Lincoln Potters searches for summer host families

Lincoln Potters searches for summer host families By Dana Harrison Do you want to host a Lincoln Potters baseball player at your home? The Lincoln Potters are looking for families and residents to host Lincoln Potter athletes for the summer season. Nearly 35 baseball players will relocate to the Lincoln area this summer to play for the Lincoln Potters, according to Lincoln Potters host family coordinator Michelle Eskridge. "The Host Family Program is a vital part of the team's success, both on and off the field," Eskridge said. Almost 40 players as well as trainers and interns were also hosted last year, according to Eskridge. Sometimes, families will volunteer to host more than one athlete. Lincoln Potters are part of the California Collegiate League and attracts players throughout the country during the summer. Families can expect to host an athlete from May 26 to mid-August, depending on how well the Potters do in the season, according to Eskridge. A player will sometimes arrive later in the season due to playoffs with their college team or will leave the Potters early to return to their university's team. Host families are expected to provide athletes with a bed, a place for them to bathe and do laundry, and meals. In exchange, any family that hosts a Lincoln Potters athlete receives season passes to all the Lincoln Potters games. Families from Lincoln, Roseville, Rocklin and Newcastle have hosted Potters members. "Most of our players become very, very close with their host families," Eskridge said. "They still talk to the host families years later. Our host families go to their wedding, baby shower and fly out of state to go see them. It's a big deal." Lisa Bradley of Roseville has hosted Lincoln Potters players for three years. According to Bradley, she heard about this opportunity from a mutual friend. "I have three boys and they also play baseball," Bradley said. "It's great for my kids to see the routine that these collegiate athletes go through from their workouts, to their healthy eating and that you have to get good grades." Bradley and her family still have great relationships with the athletes they hosted. As of this week, the family just returned from visiting all three athletes at their home fields and spent time with their families. "We actually coordinated through the month to surprise our players," Bradley said. "It was really fun." Added Lisa Bradley's son, Jack Bradley, 8, "The Lincoln Potters are my brothers for life." For more information on hosting a Lincoln Potter player this summer, contact Michelle Eskridge at meskridge24@gmail.com or 916-719-2201.