With four college players back — three that played at the community college level, and another that participated in another sport — it could very well be a good year in Prairie coach Pat Call’s third season at the helm of the AA program.

“We’re going to absolutely mash the ball,” Call said. “We’re getting some traction in the program with 28 kids out in the Single-A and Double-A programs. This is going to be our first team since I’ve been here that I think will be able to outhit our opponents.”

Returning starters include Tanner McCliment-Call (Post Falls graduate and currently at Community Colleges of Spokane), Matt Fleming (Post Falls graduate, now playing at Spokane) Harrison Reid (Lake City senior and signed with Blue Mountain Community College), Brock Zeller (Post Falls graduate and played on Washington State club team), Spencer Zeller (Post Falls sophomore), Seth Villanpando (Timberlake graduate, played at Wenatchee Valley last fall) and Dustin Smith (Timberlake graduate and plays at Clackamas).

McCliment-Call — Pat’s son — competed on the Spokane men’s basketball team, and was also signed to play baseball.

“He did some stuff with them in the fall, but once basketball started, he had to stop,” Call said. “He couldn’t find any time, and then they played until the final day of the NWAC Championship. He just never got any traction, but has tremendous bat speed and balance. He’s just been crushing the ball.”

“Harrison was really good for us last year,” Call said. “We’re hoping for good things from him in the field again this year.”

“These guys can really hit the ball,” Call said. “We’re going to have to make something of this. Our pitching might be a little light, but we should be able to outscore some teams this year. We might have to win some games 12-11. There’s some young kids that are coming up that are pretty good, so think we should be able to retool.”

Prairie opens the season today against the Spokane Expos at Post Falls High starting at 3:30 p.m.

With Lewis-Clark State hosting the state Class AA tournament at Harris Field, the Twins get an automatic bid to state, with Coeur d’Alene, Prairie and Northern Lakes — which rejoins the AA ranks this year — determining the second bid from the Area A (district) tournament at Thorco Field.

“It’s definitely a better league when we’re all there,” Call said. “We don’t really know what Lewis-Clark is going to have, but Coeur d’Alene could be really good this year as well.”

In an effort to challenge his club, Call has added the Dwight Church Memorial Tournament June 13-16 in Lewiston.

“We’re going to get some good experience this year,” Call said. “We’ll be pretty tested by the end of the season.”