Every time Max Schara takes the diamond, he looks to get better.

This mindset has helped the Bigfork graduate and Kalispell Lakers pitcher to be one of the leaders of this season's squad. 

"I have had some amazing coaches who have gotten me to where I am at now, and I couldn't have done that without the Lakers program," Schara said. 

"He is the glue to our team; he keeps everyone together," Lakers coach Mike O'Connell said. He holds everybody accountable and does all the things that you are supposed to do as a leader." 

Schara's journey to the Lakers started from a very young age. 

"I have been playing baseball for as long as I can remember. I have always loved the game," Schara said. "I actually played baseball in Hawai'i for a little bit and then we came back. That was when I was seven." 

In the summers before joining the Lakers, Schara played travel ball around the region. But saw his older brother, Mckade, playing for Kalispell and decided that he wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps. 

"(Mckade) loved it. He thought it was the most amazing thing ever. I looked up to him and I wanted to play too," Max Schara said. 

Max Schara joined this year's group of seniors as a freshman and instantly loved playing with the club. 

On top of the fun he has had on the diamond with his friends and teammates, Max has continued to grow in the game. 

"I have learned something new every year, so why not keep going with the Lakers," Schara said. 

On top of playing with the Lakers, Schara made his mark with the Bigfork Vikings in the spring of 2026. In his first season with his high school club, Schara helped the Vikings to a 17-5 record. More importantly, he and his Bigfork teammates came together to win the Class A-B-C state championship in Polson back in May. 

"It was awesome, I came in and I felt like more of a leader," Schara said. It felt like we were there to have fun but at times when we needed it, we were serious and we locked in at State." 

Schara tossed a complete game in the 4-2 semifinal win over Frenchtown, allowing two runs on six hits and fanning three batters. The Vikings followed that win with a 7-2 decision over Dillon in the championship. 

"It is way different from Legion ball," Schara said. 

Schara has used his leadership from the spring to become a leader for Kalispell this summer. 

"Max is a tremendous leader. If we had captains, Max would be a captain or the captain by his mentality and what he brings to the table every single day," O'Connell said. 

O'Connell is in his first year coaching the Lakers, and has instilled a family feel in the dugout. 

"I told them at the beginning of the year that I wanted them to become a family and become a brotherhood, because the best teams aren't necessarily the ones with the best players. Its the team that comes together at the end of the year," O'Connell said. 

Schara and the Lakers brotherhood now head off to the Montana/Alberta State Legion tournament in Lethbridge, Alberta. Kalispell opens the tournament against top-seeded Missoula at 4 p.m. Saturday. The tournament's championship game is scheduled for Wednesday. 

Once his time with the Lakers is complete, Schara is not done on the diamond. In the fall, he will attend Ottawa University (Arizona) and play baseball for the Spirit. 

"Honestly, for the first three years of high school I never reached out and I didn't really try to be recruited. I thought the offers would come to me but that is not how it works," Schara said. "This senior year I decided to try reaching out like my dad said to do and I did and I started talking to coaches and getting some offers." 

Schara hopes to be joined by Lakers teammate Brady Buckmaster, who is also in talks with the staff at Ottawa. 

And if Schara continues to grow in the game, who says Ottawa will be the final stop on his playing journey. 

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.