When Chuck Trakel found out that his wife, Master Sgt. Dana Trakel, was set to deploy with her Washington Army National Guard Unit, the 168th Task Force, he had an idea that he shared with their son, Easton.

He thought that Easton's baseball team, the Yelm-based Milltown Bombers, could wear Master Sgt. Trakel's patch on their uniforms to pay tribute to her over the course of her yearlong trip downrange.

"I feel it gives me and the other Soldiers something to follow," said Master Sgt. Trakel. "We can read about their games and feel like we are a part of it, not to mention the video clips Chuck will send."

Chuck, who retired as a Sgt. 1st Class from the Army after 21 years, serves as the director of the Milltown Bombers, a select baseball team, which has 13-year old boys from Aberdeen to Mercer Island swinging bats. He is also working on getting a replica of the unit's flag that the team can fly at games.

The Trakels' oldest son is a Soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, so this is a family that understands the ways of the military.

However, this will be the first deployment for Master Sgt. Trakel, who has been in the National Guard for just over 18 years, on both an inactive and now active basis. The 168th Task Force is set to deploy this month.

"I feel that all the boys, not just Easton, will be affected since this group is like a family," she said, even though her son is the only military child on the team. "They've played together for three years and they're honestly close."

"They care about supporting me, so they were ready to do this," said Easton, when asked how his teammates reacted to his request. "It will show my mom and the other Soldiers that we are playing for them."

In addition to wearing the patch on their jerseys, the traveling team will be conducting fundraising events in order to purchase items and postage for care packages they plan to send to the unit downrange.

The Milltown Bombers first games of the 2011 season will be played the weekend of April 8 to 10 at a tournament in Wenatchee. To follow the team's progress, visit www.milltownbombersbaseball.com.