As the fieldlights flick off one by one at ballparks across Cape Cod and a warm breeze escorts fans out into the summer night, some families’ nights are just getting started.

Each summer, the Cape Cod Baseball League brings in hundreds of elite collegiate prospects with a unique chance to showcase their talent in front of scouts from all MLB organizations.

After long nights at the field, these players don’t return to college dorms, but to homes where host families provide them with rides, meals, and in some cases, a postgame breakdown.

For 24 summers, Nancy Nickerson’s family has hosted Cape League players. The Orleans Firebirds host mom has welcomed so many players over the years that she’s lost count, but the connections she’s built have lasted far beyond a single summer.

Nancy still remembers her first player, Ryan Hanigan, who went on to play 11 seasons in the major leagues, including two with the Red Sox, and is now returning to the Cape as an assistant coach.

Nancy, who resides in Eastham, is the Orleans Housing Coordinator, however, she didn’t always plan to be in this role. “I had joined because I was a teacher, so I was looking for something to do in the summer,” Nancy said. “And then after two years, the housing coordinator quit, and I just kind of fell into it.”

She hosted five players last summer and loves the bittersweet feeling of watching them grow over the course of a season. “Getting to know the guys and watching them follow their dream, most of them we still stay in touch with,” Nancy said. “We even went out to Arizona for one of their weddings. They really become part of your family.”

The Cape League relies on host families all across the Cape to house its players; many families host multiple players and build lasting bonds with them. Matt and Katie Cole, from Orleans, have hosted multiple players for nearly 10 years. With four sons of their own, their connection to the Firebirds has helped them build a strong relationship with both the team and the Orleans community.

“The players and our kids come and go, but there are always moments where they cross paths and spend time together,” Matt said.

Many of the players are spending their first summer on the Cape, where they’re treated like celebrities by many local kids. “They go out into the community, read to kids, play catch, and after games, fans can come on the field to meet them,” Matt said. “That’s something they don’t always get, and they really enjoy it.”

The local kids aren’t the only ones having fun either. Nancy always takes her players to Land Ho, a restaurant and sponsor of the Firebirds in Orleans. “No matter what restaurant we go to, people are always coming up and talking to them because they know they’re players,” Nancy said. “It’s the highest level. They’re almost like celebrities on the Cape.”

Nancy has hosted many celebrity-caliber players, including Chase DeLauter, a current Cleveland Guardian and 2021 Robert A. McNeese Outstanding Pro Prospect Award winner with the Firebirds. She also hosted CCBL All-Star Game MVP Jo Oyama in 2023. “Oyama, who’s from Japan, won every award you could win,” Nancy said.

Oyama hit .360 with five home runs and a 1.069 OPS over 39 games with Orleans and is currently with the Seattle Mariners’ Single-A affiliate. “That was a really fun summer,” Nancy said. “He was still learning English at the time, and it was so fun to hear about his culture.”

The Cape League is a showcase for players to display their talent, but also a chance to live on the Cape for a summer with a host family and enjoy America’s pastime. Some players return for a second summer, strengthening their connection with the community and their host families.

One player who enjoyed his time on the Cape was Sean Matson, a pitcher from Harvard who stayed two summers with the Cole family. Matson played two seasons with the Firebirds, starting in 2023, and posted an untouchable 0.00 ERA over 28.2 innings across both summers in Orleans.

Those two summers also gave Matson time to build a real connection with the Cole family, becoming part of their home in the process. In 2024, he was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians and is currently playing for their Double-A affiliate.

Players in the Cape League balance a packed summer schedule with performing in front of national scouts while also enjoying their time on the Cape, its beaches, restaurants, and small-town traditions with their host families.

Summer nights on the Cape often include Fourth of July fireworks in Chatham, the drive-in theater in Wellfleet, or, in Nancy’s case, bonfires with players and host families at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. Nights like those become some of the most memorable parts of the season for both the players and the families.

“They’ll talk about this summer being the best summer of their baseball career,” Nancy said. “Sometimes I think we’re so busy in Cape Cod, we forgot how special it is for these kids.”

Whether it is with the Orleans Firebirds or any of the other nine Cape League franchises, hosting a player is a rewarding opportunity that allows you to open your home to some of the nation’s most talented collegiate baseball players, forming lifelong bonds and creating unforgettable summer memories. As a host, you provide more than just a place to sleep; you offer a supportive "home away from home" for future stars as they pursue their professional aspirations. If you are interested in making a lasting impact on a player’s journey and joining our dedicated community of fans and families, please contact info@capecodbaseball.org for more information.