A Lakers open season Wednesday

The Kalispell A Lakers have to retool a little up the middle, but pitching depth and a half-dozen familiar faces have coach Walker Malmin feeling positive this American Legion season.

Why not — 65 percent of the innings pitched returns from a team that went 34-26 and finished second at the Western A district tournament.  

“For us, that’s a pretty big deal,” said Malmin, whose dad Ryan coaches the AA Lakers. “We’re lucky to get 40 percent back as a feeder program.”