FREEPORT— Coming from Down Under, Australia's traveling youth baseball team felt like it was down home last week.

That's because six families — three from Freeport, one each from Allegheny Township in Armstrong County, Natrona Heights and Sarver — combined to host the 13 Australian players participating in the Freeport International Baseball Invitational.

"If it wasn't for those families, we wouldn't be here,"Australia manager Darren King said. "If we had to pay for hotels and meals, we couldn't afford the trip.

"What our players learn from these families, experiencing the American culture, it's the most important aspect of this venture."

John Geist, athletic trainer at Knoch High School, and his wife, Diane, the Knights' volleyball coach, hosted King and his coaching staff.

"It seemed like a natural, since we're involved in coaching ourselves,"Geist said. "We hit if off with them right away."

The Geists hosted the Australian coaches last year as well and recently returned from a 2Z\x-week trip to Australia.

One of the coach's wives took off work for a week and drove the Geists around in a van.

"We were treated like family,"Geist said. "And we felt like family. We're all good, honest people. We tell it like it is about our country and they do the same. We've all learned a lot.

"Th coaches told us their kids had bad vibes about America. That since America was at war, it wasn't safe to go there, that people get shot in the streets. ... Their feelings are different now that they've been over here to see what it's like."

King agreed.

"The culture is just different,"he said of America. "The accent, the houses, the atmosphere, being able to watch baseball on TVevery day, eating hamburgers and hot dogs — these will be lasting memories for our kids.

"We could have brought our team to any city in the United States to play baseball. We chose Pittsburgh because it's middle class, the people here love the sport, they're friendly and enjoy meeting other people."

In Australia, Geist said he discovered the baseball program there was much stronger than he anticipated.

"They play their games in beautiful ballparks and they play year round because their winters aren't very cold," he said.

Because the cost of living is so high in Australia, Geist said the Australian players bought $3,000 worth of equipment when they arrived here.

"Gas over there is $2 a liter, which equates to $8 a gallon,"Geist said. "A pair of Levi jeans is $150, a McDonalds value meal is $8. Everything is expensive there."

Larry Hall of Buffalo Township is hosting two Australian players, Jay Andrews and Tyson Scott.

"There's a drought going on in Sydney and the people there have to take timed showers,"Hall said. "Tyson asked me if we take showers in the morning or evening. He was thrilled to learn he could shower whenever he wanted.

"Our sons (Matt, 16, and Travis, 13) have enjoyed spending time with the boys. It's like having two rock stars in the neighborhood. All of the girls come over wanting to meet them."

The Len Urbanski family of Allegheny Township hosted an exchange student from Thailand two years ago and welcomed the opportunity to host Australian players Andrew McGregor and Doug Nolan.

"We hosted last year and stayed in touch with those kids through e-mails,"Urbanski said. "Their (baseball) kids travel a lot more than we do because for good competition, they have to leave the area. They've gone to Japan and other countries just to play ball.

"Travel is important to them. Their kids value that. Their personalities seem more laid back and low-key than we are."

Urbanski has coached Little League baseball in the Freeport area for 13 years.

"Their baseball is fairly good," he said. "It's on a par with our kids."

King emphasized that the 13 players he's working with at the Freeport Invitational are not a collection of all-star players.

The Australian players are missing school to play in Freeport as Australia has school 12 months a year.

"These are our kids who love to play baseball the most. They're not a sampling of our best players," he said. "Yet the first three games we played in this event were all one-run games. We're up to the standard."