Opening day was a while ago for some

Roehl, Malkuch, Caron, Olson playing college ball in Washington, Idaho

While Monday was the Opening Day of Major League Baseball, local kids playing college baseball have been playing regular-season games for more than a month.

Jesse Roehl, a Flathead High School graduate, is a senior right fielder for defending NAIA World Series champion Lewis-Clark State College and officially started his season on Feb. 16.

The Lewiston, Idaho, team is 26-2 on the season.

Stephan Malkuch, also a Flathead grad, along with Columbia Falls High School grads Nik Caron and Craig Olson are sophomores playing in the 27-team, four-conference Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

Malkuch is a sophomore outfielder for Spokane Falls. Caron, a sophomore infielder, and Olson, a sophomore pitcher, play for Walla Walla.

The NWAACC has been playing games since March 3. Walla Walla is 16-5 on the season and in first place in the East Division of the NWAACC. Spokane Falls is 11-11 and in second-to-last place in the East.

Roehl has played in 19 of the Lewis-Clark State's 28 games and is batting .288 (17-for-59) with four doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored. Roehl hit .294 (5-for-17) during the World Series.

The Warriors, who have won 14 World Series titles since 1984, are the No. 1-ranked NAIA team in the nation. They are part of the Region I division.

Malkuch's Spokane Falls team played for the NWAACC title last season. He has played in 11 games this season. He's hitting .222 (4-for-18) with two home runs and four RBIs.

"Malkuch has the ability to do it all," SFCC coach Dave Keller said. "He is an extremely talented athlete. But he will need to be consistent during his sophomore campaign."

Caron is hitting .294 (5-for-17) with a double and three RBIs for Walla Walla. He's played in seven games and has a .400 on-base percentage.

"Nik returned for his sophomore year after playing in 34 games last year and is playing at first base, third base and designated hitter," Walla Walla coach Mike Cummins said. "Nik has the potential to be a key offensive weapon In the Warrior line-up."

Olson, a left-handed pitcher, has been dominating so far this year. He's appeared in three games and has totaled 18 2/3 innings pitched. He's got only one victory but allowed only two earned runs and has a 0.96 ERA.

"Craig appeared in 13 games last year and won three," Cummins said. "He will pitch in a lot of different situations this year. He will be a key factor in the success of the Warriors."

There is a large number of former Montana American Legion baseball players in the NWAACC, which has team's ranging from Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

Former Mission Valley Mariner Brandon Thompson is a freshman teammate of Roehl's at L-C State. He hasn't registered any playing time yet.

- If there are more northwestern Montana players playing college baseball, please e-mail Carl Hennell at chennell@dailyinterlake.com.