Sapa hired to turn around Twins

A name synonymous with baseball in the Flathead Valley is back in the game.

Bill Sapa, who starred on the youth, American Legion and collegiate levels, has been named the head coach of the Glacier Twins American Legion baseball program.

"I had been approached by members of the community, and people from the Twins several times, but this seemed to be the right time to do it," Sapa said.

Sapa was named the head coach on Dec. 1.

Sapa, 39, resigned after three successful seasons as head coach of the Kalispell Lakers "for personal reasons and a job offer in Alaska." That was in 2002. He guided the Lakers to three-straight Class AA state tournaments, compiling a record of 111-67-2 overall, 42-30 in Western AA play.

Sapa began his Legion coaching career in 1999 with the Lakers as the team's pitching coach. He then replaced Randy Russell as head coach on May 16, 2000. The team at that point was struggling, holding a 4-9 mark in league action.

The Lakers promptly won 11 straight Western AA games to qualify for the state tournament (36-27-2 overall and 15-9 in league).

The following season, the Lakers went 31-24 overall, 11-13 in league (third place).

Sapa's best year with the Lakers was his final one. They went 44-16 overall, 16-8 in league (third place). Of the eight teams at state in 2002, Kalispell had the most overall wins.

The Lakers went 1-2 at state his final season. They were 0-4 the other two trips.

"This is more of a natural fit for me," Sapa said of coaching the Twins.

"I'm tied into the community, I've got a lot of support from people like Ray Queen and Julio Delgado."

Queen is currently active in youth baseball in the Upper Valley, while Delgado is a legendary former Twins and Whitefish High School coach.

Sapa thoroughly enjoyed his years as head coach with the Lakers.

"It was a little awkward (coaching your rival) at first," he said.

"But the people and players were wonderful. They welcomed me."

Sapa played on a Columbia Falls/Whitefish baseball team that won state Babe Ruth tournament titles in 1983-84. The 1983 team captured the Pacific Northwest Regional title and competed in the Babe Ruth World Series.

Sapa was a stellar center fielder for the Glacier Twins from 1985-87. The Twins advanced to state all three years, finishing first in 1986 and third the other two times.

He played baseball at the University of New Mexico and was drafted by the New York Yankees as a pitcher, but never signed.

Sapa takes over a Twins program that has struggled. Glacier finished 2008 with a 2-22 record in league play. They dropped their first 17 Western AA games.

"I think it will be a challenge (at first) to get kids out," Sapa said.

"They haven't had a winning tradition in years. With a winning tradition comes fans, the community comes out. With a winning tradition, the good athletes come out. We're looking at getting a lot of those good athletes out."

Sapa plans to meet with his players shortly. He wants to organize a winter workout program.

Hiring a coaching staff is also high on his agenda.

"Columbia Falls and Whitefish are very successful in other sports," he said.

"They should be successful in other sports (like baseball) as well."

Sapa hopes to upgrade the season schedule this year and restore the Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Baseball Tournament to its glory days.

"I believe if kids are given the right tools to succeed, they will," Sapa said.

"We will teach them the right fundamentals and how to compete. We'll give those kids who want to play at the next level an opportunity to do so.

"We will play an aggressive style of baseball," he added.

"The players will like it."

Sapa is committed to seeing this through.

"I think the coaching staff needs to make a commitment," he said.

"They have had so much turnover in the past. They need some continuity in the program."

Sapa replaces Ryan Hadfield, who coached the team for one season.

Jared Grubb coached the Twins for 1 1/2 seasons prior to that. He replaced Jack Helber, who also coached for 1 1/2 seasons.