Mike O’Connell’s first steps toward becoming coach of the Kalispell Lakers American Legion baseball team began in a roundabout way: He was asked for candidates.

“One of the board members reached out to me,” O’Connell said this week. “In the beginning, it was more about what direction to go. I think they got more interested the more we got into these conversations.” 

O’Connell was coming off his third season as head baseball coach at Miles Community College; he’d been with the Pioneers 10 seasons, after playing for them in 2012. 

A few years into his MCC coaching tenure the former Erica Dick was hired as an assistant for the junior college’s fledgling softball program. She’s been the Lady Pioneers head coach for three seasons as well. 

Mike and Erica have two kids, age 2 and 1, and those are some pretty good roots. “We had all the intentions of staying there,” he said.  

Then Ryan Malmin, who coached O’Connell and briefly had him as an assistant, stepped down after 20 seasons with the Lakers. Wheels began to turn.  

Most of O’Connell’s family is in Kalispell; notable exceptions include his sister and a brother (Patrick) who happens to play linebacker for the Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks. By December he was back in the Valley. 

It’s a transitional period for the Lakers and other area Legion programs, with baseball now sanctioned by the Montana High School Association. Glacier and Flathead will field their first high school teams this spring. That moves the start of Legion back to June — the AA Lakers will play Libby on June 3 and have their first conference game against Missoula on June 7.  

Add in that the state tournament will be July 25-29 and it’s a pretty short season. 

“It’s a whole new landscape,” O’Connell said. “The more baseball the better is how I feel about it. I hope kids continue to stay on and play with the Lakers after the high school season. That is my only worry.” 

Not a concern is his pitching coordinator: Lakers great Joe Pistorese. 

“We grew up together,” O’Connell said. “He was in my wedding. I told him, ‘You’re doing it.’ ” 

Also, 60 players showed up Saturday at Logan Health for evaluations. O’Connell has indoor workouts planned to start in a couple weeks. 

O’Connell feels blessed to be coaching the sport he played in Kalispell, Missoula (the UM baseball club), Miles City and Yankton, South Dakota (Mount Marty U.).  

Obviously he wants the Lakers to keep winning, but there’s more. 

“My goal is to develop good relationships with the players and for them to have the opportunity, if they want it, to play college baseball somewhere,” he said. “Doesn’t matter the division or level, there’s good baseball all over.” 

Reach Fritz at 406-758-4463 or at [email protected].