It’s a long road early for the Kalispell A Lakers.

First-year head coach Thomas O’Connell’s squad opens with two games at home tonight against Mission Valley before embarking on a 10-plus game road trip, including a spot in the Palouse Summer Series in Pullman, Washington. 

“We are hoping that we do well (on the road) and then can have the home field advantage late,” O’Connell said. “Obviously early in the season we will have some mistakes and errors but I know this team well. I know what they can do.” 

The A Lakers won’t be back at Archie Roe Field until a June 27 date with Cranbrook; the early road trip means a backloaded home schedule. The heavy road schedule also allows for some maintenance at Archie Roe Field after the recent rain. 

O’Connell moves up to coach the A Lakers after a season as B Lakers head coach and assistant on the A team. His brother, Mike O’Connell, is the new head coach of the AA Lakers. 

Thomas O’Connell is excited to see how his squad progresses during the season, highlighting Jacobe Sullenger and Landon Jacobsen for their play with the Flathead Braves during the high school season. 

He added that his squad features a good amount of depth, similar to their AA counterparts. 

“We have a lot of pitching which is nice, there’s only three or four guys that don’t pitch on the mound,” O’Connell said. “Excited for everyone to see the progress they made.” 

Unlike the AA Lakers — who only had one 20-minute practice before embarking on their season opener Wednesday — O’Connell says he has been able to work with his team for around two weeks. 

“We should be ready to go for the season,” O’Connell said. “The program is going to really turn around with the new coaching staff.” 

O’Connell notes that the new coaching staff includes former Washington State pitcher and Mariners’ draft pick Joe Pistorese as a pitching coach. Pistorese now works as a realtor in the Flathead Valley.