When Coeur d’Alene broke through last week and became the first North Idaho team to ever qualify for the Little League World Series, players and coaches on area all-star teams in recent years that came so close to getting to Williamsport were thrilled.

“So excited for these guys,” said Zach Clanton, who played on the 2002 Coeur d’Alene Little League team that came oh-so-close to qualifying, leading in the sixth inning before falling in the Northwest Regional title game in San Bernardino, Calif. “I remember that was one of the best experiences of my life, going to San Bernardino and what a way to cap it off. The trip to Williamsport will be even better; a once-in-a-lifetime deal for those kids.”

“I’m stoked for them; it’s a dream come true,” said Paul Manzardo, who coached the 2013 Coeur d’Alene team that made it to the Northwest Regional semifinals. “It’s a big deal, not only for our 2013 team, but also for the 2001 and 2002 Coeur d’Alene teams, and the two Post Falls teams that went to San Bernardino, and the Lewiston team that got there.”

Coeur d’Alene is only the second team from Idaho to advance to the Little League World Series, which begins today (Coeur d’Alene’s first game is Friday). South Central Little League of Boise was the first, in 1999.

“This win for this group of kids ... it’s for the whole community,” Manzardo said.

BEFORE THE turn of the century, it was rare for teams from this area to even make it as far as San Bernardino.

A couple of Kootenai All-Stars teams, comprised of players from Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls, made it there.

Coeur d’Alene then went back-to-back in 2001 and ’02, then again in 2013.

Post Falls qualified for the Northwest Regional in 2009, then again in 2012 when it reached the title game.

Lewiston went in 2011, ’14 and ’17.

The Idaho state tournament consists of a best-of-3 series between the district champions from North Idaho and the district champs from the Boise-area, with the winner advancing to San Bernardino.

In seven of the past 10 years, the Idaho representative has come from the North.

“It was eventually going to happen,” said Manzardo, who formerly coached at North Idaho College, and now is head coach at Lake City. “Baseball has been getting better and better every year; baseball in our area is extremely strong.”

Clanton, now the head coach at Wenatchee Valley College, has fond memories of his trip to San Bernardino in 2002.

“Obviously we were super excited, and felt extremely accomplished getting that far,” he recalled. “We were all very upset initially after losing because we did have the lead late, but the love and support we got from the community and our families helped us realize just how much we had done. I think it fueled and set a great foundation for that group of guys for the rest of our playing career, though.”

Many of those players, including Clanton, were on the Lake City High team that won the state 5A title in 2007, and finished second at state in 2008.

“I kept it in perspective,” Manzardo said of his trip to San Bernardino in 2013. “It was the trip of a lifetime for us. We were hoping to do what the 2018 team did — our goals and aspirations were to get to Williamsport.”

SO WHAT’s the secret to Coeur d’Alene Little League’s success — as well as the success in Post Falls and Lewiston?

Part of it is, those in the past give back to those in the present.

Before this year’s team left for San Bernardino, they met with players and coaches from the 2013 squad, who shared their experiences, and let them know what to expect.

Manzardo said before his team left for regionals in 2013, Dusty Pfennigs, who coached the 2012 and ’09 Post Falls all-star teams in San Bernardino, and his wife, Michelle, shared their experiences from regionals.

And before that ...

“The Capauls and Cory Bridges shared their experiences from 2001 and ’02,” Manzardo said. “I shared what I learned with the current coaches.”

Consistency in coaching plays a factor, Manzardo said.

“We all have similar coaching philosophies,” said Manzardo, who coach two of the current Coeur d’Alene Little League all-stars a couple of years ago. “We all stress fundamentals, and we try to keep all the teams (in their Little League) balanced. I think coaching plays a factor, and we have good families that are committed to the process.”

Many of the players have played together for years on various teams. Many of them play on their Little League teams during the week, then get additional experience playing together on a travel-ball team on weekends.

“I think it shows that North Idaho has a great baseball community,” Clanton said. “Everywhere you look there are former pros, and great baseball people. The Kyle Johnsons, the Capauls, Vucinich, Bridges, the Moffats, Manzardos and so forth that have been at the college level or professional level that have shaped the baseball in this area. Cory Bridges (who started the Lake City High program in 1995, and coached through 2008) was working with our group as young as 9 years old. Paul (Manzardo) was a former head college coach who had his fingerprint on Coeur d’Alene Little League for years. Our kids learn the game at a very young age and they are coached by the right guys.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.