To bring their 10th national championship trophy back to Santa Barbara this summer, the Foresters baseball team needs great players, bats and balls, loud and loyal fans . . . and host families.
The ’Sters can’t do without any of them, and the team is calling on the Santa Barbara and Goleta communities to help.
“For years, we’ve depended on a core of families to give our players a safe place to stay during June and July,” said manager Bill Pintard. “But for a variety of reasons, some of them can’t do so this summer, so we’re in dire need of help with this important job.”
Pintard also notes that “without host families, we would not be able to field a team.”
The role of a host family is, most importantly, providing a bedroom for a college player or two to stay in while they are here from schools around the country. Their stays might be those two months or just a few weeks. While living under each host’s house rules, the players are responsible for their own transportation and meals, though host families are welcome to invite players to the table.
“Having a host family let me put my focus into developing my craft on the field without worrying,” said Glen Otto, now a pitcher with the Texas Rangers.
In return for their generosity, host families receive a free family season pass to all Foresters home games, and can take part in some team activities as well, plus they are honored on the field before the season’s last home game.
“The 2021 season was the first year that we were able to host a player, and it was a truly rewarding experience on every level,” said former firefighter Chris Wiesen. “If you have the room in your house, it’s well worth your effort to support a young college baseball player. Remember, without housing support the Foresters don’t exist.”
For families with young ballplayers, it is often like having an instant big brother, but one who is also one of the country’s top ballplayers.
Julie Proctor and her husband, Chris are a longtime host family. “When our three boys were young, they idolized our Forester players,” Julie remembers. “They would all play games together—catch, whiffle ball, Nerf battles, Guitar Hero playoffs! It got our family very excited about Forester baseball.”
“We have been a host family for 14 years and it’s still exciting to meet the new players coming to Santa Barbara from across the country,” added Foresters board president Christina Songer. “We really get to know the players, they become our summer family.”
For the Songers and many host families, it’s the start of a lifelong relationship with young men who might end up in Major League Baseball.
“John and Gina Nisbet were unbelievably gracious hosts when I played in Santa Barbara,” said Ryan O’Hearn, who now plays first base for the Kansas City Royals. “They were a major part of why I had the best summer of my life and even came back for a second year. I stay in contact with them and get to see them at least once a year.”
Julie Proctor agrees. “We still keep in touch with many of the players we had; we’ve been to their weddings, gone to see them play for their colleges or in the minors, and follow them on social media.” Imagine going to a Major League Baseball game and seeing your former Foresters player on the field!
If you’d like to hear more or have questions, please contact the Foresters’ office at 805-684-0657 or email at info@sbforesters.org. The team will answer all your questions and can put you in touch with other current host families to find out more.
Without more host families, the Foresters season would be in trouble.