Bombers baseball: Host families are keys to MINK League team's success

From Texas to Florida to California to the neighboring Midwest communities, baseball players travel from all over the country to play for the Sedalia Bombers.

In the drop of the hat, they leave behind their families, friends, teammates and in some cases their significant others, to gain experience and exposure in the prestigious Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League.

They eat, drink and sleep America’s pastime, committing themselves to 42 regular-season games in a 46-day stretch just weeks removed from a college baseball season that spanned four months.

Coupled with new surroundings far from their school and home, the routine can be exhausting for the out-of-towners.

Behind the scenes, away from the diamond that demands most of their free time, the Sedalia Bombers have found a respite: their host families.

Welcoming players with a roof over their head, a couple of square meals a day and the creature comforts of home, 10 couples and families across Sedalia have opened their doors to ballplayers.

Why? Because as they put it, they care about the summer collegiate baseball program.

“We got involved because we went to the games the first year and thought it was a great opportunity to help a top-notch organization,” said Susan Mergen, who along with her husband, Rick, and 13-year-old son, Christopher, host Missouri State University outfielder Trey Massenberg.

The organization wouldn’t be top-notch without the continued support of the host families.

“We have great host families that take excellent care of our kids and give them structure,” Bombers  manager Jud Kindle said. “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do everyday without their support.”

The support oftentimes extends far past the bare requirements, which include providing a bedroom, a bathroom and one to two meals a day.

Case in point is UC-Irvine outfielder Pierce Bily, who has been provided a salacious pad by Harvey and Mae Meyer. Equipped with a state-of-the-art television and his own bathroom, Bily resides in the Meyer’s finished basement, which is around 1,400 square feet.

Asked about the sweet set-up, Bily couldn’t help but smile.

“I feel like they’ve been great,” Bily said. “They’re fun people and it’s a great set-up. If I need a car, they’ll provide one. They also feed me a couple of meals a day and if I need to talk, they’re there to talk to me. They’re just great people and I’m just happy to be here.”

The Meyers, who have hosted all three years, understand the harsh nature of the schedule and want Bily to be well rested. Thus, chores aren’t required.

“We ask him to do anything, he does it,” Harvey Meyer said. “But there’s very little we ask of him. They’re so busy with games and traveling, we want to make sure he’s as comfortable as possible. He doesn’t have to do any chores.”

That seems to be a recurring theme.

Staying with Nanci and Brett Opfer, Oscar Sanay, Derrick Hadley and Troy Stein are fed well and don’t even have to do their laundry.

“It’s a lot of food and a lot of laundry, but they’re great guys,” Nanci Opfer said.
Sanay, a second baseman from California State University-Bakersfield, appreciates the hospitality.

“She just told us from the start, ‘whatever you need, I’ll do it,’ ” Sanay said.

The Opfers, who hosted three players in the team’s inaugural season and five last year, provide a finished basement with three beds and a bathroom to go along with a membership to the Sedalia Country Club.

“It’s been cool,” Sanay said. “The basement’s real cool. I get home and I’m all sweaty and the basement’s like 70 degrees and it feels like I’m back in San Diego.”

And that’s music to the Opfers’ ears.

“To me their goal should be to have a great summer, to make new friends and play some good ball,” said Nanci Opfer, who hasn’t missed a home game in three years and even traveled to Wichita the past two years for the National Baseball Congress World Series. “To me that’s what this about. The rest of the world is going to come soon enough so this should be a fun time for them.”

All they ask of their guests is to adhere to a few simple rules.

“I just tell them no booze, no drugs and no girls,” Nanci Opfer said. “Other than that, I’m pretty easy going. I just tell them don’t do anything I’d have to call your mothers about. ...And I’ve never had to call any mothers.”

The Mergens, however, have gotten the parents involved — but in a good way. On two separate occasions, the Mergen family has welcomed Massenberg’s family members to stay overnight.

“His mom and sister came over (one) weekend ... and his dad and sister came down, too.

They’re welcome anytime,” Susan Mergen said.

And just like the Opfers and the Meyers, the Mergens provide a more-than-comfortable home away from home.

“He has his own lower half of the house,” Susan Mergen said. “He’s got a rec room, a laundry room, a flat-screen TV, and Rick keeps the refrigerator stocked with Gatorade and refreshments. Trey’s got everything he needs.”

In turn, Massenberg doesn’t hesitate to give back to the family and community.

When he’s not volunteering his time with the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri or helping Susan Mergen out at the Center for Human Services, he’s spending some quality time with Christopher.

“He’s a great role model to Christopher. They watch movies together, play video and hang out a lot,” said Susan Mergen, who also said Massenberg’s happy just relaxing on the couch with a bowl of her chicken alfredo.

And that’s what Kindle expects from his players. Just like the families that welcome them, they embrace the people who have become an extension of their family.

“These are great young men who come in to town for a couple of months and make a difference,” Kindle said. “They connect with the families and the fans, and we’re just glad that they’re welcomed with open arms.”