A Mahoning Valley Scrappers game is about more than just baseball.
The atmosphere resembles a carnival with the aroma of cooking oils, beer and hot dogs. There are plenty of noises blooming throughout – from children running and cheering throughout the aisles, music blaring to keep the energy, and the announcer dishing out his signature sound effects. Even the workers get in on the spectacle, with one hot dog vendor donning a cape and crown and dubbing himself “king of weiners.”
Somewhere along the first base side of Eastwood Field, you may pick up on a piercing sound chime through the crowd over at the last lone picnic table.
There sits Gail Drushel, a 70-year-old fan, doing what she’s been doing for 19 years in that very same spot, trying her best to energize Eastwood Field.
“We ran our Scrappers Backers 50/50 from there,” said Drushel. “We still sit there even though the Backers are no longer doing the 50/50.”
It’s always just another day at Eastwood Field, workers, some from the Scrappers organization and some fellow fans walk by, always making sure to wave hello in between her ringing of her bell or blowing her whistle.
She’s a household voice around the ballpark.
If you ask her, when the announcer plays the signature “Day-o” from the classic “Banana Boat” song, you might hear something different if you listen closer.
She chants “Gaaail!” when the opportunity strikes.
And Drushel is there for every home game. Whether the crowd gives in to her noise is of no matter to her, she’s there to cheer on her boys.
What Drushel does from her seat matters, though it’s the role she assumes as a host family that’s really the backbone of the Scrappers.
It takes a village to run a minor league team, traveling expenses for the road games, coaches, game-to-game operations and, most importantly, giving them a place to call home.
Gail Drushel cheers on the team at Eastwood Field (Metro Monthly electronic image by Tanner Mondok) Gail Drushel reacts to action on the field (Metro Monthly electronic image by Tanner Mondok) Gail Drushel with husband, Terry Drushel, and Jewelia Killias near first base at Eastwood Field (Metro Monthly electronic image by Tanner Mondok)During the short season, players have the option to save on expenses and live with a local host family.
Starting in June, Drushel, a great-grandmother of three, and her husband, Terry, take in players as part of a network of families hosting young athletes throughout the season.
According to Kate Walsh, director of tickets and operations, “ninety percent” of the Scrappers roster relies on host families during the short season. There are currently 12 families hosting between two or three players at a time.
Each family is selected in a vetting process by the Scrappers organization.
“There’s no specific family we look for, but they’re typically fans first before becoming hosts,” Walsh explained. “You can apply through us, and then we do an interview process to get an idea of why they want to host players.”
From there, athletes are paired with families based on both the preferences of the family and players.
“The families don’t get the roster till opening day, from there it’s about figuring out what both prefer. Do they prefer families with kids? Because some athletes enjoy the family aspect,” said Walsh.
Some host families, like Drushel’s, are longtime fans and empty nesters looking to fill the gap.
Drushel said her host duties are simple, “I just try to keep them happy so they don’t have to worry about much.”
Having served as a host family since 2005, she knows what to expect. A happy home means less stress weighing on players throughout the season. It helps clear their mind and allows them to focus on baseball.
But when players arrive, Drushel’s duties around the house begin to grow. “It typically means more food, later hours, more laundry and more trips to and from Eastwood Field,” she said.
This year, Drushel is hosting three players: Juan Mota, Adondi Kery, and Elvis Perez, all from the Dominican Republic.
Most of the athletes she hosts typically come from Latin countries, though she’s had ballplayers from around the world. “We’ve had players from Korea, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Japan, Canada and Australia,” Drushel said.
She says she’s grown accustomed to hosting Latino players, and along the way grasping some of the language.
“I’ve picked up some Spanish, mostly on the bad words they teach me,” she laughed, though she also uses social media as tool of communication. “Sometimes I’ll use a translator app and that’ll help for us to get each others points across.”
When all else fails, they resort to visual aides to communicate.
“We’ll do a lot of sign language from time to time. I’ll say ‘Are you hungry?’ and we’ll rub our stomachs to signal,” she said.
Drushel welcomes the idea of hosting these players, even when other host families shy away from the perceived challenges.
As she explains, “Some have views about them, and how they live and where they come from, that they’re hoodlums. That’s far from the truth.”
Instead, she described the players as being like your average teenage boys who just so happen to be playing for a single-A minor league baseball team.
“On their off days, they’re probably either sleeping, playing on their Playstation, swimming or, of course, playing on their phones like normal kids,” Drushel said.
The role Drushel assumes is essential for helping the players through such a short season. She’s a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, so the experience carries over to her duties as host.
“The leadership role she takes shows she still has that eternal motherly feeling. She’s helping them learn and helping them grow,” said Walsh.
The role she’s taken on goes well beyond the basic requirement of a host family. To her players and even the organization, she’s seen as being the “team mom.”
Walsh even described her as being an extended communicator. “She lets the other host families know when the buses are coming in when the players are coming off road games.”
Drushel even takes it upon herself to prepare meals for her players.
“I’ll pack them up goody bag with buns, avocados, cupcakes, peanut butter. Things they like.” she said. Her giving nature extends to the coaches as well. “I’ll make sure the coaching staff gets one, too, although smaller than the ones for the boys.”
Her name is so famous among the Scrappers that it’s even made it up the ranks to the Cleveland Indians organization, with Drushel becoming a recognizable face during Arizona spring training.
“I’ve gotten to know the Indians staff over the years,” Drushel said. “They’ll see me around during spring training and they’ll say, ‘Hey, Gail still here?’ and I’ll say, ‘Yeah, I’m still here!’ ”
Over the years, Drushel has hosted a slew of players, a few of whom have made it the Indians roster – Giovanny Urshela, Joe Colon and José Ramírez, among others.
Drushel says the goodbyes have gotten easier over time. Just recently she parted ways with yet another player mid-season. “When they get transferred or have to leave, I’ll pack up their clothes and say my goodbyes.”
But a goodbye isn’t always the end.
Some players she’s hosted still keep in touch long after their stint in the Mahoning Valley.
In fact, a player from Puerto Rico plans to return to Ohio with his family this winter simply to see snow. When he does, Drushel will be there welcoming him with open but colder arms than normal.
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