MUNCY, Penn. -
However, Rachael doesn't spend his vacation relaxing on a beach or sightseeing. Instead he spends two weeks each summer as a team host for the Little League Baseball World Series.
During the weeks of Aug. 13 and 20, Rachael will be doing anything but relaxing during his days off.
"I arrive at the Little League complex at 7 a.m. to awake the teams for 7:30 breakfast," he said. "After breakfast they have a little down time until the coach schedules practice, which is usually around 10. Lunch is served at 12 followed by another practice at about 3. Dinner is at either 5:30 or 6 and sometimes the coaches will have another practice in the evening or they will allow the team to go to the game room to interact with kids from all over the world. I usually leave the complex at about 11 in the evening."
On game days, there is also an additional light workout and some hitting time in the batting cages, Rachael said.
For Rachael, perhaps the most rewarding part of being a team host is working with the kids.
"Kids are fantastic as they are very excited and most don't understand what it is like to be nervous-they let that be up to their parents," he said. "They have a tremendous amount of pressure on them and when they lose they usually cry. But in about 45 minutes they are back to swimming and playing ping-pong with other kids from around the world."
Rachael said that each year as a volunteer brings new memories for him that last a lifetime.
"I have many experiences from years working with the kids as I've met kids that I keep in contact with to this very day," he said. "I have met President Bush, Brent Musburger, Kenny Rogers and many other celebrities.
"The thing I like best is that I get to be a 12-year-old kid for two weeks out of the year. The kids are great and even though they are excellent baseball players, they, I mean 'we,' still have pillow fights, play ping-pong, go swimming, etc. I get to be their 'uncle' for those two weeks and it's a blast."
Rachael is not the only Pennsylvania resident whose life changes a bit during the Little League Baseball World Series.
"The residents get really into the Series as it is the largest income producer for all of the restaurants and hotels in the area. All the hotels within 60 miles of Williamsport are sold out for months in advance of the Series starting," he said. "It is really not a time of patriotism, so to speak, because these are children ages 11 and 12, for the most part. But the final game is always between the U.S.A. and an international team, and during that game you will hear chants of U.S.A."
