Lakers riding strong start

There's been plenty to celebrate at Griffin Field these days.

With a head coach who recently won his 400th game, to an ace left-hander who is quickly becoming one of the state's best pitchers, the Kalispell Lakers are on a stretch of success that they hope leads them back to the American Legion baseball state tournament.

So far, so good.

Through 13 games, the AA Lakers are 9-4 and looking more than reinforced after finishing third at state last season. Eight players and five starters return from that 37-24 team, and fifth-year head coach Ryan Malmin, who achieved his 400th win at home on May 12, has plenty to be pleased with as the season picks up.

"I think that experience (from last year) is kind of a springboard for us this year," Malmin said. "We always tell the kids, hard work equals success, and if they stay hungry and they continue to come out and work and improve, who knows what can happen."

The Lakers' burgeoning program, along with the succesful A team, will be showcased at the annual Canadian Days Tournament, which starts today with six AA teams and five A teams playing at Griffin Field and Archie Roe Field, respectively. An auction fundraiser will be held Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Gardner's Auction south of town.

The three-day tournament ends Sunday with a AA championship game at 3:30 p.m.

The Lakers' lone all-state player returning this season, Pistorese, had the highlight of last year's Canadian Days tournament. On May 16, 2009, he threw his first-ever no-hitter in the nightcap against the Edmonton Cardinals. A week earlier in Helena, the then 16-year-old struck out 12 and allowed just one hit.

Those were just some of the many high points for the Flathead junior. In his first AA season last year, the southpaw finished with a 9-2 record through 15 starts, struck out 156 batters in 102 2/3 innings and finished with an earned-run-average of 1.23. At the plate, he hit .321 with 10 doubles and 29 RBIs.

The Lakers advanced to the state tournament in Miles City for the fourth time in five seasons and in the end Pistorese had fanned 24 batters in 13 1/3 innings. The Lakers ended up winning the consolation game.

But after a showing like last season's, the secret is out on Pistorese.

"He's a very talented lefthander and he's a tough pitcher," said Brent Hathaway, the 20th year Missoula Mavericks head coach. "He's a guy that can individually make the difference in the outcome of a ballgame when he's on the mound.

"I don't know if you can prepare for a kid like that, to tell you the truth ... he has good velocity, he has a good breaking ball and works ahead in the count. He's out there to get you out and you can tell it."

Pistorese will agree - getting in the batter's head is more than half the battle.

"(Pitching) is like 85 percent mental, so you have to make sure when you're on the mound you're pitching like you're going to beat them," he said. "You can't let them have any edge on you."

The Lakers have a strong supporting cast behind their ace, both on the mound and in the batter's box. For example, Glacier senior Mario Venturini would be most teams' best pitcher. Last season, he was 8-3 in 14 starts with 76 strikeouts through 76 2/3 innings. His ERA settled in at 3.83. This year, Venturini is 2-2 with a team-leading 35 strikeouts through 23 innings. Pistorese follows with 31.

Michael O'Connell is leading the Lakers offensively again this season, and is currently batting .462 with 17 RBIs. Pistorese is second in RBIs with 15. A few other key contributors include catcher Zach Brosten, Dominic Eickert, Mat O'Brien, Greg Seaman and Dean Stimpson.

"We lost some good players but we have a good team this year and I think we have a good chance at doing well," O'Connell said. "We got a good bunch. We joke around but we're all serious when we need to be and we know what we want."

2010 Canadian Days Tournament

TODAY

Griffin Field (AA)

3 p.m. - Trail Jays vs. Edmonton Cardinals

5:30 p.m. - Calgary Redbirds vs. Glacier Twins

8 p.m. - Kalispell Lakers vs. Sherwood Park A's

Archie Roe (A)

3:30 p.m. - Kalispell Lakers vs. Edmonton Cardinals

6 p.m. - Glacier Twins vs. Fort MacLeod Royals

SATURDAY

Griffin Field (AA)

9 a.m. - Calgary vs. Edmonton

11:30 p.m. - Trail vs. Kalispell

2 p.m. - Calgary vs. Kalispell

4:30 p.m. - Trail vs. Glacier

7 p.m. - Sherwood Park vs. Edmonton

Archie Roe (A)

9 a.m. - Lewistown vs. Glacier

11:30 a.m. - Glacier vs. Edmonton

2 p.m. - Kalispell vs. Lewistown

4:30 p.m. - Edmonton vs. Fort MacLeod

Kidsports Complex- West Field

9:30 a.m. - Kalispell A vs. Fort MacLeod

Noon - Glacier AA vs. Sherwood Park

SUNDAY

Griffin Field (AA)

10 a.m. - 5 vs. 6

12:45 p.m. - 3 vs. 4

3:30 p.m. - 1 vs. 2

Archie Roe (A)

10 a.m. - Lewistown vs. Fort MacLeod

12:30 p.m. - Lewistown vs. Edmonton