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MOREHEAD CITY – Morehead City is fortunate to have a sports shop like the Marlins, but it requires certain sacrifices from their host families each year.
The college baseball players, many of whom are overseas, need a summer home, and the Marlin host families provide just that. However, if you ask them, no “sacrifice” is required.
For families like the Byrums of Newport, who have hosted players for nine seasons, the burden of support pales in comparison to the rich relationships that are built with these players.
“The relationships you have with the players and their families last a lifetime,” said Ian Byrum.
Each host couple offers a unique experience as players and families learn to mingle through the team’s hectic summer schedule. The players travel more often than at home, but when they have time to relax it is mostly with the family.
When it comes time to do something outside of training or games, the host families are happy to show off their quaint town.
“We take them in at family dinners and the like,” said Byrum. “You are just part of the family. When we go to the beach or the Cape (lookout), stuff like that, you’re more than welcome to join us. “
This summer, the Byrums is home to Butler University students Jack Myers and Jon Vore. The two Indianapolis natives share a ready-made bonus room with beds, a couch and a television above the Byrums’ garage. Outside of the field you don’t have to worry, food included.
“My house is their house,” said Byrum. “If it’s in the house, they can eat it. We have a list on the counter, and if you want something, we’ll pick it up the next time we go shopping. “
Myers stayed with the Byrums in 2019 when the Marlins won their second consecutive CPL championship.
“I love my time with the Byrums,” said Myers, 22 ,. “We felt comfortable with them, they treat us like family. This is my second summer stay with them, so we are all very close and we will keep in touch in the future. “
The league canceled the game last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Myers returned for this summer. He is joined by the 20-year-old Vore, who plays his first ball away from home.
“Living with a host family is a new experience for me,†said Vore. “I didn’t know what to expect, but the Byrums were great at treating Jack and me like part of their family, including us with activities, meals, and other family matters.”
He added, “Jack and I have a decent amount of time around the house, mostly sleeping and eating. They made this summer super comfortable and enjoyable and I can’t thank them enough. “
Relationships with the player go beyond the players themselves. The host families get to know the players’ parents and spend time with them so that their children are in good hands.
“Your parents just want them to be in a safe place,” said Ian Byrum. “That’s why I like to get the phone numbers of mothers and fathers so that they can feel better too. Sometimes we bring them to our home so they can have dinner with us and see our house and know that their children are safe. “
Byrum and his wife Michelle have a 20 year old daughter, Marleigh, so he knows how to open up communications with the players before they even arrive.
“I’m trying to write with them and get to know them a little before they’re here,” he said. “It takes some of the awkwardness.”
Once the players arrive, Ian and Michelle do their best to serve as transitional parents for the young men. This includes praise when they play well and encouragement when they don’t.
“You have to be there to encourage them when they have a bad outing,” said Byrum. “You have to be like their parents and pick them up when they’re down. They enjoy their victories, hang their heads and hug them. “
He added, “It takes a lot of effort to take in children because you want them to be comfortable. They want them to go home or back to their school and say they had a good experience in Morehead City. “
Between the allure of the beach and the two straight championship titles, the Marlins are an attractive destination for college players.
“There’s no better place to play summer ball than Morehead City,” said Byrum. “We have the best field in the league and you couldn’t ask for a better place to hang out all summer.”
Byrum remembers well when he started hosting players. Friends of his were already in the program who needed a home for another player.
“We took the plunge,” he said. “Actually, nine years ago I only recently received a text message from our first host.”
There are many families with repeated experiences in the homestay program, but they also need new hosts every now and then
“Just try it out,” said Byrum. “It’s worth it. We have been doing this for nine years and have never had a bad experience.”
Marlin’s families receive free tickets to all home and away games for their efforts so they can watch the players progress as they have a fun family evening at the factories each night.
Sometimes that progression continues after the Marlins and into Major League odds. The Byrums hosted Cal Quantrill in 2014, who was voted 8th in the 2016 MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians, Byrum’s favorite team from his home state.
“It’s kind of cool to know that if I turn the Indians game on, I might see a player that I’ve hosted out there.”
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