Eau Claire Express Host Families

Thank you to all of our AMAZING host families! We could not have done it without each and everyone of you this season! We hope you have filled your summer with some amazing memories.

Wishing all our current and former Express family host dads Happy Father’s Day. Thank you for hosting!

Happy Mother’s Day to all our host moms! Thank you for taking in and supporting our players!

✨ Host Family Spotlight✨

Tanner (dad), Lisa (mom), Jayda, 16, (daughter), and Ayden, 14, (son).

We decided to take the plunge because we thought it would be a good experience for our kids. We also had the extra space at home and love watching baseball. So we thought why not. We also like the idea of being a safe and positive influence on someone away from home.
We are looking forward to watching more baseball and getting to know our Express player on a personal level.

Welcome aboard Bowe family! Thank you for hosting!

⭐️Host Family Spotlight⭐️

Jarred and Melinda Huth

“This will be the sixteenth season for us. We have hosted 20 different players, including players that returned for multiple seasons. Most years we host at least two players. Our two children grew up hosting for the Express. Carson Park is our second home in the summer. This year, Melinda is one of the host family coordinators. We are looking forward to bringing back many of our host family traditions.

We were huge fans of the Express and had season tickets. Our friends hosted a player in 2006. We became part of Teddy's Tailgaters. Teddy Pattock recruited us for the 2007 season, and we have been a host family ever since.

The connections and relationships are so rewarding. We have a huge extended family thanks to the Express. Our host families and staff are truly the best.
Players come back to visit us every year, even at our children's weddings.
We keep in contact with almost all of our players and plan trips all over the country to visit them year round. The players and their families are always so gracious to host us when we visit.”

Thank you Huth family for hosting!

2023 Host Families,

You should have received an email yesterday with your player information. Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you did not receive it

⭐️ Host Family Spotlight ⭐️

“We are excited to start our adventure as an Express Host Family this year! Our family are huge baseball fans and go to as many Express games as we can squeeze in! Throughout the years we have chatted with many host families and learned what a rewarding experience hosting can be. Our 11 year old son Carter plays on multiple baseball teams and has always looked up to the Express players during their training classes and after baseball games. He is excited to have the opportunity to have a role model bond with, kind of like a “big brother.” We want our player to feel like he is part of our family and like he is at home, and give his family peace of mind that he is safe and taken care of.”

Luke, Kari, Carter, and pups Roxie and Ollie Bushendorf

Welcome Aboard Bushendorf Family!

✨ Host Family Spotlight✨

Ben, Anita, Brianna, Caleb Coenen

This will be the Coenen family’s third summer hosting. They have hosted 3 players so far. They were thinking about hosting for several years, but where worried about already being too busy. Once they agreed to the commitment, they found that they spend more time as a family. They enjoy becoming part of each player’s baseball journey. The players and their families are now extended family. They have also enjoyed getting to know other Express players and host families.

✨ Host Family Spotlight ✨

My name is Julie Miller and I have 2 boys-Jake who is a Junior in high school & Jack who is in 8th grade in Altoona.

We’ve hosted players since 2016, and had a total of 7 players.

When I lived in Rochester, I went to the Honkers’ (another Northwoods League team) games. They advertised their Host Family program at the games. I always thought that once I got established in life and had kids, it would be something fun to do. I moved to Eau Claire area in 2003 & was very excited that it could become a possibility when the Express started in 2005.

My favorite thing about being a Host Mom is getting to know so many amazing people-my players and their families, their girlfriends, other players, & even the interns and other great employees. I stay in contact with many of them from years past. I still go to my previous players’ games and meet up with former interns. The Express organization is amazing and I’m very proud that my boys and I are a part of it. I look forward to doing it for years to come!

✨ Host Family Spotlight ✨

Ashley, Brett, and Cash Hansen

This will be the Hansen’s third year. They have been fortunate to host 3 pitchers during their first 2 summers. They started hosting because they wanted to find a way to keep, support, and enjoy the baseball history in Eau Claire! Their favorite memories of hosting are spending time with their “summer sons,” breakfasts together, meeting the boys’ families, and supporting their player’s baseball journeys. They have enjoyed seeing the players treat Cash as a younger brother and being a role model to him.

Thank you for hosting!

⭐️ Host Family Spotlight ⭐️

Bill Libberton and Karma Fladten

This will be their first season hosting a player. They wanted to provide a player a place to be comfortable when not with his team. They also thought it would be a great way to make new friends, since they have only been in the area for a year.

They both like baseball, Karma is a Brewer fan, and Bill is a lifelong Cub fan. From the young age of 6, Bill began going to the class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants located in Clinton, IA of the Midwest League. They watched the young players begin their careers towards becoming HOF professionals. Even after college, friends and Bill would attend the Peoria cub games in the Midwest League. They attend two major league games per year with family and friends.

Thank you for becoming a host family!

✨ Host Family Spotlight ✨

Jen, Rick, and Connor Souba

The Souba family has been hosting for 7 years and had 13 players over that time. Their son’s interest in baseball initiated their desire to host. They felt the players would be great role models for Connor. They love getting to know the players and their families. The Souba family are still in contact with the players they have hosted and many of the player’s families. They enjoy taking vacations to watch some of the players in their college or professional games.

Thank you for being a host family!

⭐️Host Family Spotlight⭐️

The Toycen Family

“This will be our first season hosting. After our family purchased the Eau Claire Express last season, it was great to meet and get to know all the other host families. We saw the relationships they had with their players and decided we wanted that for our boys, too. Most of our free time in the summer is spent at either the little league field or at Carson Park watching the Express! We are lifelong baseball junkies. Roll Trains”

Craig, Holly, Isaiah, and Adrian Toycen

✨Host Family Spotlight✨
Troy and Rachel Oestreich

They have hosted three players over the last two years. They decided to host because they felt it is one thing that they can do to make someone else's life a little easier. They are empty nesters and have an extra room, so they thought they should put it to good use. They are also big baseball fans and are happy to be able to help the players out.
One of the things they like the most about hosting is putting the player’s mothers at ease when they realize their son is safe, and in good hands. The connection they build with the players and their families have become a wonderful extension of their family. It's also fun to have someone on the team you know to cheer for.

Thank you for hosting!!

✨Host Family Spotlight✨

Jess and Spencer LaBrec
This will be their third season hosting and they have had three players live with them.

They decided to become a host family to give back to the community and support young men as they pursues their dreams in baseball.

What they love the most from hosting is the relationships they have formed with the players and their families. They enjoy spending time with their players doing activities such as tubing, fishing, hunting, utv rides, dinner and ice cream, and chatting with them after games.

Thank you for being a host family!

✨HOST FAMILY SPOTLIGHT✨
The Caraher family will be entering their 3 year hosting this summer. A TV news broadcast and their enjoyment of going to the Express games, sparked their interest in hosting. Some of their favorite memories are having the players join their family activities, dinner with the players, after game time hangout time, and pool time with the players. They still keep in touch with their players and their families. Thank you Pete, Liam, Michael (L to R), Lee (front) for hosting!!

Just a reminder. If any current host families are available to attend, that would be great. If you know of anyone interested, please bring them to this event.

Join us at Eau Claire Ale House on March 1st from 6 - 7:30 pm to learn more about being an Express Host Family! ⚾️

Please contact [email protected] with any questions!

If you are interested in being a host family, please fill out an application here: https://northwoodsleague.com/eau-claire-express/community/host-family-program/

Good afternoon host families! There are some exciting changes coming up for you this season. The first change is a few current host moms have volunteered to oversee the host family program. We are beyond excited to help out with this. We are planning host family social events, such as a kick off party, tailgating events, and a few other things are in the works as we speak.

Our first order of business is to find out who is willing to take players into their homes this coming summer. If you have hosted in the past and want to jump back onboard, we would be happy to have you! If you have already not done so, please email us at [email protected] to let us know how many players you are able to take in.

Lastly, we want to THANK YOU for hosting players. We understand what a commitment and sacrifice you make to host the players during the summer.

Anita Coenen
Melinda Huth
Jess LaBrec

Wishing our host families a blessed holiday season!

Old host moms never die, they keep on giving hugs. Laurie Zukaitis with the San Francisco Giants hitting coach Justin Viele.

Good evening! In preparation of Host Family night, we would like to get a picture of each family with their player(s) prior to a game. If possible, please meet the Express photographer about one hour prior to the game on the 4th, 6th, or 7th. If one of those games do not work for your family, please reach out to me. We will arrange a different date.

Hope everyone has a great 4th.

I sent this email last week. However, I suspect it may have ended up in a few junk mailboxes, so I am sending it again.

Good morning Express host families!
My name is Anita. My husband and I host a few of the players. Sammi has asked that I spread the word about a few upcoming events for host families.

July 4th game-The 10th inning terrace on the fan deck is reserved for host families. For a minimal upcharge, your family can upgrade your season ticket seats to the fan deck for that game. You will have access to the food served on the fan deck and a wristband for 4 adult beverages. Plus, you will have the best seats for the fireworks, which are back at Carson park this year. Keep in mind that once you relinquish your regular seats, you will not be able to use them for that game as they will be sold to other fans. Please contact the express office by JULY 1st if you are interest in the joining the other host families for that game.

Host Family Appreciation Night-This year it will be held on Wednesday, August 3rd. You will be announced with your player(s) prior to the game. Most details (time to be there, etc) will be announced closer to the date. Please try to attend this game if possible.

Thank you for hosting and making a difference in the player's lives.

Special thanks to the best Host Moms in the NWL!

Happy New Year! Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2022!

Merry Christmas to our wonderful host families!