The Wareham Gatemen baseball team is looking for families to host athletes as they chase their major league dreams.

Each year, college players from across the country join the Gatemen to spend the summer honing their skills in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. A league member since 1963, the Wareham-based organization is the only team located off Cape Cod. Notable Gatemen alumni include Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn and former New York Yankees first baseman Nick Swisher.

This year, the team faces a host family shortage. Gatemen officials hope local families will step up to the plate before players arrive starting May 31. Anyone living within a 15-mile radius of the team’s home field near Wareham Middle School is eligible to host a player.

“Host families are a vital part of our organization. They’re not only host families, they come to the games and are a part of the team,” said Gatemen General Manager Andrew Lang. “These kids are getting ready to go off to professional baseball teams, but they’re not there yet.”

The short season is a grind for players, who play 44 games over the course of 10 weeks. When they’re not on the field, players participate in a slew of community activities, including autograph signings, library story times and youth baseball clinics.

While hosts provide a place where players can rest at the end of the day, Lang said the families offer something far more comforting.

“Families provide a home away from home for these players,” Lang said. “They need a place they can go and relax and get away from baseball.”

Lang is well aware of how much an impact a supportive host family has on a player’s performance. For four years, he played professional baseball and criss-crossed the United States.

“I’ve lived with host families all over the country, and it can get lonely if you don’t have a support system at those games,” Lang said. “It’s always nice to look up in the stands and see a familiar face. It makes you feel good.”

Players arrive from all over the country, and sometimes abroad, to play for the Gatemen. Because of that players and families often form strong bonds.

Rob Reardon is a host parent that recently traveled to North Carolina State to catch up with a player his family hosted the past two years. Reardon, who is the team’s photographer, said the player was a role model for his own children.

“The experience my kids have of watching a college kid working so hard to reach their goal is priceless,” said Reardon. “It is an amazing opportunity that made great memories for my family.”

Ken and Cindy Dawicki said they became a host family 10 years ago to give back to the community. Both said the experience has been rewarding.

“Each player we’ve hosted has been unique in his own ways, yet their hopes and dreams remain the same,” said Cindy. “They’ve all been respectful, thoughtful, intelligent, dynamic, entertaining and a definite positive addition to our family.”

Lang said the team is seeking between 40 to 50 beds for players. While some families opt to host an athlete for 10 weeks, there are opportunities for those looking to host short term.

In addition to the full time contract players, other Gatemen are in town for a few weeks max.

“Families don’t have to take a player for the whole summer. If a few weeks at the start of the season works better for someone that helps us out tremendously, too,” said Lang.

Families must provide a bed for players and breakfast. Athletes are responsible for their lunches and the team handles dinner. How involved families want to become beyond that is up to them.

Host families are paid a small stipend per week for expenses, but those looking for a windfall need not apply. “It’s not large enough to be a moneymaker,” said Lang. “Families are really doing it because they want to.”

Gatemen start reporting May 31 and leave starting early August. With the boys of summer arriving soon, Lang encouraged families to consider hosting a player.

For more information on becoming a host family, email Andrew Lang at alang.gatemen@gmail.com or Mary Chaplain at housing@gatemen.org.