OC Riptide summer collegiate baseball team needs hosts families for players

The OC Riptide, an Irvine-based non-profit collegiate summer baseball team, is looking for host families to house some of the players this summer, according to Tim Brown, associate head coach and general manger.

The season runs from early June through late July (approximately eight weeks) and the team plays six days a week, rotating between home and road games.

“The team is comprised of recruited, invited players of which approximately 60 percent who go to college and reside out of state,” according to Guy Lemmon of the Ryan Lemmon Foundation, one of the board members of the team.

The team, which plays its home games at the Orange County County Great Park, is in its sixth year of operation and plays teams from throughout Southern California, Central California and Northern California.

Lemmon said the team is looking to find 12 host families.

“The Orange County Riptide is very grateful to the wonderful families that host our college baseball players each year,” Brown said in a statement. “Hosting a California Collegiate Baseball League player can be very rewarding. Players connect and bond with the families, often forming lifelong relationships. To be an Orange County Riptide player host family, you will need to be able to provide a bedroom, bathroom, access to a washer/dryer and have some food in the refrigerator (although most players love to eat with the family if you are cooking).

“Host families are not required to provide regular meals or transportation to players. Players are expected to be respectful and thoughtful of their host family and their ‘house rules.’ Our host families are some of our most loyal fans. Not only do they open up their homes to our players, but they become part of the Riptide family; cheering on the team from the stands at the Great Park Baseball Stadium and actively participating in many events throughout the season.

“If you are having house guests in July and can’t commit to hosting a player for the summer, short term hosting is an option. Please remember that every Orange County Riptide player is bound and governed by NCAA rules and regulations, in order to maintain their collegiate athletic eligibility.”

Those interested in hosting an Orange County Riptide player should contact Moe Geoghegan at gm@ocriptide.com or go to the team’s website for more information: ocriptide.com