Pastime loaded with pitfalls

The hurt ran deep when Kalispell Laker left fielder Michael Crail told his teammates in early May he was leaving the team.

The other Lakers were understandably upset - Crail was a member of the American Legion team outfield that Kalispell coach Mike McFarland had referred to as one of the best in Montana.

Their prospects for a state tournament berth had seemed good. Hopes were momentarily dashed by Crail's announcement.

But the 19-year-old was struggling with bigger demons -loneliness, alcohol and a crisis of faith had marred Crail's path since his family's January move from Kalispell to Iowa.

Laker assistant coach Beau Mathiason may have put it best, McFarland said.

"'I don't know if it was the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do, but it was just the only thing he could do,'" McFarland quoted Mathiason to the other Lakers when Crail left.

Crail had been somewhat on his own since returning to Kalispell to complete his American Legion baseball career.

He was living with the family of Laker teammate Ryan Grubb, but he quickly discovered life here wasn't the same without his family.

"Just wonderful people. They were really nice," he said of the Grubbs.

"But it's completely different when your parents aren't around. I abused the fact my parents were gone."

In short, he turned to alcohol.

"I was pretty much having a lot of fun. I wasn't being a good … I don't know … I wasn't going to church."

He never got caught, never had any trouble with law enforcement. No one knew.

"But my life was going down a track that was going to lead me down the wrong road.

"I knew I needed to go back to Iowa."

"He was just a little mixed up for awhile. Homesick," McFarland said.

"He needed to figure it out. He needed to get out of here for awhile.

"He took care of himself - saved himself a little bit by getting out of here," the coach added.

"I applaud that."

But McFarland wasn't about to let his left fielder just leave, either. He knew Crail would return in early June for Flathead graduation.

"I told him to keep the uniform."

So, Crail went home.

But he didn't tell his parents about his problem.

Instead, he moved in with his older brother, got himself a job and checked into over-the-phone, online rehab.

"I started going to church again and started getting my faith on the right track. What hurts the most was getting away from my faith," he said.

He hung out with his family, but he didn't tell them about his problem until he returned to Kalispell to graduate from Flathead High - and to beg his team's forgiveness.

"I didn't want any regrets in baseball," he said.

"My parents totally accepted that. My dad regrets leaving baseball to this day.

"I asked coach if I could come back to play," he said.

A conference with the rest of the Lakers was favorable, so Crail rejoined the squad and moved in with McFarland and his wife, Mary.

"I knew that would probably be the best place for me. Coach is probably the best coach I've ever had.

"It's awesome. I couldn't ask for anything more. It's a good atmosphere and I get to stay up and talk baseball with coach," he smiled.

"We like kids," McFarland said of his new roommate.

"He hasn't been a problem at all, real easy, real simple.

"We've always had lots of kids around our house. When our boys come home, it gets a little interesting, things get shuffled."

"But Mary loves to cook for kids and I'm happy to have cookies back in the house again," he smiled.

For awhile, things were great.

Crail settled back into left field and while he had lost his leadoff spot in the lineup to good friend Stefan Malkuch, he eagerly went to work where he could.

Things were great, that is, until July 8.

That's when he tore a tendon in his knee sliding into homeplate during the Sapa-Johnsrud Tournament at Memorial Stadium in Whitefish.

"I just slid in and caught the catcher's shinguard with my left shin. Turned and rolled," he said.

"I haven't played in forever … since that game," he said.

Instead, he's been the Lakers' best cheerleader.

"Being in the dugout is just about the same as being out on the field," he said.

And he loves this team.

"You've got people who want to compete, but have fun. Best chemistry of any team I've been on. We're all friends," he said.

"No one is really trying to outdo anybody. We're just out there all competing for the same goal."

"I know he understands that's probably the only role he can play right now," McFarland said.

"He's been a great team leader. He does everything he can do. We talk about lineups, situations, various records. We talk a lot of baseball."

It also appears Crail may get to play a bit in this weekend's Class AA state tournament in Bozeman.

As for a possible return to alcohol, Crail thinks that's unlikely.

"I just don't want to anymore. Never back to the stage I was at."

McFarland agrees.

"I think it's hard. There's a lot of stuff out there."

But there have been nights Crail has told the McFarlands where he's going and what time to expect him home - then turns up two hours early.

"I think he's making some good choices right now," the coach said.

He's got about as much support as a kid could have.

He talks to his family at least three times a day and Crails are planning to be with the Lakers at state.

"Even if I can't play, my mom will fly out here to be with me," he said.

"I'm not leaving this team. I'm not leaving these guys again. They mean too much."