After a few years away from the dugout, Al Bevacqua steps back into the head coaching role as the new coach of the Northern Lakes “AA” Mountaineers American Legion program, taking over for Pat Capone, who stepped down at the end of the season.

Bevacqua, who is an assistant football coach at Lakeland High, also coached the Lake City High baseball team from 2010 to 2012.

“My biggest fear has been remembering how to hit a fungo (bat),” Bevacqua said. “I’ve spent the last couple of years blowing a whistle and working with coach (Tim) Kiefer. He was the one that really started guiding me toward working with kids again. I began working with my son Nathan’s Little League team and it went from there.”

Northern Lakes, in its second year as a program that features Lakeland and Timberlake high students, opens the season on Friday against Coeur d’Alene at Thorco Field.

“I’m just looking to build on what (Timberlake) coach (Matt) George and (Lakeland coach Jason) Bradbury have been teaching these guys all this spring,” Bevacqua said. “It’s been a lot of fun this year.”

Returning to the program this year will be Dalton Strong, a first baseman/left-handed pitcher, Tucker Price, Jared McDaniel and Ryan Pote, all Lakeland athletes. Strong is back after his freshman year at NAIA College of Idaho in Caldwell.

Dylan Bradbury, Max Baker, Braden Gifford, JJ Mackesy, Andrew Neilson, Joe Streitzel and Seth Villanpando — the only player from Timberlake — are up to AA after playing last year on the Single-A team.

“They’re all new guys, but we’re expecting big things out of them,” Bevacqua said. “There’s going to be a lot of new guys, but they’re out to get more games in. They want to put their mark on the map. Our main focus this year as players and coaches is that we don’t have any regrets and are improving each day. Having that experience from the high school season is going to help them tremendously.”

Northern Lakes finished 18-26 last season.

“The greatest part about this group is that they’re great young men,” Bevacqua said. “They’re very coachable. It’s been very fun. They’ve got a great capacity for knowledge and are very respectful. It’s been a great start to the season so far.”

Bevacqua served as co-general manager in the program last year along with Bradbury.

“After a while, I kind of had the itch to get back into coaching,” Bevacqua said. “After my father (longtime North Idaho College assistant baseball coach Tony Bevacqua) passed away, it was tough to get back into coaching baseball. Now, it’s time.”

Al will have his brother, Tony, as well as his nephew, Mitch, along for the ride as assistant coaches this year.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing all-around,” Al said. “We’ve always been taught to respect the game and teach the younger generation the right way of playing the game. We’re going to try and make this as much fun as possible.”

The top two teams from the Area A tournament at Harris Field in Lewiston from July 21-24 advance to the state tournament July 28-31 at Timberline High in Boise.

“Prairie is constantly improving and always out to win,” Bradbury said. “Both Coeur d’Alene and Lewis-Clark are well-established programs. You’ve got to go out and play to perfection each day. I like working with the kids. It’s fun for me.”