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Baseball bonds: Janesville team, fans make their mark in Virginia

Photo

Photo by Skip Rowland

Fans of Janesville’s 14-year-old baseball team cheer in the quarterfinals of the Babe Ruth World Series in Glen Allen, Va., on Thursday. Janesville lost 14-2 to Beaverton, Ore.

GLEN ALLEN, VA. — It’s probably still sinking in.

The boys of Janesville’s 14-year-old baseball team just wrapped up a deep run in the Babe Ruth World Series.

“I think the boys in the very beginning had no idea what they had accomplished until they had actually gotten here and seen everything that took place,” said Dawn Marro, mother of team member Alex Marro.

“I can finally say they got it,” she said. “They understand the significance … (when you) talk about the World Series, the significance and just the experience and memories that they’re going to have their whole life.”

Despite a 14-2 loss Thursday afternoon to Beaverton, Ore., in the quarterfinals of the championship round, the boys are beginning to realize what they’ve accomplished, their mothers say.

The Gazette spoke by phone with three of the players’ moms after the game and minutes after the Virginia governor declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Irene.

Including the team, the Janesville contingent numbered about 100, making it the most represented team in the tournament, they said. They became known as the “sea of red,” prompting the local newspaper to write about the Janesville fans, they said.

The teammates and families will leave today and Saturday—many trying to beat the hurricane—after forming a bond with Virginia families who hosted the boys for the last week.

Babe Ruth pairs players with host families who are responsible for everything from feeding the players to washing their clothes, said Barb Bortner, mother of Nick Blomgren.

Nick’s host family includes three younger kids—ages 12, 10 and 6.

“They look up to the players just like big brothers,” Bortner said. “Hopefully, they’ll come visit us.”

Several of the families have talked about making trips to Wisconsin.

“I’m just amazed at the bond you make immediately with them,” said Dawn Cox, mother of McCauley Cox. “I know McCauley has felt super comfortable with his host.”

Some players took gifts for their host families, while others soon will be sending packages of Wisconsin goodies, such as Badger T-shirts and cheese curds.

The players spent 80 to 85 percent of their time with host families. Visiting parents and family members got to see their players after games and at cookouts. The host families invited the players’ families to visit, and everyone quickly became friends, the mothers said.

At first, parents were apprehensive about giving up their sons for the full week, Marro said.

“Once we got here, we felt more comfortable with the host families. … It was a lot easier to let go,” she said. “I think we really learned to let go and give them full rein of our kids.”

Tuesday’s earthquake was an interesting, unnerving experience, happening on the team’s day off, they said. Everyone was scattered around the area sightseeing, but phone calls and text messages wouldn’t go through, Cox said.

Another tremor woke them overnight Wednesday.

Parents were making plans Thursday to head home earlier to beat the hurricane.

While Thursday’s loss was disappointing, the parents reiterated how proud they are of their sons.

“They just did a great job and worked hard to get this far,” Bortner said.

The support from Janesville was overwhelming, Cox said. Win or lose, the flood of Facebook messages, text messages and emails was appreciated, she said.

Residents and businesses came together in 10 days to raise enough money for everyone to travel to the tournament.

“So many people came to the table,” Bortner said. “We definitely couldn’t have done it without all those that gave of their time and money.”