Wilson Family Gets Return Visit From Babe Ruth Player

Joey, Lori, and Taylor Ellis of Wilson had no idea when they came rushing to the aid of the Wilson County Youth Athletic Association that they would ever enjoy the Babe Ruth “Host Family Program” so much. The Ellis’ decided to help after W.C.Y.A.A. Athletic Director Mickey Davis had pleaded in the Wilson Daily Times for help from the local community to help house over 120 13 year old baseball players for the 2001 World Series.

With most “Host Families”, the thought of keeping someone else’s kids in your home for possibly ten days is almost overwhelming. Asking someone to prepare meals, transport the players to and from the ball field, making sure the players get enough rest, making sure clothes are clean, and making the players feel like part of your family is a major task.

The Ellis’ met their new family at the Wilson Moose Lodge and instantly fell in love with Michael O’Meara and Jason Kloida from the Minnetonka, Minnesota team. Michael flew in from Minnesota on Thursday, August 1, and will leave for home on Wednesday, August 7. The trip was arranged hastily after the Ellis moved into their new home and lost Michael’s phone number. With Michael involved in sports, the timetable was short but the arrangements were made.

Lori, Joey, and their son Taylor have made numerous phone calls to Michael and his family over the past year. Taylor, age 9, would call Michael behind closed doors and discuss his all-star performances this summer. Taylor plays third base for the W.C.Y.A.A.’s 9 year old baseball team that finished second in the 2002 Babe Ruth E.N.C. State Tournament in New Bern and went 1-2 in the Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional in Kinston, North Carolina.

Michael fit right in at the start but it took Jason a day or so to become comfortable with the Ellis’. Jason had stayed with a family of four in the Mid-West Regional. The family consisted of a mother and three daughters. Jason and Michael’s teammate, Natalie Spicer, also stayed with the Host Family. Natalie was the only female to play in the 2002 Babe Ruth 13 year old World Series in Wilson.

The Ellis’ kept Michael busy his whole trip. From trips to see Taylor practice midget football at Hunt High School, to playing basketball in the back yard, seeing Joey’s church team win the City of Wilson Softball Championship, helping Lori pick out furniture for their new house, and even cutting the lawn helped make for a busy week in Wilson for Michael. Since Michael had never seen the beach, the Ellis’ took him to Atlantic Beach for the weekend.

Michael’s family did not make the trip to Wilson for the World Series but Jason’s parents did. How did Michael’s parents feel about their son staying with the Ellis’? No problem what so ever! Michael’s sister is serving as an exchange student in Chili so traveling does not bother the O’Meara family. Lori and the O’Mearas have talked numerous times in the past year and feel comfortable with Michael visiting Wilson.

Michael has kind of adopted Taylor as a little brother. Taylor looks to Michael as a big bother also. Both are very active in sports. Michael enters the ninth grade this year in Minnetonka in a school that has 2,500 students. He will start football practice with the ninth grade team on Monday. He will play defensive end and tight end. Football is his first love.

He will also play basketball and track (shot put and Disc throw) for his high school. Taylor plays linebacker and receiver for his midget football team and will somehow manage to play fall baseball with the W.C.Y.A.A.’s 9-10 age division. He will play basketball in the fall before baseball starts again in April.

So there will be plenty of late night phone calls between Wilson and Minnetonka this fall to discuss sports.

Michael has had diabetes for six years and has to take four shots a day. You could never tell by watching him. Michael’s involvement in sports has helped keep the diabetes under control. While in Wilson, he worked out daily. Lori tried very hard to help with Michael’s diet but with all the traveling, it was very hard to do. When asked about “Wilson County foods”, He said everything was good except grits.

Michael did not make his Babe Ruth all-star team this summer but Jason did. The team returns numerous players that played in Wilson during the 2001 World Series. At this point they still have a chance of

earning a trip to the 2002 World Series in the 14-year-old division but must win two games this week to advance.

Will Michael be coming back to Wilson? You can bet on it. Plans are already being made for next summer. Lori wants to make it an annual outing and wants to get Michael’s parents to come visit. What is the possibility of the Ellis family going to Minnesota? Lori says she is ready. Will there be a few tears at the Raleigh-Durham Airport today when Michael leaves, yes. Taylor will be in school today and will miss Michael's departure but I will bet that his thoughts will be with Michael. Kind a hard to forget a big brother.

Does the Babe Ruth League, Inc. “Family Host Program” work? The answer is easy for many Wilson County residents who help support the 2000 Babe Ruth 12 Under Softball World Series and the 2001 Babe Ruth 13 Year Old Baseball World Series by serving as “Host Families”. The answer is also easy for the W.C.Y.A.A.’s 12 Year Old Baseball team that advanced to the Southeastern Regional in Martin, Tennessee and had great “Host Families”.

The memories of serving as a “Host Family” are everlasting. If you have any doubts, ask Joey, Lori, and Taylor Ellis, or Leo and Alice Bass, or Carla, Steve, and Kayla Bradshaw, or the other 50 families that meet wonderful young players. They will be so glad to explain the benefits.

Many players have come back to Wilson for visits in the past two years. Leo and Alice Bass of Lucama made the trip to Seattle, Washington, to visit “their girls”. There are many success stories because of the “Host Families” and also because of the wonderful young players that made Wilson County home for ten days.

The W.C.Y.A.A. has been very fortunate to have so many great families to work with in the past two World Series. Lets hope that the 2003 and 2004 World Series have the same success. Knowing the people of Wilson County and the W.C.Y.A.A., the answer is simple, no problem.

For more information on the Babe Ruth “Host Family Program” or other W.C.Y.A.A. activities, call the W.C.Y.A.A. office at 291-6778 or visit our web page at www.wcyaa.org.

Mickey