Rubeys are Gems

Host family offers stability for Regan, Connors

By DAVE RASBACH
Valley Press Staff Writer

Ground hadn't even been broken on Lancaster Municipal Stadium and the franchise that eventually became the Lancaster JetHawks still was trying to make things work in Riverside.

Two years later, in 1997, when the Rubeys returned because the Texas heat and humidity was a little too much, they were surprised to discover the California League had arrived in Lancaster.

"I had a friend that asked me if I wanted to go to a baseball game," said Chuck Rubey, who retired from Rockwell after 30 years. "I said, `You mean the Dodgers?' And he said, `No we have a minor league team here.'

"I came home from that game and told Ellen we should get involved in this. We bought season tickets that next day."

The Rubeys also became active in the Lancaster JetHawks Booster Club midway through that season.

It was during those booster club functions that they met former Lancaster pitcher Brian Sweeney. As they got to know Sweeney better, they also met his two close friends and roommates, infielder Jason Regan and catcher Greg Connors.

"They were like The Three Amigos," Chuck joked. "They're like brothers when they're together."

The more the Rubeys got to know the three players, the more they liked them. They eventually offered to let Sweeney and Regan move into their Lancaster home near the end of last season.

Prior to that, Sweeney and Regan had lived in an apartment, which they shared with Connors during his short stint with the JetHawks.

"We didn't decide to make the offer until we got to know them and started to care about them," said Ellen, who grew up in Texas and went to the same high school that former JetHawks player Shawn Buhner graduated from in League City, Texas. "I don't know if they knew what they were getting into."

What they were getting into was a close and caring environment that rivals any traditional family in the area.

Even the Rubeys' two dogs consider the players part of the family.

"Chuck and Ellen are like parents to us," said Connors, who moved in with the Rubeys at the beginning of this season. "I've known them for almost 2 1/2 years now. Everything they do is exactly what any parent would do."

The Rubeys are far from the only family to open their homes and their hearts to Seattle Mariners prospects. Approximately onethird to one-half of the players that come to the JetHawks live with host families.

"We're not as involved with the host families and housing for these guys," JetHawks Vice President and General Manager Matt Ellis said. "The Mariners feel the players are old enough to make those decisions for themselves. But we do offer a few options along with the booster club, and the host families are one of those."

The host families offer room and board at a reduced cost. But the players get much more than just a roof over their heads.

"These are quality people," Ellis said. "You get to live in an environment with quality individuals that care about you. A lot of these guys come from good families, and it's tough being away for five or six months a year. These host families are like second families to them."

And they treat them just as well as their real family would.

"I feel like I'm at home," said Regan, who stayed with the Rubeys through most of the offseason so he could continue his workouts in Lancaster. "I have two dogs and my own room at home, just like I do here. I get to sleep late. It feels like home to me."

Moral support isn't all the Rubeys offer Connors, Regan and Sweeney, who they still stay in touch with and closely follow his stats since his early-season promotion to Class AA New Haven.

After Regan broke the JetHawks' career homer record with a game-winning blast at Lake Elsinore on July 16, Ellen Rubey, who was listening to the game on the radio, got out of bed to bake him brownies so he'd have something nice to eat when he got home.

The Rubeys even introduced Connors to his girlfriend, who is an employee of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, making sure she got his phone number and knew some of his good qualities before they actually met.

Regan's girlfriend joined the Rubeys on a trip to San Jose where they met Connors' father and made plans to throw the catcher a birthday party today.

But the relationship between the players and the family isn't a one-way street.

Connors and Regan often help out around the house, washing the cars, mowing the lawn and even cooking sometimes.

"These guys are very respectful of us and our home," Chuck said. "We've never had any problems with them or any of the guys that have come over."

The players even got Ellen a bouquet of flowers on Mother's Day and a shirt for Chuck on Father's Day.

Connors, Regan and Sweeney have given the Rubeys plenty to be proud of the last two seasons, as all three have been Cal League allstar selections.

"We know how to pick them," Ellen said with a proud smile. "And not just for who they are on the field."

The Rubeys feel they've done such a good job picking Connors, Regan and Sweeney that they may elect not to host another player when all three have left Lancaster.

"We've gotten so close to them," Ellen said. "And I'm sure we could get close to other ballplayers, because we haven't met a bad one yet. But we wouldn't let somebody move in here unless we really knew them already.

"Plus we plan to stay pretty busy following these three guys. We're going to keep in touch with them and support them wherever they go, and we figure that could take a lot of time."

After all, that's what families are for.

Like any parents, the Rubeys root on "their players" at all home games and as many road games as they can attend. And like any parents, they sit on the edge of their seat whenever Connors, Regan or Rafael Lopez, who spent a month with them earlier this year, come to the plate. They also notice small things like subtle changes in a batting stance.

And like any parents, they take offense when something negative is said about "their players" in the stands.

"We'll put them in their place if they talk bad about the team," Chuck Rubey said with a smile.