THE FRONT ROW with Jason Elliott August 14, 2013

If the past two years are any indication of what the future holds on the baseball diamond, it could be a good time to be a fan of the local programs.

Or at least be encouraged.

IN THE past two years, the area has seen the Post Falls Little League and Coeur d'Alene Majors (ages 11-12) teams advance to the Northwest Regional tournament in San Bernardino, Calif. by way of winning state tournaments.

Post Falls also advanced in 2009, but it has been the last two years that might have opened some eyes around the Northwest.

Last year's Post Falls team advanced to the regional title game, but came up a little short - losing to Gresham, Ore., 8-4 in the championshipgame - of advancing to Williamsport for the Little League World Series.

After losses in its first two games, this year's Coeur d'Alene team won the next two games in the tournament and very nearly knocked off Sammamish, Wash., before falling 5-4 on Thursday night in the semifinals. Sammamish then beat Billings on Saturday to advance to Williamsport.

While neither team finished their goals of advancing, there's still plenty to be proud of.

Through some of the worst conditions when the season starts in early April, players show up and remain committed to the sport, rain or shine.

During the summer, the conditions get worse with dry, hot, humid conditions during some of those all-star tournaments and practices leading into regionals.

Besides, it's their summer vacation and most kids might rather be camping, water skiing and swimming during those days rather than playing baseball.

BACK TO last week's Coeur d'Alene game against Sammamish.

Under the spotlight of national television cameras, strange things happen.

Granted, the cameras had been there all week, but this game was live, on ESPN2, with more than just relatives and friends back home watching.

They had their chances to win the game despite getting one hit.

That's right, just one hit and almost found a way to win the game.

The last time Coeur d'Alene had a team advance to San Bernardino in 2001, they eventually went on to win a state high school baseball championship as members of the Lake City High team.

Some of those players from that Lake City team offered encouragement to some of those players before, during and most likely, after the team returned.

Who knows what will happen if the players from both Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene remain in tact in the coming years - eventually making up the rosters on their respective high school teams.

It will be a few more years before the final chapter in their area baseball careers are written.

If they're playing again for a few regional titles, maybe even a state title, it won't surprise me.

No pressure, right?

Judging by the last two years, they're almost ready for it.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].