It’s been a long time coming for baseball players in Kalispell.

A chance to take to the diamond in orange and black or green and blue, and the start has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“I’m in love with high school baseball right now,” Glacier coach Erik Brink said following Saturday’s opener. “It’s going to help everybody, wherever they play.” 

On the field both teams started out with a strong showcase and victories — Flathead 19-3 winners over East Helena, while Glacier claimed a 7-2 decision over Belgrade. 

In the stands, fans of both schools showed up and showed out — Glacier had an appearance and first pitch from Super Bowl champion and alum Patrick O’Connell.  

The Braves saw their opening appearance at ABS field with fans lined down both sides of the field. While the wait for a Laker (Wolfpack?) burger at Griffin Field during Glacier’s opener was close to an hour — it’s worth it. 

But the players and coaches all relished the chance to get on the field in March. 

“(The players) are so proud to wear Braves on their chest and represent Flathead and to get out here and get the first victory, they are just ecstatic,” Flathead coach Richard Burland said Thursday. 

The Braves found their footing in a 14-run third inning to seize control over the Vigilantes with Miles Arrowsmith hitting a grand slam for the first home run in school history. 

“First game, there was a lot of pressure, but it felt great to get the win and by a lot too,” Arrowsmith said.  

“I have been waiting for this for the past four years, and I am just so happy it’s here,” Wolfpack senior Kaeden Kahler said. 

Kahler blasted a two-run double out to the fence in the Wolfpack’s win over the Panthers. 

Speaking of the Lakers, the fun won’t stop for the kids as they move into the summer as they’ll don the red and gold, or the red and black of the Sluggers. 

The biggest thing I heard from both school’s openers was an overwhelming positivity about the players getting more opportunities on the field. 

“I look at it this way: There is a benefit to what is happening right now, for all sorts of reasons,” Brink said. “They are going to be ready to go (in the summer), we aren’t going to be able to throw high pitch counts until May, but that gets more kids to throw and more opportunities.” 

The opportunities were aplenty in Glacier’s opener as five different pitchers took the mound, throwing one or two innings each. 

So, if anyone had fears about whether Legion or high school baseball would overrule the other, I think that has been answered here in the opening weekend. 

Prep baseball is no longer just a summer sport; it starts in March and rolls all the way through July and August. 

And who doesn’t love a day at the ballpark. 

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.