Branden Beeler fulfilled a long-held life goal playing in the MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas) League with the Jefferson City Renegades.
That would not have been possible without the generosity of Ralf and Laura Salke, who opened their home to the Kirksville native and other long-distance players during the 60-day season.
While about three-quarters of the Renegades team is comprised of local, college-aged baseball players, the other eight or so live as far away as Houston, Texas.
Host families like the Salkes provide those players with a place to sleep and food to eat.
"I probably wouldn't have been able to play driving back and forth every day; it definitely helps to have host families," Beeler said.
The Salkes have been highly supportive, which he said he appreciates.
"It's good mentally to know somebody's got your back," Beeler said.
Although host families are not obligated to, most host families, like Russ and Cindy Swanigan, go to most of the team's games, as well.
Cindy Swanigan said hosting three players provides an incentive to go to the games - which she loves to do.
"We're more connected to the team than if we just walked in the gate and went home," Russ Swanigan said.
Ralf Salke said the wood-bat baseball game is exciting to watch, and the team has exceptional players.
"I don't have to drive to Kansas City or St. Louis to watch good baseball," he said.
Cindy Swanigan said she likes to keep the distant families updated with photos and texts - what she would want to see if it were her son.
Playing 48 games in 60 days, the host family role with the Renegades is unlike the high school exchange student programs, where emphasis is on the social experience.
The ball players and their hosts often have opposite schedules. And as young adults, they take care of themselves.
But the host families like to provide a few tastes of home.
"We eat meals together when we can," Cindy Swanigan said.
The Salkes, on the other hand, prepare food in advance so the players they host can pull out fresh, ready-made meals from the refrigerator, from meatloaf to hot dogs.
For the first-year team, the host families have allowed them to fill their positions from a variety of player options, said Denny Atwell, a Renegades board member. However, he said the team's priority will continue to be to recruit from Mid-Missouri.
"I'm grateful; they're giving us a place to stay, so we can play," Beeler said.