AA, A Lakers gearing up

With any coaching endeavor there is the possibility of attrition, and this year’s Kalispell AA Lakers won’t have a trio of players that saw plenty of action in 2022 and were eligible to return this summer.

On the other hand, the local American Legion program is up to four teams for the first time: The AA and A teams plus two “B” teams, the Red and the Gold.

Ryan Malmin, coach of the AA Lakers, counts 56 kids and 199 games spread among the teams. Griffin Field and the adjacent Archie Roe Field will be busy in 2023.

“A lot of kids have invested time in our fall ball program, and the pitching boot camp,” said Malmin, who guided the Lakers to a 32-25 mark and its second straight third-place finish at the State AA tournament last summer. “It’s been great to see that commitment from the kids and parents.”

The season has already begun for the Lakers — they split with the Missoula Mavericks Sunday — and they have two games this weekend, as do the A Lakers. That’s in addition to the Lakers Baseball Camp, which has moved to a 6 p.m start tonight.

Here’s a look at the two higher-level Kalispell squads.

AA Lakers

Malmin’s pitching staff took a couple hits with arm injuries to Oscar Kallis (who will play the outfield), Josh Close (recovering from surgery) and Michael Owens (surgery; out for the season). But the front end looks pretty good with Max Holden back.

“Max has done a great job with his offseason,” Malmin said. “He committed to baseball specific workouts, he’s put on 10-12 pounds of his muscle, his velocity is up and his best pitch is his changeup. He’s a guy we trust every time he steps on the mound to be successful and get us a win.”

Ostyn Brennan, Carter Schlegel, Adam Nikunen and youngster Andre Cephers are the best bets to fill out the rotation, while Colin Leonard and Braden Capser could help out of the pen.

“That’s the beauty of the preseason for us,” Malmin said. “Through April and May we can get seven or eight guys out there, to figure out who’s a starter.”

Cephers and Nate Skonard are the catchers, and Malmin is waiting to see which one might start a majority of the time behind the dish.

Holden and Kallis also man first base, though graduate Kane Morisaki will figure in there too, pending his May 12 return from college.

Schlegel is written in at second base and Nikunen and Holden at third; Brennan is playing shortstop, with Kaden Drish and Nikunen being “super-utility” players.

“We’re fortunate to have some depth on the infield,” Malmin said. “Our strength could be that defensive infield.”

Kallis can play center, while Joey Thatcher should be a fixture in left field. In right are Timmy Glanville — Malmin is currently sharing him with the Glacier High tennis team — as well as Cephers and Kyne Vojta.

A Lakers

Walker Malmin, Ryan’s son who is in his fourth season guiding the A Lakers, lost a lot of the 2022 roster to his dad.

“Pretty much a whole new group,” said the younger Malmin. “I think we have three returners from last year’s team. But along with that, I think we’re hungry.

“We’ll be carried by the depth of our pitching staff.”

Leading the way are Jackson Heino and Luke Nikunen. “They have the confidence to throw strikes, use their off-speed pitches and trust their teammates to make the plays behind them,” Malmin said. “That gives us the reputation of ‘one-pitch warriors.’“

Braden Capser and Brysen Herion also figure to help out on the mound, and Malmin is excited to see lanky, 6-foot-2 lefthander Bryce Buckmaster get on the bump.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for us at the plate and on the mound,” he said.

He also likes the idea of having first baseman Herion, shortstop Hunter Fann and super-utility man Trevor Cockerill in the middle of the order.

Cale Brink and Liam Benson can man second base; Nikunen and Brenken Walchen are at third; Bryce Guinnenn and Ethan Kim are the main guys at catcher.

Cockerill, Hunter Glidden and Easton Capser are outfielders on a team that went 27-31 a year ago.

“I think we have great depth,” Malmin said. “We’re pretty versatile. We have 10 guys that can play both the infield and outfield this season, if we need them to.”

The A Lakers start their season with a doubleheader against the Great Falls Chargers Saturday at 1 p.m. at Archie Roe; at 3 p.m. the AA Lakers play two against the Havre Northstars, at Griffin.

Sunday the A Lakers play Havre twice, beginning at noon; the AA Lakers have a twinbill with the Cranbrook (British Columbia) Bandits beginning at 1 p.m.