
May 30
Dutton was dropped off at our house by someone midday. He is a really sweet guy who plays for University of Portland. He just finished his freshman year. He was an engineering major, but has decided on business. Dean showed him around town and got him moved into our back bedroom. He promptly went to sleep. Nick flew in from Arizona and came out by Rocket shuttle. Dean picked him up at Civic Field around 8. He fed them both chili, and we got to hear their stories. Nick just finished his sophomore year at Eastern Arizona and is headed to Colorado University to major in athletic training and sports physiology. Nick played for Bremerton last year, so has a little insight into this lifestyle. Apparently, they don't practice, just play A LOT of baseball. Their games are generally at 6:35 PM and they play nearly every day. Their first game is tomorrow in Bremerton. They have no uniforms. Are they going to have to go to Walmart and buy orange jerseys and put on duct tape numbers?
May 31
When Dean got back from the Y in the morning, they were making bacon and eggs. He took them down to the team store where they were issued uniforms. After spreading gravel at the field, they piled into several cars and off they went to North Mason (about 2 hours away) to have what Dutton described as a 2 hour practice with the Bremerton and Thurston teams which are in another league. They ate dinner at Taco Bell. When they got home, I had made an angel food cake and strawberries. When I told them I had to go to bed early as I had surgery to do the next day, Dutton was wide-eyed. "You operate? Aren't you scared to cut into someone?" I assured him that I had been doing this long enough not to be scared and that they don't hand you a scalpel on the first day of medical school to start cutting into someone. It's a process.
They were very worried that they didn't have sleeves with their uniforms. All they had were their college sleeves which were purple and would not look good with the orange and blue of the Lefties. I noticed that they must really like their caps as they wear them in the house.
June1
Opening day!!! Poor Nick who wants to be a relief pitcher was the starter and got rocked with 6 runs scored in the first inning. Luckily, they sat him after that. Dutton on the other hand was the hero. He knocked in 2 RBIs his second at bat. The first (and only) Lefties score of the game. A beautiful hit to right field. He did well behind the plate too. Sadly, the boys lost 11-2. We have great seats behind home plate as a perk for hosting. We left at the 7th inning stretch.
They got home late from the game, then had to leave at 0245 for Kalowna BC. They will be gone for 3 days.
I have to admit, I have been super happy since they showed up. They make me laugh and smile. I need them as much as they need me. Maybe I will make chocolate chip cookies for them for Sunday night when they get back. They did polish off the cake.
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