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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
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Families 'adopt' players
Staff Writer Drop in at the next Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers baseball game and you're sure to find 7-year-old Maddie Anderson in the stands cheering for her favorite player, pitcher Joey Van Cleave.
Van Cleave is living with her family while he plays for the summer collegiate baseball team. And the Brainerd second-grader calls Van Cleave "my Lunker."
And her parents, Reggie and Barb Anderson of southeast Brainerd, couldn't be more proud of their favorite Lunker player as they, too, cheer him on at nearly every one of his games.
There are 22 families in the Brainerd lakes area serving as host families for Lunkers players, said Jenny Holmes, Lunkers host family coordinator. She said host families do not need to live in Brainerd and Baxter. They also have host families in Crosby, Pillager and outside the Brainerd/Baxter city limits.
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Reggie (left) and Barb Anderson, along with their 7-year-old daughter, Maddie, cheered for Lunkers pitcher Joey Van Cleave Monday. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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The benefits of becoming a host family are immeasurable, said Holmes.
"It's a tremendous experience, not just for the summer months but year round," said Holmes. "Once you host a player you forge a special bond with this young man and it's almost like a friendship for life. Most people keep in touch and follow them throughout their college career and see them through their baseball career."
The Andersons have always been baseball fans and were excited when they learned that host families were needed for the new Lunkers team and quickly signed up. Barb's sister has hosted a baseball player at her home in Duluth for the past four years. The Andersons learned in May that Van Cleave, 20, from Windsor, Calif., would be staying with them. They would carry his photograph everywhere, showing friends and family who their player was, said Barb Anderson.
"It was like we were adopting him," she said with a laugh.
Van Cleave and the rest of his teammates only get a few days off all summer - they're always playing ball or traveling for out of town games - but the Andersons feel he's been a fun addition to their family. They have a college-aged son now and Maddie has a big brother.
"Maddie told me today, 'I love Joey,'"said Barb. "As an only child, he's the big brother she's never had."
"I'm having a blast, for sure," Van Cleave said of his stay. "The first day I was here they said to treat it like it was my home and it's been great."
The Andersons have traveled around the state for a few of Joey's games and attend all the home games. One of the benefits of hosting a player is that the family receives season tickets. Maddie has made a couple of signs to hold in the stands as she roots for Van Cleave.
"I get nervous when Joey's going to pitch because I want him to do well," said Barb Anderson.
Van Cleave's parents will be coming to town on July 10 for a few days to watch their son play. The Andersons said they're looking forward to meeting his parents.
"It's such a neat experience for a family," said Holmes. "I know a lot of children enjoy having a big brother in the house for a few months. And these guys are really good guys and really good role models. They get to see them working hard and playing ball. It's a really cool experience."
When asked by prospective host families what they needed to do to host a Lunker player, Holmes explained that it's very simple.
"Treat this person how you would want your daughter or son to be treated if they were to go somewhere alone to a strange city or house, that's the bottom line," said Holmes.
For the Anderson family, they're looking forward to spending their summer watching the Lunkers at Mills Field.
"It's a good way to spend the summer, watching baseball," said Barb Anderson.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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