The 25-man roster has been filled for the 2016 Carroll Merchants baseball team, who will be hosting their first full season in Carroll with their home opener on Friday, June 3, against the Sioux Falls Pilots, but some of those players are still in need of a place to stay. The Carroll Chamber of Commerce is asking for the community’s help in arranging room and board for these players. Host families are asked to provide for the basic living needs and to include the players in family meals and activities. Hosts can ask players to abide by their own restrictions, as long as they are not more lenient than those expected by the Merchants team. The hand-picked college students from across the country and from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are each required to sign the team’s code of conduct, stating they will adhere to a specific curfew and behavioral expectations. In addition to their practice and game schedule, players will be taking part in community service projects and some will hold part-time jobs. Several area families are already committed, and like Jason and Beth Hacker, they are excited to meet the player and “show them the hospitality that Carroll County is known for.” For more information on how you can become a host family, contact the Carroll Chamber of Commerce at 792-4383, or at chamber@carrolliowa.com.
