Lakeshore Chinooks' Ryan Krill (center) and his hosts, the McCarthy family: Romy (from left), Brendan, and their twins, Brynn and Keagan. Photo by Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel

MEQUON, Wis. (July 14, 2012) — There are a lot of people that make Northwoods League teams function every summer. You, of course, have the owners, general managers, interns, coaches and the players themselves. However, there’s one very special group of people who often get overlooked when it comes to the success of summer leagues like the NWL: the host families.

Almost all players are hosted by complete strangers when they come into the NWL to play. It becomes a home away from home for a lot of these players. These families give up a lot for three months to make sure these players have everything they need when they come home every night from the field. Without them, a league like the NWL would be nearly impossible to stay successful.

For one story of a host family and their player, we invite you to read an excellent article done by Bill Glauber of the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel on Lakeshore Chinooks’ first baseman Ryan Krill and the McCarthy family. And if you see a host family at your local ballpark, be sure to give them a thank you for contributing to the success of the Northwoods League.