Newark National’s trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA is a dream come true its players. But for some of their parents, the logistics of this magical run are daunting.
Little League baseball covers players’ travel and housing, but parents pay their own way. That’s left families to absorb hundreds of dollars a day in hotels, meals and gas over the first three weeks of this month as the squad first played at the regional tournament in Connecticut and now the World Series.
Jenny Hardcastle has two sons on the Newark team. She says the unexpected nature of the expenses is not easy to absorb.
“You can plan for a vacation or with some of these travel teams you plan to go to a tournament, but when something like this happens – no one plans for this," said Hardcastle. "We certainly never, ever expected to get this far. So. It’s not like you’ve been saving up money he last year or month – so it just comes as financial shock really.”
Hardcastle adds there are also issues beyond the expenses.
“There are families that have taken all of their vacation time and are taking time off and are not being paid for it," said Hardcastle in an interview with WDDE from Williamsport where she joined her sons Wednesday. "The parents certainly want to be there for their kids They don’t want to stay home and send their kids without them –so they’re trying their best to make it work.”
Hardcastle, a teacher, says she and her husband are lucky because they both work on an academic calendar and have no scheduling issues.
Newark National Little League is seeking donations on its website to help parents defray the costs. Hardcastle appreciates the generosity people are showing already, and adds the experience is ultimately worth the cost.
Newark National is only the second Delaware team ever to reach the Little League World Series. It opens play in Williamsport Friday night against Iowa.