Starting this fall, he'll start work on graduate school at Gonzaga University.

Today, Brian Fowler will start his education as an American Legion baseball coach, taking the reigns of the Prairie "AA" program starting with today's opener in the Eastside Memorial tournament.

Fowler is Prairie's third head coach in three seasons.

"I was just talking with (former Prairie president) Justin (Elliott)," Fowler said. "They were looking for a coach and it kind of worked out perfectly."

Fowler, a graduate of Big Sky High of Missoula, was a volunteer pitching coach of the University of Montana club team from 2012 to 2014. He was a minor league pitcher up until 2012, when a shoulder injury halted his career.

"I played minor league baseball all over the place," Fowler said. "I moved back home to rehab the injury, and then decided it was time to hang up the cleats."

Prairie has 15 players out this season, including returning pitchers Jacob Elliott and Jared Porter, who both saw time on the mound for Post Falls High.

Prairie finished last season 25-24 under coach Ron Mackie, who resigned to take the head coaching job for the West Valley Legion program. In the spring, Mackie is an assistant coach for the West Valley High baseball team.

"Both of them got a lot of varsity innings," Fowler said. "Both will throw strikes and have pitches that work well with them."

Around the outfield will be Chaz Bailey (Post Falls), Sam Schultze (Post Falls) and Chris Kirkaby (Post Falls).

"Sam runs the ball down very well in the outfield," Fowler said. "Chris is the fastest kid on the team by far, and he'll run the ball down for us."

Jerritt Plunkett of Timberlake High will do the catching, with Brandon Busch (Lakeland) at third base, Dalton Lozier (Post Falls) at shortstop, Gage Wark (Post Falls) at second and Bailey at first.

"Jerritt will be a leader for us behind the dish," Fowler said. "He'll play at short when Dalton is pitching. Brandon's the oldest kid on our team this year, and he'll be a leader for us as well."

Prairie opens the season today at Post Falls High at 3 p.m. against the Spokane Expos, followed by a game against the Spokane Crew at 6.

Championship games are scheduled for Monday at Central Valley High in Spokane.

"I think this is a bunch of competitive guys and we'll go out and put the ball in play," Fowler said "We're not going to be overpowering on the mound, but we'll focus on the fundamentals and make the other teams beat us."

The top finisher between Prairie, Lewis-Clark and North Idaho League newcomer Northern Lakes will advance to the state AA tournament July 28 to Aug. 1 at Thorco Field in Coeur d'Alene. As the host team for state, the Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen automatically qualify.

Northern Lakes is comprised of Lakeland and Timberlake High students, which opted to form its own squad instead of remaining as a combined team with Prairie.