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their space and freedom. "You can't treat them like high school boys," Childers said. She said the most important thing to remember about hosting is that, "Not only are you opening your home to a player, but you're opening your heart. And it's important that someone's there to support them." Mary and Fred Plummer first started getting involved with hosting when the son of a good friend needed somewhere to stay for the summer during baseball season. The Plummers frequently went to games and loved baseball, so they decided that being more involved was a good move. Fred Plummer said, "If you want to make a difference in a young man's life it's a great opportunity." To the Plummer's, the players have become an extended family. Fred Plummer gives the players a key when they first come and he said he will never take the key back. They are always welcome back to his home. Mary Plummer said she was surprised by how little players eat. Sometimes the players will ask for sandwiches to eat on the way to away games, but they really don't eat much in the home, she said. Ginny Lloyd is on her third year of hosting a player. She first found out about hosting at a tent one spring at the Dogwood Festival and thought it seemed like a great idea. It's been fun for her to share her space with the players and to help the community, she said, and she still stays in touch with the players. Lloyd said she found the players to be no trouble, to the contrary, she said they've been nice and well-behaved. And with so many games to play, she said she rarely sees the players. "When you host a player it's like they're yours," Lloyd said. Fred Plummer said hosting players has restored his faith in young people today. "These are our fu- ture leaders and we are in good hands." Mary Plummer said she finds it hard not to fall in love with every one of the players. She makes a scrapbook for each of the players so they can remember every- thing that happened during their summer with the SwampDogs. The book is filled with newspaper clippings and a picture of the Plummers on the last page. After the players leave, host families often follow the players' careers and lives. Childers said she stays in touch with most of her players. They become a part of the family. When her children were younger, the players became big brothers to them. The players helped her girls with softball and played pranks on them. The players would even go to the beach with her and her family. Some players leave the SwampDogs and eventually become professional baseball players and the sup- port of their host families stays with them throughout their career. To the players, a host family is more than just a place to stay during baseball season; it's their family away from family. HIGHLAND FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORY "Serving the Greater Fayetteville Area for Over 40 Years" Locally Owned & Operated | 910.484.8108 | 610 Ramsey Street | Fayetteville 42 | ACCENTS • 2012/2013

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