Finishing strong: Owens wasn’t going miss last year of Lakers

The torn labrum Michael Owens suffered in August of 2022 signaled the end of his gridiron career almost before it got started.

“I switched to football for my junior year,” the Flathead High graduate said Thursday. “And I went to block and just totally felt it all pop out, right there. That was the last time I played football.” 

For someone who plays baseball, a torn labrum  — that was the diagnosis, and his right (throwing) shoulder had to be reconstructed — might signal the end for that sport, too. 

Not a chance.

“My doctor told me I probably shouldn’t come back, and kind of frowned upon playing baseball,” the Kalispell Lakers’ first baseman said. “I said, ‘No way in hell. I’m not giving it up.’ 

“I traveled every game with them last year, and I watched 60-65 games. I knew I was coming back; even if this shoulder was gone, I’d play through it. It just wasn’t an option.” 

This is at least partly attributable to the “Big O,” the late Mike Owens, Michael’s dad who played for the Lakers and who passed away from cancer in 2013. Before he could remember, the younger Owens was at the Conrad Complex watching his parents play slow pitch. 

“I was always on the diamond,” he said. There was T-ball by age 6; his arrival in the batters box coincided with the opening of KidSports. Playing All-Stars and suiting up for the Regulators travel team were givens. Eventually, he was toiling at third base for the B Lakers in 2021, and the A Lakers in 2022.  

By then, he said, his shoulder was already bothering him. That football drill was just the final straw. 

Even without seeing the field in 2023, he figures he’s played 600 baseball games. Plenty for most people, but not for Owens. 

“He loves it,” said teammate Luke Nikunen. “Especially after last year, watching everybody else play? He had to get back out there, for sure.” 

Ryan Malmin, the AA Lakers’ veteran head coach, applauds the resiliency of the 19-year-old. 

“To have a year off and sit here for four months and pick up equipment and kind of be a cheerleader — that’s challenging stuff,” Malmin said. “But not only did he work on things mentally, but he worked on his body physically. He took advantage of that year.  

“He would admit that he struggled defensively two years ago, and he transformed himself into a quality first baseman that we have complete confidence in. We couldn’t expect anything more from a kid coming off a shoulder injury and having a year off.” 

Losing a parent at any age is rough and in Owens’ case, it happened at a time when he felt he couldn’t really grasp it.  

“I was pretty young,” he said. “That’s when I was just picking up baseball  —  when I really got a love for it. Just as kind of an escape, you know? 

“I think I was kind of lost about it. I didn’t understand fully what was happening at the time. Then age 10 to 13 is when I struggled with it, because that’s when I grasped the concept of it.” 

Helping greatly, he said, was his step-dad, Ben Root. And through it all, the diamond beckoned. Now he’s admittedly nearing the end of his hardball career. 

“I think college went out the window when I had the surgery,” he said, smiling. “I still have a love for baseball but it’s time to hang up the cleats, I think.” 

The Lakers have three regular-season games left, against the Great Falls Chargers. Both teams have six league wins (the Lakers are 35-23 overall), as do the Lethbridge Elks. Two of those three teams will make next week’s Montana/Alberta AA tournament. 

The Lakers’ Achilles heel has been giving up the big inning. In the past 10 days they have pushed the Billings Scarlets and Helena Senators — the league’s front-runners — only to be undone by a big rally.  

Malmin deflects the idea of having to beat Great Falls this weekend in favor of needing to just play seven innings of good baseball. 

“We want to do what we’re supposed to do, which is focus on playing ourselves,” Malmin said. “Focus on the process, play one pitch at a time and not worry about outcomes.  

“Quite honestly that’s what caught up to us the last three or four weeks; we started worrying about outcomes instead of the quality of baseball that we’re playing.” 

It’s an inexperienced squad that could have as many as five “super seniors” next season. Four players — Brysen Herion, Collin Leonard, Owens and possible super senior Kaden Drish — are winding down their Legion careers. It would be cool to suit up for at least one more week. 

“We started out 20-3 and hot as can be,” Owens said. “Everyone knows slumps in baseball can be hard to get out of, once you’re in it. I think we’ve had a lot of adversity. We’re really not satisfied with the season, but I think we can go into state hot.”