The Kalispell Lakers had some good pitching during last summer’s 31-16 AA American Legion campaign, and Coach Ryan Malmin is happy to report that his rotation returns mostly intact.

“This year is a little bit of rarity, in that we have three of our top four pitchers back in terms of innings,” the 15th-year coach said. “Hopefully that is one of our strengths, that we have that experience on the mound.

“They’re going to take us as far as we go.”

The big three are Kostya Hoffman, AJ Wood and Danny Kernan. Hoffman was 6-5 with a sparkling 2.39 earned-run average in 2020; Kernan was 2-2, 2.42 and Wood, 6-2, 4.15. The trio combined for 32 starts last summer.

They’ll be throwing to some new catchers — Gage Brink caught 80 percent of the innings last year, but he’s moving to shortstop — still, the team has several familiar names.

Ethan Diede, who hit .341 with three homers in 2020, is back as a corner infielder. Ayden Driear and Max Holden, A players last year, will also figure in at first and third base.

Luke Halland (.309 average in 2020) will return mid-May from college and lend a hand at second base; Caleb Morgan and Joe Schlegel will hold things down until then.

Manning the outfield will be Devon Wallack, Elijah Owens, Hoffman and Carver Van Aken.

“We’ve got more depth this year than we’ve had in the past,” Malmin said.

The catching will fall to Kael Willis, who was banged up and missed time last year, and Grady Drish.

Another player back is third baseman-outfielder Thomas O’Connell, who missed last season with a shoulder problem.

“We’ve got great numbers in the program,” Malmin said. “We had a pretty good offseason. We were able to do a six- or seven-week ramp-up going in, where people were able to throw and work on command and movement, and the hitters were able to get swings.

“The group is really intense and loves the game. They’re kind of field rats. It’s just a matter of getting to that level of urgency in practice — trying to learn to be comfortable while being uncomfortable in practice, so we’re ready for those situations come game-time.”

The Lakers open their AA season with a Wednesday game at the Class A Mission Valley Mariners, at 5 p.m.

Like last year the AA Legion has one state-wide conference.

A Lakers

The Class A Lakers went 35-21 last season and saw a lot of their talent move up to the AA ranks, but Malmin has a solid core returning.

“We’re excited about that group,” he said. “That’s about as good team speed as we have had. We’ll be trying to pressure on teams and make them move. A lot of these are B kids from last year that had a really solid season.”

Holdovers include outfielders Jackson Nelson and Nic Gustafson, and Malmin pointed out Nelson put on 15 or so pounds since last summer.

Malmin called Kane Morisaki (catcher, first base) a great leader and likes youngsters Haiden Bunyea and Ostyn Brennan.

Malmin estimated as many as 10 pitchers got in on offseason workouts, and felt Tyler Topete and Aaron Crutsinger would be staff leaders.

The A Lakers get their season going with a home doubleheader against the A Helena Reps, at Griffin Field.