Staff writer
Dean Winstanley’s first trip to Marion may not be his last.
The Denver native was in town to cheer on his son Brian’s all-star team competing in the Cal Ripken 12-and-under Midwest Plains Regional Baseball Tournament.
A parent on the Southeast Denver team did some checking before the tournament, and found some rooms at the Country Dreams Bed and Breakfast, 2309 Clover Road, Marion.
“We got lucky,” Winstanley said. “The hospitality can’t be beat.”
Winstanley and the other Denver parents were some of the few who did not have to stay out of town because of the lack of lodging in Marion.
He said he got the feeling from other parents that that was the only downfall in an otherwise “fantastic” trip.
“I didn’t know much about this part of Kansas. It’s beautiful,” Winstanley said. “We may come back some weekend just to get away. Maybe do some hunting and fishing.”
Even though not everyone from the seven out-of-town teams were able to stay in Marion, they were all in town during the games, and still needed a place to eat.
Pizza Hut of Marion benefited from the out-of-town guests.
Shift manager Melissa Kruse came into work at 4 p.m. Friday, and said by 5:30 they were out of most of their dough. The restaurant’s general manager was told the tournament was in Hillsboro, so they weren’t prepared for the barrage of guests.
“We were really busy all weekend because of it,” Kruse said. “After Friday we were prepared.”
Kruse also appreciated Marion Mayor Mary Olsen who made a special trip to the restaurant to tell employees the parents were pleased with the friendly service they received.
“That was nice because at least we knew we were doing something right,” Kruse said with a laugh.
The players ate most of their meals at the homes of their respective host families.
Winstanley said that was new to all of the players, but it worked out great.
“The host families have been incredibly friendly,” he said.
The “city boys” as Winstanley called them, were able to get a taste of the rural lifestyle.
He talked of one host parent who lived in the country and was going to give one of the boys a dry bowl of cereal for breakfast.
When he asked where the milk was, she would tell him he had to go outside and milk a cow.
With a hearty laugh, Winstanley showed his appreciation for the joke.
“It’s been really, really cool for the boys,” he said.
It also was a good time for the host parents.
Mike and Lisa Vondenkamp opened their home to Alex Panganiban, Ryan Kern, and Jamison Cockrell of the Hastings, Neb., team.
“They were wonderful,” Lisa Vondenkamp said.
Mike Vondenkamp has family in Hastings, and the couple found out he is distantly related to a coach and some of the players.
“I knew Mike would be related,” Lisa said with a laugh.
However, what wasn’t funny was the fact Hastings lost its first two games, and was out of the tournament by Sunday.
Lisa said the players requested to stay an extra night with the Vondenkamps instead of going to a hotel with the parents.
Their first-grade son Jake became attached to the three players.
“He was very upset when they left,” Lisa said. “He wants to go to Hastings now.”
Overall, tournament staff said the entire event has been a success.
Marion/USD 408 REC director Margo Yates said the guests and Marion residents have been great.
Kansas only gets a chance to play host to a regional once every seven years, meaning it may be a long time before Marion has another opportunity.
“It was a great chance to showcase the community,” REC director Margo Yates said. “Not only the obvious things, but the simple fact that the people that live here are great people.”